JP2006193128A - Saddle raising device for bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a saddle raising device that can be easily installed on an existing bicycle, and that is excellent in strength to be stably actuated. <P>SOLUTION: This saddle raising device for a bicycle is provided with a spring member 1 to energize a saddle in a rising direction, and a shock absorber 2 to restrict sudden rise or fall of the saddle, in which permission and prohibition for rise and fall of the saddle are switched from each other in accordance with operation on the side of handlebar. On the shock absorber 2, a piston rod 4 slides in contact with an inner diametric surface of a cylinder 3. In accordance with operation of a switching rod inserted on the inner side of it, permission and prohibition of rise and fall of the saddle are switched from each other. An upper end part and a lower end part of the spring member 1 are respectively locked to the piston rod 4 and the cylinder 3. The cylinder 3 is inserted into a vertical pipe of a vehicle body frame, and the saddle is fixed to an upper part of the piston rod 4 to be attached to the bicycle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a device for elevating and lowering a saddle of a bicycle while riding, making it easy to stroke a pedal while traveling, and making it easy to put on a foot when the vehicle is stopped.

  In general, a bicycle saddle is attached to the upper end of a saddle post that is slidably inserted into a standing pipe of a vehicle body frame, and the saddle post is clamped to the standing pipe by a clamp at an arbitrary position and set to an appropriate height. .

  By the way, the saddle height is set higher during driving, and it is easier to ride the pedal, and lowering it when parked is easier to get on the ground and safer. The adjustment mechanism cannot change the height of the saddle while riding.

  For this reason, conventionally, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below, as a device for raising and lowering a saddle while riding, a shock absorber that urges the saddle in a rising direction with a spring and suppresses a sudden rise and fall of the saddle. There are a number of proposals that switch between allowing and preventing the saddle ascending and descending as the handle is operated.

  In these devices, if the saddle is allowed to move up and down just before stopping, the saddle is lowered by the weight of the driver, and when the driver floats when starting the vehicle, the saddle is raised by a spring and prevents the saddle from moving up and down while driving. Then, the saddle is supported at a predetermined height.

  Further, in Patent Document 3 below, as a saddle elevating device that can easily adjust the height of the saddle, a gas spring outer cylinder is inserted and fixed to a standing pipe of a vehicle body frame, and a base that is in sliding contact with the outer cylinder and the cylinder is disclosed. It is described that the upper end of a tube is connected to a saddle, and the saddle is raised and lowered by opening and closing a gas pressure in a cylinder and a flow path.

JP 2000-168650 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-59238 JP 2003-104257 A

  However, for example, in the lifting device described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since the main part is incorporated in the standing pipe or saddle post of the body frame, it is necessary to manufacture a dedicated body frame and the like, which is realized in terms of cost. Is difficult.

  In addition, in the lifting device described in Patent Document 2, it is possible to use an existing body frame or saddle post, but the saddle moves up and down in an arc shape at a position shifted from the axis of the saddle post. There may be a problem with smooth operation.

  In addition, in the lifting device described in Patent Document 3, the body frame of an existing bicycle can be used, and the saddle moves up and down linearly. However, when a large offset load acts on the saddle, the gas spring is squeezed and smoothly May not work.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a saddle lifting device that can be easily attached to an existing bicycle, has excellent strength, and operates stably.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, in order to allow the saddle of the bicycle to be raised and lowered while riding, a spring member that urges the saddle in the upward direction is provided, and a shock absorber that suppresses sudden raising and lowering of the saddle is provided. In a bicycle saddle lifting device that switches between allowing and blocking saddle lifting in accordance with the operation on the handle side, the piston rod slides in contact with the inner diameter surface of the cylinder to the shock absorber, and the switching rod inserted inside it The upper and lower ends of the spring member are locked to the piston rod and the cylinder, respectively, and the cylinder is inserted and fixed to the standing pipe of the vehicle body frame. It was fixed to the top of the piston rod and attached to the bicycle.

  In the above device, a compression coil type spring member is used. The spring member is fitted to the outer periphery of the piston rod, and the upper end of the spring member is received by an upper support attached to the upper portion of the piston rod, and the lower end is attached to the cylinder. It is recommended that you catch it with a treadle.

  Also, instead of a compression coil spring member, a torsion coil spring member is used, and its upper end is connected to an upper receiver attached to the upper part of the piston rod, and its lower end is attached to a lower receiver attached to the cylinder. You may connect.

  In this case, the torsion coil type spring member is composed of upper and lower torsion coil springs having a coaxial coil portion in the middle, and the coil portions of both torsion coil springs are integrally tightened or loosened, whereby the spring member is obtained. The urging force can be adjusted.

  Specifically, the upper and lower torsion coil springs are respectively connected to the spring holder in the middle of the spring member, and the spring holder is moved in the axial direction of the adjusting bolt as the knob is rotated, so that the biasing force of the spring member is increased. It may be adjustable.

  In addition, the upper and lower torsion coil springs may be connected to the worm gear in the middle of the spring member, and the worm and the worm gear may be rotated as the knob is rotated to adjust the biasing force of the spring member.

  In addition, the ends of the upper and lower torsion coil springs are bent inward in the middle of the spring member, and these ends are slidably locked to the inclined guide surface of the moving body inserted inside the coil part. The moving body may be moved in the axial direction of the coil portion as the knob is rotated, and the biasing force of the spring member may be adjustable.

  In each of the above devices, when the saddle is attached, the saddle frame is supported from below by the upper holder attached to the upper part of the piston rod, and the upper holder and the holding tool are held in a state of being sandwiched by the holding tool from above. If a bolt is screwed and tightened from below, the existing saddle can be used as it is.

  In addition, a rotating body is provided at the rear upper end of the cylinder, a longitudinal guide groove is formed at the rear of the outer periphery of the piston rod, and the rotating body is engaged with the guide groove. The piston rod may be smoothly slid by rotating in contact with the bottom.

  In this case, it is preferable to prevent the piston rod from rattling by pressing the rotating body against the bottom of the guide groove as the adjusting bolt rotates.

  In addition, a shock absorber may be used in which oil flows into and out of the piston rod to absorb the shock, and opens and closes the oil flow path to switch the allowance / prevention of the saddle.

  In the above apparatus, when an air tank is connected to the shock absorber via a tube communicating with the inside of the piston rod, air flows between the piston rod and the air tank when oil flows in and out of the piston rod. Since the compression ratio of the air in the piston rod is reduced, the shock absorber functions with a light load.

  Also, as a shock absorber, an inner cylinder protruding from the lower end of the cylinder is connected to the lower part of the piston rod, and a space filled with oil is provided between the inner cylinder and the cylinder, and between this space and the inside of the piston rod. Even if oil flows, the volume of the cylinder below the piston rod is reduced, so that the compression ratio of air in the piston rod is reduced and the shock absorber functions with a light load.

  Furthermore, as a shock absorber, an inner cylinder projecting from the lower end of the cylinder is connected to the lower part of the piston rod, and two upper and lower oil passage openings are provided on the inner cylinder with a piston seal that seals the gap between the cylinder inner diameter surface. The space between the cylinder and the inner cylinder is defined above and below the piston seal, oil is sealed in this space, and the saddle is allowed to rise and fall as the flow path connecting the upper and lower oil passages opens and closes. When the switch is used, the oil is sealed in a closed space of a certain volume, so that the piston rod does not become unstable due to fluctuations in the air pressure inside the cylinder, and the piston rod is surely in place. To stop.

  On the other hand, instead of the hydraulic shock absorber as described above, a slide body is provided rotatably below the piston rod, and the slide body and the inner diameter surface of the cylinder are screwed together with a slide screw to A screw-type shock absorber may be used in which the slide body rotates with the slide and the speed of the piston rod slide movement is reduced.

  In this shock absorber, the locking body is fixed to the lower end of the switching rod that passes through the piston rod and the slide body, and the rotation of the slide body relative to the switching rod is prevented / allowed when the locking body and the slide body are engaged and disengaged. Then, one end of the spring fitted on the outer periphery of the switching rod is locked to the switching rod and the other end is locked to the piston rod, so that the impact at the time when the slide body stops rotating is mitigated with the elastic twist of this spring. It is good to.

  In such a bicycle saddle raising / lowering device, the saddle moves up and down linearly and stably along the axis of the vertical pipe of the body frame, so that malfunction due to uneven load is prevented, durability is improved, and existing The bicycle can be easily installed without modification, so the cost does not increase.

  First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  This saddle lifting device is a general-purpose device attached to a normal bicycle, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the saddle 50 is configured to support the saddle 50 so as to be lifted and lowered above the standing pipe 51 of the vehicle body frame. A compression coil type spring member 1 that urges the saddle 50 in the upward direction, and a shock absorber 2 that suppresses a sudden rise and fall of the saddle 50 are provided.

  The cylinder 3 of the shock absorber 2 is inserted into the standing pipe 51 in place of the existing bicycle saddle post, and it is easy for a bicycle user to ride the pedal when the saddle 50 is raised, and when the saddle 50 is lowered, the cylinder 3 is attached to the ground. It is positioned at an easy-to-cut height, and is clamped and fixed to the standing pipe 51 by a clamp 52.

  A cylindrical piston rod 4 is slidably contacted with the inner diameter surface of the cylinder 3 to the shock absorber 2, oil flows into and out of the piston rod 4 to absorb the impact, and the oil passage 5 is opened and closed by the valve body 6. Thus, a switch that switches between permitting and blocking of the saddle 50 is used. The valve body 6 is operated by an operation shaft 7 of a switching rod protruding from the upper end of the piston rod 4.

  The spring member 1 is fitted on the outer periphery of the piston rod 4, and the lower end thereof is received by a fixing nut 9 a of a lower receiving tool 9 attached to the upper end portion of the cylinder 3. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper support 8 and its extension member 8 a are fixed to the upper portion of the piston rod 4 with a pair of nuts 17, and the upper end of the spring member 1 is connected to the lower nut 17. It is accepted.

  The upper support 8 supports the saddle frame 53 of the saddle 50 from below, covers the holding tool 18 above the saddle frame 53, and holds the saddle frame 53 between the screws of the holding tool 18 via the upper support 8. The saddle 50 is fixed to the upper part of the piston rod 4 by screwing the bolt 19 into the hole and tightening it from below.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the extension plate 8 a of the upper support 8 is pivotally supported by a front standing wall 21 so that the switching plate 22 can swing. The switching plate 22 rotates the operation shaft 7 along with the swinging. It comes to press. An operation wire 23 connected to a lever on the handle side is connected to the rear end portion of the switching plate 22 through an extension member 8a, and a restoring force is applied to the wire 23 by a spring.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a bearing 24 is provided in the lower support 9 at the rear upper end of the cylinder 3, and a guide groove 25 extending in the vertical direction is formed at the rear outer periphery of the piston rod 4. . The bearing 24 engages with the guide groove 25 through the notch of the cylinder 3 and rotates in contact with the bottom of the guide groove 25.

  Even if a large load is applied to the saddle 50, the bearing 24 allows the piston rod 4 to slide smoothly with respect to the cylinder 3, and prevents relative rotation in the circumferential direction between the cylinder 3 and the piston rod 4. In addition, the bearing 24 comes into contact with the lower end of the guide groove 25 and the rise of the saddle 50 is restricted.

  The support shaft 26 of the bearing 24 is inserted into a longitudinal hole 26a formed in the lower support 9 so that the piston rod 4 does not come into contact with the rear portion of the inner surface of the cylinder 3 and friction is increased. The piston rod 4 can be adjusted to a position where it is appropriately pressed forward, and the nut 26b can be tightened and fixed.

  On the other hand, in the shock absorber 2 used in the above apparatus, as shown in FIG. 5, the bottom of the cylinder 3 is closed with a bottom cover 29, and the cylinder 3 is filled with oil. A piston seal 30 that seals the gap with the inner diameter surface of the cylinder 3 is fitted to the outer periphery of the lower portion of the piston rod 4 inserted into the cylinder 3.

  A flow path 5 is formed in the lower fitting material 31 fitted in the lower part of the cavity of the piston rod 4, and the cavity of the piston rod 4 communicates with the lower space of the cylinder 3 through the flow path 5. A tapered portion 32 that narrows upward toward the flow path 5 is provided inside the lower fitting material 31, and a spherical valve body 6 is inserted into the tapered portion 32.

  A switching rod 33 extending in the axial direction of the piston rod 4 is inserted above the valve body 6, and the switching rod 33 slidably penetrates the upper fitting material 34 fitted in the upper portion of the cavity of the piston rod 4. Thus, the upper end portion is an operation shaft 7. The valve body 6 is pressed upward by a spring 35 and contacts and separates from the small diameter side of the tapered portion 32 to open and close the flow path 5.

  In such a shock absorber 2, when the valve body 6 is in contact with the small diameter side of the taper portion 32, the flow path 5 is completely closed and the saddle 50 is prevented from moving up and down. When the valve body 6 is pushed down against the spring 35 by pressing, the flow path 5 is opened and the saddle 50 is allowed to rise and fall.

  The valve body 6 may be a tapered shape corresponding to the shape of the tapered portion 32 instead of the spherical shape. Further, instead of a valve mechanism that opens and closes the flow path 5 by pushing down the valve body 6, a rotary type that opens and closes the flow path by changing the communication area with the hole of the flow path as the valve body having the opening rotates. The valve mechanism may be used.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  This saddle raising / lowering device is also a general-purpose device attached to a normal bicycle, and as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, is configured to support the saddle 50 so as to be movable up and down above the standing pipe 51 of the vehicle body frame. The spring member 1 that urges the saddle 50 in the upward direction and the shock absorber 2 that suppresses the sudden rise and fall of the saddle 50 are provided.

  The cylinder 3 of the shock absorber 2 is inserted into the standing pipe 51 in place of the existing bicycle saddle post, and it is easy for a bicycle user to ride the pedal when the saddle 50 is raised, and when the saddle 50 is lowered, the cylinder 3 is attached to the ground. It is positioned at an easy-to-cut height, and is clamped and fixed to the standing pipe 51 by a clamp 52.

  A cylindrical piston rod 4 is slidably contacted with the inner diameter surface of the cylinder 3 to the shock absorber 2, oil flows into and out of the piston rod 4 to absorb the impact, and the oil passage 5 is opened and closed by the valve body 6. Thus, a switch that switches between permitting and blocking of the saddle 50 is used. The valve body 6 is operated by an operation shaft 7 of a switching rod protruding from the upper end of the piston rod 4.

  An upper receiver 8 is attached to the upper part of the piston rod 4 of the shock absorber 2, and a lower receiver 9 is attached to the upper part of the cylinder 3, and the spring member 1 is interposed between the upper receiver 8 and the lower receiver 9. Is intervening. The spring member 1 is composed of a pair of upper and lower torsion coil springs 11 and 12 having long and short leg portions at both ends of a coil portion 10 located in the middle.

  The long leg hooks of the torsion coil springs 11 and 12 are connected to the upper receiver 8 and the lower receiver 9, respectively, and a shaft member 13 is inserted into the coil section 10. An adjusting bolt 15 that rotates integrally with the knob 14 is inserted into the shaft member 13, and the hooks of the short leg portions of the torsion coil springs 11 and 12 are connected to both ends of the spring receiver 16 that is screwed to the adjusting bolt 15. ing.

  In such a spring member 1, when the knob 14 is turned, the adjustment bolt 15 is also rotated, and the spring receiver 16 that is screwed to the adjustment bolt 15 moves in the axial direction of the adjustment bolt 15. Since the coil portion 10 is integrally tightened or loosened, the urging force of the spring member 1 can be easily adjusted according to the weight of the driver.

  The upper receiver 8 is sandwiched between a pair of nuts 17 screwed into the upper portion of the piston rod 4, and the saddle frame 53 is sandwiched between the upper receiver 8 and the lower portions on both sides of the sandwiching tool 18 placed thereon. The saddle 50 is fixed to the upper portion of the piston rod 4 by tightening the bolt 19 and the nut 20.

  A switching plate 22 is pivotally supported by the upper support 8 on a standing wall 21 located at the front portion so that the switching plate 22 can swing, and the switching plate 22 presses the operation shaft 7 with the swing. An operation wire 23 connected to a lever on the handle side is connected to the rear end portion of the switching plate 22 through the upper support 8, and a restoring force is applied to the wire 23 by a spring.

  A bearing 24 supported by the lower support 9 is provided at the rear upper end of the cylinder 3, and a guide groove 25 extending in the vertical direction is formed at the outer peripheral rear portion of the piston rod 4. The bearing 24 engages with the guide groove 25 through the notch of the cylinder 3 and rotates in contact with the bottom of the guide groove 25.

  Even if a large load is applied to the saddle 50, the bearing 24 allows the piston rod 4 to slide smoothly with respect to the cylinder 3, and prevents relative rotation in the circumferential direction between the cylinder 3 and the piston rod 4. In addition, the bearing 24 comes into contact with the lower end of the guide groove 25 and the rise of the saddle 50 is restricted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the support shaft 26 of the bearing 24 is inserted into a longitudinal hole 26a formed in the lower support 9 and fixed by a nut 26b. When the adjustment bolt 27 screwed into the rear portion of the lower support 9 is appropriately rotated, the pressing member 28 provided at the tip thereof presses the support shaft 26 and the bearing 24 is pressed against the bottom of the guide groove 25. The position of the bearing 24 can be easily adjusted against the load.

  On the other hand, the shock absorber 2 used in the above apparatus has the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 5, and when the valve body 6 is in contact with the small diameter side of the tapered portion 32 as shown in FIG. 5 is completely closed and the saddle 50 is prevented from moving up and down. When the valve body 6 is pushed down against the spring 35 by pressing the operating shaft 7, the flow path 5 is opened and the saddle 50 is moved up and down. Is acceptable.

  By the way, as a mechanism for adjusting the urging force of the spring member 1, when the adjustment bolt 15 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is fixed so as not to rotate, the knob 14 is screwed onto the adjustment bolt 15, and the knob 14 is turned. The spring receiver 16 may move in the axial direction of the adjusting bolt 15 together with the knob 14 so that the coil portions 10 of the torsion coil springs 11 and 12 are tightened or loosened.

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the spring member 1 is provided with two worms 37 having screw teeth in opposite directions and a worm gear 38 meshing with the frame 36 supported by the shaft member 13. The torsion coil springs 11 and 12 are respectively engaged with the worm gear 38, the end of the worm 37 is meshed with the inner periphery of the knob 14, and the worm 37 and the worm gear 38 are rotated as the knob 14 is rotated. The biasing force of the spring member 1 may be adjustable.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the ends of the torsion coil springs 11 and 12 are bent inward in the middle of the spring member 1, and the holding cylinder 39 is inserted inside the coil part 10. The movable body 40 is inserted inside, and the bent ends of the torsion coil springs 11 and 12 are slidably locked to the inclined guide surface 41 of the movable body 40 through the kerf of the holding cylinder 39, respectively. The urging force of the spring member 1 may be adjustable by moving the moving body 40 in the axial direction of the coil portion 10 as the knob 14 provided with the adjusting bolt 42 screwed to the moving body 40 rotates.

  Here, the inclined guide surface 41 of the moving body 40 has an inner diameter surface so that the ends of the torsion coil springs 11 and 12 are engaged at substantially right angles even when the moving body 40 moves in the axial direction of the coil portion 10. The peripheral wall of the cylindrical moving body 40 having a thread groove on the side may be formed into a shape that is obliquely cut while twisting from one end to the axial direction. Further, the cut groove of the holding cylinder 39 communicates with a portion extending in the axial direction so that the end portions of the torsion coil springs 11 and 12 can be inserted from one end side of the holding cylinder 39 to form a circumferential portion. It is good to leave.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, description of a common part with the said 2nd Embodiment that a basic structure approximates is abbreviate | omitted here, and only a different part is mentioned.

  In this saddle lifting device, an air tank 44 is connected to the shock absorber 2 via a tube 43 communicating with the inside of the piston rod 4, and the air tank 44 is attached to a forward extension of the upper support 8. The air flows between the piston rod 4 and the air tank 44 when the oil flows in and out of the cylinder.

  In this shock absorber 2, as shown in FIG. 17, the valve body 6 using an O-ring contacts and separates from the lower surface of the lower fitting material 31 to open and close the flow path 5. Are fixed by a seal retainer 6a and a nut 6b, and are urged by a spring 35 sandwiched between an upper surface of the lower fitting material 31 and a spring receiver 35a in a direction in close contact with the lower surface of the lower fitting material 31.

  In addition, a piston seal 30 using an O-ring is fitted on the outer periphery of the lower fitting material 31 at the lower part of the piston rod 4, and the piston seal 30 is sandwiched between the piston rod 4 and the flange of the lower fitting material 31. Is retained.

  Further, an upper seal 34 a using an O-ring seals between the switching rod 33 and the upper fitting material 34 at the upper part of the piston rod 4, and the upper seal 34 a is a seal retainer 34 b screwed into the inner diameter surface of the piston rod 4. And the upper fitting material 34. The tube 43 passes through the upper fitting material 34 and the seal retainer 34b.

  As described above, when the air tank 44 is connected to the shock absorber 2 via the tube 43, the compression ratio of the air in the piston rod 4 decreases, so that the shock absorber 2 functions with a light load, and the upper portion of the piston rod 4 is sealed. Thus, the oil can be prevented from escaping.

  In this saddle raising / lowering device, as shown in FIG. 16, one torsion coil spring is used as the spring member 1, and the biasing force adjusting mechanism is omitted. A bellows-like cover 45 that follows the slide of the piston rod 4 is mounted from the upper part of the cylinder 3 to the piston rod 4 so that the piston rod 4 is protected.

  Next, 4th Embodiment of this invention is described based on FIG.18 and FIG.19. In this embodiment as well, description of common parts with the second and third embodiments, whose basic configurations are approximate, is omitted, and only different parts are mentioned.

  This saddle lifting device connects the inner cylinder 46 protruding from the lower end of the cylinder 3 to the lower part of the piston rod 4 as the shock absorber 2, and provides a space filled with oil between the inner cylinder 46 and the cylinder 3. The oil flows between this space and the inside of the piston rod 4.

  In this shock absorber 2, as shown in FIG. 19, the space between the cylinder 3 and the inner cylinder 46 is sealed at the bottom of the cylinder 3 by a lower seal 29a using an O-ring. A seal 29b and an Ω-type washer 29c are fitted to improve the sealing performance while positioning the lower seal 29a in the axial direction of the cylinder 3.

  Further, in the vicinity of the connecting portion between the piston rod 4 and the inner cylinder 46, a piston seal 30 using an O-ring is fitted on the outer periphery of the inner cylinder 46, and a square seal 30a and an Ω washer 30b are fitted below the piston seal 30. The sealing performance is improved while positioning the seal 30 in the axial direction of the inner cylinder 46.

  Further, below the piston seal 30, an oil passage port 46 a is provided in the inner cylinder 46, and inside the inner cylinder 46 is filled with a filling material 46 b below the oil passage opening 46 a, This prevents leakage of the oil that flows in. Above the filling material 46 b, a spring 35 is provided to bias the valve body 6 upward so as to be in close contact with the lower surface of the lower fitting material 31.

  Even if such a shock absorber 2 is used, since the volume of the cylinder 3 below the piston rod 4 is reduced, the compression ratio of air in the piston rod 4 is reduced, and the shock absorber functions with a light load. Specifically, the air pressure during compression may be set to about 2 atm.

  Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, here, description of a common part with said each embodiment is abbreviate | omitted, and only a characteristic part is mentioned.

  In this saddle lifting apparatus, a torsion coil spring having a large number of turns of the coil portion 10 is used as the spring member 1, and its upper end is locked to the right side of the upper receiver 8 and its lower end is locked to the left side of the lower receiver 9. Has been. The upper end portion of the spring member 1 has a hook shape and is hooked in a through hole formed in the cut and raised portion of the upper support 8.

  The operation wire 23 is arranged so that the switching plate 22 swings at a required angle by slightly pulling the lever on the handle side so that the cap 7a placed on the upper end of the switching rod of the shock absorber 2 can be pressed. It is connected to the switching plate 22 further forward.

  A sleeve 3a is fitted to the upper part of the inner periphery of the cylinder 3. The sleeve 3a allows the piston rod 4 to slide smoothly in the axial direction relative to the cylinder 3 without being beaten, so that the saddle 50 moves up and down. It has become.

  A locking plate 24a is sandwiched between the rear portions of the lower support 9 and the rotation stop plate 24a is fixed to the lower support 9 by a bolt and a nut 26b of the support shaft 26 together with a downward U-shaped spring support 9b. The convex portion on the front side of the rotation stop plate 24a is engaged with the guide groove 25 on the rear portion of the piston rod 4 through the through hole of the cylinder 3 to prevent relative rotation between the lower support 9 and the cylinder 3 and piston rod 4. .

  The lower end portion of the spring member 1 is also locked to the support shaft 26 and fixed by a nut 26e with washers 26c and 26d interposed therebetween. In addition, when using a spring member 1 having a different wire diameter in order to obtain a required urging force, the width of the coil portion is different, so that a gap is eliminated by using a washer 26c having a different thickness. do it.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the shock absorber 2 used in the above apparatus has a cylinder 3 and an inner cylinder 46 in which an upper member and a lower member are connected, and a piston seal 30 is sandwiched in the vicinity of the connecting portion of the inner cylinder 46. The upper and lower oil passage openings 46a are provided. A space formed by the cylinder 3 and the inner cylinder 46 is partitioned by a lower seal 29a and an upper seal 34a located below and above the piston seal 30.

  A flow path 5 is formed between the lower portion of the switching rod 33 and the inner cylinder 46, and a valve body 6 made of an O-ring and an inner seal 33 a are fitted to the lower outer periphery of the switching rod 33. Then, the valve body 6 contacts and separates from the lower end of the upper member of the inner cylinder 46 to open and close the flow path 5, and oil flows upward or downward of the piston seal 30 in accordance with the opening and closing.

  The spring 35 for biasing the switching rod 35 upward is provided between a long cylindrical spring receiver 35a inserted between the piston rod 4 and the switching rod 33 and the cap 7a of the switching rod 33. The lower end of the spring receiver 35 a is received by the upper end of the inner cylinder 46.

  In such a shock absorber 2, since oil is sealed in a closed space of a constant volume, the movement of the piston rod 4 does not become unstable due to fluctuations in the air pressure inside the cylinder 3, and the piston rod 4 Stops securely at a predetermined position.

  In place of the hydraulic shock absorber 2 as described above, a screw type shock absorber 2 may be used as shown in FIG.

  In the shock absorber 2, a core receiving bolt 4 a is screwed into the lower end of the piston rod 4, and a slide body 47 is rotatably fitted to the outside via a ball. The piston rod 4 is prevented from rotating with respect to the cylinder 3 by engaging the distal end portion of the locking screw 24 b with the guide groove 25.

  Slide screws 47a and 3b are formed on the outer periphery of the slide body 47 and the inner periphery of the cylinder 3, respectively. The slide screws 47a and 3b have large leads, and the thread shape is square. By these screw engagements, the slide body 47 rotates as the piston rod 4 slides up and down, and the speed of the sliding movement of the piston rod 4 is reduced.

  At the lower end of the switching rod 33 inserted into the piston rod 4 and the core receiving bolt 4a, a locking body 48 is attached by a nut 33b and is prevented from rotating, and a mountain shape protruding in a cross shape on the upper surface of the locking body 48. Nail 48a is formed. Further, a claw receiver 47b is formed on the lower surface of the slide body 47 by a valley-shaped cut.

  Further, the switching rod 33 is urged upward with respect to the piston rod 4 by the spring 35 fitted on the upper periphery of the switching rod 33. When the switching rod 33 with the cap 7a on the upper end slides up and down, the claw 48a and the claw holder 47b is engaged and disengaged, and the rotation of the slide body 47 with respect to the switching rod 33 is prevented / allowed.

  The spring 35 has an upper end inserted into the hole of the switching rod 33 and locked, and a lower end inserted into the groove of the piston rod 4 and locked. For this reason, even if the claw 48a and the claw receiver 47b engage with each other, the rotation of the slide body 47 does not stop immediately, but gently stops while being decelerated with the elastic twist of the spring 35.

  Such a saddle lifting device using the screw-type shock absorber 2 has no portion protruding downward from the cylinder 3 when the piston rod 4 slides downward. In addition to being able to be worn, cushioning is imparted by the spring 35, and the riding comfort of the bicycle is also improved. In addition, since the number of parts is small and the structure is simple, it can be manufactured at a low cost and the risk of failure such as oil leakage is reduced.

The perspective view which shows the saddle raising / lowering apparatus of the bicycle which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Cutaway side view of relevant parts Expanded longitudinal rear view showing saddle fixing part Enlarged cross-sectional plan view showing bearing support Longitudinal side view showing the shock absorber The perspective view which shows the saddle raising / lowering apparatus of the bicycle which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. Partial cutaway side view Partial cutaway rear view Enlarged cross-sectional plan view showing bearing support Longitudinal side view showing the shock absorber Partially cutaway side view showing a spring member having a worm-type adjusting mechanism Cross-sectional plan view Longitudinal rear view The perspective view which shows the spring member provided with the sliding type adjustment mechanism same as the above. Longitudinal front view Partially cutaway side view showing a bicycle saddle lifting device according to a third embodiment Longitudinal side view showing the shock absorber Partially cutaway side view showing a bicycle saddle lifting device according to a fourth embodiment Longitudinal side view showing the shock absorber The perspective view which shows the saddle raising / lowering apparatus of the bicycle which concerns on 5th Embodiment. Cutaway side view of relevant parts Rear view showing the vicinity of the lower support Longitudinal side view showing the shock absorber Longitudinal side view showing another example of shock absorber

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Spring member 2 Shock absorber 3 Cylinder 3a Sleeve 3b Slide screw 4 Piston rod 4a Core receiving bolt 5 Flow path 6 Valve body 6a Seal presser 6b Nut 7 Operation shaft 7a Cap 8 Upper support 8a Extension member 9 Lower support 9a Nut 9b Spring receiver 10 Coil portion 11, 12 Torsion coil spring 13 Shaft member 14 Knob 15 Adjustment bolt 16 Spring receiver 17 Nut 18 Holding tool 19 Bolt 20 Nut 21 Standing wall 22 Switching plate 23 Wire 24 Bearing 24a Stop plate 24b Stop bolt 25 Guide groove 26 Support shaft 26a Long hole 26b, 26e Nut 26c, 26d Washer 27 Adjustment bolt 28 Pressing member 29 Bottom cover 29a Lower seal 29b Square seal 29c Ω-type washer 30 Piston seal 30a Square seal 30b Ω-type washer 31 Lower fitting 32 Taper 33 Switching rod 33 a inner seal 33b nut 34 upper fitting material 34a upper seal 34b seal retainer 35 spring 35a spring receiver 36 frame 37 worm 38 worm gear 39 holding cylinder 40 moving body 41 inclined guide surface 42 adjustment bolt 43 tube 44 air tank 45 cover 46 inner cylinder 46a Oil passage port 46b Filling material 47 Slide body 47a Slide screw 47b Claw receiver 48 Locking body 48a Claw 50 Saddle 51 Vertical pipe 52 Clamp 53 Saddle frame

Claims (16)

  In order to make it possible to raise and lower the saddle of the bicycle while riding, a spring member that urges the saddle in the upward direction is provided, and a shock absorber that suppresses the sudden raising and lowering of the saddle is provided. In a bicycle saddle lifting device that switches between permitting and blocking, the shock absorber has a piston rod that slides in contact with the inner diameter surface of the cylinder, and switches between allowing and blocking of the saddle as the switching rod inserted inside it is operated. The upper and lower ends of the spring member are locked to the piston rod and cylinder respectively, the cylinder is inserted and fixed to the standing pipe of the body frame, and the saddle is fixed to the upper part of the piston rod and attached to the bicycle. A bicycle saddle elevating device characterized by the above.   2. The bicycle saddle lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a compression coil type spring member is used, the spring member is fitted to the outer periphery of the piston rod, and the upper end of the spring member is attached to the upper portion of the piston rod. A saddle lifting apparatus for a bicycle, characterized in that it is received by a lower receiving tool attached to the cylinder at the lower end.   2. The bicycle saddle lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a torsion coil type spring member is used, and an upper end portion thereof is connected to an upper support attached to an upper portion of the piston rod, and a lower end portion is attached to the cylinder. A saddle lifting apparatus for a bicycle, characterized in that it is connected to a receiver.   The bicycle saddle lifting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the spring member is composed of upper and lower torsion coil springs having a coaxial coil portion in the middle, and the coil portions of both torsion coil springs are integrally tightened, or A saddle lifting apparatus for a bicycle, wherein the urging force of the spring member can be adjusted by loosening.   5. The bicycle saddle lifting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the upper and lower torsion coil springs are respectively connected to the spring holders in the middle of the spring members, and the spring holders are moved in the axial direction of the adjusting bolts as the knob is rotated. A saddle lifting device for a bicycle, wherein the biasing force of the spring member is adjustable.   5. The bicycle saddle lifting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the upper and lower torsion coil springs are respectively connected to the worm gear in the middle of the spring member, and the worm and the worm gear are rotated as the knob is rotated to attach the spring member. A bicycle saddle lifting device characterized in that the power can be adjusted.   5. The bicycle saddle lifting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the ends of the upper and lower torsion coil springs are bent inward in the middle of the spring member, and these end portions are inserted inside the coil portion. Bicycle saddle elevating device characterized in that it can be slidably locked to the surface, and the urging force of the spring member can be adjusted by moving the moving body in the axial direction of the coil portion as the knob rotates. .   The bicycle saddle lifting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein when the saddle is attached, the saddle frame is supported from below by an upper support attached to the upper part of the piston rod, and sandwiched from above by a holding tool. A bicycle saddle elevating device characterized in that, in the state, the upper support and the clamp are tightened by screwing bolts from below.   The bicycle saddle lifting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a rotating body is provided at the rear upper end of the cylinder, a vertical guide groove is formed at the rear of the outer periphery of the piston rod, and the rotating body is provided in the guide groove. A bicycle saddle lifting apparatus, wherein the rotating body contacts and rotates with the bottom of the guide groove as the saddle is lifted and lowered.   The bicycle saddle lifting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the rotating body is pressed against the bottom of the guide groove as the adjustment bolt rotates.   The bicycle saddle lifting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein, as a shock absorber, oil flows in and out of the piston rod to absorb the shock, and the oil passage is opened and closed to allow the saddle to be lifted and lowered. A bicycle saddle lifting device characterized by using a switch for blocking.   The bicycle saddle lifting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein an air tank is connected to the shock absorber via a tube communicating with the inside of the piston rod, and when oil flows in and out of the piston rod, the piston rod and the air tank Bicycle saddle lifting device characterized in that air flows between them.   12. The bicycle saddle lifting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein an inner cylinder protruding from a lower end of the cylinder is connected to a lower portion of the piston rod as a shock absorber, and a space filled with oil is provided between the inner cylinder and the cylinder. A bicycle saddle elevating device using an oil flowing between the space and the inside of the piston rod.   The bicycle saddle lifting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein, as a shock absorber, an inner cylinder protruding from a lower end of the cylinder is connected to a lower portion of the piston rod, and a gap between the inner cylinder and a cylinder inner diameter surface is provided. Two upper and lower oil passage openings are provided across the piston seal to be sealed, a space formed by the cylinder and the inner cylinder is defined above and below the piston seal, oil is sealed in this space, and upper and lower oil passage openings are provided. A saddle lifting apparatus for a bicycle, which uses a switch that switches between allowing and preventing the raising and lowering of the saddle in accordance with the opening and closing of the connecting flow path.   11. The bicycle saddle lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a slide body is provided as a shock absorber so as to be rotatable below the piston rod, and the slide body and an inner diameter surface of the cylinder are screwed with a slide screw. A bicycle saddle elevating device using a device in which the slide body rotates and the speed of sliding movement of the piston rod is reduced as the piston rod slides up and down.   The bicycle saddle lifting apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a locking body is fixed to a lower end portion of the switching rod penetrating the piston rod and the slide body, and the locking rod is attached to and disengaged from the switching body. Stop / allow the rotation of the slide body. One end of the spring fitted on the outer periphery of the switching rod is locked to the switching rod, and the other end is locked to the piston rod. A saddle lifting device for a bicycle, characterized in that the impact at the time is reduced.

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