Chairs and seats – Straddle seat – With cushioned top
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-25
2001-07-10
Nelson, Jr., Milton (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Straddle seat
With cushioned top
C297S202000, C297S215160
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257662
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an improved anatomical bicycle saddle and particularly relates to a saddle having a resilient component disposed between molded unitary top and bottom shells.
The comfort in bicycle riding is extremely important, particularly during long distance riding. Accordingly, many bicycle saddles have been designed to improve comfort for a rider over long periods of time.
Early seat construction materials have utilized rigid metal or plastic shells which are covered by a leather or plastic sheet material.
A number of cushions have also been designed for use between a leather or plastic sheet material and in underlying rigid metal or plastic frame or shells. These pods or cushions have been provided in an attempt to avoid or relieve pressure to the ischial bone ends of the rider's body. Further improvement to the saddle have included openings or cavities beneath such bone ends in order to prevent pressure thereto.
However, such earlier designed seats have not provided sufficient comfort for the rider, particularly when the seat is used in long distance bicycle riding. In such long distance riding, a “lounge” type seat is preferable in order to provide the ultimate end comfort for the rider.
A number of saddle cushion covers or pods have also been developed and sold in the market place which are attached on top of a conventional seat. Unfortunately, prior art designs involved multiple components which are both difficult to manufacture, not only due to the manual assembly required, for example, sewing or stitching, but the assembly of the components themselves.
The present invention provides for a comfortable “lounge” type saddle which is amenable for mass production because it includes a few components, and the structural design of the components also facilitates assembly of the saddle with minimal labor requirements.
Importantly, the saddle can eliminate any need for springs. This not only eliminates components hereinbefore used in a majority of prior art saddles, but also, because of spring elimination, even support for the rider is enabled without the necessity of accommodating for high pressure points which may be introduced through the use of springs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A bicycle saddle in accordance with the present invention includes front and rear pods with a pair of rails extending therebetween. An arched member interconnects the pods and is disposed over the rails. A cushion is disposed in the front and rear pods and over the arched member. The arched member is resilient in order to provide enhanced cushioning in a midsection of the saddle without contacting the rails. Each of the pods may include upturned edges for covering a perimeter of the cushion.
The cushion may comprise a resilient pad with a resilient component therein, and may be integrally molded. The saddle includes no separate springs and accordingly is of simple manufacture.
In another embodiment of the present invention includes a molded shell having a relatively narrow fore portion and a relatively wide aft portion. Rail means are provided and attached to the shell for enabling the saddle to be mounted on a bicycle post. A molded pad is provided and a resilient component, or material, is disposed between the shell and pad. In one embodiment of the present invention, the pad and resilient component may be molded together. In another embodiment of the present invention, the shell, pad and resilient component may be molded together. This provides for an economically manufactured bicycle saddle.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, means are provided for partially compressing the resilient component between the shell and pad in order to provide uniform cushioning effect therebetween.
More particularly, in a further embodiment, the resilient pad has an exterior wall and a hollow interior, with the exterior wall having a perimeter generally matching the pad perimeter. Preferably, the resilient component exterior wall includes accordion folds which controls and/or enhances the compressibility of the resilient component.
More preferably, the accordion folds are present in the rear portion of the exterior wall. The means for partially compressing the resilient component comprises a plurality of screws extending between the shell and the pad. More specifically, the resilient component includes a top and a bottom, which interconnect with the exterior wall and each of the shell, pad and resilient component are contoured with a longitudinal groove down the entry of the shell, pad and resilient component. The longitudinal groove may establish an opening or a hole through the saddle. This structural feature enables relief for a bicycle rider by avoiding pressure contacts with sensitive areas.
The shell includes fore and aft undercarriages and the rail means is disposed between the fore and aft undercarriages.
It is to be appreciated that the means for partially compressing the resilient component between the bottom and the top shells also provides a means for adjusting the resiliency of the resilient component between the shell and the pad. When the resilient component is compressed less, the total overall movement enabled by the gel is much greater than when the resilient component is under higher compression. Thus, the softness of the ride can be adjusted at any time by the rider by turning the plurality of screws extending the shell, pad and through the resilient component.
REFERENCES:
patent: 718850 (1903-01-01), Kruseman
patent: 797072 (1905-08-01), Perkin
patent: 5020852 (1991-06-01), Marion
patent: 5108076 (1992-04-01), Chiarella
patent: 5356205 (1994-10-01), Calvert et al.
patent: 6027166 (2000-02-01), Yates
patent: 6030035 (2000-02-01), Yates
patent: 6106059 (2000-08-01), Minkow et al.
Hackler Walter A.
Jr. Milton Nelson
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