Chairs and seats – Straddle seat – Depressed portion spaces body supporting surfaces
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-24
2001-05-01
Brown, Peter R. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Straddle seat
Depressed portion spaces body supporting surfaces
C297S178000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224151
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a bicycle saddle, and in particular to a bicycle saddle providing increased rider comfort and bodily protection.
2. Description Relative to the Prior Art
The search for a satisfactory bicycle saddle is motivated by the prevalence of seat related pelvic and perineal distress or injury suffered by both male and female cyclists. A thorough discussion of these physical problems and their relation to bicycle saddle characteristics may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,739 issued to Dodge et al. To attack these problems, the search for an improved seat extends back at least into the latter part of the 1800's, and the prior art developed over this time period discloses an abundance of saddle designs, geometries and materials aimed at alleviating the cyclist's seat induced difficulties.
One saddle feature disclosed in the prior art is the midsection being the lowest point between the rear and nose of the saddle. Such a hammock like configuration encourages the rider to slide forward settling in the low midsection, which in turn brings soft tissue areas in greater contact with this narrow area of the saddle on which most of the rider's weight is now concentrated. If the rail mounts are at the extreme ends of the saddle, all downward flexing occurs at the midsection increasing the hammock effect. The midsection may be softened with gel pads, and cut-outs made in the base of the saddle to alleviate soft tissue compression, but nothing is as soft as soft tissues, and such structural features do not adequately provide solutions to the problems.
Today cycling as a recreational and as a competitive sport has grown both in popularity and in sophistication. Today's bicycles incorporate high tech mechanical elements, and are constructed of sturdy, light weight space age materials. These bicycles provide the opportunity for long distance touring and long distance racing over routes that vary in terrain and in the physical demands made on the cyclist. However, the discomfort of presently available saddles continues to limit total enjoyment of the sport. The present invention discloses a bicycle saddle adapted for improved cyclist comfort and safety for multiple modes of cycling usage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the saddle of the present invention, the rear one third of the saddle is an elevated level platform that supports the cyclist's weight on the ischial tuberosities, while forward of the platform the saddle's surface steps down and then continuously slopes downward towards the saddle's nose. Thus the only points of the rider's anatomy in weight bearing contact with the saddle are the ischial tuberosities, as the rider's soft perineal tissue is positioned above the stepped down and downward sloping portion of the saddle. Additionally, to guard against soft tissue contact with the saddle for some riders having a lowered or forward cycling position, a groove runs from the middle of the level platform along the saddle surface to the saddle's nose. The shell of the saddle is supported by an armature rail fabricated from rigid rod, which connects the saddle to the bicycle frame. The rear of the armature is mated to the shell by means of a bridge element transversely secured to the bottom of the saddle's shell. The bridge is located at the forward edge of the elevated platform allowing the rear of the saddle to flex downwards, and resulting in better absorption of vibration and impact shock transferred up through the bicycle frame. Additionally, patterns of perforations are cut through the plastic saddle shell under the preferred location for the ischial tuberosities which center the rider in position on the platform, and allow the ischial bones greater freedom of movement as the rider pedals.
The structure of the saddle of the invention provides comfortable support while cycling up hill, down hill, as well as over level terrain. Accordingly, the rear and nose of the saddle have been ramped downward to better facilitate the transition to forward and back riding positions during sprints, ascents and descents.
REFERENCES:
patent: 605673 (1898-06-01), Hunt
patent: 5921624 (1999-07-01), Wu
patent: 6030035 (2000-02-01), Yates
patent: 6139098 (2000-10-01), Carrillo
patent: 246910 (1926-04-01), None
Brown Peter R.
Robbins Daniel
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