Mechanism and method for adjusting seat height for exercise equipment

Abstract

The present invention is a seat height adjustment mechanism for exercise equipment having a seat. Examples of such exercise equipment include: stationary exercise bicycles; road or mountain type bicycles; resistance strength training supporting racks or platforms (e.g., preacher curl benches, military or shoulder press racks, etc.) for use with free weights; and resistance strength training machines that employ as resistance weight plates, deflectable members, elastic bands, springs, hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, etc. The mechanism comprises a member, a telescopic member, and an engagement member. The member extends upwardly and includes a rack. The telescopic member includes a first end telescopically received in the member and a seat end. The engagement member is coupled to the telescopic member and adapted to engage the rack.

1 . An exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a frame;   a seat; and   a seat height adjustment mechanism, the seat heat adjustment mechanism comprising:
 a first member including a first end portion operatively associated with the frame and a second end portion distal the first end portion; 
 a rack joined to the first member; 
 a second member telescopically movable relative to the first member, the second member including a first end portion operatively associated with the first member and a second end portion distal the first end portion and operatively associated with the seat; 
 an engagement member operatively associated with the second member between the first and second end portions of the second member, the engagement member including an engagement portion configured to engage the rack; 
 a linkage member extending along at least a portion of the second member and including a first end portion and a second end portion distal the first end portion, the linkage member operatively associated with the engagement member at the first end portion of the linkage member and operatively associated with the second member; 
 an actuation mechanism positioned proximate the seat and biased to an initial position relative to the seat, the actuation mechanism operatively associated with the linkage member at the second end portion of the linkage member and operatively associated with the seat; and 
 the engagement member, the linkage member and the actuation mechanism are configured such that movement of the actuation mechanism relative to the seat from the initial position causes the linkage member to move towards the first end portion of the first member, and movement of the linkage member towards the first end portion of the first member causes the engagement portion of the engagement member to move towards the first end portion of the first member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement member, the linkage member and the actuation mechanism are further configured such that when the actuation mechanism is located at the initial position, the engagement portion of the engagement engages the rack. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the engagement member, the linkage member and the actuation mechanism are further configured such that when the actuation mechanism moves relative to the seat from the initial position, the engagement portion of the engagement member disengages from the rack. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein when the engagement portion of the engagement member engages the rack, movement of the second member towards the first end portion of the first member is resisted, and when the engagement portion of the engagement member disengages from the rack, movement of the second member towards the first end portion of the first member is not resisted. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a bias member operatively associated with the actuation mechanism to bias the actuation mechanism to the initial position. rack. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism actuation is operatively associated with the seat by pivotally connecting the mechanism actuation to the seat. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the actuation mechanism is located under the seat. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation mechanism is operatively associated with the linkage member by pivotally connecting the actuation mechanism to the linkage member. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the linkage member extends inside the second member. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement member is operatively associated with the second member by pivotally connecting the engagement member to the second member. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the engagement member pivots relative to the second member when the linkage member moves towards the first end portion of the first member in response to movement of the actuation member relative to the seat from the initial position. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second member is displaceable in a direction away from the first end portion of the first member without moving the actuation mechanism relative to the seat. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the engagement member ratchets along the rack as the second member is displaced upwardly. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise apparatus comprises a stationary exercise bicycle. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second member is telescopically received within the first member. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the second member includes an opening, and the engagement member extends through the opening to selectively engage the rack. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rack is positioned on an inner wall the first member. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rack is positioned between the first and second end portions of the first member. 
     
     
         18 . An exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a frame;   a seat; and   a seat height adjustment mechanism, the seat heat adjustment mechanism comprising:
 a first member including a first end portion operatively associated with the frame and a second end portion distal the first end portion; 
 a rack joined to the first member; 
 a second member telescopically movable relative to the first member, the second member including a first end portion operatively associated with the first member and a second end portion distal the first end portion and operatively associated with the seat; 
 an engagement member operatively associated with the second member between the first and second end portions of the second member, the engagement member including an engagement portion configured to engage the rack; 
 a linkage member extending along at least a portion of the second member and including a first end portion and a second end portion distal the first end portion, the linkage member operatively associated with the engagement member at the first end portion of the linkage member and operatively associated with the second member; 
 an actuation mechanism positioned proximate the seat and biased to an initial position relative to the seat, the actuation mechanism operatively associated with the linkage member at the second end portion of the linkage member and operatively associated with the seat; and 
 the engagement member, the linkage member and the actuation mechanism are configured such that:
 the engagement portion of the engagement member engages the rack when the actuation mechanism is positioned at the initial position; 
 
 movement of the actuation mechanism relative to the seat from the initial position causes the linkage member to move towards the first end portion of the first member; and 
 movement of the linkage member towards the first end portion of the first member cause the engagement portion of the engagement member to disengage from the rack. 
   
     
     
         19 . An exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a frame;   a seat; and   a seat height adjustment mechanism, the seat heat adjustment mechanism comprising:
 a first member including a first end portion operatively associated with the frame and a second end portion distal the first end portion; 
 a rack joined to the first member; 
 a second member telescopically movable relative to the first member, the second member including a first end portion operatively associated with the first member and a second end portion distal the first end portion and operatively associated with the seat; 
 an engagement member pivotal connected to the second member between the first and second end portions of the second member, the engagement member including an engagement portion configured to engage the rack; 
 a linkage member extending along at least a portion of the second member and including a first end portion and a second end portion distal the first end portion, the linkage member operatively associated with the engagement member at the first end portion of the linkage member and operatively associated with the second member; 
 an actuation mechanism positioned proximate the seat and biased to an initial position relative to the seat, the actuation mechanism operatively associated with the linkage member at the second end portion of the linkage member and operatively associated with the seat; and 
 the engagement member, the linkage member and the actuation mechanism are configured such that movement of the actuation mechanism relative to the seat from the initial position causes the linkage member to move towards the first end portion of the first member, and such movement of the linkage member towards the first end portion of the first member causes the engagement portion of the engagement member to move from being engaged with the rack to being disengaged with the rack by the engagement member. 
   
     
     
         20 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the engagement member pivots relative to the second member when the linkage member moves towards the first end portion of the first member.