GB2076756A

GB2076756A - Bicycle Saddle Pillars

Info

Publication number: GB2076756A
Application number: GB8116366A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SIMPLEX ETS
Current assignee: SIMPLEX ETS
Priority date: 1980-05-28
Filing date: 1981-05-28
Publication date: 1981-12-09
Also published as: KR830006054A; GB2076756B; ES267660Y; FR2483348A1; IT8122002A0; DE3121476A1; ES267660U; IT1137068B; JPS5711177A; FR2483348B1

Abstract

A saddle pillar for bicycles and like vehicles comprising a tube or pillar (1) telescopically movable and clampable in a receiving tube and having a curved or offset upper end (1a) which carries a spherical head (1b), a saddle- holder slide (2, 3) being mounted on the head (1b) so as to be rockable relative thereto only forwardly and rearwardly in substantially the plane of a bicycle frame. The saddle-holder slide (2, 3) comprises a bottom part (3) which is shaped on its lower surface to bear on the spherical top of the head (1b) throughout a relatively large area. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Saddle Pillars This invention relates to a saddle pillar for bicycles and similar vehicles. It comes under the heading of the technical sector of accessories for bicycles and similar vehicles.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel saddle pillar of the type comprising a tube engaged and secured in the corresponding tube of the frame, a head made integral with or fitted to the top end of the tube, and a slide comprising two flanges for clamping the wires of the saddle mounting, said slide being connected to the head by a single screw for connecting the components and locking them in position after longitudinal and angular adjustment of the saddle with respect to the saddle pillar.

The saddle pillar according to the invention is inexpensive in manufacture because its component parts are produced with a minimum of machining operations and have relatively simple shapes so that the saddle pillar is very strong, safe and reliable.

According to a first characteristic, the saddle pillar according to the invention is characterised in that the top end of the saddle pillar tube has a spherical head which is either integral therewith or fitted thereto, an aperture extending axially through said head to allow the passage of a screw for connecting the head to a slide adapted to secure the saddle mounting wires, the bottom surface of said slide having a spherical portion resting on and contacting the spherical held.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the aperture for the passage of the connecting screw extends vertically through the spherical head and is in the shape of a diabolo of substantially circular section at the centre of the sphere with a slightly larger diameter than the screw diameter, an ovoid and flared sections in the direction of the periphery of the sphere and in the longitudinal direction in order to allow angular movement of the connecting screw only in said longitudinal direction.

These characteristics and others will be apparent from the following description.

In order to clarify the invention without limiting it in the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective showing the component parts of the saddle pillar according to the invention separately.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the spherical head of the saddle pillar to an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the mounted saddle pillar.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively bottom and top plan views of the slide element formed with a spherical portion.

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively bottom and top plan views of the other slide component.

Fig. 9 is a cross-section showing a variant embodiment of the transverse angular abutment of the slide on the head.

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the slide component with the spherical portion shown in Fig. 9.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, it will now be described with reference to non-limitative embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

The saddle pillar shown by way of example consists essentially of a saddle pillar tube 1, whose curved top end 1 a has a spherical head 1 b which is either manufactured integrally therewith or is fitted thereto, a saddle slide which is, in this example, consists of a top flange 2 and a bottom flange 3, the head and slide assembly being connected by a screw 4 which passes freely through the head and bottom flange and is screwed into the top flange 2 at 2a.

The spherical head 1,b is formed with an aperture 1 C axially and vertically, the aperture being diabolo-shaped of substantially circular section at the centre of the sphere, with a diameter slightly larger than that of the screw 4, and ovoid and flared sections towards the periphery of the sphere and in the longitudinal direction so that the said screw 4 can move angularly in that direction for the purposes of angular adjustment of the saddle.

To prevent transverse movement of the slide relatively to the spherical head 1 b and any rotation of the latter about the screw 4, matching transverse abutment means are provided both on the spherical head 1 b and on the bottom flange 3 of the slide as will be apparent hereinafter.

The bottom surface 3a of the bottom flange 3 has a spherical portion 3b adapted to fit on the spherical head 1 b, the centre being formed with an aperture 3c for the passage of the screw 4 with clearance (see Figure 5). The central part 3d formed with the spherical portion 3b is generally tunnel-shaped to form front and rear clearances required for the curved end 1 a of the saddle tube to pass into the maximum forward angular position (in the direction of arrow f1 in Figure 4).

On either side of the central portion 3dthe bottom flange 3 has cradles 3e in known manner adapted to receive the wires F of the saddle mounting (not shown).

The top flange 2 has a concave central bottom surface 26 two match the central tunnel 3dof the bottom flange at least partially, and without coming into contact therewith. On the outside, on either side of surface 2b, the top flange has flat or curved surfaces 2c resting on and contacting the wires F of the saddle mounting.

As will be seen more clearly from Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, when the position of the saddle is to be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the saddle tube, the top flange 2 is simply released by means of the screw 4 which, for this purpose, has a polygonal or cylindrical head 4a with six hollows, so that the mounting wires F can be slid along the cradles 3e. By the same actuation of the screw 4 it is possible to adjust the angular position of the slide in the same longitudinal direction with respect to the spherical head 1 b by the angular movement of the screw 4 in the aperture 1 C (in the direction of the arrow fi or f2 in Figure 4).

A washer 5 having a spherical support surface Sa adjacent the sphere and possibly roughened (grooved etc) to reinforce the clamping action is preferably provided between the screwhead 4a and the spherical head 1 b.

As indicated hereinbefore, matching abutment means are provided in order to prevent transverse inclination of the slide with respect to the spherical head and any rotation of the latter about the screw 4.

A first embodiment of these means is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings, in which it will be seen that the spherical head 1 b had lugs 6 or similar projections along its axis at two diametrically opposite points as considered transversely, said projections or the like being fitted or manufactured integrally with the sphere, while the bottom surface 3a of the flange 3 is formed with recesses 3f which cover the lugs 6 over at least half of the diameter, the depth of said recesses being such that the spherical portion 3b of the flange is always in contact with the sphere and that there is always a normal operating clearance between the base of the recesses 3f and the lugs 6.

According to another embodiment shown in Figures 9 and 10, the matching abutment means are opposite parallel flats 1 d and protuberances 3g formed on the flange 3 on either side of the spherical portion, again allowing for operating clearance.

The advantages will be apparent from the description.

The invention is in no way limited to the application and the embodiments of its various parts which have been described more specifically, but covers all variants thereof.

Claims

1. A saddle pillar for bicycles and similar vehicles, of the type comprising a saddle tube whose head formed at the top end receives a slide devised to clamp the wires forming the saddle mounting, the head and slide assembly being connected by a single screw extending through the head and the slide, characterised in that the curved or offset top end (1 a) of the saddle tube (1) has a spherical head (1 b) which is either made integral therewith or is fitted thereto, a saddle holder slide being rockable thereon in the longitudinal direction only, i.e. in the plane of the cycle frame, said slide having for this purpose a bottom part (3) in the form of a spherical portion (3b) adapted to bear on the spherical head ( 1 b) over a wide area.

2. A saddle pillar according to claim 1, characterised in that when the saiddle tube is engaged in the corresponding frame tube the spherical head (1b) has axially and substantially vertically an aperture (1c) for the passage of me screw (4) connecting the slide and the spherical head, the said aperture being diaboloshaped with a substantially circular section at the centre of the sphere and a slightly larger diameter than the screw diameter, and ovoid and flared sections in the direction of the sphere periphery and in the longitudinal direction in order to allow angular movements of the connecting screw only in said longitudinal direction.

3. A saddle pillar according to claims 1 and 2 taken together, characterised in that the slide comprises a bottom flange (3) whose central tunnel-shaped part (3d) is axially perforated (at 3c) to allow the passage of the screw while its bottom surface has the spherical portion (3b) resting on and contacting the sphere (1 b), the sides in continuation of the tunnel forming cradles (3e) to receive the wires (F) of the saddle mounting; a top flange (2) into which the screw (4) is screwed axially at (2a), and the sides of which have flat or curved portions (2c) bearing on the wires (F), while the bottom central part (2b) is concave to match the tunnel shape of the bottom flange (3).

4. A saddle pillar according to claims 1, 2 and 3 taken together, characterised in that in order to prevent the slide from rocking with respect to the spherical head (1b) in the transverse direction of the bicycle, matching abutment means are provided at two opposite points of the major diameter of the sphere (1 b) and beneath the bottom flange (3) on either side of the spherical portion (3b).

5. A saddle pillar according to claim 4, characterised in that the matching transverse abutment means for the slide comprise lugs (6) or the like projecting and formed integrally with or fitted to the major diameter of the sphere, and recesses (3Z9 formed beneath the bottom flange (3) and covering the lugs over at least their radius, the base of the recesses and the lugs being separated by an operational clearance when the spherical portion (3b) is in contact with the sphere (1b).

6. A saddle pillar according to claim 4, characterised in that the matching transverse abutment means for the slide comprise opposite parallel flats (1!) on the sphere and protuberances (3g) formed beneath the bottom flange (3) bordering on the spherical portion (3b) with an operational clearance between the protuberances and the flats when the spherical portion is in contact with the sphere.

7. A saddle pillar according to claim 1, characterised in that a washer (5) is provided between the sphere and the screw control head (4a), the washer surface (5a) which engages the sphere being spherical and having roughened portions to reinforce the clamping effect.

8. A saddle pillar substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.