Seat with weight measuring capabilities

• US 4,957,286 A
• Filed: 02/16/1990
• Issued: 09/18/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Faulhaber Company
• Original Assignee: The Faulhaber Company
• Inventors: Persons, Charles A. II, Goostree, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/481,787
• Time in Patent Office: 214 Days
• Field of Search: 272/73, 272/130, 272/93, 272/67, 272/68, 177/208, 177/144, 73/379, 297/199
• US Class Current: 482/57
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/26 Paddings involving other resilient material, e.g. sponge rubber with inflatable compartments
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/52 Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture with walking sticks A45B3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 5/006 with pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/909 Mechanical indicator

Abstract

A weight indicating seat for an exercise device having a pneumatic system associated therewith comprising a pneumatic bladder located in the seat which is connected to a gauge calibrated to indicate weight proportional to the pressure within the bladder. A pumping bulb is also connected to the pneumatic system to allow air to be added to or removed from the bladder.

Claims

1. A weight monitoring exercise device comprising:

a bicycle seat;

a seat-connecting post;

pedal-driven exercise means; and

weight monitoring means,

in which said bicycle seat is attached to said seat-connecting post, and said post is connected to said exercise means, wherein said weight monitoring means comprises a compressible, gas-holding container elastomeric mounted within said seat, said seat comprising a seat cover enclosing seat cushioning material which encapsulates said container said container connected to a meter responsive to changes in the pressure of said gas, said meter being mounted on said exercise means so as to be visible to an individual seated on said seat, whereby a person on said seat can observe meter reading differences occurring as the result of gas pressure changes in said container caused from body-weight loss produced by an individual exercising on said device.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which said device is an exercise bicycle, wherein said weight monitoring means is, connected by tubing to an air pressure meter mounted on said bicycle forward of said seat.

3. A device according to claim 2 in which there is also provided means for pumping gas into said container, and means for releasing said gas to the atmosphere.

4. A pedal-operated exercise bicycle comprising:

a bicycle frame;

a bicycle seat;

a seat-connecting post;

a compressible, air-holding bladder;

an air pressure-responsive meter; and

tubing connecting said bladder and said meter,

in which said bicycle seat is attached to said seat-connecting post, and said post is connected of said bicycle frame, said bladder being mounted within said seat, said seat comprising a seat cover enclosing seat cushioning material which encapsulates said bladder, and said meter being mounted on said bicycle frame forward of said seat so as to be visible to an individual seated on said seat, whereby a person seated on said seat can observe meter reading differences occurring as a result of air pressure changes in said bladder caused by body-weight loss produced by the individual'"'"'s pedaling of said bicycle.

5. An exercise bicycle according to claim 4, and further comprising a hollow, compressible, elastomeric bulb connected by tubing to said bladder from pumping gas into said bladder, and a check valve connected to the tubing connecting said bulb and said bladder, said check valve being adjustable to control the flow of air between said bladder and the atmosphere.