The present invention relates to a bicycle seat for providing of a seat for a person on a bicycle.
A bicycle has a known bicycle seat that is mountable to a saddle pin that is fixed relative to the seat tube by camping it at the top side thereof at a number of height positions. This way of mounting to a bicycle is de facto standard and advantageous because this allows for an optimization of the height of the seat in relation to the length of a leg of a user. Furthermore, at the bottom side of the bicycle seat, the seat clamp is commonplace with which the seat can be adjusted horizontally depending on the angle of the seat tube of a bicycle relative to gravity. As a result, it has been realized in practice in an economical way that a seat is also usable compared to any seat tube. For this purpose, the actuals bicycle seat as a construction at the bottom of it for mounting it to the seat type.
Such constructions have as a disadvantage that of the bicycle seat, such parts are uncomfortable when grasping the saddle as a number of parts at the underside of the seat attached when picking up the bicycle at the seat. Furthermore, such a construction provides an appearance that detracts from the design of the bicycle as disappearance is determined by the visible parts. A further disadvantage is that when manufacturing the bicycle, the seat is to be connected to the seat clamp which limits the design freedom for the design of the seat.
In order to overcome such disadvantages, the present invention provides a bicycle seat for providing of a seat for a person on a bicycle, comprising:
An advantage of such a bicycle seat according to the present invention is that the design freedom is obtained that may freely aim at the bicycle seat redesigned wherein no account has to be taken, for example, collectability to the saddle clamp. Furthermore, the side and the underside may be designed in freedom for comfortable grasping by the hand of a rider. With this, parts may be avoided that cause discomfort with such grasping. Furthermore, design freedom is obtained for designing of a bicycle seat in a way that fits the design of the bicycle as a whole because design requirements according to the prior art may be avoided.
A further advantage of a bicycle saddle according to the present invention is that a limited built height between the top side of the top tube and the top side of the saddle is achievable because of which the distance between the battles and/or the surface of the earth and top side of the saddle is relatively limited because of which a person with relatively short legs can use a bicycle with a relatively large frame. Depending on parameters as seating comfort or suspension comfort, height savings are achievable of several centimeters to about a decimeter.
According to a first preferred embodiment, the support element is embodied as a support body, preferably embodied as a formed body, further preferably formed by means of a molding operation or a forming operation from a plate material. By means of such a support body, a flat basis is achievable for supporting thereon of the buffer means, which for example contributes to the limited built height of the seat also pairing this with a suitable support.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the buffer means are arrangeable on or are arranged on the support element. With this, also a contribution to the limited built height is achieved.
According to a further preferred embodiment the buffer means comprise at least one zone of material in which each at least one zone of material comprises predetermined buffer characteristics in itself, buffer means are realized wherein each zone of material provides relatively advantages for characteristics at the location of this zone of material. With this, a relatively firm buffer may be arranged at the location of the underside of the seat bone and a for example relatively soft buffer arrangeable in the middle of the saddle.
For the purpose of providing a further seat comfort, the buffer means comprise at least one height zone wherein each at least one height zone comprises predetermined buffer characteristics in itself. By means of such a height zone, a relatively longer suspension travel with a suitable suspension force is definable at desired locations, such as at the location of the seat bone. Between such height zones it is further provided that other zones may be filled with very soft foam for realizing an even surface while maintaining comfort provided by relatively solid height zones and/or specific zones of material.
To this end, according to a further preferred embodiment, the buffer means provide a suspension travel depending on a force exerted thereon by a person.
Further preferably, the buffer means comprise at least a resilient support element, preferably two resilient support elements on both sides relative to the middle as seen in the direction of travel, such as at the location of the respective seat bone. With this, the support, suspension travel and/or comfort at the location is maximized. Further preferably, the resilient support element comprises a gas-filled suspension element. Further preferably, the resilient support member comprises a gel filled suspension element. Further preferably, the resilient support member comprises spring means, such as a sheet spring or a compression spring, such as a conical compression spring. Such a conical compression spring for example has a comfort rating advantage that a relatively large support surface is achievable.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the at least one zone of material comprises at least one zone of material with a hard foam and/or at least one zone of material with a soft foam. The effect of a relatively soft foam may be realized by a relatively hard foam with removed recesses.
For the purpose of comfort at the location of the middle of the seat, 1 of the at least one zone of material comprises a soft zone of material or a hard zone of material between the left side and the right side of the seat. With this, at that location, a relatively soft comfort zone is achievable for the purpose of a middle part of the human body.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the bicycle seat comprises a mechanical support at the front and/or at the rear of the saddle. With this, a resilient effect of the support element is achievable. Furthermore, a centering effect with respect to the rider is achievable. Further preferably, the bicycle seat comprises a resilient support, such as comprising a rubber, at the front side and/or at the rear side of the seat. With this, a suspensive effect is realized and/or a relatively high dampening is achieved.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the underside of the buffer means are formed by a holder layer holding dampening material or the resilient support element. Such a holder layer is preferably manufactured from a nylon with therein shaped recesses or hollow spaces or spaces for arranging therein of a suspense of material, such as a foam or a rubber, such as TPR.
Further preferably, the buffer means comprise a comfort layer, such as comprising memory foam, soft PP and/or hard PP. with this, the comfort for the rider is improved relative to the support that is provided by the support element.
Further preferably, the seat surface is formed by the top side of the buffer means and/or by a cover layer or wear layer. With this, the shape of the bicycle seat and the characteristics relative to the rider, as well as the durability of the bicycle seat is improved.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the support element defines a height variation for providing of at least 2 height zones, each with a respective vertical push in travel or suspension travel. With this, it is for example achievable that a suspension travel at the location of the seat bone is relatively longer than a suspension travel near the middle or the front side of the bicycle seat. A longer suspension travel improves for example the conference with respect to writing over an unevenness.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the bicycle seat comprises adjustment means for adjusting of the position of the seat assembly relative to the support member in a horizontal direction, such as in the direction of travel of the bicycle. With this, the positioning of the rider relative to for example the crank and/or the handlebar is ergonomically adjustable and/or improves.
Further preferably, such adjustment means relate to continuous adjustment means, such as embodied by means of clamping means providing a clamping between the support member and the support element, or embodied by means of screw means providing a mutual displacement between a length of threaded wire and a screw member, such as a nut. With this, a relatively high precision of the adjustability is achieved. Alternatively, such adjustment means relate to discrete adjustment positions, such as by means of insertion or screwing of at least a pin or bolt in respective insertion positions determining the discrete adjustment positions. With this, a relatively easy choice of the adjustment positions is realized, such as for example based on adjustment rules.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the bicycle seat comprises bumper means against impacts or abrasion, such as for protecting of the buffer means, preferably embodied as an extending edge of the support element extending sideways beyond the dimension or a shape of the buffer means. With this, it is advantageously achieved to reduce wear off relatively soft buffer means by receiving such bumping or scraping against for example a wall by these buffer means. Such buffer means are for example embodied as parts of the support element that extend beyond the buffer means sideways or bumpers on the support elements.
A further aspect according to the present invention relates to a bicycle seat or kit, comprising the bicycle seat and the support assembly. Such aspect according to the present invention provides advantages as indicated in relation to the above aspects.
A further aspect according to the present invention relates to a kit comprising a bicycle seat and at least a handle, wherein the top surface of a seat surface of the bicycle seat and the gripping surface of the handle substantially have the same appearance and or tactile characteristics, preferably comprising a similar kind of material and/or the same material. Such aspect according to the present invention provides as advantage that comfort providing elements of the bicycle provide a corresponding appearance or impression to the user because of which a perception of a function correspondence thereof with respect to comfort is perceived by the rider to a high degree.
Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be further elucidated on the basis of a description of one or more preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Similar yet not necessarily identical parts of different preferred embodiments may be indicated with the same reference numerals.
The top side of the buffer means determines the shape and the appearance of the top side of the seat. Furthermore, the cover layer provides protection for the buffer means, especially for relatively soft or damage prone parts thereof.
The seat is supported relative to the bicycle by a suspension member. The suspension member is preferably connectable with or connected to a saddle pin for arranging thereof relative to the bicycle. An advantage of such a support member according to preferred embodiments according to the invention is that the bicycle saddle is achievable without the use of a guide rail. With this, a significant amount of height is saved. The support element is arranged relative to the saddle pin, and there with relative to the gravity, under such an angle that an optimal angular orientation of the seat is achieved. A seat according to the present invention has as advantage that damaging or loosening of a saddle clamp cannot occur as the angle of the seat is always in order. An example substantially horizontal, less than 3° deviating from the horizontal, orientation fulfills UCI regulations.
The support element is conceived as a flat plate (see the following) or as a member with several zones of height. In case of for example a relatively low rear side relative to a relatively high front side allows for a relatively longer dampening travel or suspension travel at the rear side. It is an advantage that the combination of the support element with the buffer means saves height relative to a saddle according to the prior art because suspension under the seat base is avoided. With this, the support element is simpler, lighter or more advantageously producible than a seat base according to the prior art that needs to absorb all support forces. The transfer of forces from the rear side to the saddle pin is to a large degree simpler according to the present invention.
This support element is arranged for a horizontal displacement of 20 mm relative to the support member of the optional support assembly. In case of a forward arrangement, the sloping parts 23 of the support element 2 is arranged against a corresponding slope of the support member. In case of a rearward displacement relative to the forward arrangement, the sloping part 23 obtains distance, horizontal distance, relative to the corresponding sloping part of the support member.
This is the case with preferred embodiments according to
The embodiment according to B alternatively has a similar hard foam layer that is directly arranged at the support element and to gas-filled, such as air filled dampening members 15. In comparison of a foam layer, These air filled dampening members provide a distinctable specific comfort with respect to dampening action and/or suspension action in relation to especially the body zone of the respective seat bone.
In a similar manner as the dampening members according to B, the preferred embodiment according to C provides dampening members 16 embodied as a specific phone directed at interaction with the seat bone. Alternatively, a filling with a gel is provided.
The preferred embodiments according to
The support member according to this preferred embodiment comprises a base plate 25 and a shape definition member 26, preferably arranged at the baseplate. This baseplate is arranged for a horizontal displacement relative to the support member of the optional support assembly. With this, the baseplate is provided with an elongated slot 31 for movably arranging therein of connecting means, such as a bolt for connecting of the support member 25 with a fixation plate 27, thereby exciting the baseplate. The slot 31 has an end 31′ at the front side thereof and an end 31″ at the rear side thereof.
The baseplate 25 according to this preferred embodiment provides substantially firmness and support to the bottom side of the saddle. The shape definition member 26 provides a connection between the baseplate and the buffer means that are arrangeable on top of the shape definition member 26. The shape definition means comprise a recess 29 for receiving of at least a part of the buffer means, for contributing to the length of a suspension travel or dampening travel thereof. Furthermore, the shape definition means comprise an opening 28 for arranging therein of the fixation plate 27 in any displaced state of the seat relative to the support member. When the seat is arranged in the frontmost state, the fixation plate is at the rear side of this opening 28 and when the seat is arranged in the rearmost state, the fixation plate is at the front side of this opening 28. Furthermore, this preferred embodiment comprises variants of foam fillings as described in the above.
The preferred embodiment according to
An alternative fastening with horizontal adjustability of the seat relative to the support member is shown in
The preferred embodiment according to
The already indicated distinct able zones of material are shown in greater detail in
Variant D provides, next to the zone of material of the hard foam 12 and the soft foam 14, a zone of material of memory foam 17 on top of that. This is further covered by a cover layer 4. The zone of material of memory foam 17 provides as optionally added comfort layer additional seat comfort for the writer of the bicycle.
By the vertical coaction of the bodies 96, 97 and 101, within the understanding of the present invention, a comfortable suspension action is provided bulk to the buffer body with a sufficient suspension travel and/or dampening travel and a sufficient buffering. Also, the horizontal slide ability is provided wherein the support member is displaceable in the slot shaped opening 29, such as with the embodiment according to for example
According to preferred embodiment, the support element is substantially rigid. This means that the support element is substantially shape determining for providing of a shape in which support is provided in top view. Also, the support element determines the shape in side view. The support element is substantially rigid, which means that the support element is intended as a substantially fixed shape, but within the boundaries of material properties, it has elastic characteristics because of which it can deviate and therefore serve that are exerted on it by the human body or the writer of the bicycle.
The present invention is described in the foregoing on the basis of preferred embodiments. Different aspects of different embodiments are expressly considered disclosed in combination with each other and in all combinations that on the basis of this document, when read by a skilled person of the area of skill, fall within the scope of the invention or are deemed to be read with the disclosure of this document. These preferred embodiments are not limitative for the scope of protection of this document. The rights sought are defined in the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2024185 | Nov 2019 | NL | national |
This application is the United States national phase of International Application No. PCT/NL2020/050704 filed Nov. 9, 2020, and claims priority to The Netherlands Patent Application No. 2024185 filed Nov. 7, 2019, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/NL2020/050704 | 11/9/2020 | WO |