Positive lock adjustable seat post

摘要

A method and apparatus for a seat post assembly that is adjustable to an upper, intermediate, and lower seat post position using a locking member and a sleeve member coupled to an actuator for securing and releasing an inner tube with respect to an outer tube. The actuator may move the sleeve member to release the locking member from engagement with the outer tube to adjust the inner tube and thus the seat post assembly to the upper, intermediate, or lower seat post positions. The actuator and the sleeve may be biased into an initial position that urges the locking member into engagement with outer tube to lock the inner tube to the outer tube.

主权项

1. A seat post assembly, comprising:
an outer tube having an inner wall; an inner tube having an outer wall, the inner tube axially movable within the outer tube and extending from an open end of the outer tube and terminating in a seat retainer, and a seal interposed between the inner wall of the outer tube and the outer wall of the inner tube to define a pressurizable volume; the inner tube including a sealed opening therein at a location thereof locatable exteriorly of the outer tube; a first locking member coupled to the inner tube and operable to lock the inner tube to the outer tube at a first location and at a second location of the outer tube spaced apart along the axial length of the outer tube, and a second locking member coupled to the inner tube at a position circumferentially offset from the first locking member, and operable to stop axial movement of the inner tube relative to the outer tube at the second location; and an actuator extending through the sealed opening in the inner tube and operable to secure the first locking member into engagement with the outer tube at the first and second locations, and operable to release the first locking member from engagement with the outer tube at the first location of the outer tube to enable movement of the first locking member between the first location and the second location, while maintaining the second locking member extended into engagement with the outer tube between the first and the second locations; wherein the first locking member comprises a first plurality of ball members and the second locking member comprises a second plurality of ball members, the first and second plurality of ball members symmetrically disposed about the inner tube, wherein the first plurality of ball members are operable to lock the inner tube to the outer tube at both the first and second locations, and wherein the second plurality of ball members are operable to lock the inner tube to the outer tube at the second location but not at the first location.