Bicycle saddle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12084140-B2
Application number	US-202318464043-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2023
Priority date	Jul 22, 2019
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

A bicycle saddle includes: a base structure having a top portion; and a cushion coupled to the top portion of the base structure, the cushion including a first lateral side and a second lateral side separated by a longitudinal plane, wherein each of the first lateral side and the second lateral side includes: a first region having a first stiffness; a second region having a second stiffness that is less than the first stiffness; and a third region having a third stiffness that is less than the second stiffness, wherein a perimeter of the second region is at least 75% enclosed within the first region, and wherein a perimeter of the third region is at least 75% enclosed within the second region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle saddle comprising:
a cushion comprising a resilient material that forms three-dimensional lattice structures, the three-dimensional lattice structures defining a plurality of regions that each have stiffness characteristics,
wherein the plurality of regions comprises at least a first region and a second region, the first region comprising a first stiffness and the second region comprising a second stiffness,
wherein the second stiffness is lower stiffness than the first stiffness,
wherein the plurality of regions are configured such that, when considered as projections onto a lateral plane:
the first region encompasses a first surface area;
the second region encompasses a second surface area that is different than the first surface area; and
at least a portion of the second region is positioned at a widest part of the bicycle saddle; and

a base structure that supports the cushion and is configured to be attached to a bicycle frame.

2. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of regions are further configured such that, when considered as projections onto the lateral plane, at least a portion of the first region is positioned at the widest part of the bicycle saddle.

3. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the second stiffness is no greater than 75% of the first stiffness.

4. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the first surface area is larger than the second surface area.

5. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the second surface area is at least 750 mm 2 .

6. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the second surface area is at least 1,000 mm 2 .

7. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of regions are further configured such that, when considered as projections onto the lateral plane, the first region comprises a first perimeter, the second region comprises a second perimeter, and at least a portion of the first perimeter is shared with the second perimeter.

8. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the resilient material comprises polyurethane.

9. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the base structure comprises a pair of rails for attaching the base structure to the bicycle frame.

10. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional lattice structures comprise a plurality of struts arranged in a variety of directions to form a plurality of interconnected cells.

11. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein a top of the cushion comprises a plurality of holes therethrough.

12. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of regions further comprises a third region comprising a third stiffness that is different than the first stiffness and the second stiffness.

13. The bicycle saddle of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of regions are further configured such that, when considered as projections onto the lateral plane, the third region encompasses a third surface area that is different than the first surface area and the second surface area.

14. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein each of the first stiffness and the second stiffness is defined as an average stiffness as measured normal to the lateral plane at uniformly spaced locations across a corresponding region of the first region and the second region, using a durometer having a 0.508 centimeter spherical diameter indenter.

15. The bicycle saddle of claim 14 , wherein adjacent uniformly spaced locations of the uniformly spaced locations are located 10 millimeters apart from each other.

16. The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the lateral plane is oriented such that one of:
the lateral plane is coincident with a highest point of a nose portion of the cushion and a highest point of a rear portion of the cushion, or
the lateral plane is parallel to two rail axes, each of the two rail axes being defined by a mounting portion of a rail of the base structure.

17. A bicycle saddle comprising:
a cushion comprising a resilient material that forms three-dimensional lattice structures, the three-dimensional lattice structures defining a plurality of regions that each have stiffness characteristics,
wherein the plurality of regions comprises at least a first region and a second region, the first region comprising a first stiffness and the second region comprising a second stiffness,
wherein the second stiffness is lower stiffness than the first stiffness,
wherein the plurality of regions are configured such that, when considered as projections onto a lateral plane:
the first region encompasses a first surface area;
the second region encompasses a second surface area that is different than the first surface area; and
at least a portion of the second region is positioned at a widest part of the bicycle saddle; and

a base structure that supports the cushion and is configured to be attached to a bicycle frame,
wherein the lateral plane is oriented such that one of:
the lateral plane is coincident with a highest point of a nose portion of the cushion and a highest point of a rear portion of the cushion, or
the lateral plane is parallel to two rail axes, each of the two rail axes being defined by a mounting portion of a rail of the base structure,

wherein each of the first stiffness and the second stiffness is defined as an average stiffness as measured normal to the lateral plane at uniformly spaced locations across a corresponding region of the first region and the second region, using a durometer having a 0.508 centimeter spherical diameter indenter, and
wherein adjacent uniformly spaced locations of the uniformly spaced locations are located 10 millimeters apart from each other.

18. The bicycle saddle of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of regions are further configured such that, when considered as projections onto the lateral plane, at least a portion of the first region is positioned at the widest part of the bicycle saddle.

19. The bicycle saddle of claim 17 , wherein the second stiffness is no greater than 75% of the first stiffness, and wherein the second surface area is at least 750 mm 2 .

20. The bicycle saddle of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of regions are further configured such that, when considered as projections onto the lateral plane, the first region comprises a first perimeter, the second region comprises a second perimeter, and at least a portion of the first perimeter is shared with the second perimeter.

Assignees

• Specialized Bicycle Components Inc

Inventors

• Primeaux Philip Alan
• Getter Garrett Yale Davis
• Yu Christopher

Classifications

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B62J1/22

  Covers with built-in paddings · CPC title

• B62J1/007

  Saddles with specific anatomical adaptations · CPC title

• B62J1/002 Primary

  Saddles having a seating area with a central cavity or depression · CPC title