Apparatus for positioning a component of an exercise device

A locking assembly configured to selectively lock an elongated member within a retaining member against longitudinal movement within a passageway of the retaining member and unlock the elongated member for longitudinal movement within the passageway of the retaining member, the locking assembly comprising:

• an elongated member positioned inside the passageway of the retaining member and longitudinally movable within the passageway;
• a first engagement member disposed inside the passageway of the retaining member along a first portion of the passageway and configured to engage a first portion of the elongated member inside the passageway;
• a second engagement member disposed inside the passageway of the retaining member along a second portion of the passageway spaced apart from the first engagement member and configured to engage a second portion of the elongated member inside the passageway longitudinally spaced apart from the first portion of the elongated member;
• a handle having a grip portion and a cam coupled thereto, the cam being movably mounted to the retaining member and the grip portion being configured for selective movement of the cam between a locked position and an unlocked position;
• and
• a cam follower assembly positioned adjacent to the cam and having a third engagement member positioned and configured to engage a third portion of the elongated member inside the passageway at a longitudinal location between the first and second portions of the elongated member inside the passageway on a side of the elongated member away from the first and second portions, the cam follower assembly comprising:
• a contact member having first and second hollow portions, each partially defined by an outside contact surface positioned for engagement with the third portion of the elongated member inside the passageway,
• a first force distribution member having a first projection extending toward the elongated member, the first projection being received inside the first hollow portion of the contact member, and
• a second force distribution member having a second projection extending toward the elongated member, the second projection being received inside the second hollow portion of the contact member,
• when the cam is moved to the locked position, a portion of the outside contact surface of the first hollow portion and a portion of the outside contact surface of the second hollow portion engage and apply an inward force to the third portion of the elongated member at laterally spaced apart locations which is transmitted by the first and second portions of the elongated member to the first and second engagement members, respectively, to thereby lock the elongated member against longitudinal movement within the passageway, and when the cam is moved to the unlocked position a sufficient amount of the inward force is removed to permit longitudinal movement of the elongated member within the passageway.

A stationary bicycle comprising a seat, handlebars, a frame, and a locking assembly supported by the frame, the locking assembly being configured to selectively lock an elongated member within a retaining member coupled to the frame against longitudinal movement within a passageway of the retaining member and unlock the elongated member for longitudinal movement within the passageway of the retaining member, the seat or the handlebars being couplable to the elongated member and movable therewith, the locking assembly comprising:

• a first engagement member disposed inside the passageway of the retaining member along a first portion of the passageway and configured to engage a first portion of the elongated member inside the passageway;
• a second engagement member disposed inside the passageway of the retaining member along a second portion of the passageway spaced apart from the first engagement member and configured to engage a second portion of the elongated member inside the passageway longitudinally spaced apart from the first portion of the elongated member;
• a handle having a grip portion and a cam coupled thereto, the cam being movably mounted to the retaining member and the grip portion being configured for selective movement of the cam between a locked position and an unlocked position;
• and
• a cam follower assembly positioned adjacent to the cam and having a third engagement member positioned and configured to engage a third portion of the elongated member inside the passageway at a longitudinal location between the first and second portions of the elongated member inside the passageway on a side of the elongated member away from the first and second portions, the third engagement member comprising a mechanical fuse, a contact member, a first force distribution member, and a second force distribution member,
• the mechanical fuse being positioned and configured to receive a biasing force exerted by the cam when the cam is pivoted toward the locked position, to translate at least a portion of the biasing force to the first and second force distribution members, and to deform in response to the biasing force if the biasing force exceeds a predetermined amount of force, the contact member having first and second hollow portions, each partially defined by an outside contact surface positioned for engagement with the third portion of the elongated member inside the passageway, at least a portion of the first force distribution member being received inside the first hollow portion of the contact member and the at least a portion of the second force distribution member being received inside the second hollow portion of the contact member such that when the cam is moved to the locked position, the portion of the biasing force translated to the first and second force distribution members by the mechanical fuse moves a portion of the outside contact surface of the first hollow portion and a portion of the outside contact surface of the second hollow portion inwardly into locking engagement with the third portion of the elongated member at laterally spaced apart locations to apply an inward force to the third portion of the elongated member which is transmitted by the first and second portions of the elongated member to the first and second engagement members, respectively, to thereby lock the elongated member against longitudinal movement within the passageway, and
• when the cam is moved to the unlocked position a sufficient amount of the inward force is removed to permit longitudinal movement of the elongated member within the passageway.