BACKGROUND OF THE I NVENTION

The present invention relates to bicycles, and more particularly to bicycle seats. Bicycle riding on a conventional seat is a pain in the seat, causing urogenital friction. This reality has discouraged many people from riding a bike.

Many contraptions for bicycle seats have been tried, yet none seem to offer a solution for relieving rider discomfort. The problem lies in the momentum that is lost when a cyclist tries to throw the weight of their upper body in order to contribute to the effort applied by the cyclist's leg against the pedal. The forces applied by the cyclist encounters resistance from the body's stationary midsection in not only non- cooperating but also interrupts this momentum continuum intended to reach the limb in question.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved bicycle seat that moves in synchrony with the upper and lower body as the rider pedals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the of the present invention, a bicycle seat assembly includes: a seat having an upper surface configured to support the buttocks of a cyclist; a horizontal pivot assembly operatively coupled to a bottom surface of the seat for rotation of the seat about a longitudinal centerline of the bicycle; a bracket assembly operatively connected between the horizontal pivot assembly and a post; wherein the post is adapted to connect the bicycle seat assembly to the bicycle. The horizontal pivot assembly may further include a pivot shaft attached at a fore and an aft end thereof to the bracket assembly; a distended portion extending from a bottom portion of the seat having a hole defined therein that extends along a longitudinal centerline of the distended portion; with the pivot shaft received through the hole. In some embodiments, the horizontal pivot assembly includes a bearing disposed to support the pivot shaft for rotational movement within the hole and the bearing may be a roller bearing. One or more stops may be configured to limit a left and a right rotation of the seat around the shaft. A biasing means may also be included to urge the seat to a neutral position. In other aspects of the invention, the bicycle seat assembly may also be provided with a vertical pivot assembly that is operatively coupled between the seat and the horizontal pivot assembly for rotational movement of the seat about a vertical axis. The vertical pivot assembly may include a pivot pin extending from the bottom surface of the seat; and a pivot plate having an aperture adapted to receive the pivot pin. As with the longitudinal pivot assembly, the vertical pivot assembly may include a pivot stop extending from the bottom surface of the seat; and an arcuate slot formed in the pivot plate adapted to receive the pivot stop. In some embodiments, a seat retainer is coupled to the pivot stop to retain the seat on the pivot plate. The vertical pivot assembly may further include a pivot disk supported in the pivot plate via a bearing, wherein the aperture is defined in the pivot disk. A bias mechanism may be include to urge the seat in a neutral condition about the vertical axis. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is an overhead perspective view of an embodiment of a bicycle seat assembly of the present invention applied to a bicycle seat post.

Fig. 2 is an overhead perspective view of the bicycle seat embodiment of Fig.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the bicycle seat embodiment of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the bicycle seat assembly of Fig. 1 . Fig. 5 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the bicycle seat assembly of

1 .

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a pivot shaft and roller of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is an assembled view of the pivot shaft of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side perspective view of another embodiment of a bicycle seat assembly of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation view of yet another embodiment of a bicycle seat assembly in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 10 is cross-sectional view of a socket and ball assembly in accordance with the embodiment of Fig. 9. Fig. 1 1 is a front perspective view of a collar in accordance with the embodiment of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of a post and ball assembly in accordance the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE I NVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide a bicycle seat that provides for pivotal movement of a bicycle seat to accommodate for the smooth application of pedaling forces by a cyclist.

The seat can be made to move forward and back or side to side.

The present invention was made after a lifetime of observation of how cyclists shift their body as they pedal. Pedaling is about shifting the body side to side in a rolling fashion and the seat should likewise mimic this movement and eliminate the friction in the cyclist's groin and seat area.

In one embodiment shown in reference to Figs. 1 -5, a bicycle seat assembly

10 is made of three primary components: a seat portion 12; a horizontal pivot assembly 20 that permits rotation of the seat portion 12 substantially about a longitudinal axis L of the bicycle 5; and a post assembly 30 (Fig. 4) to operatively attach the seat assembly 10 to the bicycle 5. In a preferred embodiment, shown in reference to Figs. 1 -5, the bicycle seat assembly 10 may also include a vertical pivot assembly 40 (Fig. 3) that permits the seat portion12 to pivot about a substantially vertical axis V (Fig. 1 ). Each embodiment of the seat assembly 10 may also include an elastic, elastomeric, or spring bias centering mechanism configured to return the seat to a neutral position when the rider is not seated upon the assembly.

As shown in reference to Fig. 1 , the seat portion 12 of the preferred embodiment may pivot substantially about the longitudinal axis L of the bicycle and the substantially vertical axis V of the bicycle. As will be appreciated by those familiar with bicycle seats, the exact alignment of the longitudinal and vertical axes of rotation will vary based upon the bicycle's dimensions and orientation of its components, such as wheel diameter, fork lengths, handle bar height, pedal length and position. The rotational movement of the seat assembly will be influenced by the cyclist's movement during pedaling.

As seen in reference to Figs. 2 and 5, the preferred embodiment of the seat assembly 10 will have the seat portion 12 mounted to a vertical pivot assembly 40 (Fig. 3). The seat portion 12 has a top surface and a bottom surface. The vertical pivot assembly 40 includes a pivot post 14 (Fig. 5) that is located in the bottom surface of the seat portion 12 at a desired pivot point, preferably centered with respect to the lateral aspects of the seat portion 12 and is positioned along the longitudinal length of the portion seat 12. The pivot post 14 is adapted to be received in a pivot aperture 42 defined in an upper surface of a pivot plate 44 (Fig. 3), which are also part of the vertical pivot assembly. The pivot aperture 42 may be formed in a pivot disk 46 that is carried in - and is part of - the pivot plate 44 via a bearing 48.

In some embodiments, at least one pivot stop 16 (Fig. 4) extends from the bottom surface of the seat 12. The pivot stop 16 is adapted to be received in an arcuate slot 50 (Fig. 4) formed in the top surface of the pivot plate 44. The arcuate slot 50 has a first end and a second end that limits the rotation of the seat 12 when the pivot stop 16 engages the ends. A seat retainer 18 may engage with the pivot stop 16 to retain the seat 12 on the pivot plate 44.

In reference to Fig 3-7, the horizontal pivot assembly 20 includes a pivot shaft 22. A forward end and an aft end of the pivot shaft 22 are mounted to a bracket assembly 32 operatively coupled to the post assembly 30. The forward end and the aft end of the pivot shaft 22 may have a bore 24 (Figs. 6 and 7) extending through the lateral sides of the pivot shaft 22 to receive a fastener, such as a bolt, screw, rivet, or pin, to attach the shaft to the bracket assembly 32. The pivot shaft 22 is also provided with a bearing 26, which may be a roller bearing, or the like to support rotation of the vertical pivot assembly 40 about the pivot shaft 22. The shaft 22 may also include a longitudinal slot 28 to retain the roller bearing 26. A lower portion of the vertical pivot assembly 40 includes a distended portion52, which may extend along the longitudinal length of the vertical pivot assembly 40 or may define a plurality of lobes or collars to support the vertical pivot assembly 40 on the shaft. The distended portion 52 has a hole extending therethrough to receive the pivot shaft 22 and the roller bearing 26. The distended portion 52 may also include a lateral stop 54 positioned to engage with the bracket assembly 32 when reaching a left and a right limit (clockwise-anticlockwise) of rotation about the longitudinal centerline of the bicycle 5. The lateral stop 54 may also be formed as a progressively compressible or resilient member to provide for centering of the seat 12 in a neutral position.

In further reference to Fig. 5, the bracket assembly 32 is operatively coupled (connected) to a seat post tube 34 (can also be referred to as a post) of the post assembly 30 via a coupling 36 (coupling portion of the bracket assembly). The coupling 36 may be a weld, or a conventional bicycle seat connector that permits adjustment for rotational alignment of the seat portion 12 on the post 34 as well as a fore and aft tilt adjustment of the seat assembly 10. In certain embodiments, the coupling 36 may also permit adjustments for longitudinal positioning of the seat 12 on the post 34.

An alternative embodiment of the seat assembly 10 may be seen in reference to Fig. 8. In this alternative embodiment, the seat assembly 10 does not include the vertical pivot assembly 40 and the lower portion of the seat assembly 10 is formed with a distended portion 50 to retain the bearing assembly 48.

The components of the vertical pivot assembly 40 may be formed from any suitable material, such as light weight high strength metals, carbon fiber, or composites. The pivot stops 16 may be formed from similar materials, or may be formed of an elastomeric or resilient material so as to cushion the plate 44 stoppage as the limits of rotation are reached.

The seat portion 12 may be formed in any desirable shape according to a cyclist's comfort preference. However, because the seat portions 12 of the present invention is able to pivot to accommodate for the deflection of the cyclist's hips and legs during pedaling, the surface area of the seat 12 may be formed substantially wider than that of a conventional bicycle seat. The seat portions 12 may be formed with the upper surface and lower surface and a substantially hollow interior. The upper surface may have a plurality of perforations to permit ventilation. The upper surface may also be formed such that it may flex and absorb impacts the rider may encounter along a trail or roadway. Because the seat assembly 10 of the present invention permits greater support to a cyclist's buttocks, the forward end of the seat 12 may be substantially cut away so as to avoid the pressure experienced on the cyclist's urogenital region of conventional bicycle seats. The seat portion 12 may also be provided with an aft stop rail 56 to support an aft aspect of the cyclist buttocks.

Fig. 9 shows another embodiment of a bicycle seat assembly 60 in accordance with the present invention. The bicycle seat assembly 60 includes a seat and socket portion 62 and a ball and post portion 64. The seat and socket portion 62 includes seat 82 that has an upper surface 200 configured to support the buttocks of a cyclist and also has a bottom surface 202. The seat 82 can also be referred to as a seat portion.

The ball and post portion 64 comprises a post 66, a neck 68, a bracket 76 and a ball 70. In the present embodiment, the ball 70, the neck 68 and the bracket 76 can be made as a single cast steel element with the ball 70 and the neck 68 being hollow to avoid excessive weight. The neck 68 includes a series ribs 72 to fit inside grooves defined by the post 66. That is, the post 66 is configured and sized to receive the neck 68. Further, the post 66 is configured to receive and hold the ribs 72 when the ribs 72 are aligned with the grooves 74 and the post 66 and neck 68 are pushed against each other.

The bracket 76 has a pair of bearings 78 to keep seat from tilting forward or back and to allow only sideway rolling and horizontal rotation. The seat and socket portion 62 has a socket assembly 80 that comprises a socket 90, a collar 88, a seat 82 and connecting members 84 that connect the seat 82 to the socket 90. The socket 90 can be secured to the seat 82 through any suitable means. In some embodiments, the socket 90, the seat 82 and the connecting members 84 can be manufactured as a single element. An aft stop rail 86 is secured to the seat 82 in order to support an aft aspect of the cyclist buttocks. The socket assembly 80 comprises the collar 88 and the socket 90, which are configured to be secured to each other through any suitable means. As an example, in the present embodiment, the collar 88 is a threaded collar and the socket 90 is a threaded socket. The threads on the threaded collar 88 are outer threads and the threads on the threaded socket 90 are inner threads. However, this need not be the case. That is, without departing from the scope of the invention, the threaded collar could have inner threads and the threaded socket could have outer threads.

The socket assembly 80 is rotationally coupled to the ball 70 and the seat and socket portion 62 can rotate about two axes, the first axis being axis 92 (horizontal axis or longitudinal axis or longitudinal centerline of the bicycle) and the second axis being axis 94. As such, the socket assembly 80 can be said to be part of a horizontal pivot assembly as well as a part of a vertical pivot assembly.

The bracket 76, the neck 68 and the ball 70 connect, to the post 66, the elements (e.g. the socket assembly 80) that are pivotally connected to the ball 70. The bracket 76, the neck 68 and the ball 70 can be referred to as a bracket assembly.

The bicycle seat assembly 60 can be configured to receive a locking mechanism to prevent any rotation until after the cyclist sits on the bicycle seat assembly and is ready to pedal. Such a locking mechanism can be in the form of a locking pin and a hole in the socket 90 and the ball 70. The locking pin is fitted the hole to lock the socket 90 to the ball 70. When the locking pin is removed, the bicycle seat assembly 10 is free to rotate.

Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the bracket 76. The bearings 78 are shown, diametrically opposed across the (hollow) ball 70. The bracket 76 defines a slot 98. The seat and socket portion 62 comprises a post 100 (Fig. 9) secured thereto and extending downwardly. When the seat and socket portion 62 is secured to the ball 70, the post 100 fits through the slot 98. The slot 98 and post 100 prevent the seat and socket portion 62 from rotating about the axis 94 beyond an angular range defined by the slot edges 102. The post 100 can be secured to the rest of the seat and socket assembly 62 through any suitable means. For example, the post 100 can have threads formed thereon and the rest of the seat and socket assembly 62 can have a threaded aperture in which the post 100 can be screwed. Alternatively, as non-limiting examples, any suitable snap-fit mechanism or any type of key and lock retaining mechanism can be used.

The rotation of the seat and socket portion 62 about the axis 92 in one angular direction is limited by the seat and socket assembly 92 (the collar 88) coming in contact with (pushing against) the bracket 76. In the opposite angular direction, the rotation of the seat and socket portion 62 about the axis 92 is also limited by the socket assembly (the collar 88) coming in contact with the bracket 76.

The bracket assembly (the bracket 76, the neck 68 and the ball 70) connects the socket assembly 80 to the post 66. As the socket assembly is part of the aforementioned horizontal pivot assembly and of the vertical pivot assembly, it can be said that the bracket assembly connect the horizontal pivot assembly to the post.

In the present embodiment, the collar 88 is a split collar having a first portion 104 and a second portion 106, as shown in Figure 1 1 . To connect the seat and socket assembly 62 to the ball 70, one places the first portion 104 and the second portion 106 next to each other and below the equator of the ball 70. Following this, the socket 90, without the post, 100 is lowered onto the ball 70 and the socket 90 is rotated with respect to the collar 88 in order to screw the socket 90 onto the collar 88. The post 100 can subsequently be installed.

The split collar can be manufactured by first making a threaded collar and then cutting it in the two portions 104 and 106. When cutting the collar 88 with a saw, the kerf of the saw will remove material between the portions 104 and 106. As such, abutting the portions 104 and 106 against each other will not result in a truly circular collar and is unlikely to allow proper fastening of the collar 88 to the socket 90. To remedy the situation, a gasket having a thickness equal to the kerf of the saw blade can be inserted at each junction of the portions 104 and 105.

As shown in Fig. 1 1 , the collar 88 defines a portion 300 of a cupola. The inner surface of the socket 90 defines the remainder of the cupola, which is configured to rotate about the ball 70.

Figure 12 shows a side view of another embodiment of a post and ball assembly 1 10. In this embodiment, a bracket 1 12, a ball 1 14 and a neck 1 16 are made as a single cast steel element and are secured to a post 1 18 by inserting the neck 1 16 into the post. Alternatively, and as would be understood by a worker skilled in the art, the ball, neck and bracket can be manufactured separately and then assembled through any suitable process (e.g. welding).

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.