Apparatus for positioning a component of an exercise device

A locking assembly for use in an exercise device, the locking assembly comprising:

• an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and an elongated cross-sectional shape, the elongated cross-sectional shape having a major axis extending across a widest portion of the elongated cross-sectional shape from a first end portion to a second end portion and bifurcating the elongated member into a first side portion and a second side portion;
• a collar assembly comprising a sidewall defining an interior channel configured to slidably receive the elongated member, the elongated member being slidable longitudinally back and forth along a predetermined sliding path relative to the interior channel, the sidewall of the collar assembly comprising a through-hole providing access into the interior channel, the second end portion of the elongated member being adjacent the through-hole when the elongated member is received inside the interior channel, the first end portion of the elongated member being adjacent an interior portion of the sidewall of the collar assembly when the elongated member is received inside the interior channel;
• a cam pivotally coupled to the collar assembly and configured to pivot between a locked position and an unlocked position;
• at least one engagement member in the interior portion of the sidewall of the collar assembly between the sidewall of the collar assembly and the elongated member adjacent the first end portion of the elongated member, the engagement member having at least one engagement portion configured to bear against the first and second side portions of the elongated member located toward the first end portion of the elongated member in the locked position of the cam;
• and
• a movable force distribution member positioned between the cam and the elongated member at the through-hole of the sidewall of the collar assembly, the movable force distribution member comprising a first projecting portion and a second projecting portion, the movable force distribution member being configured to be biased by the cam,
• when the cam is pivoted into the locked position, the cam biases the movable force distribution member through the through-hole to position the first and second projecting portions to apply force to the first and second side portions, respectively, of the elongated member located toward the second end portion of the elongated member to thereby bias the first end portion of the elongated member against the at least one engagement portion of the engagement member, whereby the elongated member is held within the collar assembly and restricted from sliding along the predetermined sliding path,
• when the cam is pivoted into the unlocked position, the cam does not bias the first and second projecting portions of the movable force distribution member to apply force to the first and second side portions, respectively, of the elongated member, thereby releasing the elongated member within the collar assembly and permitting the elongated member to slide along the predetermined sliding path.

A locking assembly comprising:

• a sidewall defining an interior channel, the sidewall having a through-hole, and a stop portion opposing the through-hole across the interior channel;
• an adjustably movable, elongated member having an elliptical cross-sectional shape with a major axis extending across a widest portion of the elliptical cross-sectional shape from a first end portion to a second end portion and bifurcating the elongated member into a first side portion and a second side portion, the elongated member extending through the interior channel and being configured to slide back and forth longitudinally relative to the sidewall along a predetermined sliding path, the through-hole formed in the sidewall being adjacent the second end portion of the elongated member within the interior channel, the stop portion of the sidewall being adjacent to the first end portion of the elongated member within the interior channel;
• an engagement member having a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion positioned inside the interior channel between the first end portion of the elongated member and the stop portion, the first engagement portion of the engagement member being spaced from the second engagement portion of the engagement member along the predetermined sliding path, each of the first and second engagement portions of the engagement member being configured to engage portions of both the first side portion and the second side portion of the elongated member located toward the first end portion of the elongated member;
• a cam pivotally coupled to the sidewall and configured to pivot between a locked position and an unlocked position;
• and
• a movable force distribution member disposed between the cam and the elongated member at the through-hole formed in the sidewall, the movable force distribution member configured to be biased by the cam, the movable force distribution member comprising a first projecting portion and a second projecting portion,
• when the cam is pivoted into the locked position, the cam biases the movable force distribution member through the through-hole to position the first projecting portion to apply force to a portion of the first side portion of the elongated member located toward the second end portion of the elongated member and to position the second projecting portion to apply force to a portion of the second side portion of the elongated member located toward the second end portion of the elongated member, thereby pressing the elongated member against the engagement portions of the engagement member, whereby the elongated member is held in position and restricted from sliding along the predetermined sliding path,
• when the cam is pivoted into the unlocked position, the cam does not bias the first and second projecting portions of the movable force distribution member to apply force to the first and second side portions, respectively, of the elongated member, thereby releasing the elongated member within the interior channel defined by the sidewall and permitting the member to slide along the predetermined sliding path.

A locking assembly for use in an exercise device, the locking assembly comprising:

• an adjustably movable, elongated member having a longitudinal axis and an elongated cross-sectional shape with a major axis extending across a widest portion of the elongated cross-sectional shape from a first end portion to a second end portion and bifurcating the elongated member into a first side portion and a second side portion;
• a member receiving assembly comprising a sidewall defining an interior channel in which the elongated member is slidably engaged for longitudinal sliding movement relative to the member receiving assembly, the sidewall of the member receiving assembly having a through-hole providing access into the interior channel, the second end portion of the elongate member being adjacent the through-hole and the first end portion of the elongate member being adjacent an interior portion of the sidewall of the member receiving assembly when the elongate member is received inside the interior channel;
• at least one engagement member located in the interior portion of the sidewall of the member receiving assembly, the engagement member facing the through-hole across the interior channel and having at least one engagement portion;
• a cam pivotally coupled to the member receiving assembly and configured to pivot between a locked position and an unlocked position;
• and
• a movable force distribution member positioned between the cam and the member at the through-hole of the sidewall of the member receiving assembly, the movable force distribution member comprising a first projecting portion and a second projecting portion, the movable force distribution member being configured to be biased by the cam,
• when the cam is pivoted into the locked position, the cam biases the movable force distribution member through the through-hole to position the first and second projecting portions to apply force to the first and second side portions, respectively, of the elongated member located toward the second end portion of the elongated member to thereby bias the first end portion of the elongated member toward the engagement portion of the engagement member, said at least one engagement portion bearing against at least one opposing portion of the elongated member located toward the first end portion, whereby the elongated member is maintained in a substantially stationary position relative to the member receiving assembly,
• when the cam is pivoted into the unlocked position, the cam does not bias the first and second projecting portions of the movable force distribution member to apply force to the first and second side portions, respectively, of the elongated member, thereby releasing the elongated member within the member receiving assembly and permitting the elongated member to slide along the predetermined sliding path.

A locking assembly comprising:

• a sidewall defining an interior channel, the sidewall having a through-hole, and a stop portion across from the through-hole;
• an adjustably movable, elongated member having a member sidewall with a cross-sectional shape with a major axis extending across a widest portion of the cross-sectional shape from a first end portion to a second end portion and bifurcating the member sidewall into a first side portion and a second side portion, the elongated member extending through the interior channel and being configured to slide longitudinally back and forth relative to the interior channel along a predetermined sliding path, the through-hole formed in the sidewall being adjacent the second end portion of the member sidewall, the stop portion of the sidewall being adjacent to the first end portion of the member sidewall;
• the stop portion having a first engagement portion configured to engage the elongated member at a first location inside the interior channel and a second engagement portion configured to engage the elongated member at a second location inside the interior channel which is spaced from the first location;
• a cam pivotally coupled to the sidewall and configured to pivot between a locked position and an unlocked position;
• and
• a movable force distribution member disposed between the cam and the elongated member at the through-hole formed in the sidewall, the movable force distribution member configured to be biased inward by the cam toward the elongated member, the movable force distribution member comprising a first projecting portion and a second projecting portion,
• when the cam is pivoted into the locked position, the cam biases the movable force distribution member through the through-hole to move the first projecting portion to apply force to a portion of the first side portion of the member sidewall located toward the second end portion of the member sidewall and to move the second projecting portion to apply force to a portion of the second side portion of the member sidewall located toward the second end portion of the member sidewall, the applied forces pressing the elongated member against the spaced first and second engagement portions of the stop portion of the sidewall and locking the elongated member within the interior channel defined by the sidewall to prevent the elongated member from sliding along the predetermined sliding path,
• when the cam is pivoted into the unlocked position, the cam does not bias the movable force distribution member to move first and second projecting portions to apply sufficient force to the first and second side portions, respectively, of the member sidewall to lock the elongated member within the interior channel, thereby releasing the elongated member and permitting the elongated member to slide along the predetermined sliding path.