Saddle adjustment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10081405-B2
Application number	US-201815950903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2018
Priority date	Aug 1, 2013
Publication date	Sep 25, 2018
Grant date	Sep 25, 2018

Abstract

A saddle adjustment assembly comprising an adjustable height saddle post, the adjustable height saddle post comprising a first support and a second support, the second support configured to slidably move relative to the first support between at least a raised position and a lowered position, the first support configured to attach to a bicycle frame; a saddle angle adjustment mechanism coupled to the second support, the saddle angle adjustment mechanism comprising a rotatably coupled saddle support configured to couple to a bicycle saddle; wherein the saddle angle adjustment mechanism is configured to enable rotation of the saddle support relative to the second support as a result of the first support moving relative to the second support.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle saddle adjustment assembly comprising:
an adjustable height saddle post, the adjustable height saddle post comprising a first support and a second support, the second support configured to slidably move relative to the first support between at least a raised position and a lowered position, the first support configured to attach to a bicycle frame; and
a saddle adjustment mechanism coupled to the second support, the saddle adjustment mechanism comprising:
a saddle support assembly comprising a saddle receiver adapted to couple to a bicycle saddle,
wherein the saddle support assembly is pivotally supported at a pivot axis that is offset from a longitudinal axis of the second support; and
an actuating member configured to translate relative to the second support in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second support,
wherein the actuating member is coupled to the saddle support assembly such that translation of the actuating member with respect to the second support will cause the saddle support assembly to rotate about the pivot axis with respect to the second support.

2. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second support.

3. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second support comprises a tubular shape, and the pivot axis is positioned above a top end of the tubular shape.

4. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 3 , wherein the pivot axis is positioned at a distal end of a spacing arm that extends upward and laterally outward from the top end of the tubular shape.

5. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 1 , further comprising the bicycle saddle coupled to the saddle receiver, wherein the pivot axis is positioned forward of a midpoint of the bicycle saddle.

6. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuating member is centered with respect to the longitudinal axis of the second support.

7. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the saddle support assembly further comprises a rotating arm, the saddle receiver being affixed to the rotating arm, and
wherein the actuating member is coupled to the rotating arm at a location between the pivot axis and the saddle receiver.

8. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the saddle support assembly further comprises a rotating arm, the saddle receiver being affixed to the rotating arm, and
wherein the rotating arm is directly coupled to the second support at the pivot axis.

9. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 1 , wherein sliding movement of the second support with respect to the first support is configured to cause translation of the actuating member with respect to the second support.

10. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 9 , wherein sliding movement of the second support with respect to the first support toward the lowered position is configured to cause translation of the actuating member with respect to the second support in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and sliding movement of the second support with respect to the first support toward the raised position is configured to cause translation of the actuating member with respect to the second support in a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction.

11. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a first stop surface that sets a maximum amount of translation of the actuating member in the first direction.

12. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a second stop surface that sets a maximum amount of translation of the actuating member in the second direction.

13. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable height saddle post further comprises a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the second support in one or more predetermined positions relative to the first support.

14. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 13 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a collet positioned at least partially within an interior cavity of the second support.

15. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a controller, the actuation of which permits the height of the adjustable height saddle post to be selectively adjusted while the bicycle is in motion.

16. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an air spring configured to bias the second support toward the raised position.

17. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a damper configured to damp translation of the actuating member.

18. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 1 , further comprising the bicycle frame.

19. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 18 , wherein the adjustable height saddle post is attached to the bicycle frame in an arrangement with the pivot axis positioned forward of the longitudinal axis of the second support.

20. The bicycle saddle adjustment assembly of claim 18 , further comprising the bicycle saddle, wherein the adjustable height saddle post is attached to the bicycle frame and the bicycle saddle is attached to the saddle receiver in an arrangement with the pivot axis positioned forward of the longitudinal axis of the second support and a midpoint of the bicycle saddle.

Assignees

• Specialized Bicycle Components Inc

Inventors

• Mcandrews Michael A
• Powers Ron
• Sloan Brandon D
• Bowers Jeffrey Keith
• Mcpherson Ian Thomas

Classifications

• B62J2001/085

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