US Patent 9707436 Exercise equipment and connector apparatuses for exercise equipment

A connector apparatus connects a first component of an exercise machine to a second component of the exercise machine. The connector apparatus comprises a rack coupled to the first component; a pinion gear coupled to the second component, the pinion gear being configured to mate with the rack such that the pinion gear can roll along the rack; a one-way bearing that allows the pinion gear to roll along the rack in a first direction and prevents the pinion gear from rolling along the rack in an opposite, second direction; and a handle that is coupled to the one-way bearing. The handle is configured to move back and forth between a first position wherein the pinion gear is mated with the rack and allowed by the one-way bearing to roll along the rack in the first direction and prevented by the one-way bearing from rolling along the rack in the second direction; and a second position wherein the pinion gear is separated from the rack and is freely movable in the first and second directions.