Seat pedestal

Claim 1

A seat pedestal capable of supporting the weight of a person comprising an upstanding first tubular element, a second tubular element telescopingly received in the first tubular element for support of a seat, an elastomeric block within the first tubular element, said block being out of engagement with the inner surface of the first tubular element when the block is in a relaxed state, means securing said block to the second tubular element for movement therewith, said means for securing said block to the second tubular element for movement therewith comprising a first plate affixed to the lower end of said second tubular element, said first plate including downwardly extending pin elements extending into the block in securement therewith, a plurality of peripherally spaced apart inwardly extending ribs on the upper end of said first tubular element defining a bearing surface for said second tubular element, said first plate being of slightly greater diameter than said second tubular element whereby the peripheral edges of said second plate will contact said ribs upon extreme upward movement of said second tubular element to thereby prevent separation of the tubular elements, actuator means to compress the block in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the first tubular element with consequent radially outward expansion of the block to frictionally engage the inner surface of the first tubular element and releasably secure said tuBular elements together to prevent relative movement therebetween, said actuator means being operable to release the block to permit relaxation thereof to thereby permit simultaneous vertical and rotative adjustment of the second tubular element with respect to the first tubular element, said actuator means including a second plate in abutment with the underside of said block, means to raise and lower said second plate for compression and relaxation of said block comprising a rod extending from said second plate and through said block and terminating at its upper end at a point adjacent the upper end of the second tubular element, crank means affixed to the upper portion of the second tubular element in engagement with the upper end of the rod to cause raising and lowering of the rod, said crank means comprising a crank arm extending exteriorally of the second tubular element for manual engagement, a ring-like element on the upper end of said rod, and an offset crank portion connected to the crank arm and located within said ring-like element for raising and lowering of the rod upon turning of the crank arm.