Bicycle saddle with multi-density zones

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020231237-A1
Application number	US-202016841295-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 6, 2020
Priority date	Dec 20, 2017
Publication date	Jul 23, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bicycle saddle comprising a base, a rear portion positioned on the base, and a front portion positioned on the base. The rear portion supports the sit bones of the rider and includes a first resilient material having a first hardness (e.g., 45-55 Shore C), and the front portion supports the genitalia of the rider and includes a second resilient material having a second hardness (e.g., 35-45 Shore C) less than the first hardness. The front portion includes side portions having a first thickness above a highest part of the side sections, and the side portions are separated by a central portion having a second thickness less than the first thickness. Preferably, a lower surface of the central portion is substantially unsupported to form a trampoline-like structure. The upper surface of the central portion can include memory foam and is substantially flush with upper surfaces of the side portions.

First claim

1 . A bicycle saddle comprising:
a resilient support having side portions for supporting sit bones of a rider, the side portions being separated by a central recess; and a central pad positioned in the central recess between the side portions, the central pad comprising memory foam.

2 . The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the central pad has a pad hardness of 9 to 19 Shore E.

3 . The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the side portions define an upper surface of the resilient support, and wherein the central pad has an upper surface that is recessed relative to the upper surface of the resilient support.

4 . The bicycle saddle of claim 3 , wherein the upper surface of the central pad is disposed between 4-7 mm below the upper surface of the resilient support.

5 . The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the central pad has a length that is between 20% and 50% of an overall length of the bicycle saddle.

6 . The bicycle saddle of claim 5 , wherein the central pad spans a middle of the bicycle saddle.

7 . The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , wherein the resilient support comprises:
a rear portion for supporting the sit bones of the rider, the rear portion comprising a first resilient material having a first hardness; and a front portion for supporting the genitalia of the rider, the front portion comprising a second resilient material having a second hardness less than the first hardness.

8 . The bicycle saddle of claim 7 , wherein the side portions are first side portions, wherein the front portion includes second side portions having a first thickness, the second side portions being separated by a central portion having a second thickness less than half the first thickness.

9 . The bicycle saddle of claim 8 , wherein a lower surface of the central portion is substantially unsupported.

10 . The bicycle saddle of claim 8 , wherein the central pad has a first upper surface, and the central portion has a second upper surface, wherein a transition surface extends between the first upper surface and the second upper surface.

11 . The bicycle saddle of claim 10 , wherein the transition surface extends perpendicular to the first upper surface.

12 . The bicycle saddle of claim 10 , wherein the transition surface extends perpendicular to the second upper surface.

13 . The bicycle saddle of claim 10 , wherein the transition surface extends at 45 degrees relative to the first upper surface and to the second upper surface.

14 . The bicycle saddle of claim 7 , wherein the rear portion includes the side portions and the central recess, and wherein the central recess is a rear recess in the bicycle saddle.

15 . The bicycle saddle of claim 7 , wherein the first hardness is at least 45 Shore C and the second hardness is less than 45 Shore C.

16 . The bicycle saddle of claim 1 , further comprising a base to support the resilient support and the central pad.

17 . The bicycle saddle of claim 16 , wherein the base defines a cutout, and wherein the bicycle saddle includes a pad tray supported on the base and positioned in the cutout.

18 . The bicycle saddle of claim 17 , wherein the central pad has a bottom surface, and wherein the bottom surface is supported by the pad tray.

19 . The bicycle saddle of claim 17 , wherein the pad tray includes a bottom, sidewalls, and flanges.

20 . The bicycle saddle of claim 17 , wherein base is comprised of a first material and the pad tray is comprised of a second material that is more resilient than the first material of the base.

Assignees

• Specialized Bicycle Components Inc

Inventors

• Pruitt Andrew Lee
• Walton Jason Lee
• Koehn Jacqueline Kimberly

Classifications

• B62J1/007 Primary

  Saddles with specific anatomical adaptations · CPC title

• B62J1/002

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

• B62J1/26

  Paddings involving other resilient material, e.g. sponge rubber with inflatable compartments · CPC title

• B62J1/005

  Saddles having a seating area with multiple separate weight bearing surfaces · CPC title