A SADDLE ARRANGEMENT FOR A BICYCLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a saddle arrangement for a bicycle.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The Inventor is aware of conventional bicycle saddles in the form of one- piece elongate, square or triangular-shaped saddles. These saddles, in use, are accommodated at least partially between a cyclist's legs, with some of all of the cyclist's weight being supported by his/her perineum.

The Inventor has found that these saddles can cause discomfort and in some cases can even damage the perineum. The Inventor thus desires a saddle for a bicycle which alleviates these problems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention provides a saddle arrangement for a bicycle, the saddle arrangement including: a mounting member attached or attachable to a bicycle frame; a seat, at least part of which is pivotally displaceable in use relative to the mounting member about a transverse pivot axis between a rest position and a displaced position; and bias means configured to urge the at least part of the seat towards its rest position.

The seat may include a pair of support members displaceably mounted or mountable, in a side-by-side arrangement, to the mounting member.

The support members may be independently displaceable about the pivot axis.

Thus, the support members form a seat portion of the saddle arrangement on which a cyclist may be seated. The respective support members, in use, may

accommodate a cyclist's individual buttocks in register with the ischial tuberosities or "sit bones", thus avoiding the transmission of load through the perineum altogether.

The support members may be in the form of support plates which may be generally disc-shaped and may further be customised to suit the preferences of the particular cyclist.

The saddle arrangement may include a connection element which connects the support members to the mounting member. There may be a common connection element for both support members or individual connection elements for each support member.

The support members may be removably connectable to the connection element, the saddle arrangement including retaining means, such as a pair of clips, adjustable slides, or the like, to retain the support members on, and to permit selective removal from, the connection element.

In one example embodiment, the connection element may be in the form of an elongate axle or spindle on which the support members are mounted or mountable, the axle being fixed, in use, to the mounting member and extending transversely relative to the bicycle frame. It is to be understood that the bicycle frame may include a saddle post and that the saddle arrangement may be connected to the saddle post.

The connection element may in the form of an elongate axle on which the support members are mounted or mountable, the axle being fixed, in use, to the mounting member and extending transversely relative to the bicycle frame. The axle may be rigid defining the pivot axis co-axially therewith, with the support members being rotatably mounted or mountable to opposite ends of the axle for pivoting about the pivot axis.

Instead, the connection element may be resiliently deformable to permit displacement of the support members relative to the mounting member.

The bias means may include a torsion spring having a high compliance such that the support members are permitted to tilt with little resistance during a cyclist's pedal revolution

It is to be understood that during the pedal revolution, the inclination of the cyclist's buttocks and upper legs varies. Thus, the support members may tilt to match the inclination of the cyclist's buttocks.

The bias means may adjustable so that the rest-orientation can be varied depending on cyclist preferences. Further, the bias means may be configured to bias the support members in a generally recumbent rest-orientation.

The support members may include respective bearings (e.g. sleeve or roller bearings) mounted to their undersides for connection to the axle. Each support member may be connected to the sleeve by an adjustable clip or clamp or the sleeve may be integral with the support member.

The lateral spacing between the support members, and hence the effective width of the seat, may be adjustable.

The mounting member may be in the form of a mounting frame for attachment to the bicycle frame. The mounting frame may be longitudinally adjustable relative to the bicycle frame.

The support members may include respective cushions or other resilient padding on top surfaces thereof.

The seat arrangement may include a horn arrangement connected or connectable to the mounting member such that the horn projects forwardly from the mounting member between the support members. The horn arrangement may be selectively removeable.

The components (e.g. support members, axle, and torsion springs) may be modular, thus allowing for removal and replacement of a particular component if it fails or if a more suitable replacement is desired.

The invention extends to a saddle arrangement for a bicycle, the saddle arrangement including: a mounting member attached or attachable to a bicycle frame; and a seat, at least part of which is pivotally displaceable in use relative to the mounting member about a transverse pivot axis between a rest position and a displaced position, the seat including a pair of support members displaceably mounted or mountable, in a side-by-side arrangement, to the mounting member.

The invention extends further to a kit from which a saddle arrangement as defined above can be constructed.

The invention extends still further to a bicycle having attached thereto a saddle arrangement as defined above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional exploded view of a saddle arrangement in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the saddle arrangement of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a top plan view of the saddle arrangement of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows a side elevational view of the saddle arrangement of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 shows a bottom plan view of a horn forming part of the saddle arrangement of Figure 1 ; and

Figures 6a - 6d show schematic views of a cyclist seated on the saddle arrangement of Figure 1 in various stages of a pedal revolution.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a saddle arrangement in accordance with the invention. The saddle arrangement 10 includes a pair of support members in the form of support plates 12. Each support plate 12 comprises a metal disc or plate 12.2 for support and rigidity with a matched cushion 12.1 (e.g. a rubber layer) for cushioning and/or non-slip properties adhered to a top surface of the metal disc 12.2. The disc 12.2 could be formed of any suitable material, e.g. by being fabricated, cast, moulded or the like.

Each support plate 12 defines on an underside thereof a sleeve 20 for mounting each support plate 12 pivotally to opposite ends of an axle or spindle 18. The support plates 12 are thus mounted to pivot or tilt about a pivot axis 18.1 of the axle 18. If desired, the sleeve 20 may incorporate a bearing.

The sleeves 20 may be removably mounted to the axle 18 such that the support plates 12 can be removed when desired by sliding the sleeves 20 axially outwardly off the axle 18. To this end, each support plate 12 includes retaining means 20.1 operable to prohibit axial movement of the associated sleeve 20 (and hence the support plate 12) during use. Each retaining means 20.1 in this example is in the form of a clamp and includes a threaded shank receivable within a matched threaded socket. Screwing displacement of the shank changes dimensions of a channel defined by the sleeve 20, thereby to clamp or release the sleeve 20 to or from the axle 18.

The saddle arrangement 10 includes a mounting member in the form of a mounting frame 14 which defines a cylindrical central sleeve 16 for accommodating the axle 18 such that end portions of the axle 18 project laterally from the central sleeve 16 in opposite directions. The axle 18 is fixed (e.g. welded, keyed or screwed) to the central sleeve 16. A bias means, in the form of a torsion spring 22, is disposed about the axle 18 between the sleeve 20 of each support plate 12 and the central sleeve 16. The torsion springs 22 biases the respective support plates 12 in a particular inclination or rest-orientation (typically recumbent) but have a relatively high compliance and thus provide little resistance to the pivoting or tilting of the support plates 12. Although not illustrated, the axle 18 can be in two halves, one projecting from either side of the

sleeve 16 or the axle 18 and sleeve 16 can be cast or manufactured as a single unit. Also, if desired, the bias means may be housed with the axle 18, instead of around it.

The support plates 12 are thus arranged side-by-side in use in a direction generally transverse to the fore-and-aft direction of a bicycle frame (a portion of which is indicated by reference numeral 30) to which the saddle arrangement 10 is attached. It will be noted that the support frame 30 includes a saddle post. The support plates 12 are configured to accommodate the buttocks (in register with respective ischial tuberosities or "sit bones") of a cyclist while avoiding contact with the cyclist's perineum altogether.

It is to be understood that, by using the clips or other retaining means, the support plates 12 may easily be removed, for example if they are damaged or are ill- suited to the particular cyclist. Different support plates (e.g. being newer, bigger, smaller, concave, higher, lower, spaced further apart or closer together, etc) can then be mounted to the axle 18. In order to adjust the lateral spacing between the support plates 12, spacers (not illustrated) can be mounted on the axle 18.

The mounting frame 14 provides for attachment of the saddle arrangement 10 to an existing bicycle frame 30 by use of a clamp 31 . The mounting frame 14 allows for limited longitudinal displacement of the saddle arrangement 10 prior to attachment to the bicycle frame 30 so that the longitudinal positioning of the support plates 12 is adjustable. Similarly, the saddle arrangement 10 is mounted on a saddle support post forming part of the frame to 30 in a manner which permits a degree of adjustment of the height of the saddle arrangement 10 in the manner of a conventional saddle.

Referring now also to Figure 5, the saddle arrangement optionally includes a horn arrangement 50. The horn arrangement 50 includes an elongated padded horn member 52 fastened to a mounting member in the form of a U-shaped element, with free arms 54 of the U-shaped element projecting rearwardly from the horn member 52. The mounting frame 14 includes a plurality of horn sleeves 58 for receiving the arms 54. Each arm 54 defines therein a threaded socket which may receive a threaded shank 60, such as a screw or bolt, to fix the arms 54 to the horn sleeves 58.

It will thus be noted that the horn arrangement 50 may be removed from the remainder of the saddle arrangement 10 by removing the threaded shanks 60 and sliding the horn arrangement 50 forwardly out of the horn sleeves 58 and free from the mounting frame 14.

In use, if the saddle arrangement 10 is not already fitted to a bicycle, the cyclist can remove the existing saddle (in accordance with the prior art) and fit the saddle arrangement 10 (in accordance with the invention) in its place at a desired height.

The mounting frame 14 is longitudinally adjusted relative to the bicycle frame 30 until it is in a desired position and it is then held fast in position by the clamp 31 .

In use, the cyclist mounts the bicycle and seats a respective buttock on each support plate 12. The support plates 12 are relatively freely pivotable or tiltable and because of this, they tilt to match an inclination of the cyclist's buttocks and upper legs.

Also, the support plates 12 are independently pivotable about the pivot axis 18.1 . Thus, each respective support plate 12 can tilt to match the inclination of the particular buttock which it supports.

The horn arrangement 50 may be selectively installed or removed, as desired by the cyclist.

Referring now also to Figures 6a - 6d, various inclinations of a single support plate 12 are illustrated with respect to various positions of a pedal 42 of the bicycle during a pedal revolution of the cyclist 40. As the cyclist 40 pedals, the pedal 42 revolves, with the respective figures showing the pedal 42 in a 12 o'clock position, a 3 o'clock position, a 6 o'clock position and a 9 o'clock position. As the leg of the cyclist 40 flexes and extends during a pedal revolution, the angle of the buttock varies accordingly and the support plate 12 tilts to accommodate the buttock.

It is to be appreciated that Figures 3a - 3d illustrate only one lateral half of the cyclist 40 and bicycle. The other half of the cyclist 40 will have an opposite

orientation, i.e. when the right leg is pedalling in the 3o'clock position (Figure 3b) the left leg will be pedalling in the 9o'clock position (Figure 3d). The support plates 12 thus pivot independently (typically moving in opposite directions) to accommodate the different orientations of the respective buttocks.

The Inventor believes that the invention as exemplified is advantageous because the saddle arrangement 10 has no (or very little) contact with the perineum, thus preventing or at least minimising the risk of damage to the prostate, anus, penis and/or vagina.

The saddle arrangement 10 is modular and easily configurable to suit the needs of a particular cyclist or to facilitate repair work.

The Inventor believes that the individual tilting of the support plates 12 allows for more power to be delivered from the legs during a power stroke as leg movement is less restricted than with saddles in accordance with the prior art.