FR2824526A1 - Ergonomic bicycle saddle pivoted on saddle tube has interposed torsion spring returning saddle to central neutral position when not in use - Google Patents

Abstract

The base of the saddle (2) is pivoted around the saddle tube (3) with the interposition of a torsion spring (19) tending to return the saddle to a central neutral position when the cyclist is not sat on the saddle.

Description

The present invention is an improvement of the kind of saddle of

  bicycle previously proposed by French Patent No. 2,723,905. The aim of this latest patent is to eliminate the friction of the cyclist seated on a saddle and to optimize its performance.

pedaling.

  This ergonomic saddle, shown pivoting on a seat tube, the lower part of which is inserted and immobilized inside the inclined rear tube of the bicycle frame, is characterized in that it does not have a seat spout and that its mounting Speak clearly

  on the seat tube is located at its front part.

  According to one embodiment of this type of saddle actually used, this saddle has a saddle base whose hollow cylindrical lower part is pivotally mounted around the upper end of the saddle tube, a lug secured to this fixed tube cooperating with a saddle base light to both angularly limit the maximum oscillation of the saddle and to keep the fixed tobe and the base axially together

swivel seat.

  This kind of saddle gives all ergonomic satisfaction when pedaling the

cyclist sitting in his saddle.

  However, two drawbacks appear when the cyclist puts himself in the so-called "dancer" pedaling position. First, as long as he pedals in this position, the saddle released from its weight, then starts to oscillate right and left. around its axis by the very fact of its pivoting mounting on the seat tube, this oscillation being however angularly limited in

  because of the aforementioned lug cooperating with the aforementioned light.

  Then, when the cyclist resumes a sitting position on his saddle, this one, because of the above, has very little probability of being then in the central angular position of

  so the rapid resumption of contact with the saddle can be more or less pleasant.

  The present invention specifically aims to completely eliminate these two drawbacks, but while retaining the simplicity of the embodiment mentioned and its

minimum external dimensions.

  For these purposes, the present invention therefore relates to an ergonomic bicycle saddle comprising a saddle base, the hollow cylindrical lower part of which is pivotally mounted around the upper end of a seat tube, a lug integral with this cooperating tube with a base light, characterized in that a spring is interposed between the upper end of the seat tube and the seat base such that, when the saddle is subjected to the weight of the cyclist, it does not prevent not the oscillation of the saddle-cyclist assembly and that, when the saddle is no longer subjected to this weight, it exerts on

  the saddle base forces the saddle back to a neutral central position.

  The precise location of this spring interposed between the upper end of the seat tube and the seat base is necessary in order to be able to produce an oscillating seat assembly housed completely inside the seat base / seat tube assembly and therefore be

of minimal bulk.

  According to a first embodiment of the invention, the said spring is a torsion spring. According to an embodiment of this first mode, one end of this torsion spring is anchored in the fixed seat tube and the other end is anchored in the pivoting seat base. According to another embodiment of this first embodiment, the torsion spring is a spring of the "axle brake" type with a fixed indexing pin integral with the seat tube and another pin

  integral with the swivel seat base.

  According to a second embodiment of the invention, the spring is a compression spring and the lumen of the saddle base is shaped so as to allow the saddle base to move axially along the saddle tube towards the down when the cyclist's weight is exerted on the saddle and if not upwards, so that the lug is respectively at the top of the light and allows the saddle to pivot freely, or at the bottom

  V-shaped light to bring the saddle back to the neutral central position.

  The invention will now be further explained with the aid of the following description,

  made with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: FIG. 1 schematically shows in perspective the type of bicycle saddle according to French Patent No. 2,723,905, of which the present invention constitutes an improvement, - FIG. 2 is a side view, partially in section, of an embodiment of this improvement, using a compression spring, FIGS. 3 to 6 are partial front views of this embodiment illustrating its operation, FIGS. 7 and 8 represent a variant of the form of light provided in the seat base, - Figure 9 shows in perspective a protective cover for this light, - Figures 10 to 13 show in axial section another embodiment of

  the invention using a torsion spring.

  The same reference numbers appearing in the different figures are assigned

  to the various elements of the saddle and of its mounting having the same function.

  Reference will first be made to FIG. 1 representing a saddle of the prior art.

  This saddle (1) is supported by a base (2) whose hollow cylindrical lower part is mounted around the upper end of a seat tube (3). The base (2) has a light (4) and a lug (5) fixed to the tube (3) cooperates with this light. The seat tube (3) is intended to be engaged and immobilized in the inclined rear tube of the bicycle frame. Thus, this saddle can pivot to the right and to the left of the frame in synchronism with the movements of the cyclist seated on his saddle so that the friction between cyclist and

  saddles are eliminated and pedaling performance improved.

  On the other hand, when the cyclist pedals "as a dancer", the saddle released from its weight oscillates freely to the right and to the left in an erratic manner, its oscillating movements being however angularly limited by the lug (5) coming into abutment on the right or left in the light (4). This can result in unpleasant stop noises. But, above all, when the cyclist returns to the saddle, there may be an angular offset between his

  seant and the saddle oriented at random, which can be very badly felt.

  The invention aims to eliminate these two drawbacks.

  Its principle consists in interposing between the upper end of the seat tube and the seat base a spring which, when the saddle is loaded with the weight of the cyclist, allows the saddle to pivot according to its own movements and which, when the saddle is not

  loaded, tends to recall the saddle to the neutral central position.

  Figures 2 to 6 illustrate a first embodiment of the invention.

  This consists of mounting the seat base (2) on the upper end of the seat tube

  (3) with the possibility of a small axial relative displacement.

  To do this, the upper part of the seat tube (3) ends with a part

  cylindrical (6) of smaller diameter than a shoulder in horizontal crown (7).

  The lower part of the saddle base (2) has a cylindroconical bore (8) covering the part (6) with the interposition of a sleeve (9) made of a material

  allowing easy oscillation of the base (2) around the tube (3).

  The light (10) has the visible shape, in Figures 4 and 5, horizontal at the top and in V (1 1)

  below, width 11 and height h1.

  A lug (12), screwed into the part (6), is placed in the lumen (10) after mounting the base (2) on the tube (3) by compressing a compression spring (13) housed in a bore (14) of the part (6), held in position by a part of

  centering (15) and interposed between the tube (3) and the base (2).

  When the saddle is subjected to the weight of the cyclist (Figures 2 to 4), this weight compresses the spring (13), the base (2) comes to rest while being able to turn on the shoulder in crown

  (7) and the lug (12) is in the high position inside the light (10).

  The width 11 of this light (10) allows the saddle to oscillate in synchronism with the cyclist's pedaling movements, and is of a chosen value such as the lug

  (12) does not come to an extreme stop on the right or on the left of the light (10).

  When the saddle is discharged from the weight of the cyclist, the spring (13) raises the saddle base (2) upwards and the lug (12) then comes into contact with the inclined lower parts (11) of the light and thus guided by its height h1, finally comes into place at the bottom of the V of the light as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the saddle is

  thus automatically recalled to the neutral central position.

  Figures 7 and 8 show a variant form of light (16) comprising at its lower part a circular housing (17) in which is housed and immobilized

  the lug (12) at the end of angular displacement towards its neutral central position.

  The lights (10) and (16) are located towards the front of the seat tube to avoid, when the bicycle is not fitted with mud flaps, which is often the case with mountain bikes (mountain bikes), that mud projections do not penetrate inside the oscillating mounting of the saddle. These lights are then protected by a cover (18) consisting of a

  clip put in place by simple pressure as illustrated in figure 9.

  In these embodiments of the invention, the actuation of the spring or its actuation is obtained by virtue of an axial relative movement of the saddle relative to its base tube, movement of amplitude very little less than h1 (figures 2 to 6), or at h2

(Figures 7 and 8).

  One cannot exaggerate these values h1 or h2 which must remain between minimum values to obtain with a sufficient efficiency and a speed the recall in neutral central position of the saddle, and maximum values to avoid that the axial displacement towards the

  low is exaggerated and unpleasantly felt by the cyclist.

  We will now describe another mode of implementation which precisely does not require

  plus a relative axial movement of the saddle and the base tube.

  FIG. 10 shows an arrangement in which a torsion spring 19 is used. A

  upper curved end (20) is anchored in the oscillating base (2) of saddle.

  The other end (21) is anchored in the fixed seat tube (3).

  Figure 11 shows on a larger scale the assembly of Figure 1 0 with an improvement consisting in making the sleeve (9), for example made of polyamide, in the form of sleeve closed at its upper part by a bottom (22). This sleeve also has at its base an orientation lug (23) which corresponds to a housing at the bottom of the saddle base (2). The bottom presents a housing

  anchor (24) for the bent end on the top (20) of the torsion spring (19).

  A needle stopper (25) is interposed between the upper part (6) of the fixed seat tube (3) and the bearing face opposite the rotary seat base (2). Finally, this base

  is above and without contact with the shoulder (7).

  i All these provisions aim to promote better the oscillation of the senate around

from its base tube.

  Figures 12 and 13 show an analog arrangement in which the torsion spring is a spring of the tVpe, eh axis (26) with a central centering plon (27), a lixex pion of Indexaga (28) sodake of the tube basic (3) and one oscillating (2g)

  bias of the base of the saddle (2).

  It is understood that, in these cases of implementation of the invention, the torsion spring sA exe permanently its reminder blow from seHe towards its poslon centle

  neutral, whether Is sene so or not submits the purchase of the weight of the trainee.

  11 su1Bt toutefols de choisk a torsion spring of sufficient torque to quickly ensure this reminder when the seHe is unloaded, and all10is enough 1alble to not

  do not erave the movement where the seeds are due to the weight of the cyclist.

  The descpton above clearly shows that lnvenDon can be implemented under dh1Arentes 10rmes while obviously ensuring the 10ncilon essentle # e of recall

  somaque de seNe dAcharge in posklon hold neutm.

  Claims 1 Segment erSonomique de bicycJette comprising a base of e''e (2) of which the cylindrical inner part, which hollow is pivotally mounted around the upper end of a saddle tube (3l, a lug (S. aolida ; re de ee IUbé coorant aves un. i.rnièro t4) of the base, characterized by this ru'un spring (13, figs 2 to 6; 19 fig O e 1 1 26, figs 12 and 13)) interposed between the upper extremity (B} of the selb tube and the saddle bass 12) da so that, when the sole (1) set returns to the pods J cyclist,;! does not prevent pss 1'o30iliation da the cyclist-saddle and that "when the seilo is no longer sounise b this weight, it oxorce on the base of saddle a torca

  rarronant ia selie (1) in a neutral central position.

  tO 2, 'saddle according to claim t characterized in that the resort is.'n spring da tcrion (19, fig 10) including a sxtrérnité l21) is anchored dar, s the fixed seat tube at

  at the other end (20} is anchored in the swivel seat base.

  31 Seile according to claim characterized in that the torsot1 Rossort is a spring of the type "sx brake {26, f; gs 12 and 13) avoe a fixed pin {28} of, ndoxag6 integral with the sallo tube and a satre pioi (X9) secured to the base of

swivel saddle.

  : 0 4, 'saddle according to claims 2 or 3 carectérisgis in ca ia base da saddle 12) and

  shown rotating around the base tub6 t3) by means of a sleeve (9,

  bottom (2Z, avac inl: erpos; tion of a needle stopper {25.

  / Selle seion la resostostion 1 characterized in that the Àessort ct a compresion spring 113 'fias 8t and that the light key of the base of solh (10' figs 2 S; 1é, tigs 7 to 9, is conformed, èe so to allow r, displacement of the saddle base axially Is along the hall tobe down when the weight of the cyclist is exerted on the site and if not up, da tolle so that the erot is respoctively at the top of the light and allows the libro plvotement àe ia saddle. or at the bottom of the light in the form of f to bring back then the saddle in pos, tion