WO1995018738A1

WO1995018738A1 - Bicycle with horizontally sliding seat

Info

Publication number: WO1995018738A1
Application number: PCT/EP1995/000028
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hildegard Segerath-Petralli
Original assignee: Segerath Petralli Hildegard
Priority date: 1994-01-11
Filing date: 1995-01-04
Publication date: 1995-07-13
Also published as: AU1385895A

Abstract

In a bicycle equipped with a frame (3) and seat (2), the latter is connected to frame (3) with the aid of means (2a, 6, 4) that are able to allow said seat to slide in a horizontal direction and to be secured reversibly in a desired position that is reached during sliding. Shock-damping devices (9, 10) are placed between said means (2a, 4, 6) and frame (3).

Description

BICYCLE WITH HORIZONTALLY SLI DING SEAT

This invention pertains to the area of bicycles of the sports type, such as what are called "mountain bikes." When the latter are used in sports, and in particular when riding downhill on rugged terrain, the cyclist is currently obliged to raise up off the seat and move backward, supporting himself on the lower part of his abdomen in order to shift the center of gravity of the bicycle-cyclist system down and to the rear so as to keep the machine from tipping over.

Such tipping-over would necessarily occur if the cyclist were to stay in the normal upright position and were facing rugged sections of terrain where the effects of the steep slope were added to those resulting from the shocks and jolts to which the bicycle is exposed.

In assuming the above-mentioned rearward position, however, the cyclist runs the risk that, as often happens, the above- mentioned shocks and jolts may cause painful bruises to the abdomen and lower stomach.

This would not happen if it were possible to move the bicycle seat in such a way as to allow the cyclist to assume the above-described position down and to the rear without having to

- i - get off the seat and if means of damping the shocks were placed between the seat and the frame.

In order to accomplish these objectives, the inventor has devised the bicycle that is the object of this application; like the others it comprises a frame and a seat to support the cyclist, but is characterized by the seat being connected to the frame with the aid of means that are able to allow the seat to slide in an essentially horizontal direction and to be secured in a reversible manner in a desired position once such a position is reached during said sliding. Below will be indicated, among other things, how shock- damping devices can also be placed between said means and the frame.

A more detailed description of the invention, the purpose of which is to outline the operation and advantages of said invention better, will now be given, referring to the attached drawings, where:

- Fig. 1 shows a partial longitudinal section of a bicycle according to the invention, revealing the most important parts;

- Fig. 2 shows an enlarged top view of the support for the seat, which is able to slide along a horizontal member.

As we know, seat 2 of a bicycle of a known type is equipped with a tubular element 2a, usually circular in section, which can be attached to frame 3 in such a way as to be able to slide, in order to make it possible to adjust the height of seat 2 itself. In bicycle 1 according to the invention, said element 2a is attached to a support 6, which is supported by an essentially horizontal member 4 which is equipped along its axis with a slot 4c that is of such a size as to allow said support 6, which is attached to it, to slide axial ly along said slot 4c together with seat 2.

In turn, horizontal member 4 is supported at its two ends 4a, 4b by, respectively, frame 3 and hub 5a of rear wheel 5 of bicycle 1 .

This makes it possible for the cyclist, by raising up slightly from seat 2 while bicycle 1 is in motion, to cause seat 2 to slide, e.g., horizontally to the rear until it reaches the position that is most suitable anatomically with the attitude down and to the rear that the cyclist should assume himself when approaching a rugged section of downhill terrain. Said support 6 which, as we see, is able to slide along slot 4c of horizontal member 4, is also equipped with means 7 that make it possible to secure said support reversibly to horizontal member 4 itself in the desired position.

Once the downhill section has been passed, by releasing securing means 7 from support 6, the cyclist brings seat 2 back to the initial position thanks to the action of an elastic element, e.g., a simple spring 8 which, since it is located along the axis of slot 4c, has been previously compressed by support 6 as it was sliding.

Said securing means 7 can be selected from among any of the known types that are used for similar applications: in the simplest case they can be screws or similar threaded devices that are equipped with knobs 7a and which, passing through a part of sliding support 6 described above, press, when tightened, against the structure of horizontal member 4.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the attachment of ends 4a, 4b of the latter to frame 3 and to hub 5a is accomplished by means of hinges since this is the system that is best suited for making the various adjustments of position and since it makes it possible to use shock-damping elements 9, 10 placed between two said ends 4a, 4b and the parts that support it, i.e., as mentioned, frame 3 and hub 5a of the rear wheel.

In order to later adjust the height of the seat according to the cyclist's height, the inventor proposes attaching shock- damping device 9 to frame 3 using means of a known type that allow it to be adjusted axially, e.g., a screw that can be mated to a hole which is part of an axially arranged series.

There are many possible variations that can be applied to the bicycle according to the invention by a specialist in the field, but these fall within the framework of protection conferred by this patent application if said variations are covered by the attached claims, with respect to which the preferred embodiment described and depicted here is neither limiting nor binding. From what is stated, it can be derived how the bicycle according to the invention makes it possible to face downhill sections of terrain with the seat placed in an anatomically suitable position, while the shocks and jolts are dampened by said shock-damping devices, thus achieving the inventor's objectives.

Claims

1 . Bicycle (1 ), comprising a frame and a seat for supporting the cyclist, wherein seat (2) is attached to frame (3) with the aid of means (2a, 6, 4) that are able to allow said seat to slide in an essentially horizontal direction and to be secured reversibly in a desired position that is reached during sliding.

2. Bicycle according to claim 1 , in which frame (3) is attached to an essentially horizontal member (4) that is able to mate with seat (2), supporting it in such a way as to allow it to slide along the longitudinal axis of said member (4).

3. Bicycle according to claim 2, in which said horizontal member (4) is supported at its two ends (4a, 4b) by, respectively, frame (3) and hub (5a) of rear wheel (5) and is equipped with a slot (4c) incised in its axis and a support (6) that can be connected to seat (2) and can slide together with said seat along said slot (4c).

4. Bicycle according to claim 3, in which said horizontal member (4) is hinged at its two ends (4a, 4b).

5. Bicycle according to claim 4, in which said support (6), which can slide along slot (4c), is equipped with means (7, 7a) that can be used to lock it to said horizontal member (4) in a desired position.

6. Bicycle according to claim 5, which comprises at least one elastic compression element (8) which is located along the axis of said slot (4c), which is compressed by said sliding support (6) as it slides, and which is able to bring said support (6) back to the starting position once said force or locking action is removed.

7. Bicycle according to one of claims 3-6, wherein shock-damping devices (9, 1 0) are placed between two said support ends (4a, 4b) of said horizontal member (4) and frame (3) and hub (5a).

8. Bicycle according to claim 7, in which shock- damping device (9) is attached to frame (3) with the aid of means (1 1 ) that make it possible to adjust the position of said shock- damping device (9) axially.