# US 2014/0191552 A1 · Seating system for a recumbent stepper > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191552 A1 - Document ID: US20140191552A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/736,554 - Filed: 2013-01-08 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08 - Assignees: NuStep, Inc. - Applicants: NuStep, Inc. - Inventors: Matthew Paul Weber; Douglas Robert Hennigar; Roger Adrian Fettes; Karl G. Sponsler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191552A1 ## CPC - A63B 22/0046: {Details of the support elements or their connection to the exercising apparatus, e.g. adjustment of size or orientation (attachments of resisters or weights to the body of the user A63B21/4001; using rollers, wheels, castors or gliding means to be moved over the floor or guide tracks A63B22/20)} - A47C 1/023: the parts being horizontally-adjustable seats - A63B 22/001: {by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase (A63B22/0076 takes precedence)} - A63B 22/0056: {the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis (platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16)} - B60N 2/0715: {C or U-shaped} - B60N 2/0818: {inside the rail} - A63B 2208/0238: with stretched legs, like on a bed - A63B 2220/13: Relative positions - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An adjustable seating apparatus for a recumbent stepper includes a seat base mounted to a carriage, which is mounted for longitudinal translation along a guide track. The seat base can be rotatable relative to the carriage. The seat base includes a first handle for releasing the carriage from an elongate positioning member to adjust the longitudinal position, and a second handle for releasing the seat base from a positioning plate to adjust the rotary position of the seat base relative to the carriage. When the seat base has been rotated from its nominal position, the carriage will generally be prevented from being released from the elongate positioning member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adjustable seating apparatus comprising: a guide track having a longitudinal fore-and-aft centerline; an elongate positioning member mounted to the guide track generally parallel to the fore-and-aft centerline; a carriage member mounted to the guide track via a tracked connection for longitudinal adjustment relative to the guide track; a seat base mounted to the carriage member via a rotatable connection for rotary adjustment of the seat base relative to the carriage member; wherein the seat base has at least a first longitudinal locked position, a longitudinal intermediate position, a second longitudinal locked position, a first rotary locked position, a rotary intermediate position, and a second rotary locked position; a first handle mounted to the seat base via a first pivotable connection; a release activator mounted to the first handle portion; a locking lever pivotally mounted to the carriage via a pivotable connection, the locking lever having a first locking tab at an end thereof; a plurality of recesses in the positioning member aligned longitudinally therealong; wherein the first handle and release activator are biased toward a non-activated position; wherein the locking lever is biased toward a first locked position with the locking tab portion received in one of the plurality of recesses in the positioning member when the seat base is in the first longitudinal locked position or the second longitudinal locked position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a second handle mounted to the seat base via a second pivotable connection; a second locking tab fixedly mounted to the second handle; a positioning plate mounted to the carriage member; a plurality of recesses aligned circumferentially about the positioning plate; wherein the second handle and the second locking tab are biased toward a second non-activated position with the second locking tab received in one of the plurality of recesses when the seat base is in the first rotary locked position or the second rotary locked position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the locking lever includes an activator surface at one end and the first locking tab at another end, with the locking lever pivotable connection therebetween. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the release activator engages and depresses the activator surface of the locking lever so that the first locking tab is disengaged from the elongate positioning member recesses when the first handle and release activator are in an activated position and the seat base is in the first rotary locked position, thereby allowing for longitudinal translation of the seat base from the first or second longitudinal locked position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the locking tab portion of the locking lever engages the positioning member when the release activator is disengaged from the locking lever. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second locking tab is received within the positioning plate recess when the second handle is in a non-activated position for preventing rotation of the seat member, and the locking tab portion is disengaged from the plate recess when the second handle is in an activated position for allowing rotation of the seat base. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the release activator is rotated away and disengaged from the activator surface of the locking lever when the seat base is in the intermediate rotary position or the second rotary locked position, and the locking lever tab potion engages one of the positioning member recesses due to the disengagement of the locking lever and release activator so that the seat base is limited from translating longitudinally when the seat base is in the intermediate rotary position or the second rotary locked position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the release activator is fixedly mounted to the first handle at one end and a hammer portion extends downwardly from the other end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a plate member extending between opposite ends of the second handle, and the second locking tab extends downwardly from the plate member within a perimeter of the second handle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a master pivotable connection between the second handle and the seat base at one end of the second handle and a slave pivotable connection between the second handle and the seat base at the other end of the second handle, wherein the master pivotable connection is configured to allow a rotational degree of travel of the second handle and limiting lateral looseness between second handle and the seat base, and the slave pivotable connection is configured to allow for limited lateral translation between the second handle and the seat base along with a rotational degree of travel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a seat back mounted to the seat base; and an arm rest rotatably mounted to the seat back via a rotatable connection. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the rotatable connection comprises: a bushing mounted to the seat back, the bushing having inner and outer chambers therein generally separated by flange portion therebetween; a shaft portion mounted to the armrest and extending at least partially through the bushing, the shaft portion having an inner portion and an outer portion, wherein the inner portion has a smaller diameter than the outer portion, and the inner portion extends through a hole in the flange portion so that the inner portion is received in the outer chamber; and a coil spring mounted to an inner end of the inner portion and disposed within the inner chamber and between the inner end and the flange portion so that the coil spring biases the shaft portion inwardly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: at least one post mounted to the seat back and extending generally parallel to the bushing; a stop member mounted to the armrest and having at least one concave surface, wherein the at least one concave surface is configured to abut the at least one post member when the armrest has been rotated to a first armrest position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the seat back includes a support bar mounted to the seat base, and the rotatable connection is mounted to the support bar. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide track is a c-shaped guide track defining a cavity. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a seat position magnet disposed within the cavity and a seat position sensor extending along the guide track. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the seat base is rotatable 360 degrees relative to the carriage.