Adjustable assembly for bicycles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10053172-B2
Application number	US-201615379176-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2016
Priority date	Jun 30, 2008
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

An adjustable assembly for a bicycle includes a first support having an interior surface and a second support slidably positioned within at least a portion of the first support. One of the first support and the second support is adapted to attach to a first bicycle portion, and the other of the first support and the second support is adapted to attach to a second bicycle portion. Further, the second support comprises an expansion portion configured to be moved between an expanded position and a retracted position. The expansion portion is configured to engage the interior surface of the first support when the expansion portion is in an expanded position. In addition, the first support is configured to be selectively moved relative to the second support when the expansion portion is permitted to assume a retracted position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable assembly for a bicycle, comprising:
a first tubular support having an interior surface;
a second tubular support positioned at least partially within the first tubular support and slidably movable relative to the first tubular support along a longitudinal axis of said first and second tubular supports,
wherein an upper end of the second tubular support is adapted to be coupled to a bicycle saddle,
wherein the second tubular support comprises an expansion portion positioned within the first tubular support and proximal a lower end of the second tubular support, the expansion portion being selectively movable between a radially expanded position and a radially retracted position,
wherein the expansion portion is configured to engage at least a portion of the interior surface of the first tubular support when the expansion portion is in the radially expanded position;
a retention assembly positioned at least partially within the expansion portion of the second tubular support and slidably movable relative to the expansion portion, wherein the retention assembly is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position,
wherein, when the retention assembly is in the locked position, the retention assembly prevents the expandable portion from moving to the radially retracted position, thereby limiting movement of the second tubular member relative to the first tubular member along the longitudinal axis; and
a resilient member configured to exert a force on the retention assembly that biases the retention assembly to the locked position.

2. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interior surface of the first tubular support comprises at least two grooves, the expansion portion being configured to engage the at least two grooves.

3. The adjustable assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first tubular support comprises a generally cylindrical shape, and the at least two grooves extend circumferentially around the interior surface of the first tubular support.

4. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the expansion portion comprises a collet.

5. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the expansion portion comprises at least one projecting portion configured to move between a radially contracted position and a radially expanded position to selectively engage the interior surface of the first tubular support.

6. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first tubular support is configured to be positioned at least partially within a hollow member of a bicycle frame.

7. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first tubular support is a fixed part of a bicycle frame.

8. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the expansion portion is configured to be in the radially expanded position while in a resting state when no external forces are exerted on the expansion portion, such that the expansion portion normally engages at least a portion of the interior surface of the first tubular support.

9. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to selectively move the retention assembly from the locked position to the unlocked position.

10. The adjustable assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bicycle frame, wherein the first tubular support is positioned at least partially within a seat tube of the bicycle frame.

11. An adjustable assembly for a bicycle, comprising:
first, second, and third tubular supports having a common longitudinal axis,
the second tubular support positioned at least partially within the first tubular support and slidably movable relative to the first tubular support along the longitudinal axis,
the first tubular support positioned at least partially within the third tubular support and slidably movable relative to the third tubular support along the longitudinal axis,
wherein the second tubular support comprises an expansion portion positioned within the first tubular support and proximal a lower end of the second tubular support, the expansion portion being selectively movable between a radially expanded position and a radially retracted position,
wherein the expansion portion is configured to engage at least a portion of the interior surface of the first tubular support when the expansion portion is in the radially expanded position;
a retention assembly positioned at least partially within the expansion portion of the second tubular support and slidably movable relative to the expansion portion, wherein the retention assembly is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position,
wherein, when the retention assembly is in the locked position, the retention assembly prevents the expandable portion from moving to the radially retracted position, thereby limiting movement of the second tubular member relative to the first tubular member along the longitudinal axis; and
a resilient member configured to exert a force on the retention assembly that biases the retention assembly to the locked position.

12. The adjustable assembly of claim 11 , wherein the interior surface of the first tubular support comprises at least two grooves, the expansion portion being configured to engage the at least two grooves.

13. The adjustable assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first tubular support comprises a generally cylindrical shape, and the at least two grooves extend circumferentially around the interior surface of the first tubular support.

14. The adjustable assembly of claim 11 , wherein the expansion portion comprises a collet.

15. The adjustable assembly of claim 11 , wherein the expansion portion comprises at least one projecting portion configured to move between a radially contracted position and a radially expanded position to selectively engage the interior surface of the first tubular support.

16. The adjustable assembly of claim 11 , wherein the third tubular support is configured to be positioned at least partially within a hollow member of a bicycle frame.

17. The adjustable assembly of claim 11 , wherein the hollow member of the bicycle frame is a lower fork leg.

18. The adjustable assembly of claim 11 , wherein the expansion portion is configured to be in the radially expanded position while in a resting state when no external forces are exerted on the expansion portion, such that the expansion portion normally engages at least a portion of the interior surface of the first tubular support.

19. The adjustable assembly of claim 11 , further comprising an actuator configured to selectively move the retention assembly from the locked position to the unlocked position.

20. The adjustable assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a bicycle frame, wherein the third tubular support is positioned at least partially within a hollow member of the bicycle frame.

Assignees

• Specialized Bicycle Components Inc

Inventors

• Mcandrews Michael
• Powers Ron

Classifications

• B62K19/36

  for attaching saddle pillars, e.g. adjustable during ride · 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

• Y10T403/76

  having a cam, wedge, or tapered portion · CPC title

• Y10T403/32516

  Remotely actuated · CPC title

• Y10T403/32467

  Telescoping members · CPC title