GB2224248A

GB2224248A - Bicycle saddle

Info

Publication number: GB2224248A
Application number: GB8924516A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henry Derek Powell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-11-01
Filing date: 1989-10-31
Publication date: 1990-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2009-10-31
Also published as: GB2224248B; GB8825520D0; GB8924516D0

Abstract

A saddle comprises a substantially rigid, hollow moulded plastics (possibly fibre reinforced) base shell 14 clampable to a saddle stem 12, and a seat portion 16 which comprises resilient cushioning supported by the base shell to extend thereabove and covered by a flexible - natural or synthetic leather or plastics - material adhesively fixed or stitched directly to the base shell or to a moulding carried thereby. The saddle clamp 30 includes a pair of pillars or a socket supported on a reinforcing plate 20 attached to or forming part of a wall of the base shell 14. A second reinforcing plate 22 may be provided on the opposite surface of the wall of the base shell. The base shell is apertured to receive the upper end of the stem and has a further aperture and guide through which a key may be passed to engage and operate the clamp. Alternatively (Figure 4) the pillars or socket may be outside the base shell extending away from the shell. <IMAGE>

Description

SADDLES DESCRIPTION The invention concerns saddles, in particular improved seats or saddles suitable for use on bicycles.

Bicycle seats or saddles (hereinafter referred to as saddles) are well known to comprise an open framework of metal members between which are strung spring elements which act as a suspension or cushioning for the rider and across which a leather or fabric seat part is stretched, the framework being provided with clamp means enabling its attachment to a metal rod or pipe - the saddle stem - carried in the bicycle frame.

The known saddles require a level of skill for their manufacture - the correct interconnection of their various different parts, and have the disadvantage that in use the metal framework, the spring cushioning and the clamp means are open to and subject to the effects of the elements.

An object of this invention is the provision of a saddle which is of a simpler construction and more readily made than has heretofore been the case and which moreover provides that those parts of it which are operative to clamp the saddle to a saddle stem are relatively better protected from the elements than has until now been the case.

A second object is the provision of a saddle having a more pleasing appearance and aerodynamic shape than has until now been available.

A third object is to provide a saddle which has more cushioning for the rider and which as a result provides a more comfortable ride than saddles presently available.

In one aspect the invention provides a saddle comprising a substantially rigid, hollow base shell which is provided with means enabling the saddle to be clamped to a saddle stem and which supports a seat portion upon which a user may sit.

The base shell may be of a moulded plastics material, such as moulded polyurethane or polypropylene, or a moulded glass or other fibre reinforced thermoplastics material.

Preferably the seat portion comprises cushioning supported in the base shell and extending thereabove. A flexible weatherproof material covering is preferably provided for the cushioning which extends above the base shell, which covering is attached to the base shell.

The covering may be attached directly to the surface of the base shell or to a moulding attached to and depending from uppermost edges of the base shell.

The peripheral margins of the covering attached to the base shell may if desired be left free hanging.

The covering may be of natural or synthetic leather or a plastics material; and the covering may be attached to the base shell by means of a suitable adhesive or by being stitched thereto.

In one embodiment the cushioning is provided as a volume of resilient material located between the base shell and the said covering, whilst in another the cushioning is provided as plurality of coiled springs attached to opposed walls of the base shell and underlying the said covering and in a third the cushioning is provided as one or more sealed, fluid tight bags or sachets the or each of which encloses a volume of a suitable fluid or a a hydroelastic silicon gel, and is located between the base shell and the said covering.

The means for clamping the saddle to a saddle stem is preferably supported on a reinforcing plate attached to or formed integrally with a part of a wall of the base shell, which part is lowermost when the saddle is in use.

A second reinforcing plate in register with the first said reinforcing plate and on the opposite surface of said part of the wall of the base shell may be provided.

The reinforcing plate(s) may be of of mild steel or be provided as an area of the wall of the base shell which is thickened and of increased strength.

The clamp means may comprise a pair of pillars or a socket member.

If the clamp means is provided as pillars, the pillars may support a clamp member which is operative to engage a saddle stem and which is adjustable to enable the position of the saddle relative to a saddle stem upon which the saddle is mounted to be varied.

The pillars may be located on an inner surface of a wall of the base shell and extend within the shell away from that wall, the base shell being provided with a first aperture through which the upper end of a saddle stem may be passed to be engaged by said clamp means. The base shell may be provided with a further aperture through which a key may be passed operatively to engage the clamp member and allow the saddle to be clamped onto a saddle stem, and a guide may be formed to extend inwardly of the further aperture toward the clamp member so as to guide a key inserted therein to a position operatively engaging the clamp member.

The pillars may be located located on an outer surface of a wall of the base shell and extend away from that wall. The ends of the pillars spaced form the wall of the base shell may have passing between them a bolt member by means of which the saddle may be affixed to a saddle stem.

If the clamp means is provided as a socket member, the socket member is carried on a wall of the saddle and adapted to receive the upper end of a saddle stem. The socket member may be carried on an outer surface of the wall of the saddle and extend away therefrom.

In a second aspect the invention provides a saddle having the features noted above in combination with a saddle stem which stem is provided with a bore through which the bolt member of the saddle may pass to couple the saddle and saddle stem one to the other.

In a third aspect the invention provides a bicycle having a saddle in accordance with the aspects and features noted above Other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a bicycle saddle in accordance with the invention now made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of bicycle saddle embodying the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of the base shell of the saddle of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a sectional side view of the saddle of Figure 2 on the line III-III of Figure 2, and Figure 4 shows at A and B side and end views respectively of a modified form of bicycle saddle embodying the invention.

With reference now to the drawings, Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a saddle 10 mounted on a saddle stem 12 to comprise a base shell 14 and an upper or seat part 16.

Base shell 14 of the saddle 10 is in the form of a rigid cup member moulded to the shape shown from a plastics material such as polyurethane and formed with a first aperture 18 as shown (Figure 3). The material of the base shell 14 is supported in the region of aperture 18 by inner and outer metal reinforcing plates 20 and 22 respectively apertured at 19 in register with one another and with the aperture 18. The metal reinforcing plates 20 and 22 are fixed in the position shown by rivets 24.

The inner reinforcing plate 20 carries a pair of upstanding pillars 26 and 28 formed integrally therewith (e.g. welded thereon as shown). The uppermost ends of pillars 26 and 28 support therebetween an adjustable clamp member 30.

Clamp member 30 comprises a pair of outer plates 32 formed as the upper parts of the pillars 26 and 28 and surfaces of which are in contact with surfaces of arms 34 of a clamp 36 for gripping a saddle stem passed through the apertures 18 and 19 in the lowermost part of the base shell.

A bolt 38 passes through the pillars 26 and 28, the plates 32 and arms 34 as shown and cooperates with a nut 40 so designed that it will not fully unscrew from the end of bolt 38. The head 44 of bolt 38 is adapted to receive an Allen key passed through a second aperture 46 in a side wall of the base shell 14.

A plastics tube extension 48 formed integrally with the base shell 14 extends inwardly from the further aperture 46 toward the head 44 of the bolt 38 to guide a key inserted therein into operative engagement with the bolt head 44.

The abutting surfaces of the outer plates 32 and the arms 34 are roughened, that is to say they are formed with a series of small castellations increasing the frictional resistance to their relative movement when the bolt is tightened and the saddle 10 clamped onto the saddle stem 12.

A volume of resilient synthetic foam material 50, is provided to fill the base shell 14 and this volume extends above the top of base shell 14 to form the cushioning of the upper part 16 of the saddle.

The uppermost lip of the base part 14 may be provided (as shown in dotted outline in Figure 3) with a neoprene edging strip 52 beneath which may be located a moulding 54 (again shown in dotted outline in Figure 3) depending so as to partially cover the sides of the base shell 14.

The upper part 16 of the saddle comprises in addition to the upstanding part of the cushioning 50 a covering layer of a weatherproof material 56 (e.g. of natural or synthetic leather or plastics material) which extends, as shown, to cover part of the outer surface of the base part 14. The covering 56 is attached to the outer surface of the base shell 14 (or to the depending moulding 54) in any suitable way e.g. by use of an adhesive or by stitching into pre-formed holes in the moulding. The attachment may be as shown - i.e. such that the peripheral margins of the covering are fixed to the base shell 14 - but it is envisaged that (if desired) the peripheral margins of the covering 56 may be left to hang freely.

To form the saddle the base shell 14 is first moulded with apertures 18 and 46 (and the apertures for receiving the rivets 24) formed in the moulding process or being drilled out after moulding in the whole.

The metal reinforcing plates 20 and 22 are made by cutting and stamping or moulding with the apertures 19 (and the apertures for receiving the rivets 24) being drilled, cut or stamped therefrom. The pillars 26 and 28 are welded onto the reinforcing plate 20 with the clamp 30 positioned as desired.

Thereafter the reinforcing plates 20 and 22 are positioned on the inner and outer surfaces of the base shell 14 and rivetted thereto.

The cushioning material is then placed in the base shell 14. This material is desirably pre-formed to a desired shape which causes the saddle to adopt the form shown in Figure 1 when the covering 56 is stretched over and attached to the side walls of the base shell 14.

Once formed the saddle may be fitted to a saddle stem in the following way. First the saddle is positioned such that the upper end of the stem 12 passes through the apertures 18, 19 and is received in the clamp part 36 of the clamp 30. An Allen key is passed through the aperture 46 and via the guide 48 to engage the head 44 of bolt 38. Bolt 38 is tightened onto nut 40 (which is held captive by flange 42). Before bolt 38 is fully tightened the angular position of the saddle 10 relative to saddle stem 12 may be adjusted in the direction of the arrow A (Figure 3) by a user grasping the saddle and rotating it causing the arms 34 to rotate relative to the plates 32. When in the desired position the bolt is fully tightened onto the nut 40 and the saddle firmly clamped in the desired position.

Figure 4 illustrates a modified form of the saddle embodying the invention having parts common to that already described (which parts are given the same reference numerals).

As can be seen from Figure 4 the base shell 14 of the saddle carries over a major part of its lower surface a mild steel reinforcing plate 70 which conforms to the shape of the base shell and is securely fixed thereto (e.g. by rivets, adhesive or the like).

The outer surface of this reinforcing plate has integrally formed therewith (e.g. by welding) a pair of pillars 72 and 74 the outermost ends of which are linked by a bolt 76 passing through apertures therein.

The arrangement shown in Figure 4 is for use with a saddle stem 12 having an upper end shaped as shown - that is to say having a final portion 78 of that upper end of narrower width that the rest of the stem to readily fit between the pillars 72 and 74.

The upper end 78 of stem 12 is apertured as shown at 80 such that the bolt 76 may be manipulated to pass therethrough and then tightened so that the saddle is clamped to the stem 12.

The inner surfaces of the outermost ends of the pillars 72 and 74 which contact and grip part 78 of stem 12 may be roughened, that is to say formed with a series of small castellations increasing the frictional resistance to their relative movement when the bolt is tightened and the saddle 10 clamped onto the saddle stem 12.

If desired a second metal reinforcing plate (not shown) may be provided within and fixed to the base shell 14 to increase the strength of the saddle and its connection to the stem 12.

In other respects the saddle of Figure 4 is similar to that described with reference to the earlier Figures, that is to say a volume of resilient synthetic foam material is provided to fill the base shell 14 and extend above the top of base shell 14 to form the cushioning of the upper part of the saddle.

As with the earlier described saddle the base shell 14 of the saddle of Figure 4 is moulded with apertures for receiving rivets to hold the reinforcing plate(s) thereon or these apertures are drilled out after moulding in the whole. The metal reinforcing plate 70 (together with the additional - inner - reinforcing plate if provided) are again made by cutting and stamping or moulding, with the apertures for receiving the rivets being drilled, cut or stamped therefrom. The pillars 72 and 74 are welded onto the reinforcing plate 70.

Thereafter the reinforcing plate 70 (with the inner reinforcing plate if provided) are positioned on the outer (and inner) surface of the base shell 14 and rivetted thereto.

Once again a pre-formed desired shape of cushioning material is placed in the shell 14 causing the complete saddle to adopt the form shown in Figure 4 when the covering 56 is stretched over and attached to the side walls of the base shell 14.

Once formed the saddle may be fitted to a saddle stem by positioning the pillars 72 and 74 to either side of the upper end 78 of stem 12, passing the bolt 76 through the pillars 72 and 74 and through the aperture 80 on the upper end 78 of stem 12 and then tightening the nut onto the bolt.

Before bolt 80 is fully tightened the angular position of the saddle may be adjusted in the direction of arrow B by a user grasping the saddle and rotating it to a desired position.

It will be seen that various modifications may be made to the arrangements described without departing from the scope of the invention, for example the described materials used may be replaced with any other suitable material.

Although described as being formed of polyurethane it will be seen that the base shell may be formed of other suitable moulded plastics materials - such as for example polypropylene - or from suitable thermoplastics materials which are reinforced with glass, carbon or other fibres.

The reinforcing plates 20, 22 and 70 may, for example, be replaced and/or augmented by reinforcing plate parts integrally formed in the base shell 14 as the base shell is being made. Although described as being of metal the reinforcing plates 20 and 22 and 70 may be of any other suitahly strong material - e.g. plastics plating. Rather than being provided as separate reinforcing plates on the surface of the wall of the base shell 14 the reinforcing plates may be formed integrally in the wall of the base shell being laid up in the mould as the base shell 14 is being moulded. In some circumstances the reinforcing plates may be replaced by thickened or otherwise strengthened portions of the base shell wall with the pillars 26 and 28 or 72 and 74 being held in the mould to become an integral part of the base shell.

Rather than rivet the reinforcing plates 20, 22 or 70 to the base shell these reinforcing plates may be fixed in position in any other suitable way e.g. by means of nuts and bolts - such as for example bolts carried by the outer reinforcing plate to extend into the base shell and be engaged by nuts when therein.

The plates 72 and 74 may be varied in form from that shown in Figure 4, their operative ends for gripping the top of the saddle stem may be provided as flattened members as shown or as "half-round" shells adapted to surround and grip the upper end of a circular in section saddle stem. The bolt 80 need not pass through the saddle stem but be provided to force the two plates 72 and 74 into gripping engagement with the upper end of the saddle stem if desired. The plates 72 and 74 may - if desired - be provided with a clamp such as is disclosed with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

The cushioning 50 may be as described a volume of resilient synthetic foamed plastics or elastomeric material or may be replaced by any other suitable form of cushioning, for example, alternative forms of cushioning which may be provided are:- one or more sealed, fluid tight bags the or each of which encloses a volume of a suitable liquid or gas (such as water or air) each sealed, bag being located between the base shell and the said covering; a plurality of sachets, each of which encloses a volume of a hydroelastic silicon gel and is located between the base shell and the said covering; or even as conventional multi springing - that is to say as a plurality of coiled springs attached to opposed walls of the base shell and underlying a padded covering.

If provided as sealed, fluid tight bag(s) or sachets enclosing a fluid or gel in the arrangement of Figures 1 to 3 a separation wall is preferably provided above the those parts of the saddle to which the stem is If desired the level of rider comfort (e.g. for racing saddles) may be reduced by providing that the base shell incorporates a cap or cover member with a reduced volume of cushioning being provided thereabove. Alternatively, a relatively stiffer cushioning material may be used.

Although described as being an Allen key it will be appreciated that any other suitable form of key may be utilised in the first described arrangement.

Although described as being formed by a pair of pillars the means for clamping the saddle to the saddle stem may if desired be varied. One variation which may be provided - especially if it not desired to provide for adjustment of the saddle position in the sense of arrow A (Figure 1) or B (Figure 4) - is that the pillars are replaced by a simple socket member extending inwardly or outwardly of the bottom wall of the saddle and adapted to receive the upper end of the saddle stem. The saddle stem may in this case be circular in cross section and adapted to be locked into the socket to prevent rotation of the saddle about the axis of the stem (for example by being aperture to receive a bolt member passing through the walls of the socket member) or have some other shape in cross section (e.g. square) conforming to the shape of a non-circular in cross section socket member.

It will further be seen that the arrangements now described overcome the noted disadvantages of the known bicycle seats or saddles comprising an open framework of metal members between which are strung spring elements across which a leather or fabric seat part is stretched.

The bicycle saddle now described is relatively simple to make and less costly to produce (requiring relatively unskilled workers) in its assembly and has the further advantages that the means by which it is clamped to the saddle stem may be enclosed within an aerodynamically styled saddle. The described saddle has the further advantages of increasing the comfort for the rider as well as the opportunity of using alternative cushioning e.g a suitable liquid, gas or multispringing, of enabling the use of attractive colours for the visible parts of the saddle and of streamlining and hiding from view hitherto exposed and unattractive parts of a bicycle saddle.

Claims

1. A saddle comprising a substantially rigid, hollow base shell which is provided with means enabling the saddle to be clamped to a saddle stem and which supports a seat portion upon which a user may sit.

2. A saddle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base shell is of a moulded plastics material.

3. A saddle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base shell is of moulded polyurethane or polypropylene.

4. A saddle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base shell is of moulded fibre reinforced thermoplastics material.

5. A saddle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seat portion comprises cushioning supported in the base shell and extending thereabove.

6. A saddle as claimed in claim 5, wherein a flexible weatherproof material covering is provided for the cushioning which extends above the base shell, which covering is attached to the base shell.

7. A saddle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the covering is attached directly to the surface of the base shell.

8. A saddle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the covering is attached to a moulding supported by and depending from the uppermost edges of the base shell.

9. A saddle as claimed in claim 6, claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the peripheral margins of the covering attached to the base shell are left free hanging.

10. A saddle as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the covering is of natural or synthetic leather or a plastics material.

11. A saddle as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the said covering is attached to the base shell by means of a suitable adhesive.

12. A saddle as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the said covering is attached to the base shell by being stitched thereto.

13. A saddle as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the said cushioning is provided as a volume of resilient material located between the base shell and the said covering.

14. A saddle as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the said cushioning is provided as plurality of coiled springs attached to opposed walls of the base shell and underlying the said covering.

15. A saddle as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the said cushioning is provided as one or more sealed, fluid tight bags the or each of which encloses a volume of a suitable fluid, the or each sealed, fluid tight bag being located between the base shell and the said covering.

16. A saddle as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the said cushioning is provided as a plurality of sachets, each of which encloses a volume of a hydroelastic silicon gel and is located between the base shell and the said covering.

17. A saddle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said clamp means are supported on a reinforcing plate attached to or formed integrally with a part of a wall of the base shell, which part is lowermost when the saddle is in use.

18. A saddle as claimed in claim 17, including a second reinforcing plate in register with the first said reinforcing plate and on the opposite surface of said part of the wall of the base shell.

19. A saddle as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the or each said reinforcing plate is of mild steel.

20. A saddle as claimed in claim 17, wherein said reinforcing plate is provided as an area of the wall of the base shell which is thickened and of increased strength.

21. A saddle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the clamp means comprises a pair of pillars.

22. A saddle as claimed in claim 21, wherein said pillars support a clamp member which is operative to engage a saddle stem and which is adjustable to enable the position of the saddle relative to a saddle stem upon which the saddle is mounted to be varied.

23. A saddle as claimed in claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the pillars are located on an inner surface of a wall of the base shell and extend within the shell away from that wall, the base shell being provided with a first aperture through which the upper end of a saddle stem may be passed to be engaged by said clamp means.

24. A saddle as claimed in claim 23, wherein the base shell is provided with a further aperture through which a key may be passed operatively to engage the clamp member and allow the saddle to be clamped onto a saddle stem.

25. A saddle as claimed in claim 24, wherein a guide is formed to extend inwardly of the further aperture toward the clamp member so as to guide a key inserted therein to a position operatively engaging the clamp member.

26. A saddle as claimed in claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the pillars are located located on an outer surface of a wall of the base shell and extend away from that wall.

27. A saddle as claimed in claim 21, wherein the pillars are located on an outer surface of a wall of the base shell and extend shell away from that wall and wherein the ends of the pillars spaced form the wall of the base shell have passing between them a bolt member by means of which the saddle may be affixed to a saddle stem.

28. A saddle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the clamp means comprises a socket member carried on a wall of the saddle and adapted to receive the upper end of a saddle stem.

29. A saddle as claimed in claim 28, wherein the socket member is carried on an outer surface of the wall of the saddle and extends away therefrom.

30. A saddle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in combination with a saddle stem which stem is provided with a bore through which the bolt member of the saddle may pass to couple the saddle and saddle stem one to the other.

31. A saddle for a bicycle as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, of the accompanying drawings.

31. A saddle for a bicycle as claimed in claim 31 when modified as described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

32. A bicycle having a saddle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.