WO2016124163A1

WO2016124163A1 - Adjustable seat for a bicycle

Info

Publication number: WO2016124163A1
Application number: PCT/CR2015/000002
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luis Alberto NUÑEZ LINARES
Original assignee: Nuñez Linares Luis Alberto
Priority date: 2015-02-05
Filing date: 2015-02-05
Publication date: 2016-08-11

Abstract

The invention relates to an adjustable seat for a bicycle which supports a one-person seat on top of the steel shaft, said seat consisting of two parts made of foam or gel, each one having a support for the pelvis and a support for the legs. The invention also relates to a bicycle comprising said seat.

Description

"ADJUSTABLE SEAT FOR BICYCLE"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of transport. Specifically it is related to bicycle seats adjustable to the vehicle and that has two supports with independent mobility that adjusts to the cadence movement of the legs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The term bicycle comes from Latin and consists of two words: "bi" ("two"), and cyclos, ("wheel"). The Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy defines it as: "Two-wheeled vehicle of equal size whose pedals transmit the movement to the rear wheel by means of two sprockets and a chain".

The bicycle is an economic and environmentally friendly transport, due to its own characteristics. The first bicycle was created by Kart Von Drais, in 1818 ("Draisienne"). It was driven with the help of the feet. In 1839 Kirkpatrick Macmillan invented the bicycle driven by padales. The direct precursor of the modern bicycle was the French model of 1855, driven by crank, velocity of pedaling without pressure. The frame and wheels were made of wood. The tires were made of iron and the pedals were placed in the front or driver's wheel hub, which was a little taller than the rear. It was known as "Bonebreaker", for its vibrations when it was driving on stony or cobbled roads.

This vehicle has been modified throughout history with multiple functional purposes and with very different designs, but none has achieved a support process suitable for recreational use, which adjusts to the ergonomics of the human being and allows greater comfort. The current designs are intended to provide agility and premium to improve the speed of the vehicle on its adaptation to human ergonomics.

Cycling is called sport whose instrument necessary for the realization is the bicycle. In cycling, various types of transport models have been designed under this category. Mountain bikes, ideal for dirt and rocky roads are quite resistant to rocks, logs, roots, etc. They are found on the mountain roads. They have wide tires to improve traction in loose land. In some cases, this type of bicycle has damping systems that allow the impact to be absorbed. There are models with these types of systems both in the front and in the back. These types of bicycles are equipped with speed changes that facilitate the ascent and draw of certain obstacles on the road. Although these bicycles were designed for the mountain they are usually useful in the city, especially when it is bumpy. Due to the functionality of the vehicle, no model has yet presented the solution to make the seat comfortable. The road bike is intended to travel on paved roads. Generally these types of bicycles are usually of lighter construction than mountain bicycles since their purpose is speed on paved terrain. For this reason, this type of bicycle is equipped with larger and thinner wheels, so it is not recommended to use them on cobbled roads or dirt roads. They have speed changes that make it easy to climb steep slopes. In the road bike the cyclist adopts a low profile position with the body tilted forward so that it is more aerodynamic, but the seats usually fulfill the function of aerodynamics and not of adaptability to the body to ensure comfort. This bike is recommended to travel long paved distances.

Recreational bicycles are ideal for paved, cobbled roads and not very steep dirt roads. These focus on comfort and maneuverability. They are ideal for use in parks, neighborhood trips or to work if you are within a reasonable distance. These types of bicycles can be sub divided into Comfort bikes and Hybrids.

Comfort bikes generally have slightly wider tires and a fairly comfortable seat. In some cases these bicycles can have front suspension as well as suspension in the seat post allowing a smooth ride. The most common is that they have 1, 3 or 6 speeds. Some have integrated changes in the mass.

Hybrid bicycles combine some characteristics of comfort bike with those of the road bike. They provide the comfort of a wide seat with suspension in the pole as well as in the scissors, but with 700mm wheels for greater efficiency every pedaling. Hybrid bicycles are an excellent option to get around the city since They provide great versatility and comfort. Although the present invention also seeks that kind of comfort, no model to date has ideal characteristics for full comfort and adaptability of the vehicle to the human body. Urban bicycles are used for paved roads, cobblestones and not very steep dirt roads. They are conceived for the city, of quite resistant construction both in its frame and on its wheels to withstand city conditions such as potholes, sidewalks, bumpers and others. The vast majority have dashboards for rainy days and a basket to transport things. A common feature is the presence of lights for visibility.

Other types of bicycle not so common are: folding, fixed-gear ("fixies") and utility. In general terms and for all the cases described, the bicycle seat (called "saddle") is essential for pedaling, as it implies the ergonomic challenge of placing the body in a fixed position that allows the legs to move. The conventional bicycle supports all the weight on the perineal part that wraps the lower part of the hip structure. The recumbent bike does it by sitting the body so that it can rest on the back, which allows for a more efficient pedaling, although the conventional one has been imposed.

Several studies in both women and men competing in cycling have shown serious injuries in the genital and perineal areas even when they use the bicycle, seat and clothing correctly. And even for those who use it on a non-competitive daily basis, the effects are denoted over time.

It has been seen that excessive padding in the saddle can apply pressure to nerves and sensitive arteries in the perineal area apart from creating frictions that make it uncomfortable. In addition, it will be less efficient for pedaling because it affects the balance on it. The softness of the material, the firmness of the surface, the contom of the shape are the keys of a saddle that does not cause perineal disorders. It should also be considered that each person has their particular perineal structure, so although there are some clear criteria, they are not broadly generalizable. Another important aspect is the texture of the padding, since a flat surface is more affective than one supposedly adapted to the shape of the perineum. A surface with a certain stiffness and flatness is more comfortable than sitting on soft cushions or a chair shaped to supposedly adapt to the division of the buttocks.

For erect positions such as those of the urban bicycle, gel padding is better than the traditional polyurethane foam, just as a wide base favors the oxygenation of the genitals than a narrower one. There are different options to avoid the effect of irregularities on roads, such as saddles with springs, with elastomers or flexible. The springs act as a shock absorber and are placed on the back of the saddle just below the padding. Flexible saddles are harder to find and are usually designed for sports bicycles. The weight is not increased, it does not cushion so much and they are designed to deform to absorb the irregularities of the ground.

The seat for conventional bicycles with a pick or nose is the most common. One of the reasons is that the bulge makes it easier to maintain balance and improve the domain of the bicycle.

The present invention aims to provide a new and adjustable solution to the needs - of adapting the bicycle saddle for human anatomy. '

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Within the state of the art, bicycle seats with nose-to-nose are still the most sought after by designers of this type of apparatus supposedly to favor balance. That form of the seat may be relevant for certain situations or sports, but it is more a sensation than a demonstrable reality. The position or inclination on the bicycle is what essentially determines that the saddle peak is more useful or not. At degrees of inclination below 40 °, this is a help, but is no longer relevant for inclinations greater than 60 °. The cyclist's balance on the saddle is not given by the peak but by the whole position of the person with respect to the points of force that are the hands and arms with respect to the horizontal axis and the position of the legs with respect to the vertical axis. Saddles without beak have been developed as an alternative for people who suffer from perineal disorders and can ride a bicycle. The sports users who have adopted them value that the lack of a peak does not imply any difficulty in controlling the bicycle in extreme situations.

The design of saddles with holes arises from the first investigations to try to reduce the sexual dysfunctions that are appreciated in many professional cyclists since the mid-seventies. The hole leaves a space so that the male genitals are not completely compromised or in the case of women avoid excessive pressure on the vulva. However, recent studies show that in the case of women the walls of the hole provide greater pressure on the edges of the labia majora and may contribute to irritations in the genital areas. For men, it increases the pressure on other adjacent perineal parts that reduce blood flow in the penis and crush the pubic nerve with greater force.

The ergonomics of the proposed bicycle saddle, is oriented to facilitate that the pressure of the body is not so supported by the perineal musculature that surrounds the sexual apparatus, but by the hamstrings or ossicles of the end of the hip. This implies a radical change in the way of riding the bicycle, so the first time a saddle of this type is tested, it may require a new way of adapting the individual to the prototype so that they get used to their shape, but The health benefits and comfort you feel imposes the need to use this prototype on any device, so the design is designed for adaptation to any bicycle.

In general, the important thing is to avoid pressures on the perineal parts and that the body weight is distributed over the largest possible area of contact. Although the foam allows adequate comfort being a comfortable and easy to mold material, the model also proposes the use of the gel that is a recently incorporated material that has been shown to better absorb the effect of pressure and therefore this material by if you can only reduce perineal pressure between 50 - 80%. Bicycle seats are receiving a lot of criticism and constantly for having caused a number of health problems in men and women, as previously seen.

The basis of many of these problems lies in the anatomy of the body compared to the seat. When a person sits in a bicycle seat, the middle part of the seat exerts pressure in places where there is a high concentration of nerves and soft tissues, causing pain and possibly long-term health problems.

As we saw earlier, the seat designers now make them have holes or grooves in the problem parts, specifically along the center of the seat. The holes relieve pressure in problem areas, making it more comfortable and healthier.

Actually, the key is to find a seat that suits the driver and is designed for the type of driving he is engaged in. The most important adjustment factor when choosing the bicycle seat is in aligning the ischial tuberosities. Ischial tuberosities should rest on the most padded part of the chair when in the driving position. Comfort bikes encourage a more upright driving position that requires more padding in the seat. These bicycles are pedaled at a more informal pace, which reduces the possibility of friction that is usually caused by high pedaling intensity. The presentation of a seat divided into two parts to form two foam or gel seats supported on one axis, each with a pelvis support and a leg support, allows for better seat oscillation. An oscillation is any movement that is repeated in both directions along the same path, between the same maximum and minimum positions. In general, the movements. A system whose movement describes a sinusoidal function with respect to time is called the simple harmonic oscillator (OAS) and its movement will be a Simple Harmonic Movement (MAS). This movement is the fundamental oscillation of nature. All oscillating systems are subject to friction, drag forces or other energy losses, which tend to dampen oscillations.

The drag force on an object is directed in the opposite direction to its movement, being almost always proportional to the speed or square of that speed.

The mathematical model for these forces is F = - b ^* V, where "b" is the drag intensity.

If the damping force is small, oscillations would occur with an amplitude that will be reduced exponentially. This case is known as "sub-damping." If parameter "b" increases, the "critical damping" is reached, in which the system stops oscillating. The system simply returns smoothly to its equilibrium position. If the "b" continues to increase the damping force, it will avoid oscillations, further delaying the return of the object to its equilibrium position. This is known as "overshoot." The case at hand in this invention is that of bicycle oscillators. Each shock absorber contains a piston immersed in a heavy fluid and is mounted in different parts, for rapid damping of vehicle oscillations. Without these, the bicycle would keep bouncing for a long time on uneven terrain.

The suspension system has the purpose of absorbing the inequalities of the terrain on which it travels, while keeping the wheels in contact with the pavement, giving a level of comfort and safety. Its basic functions are reduction of forces caused by irregularities of the terrain, control of the direction of the vehicle, maintenance of the adhesion of the tires to the road, support of the load of the vehicle and maintenance of the optimum height of the vehicle.

The weight of the vehicle resulting in the assembly of the adjustable seat, is broken down into two parts: the first is a suspended mass, composed of the elements whose weight is supported by the chassis. The second is a non-suspended mass, constituted by the rest of the components. The link between the two masses is the suspension. The dampers are the elements capable of absorbing kinetic energy and whose purpose is to dampen the oscillations within a periodic movement, and which also allow neutralizing the energy caused by impacts and impacts.

This effect of curbing the oscillatory movement of the suspension occurs through the pneumatic suspension and returns the energy in the form of heat from the balancing itself, thus avoiding the oscillation of the body and the jumps of the vehicle on the ground before a hill or ditch.

The shock absorbers have a basic operating system that consists of a piston that is attached to the body by means of a fixing rod, and that slides inside a cylinder that is assembled to the wheel and through which a fluid runs viscous which can be a special oil or gas.

The piston has a series of calibrated holes through which the oil passes between the two parts into which the cylinder is divided and stopping the oscillation thanks to the fact that the spring presents resistance to the passage of the fluid.

The damper assembly consists of two components: a gas damper and spring damper. The front shock absorbers are physically different from the rear ones although they fulfill an identical function. The shock absorbers can be hydraulic, hydraulic with valves, gas, double tube, monotube, selective frequency, pneumatic, hardness adjustable, among others.

Although the comfort bicycle will be the best option for the type of saddle or seat proposed by the present invention, whatever the apparatus or damping system will work to adjust this seat. In particular, the invention is an adjustable bicycle seat, comprising: A steel shaft for supporting the seat with pinions, a carbon steel tube anchored to the axis with pinions, a spring or air suspension system and two foam or gel seats on the shaft, each with a pelvic support and a leg support.

These two foam or gel seats, support a person, and have independent mobility that adjusts to the cadence movement of the legs, where the support of the pelvis is fixed and that of the legs moves according to the cadence, allowing optimal oscillation .

The seat is adjustable to any type of bicycle and the materials are lightweight. The design is flatly comfortable with what becomes a solution for the health and comfort of drivers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 describes the image of the adjustable seat from the front, side, where the design of the product consists of a handle designed in two parts to support the pelvis and each leg, thanks to the mobile design of the parts.

Figure 2 describes the image of the adjustable seat from the back, where the components of the apparatus are appreciated, including the steel shaft where it is supported, the pinions, the carbon steel tube anchored to the axis with pinions, and the suspension system that can be spring or air.

Figure 3 describes the image of the adjustable seat from the rear side, where the inclination of the seat is appreciated for the best ergonomic fit. Figure 4 describes the image of the adjustable seat from the front, where it is appreciated that the pinions protrude for the adjustment of the seat to the axle.

Figure 5 describes the image of the adjustable seat with a view from the top where the design that can be with a square or rounded edge is appreciated. Figure 6 describes the image of the adjustable seat with a view of the bottom where the axle and the anchor can be seen.

Figure 7 describes the image of the adjustable seat from the right side, making it clear that the design is adjustable to the human body to allow better fit and comfort.

Figure 8 describes the image of the adjustable seat from the left side where

the axle that supports the rear part of the seat and the suspension of the front part of the seat that allows movement can be seen.

Claims

1. An adjustable bicycle seat, comprising:

A steel shaft to support the seat with pinions,

A carbon steel tube anchored to the shaft with pinions,

A spring or air suspension system.

Two foam or gel seats on the shaft, each with a pelvic support and a leg support.

2. An adjustable seat of claim 1, wherein the two foam seats support a person, and have independent mobility that conforms to the cadence movement of the legs, where the pelvis support is fixed and that of the legs moves according to the cadence.

3. A bicycle with an adjustable seat of claim 1.