Exercise apparatus with locking means

Exercise apparatus having locking means for facilitating adjustable positioning of a portion thereof. The exercise apparatus may take the form of an exercise bicycle or other equipment. The locking means are adapted to have a component positioned within a tubular member of the exercise apparatus and receive an adjustable member passing therethrough. The locking means components are adapted to be moved in a path generally transverse to the axis of the adjustable member and are adapted to provide compressive locking action to the adjustable member in the desired position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to excercise apparatus having locking means to 
facilitate positioning of an adjustable member in a desired position. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In connection with excercise apparatus of various types it has been known 
to provide means whereby translational or rotational movement of a 
component may be effected after which the component may be locked in a 
desired position. Such movements are frequently necessary or desirable as 
a result of users of different sizes and physical characteristics needing 
to have different dimensional relationships with the apparatus. Such 
adjustments are frequently desirable not merely as a matter of comfort, 
but also in order to facilitate improved safety and efficient use of the 
equipment. 
In exercise apparatus such as stationary bicycles, for example, it will 
frequently be necessary or desirable to adjust the elevation of the seat 
which supports the user, the elevation of the handlebars which are engaged 
by the user as well as other portions of the apparatus. 
While numerous means have been suggested for use in this context, there 
remains a need for improved locking devices for use in this environment. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention has met the above described need by providing an 
exercise apparatus and associated locking means for securing at least one 
adjustable member in a desired position. A tubular portion of the exercise 
apparatus receives a portion of the locking means which is threadedly 
connected to an external operating knob. Rotation of the operating knob in 
a first direction establishes compression in the locking means portion 
disposed within the tubular portion thereby effecting locking of the 
adjustable member in the desired position. 
In one embodiment, a unitary frame-like locking member has the adjustable 
member passing therethrough and cooperates with recesses in the wall of 
the tubular portion of the excercise apparatus. In effecting locking, the 
knob is rotated in a first direction so as to place the frame-like locking 
member in compression and thereby lock the adjustable member in the 
desired position. 
In another preferred embodiment, a pair of tubular members have associated 
cooperating recesses which when the knob means are rotated in a first 
direction will establish compression in the two tubular members to thereby 
lock the adjustment member in the desired position. 
These and other objects of the invention will be more fully understood from 
the following description of the invention on reference to the 
illustrations appended hereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring again to FIG. 1, there is shown an exercise bicycle which has a 
body portion 2, a pair of pedals 4, 5, longitudinal base support 6, a pair 
of transverse base supports 7, 8 and a seat 12 which is supported by 
adjustable member 14 whose position is locked by locking means 16 of the 
present invention. Adjustment member 14 is received within tubular member 
15 which in turn cooperates with locking means 16. Adjustable member 21 is 
received within tubular member 20 having opening 22 and in turn cooperates 
with locking means 18. Locking means 18 secures adjustment member 21 in 
the desired angular position within opening 22 and locking means 24 
secures handlebars 26, 28 and housing 2a in the desired axial position on 
adjustable member 21. The housing 29 which in the form shown is movable 
with handlebars 26, 28 on adjustable member 21 and may contain electronics 
and display means to show speed, distance, calories used and the like. In 
this manner, by adjusting locking means 16, 18 and 24 the elevation of 
seat 12, the elevation of handlebars 26, 28 and the rotational position of 
handlebars 26, 28 may be established. 
Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, a preferred embodiment of the present 
invention will be considered. A tubular portion 30 of the apparatus which 
will receive an adjustable member 56 is provided with an opening so that 
the locking means may br provided. The locking means in this embodiment 
consists of a frame-like member 32 which defines an opening 36 within 
which adjustable member 56 may be reciprocated when the locking means is 
in unlocked position. Fixedly secured to the locking member 32 is a 
threaded stud 38 which projects through the opening in the tubular portion 
30 and is threadedly engaged within hub portion 42 of knob 40. It will be 
appreciated that as the knob is rotated in a first direction the framing 
member 32 will be urged responsively in a path oriented generally 
transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the adjustable 
member 56. The apparatus is such that movement in a first direction will 
establish locking of the adjustable member 56 in a desired position and 
the rotation of the knob 40 in the other direction will unlock the 
adjustable member 56. The adjustable member 56 will be received within the 
passageway 44 of the tubular member 30. 
As is shown, the tubular portion 30, in the preferred embodiment has a pair 
of generally opposed recesses 52, 54. In the locked position, such as is 
shown in FIG. 3, the framing member 32 will be received in the recess 54 
disposed adjacent to knob 40 thereby placing at least a portion of the 
outer surface of adjustable member 56 in compression along generally the 
entire inner surface of the frame 32 and effecting compressive locking 
action on the adjustable member 56. When it is desired to unlock the 
adjustable member for moving it to another position or rotating the same, 
the knob 40 is rotated in the opposite direction thereby causing 
translational movement of the framing member 32 in a path generally 
transverse to the longitudinal axis of adjustment member 56 and relieving 
the compressive restraint thereby permitting free movement of the 
adjustment member 56. 
It will be appreciated that this device permits effective secure locking of 
the adjustable member which may directly or indirectly be secured to a 
seat, handlebars or other portions of exercise apparatus desired to be 
moved while permitting manual operation in an easy manner. 
While the embodiment of FIGS. 2 through 4 illustrates a generally 
rectangular frame member 32 associated with a generally rectangular 
tubular member 30 it will be appreciated that the members 30, 32 may be of 
generally circular configuration or any other desired configurations. One 
advantage of having a non-circular configuration is that undesired 
rotation of the frame member 32 with respect to the tubular member 30 is 
resisted. 
Referring further to FIGS. 5 through 7 a further embodiment of the 
invention will be considered. In this embodiment, a first tubular locking 
member 66 is provided with a pair of relieved surfaces 68, 72 which 
define, respectively, recesses 70, 74. Connecting means 78 are fixedly 
secured to the tubular element 66 and, in the form shown, are of generally 
U-shape having a pair of lateral walls 80, 84 and a base wall 82. A 
threaded stud 86 is fixedly secured to the base wall 82 and projects 
outwardly therefrom. In use, the tubular element 66 and the connecting 
member 78 would be disposed within a tubular portion such as portion 30 in 
FIG. 2 with the stud 86 projecting through an opening in the tubular 
portion. A second tubular element 92 would also be positioned within the 
tubular portion 30. This member also has a pair of surfaces 94 (second 
surface not shown) which define recesses 96 (second recess not shown). 
This structure has a closed end wall 98 having an aperture 100 through 
which stud 86 passes. Knob 102 is threadedly secured to stud 86. The four 
recesses (two opposed pairs) in the two tubular elements 66, 92 are 
adapted, when in closed position and placed in compression to effect 
clamping engagement with the adjustable member 104. FIG. 6 shows the 
structure in compressed condition locking the adjustable member 104 and 
FIG. 7 shows the structure in unlocked position which permits rotational 
and translational movement of adjustable member 104. 
While the devices of the present invention may have locking components made 
of any suitable material, it is presently preferred to make them of a 
suitable metal or resinous plastic. 
While several preferred geometric configurations have been illustrated for 
purposes of clarity of disclosure, it will be appreciated that the 
invention is not so limited. A prime feature of the invention is that the 
construction be such that rotation of an externally disposed knob which is 
threadedly secured to a framing component results in the framing elements 
disposed within the tubular member being placed in compression so as to 
lock the adjustable member which has a path of movement generally 
transverse thereto in secure position. 
While for convenience of reference herein specific reference has been made 
to exercise bicycles it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art 
that the apparatus of the present invention may be employed in a wide 
variety of types of exercise equipment such as rowing machines, fitness 
treadmills and pogo sticks, for example. 
Whereas particular embodiments of the invention have been described above 
for purposes of illustration, it will be appreciated by those skilled in 
the art that numerous variations of the details may be made without 
departing from the invention as described in the appended claims.