Bicycle seatpost assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10131391-B2
Application number	US-201615164799-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 25, 2016
Priority date	May 25, 2016
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

A bicycle seatpost assembly comprises a first tube, a second tube, and a positioning structure. The second tube has a distal end to be attached to a bicycle seat and a proximal end opposite to the distal end. The second tube is configured to be telescopically received in the first tube. The positioning structure is configured to position the first tube and the second tube relative to each other. The positioning structure comprises a fluid chamber. The fluid chamber comprises a first chamber, a second chamber, and a movable piston. The first chamber is filled with a first liquid. The second chamber includes a second liquid and gas. The second chamber is disposed closer to the distal end of the second tube than the first chamber. The movable piston divides the fluid chamber into the first chamber and the second chamber. The movable piston is movable within the fluid chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle seatpost assembly comprising:
a first tube;
a second tube having a distal end to be attached to a bicycle seat and a proximal end opposite to the distal end, the second tube being configured to be telescopically received in the first tube; and
a positioning structure configured to position the first tube and the second tube relative to each other, the positioning structure comprising:
a fluid chamber comprising:
a first chamber filled with a first liquid, the first chamber being connected to a passageway connecting the first chamber to an additional fluid chamber provided in the first tube or the second tube, the passageway having a fluid gate to be opened such that the first liquid flows between the first chamber and the additional fluid chamber;
a second chamber including a second liquid and a gas, the second chamber being disposed closer to the distal end of the second tube than the first chamber; and
a movable piston provided between the first chamber and the second chamber to sealingly divide the fluid chamber into the first chamber and the second chamber, a portion of the passageway extending through the movable piston such that when the fluid gate is opened a relationship of volume between the first chamber and the second chamber is changeable, the movable piston being a floating piston movable within the fluid chamber.

2. The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the second chamber is arranged in relation to the movable position such that the second liquid is provided to be closer to the movable piston than the gas due to gravitational forces in a state where the first tube is mounted to a bicycle frame that is in an upright position and where the second tube is stationary with respect to the first tube.

3. The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 2 , wherein
the fluid chamber is provided in the second tube.

4. The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the fluid chamber is provided in the second tube.

5. The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the bicycle seatpost assembly is to be attached to a bicycle frame.

6. The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the second liquid includes an oil.

7. The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 6 , wherein
the second liquid has a kinematic viscosity more than or equal to 300 centistokes at 40 degrees Celsius.

8. The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 7 , wherein
the second liquid has a kinematic viscosity less than or equal to 1000 centistokes at 40 degrees Celsius.

9. The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 8 , wherein
the second liquid has a kinematic viscosity less than or equal to 400 centistokes at 40 degrees Celsius.

10. The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first liquid has a first viscosity, and
the second liquid has a second viscosity that is larger than the first viscosity.

11. The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 6 , wherein
the gas in the second chamber has a first volume in a state where the distal end of the second tube is positioned farthest from the first tube,
the gas in the second chamber has a second volume in a state where the distal end of the second tube is positioned closest to the first tube, and
a compression ratio defined as the first volume divided by the second volume is less than or equal to 2.0.

12. The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 11 , wherein
the compression ratio is more than 1.0 and less than or equal to 1.5.

13. The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the movable piston comprises
a movable member having a circumference and
a first seal provided on the circumference and contacting the fluid chamber.

14. The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 13 , wherein
the first seal is an elastic member having an annular shape.

15. The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 13 , wherein
the movable member is movable in a first direction in which the first chamber and the second chamber are aligned,
the movable piston further comprises a second seal provided on the circumference and contacting the fluid chamber, and
the first seal and the second seal are disposed along the first direction.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Shirai Toyota

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

• B62K19/36 Primary

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