Bicycle and electrical seatpost assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10676146-B2
Application number	US-201916432851-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2019
Priority date	Oct 1, 2015
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

An electrical seatpost assembly comprises a first cylinder, a second cylinder, a positioning structure, an electrical actuator, and a power supply. The second cylinder is telescopically received in 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 power supply is to supply electrical power to the electrical actuator. The power supply and the electrical actuator at least partly overlap with each other when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the telescopic direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. 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 a telescopic direction;
an electrical actuator to actuate the positioning structure in accordance with an electrical signal; and
a power supply to supply electrical power to the electrical actuator, the power supply and the electrical actuator at least partly overlapping with each other when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the telescopic direction; and
wherein the first cylinder, the second cylinder, the positioning structure, the electrical actuator, and the power supply form a single unit that is configured to be detachably attached to a bicycle frame as the single unit.

2. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the electrical actuator includes a motor.

3. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the power supply includes a battery.

4. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 3 , wherein
the battery includes a rechargeable battery.

5. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 4 , wherein
the power supply includes a charging port to receive electrical power to charge the battery.

6. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 5 , wherein
the charging port is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the one of the first cylinder and the second cylinder.

7. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 5 , wherein
the first cylinder includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end in the telescopic direction,
the second cylinder is telescopically received in the first cylinder from the first end, and
the charging port is provided at the second end of the first cylinder.

8. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first cylinder includes an internal space, and
the power supply and the electrical actuator are provided in the internal space of the first cylinder.

9. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 8 , wherein
the first cylinder includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end in the telescopic direction,
the second cylinder is telescopically received in the first cylinder from the first end, and
the power supply and the electrical actuator are provided at the second end of the first cylinder.

10. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
the power supply and the electrical actuator are provided below the positioning structure in a mounting state where the first cylinder is mounted to a bicycle frame.

11. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an attachment member provided to the one of the first cylinder and the second cylinder, wherein
the power supply and the electrical actuator are attached to the attachment member.

12. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a control substrate at least partly overlapping with at least one of the power supply and the electrical actuator when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the telescopic direction.

13. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the power supply is detachably attached to the electrical seatpost assembly.

14. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 13 , further comprising:
an electrical terminal, wherein
the power supply is detachably connected to the electrical terminal.

15. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 13 , wherein
the power supply is configured to be detachably connected to an additional electrical bicycle component to supply electrical power to an additional electrical actuator of the additional electrical bicycle component.

16. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a power receiving port to receive electrical power from an external power supply.

17. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first cylinder has a center axis extending in the telescopic direction, and
the power supply is provided radially outwardly of the electrical actuator with respect to the center axis.

18. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first cylinder has a center axis extending in the telescopic direction, and
the electrical actuator is closer to the center axis than the power supply in the direction perpendicular to the telescopic direction.

19. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first cylinder has a center axis extending in the telescopic direction.

20. The electrical seatpost assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the power supply is offset from the positioning structure in the telescopic direction.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Hara Nobukatsu
• Shirai Toyoto

Classifications

• B62M9/121

  Rear derailleurs · CPC title

• B62M9/12

  the chain, belt, or the like being laterally shiftable {, e.g. using a rear derailleur} · 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