WO2009040861A1 - Saddle - Google Patents

Abstract

A saddle comprising a frame (10), a seat (20) provided with at least one support member (22) provided with a substantially planar portion (224) able to provide support to a muscle area comprising portions of a user' s attachment of thighs and glutei; each support member (22) being connected to the frame (10) in such a way as to be movable relative thereto along a trajectory (P) that is traceable by envelopment of at least one given line (C); each support member (22) being coupled to the frame (10) in such a way as to be movable in a manner substantially similar to a pendulum.

Description

SADDLE

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a saddle. In particular, the present invention relates to a saddle provided with a double seat. In more detail, the present invention relates to a saddle comprising a double seat adapted to be employed in association with equipment that can be operated with pedals, like bicycles and the like. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is well known that every user who employs a bicycle or similar means of transportation discharges his/her weight on the saddle, on the handlebar and on the pedals thereof.

On the other hand, each saddle must support the pelvis to enable the execution of an oscillatory motion of the thighs (and hence of the femurs) and of the legs in order to deliver power to the pedals. In addition, each saddle must allow transverse displacements of the pelvis of the user which, in this way, will be able to remain balanced during the motion. At this point it should be specified that for short bicycle rides the substantially triangular shape that is typical of traditional saddles represents the best compromise between the needs for ergonomics and convenience, since it enables to support the user and it enables the oscillatory motion of the femurs. It maybe appropriate to recall that, from the kinematic point of view, legs are equivalent to the connecting rods of an articulated quadrilateral whose rocking levers are the thighs and the respective femurs. In particular, for longer stays on the saddle, e.g. required by endurance athletic performances, stages in cyclo-tourism routes, professional activities for the conduction of vehicles with human traction, such as rickshaws, or in the execution of rehabilitative exercises with passive movement etc., .the traditional saddles can be unsuitable because of the rubbing action that inevitably occurs between the saddle and the inner part of the thigh. On the other hand, use of such saddles can cause the emergence of physical problems among which, but without limitation, it should be mentioned, for example, the irritation and sensitisation of the skin of the areas in contact with the saddle because of the rubbing therewith, the aching of the parts of the body bearing down on the saddle (ischial bones of the pelvis and perineum) , the loss of sensitivity in the perineal area that can lead, in male users, to the more severe crushing of the prostate.

In order to reduce friction, to enable a freer movement of the thigh and to minimise the physical consequences of the use of the saddles described above, certain modifications have been proposed. In particular, the saddles of racing bicycles and of bicycles for amateur bicyclists have had their transverse extension reduced and they are made of a particularly rigid material.

While these modifications reduce the dispersion of power by friction, the specific pressure on the areas in contact is far greater, and this fact may aggravate the aforementioned pathologies. A particularly interesting solution is the doubling of the seat into a pair of lateral support members. This enables to leave free the perineal part of each user and to limit the bearing to the movable parts of the body, to part of the gluteus in addition to the proximal part of the thigh. The interpretations of this inventive concept are described in numerous patent documents. With reference to the document W02005/085051, a doubled saddle presents a pair of supports that can be locked in positions definable at will by the user. The particularity of these supports is that each of them is produced by superposition of layers with different stiffness; the perineal area is left free of pressures, but support in the area between thighs and glutei can certainly be improved, since there is no support in a range of angles of inclination when each thigh is rotated upwards. Thus, this saddle causes balance problems, since alternatively a lateral part of the user' s body is insufficiently supported by the saddle.

With particular reference to the application PCT W02006/014145, a doubled saddle presents a pair of supports for the terminal part of the thigh. The two supports are carried by a cross member that is borne in an articulated fashion by a central member provided with a portion for coupling with the frame of the bicycle. This enables the saddle to follow the movement of the rider even when the thrusting motion is accompanied by rolling. As it is shown in figures 9a-9c of that document, contact is concentrated on the portion of the ischia, which bear on the lateral parts of the saddle, but this solution is only partially satisfactory, mainly because the users must be ready to react to the alternating lateral collapse of the two supports, linked to the pedal stroke that imposes the alternating oscillation of the femurs. Hence, this saddle can reasonably be used only by experienced, highly trained users. Moreover, it should be specified that the choice of allowing the oscillating motion of the supports is not particularly useful, since the axis of rotation of the supports is around an axis that is far lower than the axis of rotation of the femurs .

In view of the above description, the problem of having available a type of saddle that allows to use bicycles and/or locomotion means provided with a saddle with complete safety, minimising the loss of power due to friction and hence increasing the portion of power that can usefully be discharged on the pedals without fearing the emergence or intensification of physiological problems that may afflict the male part of the population, is currently unsolved, and it represents an interesting challenge for the Applicant with the purpose of facilitating the popularity of the use of bicycles or the sport of bicycle-riding. In view of the situation described above, it would be desirable to have available a saddle that, in addition to allowing to limit and possibly to overcome the typical drawbacks of the prior art illustrated above, defines a new standard for these types of accessories for bicycles of any kind.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates to a saddle. In particular, the present invention relates to a saddle provided with a double seat. In more detail, the present invention relates to a saddle comprising a double seat adapted to be employed in association with equipments that can be operated with pedals, like bicycles and the like.

The object of the present invention is to provide a saddle that enables to solve the drawbacks illustrated above, and that is able to satisfy a set of needs that currently are not met, and hence is able to represent a new and original source of economic interest, capable of changing the current market of accessories for bicycles and pedal-operated equipments in simple fashion and at very low cost.

According to the present invention, a saddle is provided whose main characteristics shall be described in at least one of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Further characteristics and advantages of the saddle according to the present invention shall become more readily apparent from the description below, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some non limiting embodiments thereof, in which identical or corresponding parts of the device are identified by the same reference numbers. In particular:

- figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a saddle according to the present invention shown in a first operative configuration; - figure 2 is a lateral elevation view of figure 1 with parts removed for the sake of clarity;

- figure 3 is a front view in enlarged scale of figure 1 in a second operative configuration; - figure 4 is a section view according to the line IV-IV of figure 3 in reduced scale and with some parts removed for the sake of clarity of figure 3;

- figure 5 is a plan view of figure 1 in enlarged scale;

- figure 6 is a lateral elevation view with parts removed for the sake of clarity of figure 1 shown in a given operative situation;

- figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of figure 1;

- figure 8 is a lateral elevation view with parts removed for the sake of clarity of figure 7 and in reduced scale;

- figure 9 is a front view in reduced scale of figure 7;

- figure 10 is a plan view of figure 7;

- figure 11 is a perspective exploded view with parts removed for the sake of clarity and in enlarged scale of a third preferred embodiment of figure 1;

- figure 12 is a perspective exploded view with parts removed for the sake clarity and in enlarged scale of a fourth preferred embodiment of figure 1;

- figure 13 is a perspective exploded view with parts removed for clarity and in enlarged scale of a fifth preferred embodiment of figure 1; and

- figure 14 is a perspective view with parts removed for clarity and in enlarged scale of a sixth preferred embodiment of figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In figure 1, the reference number 1 indicates, in its entirety, a saddle comprising a frame 10 provided with a coupling member 12 adapted to be connected to a support S, extraneous to the saddle 1, in a permanent and selectively releasable manner. The saddle 1 comprises a seat 20 provided with at least one support member 22 able to provide support to a user' s muscle area comprising the two attachment portions of thighs and glutei, each of which areas is delimited at the rear by the ischium or ischial spine. As is well known, this muscle area lacks sensitive organs to the ordinary pressure exerted during the execution of the pedal stroke motion. In particular, the seat 20 is doubled and comprises a pair of support members 22 flanking each other and positioned in substantially equidistant manner from a longitudinal median plane M. Each support member 22 is connected to the frame 10 in such a way as to be movable relative thereto along a trajectory P traceable by enveloping at least one substantially circular curved line C, substantially concentric to a fulcrum axis 24 of the saddle 1, oriented in a given manner relative to the frame 10. As shall become more readily apparent below, this is to be construed in the sense that the trajectory P may be a circumference, hence the precise pendularity of each support member 22, or it may approximate a curved line obtained by envelopment of a plurality of mutually adjacent circumferences.

With particular reference to figures 1-5, each support member 22 is positioned between the respective fulcrum axis 24 and the support S, in such a way that each support member 22 is coupled to the frame 10 in a manner substantially similar to a pendulum, and hence is able to rotate around the fulcrum axis 24 to accompany the oscillation of the femurs of a user positioned on the seat 20 with the respective muscle area comprising attachment portions of thighs and glutei. In view of the above description, each support member 22 is connected to the frame 10 and free to rotate around the respective fulcrum axis 24. Therefore, in view of the above description, the trajectory P is substantially circular.

According to figure 1 again and with particular reference to figure 3, the saddle 1 comprises a guide device 140 supported by the frame 10 and arranged to support each support member 22 through a respective sustaining element 14, so shaped as to be adequate to the functional requirements of each embodiment of the inventive concept of the present invention. In particular, with reference to the embodiment illustrated in figures 1-5, each sustaining element 14 is substantially L shaped, in such a way that the sustaining elements 14 supported by the frame 10 are positioned laterally and in substantially equidistant manner from the longitudinal median plane M to form a torus shaped support. Each support member 22 comprises an L-shaped body 221, to be contained by the corresponding sustaining element 14 in a substantially conjugated manner. Each body 221 is provided with an engagement portion 222 substantially vertical in figure 1, connected in hinge fashion to a respective sustaining element 14 coaxially to the corresponding fulcrum axis 24, in such a way as to support the aforesaid muscle area in a balanced manner. The support members 22 are sufficiently distanced to enable the seat 20 to provide, in use, support on the respective sides to the muscle area indicated above, leaving suspended an intermediate central perineal area, in such a way as to allow free oscillations of the respective femurs independently from each other, to minimise the power dispersions due to friction phenomena and to minimise or substantially eliminate the pressure acting on the area intermediate to the contact areas, i.e. substantially perineal .

On the other hand, in order to enable users having different body conformations and pelvis amplitudes to use the saddle 1 easy, each sustaining element 14 can present selectively a base portion 141 provided with a first adjustment device 80 able to vary an extension of said sustaining element 14 in substantially transverse direction to the median plane M.

Each base portion 141 is substantially tubular, and the adjustment device 80 comprises an arm 82 belonging to the respective sustaining element 14 and telescopically coupled to the base portion 141. The first adjustment device 80 further comprises a screw locking member 84 carried by the base portion 141 to interact transversely by friction with the corresponding arm 82.

It is easy to understand that this solution allows to solve the problems described above with reference to the discussion of the prior art. According to any of the figures 1 and 5, each support member 22 comprises a base portion 224 carried by the engagement portion 222, arranged substantially horizontal in figure 1 and provided with a cushion 226 able to sustain a lateral portion of the muscle area indicated above, in order to enable a user to orient each axis of oscillation of a respective femur parallel to a corresponding fulcrum axis 24. Each support member 22 is formed in plan view to present a concave portion 229 positioned posteriorly in figure 1 to house in use a respective ischial spine, in such a way as to minimise pressure acting on a corresponding gluteus. In view of the above description, it should be specified that the thickness of the cushion 226 represents a means for adjusting the curvature of the trajectory P, which allows to take into account the distance between the lower ischial portion and the fulcrum of the respective femurs, such as to enable a user to centre his/her axis of the femurs in concentric manner with the fulcrum axis 24 of the saddle 1, and thus to optimise the physiology of the pedal stroke on bicycles and similar pedal-operated equipment. It should be noted that each cushion 226 is delimited from the side of the fulcrum axis 24 by a surface 2260 anteriorly raised to improve, in use, the stability on the saddle 1 of each user's position. In particular, the rise can be obtained through an inclination by an angle γ shown in figure 2.

Use of the saddle 1 described above is readily understandable from what is described above and requires no further explanation. However, it should be specified that the saddle 1 can be used through the respective support S, of the substantially tubular type, to be installed on any equipment with pedals that can be operated cyclically, for example, but without limitation, a bicycle or other similar pedal-operated means .

In particular, with reference to figure 6, it can be noted that the angle α between the two diametrically opposite positions of the femurs is substantially identical to the angle between the two positions assumed by the support member 22 and the distance h between the fulcrum axis 24 and the surface 2260 that delimits the respective cushion 226 substantially approximates the distance between the muscular portion that joins the gluteus with the thigh of each lower limb and the centre O of the articulation of the femur to the pelvis. Therefore, each support member 22 follows the corresponding muscle area positioned between a gluteus and the related thigh in a precise manner and therefore provides a physiologically correct support for each position assumed by each femur in the passage between two diametrically opposite positions of each pedal. The thickness m of the cushion may be set for each user in such a way as to enable a precise regulation of the position of the centre 0 of the articulation of the femur relative to the fulcrum axis 24, until making them coincide. Lastly, it is clear that the saddle described and illustrated herein may be subject to modification and variants without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

For example, it is possible to consider that the saddle 1 described above provided with a frame 10 shaped as bull's horns, and hence provided with the two support element 14, could be difficult to use for larger users, whose muscle area comprising thigh and gluteus attachment portions extends transversely in a manner that is substantially identical to, or greater than the distance between the two support elements 14. In this case, the frame 10 should advantageously sustain the two support members 22 in such a way as to leave free the area of the axes of oscillation of the femurs. In this regard, it was deemed appropriate to conceive some variants of the saddle 1 that will be described hereafter with reference to figures 7-14 in which components equivalent to details having the same function or the same shape as those already illustrated in figures 1-5 will be indicated with the same reference numbers, for the sake of convenience. Essentially the frame 10 is modified so as to present a respective central support structure rather than a structure that embraces laterally the area of the glutei and of the attachment of the thighs of a user, as illustrated above. Naturally, the sustaining elements 14 of this embodiment, too, can be provided with a base and with an adjustment device 80 in a manner similar to the one described above and with the due adaptations, easily achievable by an expert in general mechanics which hence it is preferred not to illustrate, to the advantage of the ease of reading of the present description.

According to the version of figures 7-10, the frame 10 of the saddle 1 comprises an elongated central member 11 which ideally extends the coupling member 12 for the support S and is substantially L shaped; said elongated member 11 is arranged at the user's perineal area and it is provided with a central portion 15 substantially horizontal in figure 8.

Said central portion 15 is provided with a plurality of rods 17, divided in two lateral assemblies 19 of equal number, which are positioned at opposite sides of the central portion 15 in a substantially symmetrical manner. Each rod 17 supports a rolling element, in particular a substantially cylindrical roller 40 in an axially fixed and freely rotatable manner, in such a way that each roller 40 presents a respective axis of rotation substantially transverse to the trajectory P. Again with particular reference to figure 7, each support member 22 presents, at the side of the rollers 40, a slide 147 delimited by a surface 50 (visible only in figures 7 and 8) traced by envelopment of the' rollers 40 in such a way that the surface 50 is constantly tangential to the rollers 40 themselves independently of the angular position of the corresponding support member 22 on the rollers 40. If it is desired to reproduce the manner of operation illustrated above with reference to the embodiment of the saddle 1 described with reference to figure 1-5, the rollers 40 will have to be supported by rods 17 that are coupled to the central portion 15 of the elongated member 11 along the circular line C and the surface 50 shall be substantially cylindrical and concentric to an ideal circumference traced by the axes of the rollers 40 of each assembly 19.

This enables the saddle 1 of figures 7-10 to support laterally with continuity the load exerted by a user through the respective muscle area comprising attachment portions of thighs and glutei through the two support members 22, similarly to what is described with reference to the saddle described with reference to figures 1-5, in such a way that a user's femurs are free to oscillate freely and the perineal area is free from pressure which could cause negative effects from the physiological point of view. With reference to the version of figure 11, each roller 40, carried by a related support element 14 of the guide device 140,' is doubled to obtain a pair of rollers 40 whose thickness could be lower, and said rollers 40 are positioned on rows 42 parallel to the median plane M the better to balance the thrusts acting on opposite sides of each support member 22 and acting parallel to the median plane M. Each row 42 of rollers 40 is carried by the frame 10 through a respective cradle 16 shaped so as to position the corresponding rollers 40 along a curve that is parallel to the trajectory P. These rollers 40 define, through respective external cylindrical peripheries, a race 144 by envelopment of the circumferences that peripherally delimit each roller 40. Each support member 22 presents inferiorly in figure 11 a slide 147 shaped to couple in a conjugated manner with a race 144 and hence a corresponding row 42 of rollers 40. A retaining device 90 is associated to each support member 22, to fasten it bilaterally to the frame 10. In particular, this retaining device 90 comprises a pair of rollers 92, circumferentially grooved, positioned between the cradles 16 of each support member 22 and supported by the frame 10. The retaining device 90 further comprises an elongated body 94, curved similarly to the trajectory P, that is borne by the support member 22 itself. This body 94 couples peripherally with the rollers 92. Each respective support member 22 is delimited transversely by a pair of lateral supports 223, which face each other and hence are substantially parallel to the median plane M.

With particular reference to figure 12, a variant of the saddle 1 of figure 11 is presented, in which each roller 40 presents a first peripheral groove 148 and the slide 147 comprises a curved rib 149 able to engage the first grooves 148 of the rollers 40 of the corresponding row 42. In this case, too, the retaining device 90 is provided.

With particular reference to the version of the saddle 1 illustrated in figure 13, each support element 14 comprises two rods 142 and the lateral supports 223 of each support member 22 are mutually connected by a plurality of rods 171, each of which is adapted to carry a pair of rollers 40, each of which is arranged internally and in a position adjacent to the related lateral support 223. Each race 144 is obtained in this version of the saddle 1 through a curved body 145 borne by the frame 10 through the rods 142 and provided with a first groove 146 whose width is substantially identical to a width of the rollers 40, to minimise transverse displacements of each support member 22 to the median plane M.

With reference to the version of the saddle 1 shown in figure 14, unlike the saddle 1 of figure 12, the rollers 40 are carried by the rods 171 outside the corresponding lateral support 223, which in figures 13 and 14 is not shown for the sake of convenience. Each roller 40 is delimited peripherally by a second groove 44 shaped in a manner substantially conjugated to the corresponding race 144 and each curved body 145 is substantially ring shaped in order to embody a race 144 to which each roller 40 is coupled bilaterally on diametrically opposite segments.

In view of the above description, it is readily apparent that the saddle 1 described above with reference to figures 1-14 enables to solve, in a simple and economical manner, all the drawbacks of the prior art discussed above and, through the particular features of its components, it synthesises a plurality of teachings that enable to expand the potential application of saddles for bicycles and similar equipment provided with pedals operated cyclically.

Claims

1) A saddle comprising a frame 10 adapted to be connected to a support S in a substantially rigid manner; said saddle comprising a seat (20) provided with at least one support member (22) able to provide support to a muscle area comprising attachment portions of a user's thighs and glutei; characterised by comprising guide means (140) able to connect each said support member (22) to said frame (10) in such a way as to constrain the respective support member (22) to be movable relative to said frame (10) in a substantially pendulum-like manner along a trajectory (P) .

2) A saddle as claimed in claim 1, characterised by presenting a fulcrum axis (24) oriented in a given manner relative to said frame (10); each said support member (22) being arranged between said respective fulcrum axis (24) and said support S.

3) A saddle as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said trajectory (P) is traceable by envelopment of at least one substantially circular curved line (C) .

4) A saddle as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said trajectory (P) is substantially concentric to said fulcrum axis

(24).

5) A saddle as claimed in claim 4, characterised by presenting a longitudinal median plane (M) ; said guide means (140) comprising at least one sustaining element (14) for sustaining said seat (20) provided with a support member (22).

6) A saddle as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that said guide means (140) comprise a pair of support elements (14), arranged laterally relative to said median plane (M) , each of which provided with a related support member (22) ; said two support members (22) being positioned in such a way as to flank transversely said median plane (M) and distinguished for being, in use, able to be operated independently and to enable said seat (20) to provide support to said muscle area and to enable a user to oscillate his/her respective femur independently of each other leaving suspended a perineal area positioned between said femurs.

7) A saddle as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that each said seat (20) is doubled and comprises a pair of support members (22) flanking each other; each said support member (22) presenting a concave rear portion (229) substantially opposite to the remaining said support member (22); each said concave rear portion (229) being shaped to house, in use, an ischial spine of a user, in order to minimise the pressure acting on a corresponding gluteus.

8) A saddle as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that each said sustaining element (14) is substantially L shaped and superiorly delimited by said fulcrum axis (24); each said support member (22) presenting a body (221) that is substantially L shaped to be contained by the corresponding said sustaining element 14 in a substantially conjugated manner and provided with an engagement portion (222) connected in hinge-like manner to a respective sustaining element (14) coaxially to said corresponding fulcrum axis (24). 9) A saddle as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that each sustaining element (14) presents a base portion (141) provided with first adjustment means (80) for adjusting an extension of said sustaining element (14) in substantially transverse direction to said median plane (M) . 10) A saddle as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said guide means (140) comprise a pair of sustaining elements (14), positioned laterally relative to said median plane (M) , each provided with a related support member (22); each said sustaining member (14) supporting the respective said support member (22) through the interposition of a plurality of rolling elements (40) so arranged as to constrain each said support element (22) to follow said trajectory (P).

11) A saddle as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that said rolling elements (40) corresponding to each said support member (22) are positioned on at least one row (42) flanking parallel to said median plane (M) ; each said support member (22) being delimited transversely by a pair of mutually facing lateral supports (223) . 12) A saddle as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that each said row (42) of said rolling elements (40) is carried by said frame (10) through a respective cradle (16) shaped to arrange the corresponding rolling elements (40) parallel to said trajectory (P); each said support member (22) presenting inferiorly at least one slide (147) shaped to couple in a conjugated manner with a said row (42) of said rolling elements (40) .

13) A saddle.as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that said rolling elements (40) of each said row (42) define a race (144) that is substantially parallel to said median plane (M) .

14) A saddle as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that each said rolling element (40) presents a first peripheral groove (148) and in that said slide (147) comprises a curved rib able to engage said first groove (148) of each said rolling element (40) of the corresponding said row (42) .

15) A saddle as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterised in that to each said support member (22) is associated a retaining device (90) able to fasten it to said frame (10) bilaterally.

16) A saddle as claimed in claim 15, characterised in that said retaining device (90) comprises a pair of rollers (92) supported by the frame (10) , grooved circumferentially and positioned at the side of each said cradle (16) of each said support member (22); said retaining device (90) further comprising an elongated body (94), curved similarly to said trajectory (P) and carried by the support member 22 itself to couple peripherally with said roller (92) .

17) A saddle as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that each said row (42) of said rolling elements (40) is borne between two said lateral supports (223) of each said support member (22) through the interposition of a plurality of rods (171), each said rod (171) being arranged to carry a pair of flanked rolling elements (40) each of which is in a position adjacent to a said lateral support (223); each said sustaining element (14) presenting a curved body (145) for each said row (42) of said rolling elements (40) ; each said curved body (145) being shaped similarly to said trajectory (P) able to define a trace (144) parallel to said median plane (M) .

18) A saddle as claimed in claim 17, characterised in that each said curved body (145) presents a second groove (146) whose width is substantially identical to a width of said rolling elements (40) , to minimise displacements transverse to said median plane (M) of each said support member (22) .

19) A saddle as claimed in claim 17, characterised in that each said rolling element (40) is delimited peripherally by a third circular groove (44) shaped in a substantially conjugated manner to the corresponding said second groove (146) ; each said curved body (145) being substantially ring shaped in order to couple peripherally with each said rolling element (40) on diametrically opposite segments bilaterally.

20) A saddle as claimed in any one of claims 4-19, characterised in that each said support member (22) comprises second adjustment means (226) for adjusting a curvature of said trajectory (P) relative to said fulcrum axis (24), in such a way as to enable a user to centre his/her axis of the femurs concentrically with said fulcrum axis (24).

21) A saddle as claimed in claim 20, characterised in that said second adjustment means (226) comprise a cushion (226) , whose height is definable at will, able to sustain said muscle area laterally.

22) A saddle as claimed in claim 20 or 21, characterised in that said cushion (226) is delimited at the side of said fulcrum axis (24) by a surface (2260) that is anteriorly raised to improve, in use, the stability of each user's position. 23) A saddle as claimed in claim 22, characterised in that said surface (2260) is inclined rearwards.