1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cycling. More particularly, this invention pertains to shorts that include air-cushioning for significantly reducing the discomfort and possible risks to the rider often posed by the relatively hard seat of a cycle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
While bicycle riding, or cycling, is almost-universally appreciated as a high quality source of fitness and health, it can pose health issues, especially for male cyclists. Although a generally low impact activity, the interface between rider and a racing-type seat can contribute to not-insubstantial physical harm.
A racing-style seat is designed to provide minimal impediment to the rider's ability to “pump” his legs for maximum speed and power when, for example, racing or climbing a hill. This dictates that it present a minimal profile in the horizontal plane to offer maximum clearance for the insides of the rider's legs. This is in contrast to other types of recreational cycles that provide a well-padded seat of generally-triangular design. Such seats are found on cycles designed for leisurely coasting and are quite suitable for sightseeing rather than racing or strenuous workouts.
The seat of a racing-type cycle is generally horizontally-elongated and aligned with the frame of the cycle. It is characterized by a transverse cross-section of inverted u-shape for maximum leg clearance as discussed above. The described shape allows the unfettered pumping of the cyclist's legs. In keeping with the objective of minimizing interference with the pumping of the rider's legs, the seat of a racing-type cycle is minimalist, formed of a cast metal frame with an overlying cover of leather or synthetic fabric. Minimal allowance is made for cushioning material of any kind.
While a seat of the type described in the preceding paragraph is advantageous for the aggressive rider who may often be standing throughout the majority of his workout, such design poses certain well-recognized risks. The seat of a racing-type cycle is only minimally-functional in terms of cushioning when one sits on it for extended periods of time. This is especially the case for male riders whose physiology is not particularly well suited for resting on a hard seat. Riding can cause the weight of the upper body of a male rider to press the rider's prostate and gonadal region down upon the hard seat, resulting in medically-recognized harm.
Current designs of cycling shorts for men include padding of, for example, foam rubber, synthetic fabric or fiber that extends from the rider's seat to cover the crotch region. While offering some comfort and protection, such shorts are not particularly suitable for use by casual riders over long distances as the padding is subject to compression and can become hard and ineffective as a cushion with extended use.
The present invention addresses the preceding and other shortcomings of the prior art by providing cycling shorts of novel design. Such shorts include a first fabric portion for covering at least a first upper leg of a wearer and extending to the wearer's waist and a second fabric portion for covering at least a second upper leg of a wearer rider and extending to the wearer's waist.
The first and second portions converge to a seam defining an axis of symmetry of the shorts. A pad is affixed to the inner surface of the shorts. The pad comprises integral seat section and crotch sections. The pad is aligned with respect to the axis of symmetry of the shorts so that the crotch section overlies the wearer's crotch region. The pad includes a interior chamber for receiving and retaining pressurized air.
The preceding and other features of the invention will become further apparent from the detailed description that follows. Such description is accompanied by a set of drawing figures. Numerals of the drawings, corresponding to those of the written description, point to the features of the invention with like numerals referring to like features throughout both the written description and the drawings.
The shorts of
The particular type of shorts illustrated in
As seen in
A pad (not visible in
Referring in particular to
Returning to
Returning to the exploded perspective view of
The chamber 36 is controllably pressurized by means of the manually-operable pump 22 that is fixed to the frontal panel 16 of the cycling shorts 10. Viewing
The honeycombed structure of the interior chamber 36 wherein cells permit limited transmission and redistribution of pressurized air between the various regions or sub-chambers described above assures that, once inflated, the interior chamber 36 will continue to support and cushion the various anatomical regions that can be negatively affected by pressure exerted by a hard racing-type seat on a rider. Were it not for the cellular structure with small ducts permitting only limited redistribution of air within the interior chamber 36 as the rider contacts the seat, air within the chamber 36 would invariably be disadvantageously distributed, largely negating any desired cushioning effect. Without the honeycombed internal structure of the chamber 36, air would be readily forced away from the regions underlying portions of the rider's anatomy that press hardest against the hard cycle seat toward those that exert lesser pressure. For example, one would expect lateral migration of pressurized air away from the centerline of joinder of the fabric portions 12, 14 of the shorts 10. This is both wasteful of the cushioning effect and degrades the effectiveness of the air cushion. Were one to attempt to compensate for this migration of cushioning effect, overinflation of the chamber 36 would undoubtedly produce other deleterious effects.
Impact testing using INSTRON DYNATUP® instrumented impact test and data acquisitions software has shown that a pad in accordance with the invention as described, formed of laminated layers comprising an exterior of soft fabric and internal layers of impermeable material forming an internal chamber for receiving pressurized air, above can substantially reduce the loading in the presence of an applied force. Such load reduction is achieved by an increase in the degree of displacement (as compared with wood, as well as the padding employed in the following models of cycling shorts: SUGOI®-XL, SUGOI®-L women and CANARI®-M) that is absorbed by an air-cushioned pad in accordance with the invention. Load reductions of 45 to 57 percent were observed with in a pad in accordance with the invention inflated in the range of 30 to 40 p.s.i. The other paddings (including wood) offered load reductions in the range of 0 to 27 percent.
Thus it is seen that the air-cushioned cycling shorts of the invention provide a means for protecting a rider from the potentially damaging effects of a racing-type seat. By utilizing the teachings of this invention, the cyclist can enjoy the manifold health benefits of cycling without substantial fear of harmful side effects.
While the invention has been described with reference to its presently preferred embodiment, it is not limited thereto. Rather, this invention is limited only insofar as it is defined by the following set of patent claims and includes within its scope all equivalents thereof.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20140250567 A1 | Sep 2014 | US |