WO2010064198A1

WO2010064198A1 - Saddle

Info

Publication number: WO2010064198A1
Application number: PCT/IB2009/055453
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raffaello Scalco
Original assignee: Esse.Re S.R.L.
Priority date: 2008-12-02
Filing date: 2009-12-02
Publication date: 2010-06-10
Also published as: ITPD20080358A1

Abstract

A saddle (1) for cycles, comprising a seat (2) with a first (4) and a second half-shell jointly delimiting a chamber, a filling material at least partially occupying said chamber, and reinforcing means formed in at least one of said half-shells (4) and extending into said chamber, wherein said reinforcing means comprise first recesses (12) formed in said first half-shell (4) and second recesses formed in said second half-shell in positions opposite said first recesses (12) and cooperating with said first recesses (12) to limit the deformation of said seat (2).

Description

SADDLE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a saddle, and in particular a saddle for cycles, according to the pre-characterising clause of the main claim. The preferred application of the invention is within scope of the construction of saddles for bicycles and the like.

These saddles are generally composed of a hollow casing obtained by joining two half-shells together and blowing air inside through an appropriate valve. The rigidity of these saddles depends upon the extent of inflation, namely the pressure inside the casing.

Saddles manufactured by this method have the drawback that in the event of internal loss of pressure, or breakage, or accidental perforation of the casing, the two half-shells collapse, expelling the air inside the casing. This considerably jeopardises the functionality and ease of use of the saddles, as well as the possibility of using these saddles after they have been damaged. Pneumatic saddles with stiffening ribs extending into the thickness of the saddle and arranged to support its structure are known, for example, from GB 298,998. However, the saddles obtained according to GB 298,998 are uncomfortable to use, in fact the form adopted by the ribs considerably detracts from the comfort of use of the saddle provided therewith.

Pneumatic saddles that have through-channels extending into the thickness of the saddle itself and arranged to support the structure of the saddle in the event of deflation and provide the user of said saddle with a degree of aeration are also known from EP 1 444 127 in the name of the same applicant. However, these saddles tend to deform, in particular during the inflation stage, due to the effect of the pressure of the air that is blown into the chamber defined internally by the hollow shell of the saddle. There is therefore a need to improve currently known saddles. Description of the invention

The main aim of the present invention is to provide a saddle designed to overcome the limits reported with reference to the cited prior art. Another aim is to provide a saddle having a structure formed so as to maintain its load-bearing capacity and a high level of comfort of use even in the event of damage to the saddle walls and also after introducing a filling fluid, which is possibly under pressure, into a chamber defined by the saddle seat. Another aim is to produce a saddle that is comfortable and at the same time particularly light and, as such, suitable for use as a saddle for racing bicycles. These and other aims which will emerge more clearly below are achieved by the invention by means of a saddle produced in accordance with the claims below.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following detailed description of some of its preferred embodiments, shown as non-limiting examples in the accompanying drawings, in which:

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

- Figure 2 is a perspective view from below of the saddle in Figure 1;

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

- Figure 4 is a partial sectional schematic side view of the saddle in Figure 1; - Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4 that shows an alternative version of a saddle according to the invention. Preferred embodiments of the invention

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

The saddle 1 comprises a seat 2 which is designed to receive the user, which is symmetrical about a longitudinal median plane indicated by XY and gradually tapering along a longitudinal axis X from a rear supporting region 2a towards a front region 2b. The seat 2 is made of plastics material and is obtained by moulding, or preferably by blow-moulding.

In some versions, the seat 2 may be covered, at least in part, by sheathing made, for example, of leather or similar material, or even of a breathable material to improve the comfort of use of the saddle 1. The sheathing may optionally be shaped so as to improve the aesthetic characteristics of the seat 2.

In the seat 2 it is possible to identify a first half-shell 4 and an opposing second half-shell 6 which are shaped so as to define therebetween a chamber 5 which encloses air or other fluid, the air or other fluid preferably being under pressure, or an expanded material such expanded polyurethane or polystyrene.

In a version which is not shown, the seat 2 may be provided with a valve to blow air into or expel air from the chamber 5 so as to adjust the pressure inside the chamber 5. The first half-shell 4 is arranged to receive and support the user of the cycle, while the second half-shell 6, during use, faces a frame of the cycle to which the saddle 1 is fixed in order to be used.

The saddle 1 also comprises attachment means 3 provided on the second half- shell 6 and designed to cooperate with corresponding complementary attachment means, not shown, forming part of a frame of the cycle selected to fix the saddle 1 to the above-mentioned frame.

The seat 2 also has reinforcing means formed on the first and on the second half-shell 4, 6 and arranged so as to limit the deformability of the seat 2 and support its structure, as better described below. The reinforcing means comprise a plurality of pairs of recesses 11 appropriately positioned on the seat for example, in the embodiment shown, arranged in succession along the longitudinal axis X of the seat 2. Each pair of recesses 11 comprises a first recess 12 and a second recess 13 formed on the first half-shell 4 and on the second half-shell 6 respectively, in a reciprocally corresponding position, and each extending into the chamber 5. The first and second recess 12, 13 are substantially in the form of a truncated cone, the larger base of which is identified on the first and second half-shell 4, 6 respectively, and the smaller base of which constitutes a base portion 12a, 13a of each recess 12, 13. The base portions 12a, 13a of the first and second recess 12, 13 of each pair of recesses 11 positioned, as said, inside the chamber 5 are in contact with each other and may optionally be welded or heat-sealed to each other. This enables the dimensional stability of the seat 2 to be improved, in the presence of forces of both expansion and compression, as is better explained below. Optionally, as better explained below, the welding or heat-sealing is performed during the stage of moulding or blow-moulding of the seat 2. In the version shown, the seat 2 has three pairs of recesses 11 arranged along the longitudinal axis X of said seat 2, however, in other versions (not shown),. the seat 2 may have a different number of pairs of recesses than that shown, and may have pairs of recesses in different positions, for example in side regions of the seat 2.

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

The first and second channels 14, 15 project into the chamber 5 to a limited extent relative to the first and second recesses 12, 13, and the respective base portions 14a, 15a of first and second channels 14, 15 are distanced from each other.

The channels 14, 15 act as ribs of the seat 2 in order further to improve its grip, as better explained below.

The attachment means 3 for the saddle 1 comprise blocks fixed to the second half-shell 6 and projecting outwards therefrom so as to extend beyond the profile of the seat 2.

In the version shown, there are two rear blocks 30 positioned in the rear region 2a of the seat 2, and one front block 31 positioned in the front region 2b of the seat 2. The rear blocks 30 may be joined together by a bridge formation 32, as in the version shown, to improve their adhesion to the second half-shell 6. The rear blocks 30 and front blocks 31 are shaped like a pocket which accommodates therein the complementary attachment means for the cycle to which the saddle 1 is to be fixed.

The pocket of the blocks may optionally have, as in the version shown, a cross-section that progressively tapers from the opening towards the bottom, in order to improve the attachment of the complementary attachment means. The blocks 30, 31 may be made of a different material from that used to make the seat 2, preferably a plastics material with greater rigidity than the plastics material used for the seat 2, so as further to improve the accommodation and grip of the complementary attachment means inside the blocks 30, 31.

The blocks 30, 31 are made of plastics that have close affinity with the plastics used for the second half-shell 6, so that they can be effectively attached to the second half-shell 6 of the seat 2. For example, the blocks 30, 31 may be made of Nylon or TPU (polyurethane thermoplastic elastomers).

Referring to Figure 5, the version shown is a variation of a saddle according to the invention.

The saddle V in Figure 5 is very similar to the saddle 1 shown in Figures 1-4 so the corresponding parts will be indicated with the same reference numerals and will not be described in detail.

A covering 60 is applied to the first half-shell 4 of the saddle 1', the covering 60 being positioned so as to receive and support the user of the saddle 1' and being shaped so as to cover the first half-shell 4 at least in part. The covering 60 comprises a plurality of first and second appendages 50, 51 that are integral with the covering 60 and project outwards relative to the covering 60 from the part that, in use, faces the first half-shell 4 of the seat 2.

The first and second appendages 50, 51 are shaped so as to form a positive coupling with the first recesses 12 and the first channels 14 formed in the first half-shell 4. In this way, when the covering 60 is applied to the first half-shell 4, the first appendages 50 are received inside the first recesses 12 and the second appendages 51 are received inside the first channels 14, so as substantially to fill them.

In this way, a saddle 1' is produced that has a greater surface area, deemed to be the support surface for the user, and being substantially smooth and even, namely having no roughness or hollows.

This enables the comfort of use for the user to be further improved.

The covering 60 may be made of any desired material, which is preferably soft and light to improve the comfort of the seat. The covering 60 is not designed to support the structure of the seat 2 of the saddle V₁ this structure being supported by the pair of recesses 11 formed in the first and second half-shell 4, 6, therefore, it may be made of any material that is soft and suitable for improving the comfort of use of the saddle.

Various types of materials such as leather, polyurethane fabrics, lycra, rubbers in general, materials combined with polyurethane foams, etc. may be used to produce the covering 60.

Other structural parts of the saddle 1 and means for attaching the saddle 1 to a frame of a cycle are not described in detail because they are known to a person skilled in the art. A saddle produced according to the invention is extremely dimensionally stable.

In fact, the presence of the reinforcing means allows the structure of the seat

2 of the saddle 1 to be kept dimensionally stable, in the presence of both compression and expansion forces. In fact, the presence of the recesses 12, 13 and, in particular, the fixing together of respective base portions 12a, 13a, prevents deformation of the seat 2 after introduction of filler material, air or other fluid under pressure, or an expandable material, into the chamber 5.

In fact, the filler material would tend to expand inside the chamber 5, deforming the seat 2. However the recesses 12, 13 of each pair of recesses

11, being joined together by means of the respective base portions 12a, 13a, act as tensioners offering considerable resistance to the deformation of the seat 2, thus preventing the creation of swellings or bulges in the seat 2.

In this way, a seat 2 having the desired shape and a regular configuration is obtained that is not subject to deformations as a result of introducing filler material into the chamber 5.

Furthermore, the recesses 12, 13 enable deformations of the seat 2 as a result of load pressures due, for example, to use or even to damage to said seat 2 to be avoided. During use, when a user sits on the seat 2, the seat undergoes compression and tends to deform under the user's weight so that the first half-shell 4 is brought closer to the second half-shell 6.

However, the deformation that the seat 2 is able to make is limited by the presence of recesses 12, 13, around which the deformation of the seat 2 is prevented. Consequently, the recesses 12, 13 act as struts supporting the structure of the seat 2 and making it dimensionally more stable. Furthermore, the first and second channels 14, 15 cooperate with the first and second recesses 12, 13 to support the structure of the seat 2, preventing it from undergoing deformation due to both expansion and compression. This allows the dimensional stability of the seat 2 to be further improved. At the same time limited deformation of the seat 2 due to compression is allowed in the regions in which no reinforcing means are provided. This limited deformability allows a high level of comfort of use of the seat 2 to be maintained. Furthermore, the recessed shape of the reinforcing means enables the above- mentioned advantages to be obtained while keeping the weight of the seat 2 extremely low.

Consequently, a saddle produced according to the invention may advantageously be used as a saddle for racing cycles. Furthermore, the presence of the covering 60, providing a regular supporting surface for the user, enables the comfort of use of the saddle to be further improved, without excessively increasing, for the reasons described above, the overall weight of the saddle. The seat 2 is obtained by moulding or blow-moulding a plastics material. A transparent plastics material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or else a plastics material that is only partially transparent is preferably used. Various types of plastics selected, in particular, from those suitable for blow- moulding, such as polypropylene, PET, PP, preferably random PP, etc. may be used to make the seat 2. In one version, the first and second half-shell 4, 6 can be made of plastics materials that differ from each other, in particular the second half-shell 6 may be made of a plastics material that is more rigid than that used for the first half-shell 4.

In one version, by appropriately selecting the material to be used for the seat 2, and/or the filler material to insert into the chamber 5, and/or the thickness of the first and second half-shell 4, 6, seats 2 that weigh between approx. 110 and 130 g can be obtained, but seats of approx. 107 g can also be obtained. Seats having a thickness of the first and/or the second half-shell 4, 6 of between approx. 0.7 and approx. 1.2 mm can be obtained with the above- mentioned methods and materials.

According to a preferred embodiment, the saddle 1, 1' is obtained by a single blow-moulding phase, on completion of which a saddle 1, 1' can be extracted from an appropriately-shaped mould, complete with the seat 2 and reinforcing means, the covering 60, if provided, and the attachment means 3. By appropriately shaping the mould, the recesses and channels are obtained directly during the moulding phase and the base portions of the recesses are welded together.

Moreover, in this case, it is as if a single base portion is present for each pair of first and second recesses 12, 13. If different types of plastics materials are to be used for the various parts of the saddle 1, these may be co-pressed, that is, produced using a single moulding procedure to feed the desired plastics materials into the mould. In this case, it would be advisable to choose plastics materials that have a good chemical affinity with one another in order to guarantee a good attachment between the various parts of the saddle 1. A seat 2 having walls of a reduced thickness, of between 0.7 and 1.2 or preferably between 0.8 and 1 mm can be produced by the blow-moulding method.

Furthermore, using plastics . material to make the saddle 1 and, therefore, producing the saddle by using the plastics materials together with the related methods of moulding, a saddle is produced at extremely reduced costs and in very fast production times.

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

In another version, the seat 2 may be covered at least in part by a layer of material that may not be plastics, such as leather or similar material, for example a breathable material to improve the comfort of use of the saddle. This layer of covering material is preferably connected to the seat during the moulding phase or, alternatively, for example if the covering material is not compatible with blow-moulding, or with the moulding method chosen for the seat, the covering material is applied to the seat after moulding. This layer of covering material can be applied to the first half-shell 4, or to the covering 60 if present, or else a surface which is free of the covering 60 and designed to receive and support the user may be made of a breathable material.

Claims

1. A saddle (1) for cycles, comprising a seat (2) with a first (4) and a second (6) half-shell jointly delimiting a chamber (5), a filling material at least partially occupying said chamber (5), and reinforcing means (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) formed in at least one of said half-shells (4, 6) and extending into said chamber (5), characterized in that said reinforcing means comprise first recesses (12) formed in said first half-shell (4) and second recesses (13) formed in said second half-shell (6) in positions opposite said first recesses (12) and cooperating with said first recesses (12) to limit the deformation of said seat (2).

2. A saddle according to Claim 1, wherein said first (12) and said second (13) recesses comprise respective base portions (12a, 13a) positioned in contact with each other inside said chamber (5).

3. A saddle according to either Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said reinforcing means comprise channels (14, 15) formed in said first (4) and/or said second half-shell (6) and extending between corresponding adjacent recesses (12, 13).

4. A saddle according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising covering means (60, 50, 51) applied to said first half-shell (4) and covering the latter at least in part.

5. A saddle according to the preceding claim, wherein said covering means (60, 50, 51) comprise at least one first appendage (50) fixed to said covering means (60) and received in a corresponding recess (12) of said first half-shell (4) with which it forms a positive coupling.

6. A saddle according to either Claim 4 or Claim 5, where Claim 4 is dependent on Claim 3, wherein said covering means (60, 50, 51) comprise at least one second appendage (51) fixed to said covering means (60) and received in a corresponding first channel (14) of said first half-shell (4) with which it forms a positive coupling.

7. A saddle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said filling material comprises a fluid under pressure, preferably air under pressure.

8. A saddle according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein said filling material comprises an expanded material such as expanded polyurethane or polystyrene.

9. A saddle according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising attachment means (3, 30, 31) formed on said second half-shell (6) and designed to cooperate with complementary attachment means on a cycle frame for the purpose of attaching said saddle (1) to said cycle.

10. A saddle according to the preceding claim, wherein said attachment means comprise blocks (30, 31) in the form of pockets designed to accommodate end portions of said complementary attachment means.

11. A saddle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said seat is produced by the blow moulding of at least one plastics material.

12. A saddle according to the preceding claim, wherein said plastics material is selected from a group comprising PET, PP, and random PP.