Height adjustable seatpost assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10322762-B2
Application number	US-201715692150-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2017
Priority date	Aug 31, 2017
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

A height adjustable seatpost assembly is basically provided with a first telescopic member, a second telescopic member, a positioning structure, an operating structure and an electric actuator. The second telescopic member is telescopically movable within the first telescopic member. The positioning structure is provided on one of the first and second telescopic members. The positioning structure includes a pair of longitudinal spaced positioning members configured to engage the other of the first and second telescopic members, respectively. The operating structure is at least partly movable with respect to the other of the first and second telescopic members in the longitudinal direction. The operating structure includes a release member that is disposed between the positioning members. The release member selectively disengages one of the positioning members. The electric actuator moves the operating structure relative to the other of the first and second telescopic members in the longitudinal direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A height adjustable seatpost assembly comprising:
a first telescopic member;
a second telescopic member telescopically movable within the first telescopic member in a longitudinal direction;
a positioning structure provided on one of the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member, the positioning structure including a first positioning member and a second positioning member spaced apart from the first positioning member in the longitudinal direction, the first and second positioning members being configured to engage with the other of the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member to relatively position the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member in the longitudinal direction;
an operating structure movably provided on the other of the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member, the operating structure being configured to be at least partly movable with respect to the other of the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member in the longitudinal direction, the operating structure including a release member disposed between the first positioning member and the second positioning member in the longitudinal direction, the release member being configured to selectively disengage one of the first and second positioning members from the other of the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member while the one of the first and the second telescopic members is in a first position and engages the other of the first and second positioning members with the other of the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member while the one of the first and the second telescopic members is in the first position; and
an electric actuator configured to move the operating structure relative to the other of the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member in the longitudinal direction.

2. The height adjustable seatpost assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an electronic controller configured to control the electric actuator in accordance with a wireless signal, the electronic controller including a receiver to receive the wireless signal.

3. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the operating structure includes a contact member to contact the one of the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member to move the one of the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member in the longitudinal direction relative to the other of the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member.

4. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 3 , wherein
the contact member contacts the one of the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member in a state where the release member disengages one of the first and second positioning members from the other of the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member.

5. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 3 , wherein
the contact member is integrally formed with the release member.

6. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 3 , wherein
the one of the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion each configured to contact the contact member, and
the contact member is disposed between the first contact portion and the second contact portion in the longitudinal direction.

7. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first positioning member is pivotally mounted to the one of the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member about a first pivot axis.

8. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 7 , wherein
the first positioning member includes an engagement portion at a first end and a cam surface at a second end, the second end being closer to the second positioning member than the first end in the longitudinal direction.

9. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 8 , wherein
the engagement portion includes a roller element.

10. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 8 , wherein
the cam surface is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction in a state where the engagement portion is engaged with the other of the first and the second telescopic members to contact the release member.

11. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 7 , wherein
the second positioning member is pivotally mounted to the one of the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member about a second pivot axis that is spaced apart from the first pivot axis in the longitudinal direction and parallel to the first pivot axis.

12. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 11 , wherein
the release member is disposed between the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis in the longitudinal direction.

13. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 11 , wherein
the release member includes symmetrical shape with respect to a transverse plane when viewed from a direction parallel to the first pivot axis.

14. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 13 , wherein
the release member includes a pin extending along a direction parallel to the first pivot axis.

15. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the other of the first and second telescopic members includes a receiving recess to selectively receive one of the first and second positioning members to position the second telescopic member at one of a first position and a second position in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first telescopic member.

16. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
the receiving recess includes a curved surface.

17. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
the other of the first and second telescopic members including a support member provided on an inner surface of the other of the first and second telescopic members, and
the receiving recess is provided on the support member.

18. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising
a movement transmitting structure to transmit a movement of the electric actuator to the operating structure to move in the longitudinal direction.

19. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 18 , wherein
the movement transmitting structure includes a drive screw along which the operating structure slides in the longitudinal direction.

20. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising
a switch unit provided on the other of the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member to detect the one of the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member reaching at least one of a first position and a second position to output a stop-signal to stop an actuation of the electric actuator.

21. The height adjustable seatpost assembly according to claim 20 , wherein
the other of the first and second telescopic members includes a receiving recess to selectively receive one of the first and second positioning members to position the second telescopic member at one of the first position and the second position in the longitudinal direction with respect to the first telescopic member, and
the switch unit is provided to the receiving recess.

22. The height adjustable seatpost asse

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Shirai Toyoto

Classifications

• B62K19/36

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

• 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