WO1997032774A1 - Bycicle saddle mounting tiltable from side to side, and bicycles comprising same - Google Patents

Abstract

A bicycle saddle (or seat, as applicable) arranged on a mounting that is tiltable from side to side is disclosed. The saddle frame is attached to clips (9) clamped onto a holder (8) secured to a strut (6) that is pivotably mounted about a shaft (4) which is in turn clamped to the bicycle frame. As a result, the saddle is tiltable from side to side so that it follows the movement or position of the user, particularly a rider, and reduces the physical discomfort associated with certain positions or patterns of movement. Motion dampers as well as a system for returning the saddle to a neutral position may also be provided. Said mounting may be used in any field of activity, workstation, machine operator station, etc., wherever the problem of discomfort due to lateral seat friction arises.

Description

 Anchor of cycle saddle of oscillating type left - right, and cycles comprising it.

The present invention relates to the general field of cycles and in particular "bicycles" or velocipedes, and the fields confronted with the problem set out below.

We know more or less articulated saddles, and we also know a saddle mounted in two separate parts along a longitudinal axis, each part can tilt forward or backward, independently of the other part.

A well-known drawback of cycling results from certain positions, either of effort ("sprint") or of voluntary relaxation on the flat. In these configurations, the cyclist alternately weighs his weight from left to right on the saddle, and this results in friction between the saddle and the coccyx.

This is particularly the case during a powerful effort, or on the contrary, on the flat, when the cyclist decides to perform a "self-massage" by modifying the position of his foot on the crankset. In this abnormal but necessary configuration, the heel of the foot "sinks" in relation to its usual position, which causes the desired massage, but also causes the body to tilt to the right and alternately the left.

There are drawbacks due to the same cause in many sectors, for certain workstations, machine seats, and the like, and the invention applies to all these sectors. This is what is meant below by the use of the word cycle or the like, which has no limiting or restrictive meaning.

This phenomenon, and others like it, has been well known for decades but, even on the sophisticated cycles produced for about ten years, no solution has been proposed. The merit of the invention is to have posed this problem of lateral friction which professionals and amateurs had apparently resigned themselves to accommodate.

According to its general concept, the invention resides in the fact that the cycle saddle is mounted on a support capable of oscillating by any general means in a movement at least left - right.

By "mounted on a support capable of oscillating", it will naturally be understood all the configurations which will appear to the skilled person, that is to say the saddle mounted on an oscillating support, or comprising a fixed support which is itself mounted on an oscillating device, etc .... that is to say all the technical means of direct or indirect mounting in oscillation, accessible to the skilled person and capable of following in left-right oscillation the movements imprinted on the saddle by the body of the cyclist.

By "at least left-right", it will be understood that the invention lies in the general means of allowing the left-right oscillation, but that the invention is not incompatible with other movements of the saddle, for example example the tilting movement forward - back mentioned above.

The invention therefore includes all these variant embodiments, even if for simplicity, the following is limited to the term "left-right oscillation" or a similar term.

The invention applies to any type of cycle or seat, the use of which causes the abovementioned drawback of friction, as well as to any machine or seat or work station the driver or operator of which would suffer from the same drawback, even for reasons other than effort, for example for simple ergonomic reasons. The term "saddle" in this text includes all these applications falling under the same general function.

Figure 1 depicts a saddle and its anchoring according to the invention, in longitudinal section; Figure 2 describes Figure 1 in section A - A. The same references have the same meanings.

We see in the accompanying drawing that the saddle 1 is secured to a frame 2. This frame 2 slides in a known manner in the grooves of the "jumpers" 9, as can be seen in Figure 2. These jumpers have a notched surface and, after the longitudinal adjustment of the saddle has been carried out by appropriate sliding in the grooves (in fact, the half-grooves of the carriage cooperate with the half-grooves of the riders), are tightened on the carriage 8 by means of a bolt 10. This carriage is mounted integral with a spacer 6 which surrounds a part 4 forming an axis of rotation around the longitudinal axis of the cycle, that is to say to the left or to the right.

The assembly is fixed in position by a screw and a locking washer, respectively 7 and 5.

One also proceeds in a known manner to the fixing of the system on the frame 3 of the cycle by a conventional slot means tightened by a nut.

It is entirely preferable to provide a means for returning the saddle to the neutral position, for example when the saddle-cyclist contact ceases; such means may consist of foam blocks inserted under the saddle. The greater or lesser rigidity of the foam then makes it possible, moreover, to adjust the sensitivity of the triggering of the oscillation. The cyclist can thus adjust his comfort at will.

Of course, we will consider any other means such as leaf spring, etc ... which will be within the reach of ordinary skill in the art.

The above describes a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is of course non-limiting, in particular in the detail of its mechanical embodiments.

Claims

1. Cycle or seat saddle anchor, hereinafter "saddle" assembly, on which the saddle is fixed directly or indirectly, characterized in that it comprises a means enabling it to oscillate at least to the left or the right, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cycle, in response to a stress on the body of the cyclist or the occupant of the seat, operated by friction on the saddle to the left or to the right. 2. Anchoring according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a part forming an axis 4 around which there is a spacer 6, of which is secured a carriage 8 comprising half-grooves intended to receive the frame 2 of the saddle, the armature being fixed in position by the tightening on the carriage, by a bolt 10, of two jumpers 9 comprising half-grooves cooperating with those of the carriage to tighten the armature 2, said armature 2 thus being able to oscillate to the left or the right, and also the saddle, the frame of which is integral. 3. Anchoring according to one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that it further comprises a neutral return means. 4. An anchor according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said return means consists of foam blocks inserted between the saddle and the anchor. 5. Cycles or machines or work stations whose saddle or seat has an anchor according to any one of claims 1 to 4.