JP7165281B1 - Saddle rocking device - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] A three-wheeled bicycle or the like that can maintain an upright posture without overturning even when riding in a stopped state can maintain a stable riding posture because the vehicle body tilts along the left and right road gradients and the riding posture becomes unstable. A saddle rocker is provided. A flat belt idler (12L, 12R) fixed to both upper ends of a post (11) connected to a seat post (4) via a holder (2), and a rocker connected to a support rail (34) inside a saddle (3). The flat belt idlers 12L and 12R fixed to both ends of the metal fitting 14 are connected by the link pieces 13L and 13R, and the intersection 5 between the center line 51 of the support and the center line 52 of the rocking metal fitting during rocking is the saddle 3. The center of the saddle 3 is set at the uppermost position of the center of the saddle 3 and serves as a base point for rocking. A structure that allows the body to be kept vertical by swinging the saddle 3 according to the inclination of the vehicle body. [Selection drawing] Fig. 12

Description

The present invention relates to a saddle for a tricycle or the like.

Traditionally, compared to ordinary two-wheeled bicycles, tricycles have been developed for elderly people and those who are not accustomed to riding bicycles. Therefore, the following proposals have been made to allow the vehicle body to tilt according to the turning angle of the steering wheel even when driving on a curve and to cope with centrifugal force.

For example, Patent Document 1 already filed by the present applicant describes a front two-wheel three-wheeled bicycle steered by two front wheels, in which a front wheel support frame supporting the two front wheels and a handle post of the vehicle body supporting the rear wheels are swingable. a swinging arm connected to a rotating body arranged at the center of the front wheel support frame; a connecting member provided on a steering shaft built in the handle post; The rotating body is connected to a movable connecting body by a universal joint, and the vehicle body tilting device based on the front wheel support frame mechanically tilts the vehicle body in the turning direction. It is easy to ride, and it is possible to run smoothly on curves like a normal two-wheeled bicycle.

Japanese Patent No. 7054752

In the front two-wheeled bicycle described in Patent Document 1, a front wheel support frame and a vehicle body support frame are connected so as to be able to swing. It is possible to ride in a stable manner without overturning, and when traveling on curves, the wheels automatically tilt in the turning direction according to the steering wheel, and the vehicle body also tilts at the same time, making stable driving possible. However, the road conditions are not flat, and depending on the condition of the road pavement, the road slopes in the front, back, left, and right. As a result, the body of a three-wheeled bicycle, which does not fall over even if both feet are placed on the pedals while the bicycle is stopped, is tilted along the slope of the road. Since the condition will continue, it is necessary to forcefully adjust the body in the vertical direction, and there is a problem that it is difficult for the elderly to ride.

The present invention is intended to solve the problems of such a conventional structure, and when the body of a tricycle is tilted while sitting on the saddle, it is difficult to keep the body upright. However, when the saddle is fixed, it is difficult to keep the body upright. To provide a structure in which the central part of a saddle can be restrained from moving to the left and right when the rider is seated, and both the left and right sides of the saddle can be swung up and down to enable a vertical posture and stable running.

The rocking device is connected via a retainer to the seat post of the saddle that is connected to the body frame of the bicycle. A rotatable connecting body that serves as a connecting part of the holder and is fixed to both ends of the substantially T-shaped part of the upper part with a certain axial distance, and a saddle positioned below the rotatable connecting body. Rotation fixed to both ends of a rocking body formed by bending a metal plate connected to an internal support rail with a longer axis distance than the axis distance of a rotatable connector fixed to the support. The gist of the present invention is a link mechanism having a configuration in which a possible connecting body is connected by a plurality of link pieces, the plurality of link pieces form a substantially V-shaped connection when viewed from the front, and the rocking body can rock. do.

In a state in which the rocking body is tilted by rocking and connected to the support rails of the saddle, a vertical center line between the axes of rotatable couplings secured to both left and right ends of the rocking body, and the struts. The position of the intersection where the vertical center line between the axes of the rotatable connecting body fixed to both ends of the pillar intersects above the pillar is the pitch dimension of the connecting hole of the link piece and the rotatable By combining the distances between the axes of the connecting bodies, the center of the saddle is set at the uppermost position, and the intersection becomes the base point of the swinging of the saddle, and the uppermost position at the center of the saddle. The gist of the structure is a structure in which both the left and right sides of the saddle swing up and down while the center portion of the saddle is restrained from moving to the left and right without moving in position.

A long hole located in the center of the swinging body is provided in order to adjust the saddle to keep it horizontal according to the vehicle body that is inclined along the road gradient, and to prevent the saddle from being excessively inclined and to keep it at a constant inclination. The gist of the structure is that stop portions provided at both the left and right ends at regular intervals abut against the shaft portion of the support column passing through the long hole to stop the swinging motion of the swinging body.

Both the rocking body and the link piece are provided with spring hooks, and a plurality of tension springs are attached to prevent the saddle from wobbling and to prevent the saddle from wobbling and to keep the saddle from the seat post even if an external force is applied to the saddle. The main point is the structure that can always maintain a neutral position with respect to the axis.

According to the present invention, by incorporating the rocking device using the link mechanism inside the saddle, when the saddle rocks, the lateral movement of the uppermost position at the center of the seat surface is suppressed. The body of the occupant sitting on the saddle does not move left or right, and the left and right sides of the seat surface of the saddle swing due to the movement of the body to keep the body vertical according to the inclination of the vehicle body, and the seat surface can be kept horizontal. Therefore, it is possible to maintain a natural riding posture while driving.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state of a tricycle related to the present invention with respect to a road gradient; FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state in which the rocking device of the present invention is incorporated in the saddle; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2 and is a front view showing a state in which the rocking device is incorporated in the saddle; It is a front view which shows the assembly state of a rocking|swiveling apparatus. FIG. 5 is a right side view of FIG. 4 showing an assembled state of the rocking device; FIG. 5 is a top view of FIG. 4 showing an assembled state of the rocking device; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 4; 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 5; FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view showing an operating state of a rocking body of the rocking device; FIG. 10 is a right side view of FIG. 9 showing the operating state of the rocking body of the rocking device; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 9; FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state in which the rocking device incorporated inside the saddle is activated and the upper surface of the saddle is tilted;

A saddle rocking device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12. FIG.

In the description of the rocking device of the saddle 3 of the front two-wheel steering tricycle (hereinafter referred to as the tricycle 6) shown in FIG. 1, the left side of the saddle 3 shown in FIG. (Rear), the left link piece 13R side of the saddle 3 shown in FIG. 3 is the right side, and the right link piece 13L side is the left side.

The shape of the saddle 3 is a saddle used for a general city cycle (mamachari) shown in FIGS. I will explain with what I got.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the road gradient 8 is approximately 10%. , the front and rear center line of the top of the saddle 3 is aligned with the axis of the handle post 61 of the tricycle 6 by being mounted inside the saddle 3. , and the uppermost seat surface of the saddle 3 is horizontal.

The rocking device 1 shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 is bilaterally symmetrical, and has flat belt idlers (rotatable connecting members) 12L and 12R fixed to the left and right ends of a substantially T-shaped post 11. , a flat belt having a length longer than that of the flat belt idlers 12L and 12R fixed to the support 11 at both left and right ends of a swinging metal fitting (oscillating body) 14 disposed below the flat belt. idlers (rotatable connecting bodies) 12L and 12R are fixed, and link pieces 13L and 13R are connected to connecting shafts 15 of the left and right flat belt idlers 12L and 12R to form a link mechanism based on the strut 11. A long hole 14a through which the shaft portion 11a of the strut 11 can pass is provided at the center of the swing metal fitting 14, and stop portions 14b are provided at both left and right ends thereof for controlling the amplitude of the swing. In order to keep the position neutral, a plurality of pull springs 17 are attached, and the pivoting metal fittings 14 are fixed to the support rails 34 of the saddle 3 by connecting plates 16 and low head bolts 73, as shown in FIGS. The holder 2 connected to the shaft portion 11 a of the seat post 4 is connected to the seat post 4 .

The post 11 shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 has a substantially T-shaped upper portion of the metal plate and a semicircular shape to which the cylindrical flat belt idlers 12L and 12R can be fixed at both ends, and a column downward. A shaft portion 11a is formed, and an attachment screw portion to the holder 2 is provided at the lower portion.

The link pieces 13L and 13R shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are metal plates and have a plurality of connecting holes in which the connecting shafts 15 can be inserted, and both ends are semicircular shaped to match the outer diameter of the flat belt idlers 12L and 12R. One link piece 13L, 13R is formed with a spring hook portion 13a, and the other link piece 13L, 13R is formed only in a semicircular shape without a spring hook portion 13a. The pitch dimension of the connecting holes can be freely set.

The idlers 12L and 12R for the flat belt are commercially available products, and are made of metal and have ball bearings at both ends. .
The flat belt idlers 12L and 12R are rotatable, connectable with the link pieces 13L and 13R, and can withstand the strength when the saddle is used. It is also possible to

4 to 7, the rocking metal fitting 14 is a metal plate, and has an elongated hole 14a in the center through which the shaft portion 11a of the post 11 penetrates, and approximately half-holes for fixing the flat belt idlers 12L and 12R at both ends. It has a circular portion, an insertion portion 14d into which the support rail 34 of the saddle 3 is inserted, and a spring hook portion 14c. It is bent into a substantially U-shape.

The long hole 14a of the rocking metal fitting 14 shown in FIG. stop portions 14b are formed on the left and right sides of the elongated hole 14a to stop the swinging of the swinging metal fitting 14. It is formed by

The connecting plate 16 connecting the saddle 3 and the swing fitting 14 shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 is a metal plate and has a through hole 16a through which the shaft portion 11a of the support 11 passes through and a spring hook portion 14c. It is polygonal and formed so as to be insertable into the concave portion of the rocking metal fitting 14, and is set from above the support rail 34. The saddle 3 is fixed by tightening, and the rocking device 1 is assembled inside the saddle 3 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 .

The holder 2 shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 8 has a side clamp 22 with a detent 26 fixed to both the L-shaped fastener 23 and the I-shaped fastener 24, and the L-shaped fastener 23 The lower portion of the shaft portion 11a of the support column 11 is connected with a bolt 71, and the clamp shaft 25 is set in a state where the rotation stopper 26 of the main clamp 21 and the rotation stopper 26 of the side clamp 22 are put together. A clamp 21 is inserted, stopped by a stopper 21a, and connected with a clamp shaft 25 and a nut 72. As shown in FIG.

The L-shaped fastener 23 is formed by bending a metal plate into an L shape, has a protrusion at one end, and has a substantially semicircular shape at the other end. The I-shaped fastener 24 is rectangular and has an elongated hole at one end into which the protrusion of the L-shaped fastener 23 can be loosely inserted, and the other end is formed in a substantially semicircular shape.

The main clamp 21 is formed of a metal plate having a detent 26 with a notched portion, an insertion portion into the seat post 4 , a stopper 21 a , and a connecting hole for the clamp shaft 25 . The side clamp 22 is formed with a detent 26 having a notched portion, a connecting hole for the clamp shaft 25, and portions to be fixed to both the L-shaped fastener 23 and the I-shaped fastener 24. As shown in FIG.
The main clamp 21 and the side clamp 22 are used by diverting and partially remodeling the parts for the holder attached to the commercially available saddle, but it is also possible to manufacture and use them as exclusive parts. be.

Even if the swing device 1, the holder 2 and the saddle 3 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are combined and set in the tricycle 6 shown in FIG. Sufficient strength is ensured.

FIGS. 9 to 12 show the state in which the rocking device 1 is actuated, and when a person is walking or riding a bicycle, if the body is tilted, the person can stand upright. Taking advantage of the fact that this movement works naturally, the left and right sides of the saddle 3 swing up and down while the uppermost part of the center of the saddle 3 is restrained, allowing the body to move up and down while sitting on the saddle 3. The swing motion and configuration of the swing device 1 that can be kept vertical will be described.

When the tricycle 6 is tilted to the left due to the road gradient 8 shown in FIG. The swing metal fitting 14 connected to the support rail 34 of the saddle 3 swings to the left with respect to the flat belt idlers 12L and 12R fixed to the flat belt idlers 12L and 12R. The belt idler 12L is actuated to the upper left and the right flat belt idler 12R to the lower left, so is the support rail 34 so that the right stop 14b, shown in FIG. When the saddle 3 hits the shaft 11a and stops rocking, the left side of the saddle 3 shown in FIG. When tilted, the saddle 3 becomes horizontal.
When the road gradient 8 is as small as 10% or less, the stop portion 14b does not hit the shaft portion 11a of the support 11, and the horizontal state is maintained at an intermediate position.

12, an intersection point 5 serving as a base point for rocking of the saddle 3 indicates a position where a center line 52 of the rocking fitting intersects with a center line 51 of the strut during rocking. flat belt idlers 12L, 12R fixed to the left and right ends of the swing metal fitting 14 with respect to the center distance of the flat belt idlers 12L, 12R fixed to the left and right ends of the post 11. is set long, the distance between the two axes, the distance between the connecting portions of the link pieces 13L and 13R (connection hole pitch), the thickness of the cushion material 32 of the saddle 3, and the shape of the lining member 33, The position of the intersection point 5 is set in consideration of the distance between the support rail 34 and the support rail 34, and the size of each member does not interfere with each other.

The intersection 5 of the saddle 3 does not remain at a fixed position, and the inclination angle from the horizontal state of the upper surface of the seat 31 of the saddle 3 shown in FIG. If it is the swing width of the swing metal fitting 14, the position of the intersection point 5 hardly changes to the left and right, and the change is about 1 mm up and down. However, as the tilt angle of the seat 31 to the left and right exceeds 8 degrees and the swing width of the swing fitting 14 increases, the position of the intersection point 5 swings up and down, left and right, and gradually changes greatly. The range in which the position can be maintained is determined to be an inclination angle of 5 to 7 degrees. Amplitude is adjusted. If the right and left inclination angle of the seat 31 of the saddle 3 is 5 to 7 degrees, it is possible to sufficiently cope with the 10% gradient of the road gradient 8 shown in FIG.

The tension spring 17 shown in FIGS. 4 and 9 is attached to the spring hooks 13a of the link pieces 13L and 13R and the spring hooks 14c of the swing fitting 14 in order to keep the saddle 3 in a neutral state with respect to the column 11. As shown in FIG. 6, the pull springs 17 positioned in front of and behind the pillar 11 shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. The movement causes the front extension spring 17 to expand and the rear extension spring 17 to be in a compressed state, so that the extension spring 17 always maintains its neutral state, and external force is applied except when the rider is sitting on the saddle 3. The saddle 3 is set so that it can follow the movement of the body of the occupant, and both sides of the saddle 3 can swing up and down.

In the description of the rocking device 1, the rocking motion of the saddle 3 when the tricycle 6 in FIG. It is for the same rocking motion.

The rocking device 1 of the saddle 3 has a rocking base point at the top center of the saddle 3, and the saddle 3 does not sway to the left or right (if the saddle 3 sways to the left or right, the user feels uneasy while driving and has difficulty pedaling). By swinging both sides of the saddle 3 up and down with the center top of the saddle 3 as a base point, even if you sit on the saddle 3 and turn the pedals, your hips will not sway left and right, and the road gradient will be stable. 8, when the tricycle 6 is tilted, the body can be kept vertical according to the tilt angle of the vehicle body while running. It always maintains a neutral position against the pedal, suppressing rolling, making it easier to pedal and reducing fatigue.
As for the manufacturing method, it becomes a simple link mechanism using commercially available products, and can be manufactured at low cost.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the present embodiment, commercially available flat belt idlers 12L and 12R are used as the bearing bodies, but other bearings can be used as long as they are rotatable and the link mechanism can be constructed at low cost, and the shape of the link piece can also be changed. Can be changed.

Although the saddle 3 has been described as a product used in a general city cycle, it is also possible to use the rocking device 1 for the saddle 3 in sports bikes, custom-made products, and the like.

Although the above is an effective device for a tricycle 6 with front two-wheel steering, it can also be used for other tricycles, four-wheeled bicycles, or two-wheeled bicycles as it functions effectively.

Reference Signs List 1: Swing device 11: Support column 11a: Shafts 12L, 12R: Flat belt idler (rotatable connecting body )
13L, 13R ---- Link piece 13a ---- Spring catch portion 14 ---- Pivoting metal fitting (oscillating body)
14a ・・・・・・・・ Long hole 14b ・・・・・・・・ Stop portion 14c ・・・・・・・・ Spring hook portion
14d ・・・・・・・・ Fitting portion 15 ・・・・・・・・ Connecting shaft 16 ・・・・・・・・ Connecting plate 16a ・・・・・・・・ Through hole 16b ・・・・・・・・・ Pulling hole 17 ・・・・・・・・ Spring 2 ・・・・・・・・ Holder 21 ・・・・・・・・ Main clamp 21a ・・・・・・・・ Stopper 22 ・・・・・・・・ Side clamp 23 ・・・・・・・・ L-shaped clamp 24 ・・・・・・・・ I-shaped clamp 25 ・・・・・・・・ Clamp shaft 26 ・・・・・・・・・・・ Whirl-stop 3 ・・・・・・・・ Saddle 31 ・・・・・・・・ Seat
32 ・・・・・・・・ Cushion material 33 ・・・・・・・・ Lining member 34 ・・・・・・・・ Support rail 35 ・・・・・・・・ Helical spring 4 ・・・・・・・・・・ Seat post 5 ・・・・・・・・・ Intersection 51 ・・・・・・・・ Center line of strut 52 ・・・・・・・・ Center line 6 of rocking fitting ・・・・・・・・・・・・ Tricycle 61 ・・・・・・・・ Handle posts 62L, 62R ・・・・ Front wheels 63 ・・・・・・・・ Rear wheels 64 ・・・・・・・・ Body tilt device 71・・・・・・・・ Bolt 72 ・・・・・・・・ Nut
73 ・・・・・・・・Low head bolt 74 ・・・・・・・・ Spring washer 8 ・・・・・・・・ Road slope

Claims (4)

A saddle rocking device for a two -wheeled, three-wheeled, or four-wheeled bicycle using a link mechanism, wherein the outer ring of a connecting body is composed of an inner ring having a connecting shaft and an outer ring that rotatably supports the inner ring. are fixed to the left and right ends of the upper part of the strut connected to the seat post via a retainer with a certain axial distance therebetween. The outer ring of another connecting body composed of an inner ring having a connecting shaft on both left and right ends of the moving body and an outer ring for rotatably supporting the inner ring is positioned above the axis of the connecting body fixed to the strut . The connecting shaft of the connecting body positioned above and the connecting shaft of the connecting body positioned below are connected with a plurality of link pieces, and the swinging body swings . A saddle rocking device characterized in that it is configured to be able to When the oscillating body connected to the support rail of the saddle oscillates, the intersection point between the vertical center line of the oscillating body and the vertical center line of the post is the center of the saddle and the highest point. The position is set by a combination of the size of the link piece, the distance between the axes of the connecting bodies fixed to the left and right ends of the support, and the distance between the axes of the connecting bodies fixed to the left and right ends of the rocking body . The saddle rocking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The oscillating body has an elongated hole through which the shaft of the support column can pass through at the center thereof, and both left and right end surfaces of the elongated hole serve as stop portions for engaging with the shaft of the pillar. 3. The saddle rocking device according to claim 1, wherein the rocking can be stopped . A spring hooking portion is provided on the rocking body and the link piece, a pull spring is attached to the spring hooking portion of the rocking body and the spring hooking portion of the link piece, and the rocking body and the link piece pull together to form a saddle. 3. The saddle rocking device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the neutral state of is maintained .

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