Patent ID: 8021278

Claim:
A seat mechanism for use on a stationary exercise bicycle comprising: a stationary exercise bicycle having a frame; a support tube secured to said frame; a first rack configured with a plurality of teeth secured within said support tube; a seat post positioned within said support tube for substantially vertical movement; a first latch mechanism including a first release handle pivotally secured to an upper portion of said seat post with a handle portion extending outwardly in a first horizontal direction from said seat post and a connecting rod located within said seat post pivotally connected at an upper end to said first release handle within said seat post and pivotally connected at a lower end to a first latch member wherein said teeth and said first latch member are configured to form a ratchet mechanism such that, when said first latch member is engaged with said teeth, downward motion of said seat is prevented and lifting upwardly of said handle portion of said first release handle by a user is effective to disengage said first latch member from said teeth to allow said seat to be moved downwardly and wherein said seat can be moved upwardly without said disengagement of said first latch member from said teeth; a seat assembly secured above said first release handle to said seat post and adapted to permit at least limited substantially horizontal movement of said seat wherein said seat assembly includes: a receiving structure fixedly mounted to said seat post; a second rack including a plurality of upwardly extending teeth secured to said receiving structure; a seat support member engaged with said receiving structure for horizontal movement with respect to said receiving structure; a seat secured to said seat support member; a second latch mechanism including a pawl rotatably secured to said seat support member and configured to rotate downwardly to engage said upwardly extending teeth on said second rack effective to prevent said horizontal movement of said seat support member; and a second release handle with a handle portion extending outwardly in a second horizontal direction from said seat post operatively connected to said pawl effective to permit a user to latch said seat assembly in a predetermined horizontal position on said seat post.