Bicycle saddle with vibration isolators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11485437-B2
Application number	US-202117156041-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2021
Priority date	Nov 19, 2020
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

A saddle for a bicycle can be configured to provide improved vibration isolation performance. The saddle can include a saddle body. The saddle body can include a front region and a rear region. The saddle can include a plurality of isolators. The plurality of isolators can be operatively connected to the saddle body in the rear region. The plurality of isolators can include a stack of a plurality of conical springs. The saddle can include a rail member. The rail member can be operatively connected to the plurality of isolators. Further, the rail member can be operatively connected to the saddle body in the front region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle saddle comprising:
a saddle body, the saddle body including a front region and a rear region;
a plurality of isolators operatively connected to the saddle body in the rear region, each of the plurality of isolators including a stack of a plurality of conical springs, the stack of the plurality of conical springs not including a central shaft; and
a rail member, the rail member being operatively connected to the plurality of isolators, the rail member being operatively connected to the saddle body in the front region.

2. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the rail member is operatively connected to the saddle body in the front region by a revolute connection.

3. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of isolators are configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile including a region of quasi-zero stiffness.

4. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the stack of the plurality of conical springs is arranged in an alternating pattern, wherein each of the plurality of conical springs includes an outer diameter body portion and an inner diameter body portion, and wherein, for each of the plurality of conical springs, at least one of:
the outer diameter body portion faces the outer diameter body portion of a neighboring one of the plurality of conical springs; and
the inner diameter body portion faces the inner diameter body portion of a neighboring one of the plurality of conical springs.

5. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the stack of the plurality of conical springs does not include an outer sleeve.

6. The bicycle saddle of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of isolators includes a plurality of inner spacers, and wherein the inner spacers separate the inner diameter body portion of a neighboring pair of the conical springs.

7. The bicycle saddle of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of inner spacers are configured as locking spacers, whereby the plurality of inner spacers lockingly engage the inner diameter body portion of the neighboring pair of the conical springs.

8. The bicycle saddle of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of inner spacers are configured as non-locking spacers.

9. The bicycle saddle of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of isolators includes a plurality of outer spacers, and wherein the outer spacers separate the outer diameter body portion of a neighboring pair of the conical springs.

10. The bicycle saddle of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of outer spacers are configured as locking spacers, whereby the plurality of outer spacers lockingly engage the outer diameter body portion of the neighboring pair of the conical springs.

11. The bicycle saddle of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of outer spacers are configured as non-locking spacers.

12. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of isolators is configured to allow the stack of the plurality of conical springs to become inverted.

13. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein each of the isolators includes a first endcap and a second endcap, wherein the first endcap is operatively connected to a first outermost conical spring at a first end of the stack of the plurality of conical springs, and wherein the second endcap is operatively connected to a second outermost conical spring at a second end of the stack of the plurality of conical springs.

14. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein each of the conical springs includes a thickness and a height, and wherein a ratio of height to the thickness is about 1.41.

15. A bicycle saddle comprising:
a saddle body, the saddle body including a front region and a rear region;
a plurality of isolators operatively connected to the saddle body in the rear region, the plurality of isolators being configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile including a region of quasi-zero stiffness, each of the plurality of isolators including a stack of a plurality of conical springs, the stack of the plurality of conical springs not including a central shaft, each of the plurality of isolators including a plurality of spacers, each of the spacers separating a neighboring pair of the plurality of conical springs; and
a rail member, the rail member being operatively connected to the plurality of isolators, the rail member being operatively connected to the saddle body in the front region.

16. The bicycle saddle of claim 15 , wherein each of the conical springs includes a thickness and a height, and wherein a ratio of height to the thickness is about 1.41.

17. The bicycle saddle of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of isolators is configured to allow the stack of a plurality of the conical springs to become inverted.

18. The bicycle saddle of claim 15 , wherein the stack of the plurality of conical springs does not include an outer sleeve.

19. The bicycle saddle of claim 15 , wherein the rail member is operatively connected to the saddle body in the front region by a revolute connection.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Gilmore Paul A
• Gandhi Umesh N
• Tsuruta Ryohei
• Pinkelman Brian J

Classifications

• B62J1/02 Primary

  Saddles resiliently mounted on the frame; Equipment therefor, e.g. springs · CPC title

• B62J1/08

  Frames for saddles; Connections between saddle frames and seat pillars; Seat pillars (attaching seat pillars to cycle frames B62K19/36) · CPC title

• B62K2201/00

  Springs used in cycle frames or parts thereof · CPC title

• B62J1/04 Primary

  Saddles capable of swinging about a horizontal pivot · CPC title