Gapless hinge for adjustable weight bench
AssigneeMythic Equipment LLC
InventorsSean Matthew Andreassen, Madison Hart Copeland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A weight bench may include a frame, a seat portion, and a back rest portion. The seat and back rest portions may be mounted to the frame using a hinge, allowing rotation between flat and inclined positions. The hinge may include first and second sliding limit hinges for the seat and back rest portions respectively. The seat and back rest portions may substantially abut along a common axis, with a gap of approximately zero. The sliding limit hinges may maintain a constant gap width as the portions rotate between positions. This configuration may allow for smooth adjustment while maintaining a seamless bench surface.
Claims20
A weight bench comprising:
- a frame;
- a seat portion;
- a hinge connecting the seat portion to the frame, such that the seat portion is rotatable between a flat position and an inclined position;
- a backrest portion mounted to the frame using the hinge, such that the backrest portion is rotatable between a flat position and an inclined position;
- wherein the backrest portion and the seat portion are mounted to the frame by the hinge such that a peripheral edge of an upper surface of the seat portion substantially abuts a peripheral edge of an upper surface of the backrest portion to define a common axis, such that a gap distance between the seat portion and the backrest portion is approximately zero;
- wherein the hinge comprises:
- a first sliding limit hinge configured to allow the seat portion to rotate about the common axis, and
- a second sliding limit hinge configured to allow the backrest portion to rotate about the common axis;
- wherein the first sliding limit hinge maintains the gap distance between the seat portion and the backrest portion at a constant width as the seat portion rotates between the flat position and the inclined position, and
- wherein the second sliding limit hinge maintains the gap distance between the seat portion and the backrest portion at a constant width as the backrest portion rotates between the flat position and the inclined position.
A method for adjusting a weight bench, the method comprising:
- providing a weight bench comprising:
- a frame,
- a seat portion mounted to the frame using a hinge, and
- a backrest portion mounted to the frame using the hinge,
- wherein the hinge defines a common axis of rotation for the seat portion and the backrest portion;
- adjusting a position of the seat portion by rotating the seat portion about the common axis;
- and
- adjusting a position of the backrest portion by rotating the backrest portion about the common axis;
- wherein a gap distance between an upper surface of the seat portion and an upper surface of the backrest portion remains substantially constant during adjustment of the seat portion and the backrest portion.
A hinge system for an adjustable weight bench, the hinge system comprising:
- a frame attachment portion configured to attach to a frame of a weight bench;
- a seat attachment portion configured to attach to a seat of the weight bench;
- a backrest attachment portion configured to attach to a backrest of the weight bench;
- a first sliding limit hinge connecting the frame attachment portion to the seat attachment portion;
- and
- a second sliding limit hinge connecting the frame attachment portion to the backrest attachment portion;
- wherein the first sliding limit hinge and the second sliding limit hinge define a common axis of rotation for the seat and the backrest, the common axis being located at a point where an upper surface of the seat meets an upper surface of the backrest when the hinge system is assembled on a weight bench.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.