Electrical seatpost assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10040499-B2
Application number	US-201514873160-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2015
Priority date	Oct 1, 2015
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

An electrical seatpost assembly comprises a first cylinder, a second cylinder, a guide member, a positioning structure, an electrical actuator, and an electrical device. The guide member is disposed between the first cylinder and the second cylinder to slidably guide the second cylinder with respect to the first cylinder. The positioning structure is to adjustably position the second cylinder relative to the first cylinder in a telescopic direction. The electrical actuator is to actuate the positioning structure in accordance with an electrical signal. The electrical device is mounted to the first cylinder. An upper end of the electrical device is disposed above a lower end of the guide member in the telescopic direction in a mounting state where the first cylinder is mounted to a bicycle frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical seatpost assembly comprising:
a first cylinder comprising:
a first end; and
a second end opposite to the first end in a telescopic direction; and
a second cylinder telescopically received in the first cylinder from the first end;
a guide member disposed between the first cylinder and the second cylinder to slidably guide the second cylinder with respect to the first cylinder;
a positioning structure to adjustably position the second cylinder relative to the first cylinder in the telescopic direction;
an electrical actuator to actuate the positioning structure in accordance with an electrical signal; and
an electrical device mounted to the first cylinder, an upper end of the electrical device being disposed above a lower end of the guide member in the telescopic direction in a mounting state where the first cylinder is mounted to a bicycle frame.

2. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the guide member is provided at the first end.

3. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a seal provided at the first end to seal a gap between the first and second cylinders, wherein
the upper end of the electrical device is disposed above a lower end of the seal in the telescopic direction in the mounting state.

4. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 3 , wherein
the first cylinder includes a cover member provided at the first end, and
at least one of the guide member and the seal is disposed between the cover member and the second cylinder in the direction perpendicular to the telescopic direction.

5. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the electrical device is configured to receive at least one of an electrical input and a mechanical input.

6. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 5 , wherein
the electrical device includes a wireless receiver to wirelessly receive a wireless signal.

7. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 6 , wherein
the electrical device includes a pairing switch to switch a mode of the wireless receiver to a pairing mode.

8. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 6 , wherein
the first cylinder includes a cover member provided at the first end, and
the cover member includes a resin material.

9. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the electrical device includes a start switch to turn the electrical actuator on.

10. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the electrical device includes an operating switch to operate the electrical actuator to actuate the positioning structure.

11. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the electrical device includes a control substrate.

12. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the electrical device includes an indicator provided outside the first cylinder and the second cylinder to indicate seatpost information relating to the electrical seatpost assembly.

13. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 12 , wherein
the seatpost information includes a remaining battery level of a battery to supply electrical power to the electrical actuator.

14. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the electrical device includes a charging port to receive electrical power to charge a battery.

15. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the electrical device is provided on a front side of the guide member in the mounting state.

16. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first cylinder includes a cover member provided at the first end,
the cover member includes an outer peripheral surface, and
the electrical device is provided not to protrude radially outwardly from the outer peripheral surface of the cover member.

17. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the electrical device includes at least one power receiving port to receive electrical power from an external power supply.

18. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 17 , wherein
the at least one power receiving port is movably mounted relative to the first cylinder in a circumferential direction of the first cylinder.

19. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 17 , wherein
the at least one power receiving port includes a plurality of power receiving ports, and
the plurality of power receiving ports are spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the first cylinder.

20. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the electrical device includes a battery.

21. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 20 , wherein
the first cylinder includes a cover member provided at the first end, and
the battery is detachably attached to the cover member.

22. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 20 , wherein
the first cylinder includes a cover member provided at the first end, and
one of the electrical device and the cover member includes a charging port to receive electrical power to charge the battery.

23. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 20 , wherein
the battery is provided on a rear side of the cover member in the mounting state.

24. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a connecting part, wherein
the electrical actuator includes a motor,
the motor is provided at the second end of the first cylinder, and
the connecting part electrically connects the electrical device to the motor.

25. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 24 , wherein
the connecting part includes an electronic substrate electrically connecting the electrical device to the motor.

26. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 24 , wherein
the first cylinder includes an accommodation part accommodating the connecting part.

27. An electrical seatpost assembly comprising:
a first cylinder;
a second cylinder telescopically received in the first cylinder;
a positioning structure to adjustably position the second cylinder relative to the first cylinder in the telescopic direction;
an electrical actuator to actuate the positioning structure in accordance with an electrical signal; and
an indicator to indicate seatpost information relating to the electrical seatpost assembly, the indicator being mounted to the first cylinder.

28. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 27 , wherein
the indicator includes one of a light emitting element and a display.

29. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 27 , wherein
the seatpost information includes a remaining battery level of a battery to supply electrical power to the electrical actuator.

30. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 29 , further comprising:
the battery to supply the electrical power to the electrical actuator.

31. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 29 , wherein
the indicator indicates the remaining battery level of the battery when the electrical actuator is turned on.

32. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 29 , wherein
the indicator indicates the remaining

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Hara Nobukatsu
• Shirai Toyoto
• Kurokawa Yuta

Classifications

• B62M9/122

  electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof · CPC title

• B62J1/08 Primary

  Frames for saddles; Connections between saddle frames and seat pillars; Seat pillars (attaching seat pillars to cycle frames B62K19/36) · CPC title

• B62J2001/085

  Seat pillars having mechanisms to vary seat height, independently of the cycle frame · CPC title