ITPD20080358A1 - IMPROVED SADDLE - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a saddle, and in particular a saddle for cycles, according to the preamble of the main claim.

The invention has a preferred application in the construction of saddles for bicycles and the like.

These saddles generally consist of a hollow shell obtained by associating two half-shells and blowing air inside through a special valve.

The stiffness of these saddles depends on the inflation, ie on the pressure inside the casing.

Saddles manufactured according to this technique have the drawback that in the event of internal pressure leaks, or rupture, or accidental puncture of the casing, the two half-shells collapse, expelling the air inside the casing.

This considerably affects the functionality and ease of use of the saddles, as well as the ability to use these saddles after any damage.

Pneumatic saddles are known, for example from GB 298,998, provided with stiffening ribs extending into the thickness of the saddle and arranged to support its structure.

However, the saddles obtained according to GB 298,998 are inconvenient to use, in fact the conformation adopted for the ribs considerably affects the comfort of use of the saddle which is provided with them.

Furthermore, from EP 1 444 127 in the name of the same applicant, pneumatic saddles equipped with through channels extending into the thickness of the saddle itself and arranged to support the saddle structure in case of deflation and to allow a certain ventilation to the saddle user are known. itself.

However, these saddles tend to deform, especially during the inflation phase, due to the effect of the air pressure that is blown inside the cam which was internally defined as the hollow shell of the saddle. Therefore, there remains the need to improve the currently known saddles.

Description of the invention

The main object of the present invention is to provide a saddle designed to overcome the limitations complained of with reference to the cited known art.

Another object is to provide a saddle having a structure shaped so as to maintain its load-bearing capacity and high comfort of use even in the presence of damage to the saddle walls and also following the introduction of a filling fluid, possibly body under pressure, inside a cam was defined by the seat of the saddle.

Another object is to provide a saddle that is comfortable and at the same time particularly light and, as such, suitable for use as a saddle for racing bicycles.

These objects and others which will become clearer hereinafter are achieved by the invention by means of a saddle made in accordance with the following claims.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of some preferred embodiments, illustrated by way of example and not of limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a saddle according to the invention; Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the saddle of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the saddle of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a partial sectional schematic side view of the saddle of Figure 1;

- Figure 5 is a view like that of Figure 4 which shows an alternative version of a saddle according to the invention.

Preferred ways of implementing the invention

Figures 1-4 show a saddle 1 for cycles and the like made according to the invention. The term cycles means to include traditional bicycles and also other vehicles, such as mopeds and motorcycles.

The saddle 1 comprises a seat 2 which is intended to receive the user, which is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal m edian plane indicated by XY and gradually tapered along a longitudinal axis X starting from a rear support zone 2a in the direction of a zone front 2b. seat 2 is made of plastic and is obtained by molding, or preferably by stretch-blowing, blow-molding.

In some versions, the seat 2 can be covered, at least partially, with a sheath made, for example, of leather or similar material, or even of transpiring material to improve the comfort of use of the saddle 1.

Optionally, the sheath can be shaped so as to improve the aesthetic characteristics of the seat 2.

In the seat 2 a first half-shell 4 and an opposite second half-shell 6 can be identified, shaped so that a chamber 5 remains between them, inside which air, or another fluid, preferably under pressure, or even a expanded material, such as for example polyurethane or expanded polystyrene.

In a version not shown, the seat 2 can be equipped with a valve to blow / expel air into / from the chamber 5 in order to regulate the pressure inside the chamber 5 itself.

The first half-shell 4 is arranged to receive the user of the cycle in support, while the second half-shell 6 faces, in use, towards a frame of the cycle to which the saddle 1 is fixed for use.

The saddle 1 also comprises coupling means 3 provided on the second half-shell 6 and arranged to cooperate with corresponding coupling countermeans, not shown, forming part of a frame of the cycle selected for fixing the saddle 1 to the aforementioned frame.

The seat 2 is also provided with reinforcement means defined on the first and second half-shells 4, 6 and arranged to limit the deformability of the seat 2 and support its structure, as better described below.

The reinforcement means comprise a plurality of pairs of recesses 1 1 suitably positioned on the seat 2 for example, in the embodiment shown, arranged in succession along the longitudinal axis X of the seat 2.

Each pair of recesses 11 comprises a first recess 12 and a second recess 13 defined respectively on the first half of the shell 4 and on the second half of the shell 6, in a mutually corresponding position, and each extending inside the chamber 5.

The first and second recesses 12, 13 have a substantially truncated cone shape, whose major base is identified respectively on the first and second half-shells 4, 6, and whose lower base constitutes a bottom portion 12a, 13a of each recess 12 , 13.

The bottom portions 12a, 13a of the first and second recesses 12, 13 of each pair of recesses 11, positioned, as mentioned inside the chamber 5, are in mutual contact and, if necessary, welded or heat-sealed to each other. 'other.

This allows to improve the dimensional stability of the seat 2, both in the presence of expansion and compression forces, as better explained below.

Possibly, as better explained below, the welding or heat-sealing is carried out during the molding or stretch-blow molding of the seat 2.

In the version shown, the seat 2 is provided with three pairs of recesses 11 arranged along the longitudinal axis X of the seat 2 itself, however, in other versions not shown, the seat 2 can be provided with a different number of pairs of recesses from that shown, and pairs of recesses can also be provided in different positions, for example in the lateral areas of the seat 2.

The reinforcing means of the seat 2 further comprise first and second grooves 14, 15 provided respectively on the first and second half-shell 4, 6 so as to extend respectively between two first adjacent recesses 12 or, respectively, between two adjacent second recesses 13 .

The first and second grooves 14, 15 project inside the chamber 5 for a limited extension with respect to the first and second recesses 12, 13, and respective bottom portions 14a, 15a first and second grooves 14, 15 are mutually spaced .

The grooves 14, 15 act as ribs of the seat 2 to further improve its sealing, as better explained below.

The coupling means 3 of the saddle 1 comprise dowels fixed to the second half-shell 6 and projecting externally from the latter so as to protrude from the overall dimensions of the seat 2.

In the version shown, two rear blocks 30 are provided positioned in correspondence with the rear region 2a of the seat 2, and a front block 31 positioned in correspondence with the front region 2b of the seat 2.

The rear blocks 30 can be mutually connected by a bridge formation 32, as in the version shown, to improve their adhesion on the second half shell 6.

The rear blocks 30 and front 31 are shaped like a pocket inside which the countermeans for attaching the cycle to which the saddle 1 are fixed are housed.

The dowel pocket may possibly have, as in the version shown, a sloping section from the opening towards the bottom, to improve the coupling of the coupling countermeans.

The blocks 30, 31 can be made of a material different from that used to make the seat 2, preferably, a plastic material having a greater stiffness than the plastic material used for the seat 2, to further improve the housing and sealing of the hooking countermeans inside the dowels 30, 31.

The blocks 30, 31 are made of a plastic having good affinities with the plastic used for the second half-shell 6, so that they can be efficiently attached to the second half-shell 6 of the seat 2.

For example, the blocks 30, 31 can be made of Nylon, TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers).

With reference to Figure 5, version shown, an embodiment variant of a saddle according to the invention.

The saddle 1 'of Figure 5 is very similar to the saddle 1 shown in Figures 1 -4, so the corresponding parts will be indicated with the same numerical references and will not be described in detail.

A covering 60 is applied to the first half-shell 4 of the saddle 1 'and is positioned so as to support the user of the saddle 1' and shaped so as to at least partially cover the first half-shell 4. The covering 60 comprises a plurality of first and second appendages 50, 51 integral with the covering 60 and projecting externally with respect to the covering 60 from the side facing, in use, towards the first half-shell 4 of the seat 2.

The first and second appendages 50, 51 are shaped in such a way as to couple in shape coupling respectively to the first recesses 12 and to the first grooves 14 defined on the first half of the shell 4.

In this way, when the coating 60 is applied on the first half of the shell 4, the first appendages 50 are received inside the first recesses 12 and the second appendages 51 are received inside the first grooves 14, so as to substantially fill them.

In this way, a saddle 1 'is created having an upper surface, intended to constitute the support surface for the user, substantially smooth and regular, that is, without roughness or hollows.

This allows to further improve the comfort of use for the user.

The upholstery 60 can be made of any desired material, preferably soft and light to improve the comfort of the seat. The covering 60 is not intended to support the structure of the seat 2 of the saddle 1 ', since this structure is supported by the pairs of recesses 11 provided on the first and second half-shells 4, 6, therefore, it can be made of any material soft and suitable for improving the comfort of using the saddle.

Various types of materials can be used to make the covering 60, for example leather, polyurethane fabrics, lycra, rubber in general, materials coupled with polyurethane foams, etc.

Other constructive parts of the saddle 1 and of the hooking countermeans for fixing the saddle 1 to a frame of a cycle are not described in detail because they are known to a person skilled in the art.

A saddle made according to the invention is extremely dimensionally stable.

The presence of the reinforcing means allows, in fact, to keep the structure of the seat 2 of the saddle 1 dimensionally stable, both in the presence of compression and expansion forces.

In fact, the presence of the recesses 12, 13 and, in particular, the reciprocal fastening between the respective bottom portions 12a, 13a, allows to avoid deformations of the seat 2 following the introduction of the filling material, air or other fluid under pressure. , or an expandable material, inside the chamber 5.

In fact, the filling material would tend to expand inside the chamber 5 deforming the seat 2. However, the recesses 12, 13 of each pair of recesses 11, being mutually connected through the respective bottom portions 12a, 13a, act as tie rods opposing a consistent resistance to deformation of the seat 2 and thus avoiding the generation of bulges or drafts on the seat 2.

In this way, a seat 2 is obtained having the desired shape and a regular configuration that is not subject to deformation following the introduction of the filling material inside the chamber 5.

Furthermore, the recesses 12, 13 allow you to avoid deformations of the seat 2 as a result of load pressures, due, for example to use, or even damage to the seat 2 itself.

In use, when a user sits on the seat 2, this is subjected to compression, and tends to deform under the weight of the user so that the first half-shell 4 is approached to the second half-shell 6.

However, the deformation allowed to the seat 2 is limited by the presence of the recesses 12, 13, in correspondence with which the deformation of the seat 2 is prevented. Therefore, the recesses 12, 13 act as struts supporting the structure of the seat 2 and making it more dimensionally stable. Furthermore, the first and second grooves 14, 15 cooperate with the first and second recesses 12, 13 to support the structure of the seat 2 avoiding its deformations both in expansion and in compression.

This allows to further improve the dimensional stability of the seat 2.

At the same time, a limited compressive deformation of the seat 2 is allowed in the areas where the reinforcing means are not provided.

This limited deformability allows to keep the comfort of use of the seat 2 high.

Furthermore, the recessed conformation of the reinforcement means allows to obtain the aforementioned advantages while keeping the weight of the seat 2 extremely low. Therefore, a saddle made according to the invention can be advantageously used as a saddle for racing cycles.

Furthermore, the presence of the covering 60, providing a regular support surface for the user, allows to further improve the comfort of use of the saddle, without making the overall weight of the saddle excessively heavy, for the reasons explained above.

The seat 2 is obtained by blow-molding of plastic material, preferably a transparent plastic material is used, for example polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or even a plastic material that is only partially transparent.

Various types of plastic can be used to make the seat 2, selected, in particular among those suitable for blow-molding, such as for example polypropylene, PET, PP, preferably PP Random, etc.

In one version, the first and second half-shells 4, 6 can be made of plastic materials that are different from each other, in particular the second half-shell 6 can be made of a plastic material having a greater stiffness than that used for the first half-shell 4.

In one version, suitably choosing the material to be used for the seat 2, and / or the filling material to be inserted in the interspace 5, and / or the thickness of the first and second half-shells 4, 6, seats 2 can be obtained having a weight comprised between about 10 and about 130 g, but seats of about 107 g can also be obtained.

With the techniques and materials described above it is possible to obtain seats having a thickness of the first and / or the second half-shell 4, 6, comprised between about 0.7 and about 1.2 m m.

According to a preferred technique, the saddle 1, 1 'is obtained with a single blow-molding phase at the end of which a saddle 1, 1' provided with the seat 2 with the means of reinforcement, the coating 60, if provided, and the hooking means 3. By suitably shaping the mold, the recesses and grooves are obtained directly during the molding step and the bottom portions of the recesses are mutually welded.

In this case, moreover, it is as if there was a single bottom portion for each pair of first and second recesses 12, 13.

If it is envisaged to use different types of plastic material for the various parts of the saddle 1, these can be co-molded, or processed with a single molding process by feeding the desired plastic materials into the mold.

In this case, it will be advisable to choose plastic materials having a good chemical affinity between them to ensure a good mutual adhesion of the various parts of the saddle 1.

With the blow-molding technique, a seat 2 can be made having walls with reduced thickness, comprised between 0.7 and 1, 2 or preferably between 0.8 and 1 mm.

Furthermore, by using plastic material to make the saddle 1 and, therefore, by producing the saddle using the relative molding techniques of the plastic materials, a saddle is produced which has extremely low costs and very fast production times.

The thickness of the seat 2 can be variable along the seat 2 to oppose a variable resistance to the weight of the user, or substantially uniform and regular in each section of the seat 2.

In a further version, the seat 2 can be at least partially covered with a layer of possibly non-plastic material, for example in leather or similar material, for example a breathable material to improve the comfort of use of the saddle.

This layer of upholstery material is preferably associated with the seat during the molding phase, or alternatively, for example if the material of the upholstery is not compatible with blow-molding, or with the molding technique chosen for the seat, the upholstery is applied to the seat following molding.

This layer of coating material can be applied on the first half-shell 4, or on the coating 60, if present, or even a free surface of the coating 60, intended to support the user, can be made of breathable material.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS 1. Saddle (1) for cycles comprising a seat (2) with a first (4) and a second half-shell (6) jointly delimiting a chamber (5), a filling material occupying at least partially said chamber (5), means of reinforcement (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) defined on at least one of said half-shells (4, 6) and extended in said chamber (5), characterized in that said reinforcing means comprise first recesses (12) defined on said first half-shell (4) and second recesses (13) defined on said second half-shell (6) in a position opposite to said first recesses (12) and cooperating with said first recesses (12) to limit the deformation of said seat (2). 2. Saddle according to claim 1, wherein said first (12) and said second recesses (13) comprise respective bottom portions (12a, 13a) positioned inside said chamber (5) in mutual contact. 3. Saddle according to claim 1, or 2, wherein said reinforcing means comprise grooves (14, 15) defined on said first (4) and / or said second half-shell (6) and extended between corresponding recesses (12, 13) adjacent. 4. Saddle according to one of the preceding claims, and comprising covering means (60, 50, 51) applied on said first half-shell (4), at least partially covering it. 5. Saddle according to the preceding claim, wherein said covering means (60, 50, 51) comprise at least a first appendix (50) integral with said covering means (60) and received in shape coupling in a corresponding recess (12 ) of said first half-shell (4). 6. Saddle according to claim 4, or 5, when claim 4 is dependent on claim 3, wherein said covering means (60, 50, 51) comprise at least a second appendix (51) integral with said covering means ( 60) and received in shape coupling in a corresponding first groove (14) of said first half-shell (4). 7. Saddle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said filling material comprises a fluid under pressure, and preferably air under pressure. Saddle according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said filling material comprises a foam material, such as for example polyurethane or expanded polystyrene. Saddle according to one of the preceding claims and further comprising hooking means (3, 30, 31) defined on said second half-shell (6) and arranged to cooperate with hooking countermeans of a frame of a cycle to hook said saddle ( 1) to said cycle. 10. Saddle according to the preceding claim, in which said coupling means comprise pocket-shaped blocks (30, 31) arranged to house end portions of said coupling countermeans. 1 1. Saddle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said seat is obtained by blow-molding of at least one plastic material. 12. Saddle according to the preceding claim, wherein said plastic material is selected from a group comprising random PET, PP, PP.