CA1230041A - Cycle seat - Google Patents
Cycle seatInfo
- Publication number
- CA1230041A CA1230041A CA000444238A CA444238A CA1230041A CA 1230041 A CA1230041 A CA 1230041A CA 000444238 A CA000444238 A CA 000444238A CA 444238 A CA444238 A CA 444238A CA 1230041 A CA1230041 A CA 1230041A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- seat
- parts
- cycle
- seats
- curved edge
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62J—CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
- B62J1/00—Saddles or other seats for cycles; Arrangement thereof; Component parts
- B62J1/005—Saddles having a seating area with multiple separate weight bearing surfaces
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Seats For Vehicles (AREA)
Abstract
"ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE"
The cycle seat comprises two distinct buttock-or cheek-support parts which are arranged substantially symmetrically at respective sides of the longitudinal axis of the seat. These parts are connected and supported by members arranged entirely below the plane of the seat.
The cycle seat comprises two distinct buttock-or cheek-support parts which are arranged substantially symmetrically at respective sides of the longitudinal axis of the seat. These parts are connected and supported by members arranged entirely below the plane of the seat.
Description
~3~
CYCLE SEAT
SPECIFICATION
This invention relates to a seat for a cycle, particular-ly a bicycle, but also a tricycle or unicycle r or a motor cycle.
Traditionally, a cycle seat is in the form of a three-cornered saddle which is generally padded or has an underlying spring suspension. Such a seat is fitted onto a cycle seat support so as to provide a broad rear part to support the spine of a cyclist and a tapering front part I,, to fit between the legs of the cyclist and support their body as they lean forward during active cyclingO
Over the years, many types of cycle seats have been constructed so as each to fit more exactly the contours,of the cyclist's backside by having a depression at each side to accommodate the two buttocks. Consequently such seats tend each to have a central ridge, the roar portion of 10 which supports the cyclist's spine and the front portion of which extends between the cyclist's legs. In the construction of racing bicycles it is obviously necessary to minimize the weight of all cycle components. Pursuant thereto, the seats 15 of almost all types of racing cycles have been reduced in size compared to nornal cycle seats by being made extremely narrow and each comprising little more than the aforementioned central ridge extending in the plane ox the respective cycle.
A cycle having a cycle seat witn a central ridge, as described in the preceding paragraph, is ~L~3~
usually fairly uncomfortable for a cyclist it ridden for an considerable distance becauae thy weight of the body i3 transmitted to the cycle through only a small area surrounding the ridge.
Consequently, the ridge pre3~es to the relative-ly sensitive ~le~h ox the cycli3t's backside.
Such a teat ma also give rite to backache in the cyclist, if, a is often the oase9 the rear porb- -ion ox ths ridge presses against the bay of thc 10 spine, or to be more exact, the coccyx. moreover, it i8 believea that male cyclists who spend a great deal of time riding o~cle3 hazing narrow, ridged seats may have their fertility impaired due bo pre3sure on the Ya8 de~eren tube it the malt 15 genitalia during cycling.
An object ox the prese.nt invention it bher~-fore the provision of a new and improved oycle seat which is more comfortable thaw previous types ox seats and is far lets likely to give rise to back-
CYCLE SEAT
SPECIFICATION
This invention relates to a seat for a cycle, particular-ly a bicycle, but also a tricycle or unicycle r or a motor cycle.
Traditionally, a cycle seat is in the form of a three-cornered saddle which is generally padded or has an underlying spring suspension. Such a seat is fitted onto a cycle seat support so as to provide a broad rear part to support the spine of a cyclist and a tapering front part I,, to fit between the legs of the cyclist and support their body as they lean forward during active cyclingO
Over the years, many types of cycle seats have been constructed so as each to fit more exactly the contours,of the cyclist's backside by having a depression at each side to accommodate the two buttocks. Consequently such seats tend each to have a central ridge, the roar portion of 10 which supports the cyclist's spine and the front portion of which extends between the cyclist's legs. In the construction of racing bicycles it is obviously necessary to minimize the weight of all cycle components. Pursuant thereto, the seats 15 of almost all types of racing cycles have been reduced in size compared to nornal cycle seats by being made extremely narrow and each comprising little more than the aforementioned central ridge extending in the plane ox the respective cycle.
A cycle having a cycle seat witn a central ridge, as described in the preceding paragraph, is ~L~3~
usually fairly uncomfortable for a cyclist it ridden for an considerable distance becauae thy weight of the body i3 transmitted to the cycle through only a small area surrounding the ridge.
Consequently, the ridge pre3~es to the relative-ly sensitive ~le~h ox the cycli3t's backside.
Such a teat ma also give rite to backache in the cyclist, if, a is often the oase9 the rear porb- -ion ox ths ridge presses against the bay of thc 10 spine, or to be more exact, the coccyx. moreover, it i8 believea that male cyclists who spend a great deal of time riding o~cle3 hazing narrow, ridged seats may have their fertility impaired due bo pre3sure on the Ya8 de~eren tube it the malt 15 genitalia during cycling.
An object ox the prese.nt invention it bher~-fore the provision of a new and improved oycle seat which is more comfortable thaw previous types ox seats and is far lets likely to give rise to back-
2~ ache in a cyclist or to impalr the fertility ova male cycli3t.
ith this object in view, the present invent-ion provide3 a cycle g at ~Qmpri~ing two ~3~
distinct buttock-or cheek-supporting parts, which parts are arranged substantially symmetrically at respective sides of a gap extending through the longitudinal axis of the seat and are supported by members arranged entirely below the plane of the seat, characterised in that each of the two seat parts is substan-tially semi-circular in shape, having a straight edge and a curved edge section, with the straight edges of the respective parts facing one another, in that each of the two seat parts has a curved edge section and a rim extending from its rear corner to part way around the curved edge section, and in that each of the two seat parts is independently adjustable with respect to height and angle to the horizontal but is not designed to move during use.
Thus, the parts are preferably substantially identical but arranged as mirror images at respective sides of the seat axis. This seat does not include a central ridge nor any part which would extend between the legs of the cyclist.
In a preferred embodiment of the cycle seat, each of the two buttock-or cheek-supporting parts has a rim extending from one corner part way around the curved edge.
~.~3~
The two parts may conveniently be separated by a gap extending through the longitudinal axis of the seat, e.g. between the straight edges of semi-circular part seats, and be supported from below upon respective limbs of a forked seat support.
The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a Eragmentary perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the cycle seat oE the invention fitted onto a bicycle;
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the arrange-ment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a cyclist sitting on the same embodiment of the cycle seat of the invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and ~23~
Fig. 4 is a fragment ront elevation of illustrating another practical embodiment of the cycle seat of the invention fitted onto a bicycle.
As shown in jigs. 1 and 2, a preferred embodi-ment of the cycle seat of the invention comprisestwo substantially semi-circular half-seats 10 and 11~ ;
hese half-seats 10 and 11 are wormed as mirror inages of each other of internally padded material such as leather, plastics or text1le fabric. Each half-seat 10, 11 has a substantially flat base region 13 for accommodating one cheek or buttock of a cyclist. extending partially around the curved edge of each half-seat 10, 11 is an arcuate raised portion or rim 14 which slopes up-15 ~vardly from one corner and downwardly around theside so as to leave a flat region 15 adjacent the other corner on whicn the top of one of the c~C1ist's legs will ret. From the underside of each base region 13 projects a connection flange 16 hazing a bore therethrough.
i ;~300~1 i yhen mounted on a bicycle 30, as shown in jigs. 1 to 3, the half-seats 10 and 11 are fitted onto perspective limbs 17, 18 of a forked cycle seat support 19 such that the rims 14 are tor;ards 5 the rear of the bicycle 30. The respective connection flanges 16 of the half-seats 10, 11 are slotted onto horizontal end portions of the respective limbs 17, l and held fi~nly in position by washers 21 by tightening of respective nuts 20.
The half-sea-ts 10 and 11 are separated by a gap 12 of substantially constant width, e,g. 10 to 20 cm, between their respectiYe straight edges.
the gay 12 is in line with the longitudinal axis of the bicycle 30.
It will thus be appreciated that a cyclist sitting on the above-described seat, comprising half-seats 10 and 11, will have their buttocks or cheeks supported separately upon the respective base reæions 13 of said half-seats 10, 11 with 20 the rim 14 defining the limit of -the seat and lending additional support at the rear and side ~3~
of the cyclist's buttocks or cheeks.
As indicated in Fig. 3, the half-seats 10/ 11 may be separately adjusted with respect to their angle to the horizontal by lossening their respect-ively associated nuts 20, pivoting the half-seats 10~ 119 about the horizontal end portions of the limbs 17 and 18, to the required angle and re-tighten-ing the nuts 20.
In a modification of the above-described arrange-10 ment, the half-seats 10, 11 may also be independently adjustable with respect to height, for example by rovision of telescopically adjustable limbs on the forked seat support 19.
A Iurther practical embodiment of the invention, 15 as shown in Fi~-~ 4, comprises a cycle seat 25 having two buttock-or cheek-3upporting parts 40, 41 of substantially the save form as the respective half-s,eats 10 and 11 of the preferred embodiment. That is to say base regions 43, rims 44, flat front 20 regions 45 and flanges 4O correspond to the parts ~23~
indicated by 13, 14, 15 and 16 respectively in ~ig8. 1 to 3. However the seat parts 40 and 41 are centrally connected by a region 42 which is depressed below the plane of the base regions 43. The seat 25 is shown fitted onto a forked seat support 19 in similar manner to the previously described preferred embodiment of cycle seat Due to the connection of the parts 40, and 41, they must, of course, be a~just.ed simultaneously with 10 respect to height and angle.
O:E course, the seat 25 need not be fitted to a forked seat support but may insteàd be fitted - onto a more usual type of unitary support by way of a single connection flange projecting from the 15 underside of the depression 42.
It should, of course, be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of the foregoing embodiments and variations may be made tn~rebo. In particul3r the shape and construct-20 ion of the half-seats or part seats ma vary, for ~;~3~
- 10 _ example by having respective depressions in the base regions to fit more closely to the shape of the cyclist's buttocks, or by having sprung suspensions. i/loreover, the rims may be omitted, 5 if so required, for example, in racing cycles in order to reduce weight and air/wind resistance.
Any increase in air/wind resistance due to a s rimless cycle seat of the invention compared to that of a traditional narrow racing cycle seat 10 is negligible, as~the half-seats or part seats would lie completely beneath the riders backside and would not project sideways or rearwards to the surface area presented to the oncoming air.
The advantages of the presently proposed cycle seat compared to known seats are considerable.
firstly, the weight of the body is transmitted to the cycle by way of a larger area, namely su~stant-ially all the cyclist's cheeks or buttocks and 20 the corresponding su~-~orting base regions of the half seats or part seats, and secondly there is no central ridge to cut or press into the cyclist, ~3~
so overall the qeat of the invention is far more comfortable than any hitherto proposed, and it far less likely to give rise to backache or impa_r male fertilityO Furthermore, the larger area of weight transmission in the seat of the invention will probably give the cyclist increased leverage on the pedals and thus reduce the effort required for cycling at a certain speed compared to a kn.own cycle seat.
A3 mentioned at the beginning of this specifi-cation, the cycle teat ox the in~rention it not only 3uitable for fitting on a bicycle9 but may al80 'De u~d on a tricycle or unicyole, which are nowadays rare. Moreo~rer, the seat may be fitted onto a motor cyole to improve the comfort ox it8 rider.
ith this object in view, the present invent-ion provide3 a cycle g at ~Qmpri~ing two ~3~
distinct buttock-or cheek-supporting parts, which parts are arranged substantially symmetrically at respective sides of a gap extending through the longitudinal axis of the seat and are supported by members arranged entirely below the plane of the seat, characterised in that each of the two seat parts is substan-tially semi-circular in shape, having a straight edge and a curved edge section, with the straight edges of the respective parts facing one another, in that each of the two seat parts has a curved edge section and a rim extending from its rear corner to part way around the curved edge section, and in that each of the two seat parts is independently adjustable with respect to height and angle to the horizontal but is not designed to move during use.
Thus, the parts are preferably substantially identical but arranged as mirror images at respective sides of the seat axis. This seat does not include a central ridge nor any part which would extend between the legs of the cyclist.
In a preferred embodiment of the cycle seat, each of the two buttock-or cheek-supporting parts has a rim extending from one corner part way around the curved edge.
~.~3~
The two parts may conveniently be separated by a gap extending through the longitudinal axis of the seat, e.g. between the straight edges of semi-circular part seats, and be supported from below upon respective limbs of a forked seat support.
The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a Eragmentary perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the cycle seat oE the invention fitted onto a bicycle;
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the arrange-ment shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a cyclist sitting on the same embodiment of the cycle seat of the invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and ~23~
Fig. 4 is a fragment ront elevation of illustrating another practical embodiment of the cycle seat of the invention fitted onto a bicycle.
As shown in jigs. 1 and 2, a preferred embodi-ment of the cycle seat of the invention comprisestwo substantially semi-circular half-seats 10 and 11~ ;
hese half-seats 10 and 11 are wormed as mirror inages of each other of internally padded material such as leather, plastics or text1le fabric. Each half-seat 10, 11 has a substantially flat base region 13 for accommodating one cheek or buttock of a cyclist. extending partially around the curved edge of each half-seat 10, 11 is an arcuate raised portion or rim 14 which slopes up-15 ~vardly from one corner and downwardly around theside so as to leave a flat region 15 adjacent the other corner on whicn the top of one of the c~C1ist's legs will ret. From the underside of each base region 13 projects a connection flange 16 hazing a bore therethrough.
i ;~300~1 i yhen mounted on a bicycle 30, as shown in jigs. 1 to 3, the half-seats 10 and 11 are fitted onto perspective limbs 17, 18 of a forked cycle seat support 19 such that the rims 14 are tor;ards 5 the rear of the bicycle 30. The respective connection flanges 16 of the half-seats 10, 11 are slotted onto horizontal end portions of the respective limbs 17, l and held fi~nly in position by washers 21 by tightening of respective nuts 20.
The half-sea-ts 10 and 11 are separated by a gap 12 of substantially constant width, e,g. 10 to 20 cm, between their respectiYe straight edges.
the gay 12 is in line with the longitudinal axis of the bicycle 30.
It will thus be appreciated that a cyclist sitting on the above-described seat, comprising half-seats 10 and 11, will have their buttocks or cheeks supported separately upon the respective base reæions 13 of said half-seats 10, 11 with 20 the rim 14 defining the limit of -the seat and lending additional support at the rear and side ~3~
of the cyclist's buttocks or cheeks.
As indicated in Fig. 3, the half-seats 10/ 11 may be separately adjusted with respect to their angle to the horizontal by lossening their respect-ively associated nuts 20, pivoting the half-seats 10~ 119 about the horizontal end portions of the limbs 17 and 18, to the required angle and re-tighten-ing the nuts 20.
In a modification of the above-described arrange-10 ment, the half-seats 10, 11 may also be independently adjustable with respect to height, for example by rovision of telescopically adjustable limbs on the forked seat support 19.
A Iurther practical embodiment of the invention, 15 as shown in Fi~-~ 4, comprises a cycle seat 25 having two buttock-or cheek-3upporting parts 40, 41 of substantially the save form as the respective half-s,eats 10 and 11 of the preferred embodiment. That is to say base regions 43, rims 44, flat front 20 regions 45 and flanges 4O correspond to the parts ~23~
indicated by 13, 14, 15 and 16 respectively in ~ig8. 1 to 3. However the seat parts 40 and 41 are centrally connected by a region 42 which is depressed below the plane of the base regions 43. The seat 25 is shown fitted onto a forked seat support 19 in similar manner to the previously described preferred embodiment of cycle seat Due to the connection of the parts 40, and 41, they must, of course, be a~just.ed simultaneously with 10 respect to height and angle.
O:E course, the seat 25 need not be fitted to a forked seat support but may insteàd be fitted - onto a more usual type of unitary support by way of a single connection flange projecting from the 15 underside of the depression 42.
It should, of course, be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of the foregoing embodiments and variations may be made tn~rebo. In particul3r the shape and construct-20 ion of the half-seats or part seats ma vary, for ~;~3~
- 10 _ example by having respective depressions in the base regions to fit more closely to the shape of the cyclist's buttocks, or by having sprung suspensions. i/loreover, the rims may be omitted, 5 if so required, for example, in racing cycles in order to reduce weight and air/wind resistance.
Any increase in air/wind resistance due to a s rimless cycle seat of the invention compared to that of a traditional narrow racing cycle seat 10 is negligible, as~the half-seats or part seats would lie completely beneath the riders backside and would not project sideways or rearwards to the surface area presented to the oncoming air.
The advantages of the presently proposed cycle seat compared to known seats are considerable.
firstly, the weight of the body is transmitted to the cycle by way of a larger area, namely su~stant-ially all the cyclist's cheeks or buttocks and 20 the corresponding su~-~orting base regions of the half seats or part seats, and secondly there is no central ridge to cut or press into the cyclist, ~3~
so overall the qeat of the invention is far more comfortable than any hitherto proposed, and it far less likely to give rise to backache or impa_r male fertilityO Furthermore, the larger area of weight transmission in the seat of the invention will probably give the cyclist increased leverage on the pedals and thus reduce the effort required for cycling at a certain speed compared to a kn.own cycle seat.
A3 mentioned at the beginning of this specifi-cation, the cycle teat ox the in~rention it not only 3uitable for fitting on a bicycle9 but may al80 'De u~d on a tricycle or unicyole, which are nowadays rare. Moreo~rer, the seat may be fitted onto a motor cyole to improve the comfort ox it8 rider.
Claims (2)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A cycle seat consisting of only two distinct buttock-or cheek-supporting parts, which parts are arranged substantially symmetrically at respective sides of a gap extending through the longitudinal axis of the seat and are supported by members arranged er,tirely below the plane of the seat, characterised in that each of the two seat parts is substantially semi-circular in shape, having a straight edge and a curved edge section, with the straight edges of the respective parts facing one another, in that each of the two seat parts has a curved edge section and a rim extending from its rear corner to part way around the curved edge section, and in that each of the two seat parts is independently adjustable with respect to height and angle to the horizontal but is not designed to move during use.
2. A cycle seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the two seat parts are supported upon respective limps of a forked seat support.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000444238A CA1230041A (en) | 1983-12-23 | 1983-12-23 | Cycle seat |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000444238A CA1230041A (en) | 1983-12-23 | 1983-12-23 | Cycle seat |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1230041A true CA1230041A (en) | 1987-12-08 |
Family
ID=4126816
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000444238A Expired CA1230041A (en) | 1983-12-23 | 1983-12-23 | Cycle seat |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1230041A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6176546B1 (en) | 1999-11-10 | 2001-01-23 | George Edward Andrews | Bicycle saddle |
| WO2017132722A1 (en) * | 2016-02-02 | 2017-08-10 | Paradigm Industries Australia Pty Ltd | Bicycle saddle |
-
1983
- 1983-12-23 CA CA000444238A patent/CA1230041A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6176546B1 (en) | 1999-11-10 | 2001-01-23 | George Edward Andrews | Bicycle saddle |
| WO2017132722A1 (en) * | 2016-02-02 | 2017-08-10 | Paradigm Industries Australia Pty Ltd | Bicycle saddle |
| CN108602541A (en) * | 2016-02-02 | 2018-09-28 | 范式工业澳大利亚私人有限公司 | Bicycle saddle |
| US10556632B2 (en) | 2016-02-02 | 2020-02-11 | Paradigm Industries Australia Pty Ltd | Bicycle saddle |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |