EP1812279A1

EP1812279A1 - Bicycle or motorcycle saddle

Info

Publication number: EP1812279A1
Application number: EP05761281A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Aureliano Pasqualini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-06-26
Filing date: 2005-06-15
Publication date: 2007-08-01
Also published as: WO2006001041A1; ITPN20040045A1

Abstract

A bicycle or motorcycle saddle comprises a hull (1), a knot (2) and a pillar (3), where at least two elements (5, 6) are supported by means (4), which are adapted to rest on knot (2); the elements (5, 6) are mutually integral and inclined of an angle comprised into a range (0-60°) with respect to a horizontal plane, creating in such a way substantially concave shape.

Description

"BICYCLE OR MOTORCYCLE SADDLE"

The present invention relates to a bicycle or motorcycle saddle comprising, for the bicycle, a hull, a knot and a pillar, whereas, for a motorcycle, said saddle substantially comprises a supporting structure of the human body lower pelvis.

Traditional saddles usually comprise a convex hull or a hump hull, which can be carried out with a plurality of materials (leather, synthetic material and so on), said materials being supported by elastic means in order to deaden blows, which are due to upwards projecting bumps.

Said hull is able to exert a pressure on one of the man and woman most delicate parts, i.e. the pelvic, perineum and pubic zone. Said zone is seat of blood vesselss, lymphatic vessels, bundles of nerves and genitals.

Recent clinic studies underlined how traditional saddles are in charge of a plurality of drawbacks for the human body, like: blood circulation reduction, genitals and lower limbs numbness, with a consequence of sterility and impotence.

It was in detail pointed out how a cyclist, who is seated particularly on a hump saddle, generally subjected to a compression in the perineum area, which in turn causes a lower blood flow particularly to cyclist genitals.

It was proved that it was sufficient to utilize a saddle provided with a central hole, with the result that it was not nullified, but partially reduced said reduction of blood circulation.

Meanwhile, further solutions were studied, which could reduce said drawbacks, but the results were not fully satisfied. To the solution, which provided presence of a hole in the hull, a further solution was added, which is now fully spread. It is sufficient to look at the increase of the patent applications applied on the theme of a separation into two parts of the hull, provided with a central free channel, as well as the possible reduction and/or lowering of the saddle rudder.

Said last solution, which regards the reduction and/or the lowering of saddle rudder, involves the risk if a smaller control of the bicycle, if such a solution is just limited to this expedient. Indeed, it is to take into account that a bicycle should be driven not only with handle, but also with saddle.

Otherwise, the solution regarding hull splitting involves a proper rudder enlarging and lengthening, but it is to be pointed out that drawbacks are increasing, relating to friction of cyclist thighs on saddle rudder.

Up to now, the solutions, which were providing hull splitting, and hull central hole, as well as lowering of the rudder end close to the pelvic man area, didn't cause a satisfying solution of the already described drawbacks, also because ischia (i.e pelvic truss bones) are not involved in the support action of human body on bicycle.

The basic scope of saddle according to the invention is to substantially reduce the already described drawbacks.

Therefore, the saddle according to the invention is characterized by at least two elements of said hull, said elements being supported by means, which are adapted to rest on knot, said elements being mutually integral, as well as resulting mutually inclined, with respect to a horizontal plane of a α angle comprised into a (15-25) range, creating in such a way a stable, substantially concave shape, which is adapted to cause an ischia and consequently a pelvis stable support during the cycle ride..

These and further characteristic will be apparent from the following description and from alleged drawings, where: Figs. 1,2,3 represent three rear views of a bicycle saddle, respectively with two substantial integral elements, or with two independent elements and finally with two elements, on which two further pads are placed, which are adapted to create a further free space; Figs.4,5,6 represent three top views of Figs.1,2,3; Fig.7 represents a perspective view of Fig.2; Figs.8,9,10 represent a perspective view of Figs.1,2,3 or Figs.4,5,6.

DESCRIPTION The saddle according to the invention comprises a hull 1, a knot 2, a pillar 3 (Figs.1,2,3). The hull 1 represents the supporting structure of the human body lower pelvis, whereas the knot 2 is adapted to sustain the hull 1 by means of relevant supports 4, which are adapted to rest on the knot 2.

The pillar 3 is adapted to substain the knot 2 and to be inserted into a seat tube not represented in the drawings. The hull 1 comprises two elements 5,6 (Fig.l), which are coupled, each one to each other, so that they form a substantially concave shaping surface, which is different from traditional hump saddles.

As far as the traditional solutions are concerned, where the hull is spurted into two elements 5,6, it is to be pointed out that such a hull 1 splitting is obtained in the traditional saddles thanks two horizontally arranged elements 5,6. At contrary, in the saddle according to the invention, such a splitting arrangement is obtained thanks a 5,6 elements mutual inclination of an angle α comprised into a (0-60)° range, so that a room is obtained for the cyclist perineum area (Figs.1,2,3).

Said elements 5,6 are adapted, according to a first embodiment, to become integral each one element to the other, with a result to present in such a way a substantially concave structure. Said structure is therefore adapted to cause a substantial ischia 7 and consequently a pelvis stability during the cycle ride.

According to a further embodiment, said elements 5,6 are substantially independent each one with respect to the other, whereas each one results always inclined of an α angle comprised into a (0-60)° range, with respect to a horizontal plane, when they are in a steady position.

According to such a solution, a substantially independent inclination of elements 5,6 is obtained, in the sense that each one of said elements 5,6 is indipendently oscillating each one with respect to the other, due to possible, different blows, which are produced by upwards projecting bumps during cycle ride. In any case, the elements 5,6 are able to maintain a substantially concave shape.

Consequently, according the first embodiment, the two ischia 7 (Fig.l) of cyclist are constantly maintained integral to the saddle during cycle ride, but especially during an S-shaped bend.

According to the second embodiment, possible different actions on elements 5,6 could happen, due to upwards projecting bumps during cycle ride. In any case, elements 5,6 should maintain their substantially concave shape. Therefore, the inclination of elements 5,6 constantly assures a ischia 7 position, which is upwards with respect to the intersection of said elements 5,6.

Fig.4 represents a plant view of elements 5,6, with the addition of a rudder 8, which should be arranged on a substantially lower plane of ischia 7. According to the first already described first embodiment, the ischia 7 position is substantially steady on the saddle during the cycle ride, thanks to the mutual integrality of elements 5,6. Therefore, a reduction of rudder 8 length or even its elimination ccould be obtained. In any case, the bicycle control is assured.

The hull 1 could be embodied according to the scheme of Fig.l, where the elements 5,6 comprise two further pads 9,11, which are adapted to form below a free room 12 (Fig.7. Such a room 12 is adding a further advantage for the cyclist, also because rudder 8 lies on a substantially lower plane with respect to the traditional saddle. .

The rudder 8 acquires now a position, with respect to ischia 7, at a substantially lower level with respect to previous embodiment of Fig.1. The hull 1 is now spurted into two elements 5,6, which are connected with supports 4. The difference with respect to embodiments of Fig.2 is given by the fact that elements 5,6 are substantially independent, so that they can oscillate around a longitudinal axis A (Fig.6) or around a transversal axis B. In any case, the oscillation around longitudinal axis A should be always adapted to save a concavity of elements 5,6. The hull 1 (Fig.3), which is formed by elements 5,6, is adapted to confer to the saddle structure a substantial elasticity performance. Indeed, the two elements 5,6 are adapted to oscillate according to a mutual independent requirement.

As far a motorcycle saddle is concerned, the principle of two elements 5,6 inclination remains valid, on which ischia 7 are lying.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Bicycle or motorcycle saddle comprising, for a bicycle, a hull (1), a knot (2) and a pillar (3), whereas, for a motorcycle, said saddle substantially comprises a supporting structure of the human body lower pelvis, . characterized by at least two elements (5,6) of said hull (1), said elements (5,6) being supported by means (4), which are adapted to rest on knot (2), said elements (5,6) being mutually integral, as well as thery result mutually inclined, with respect to a horizontal plane of a α angle comprised into a (0-60)° range, creating in such a way a : ^" substantially concave shape, which is adapted to cause an ischia (7) and consequently a pelvis stable support during the cycle ride..

2. Bicycle or motorcycle saddle comprising , for a bicycle, a hull (1), a knot (2) and a pillar (3), whereas, for a motorcycle, said saddle substantially comprises a supporting structure of the human body lower pelvis, . characterized by at least two elements (5,6) of said hull (1), said elements (5,6) being supported by means (4) and resulting substantially independent each one with respect to the other, so that each one could independently with respect to the other oscillate around a longitudinal axis A and/or around a transversal axis B, the oscillation around longitudinal axis A being in any case adapted to save a concavity of elements (5,6), each one of said elements (5,6) resulting inclined with respect to a horizontal plane of a α angle comprised into a (0-60)° range, . each one of said elements (5,6) resulting always inclined of said α angle when they are in a steady position.

3. Saddle according to 1, characterized in that elements (5,6) are substantially integral each one with respect to the other and the length of a rudder (8) being adapted to be reduced or even nullified, being able a cyclist in any case to be substained by elements (5,6) of hull (1).

4. Saddle according to 1 ,3, characterized in that elements (5,6) comprise two pads (9,11), which are adapted to form a free room (12), adapted to add a further advantage to the cyclist, also because rudder (8) lies on a substantially lower plane with respect to the traditional saddle.

5. Saddle for motorcycle, characterized in that the principle of two elements (5,6) inclination remains valid, on which ischia (7) are lying.