Dropper seatpost assembly having a cutout therein

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11433964-B2
Application number	US-202016935955-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2020
Priority date	Jul 29, 2019
Publication date	Sep 6, 2022
Grant date	Sep 6, 2022

Abstract

A dropper seatpost assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes an upper post and a lower post having a tubular geometry, the lower post telescopically coupled with the upper post to form a length adjustable seatpost. An actuator located within the length adjustable seatpost, the actuator to allow or restrict a telescopic movement of the length adjustable seatpost. The actuator including an actuator interface configured to couple with a control cable that provides input to the actuator. At least one cutout in a sidewall of the lower post, the at least one cutout to provide access to the actuator interface of the actuator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dropper seatpost assembly comprising:
an upper post;
a lower post, said lower post comprising a tubular geometry, said lower post telescopically coupled with said upper post to form a length adjustable seatpost;
an actuator located within said length adjustable seatpost, said actuator to allow or restrict a telescopic movement of said length adjustable seatpost, said actuator comprising:
an actuator interface located within said length adjustable seatpost, said actuator interface configured to couple with a control cable, said control cable to operate said actuator; and

at least one cutout in a sidewall of said lower post, the at least one cutout to provide access to the actuator interface of said actuator.

2. The dropper seatpost assembly of claim 1 , wherein said at least one cutout is located at a portion said lower post that does not move with respect to a bicycle frame when the lower post is fixedly coupled with a seat tube of said bicycle frame.

3. The dropper seatpost assembly of claim 1 , wherein said actuator and said actuator interface are located away from a bottom of said lower post, such that a portion of said lower post below said actuator and said actuator interface is trimmable without interfering with said actuator or said actuator interface.

4. The dropper seatpost assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user interface operatively coupled with said actuator interface via said control cable, said user interface to receive an input and provide said input to said actuator interface.

5. The dropper seatpost assembly of claim 4 , wherein said user interface is mounted on a handlebar, and said control cable is routed from said user interface at said handlebar internally through a bicycle frame and a seat tube and into said lower post.

6. The dropper seatpost assembly of claim 1 , wherein said at least one cutout is positioned proximal to a neutral bending axis of said lower post.

7. The dropper seatpost assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a set screw, said set screw to couple said control cable with said actuator interface, said set screw accessible through said at least one cutout.

8. The dropper seatpost assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of cutouts in said sidewall of said lower post.

9. The dropper seatpost assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
the upper post having an outer diameter (OD) smaller than an inner diameter (ID) of said lower post, to telescopically slide said upper post into said lower post.

10. The dropper seatpost assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
said upper post coupled with a saddle clamp assembly; and
said lower post comprising:
a top opening to receive said upper post;
a bottom opening to receive said control cable; and
a tubular sidewall axially extending between said top opening and said bottom opening of form said lower post, said tubular sidewall having an outer diameter (OD) and an inner diameter (ID),
said OD of said lower post smaller than an ID of a seat tube of a bicycle frame, said lower post for insertion into said seat tube.

11. A dropper seatpost assembly comprising:
an upper post configured for a saddle clamp assembly;
a lower post for insertion into a seat tube of a bicycle frame, the lower post to telescopically couple with said upper post to form a length adjustable seatpost, said lower post comprising:
a top opening to receive said upper post;
a bottom opening; and
a tubular sidewall axially extending between said top opening and said bottom opening of said lower post, said tubular sidewall having an outer diameter and an inner diameter;

an actuator located within said length adjustable seatpost, said actuator to allow or restrict a telescopic movement of said length adjustable seatpost, said actuator comprising:
an actuator interface located within said length adjustable seatpost, said actuator interface configured to couple with a control cable, said control cable to operate said actuator; and

at least one cutout in a portion of said tubular sidewall of said lower post, the at least one cutout to provide access to the actuator interface of said actuator.

12. The dropper seatpost assembly of claim 11 , wherein said at least one cutout is located at a portion said lower post that does not move with respect to said bicycle frame when the lower post is fixedly coupled with said seat tube of said bicycle frame.

13. The dropper seatpost assembly of claim 11 , wherein said actuator and said actuator interface are located away from a bottom of said lower post, such that a portion of said lower post below said actuator and said actuator interface is trimmable without interfering with said actuator or said actuator interface.

14. The dropper seatpost assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:
a user interface operatively coupled with said actuator interface via said control cable, said user interface to receive an input and provide said input to said actuator interface.

15. The dropper seatpost assembly of claim 14 , wherein said user interface is mounted on a handlebar, and said control cable is routed from said user interface at said handlebar internally through said bicycle frame and said seat tube and into said lower post.

16. The dropper seatpost assembly of claim 11 , wherein said at least one cutout is positioned proximal to a neutral bending axis of said lower post.

17. The dropper seatpost assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:
a set screw, said set screw to couple said control cable with said actuator interface, said set screw accessible through said at least one cutout.

18. An assembly comprising:
an upper post configured for a saddle clamp assembly;
a lower post for insertion into a seat tube of a bicycle frame, the lower post to telescopically couple with said upper post to form a length adjustable seatpost, said lower post comprising:
a top opening to receive said upper post;
a bottom opening; and
a tubular sidewall axially extending between said top opening and said bottom opening of said lower post, said tubular sidewall having an outer diameter and an inner diameter;

an actuator located within said length adjustable seatpost, said actuator to allow or restrict a telescopic movement of said length adjustable seatpost, said actuator comprising:
an actuator interface located within said length adjustable seatpost, said actuator interface configured to couple with a control cable, said control cable to operate said actuator; and

at least one cutout through a portion of said tubular sidewall of said lower post, the at least one cutout to provide access to the actuator interface.

19. The assembly of claim 18 , wherein said actuator and said actuator interface are located away from a bottom of said lower post, such that a portion of said lower post below said actuator and said actuator interface is trimmable without interfering with said actuator or said actuator interface.

20. The assembly of claim 18 , further comprising:
a user interface operatively connected with said actuator interface via said control cable,
said user interface to receive an input and provide said input to said actuator interface,
said user interface mounted on a handlebar, and
said control cable routed from said user interface at said handlebar internally through said bicycle frame and said seat tube and into said lower post.

Assignees

• Fox Factory Inc

Inventors

• Coaplen Joshua
• Pollock Thomas

Classifications

• B62J2001/085

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

• B62J11/13

  specially adapted for mechanical cables · 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

• B62K23/06

  Levers · CPC title

• B62K19/36

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