Adjustable bench with one-way adjustment system

Abstract

An adjustable bench includes a frame, a back support frame pivotably secured to the frame, a back support pad secured to the back support frame, a back arcuate assembly connected to the back support frame and defining a plurality of back arcuate assembly apertures, and a back adjustment pin fixed to the frame. The back adjustment pin includes a plunger that may move between a projected position and a retracted position. In the projected position, the plunger may project into one of the plurality of back arcuate assembly apertures. Pivoting the back support frame in a first direction engages an angled first end of the plunger with one of the back arcuate assembly apertures and deflects the plunger towards the retracted position. Restraining the plunger in the retracted position enables pivoting the back support frame in a second direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable bench comprising:
 a frame;   a back support frame pivotably secured to the frame, wherein the back support frame is pivotable in a first direction and a second direction;   a back support pad secured to the back support frame;   a back arcuate assembly connected to the back support frame and defining a plurality of back arcuate assembly apertures, wherein the back arcuate assembly is selectively movably secured to the frame; and   a back adjustment pin fixed to the frame, the back adjustment pin comprising:
 a housing comprising a first end, a threaded second end, and a substantially cylindrical bore comprising a flat section; 
 a plunger slidably received in the substantially cylindrical bore between a projected position and a retracted position, the plunger comprising a key slidably engaged with the flat section, an angled first end, and a threaded second end; 
 a retainer threadably secured to the threaded second end of the housing, wherein the retainer defines an opening, wherein the threaded second end of the plunger projects from the opening; 
 a pull threadably secured to the threaded second end of the plunger; and 
 a spring engaged with the plunger and the retainer, wherein the spring biases the plunger into the projected position wherein the angled first end of the plunger projects out of the housing and into one of the plurality of back arcuate assembly apertures, 
 wherein pivoting the back support frame in the first direction engages the angled first end of the plunger with one of the back arcuate assembly apertures and deflects the plunger towards the retracted position, and wherein restraining the plunger in the retracted position enables pivoting the back support frame in the second direction. 
   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable bench of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a seat support frame pivotably secured to the frame, wherein the seat support frame is pivotable in a first direction and a second direction;   a seat support pad secured to the seat support frame;   a seat arcuate assembly connected to the seat support frame and defining a plurality of seat arcuate assembly apertures, wherein the seat arcuate assembly is selectively movably secured to the frame; and   a seat adjustment pin fixed to the frame, the seat adjustment pin comprising:
 a housing comprising a first end, a threaded second end, and a substantially cylindrical bore comprising a flat section; 
 a plunger slidably received in the substantially cylindrical bore between a projected position and a retracted position, the plunger comprising a key slidably engaged with the flat section, an angled first end, and a threaded second end; 
 a retainer threadably secured to the threaded second end of the housing, wherein the retainer defines an opening, wherein the threaded second end of the plunger projects from the opening; 
 a pull threadably secured to the threaded second end of the plunger; and 
 a spring engaged with the plunger and the retainer, wherein the spring biases the plunger into the projected position wherein the angled first end of the plunger projects out of the housing and into one of the plurality of seat arcuate assembly apertures, wherein pivoting the seat support frame in the first direction engages the angled first end of the plunger with one of the seat arcuate assembly apertures and deflects the plunger towards the retracted position, and wherein restraining the plunger in the retracted position enables pivoting the seat support frame in the second direction. 
   
     
     
         3 . The adjustable bench of  claim 2 , wherein the frame comprises a seat aperture, wherein the seat arcuate assembly projects into the seat aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable bench of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger further comprises an enlarged head, wherein the angled first end projects from the enlarged head, and wherein the angled first end is disposed at an angle to the key. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable bench of  claim 4 , wherein the angled first end of the plunger is oriented so as to contact a driving portion of at least one of the back arcuate assembly apertures when the seat support frame is pivoted in the first direction. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable bench of  claim 4 , wherein the spring is engaged between the enlarged head of the plunger and the retainer. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable bench of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a back aperture, wherein the back arcuate assembly projects into the back aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable bench of  claim 7 , wherein the back adjustment pin is fixed to the frame in a position such that the angled first end of the plunger in the projected position engages into one of the plurality of back arcuate assembly apertures proximate the back aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable bench of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer has knurled texture. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable bench of  claim 1 , wherein the spring biases the plunger into the projected position thereby engaging the plunger with one of the plurality of back arcuate assembly apertures. 
     
     
         11 . An adjustment system for an adjustable bench including a frame and a support pivotably connected to the frame, the adjustment system comprising:
 an arcuate member defining a plurality of arcuate member apertures;   a strike plate secured to the arcuate member and defining a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of arcuate member apertures, and comprising a plurality of bent tabs, each of the plurality of bent tabs extending into a corresponding aperture of the plurality of arcuate member apertures; and   an adjustment pin fixed relative to the frame and comprising a spring and a plunger having an angled face at an end thereof, wherein the plunger projects into at least one of the plurality of arcuate member apertures, and wherein the angled face of the plunger contacts a corresponding bent tab of the plurality of bent tabs.   
     
     
         12 . The adjustment system of  claim 11 , wherein a surface of the corresponding bent tab facing the angled face of the plunger has a rounded profile. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustment system of  claim 11 , wherein the strike plate has substantially a same shape and size as the arcuate member. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustment system of  claim 11 , wherein the strike plate is attached to the arcuate member via one or more attachment devices. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustment system of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more attachment devices comprise one or more threaded screws. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustment system of  claim 11 , wherein a material of the strike plate comprises steel. 
     
     
         17 . An adjustable bench comprising:
 a frame;   a back support frame pivotably secured to the frame, the back support frame being pivotable in a first direction and a second direction;   a back arcuate member connected to the back support frame and defining a plurality of back arcuate member apertures, wherein the back arcuate member is selectively movably secured to the frame;   a back strike plate secured to the back arcuate member and defining a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality back of arcuate member apertures, and comprising a plurality of back bent tabs, each of the plurality of back bent tabs extending into a corresponding aperture of the plurality of back arcuate member apertures; and   a back adjustment pin fixed to the frame, the back adjustment pin comprising:
 a first housing comprising a first end, a threaded second end, and a substantially cylindrical bore comprising a flat section; 
 a first plunger slidably received in the substantially cylindrical bore between a projected position and a retracted position, the first plunger comprising a first key slidably engaged with the flat section, a first angled face at an end thereof, and a threaded second end; 
 a first retainer threadably secured to the threaded second end of the first housing, wherein the first retainer defines a first opening, wherein the threaded second end of the plunger projects from the first opening; 
 a first pull threadably secured to the threaded second end of the first plunger; and 
 a first spring engaged with the first plunger and the first retainer, the first spring biasing the first plunger into the projected position so that the first angled face of the first plunger projects out of the first housing and into one of the plurality of back arcuate member apertures, wherein the first angled face of the first plunger contacts a corresponding back bent tab of the plurality of back bent tabs, 
 wherein pivoting the back support frame in the first direction engages the first angled face of the first plunger with one of the back arcuate member apertures and deflects the first plunger towards the retracted position, and wherein restraining the first plunger in the retracted position enables pivoting the back support frame in the second direction. 
   
     
     
         18 . The adjustable bench of  claim 17 , wherein a surface of the corresponding back bent tab that faces the first angled face of the first plunger has a rounded profile. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable bench of  claim 17 , wherein the back strike plate has substantially a same shape and size as the back arcuate member. 
     
     
         20 . The adjustable bench of  claim 17 , wherein the back strike plate is attached to the back arcuate member via one or more attachment devices. 
     
     
         21 . The adjustable bench of  claim 17 , wherein a material of the back strike plate comprises steel. 
     
     
         22 . The adjustable bench of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a seat support frame pivotably secured to the frame, wherein the seat support frame is pivotable in a third direction and a fourth direction;   a seat arcuate member connected to the seat support frame and defining a plurality of seat arcuate member apertures, wherein the seat arcuate member is selectively movably secured to the frame;   a seat strike plate secured to the seat arcuate member and defining a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality seat of arcuate member apertures, and comprising a plurality of seat bent tabs, each of the plurality of seat bent tabs extending into a corresponding aperture of the plurality of seat arcuate member apertures; and   a seat adjustment pin fixed to the frame, the seat adjustment pin comprising:
 a second housing comprising a first end, a threaded second end, and a substantially cylindrical bore comprising a flat section; 
 a second plunger slidably received in the substantially cylindrical bore between a projected position and a retracted position, the second plunger comprising a second key slidably engaged with the flat section, a second angled face at an end thereof, and a threaded second end; 
 a second retainer threadably secured to the threaded second end of the second housing, wherein the second retainer defines a second opening, wherein the threaded second end of the second plunger projects from the second opening; 
 a second pull threadably secured to the threaded second end of the second plunger; and 
 a second spring engaged with the second plunger and the second retainer, the second spring biasing the second plunger into the projected position so that the second angled face of the second plunger projects out of the second housing and into one of the plurality of seat arcuate member apertures, wherein the second angled face of the second plunger contacts a corresponding seat bent tab of the plurality of seat bent tabs, 
 wherein pivoting the seat support frame in the third direction engages the second angled face of the second plunger with one of the seat arcuate member apertures and deflects the second plunger towards the retracted position, and wherein restraining the second plunger in the retracted position enables pivoting the seat support frame in the fourth direction. 
   
     
     
         23 . The adjustable bench of  claim 22 , wherein a surface of the corresponding seat bent tab that faces the second angled face of the second plunger has a rounded profile. 
     
     
         24 . The adjustable bench of  claim 22 , wherein the seat strike plate has substantially a same shape and size as the seat arcuate member. 
     
     
         25 . The adjustable bench of  claim 22 , wherein the seat strike plate is attached to the seat arcuate member via one or more attachment devices. 
     
     
         26 . The adjustable bench of  claim 22 , wherein a material of the seat strike plate comprises steel.