Height-adjustable seat

Abstract

A height-adjustable seat includes an integrated height adjustment mechanism. The seat includes a seat body. A pneumatic cylinder having an upper end is received in a socket of the seat body. A bracket is arranged above the socket in the seat body. An elongated actuating lever is pivotally arranged above the pneumatic cylinder and held within the bracket. A spacer secures the elongated actuating lever in the bracket. The spacer has a snap-fit connection with the bracket. The bracket and the socket may be integrally molded portions of the seat body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A height-adjustable seat, comprising:
 a seat body ( 110 );   a pneumatic cylinder ( 140 ) having an upper end ( 142 ) received in a socket ( 115 ) of the seat body ( 110 );   a bracket ( 170 ) arranged above the socket ( 115 ) in the seat body ( 110 );   an elongated actuating lever ( 130 ) pivotally arranged above the pneumatic cylinder ( 140 ) and held within the bracket ( 170 ); and   a spacer ( 150 ) securing the elongated actuating lever ( 130 ) in the bracket ( 170 ), the spacer ( 150 ) having a snap-fit connection with the bracket ( 170 ).   
     
     
         2 . The height-adjustable seat as in  claim 1 , further comprising
 a spring arranged in the bracket so as to push the elongated actuating lever ( 130 ) upwardly against the spacer ( 150 ).   
     
     
         3 . The height-adjustable seat as in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the pneumatic cylinder ( 140 ) comprises an upwardly extending control knob ( 145 ), and   wherein the elongated actuating lever ( 130 ) pushes the control knob ( 145 ) down when the elongated actuating lever ( 130 ) is pivoted out of a normal orientation into a pivoted orientation.   
     
     
         4 . The height-adjustable seat as in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the bracket ( 170 ) comprises a plurality of resilient arms ( 171 ), each of the resilient arms ( 171 ) having a radially inwardly extending hook ( 172 ) arranged at an upper end thereof, and   wherein each hook ( 172 ) extends above the spacer ( 150 ) and secures the spacer ( 150 ) against upward movement.   
     
     
         5 . The height-adjustable seat as in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the bracket ( 170 ) comprises two lateral slots ( 177 ) and the seat body comprises two lateral openings ( 112 ), the lateral openings ( 112 ) being aligned with the lateral slots,   wherein the elongated actuating lever ( 130 ) extends laterally through the lateral slots and the lateral openings to a left side and a right side of the seat.   
     
     
         6 . The height-adjustable seat as in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the bracket ( 170 ) further comprises a front slot and a rear slot,   wherein the elongated actuating lever ( 130 ) comprises a front pin received in the front slot and a rear pin received in the rear slot,   whereby the elongated actuating lever ( 130 ) is secured against lateral movement.   
     
     
         7 . The height-adjustable seat as in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the seat body ( 110 ), the socket ( 115 ), and the bracket ( 170 ) are integrally formed as one piece.   
     
     
         8 . A height-adjustable seat, comprising:
 a seat body ( 210 );   a pneumatic cylinder ( 240 ) having an upper end ( 242 ) received in a socket ( 215 ) of the seat body ( 210 );   a bracket ( 270 ) arranged above the socket ( 215 ) in the seat body ( 210 );   an elongated actuating lever ( 230 ) pivotally arranged above the pneumatic cylinder ( 240 ) and held within the bracket ( 270 ); and   a pivot support spacer ( 250 ) securing the elongated actuating lever ( 230 ) in the bracket ( 270 ),   wherein the pivot support spacer ( 250 ) is connected to the bracket ( 270 ) by a snap-fit connection, and   wherein the pivot support spacer ( 250 ) comprises four legs extending downwardly from a pivot support surface ( 255 ).   
     
     
         9 . The height-adjustable seat as in  claim 8 ,
 wherein the elongated actuating lever ( 230 ) comprises a left body portion ( 231 ), a right body portion ( 232 ), a rear pivot extension ( 234 ) and a front pivot extension ( 235 ),   wherein, in a normal orientation, the left body portion ( 231 ), the right body portion ( 232 ), the rear pivot extension ( 234 ) and the front pivot extension ( 235 ) are pushed upwardly against the pivot support surface ( 235 ) by a compression spring, and   wherein, in an activation orientation, one of the left body portion ( 231 ), the right body portion ( 232 ), the rear pivot extension ( 234 ) and the front pivot extension ( 235 ) abuts the pivot support surface ( 235 ) while others of the left body portion ( 231 ), the right body portion ( 232 ), the rear pivot extension ( 234 ) and the front pivot extension ( 235 ) move downwardly away from the pivot support surface ( 235 ).   
     
     
         10 . The height-adjustable seat as in  claim 8 , further comprising
 an actuating ring ( 290 ) positioned around a lower part of the seat body ( 210 ), the actuating ring comprising   radially inwardly facing torsionally rigid lever extensions ( 291 ) that are rigidly connected to outer portions of the elongated actuating lever ( 230 ).   
     
     
         11 . The height-adjustable seat as in  claim 10 ,
 wherein the torsionally rigid lever extensions ( 291 ) and the outer portions of the elongated actuating lever ( 230 ) include overlapping surfaces connected by a screw and nut connection.   
     
     
         12 . A height-adjustable seat, comprising:
 a seat body ( 410 );   a pneumatic cylinder ( 140 ) having an upper end ( 142 );   a bracket ( 470 ) at least partially arranged in the seat body ( 410 );   an actuating lever ( 430 ) pivotally arranged above the pneumatic cylinder ( 140 ) and held within the bracket ( 470 ); and   a spacer ( 450 ) securing the actuating lever ( 430 ) in the bracket ( 470 ).   
     
     
         13 . The height-adjustable seat as in  claim 12 ,
 wherein the bracket ( 470 ), the actuating lever ( 430 ) and the spacer ( 450 ) collectively form a seat adjustment mechanism ( 401 ), and   wherein the seat adjustment mechanism ( 401 ) extends into the seat body ( 410 ) through a socket ( 415 ).   
     
     
         14 . The height-adjustable seat as in  claim 13 ,
 wherein the pneumatic cylinder ( 140 ) is arranged within an seat post tube ( 441 ) and   wherein the seat adjustment mechanism ( 401 ) is firmly connected to an upper end of the seat post tube ( 441 ).