Upon reaching their destinations and parking their bikes, bicyclists often want a practical and comfortable place to sit, apart from the bicycle. If there are no chairs available, the rider will usually be forced to sit on the ground, a nearby tree trunk, or similar uncomfortable spot. Strapping a chair to a bicycle or carrying a chair on one's back while riding a bike is not a practical or safe solution. And again the alternative is to go without a comfortable place to sit when one dismounts from the bicycle.
It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a convertible bicycle seat which doubles both as a bicycle saddle seat and a seat which can be removed from the bicycle to be used separate and independently from the bicycle as a stool-like seat.
This and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, a convertible bicycle seat which comprises a saddle, a saddle stem with an upper end and a lower end, the saddle being connected at the upper end of the saddle stem. A plurality of legs are attached at the lower end of the saddle stem and are pivotable between a first position in which the legs are located and aligned with the saddle stem, to a second position in which the legs extend outward from the saddle stem to support the saddle as a separate and independent stool-like seat.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Convertible bicycle seat 1 comprises saddle stem 2 configured as an elongated tube having exterior surface 4, upper end 6 and lower end 8. Saddle 10 is connected at upper end 6 of the saddle stem in any recognized manner standard in the art. This connection forms no part of the invention.
Support legs 12, 14, and 16 are connected via pivotable hinge joints 18, 20, and 22 at lower end 8 of saddle stem 2. Support leg 12 has exterior surface 13, support leg 14 has exterior surface 15, and support leg 16 has exterior surface 17. Support legs 12, 14, and 16 are pivotable between a first position, in which leg exterior surfaces 13, 15 and 17 are located directly below and aligned with exterior surface 4 of saddle stem 2, as seen in
When configured in the first position, saddle stem 2 and legs 12, 14, and 16 fit neatly within seat post 32 of bicycle 30 and the bicycle is operated as normal. See
Convertible bicycle seat 1 is designed to be used separate and independently of bicycle 30. To do so, clamp 34 is loosened to allow bicycle seat 1 to be removed from seat post 32. Once bicycle seat 1 is so removed, support legs 12, 14, and 16 are pivoted out to the second position and placed on the ground. In this position, shown in
When bicycle 30 is again to be ridden, legs 12, 14, and 16 are pivoted back to the first position, so that leg exterior surfaces 13, 15, and 17 are located directly below and aligned with exterior surface 4 of saddle stem 2. The saddle stem can then be inserted into seat post 32 and secured in place by clamp 34. Bicycle 30 is then ready to be used once again.
Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
542609 | Gordon et al. | Jul 1895 | A |
1588575 | Grunwald | Jun 1926 | A |
1601206 | Franz | Sep 1926 | A |
2560447 | Jansen | Jul 1951 | A |
3038690 | Alexiou | Jun 1962 | A |
3497293 | Davis | Feb 1970 | A |
6192908 | Smith | Feb 2001 | B1 |
20030020312 | Wang | Jan 2003 | A1 |
20140021752 | von Letkemann | Jan 2014 | A1 |
20150075576 | Gullo | Mar 2015 | A1 |