Chairs and seats – Straddle seat – Depressed portion spaces body supporting surfaces
Patent
1998-12-03
2000-04-04
Barfield, Anthony D.
Chairs and seats
Straddle seat
Depressed portion spaces body supporting surfaces
2972151, 29721516, B62J 100
Patent
active
060451807
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to cycle seats.
Cycle seats are often referred to as saddles and the terms cycle seat and saddles shall be used interchangeably in this specification. In addition throughout the specification, the term "pubic bones" refers to the left and right inferior rami of the pubic bones.
Broadly a cycle seat comprises a member having a rider support surface which supports the posterior of a rider and a downwardly facing seat mounting surface. In general terms the aim of the design of a cycle seat is to provide a rider support surface which stabilises the posterior of a rider while providing a relatively high level of rider comfort and also provides a low level of interference with the legs of a rider during pedalling.
Many attempts have been made to provide a cycle seat meeting these requirements but none has proved totally satisfactory. Naturally it would be advantageous if a cycle seat could be devised which was able to stabilise the lateral position of a rider's posterior while at the same time permitting the riders legs the freedom to vigorously pedal the cycle.
According to an aspect of this invention there is provided a seat for use with a cycle. The seat includes: a member having a rider support surface with a leading edge and a rear edge and an opposed seat mounting surface, for mounting to the cycle the rider support surface being substantially horizontally extending and having a pronounced centrally positioned longitudinally extending ridge formation, and support formations disposed on either side of the ridge formation, the support formations being arranged below the ridge formation, and providing support for the ischial tuberosities and surrounding soft tissue of a rider, wherein the ridge formation extends substantially the full length of the support surface between said leading edge and said rear edge, but terminates short of the perineal region of the rider so as not to interfere therewith while riding, and the rider support surface curves upwardly from the support formations to join the ridge formation. The ridge formation has an apex extending therealong and the formation is configured to extend into a region between the rider's buttocks for resisting lateral movement of the rider's pelvis during riding.
Typically the leading edge is spaced a short distance forwardly of the support formations supporting the ischial tuberosities so as not to interfere unduly with the movement of the thighs of a rider during pedalling.
Preferably the apex of the ridge formation is rounded and the leading edge of the member tapers downwardly forwardly from the rider support surface.
Advantageously the member further includes a truncated pommel portion projecting forwardly outwardly from the leading edge of the member in axial alignment with the ridge formation. Typically the pommel portion slopes downwardly towards its leading edge.
Preferably the support formations on either side of the ridge formation slope generally downwardly from the rear of the member towards the leading edge of the member, eg at an angle of 10 degrees to 20 degrees.
Preferably the rear of the member is closely spaced from the rear of the support formations for supporting the ischial tuberosities of rider.
In a particularly preferred form the member has a lateral extent extending laterally outwardly beyond the support formations for supporting the ischial tuberosities of a user and the lateral extent of the member is substantially greater than the axial or longitudinal extent of the member. Advantageously the lateral extent of the member is more than twice as great as the axial or longitudinal extent of the member from the rear of the member to the front of the pommel portion.
Preferably the member is formed from a substantially rigid material which is covered by a layer of resilient material. Typically the member is formed from a thermoplastic material such as nylon and polypropylene.
Naturally the seat mounting surface of the cycle seat will typically include mounting means, eg in the form of a bracket, for mounting the s
REFERENCES:
patent: 4572575 (1986-02-01), Golden et al.
patent: 4773705 (1988-09-01), Terranova
patent: 5011222 (1991-04-01), Yates et al.
patent: 5076642 (1991-12-01), Beylet et al.
Barfield Anthony D.
Harrodon Holdings Limited
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