GB2551507A

GB2551507A - A Bicycle Saddle

Info

Publication number: GB2551507A
Application number: GB1610697.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Boodell Paul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-06-20
Filing date: 2016-06-20
Publication date: 2017-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 2036-06-20
Also published as: GB2551507B; GB201610697D0

Abstract

A bicycle saddle 1 that includes a plurality of freely rotatable bearings, e.g. in the form of beads or cylinders 4 threaded onto a series of rods 3. The bearings may rotate in either direction about the axles 3.The bearings may be located across a cutaway or recess 2 so that when in contact with the legs of a cyclist they are able to rotate in two directions and reduce friction between the cyclist and the saddle. Also claimed is a method of using a rotating bearing in a cutaway within a saddle to reduce friction where a cyclists thigh would come into contact.

Description

A Bicycle Saddle

The present invention relates to a bicycle saddle and, more particularly, a bicycle saddle/seat that includes a means to reduce friction between a surface of the saddle and body parts of a cyclist. In a preferred form, the means of reducing friction is a series of bearings that are in contact with the cyclist's legs or other body parts during normal use, i.e. riding of the bicycle.

Background to the Invention

It is common for cyclists to experience chaffing of the skin when riding a bicycle, due to friction generated between a saddle and the moving parts of the cyclist's body, including the upper legs and crotch areas. Prolonged chaffing of the skin can lead to injuries, acute pain or, at least, substantial discomfort while some energy used for pedalling the bicycle is also lost from the legs due to friction with the saddle whilst riding. In addition, any injury sustained due to chaffing will also result in reduced power since it becomes more and more painful for the cyclist to continue riding.

Various modified bicycle saddles (and specialised clothing) have been proposed that are alleged to improve the cycling experience. However, none is believed to completely address the issue of chaffing while maintaining a relatively conventional bicycle saddle shape. For example, US5333930 describes the use of a lattice of beads supported on a saddle surface. The arrangement supposedly enhances blood and air circulation in a similar way to the beaded surfaces that are known to be applied to the driver's seats of motor vehicle. The beads may theoretically be free to rotate but, in practice, rotation is limited by the fact that the lattice is pressed against a saddle surface by the weight of the cyclist.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention seeks to address the issues identified above by proposing a structure that considerably reduces the friction and drag generated between a cyclist's body parts and bicycle saddle.

In one broad aspect of the invention there is provided a bicycle saddle that includes a plurality of freely rotatable bearings located at portions contactable to a cyclist's body. In a preferred embodiment the bearings are beads threaded onto a rod which spans a cutout portion of the saddle, such that the bearings are suspended within the cut-out space and rotation is unimpeded. The bearings are located so as to rotate in the same direction as the cyclist's moving body parts when contact is made. During riding, airflow will also be increased, further reducing drag and friction effects.

The plurality of beads may be any suitable shape (e.g. spherical, cylindrical or barrel shaped) with a through-hole for threading on a rod. The rod is preferably rigid, but may have some resilience/flexibility in order to cushion/spring against body parts in contact with the saddle. Remaining portions of the saddle that do not feature a bearing surface can be covered with a layer of cushioning material as necessary in order to optimise comfort for the user. Bearings/beads may be made from any suitable material that facilitates free movement, e.g. plastic such as nylon or other self-lubricating compounds. A bead could be made from another material for aesthetic purposes (e.g. wood) and include an inserted bearing wear surface. While probably impractical and expensive it would also be possible to implement miniature ball race bearings upon the supporting rods.

In an alternative form of the invention the rods, spanning across a cut out portion of the saddle, may be arranged for rotation with bearing mounts of their own, either with or without the need for multiple bearing units to be threaded onto said rod. In such a case the rod would need to be substantially straight for smooth rotational movement, rather than the shallow curve of the preferred embodiment.

In other respects the bicycle saddle according to the invention is intended to be a relatively conventional shape, i.e. featuring a wide seat area that converges via scalloped sides into an apex or nose-like portion. In the known way, the saddle may include various adjustment features so that the user can adapt it for comfort. Conventional bicycle seats can be adjusted for height and tilt and may have additional suspension components built-in.

It will be apparent that the purpose of the bicycle saddle of the present invention is to reduce the drag/friction between upper leg areas and a surface of the saddle itself. This results in more efficient energy transfer for the operation of pedalling the bicycle, rather than energy being diverted to cause chaffing related injuries. Increased air flow between the saddle and the cyclist, which will naturally occur due to the bearing/rod structure suspended in a cutout, reduces sweating which can exacerbate chaffing problems. Reducing the causes of chaffing means that a cyclist can stay comfortable on the saddle for longer periods and power to the pedals is not reduced as a consequence of a painful pedalling operation. Avoiding injury in the first place also reduces the need for treatments such as creams or adhesive pads.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 illustrates a bicycle saddle according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a view of the saddle from Figure 1, with bearing means removed;

Figures 3-7 illustrate side, plan, underneath, front and rear views of the bicycle saddle from Figure 1 respectively; and

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a pictorial view of downward and upward strokes respectively of a cyclist's leg, against a bearing according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 best illustrates an overview of a bicycle saddle according to the invention. Particularly, a conventionally shaped bicycle saddle 1 includes cutaway portions 2 across which span rods 3, securely fitted at each end thereof. A plurality of bearings 4 are threaded onto respective rods 3. In the preferred form, rods 3 are located into receiving holes formed at opposing ends of cutaway portion 2 in a secure fit. In practice, rods 3, with bearings 4 in place, may be moulded with the saddle structure so as to be permanently/securely fixed in place. Alternatively, rods 3 could be fitted into receiving holes or slots after an initial moulding process and glued or otherwise secured in place.

In the illustrated embodiment, bearings 4 are in the form of beads or like multiple units that can be threaded upon a rod 3 and allowed to freely rotate in two directions. It will be apparent that rods 3 span the cut-out portion 2 in such a way that the bearings are effectively suspended in mid-air and there is no opposing surface which would impede rotation when the leg of a cyclist is rubbing in contact against the outer surface thereof.

Figures 4 and 5 show that rods 3 may include a slight curvature which conforms to the general contours of saddle 1, i.e. generally converging from a wide seat, toward a nose portion located frontally relative to the direction of travel of the bicycle in use. The material of a rod 3 may be a rigid or slightly flexible/resilient stainless steel or the like, which provides a firm surface against which a cyclist can sit, but with some spring/cushioning effect if deemed necessary.

In the known way, saddle 1 is built upon a frame 6 that is, in turn, associated with a tightenable ring 7 to be mounted on a seat post (not illustrated). The seat frame 6 may include additional suspension or other features known in the art.

Figures 8 and 9 generally illustrate operation of a friction reducing bearing system incorporated into a bicycle saddle according to the invention. Particularly, Figure 8 illustrates progressive views A, B, and C where the thigh 8 of a user comes into contact in a downward motion with a bearing 4 causing anti clockwise rotation down to a maximum extension (C). Depending upon the diameter of the bearing 4, this movement may cause several revolutions in an anti-clockwise direction.

Figure 9 illustrates the reverse/upward movement where a user's thigh 8 travels upward and causes a clockwise rotation of bearing 4. It is clear that bearing 4 is free to move in either direction and reduces any rubbing/friction action against user thigh 8 by virtue of being able to "roll" with it.

Alternative constructions of bearing may be possible which achieve a similar reduction in friction with the thighs 8 or other body parts of a cyclist. For example, while Figure 2 illustrates a representation of the bicycle saddle according to the invention without multiple beads/bearings 4 in place, it could also represent an alternative embodiment where the rods 3 themselves are mounted for rotational movement. It will be apparent that such an arrangement would only be possible if the rods were straight, although not necessary parallel with each other, as they span across the cutaway portion 2. In the alternative embodiment it would be necessary to ensure that the distal ends of rod 3 were mounted in a suitable bearing arrangement for free rotation in two directions. However, it is expected that the embodiment of Figure 1 is the preferred arrangement since multiple bearings are provided across the cutaway span and rotate independently for maximum adaption to the dimensions and movement of a cyclist.

Yet further alternative forms could feature a recessed portion (rather than a "cut-out" perse) or multiple recessed portions in the surface of the saddle coinciding with a cyclist contact area, where bearings are mounted individually or in small groups. A variation on this would be multiple holes formed through the surface of the saddle coinciding with a cyclist contact area that each house a bearing or small number of bearings. A bicycle saddle according to the invention can be manufactured from any suitable material, either presently known or to be devised in the future. Materials for bicycle componentry are usually chosen for maximum strength-to-weight ratio and economy, dependent upon the end purpose and target market. It is envisaged that a range of materials could be selected based upon cost and quality for the commercial product.

Claims

Claims:

1. A bicycle saddle that includes a plurality of freely rotatable bearings located at a portion contactable, in use, to a cyclist's body.
2. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 wherein the portion contactable to a cyclist's body includes a cutaway or recess, across which the plurality of freely rotatable bearings are located.
3. The bicycle saddle of claim 2 including a plurality of rods spanning across the cutaway or recess.
4. The bicycle saddle of claim 3 wherein the bearings are a plurality of beads threaded onto rods arranged in parallel, such that the bearings are suspended in a void and rotation is unimpeded.
5. The bicycle saddle of claim 4 wherein the beads are spherical, cylindrical or barrel shaped, with a through-hole for threading onto the rod.
6. The bicycle saddle of claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein the rod is rigid, but may have resilience/flexibility.
7. The bicycle saddle of any preceding claim 3 to 6 wherein ends of each rod are mounted into opposing sides of the cutaway or recess.
8. The bicycle saddle of any preceding claim 3 to 7 wherein some or all of the rods include a curvature.
9. The bicycle saddle of claim 7 wherein the ends of each rod are mounted for nonmovement or, alternatively, include a bearing surface to permit rotation of the rods.
10. The bicycle saddle of any preceding claim wherein portions of the saddle that do not feature a bearing surface include a layer of cushioning material.
11. The bicycle saddle of any preceding claim including means for height and/or tilt adjustment and/or suspension.
12. A method of reducing friction between a bicycle saddle and a cyclist including the steps of: forming at least one cutaway or recess portion in a surface of the saddle coinciding with where a cyclist's body part would come into contact; providing at least one rotatable bearing spanning across the cutaway or recess portion. IB. The method of claim 12 wherein the at least one rotatable bearing is mounted for rotational movement in two directions upon at least one support rod that spans across the cutaway or recess portion.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the at least one rotatable bearing includes at least one rod that spans across the cutaway or recess portion, mounted at each end for rotational movement in two directions.