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US-20260124491-A1 - SEAT SYSTEM INCLUDING CONTROLLED MOVEMENT

US20260124491A1US 20260124491 A1US20260124491 A1US 20260124491A1US-20260124491-A1

Abstract

A seat system for use with an exercise assembly. The seat system includes a rotatable mount with a first end couplable to an exercise assembly and a second end coupled to an elongate support member. The elongate support member is padded and extends from the rotatable mount to a seat. The rotatable mount includes a deflection limiting mechanism to limit the amount of angular deflection between its first end and its second end. A user may straddle the seat during walking exercises and the seat may pivot from side to side to provide support to the user during a natural walking motion.

Inventors

  • Jeffrey Thomas Lefkovitz

Assignees

  • LEFKOTEK, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20241105

Claims (11)

  1. 1 . A seat assembly for use with an exercise assembly, the seat assembly comprising: a seat; a mount comprising a first mount member rotatably coupled to a second mount member, the first mount member coupled to the exercise assembly; an elongate support member with a first end coupled to the seat and a second end coupled to the second mount member; wherein the mount includes a rotation limiter to set a range of rotational movement between the first mount member and the second mount member.
  2. 2 . The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the rotation limiter includes a first pin passing through a first hole with a first diameter in the first mount member and through a second hole with a second diameter in the second mount member, wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter.
  3. 3 . The seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the first hole is configured with a first plate configured with the first mount member and the second hole is configured with a second plate configured with the second mount member.
  4. 4 . The seat assembly of claim 3 wherein the first plate and the second plate are overlapping and aligned.
  5. 5 . The seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the first mount member is rotatably coupled to the second mount member about a pivot point separate from the first hole and the second hole.
  6. 6 . The seat assembly of claim 5 wherein the pivot point is defined by a second pin passing through a third hole in the first mount member and through a fourth hole in the second mount member.
  7. 7 . The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the elongate support member between the seat and the second mount member is about 12” to about 24”.
  8. 8 . The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the elongate support member is padded.
  9. 9 . The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the rotation limiter includes a first series of first holes in the first mount member and a second series of second holes in the second mount member, wherein at least one first hole in the first series of first holes includes a diameter that is greater than a diameter of at least one second hole in the second series of second holes.
  10. 10 . The seat assembly of claim 9 wherein a first pin is adapted to pass through the at least one first hole in the first series of first holes and through the at least one second hole in the second series of second holes.
  11. 11 . The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the range of rotational movement is about 12° to about 24°.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/558,761 filed February 28, 2024, the entire contents of which are hereby fully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a seat system, including a seat system for use with exercise assemblies. BACKGROUND Supportive exercise systems can be used to provide mechanical support to assist a user with physical limitations, particularly walking and standing limitations, when performing many different kinds of exercises. The mechanical support component of such a device can protect the user from falling and enable the user to use various types of exercise equipment. These supportive exercise systems are commonly configured using support harnesses that support the user from above, e.g., using body harnesses attached to an overhead hoist. However, these commonly known supportive exercise systems have several limitations that inhibit the user's ability to use the systems effectively. For example, because the systems hold the user from above, the user is not able to perform natural walking exercises. Accordingly, a need exists for a supportive exercise system capable of easily and effectively allowing a user with physical limitations to regain strength and mobility via walking and/or standing exercises. A need also exists for a seat system for use with such exercise systems that provides the necessary support to the user while enabling the user to walk and stand naturally. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification. None of the drawings are to scale unless specifically stated otherwise. FIG. 1 shows a side view block diagram of a seat system configured with an exercise assembly including in accordance with exemplary embodiments hereof; FIG. 2 shows a top view block diagram of a seat system configured with an exercise assembly including in accordance with exemplary embodiments hereof; FIGS. 3-4 show aspects of a seat system in accordance with exemplary embodiments hereof; FIGS. 5A-5B show aspects of a seat connection assembly in accordance with exemplary embodiments hereof; FIGS. 6-9 show aspects of a seat system in accordance with exemplary embodiments hereof; FIG. 10 shows a top view block diagram of a seat system disconnected from an exercise assembly in accordance with exemplary embodiments hereof; and FIGS. 11 shows a top view block diagram of a seat system configured with an exercise assembly in accordance with exemplary embodiments hereof. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS In general, the system and method according to exemplary embodiments hereof includes a seat system and method for providing stability and controlled movement to a user of an exercise assembly (e.g., an exercise machine). FIG. 1 shows a side view block diagram of a seat assembly 10 configured with an exercise assembly E, and FIG. 2 shows a top view block diagram of the same. In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the seat assembly 10 includes a seat portion 100, a safety portion 200, and a mount assembly 300. In general, the seat portion 100 and the safety portion 200 provide physical support to the user during use of the exercise assembly E, and the seat assembly 10 is configured with the exercise assembly E using the mount assembly 300. As described herein, the mount assembly 300 provides controlled movement of the seat assembly 10 via one or more movement settings. For example, as described herein, the mount assembly 300 may provide a controlled side-to-side lateral rotation (e.g., pivoting) of the seat portion 100 and of the safety portion 200 about the mount assembly 300. The seat assembly 10 also may include other aspects and/or elements to fulfill its functionalities. The seat assembly 10 may comprise metal such as steel and/or other suitably strong materials. For the purposes of this specification, the seat assembly 10 will be described primarily with respect to its use with an exercise assembly such as, but not limited to, the exercise assembly E depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, and/or the exercise assembly described in US Patent No. 11,278,756, filed February 14, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. In general, the exercise assembly E may generally include a frame E F with a U-shaped footprint including a left side L, a right side R, and a forward side F. The exerciser may generally stand and/or sit within the U-shaped footprint and interact with exercising mechanisms incorporated with the frame E F. The exercis