Chairs and seats – Straddle seat
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-24
2002-03-26
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Straddle seat
C297S202000, C297S452210
Reexamination Certificate
active
06361108
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bicycle seat assembly, and more particularly to a bicycle seat having a functional surface area to provide proper support and hygienic benefit for the rider, and yet enable the person riding the bicycle to operate the bicycle with both comfort, mobility and proper clearance in the seated pedaling mode, the seated coasting mode, and the stand-up pedaling mode.
Bicycles have been with us since the time of Leonardo da Vinci. The basic design of a chain driven bicycle is shown in Leonardo's Codex Atlanticus. The sketch showing the design was not discovered until recently, and it is interesting to note that it shows a “saddle seat”, similar to the types of bicycle seats that we have today. Also, some of the bicycles which were built and used in the 1800s were not chain driven but propelled by the rider paddling his feet on the ground. In this case the saddle was the only seat that would work because of the large excursion of both legs.
This design of the seat seems to have maintained its place, and has survived to this day as the basic design of the bicycle seat. The term “saddle” is likely an appropriate designation for this type of bicycle seat since the rider straddles the device with both legs and the “saddle” engages his or her body in load bearing relationship on the non-structural part of the body and organs between the legs. Thus, the present day saddles (i.e. bike seats) transmit the shock/pressure and the rider's weight to this non-structural area of the pelvis and fleshy area of the genitals.
It has been long known to dedicated bicycle riders that the conventional saddle seat can cause chafing, blistering, bruising and possibly injury to the cyclist. There have been various attempts in the prior art to design bicycle seats that provide greater comfort and hygienic safety. Yet there are other considerations that influence the design.
The cyclist will ride basically in three different modes. First, there is the seated pedaling mode where the buttocks of the cyclist remains in contact with the seat, while the cyclist is pedaling the bicycle. Second, there is the coasting mode where the cyclist remains seated and the feet of the cyclist are stationary, resting on the pedals. Third, there is the stand-up pedaling mode where the cyclist is pedaling to deliver increased power to the bicycle, and the buttocks of the cyclist are positioned upwardly and somewhat forwardly, without contacting the seat.
In the coasting mode, the cyclist is “taking a breather”, and the primary concern is to be sitting comfortably and securely on the seat. In the seated pedaling mode, the cyclist is still concerned about comfort and secure seating, but there is also the considerations of clearance and mobility. These four factors are interrelated. In other words the cyclist wants to feel that he is being seated securely and comfortably (not susceptible to slipping off), and yet be able to execute the pedaling stroke of the legs without encountering any surface obstruction, particularly where it might result in unwanted rubbing contact or other cause of discomfort or injury.
In the stand-up pedaling mode, with the cyclist not even being in contact with the seat, the cyclist primarily does not want to have the seat get in the way. In the stand-up pedaling mode since the person's weight is shifted from one foot to the other as the alternative right/left pedaling strokes are executed, there is lateral movement back and forth of the upper part of the bicycle relative to the cyclist, and the cyclist wants to avoid unwanted contact with the seat.
Another aspect of the feeling of being comfortable and secure is that the person wants at all times to properly centered on the bicycle seat. For the experienced cyclist this is less of a concern since he or she has already developed enough skill so as to remain properly positioned on the bicycle seat without any tactile centering. However, for the average or less experienced cyclist there is generally that desire to have some sort of “centering” or “locating” contact with the bicycle seat to ensure that the person is properly positioned.
With regard to the subject of hygienic safety, dedicated and experienced bikers have long been familiar with the “aches and pains” resulting from continuous riding of a bicycle, particularly for long distances under competitive conditions. The bikers will quite often liberally apply a Vaseline type salve to the inside areas of the thighs to alleviate the chafing (and even bleeding) that can occur in those inner areas of the thighs.
Another one of the challenges which faces the designer of a bicycle seat results from the differences in the human anatomy. A smaller person has narrower hips than a larger person. Also there are people with large, muscular thighs and buttocks, while other people are rather slim. This complicates designing a seat that can accommodate people with these different physical characteristics while still providing secure and comfortable seating arrangement, with adequate support, clearance and mobility.
To provide bicycle seats economically, it is desirable that these could to a large extent be standardized, instead of being form fitted for each person individually. Therefore, this would mean that the bicycle would have to be designed with that elusive quality of “adaptability”, without the sacrifice of the various qualities which should exist within the design. This truly does present a challenge.
To explore another problem area of the conventional saddle seat, a very important aspect which has become more prominent in more recent years is hygienic safety. It has long been suspected that the present design of bicycle seats can over a period of time result in problems of sexual impotency, and clinical data has now confirmed that this can and does occur.
To explore this issue of hygienic safety further, attention should be directed to the basic functioning of the male genitalia relative to sexual potency (or impotency). The process begins in the conscious or unconscious neurological signals which originates in the cerebral cortex and limbic systems, and which are sent to the hypothalamus and relayed down the spinal cord into the sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons of the penis. The nerve endings then release the neurotransmitters that relax the smooth inside cells lining the corporal bodies of the penis and arteries supplying blood to the penis. There are corporal bodies that are elongate members which extend the length of the penis and into the abdomen. For erection, more blood enters the corporal bodies than exits and the penis becomes rigid. The entire sequence of events from stimulus to erection can take place in a very short time period.
Many types of nerves and molecules participate in the signal transmission that culminate in the erection. The primary pathway is through autonomic nerve fibers that release molecules of nitric oxide near the smooth muscle cells of the penis. Regulation of the erection process depends on the concentration of the certain ions within the smooth muscle cells and those concentrations can be affected by other neurotransmitters.
Simply from reviewing these few aspects of the physical process of male sexuality, it is apparent that there is involved the proper blood flow, the neurological functions, and also the condition and function of the corporal bodies and other body components that relate to the erection process. At present, the medical community that is studying this area has not settled on any specific cause or combination of causes that relate impotency to the use of current saddle-type bicycle seats. However, there has developed a general consensus that the continued use of such bicycle seats over a period of time can be a source of impotency.
It has also been established that these types of problems also occur with females through the continued use of the saddle-type bicycle seat. It is believed not to be necessary to discuss the physiological consequences for females further, since the overall
Cuomo Peter M.
Hughes Robert B.
Hughes Law Firm
Vu Stephen
LandOfFree
Bicycle seat assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Bicycle seat assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bicycle seat assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2832908