Saddle adjustment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9937971-B2
Application number	US-201715445466-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2017
Priority date	Dec 18, 2014
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

A bicycle assembly comprises a saddle adjustment assembly, the saddle adjustment assembly comprising an adjustable height saddle post, the adjustable height saddle post comprising first and second slidably coupled supports; a saddle post locking mechanism that selectively restricts sliding of the second support relative to the first support; and a saddle angle adjustment mechanism configured to couple to a bicycle saddle to enable rotation of the bicycle saddle between a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position, wherein, when the saddle post locking mechanism is in an unlocked configuration, the saddle angle adjustment mechanism enables rotation of the bicycle saddle between the first and second predetermined positions, and wherein, when the saddle post locking mechanism is in a locked configuration, the saddle angle adjustment mechanism maintains the bicycle saddle in one of the first and second predetermined positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle saddle angle adjustment assembly comprising:
a housing one of (1) coupled to and (2) integrated into a bicycle saddle post;
a saddle support configured to couple to a bicycle saddle, the saddle support rotatably coupled to the housing such that rotation of the saddle support adjusts an angle of the bicycle saddle with respect to the saddle post;
a motor comprising an output member, the output member coupled to the saddle support such that rotational motion of the output member is converted into rotational motion of the saddle support to adjust the angle of the bicycle saddle with respect to the saddle post; and
at least one switch electrically connected to the motor, wherein operation of the at least one switch controls powered rotation of the output member of the motor,
wherein the at least one switch comprises at least one of: a rider-operatable switch coupled to a bicycle handlebar, a switch coupled to the bicycle saddle post and configured to activate when the saddle post is in a predetermined configuration, and a switch configured to activate when a predetermined amount of force is applied to or removed from the bicycle saddle.

2. A bicycle assembly comprising an adjustable saddle system, the adjustable saddle system comprising:
a saddle angle adjustment mechanism configured to be coupled to a saddle post and a bicycle saddle and configured to rotate the bicycle saddle with respect to the saddle post, the saddle angle adjustment mechanism comprising:
a saddle angle sensor configured to detect a rotational position of the bicycle saddle; and
a motor configured to cause powered rotation of the saddle with respect to the saddle post; and

a saddle angle controller that controls operation of the motor to cause the powered rotation of the saddle based at least partially on a signal received from the saddle angle sensor.

3. The bicycle assembly of claim 2 , wherein the saddle angle sensor comprises an electronic sensor that generates an output proportional to a current angle of the saddle.

4. The bicycle assembly of claim 2 , wherein the saddle angle sensor comprises a limit switch that detects when the saddle is at a predetermined angle.

5. The bicycle assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a locking mechanism controlled by the saddle angle controller, wherein the locking mechanism selectively restricts rotational motion of the saddle with respect to the saddle post.

6. The bicycle assembly of claim 2 , wherein the saddle angle controller enables on-demand rotation of the saddle in response to activation of a rider-operatable switch, the on-demand rotation enabled only within a predefined range of saddle angle adjustment based on data received by the saddle angle controller from the saddle angle sensor.

7. The bicycle assembly of claim 2 , wherein the saddle post is extendable to an extended position and retractable to a retracted position, and the bicycle assembly further comprises:
a saddle post position sensor configured to detect a position of the saddle post, wherein, in response to the saddle post position sensor indicating to the saddle angle controller that the saddle post is in a predetermined position, the saddle angle controller activates the motor to cause rotation of the saddle.

8. The bicycle assembly of claim 7 , wherein the saddle post position sensor comprises an electronic sensor that generates an output proportional to a current position of the saddle post.

9. The bicycle assembly of claim 7 , wherein the saddle post position sensor comprises a limit switch that detects when the saddle post is at a predetermined position.

10. The bicycle assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
a rider presence sensor configured to detect a force of a rider applied to the bicycle saddle,
wherein the saddle angle controller is configured to activate the motor to cause rotation of the saddle based at least in part on an indication by the rider presence sensor that the bicycle saddle is not presently supporting the rider.

11. The bicycle assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
a frame orientation sensor configured to detect an angle of a frame of the bicycle assembly with respect to a riding environment,
wherein the saddle angle controller is configured to activate the motor to cause rotation of the saddle based at least in part on an indication by the frame orientation sensor that the frame is currently at or exceeding a predetermined angle with respect to the riding environment.

12. The bicycle assembly of claim 2 , further comprising the saddle post.

13. The bicycle saddle angle adjustment assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism that selectively restricts rotational motion of the saddle support with respect to the housing.

14. The bicycle saddle angle adjustment assembly of claim 1 , wherein the output member is coupled to the saddle support through a power transmission mechanism that produces a mechanical advantage.

15. The bicycle saddle angle adjustment assembly of claim 14 , wherein the power transmission mechanism comprises a worm drive comprising a worm driven by the motor output member and a gear that rotates the saddle support meshed with the worm.

16. The bicycle saddle angle adjustment assembly of claim 14 , wherein the power transmission mechanism comprises a worm driven by the motor output member and a helical rack meshed with the worm, the saddle support rotatably coupled to the helical rack, wherein linear motion of the helical rack caused by rotation of the worm causes rotation of the saddle support.

17. The bicycle saddle angle adjustment assembly of claim 14 , wherein the power transmission mechanism comprises a first bevel gear driven by the motor output member and a second bevel gear that rotates the saddle support meshed with the first bevel gear.

Assignees

• Specialized Bicycle Components Inc

Inventors

• Mcpherson Ian
• Bowers Jeffrey K

Classifications

• B62J2001/085

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

• B62K19/36

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

• B62J1/04

  Saddles capable of swinging about a horizontal pivot · CPC title

• F16B7/1418

  with a clamping collar or two split clamping rings tightened by a screw or a cammed latch member · CPC title