Split saddle bicycle seat assembly

• US 10,618,583 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2018
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michel Marc
• Original Assignee: Michel Marc
• Inventors: Marc, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): White, Rodney B
• Application Number:
  US16/168,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20200130763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 297201
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/002 Saddles having a seating area with a central cavity or depression
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/005 Saddles having a seating area with multiple separate weight bearing surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/007 Saddles with specific anatomical adaptations
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/08 Frames for saddles; Connections between saddle frames and seat pillars; Seat pillars attaching seat pillars to cycle frames B62K19/36

Abstract

A split saddle bicycle seat assembly for reducing friction and fatigue in a rider'"'"'s hip joint while riding a bicycle includes a post that is insertable into a bicycle seat sleeve on a bicycle. A pair of arms is each of the arms is slidably coupled to the plate and each of the arms extends laterally away from the post in opposite directions from each other. A pair of saddles is each pivotally coupled to a respective one of the arms. Thus, each of the saddles can support a respective one of the rider'"'"'s hip joins when the rider mounts the bicycle. Each of the saddles is pivotal downwardly on the respective arm when the respective rider'"'"'s hip joint rotates as a consequence of a downward stroke on pedals of the bicycle. In this way each of the saddles reduces friction and fatigue in the rider'"'"'s hip joints when the bicycle is pedaled.

Claims

1. A split saddle bicycle seat assembly being configured to pivot with hips of a rider thereby reducing discomfort for the rider, said assembly comprising:

a post being insertable into a bicycle seat sleeve on a bicycle, said post having a top end;

a plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface being coupled to said top end of said post;

a pair of arms, each of said arms being slidably coupled to said plate having each of said arms extending laterally away from said post in opposite directions from each other;

a pair of saddles, each of said saddles being pivotally coupled to a respective one of said arms wherein each of said saddles is configured to support a respective one of the rider'"'"'s hip joints when the rider mounts the bicycle, each of said saddles being pivotal downwardly on said respective arm when the respective rider'"'"'s hip joint rotates as a consequence of a downward stroke on pedals of the bicycle wherein each of said saddles is configured to reduce friction and fatigue in the rider'"'"'s hip joints when the bicycle is pedaled; and

a stop being coupled to and extending upwardly from said top surface of said plate, said stop being centrally positioned on said plate.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said arms has a first end, a second end and an outer surface extending therebetween, each of said arms having a bend thereon defining a first portion of said arms forming an angle with respect to a second portion of said arms, said outer surface of said first portion of each of said arms abutting said top surface of said plate having said second portion of each of said arms being vertically oriented, said second portion of each of said arms curving upwardly and rearwardly between said bend and said second end, said first portion of each of said arms extending along the same lateral axis with respect to each other such that said second end of each of said arms is aligned with each other.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said arms is slidably adjustable on said plate having said second end of each of said arms being spaceable a selected distance apart from each other wherein said second end of each of said arms is configured to be aligned with a respective one of the rider'"'"'s hip joints when the rider is positioned in a seated position.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein said second portion of each of said arms has a first pin aperture extending therethrough, said first pin aperture in each of said arms extending along the same lateral axis with respect to each other such that said first pin aperture in each of said arms is aligned with each other, said first pin aperture in each of said arms being aligned with said second end of said arms.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein said second portion of each of said arms has a second pin aperture extending therethrough, said second pin aperture in each of said arms extending along the same lateral axis with respect to each other such that said second pin aperture in each of said arms is aligned with each other, said second pin aperture in each of said arms being aligned with said bend in said arms such that said first pin aperture in a respective one of said arms is elevated above said second pin aperture in said respective arm.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein each of said saddles has an upper surface, a lower surface and a perimeter edge extending therebetween, said upper surface of each of said saddles being concavely arcuate with respect to said perimeter edge for enhancing comfort for the rider, said perimeter edge of each of said saddles having a front side and a back side, each of said saddles being elongated between said front and back sides such that each of said saddles has an ovoid shape.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, further comprising a pair of tracks, each of said tracks being coupled to and extending downwardly from said lower surface of a respective one of said saddles, each of said tracks having a front end and a back end, each of said tracks being concavely arcuate between said front and back ends such that each of said tracks curves downwardly from said lower surface of said respective saddle.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, further comprising a pair of first pins, each of said first pins extending through a respective one of said tracks and extending through said first pin aperture in a respective one of said arms, each of said first pins abutting said back end of said respective track when said respective saddle is in a horizontal orientation, each of said first pins travelling toward said front end of said respective track when said respective saddle is pivoted downwardly.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a pair of second pins, each of said second pins extending through a respective one of said tracks and extending through said second pin aperture in a respective one of said arms, each of said second pins being centrally positioned between said front and back ends of said respective track when said respective saddle is in a horizontal orientation, each of said second pins abutting said front end of said respective track when said respective saddle is pivoted downwardly.

10. The assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a pair of screws, each of said screws extending through said first portion of a respective one of said arms and engaging said plate to retain said first end of each of said arms a selected distance apart from each other.

11. A split saddle bicycle seat assembly being configured to pivot with hips of a rider thereby reducing discomfort for the rider, said assembly comprising:

a post being insertable into a bicycle seat sleeve on a bicycle, said post having a top end;

a plate having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface being coupled to said top end of said post;

a stop being coupled to and extending upwardly from said top surface of said plate, said stop being centrally positioned on said plate;

a pair of arms, each of said arms being slidably coupled to said plate having each of said arms extending laterally away from said post in opposite directions from each other, each of said arms having a first end, a second end and an outer surface extending therebetween, each of said arms having a bend thereon defining a first portion of said arms forming an angle with respect to a second portion of said arms, said outer surface of said first portion of each of said arms abutting said top surface of said plate having said second portion of each of said arms being vertically oriented, said second portion of each of said arms curving upwardly and rearwardly between said bend and said second end, said first portion of each of said arms extending along the same lateral axis with respect to each other such that said second end of each of said arms is aligned with each other, each of said arms being slidably adjustable on said plate having said second end of each of said arms being spaceable a selected distance apart from each other wherein said second end of each of said arms is configured to be aligned with a respective one of the rider'"'"'s hip joints when the rider is positioned in a seated position, said second portion of each of said arms having a first pin aperture extending therethrough, said first pin aperture in each of said arms extending along the same lateral axis with respect to each other such that said first pin aperture in each of said arms is aligned with each other, said first pin aperture in each of said arms being aligned with said second end of said arms, said second portion of each of said arms having a second pin aperture extending therethrough, said second pin aperture in each of said arms extending along the same lateral axis with respect to each other such that said second pin aperture in each of said arms is aligned with each other, said second pin aperture in each of said arms being aligned with said bend in said arms such that said first pin aperture in a respective one of said arms is elevated above said second pin aperture in said respective arm;

a pair of screws, each of said screws extending through said first portion of a respective one of said arms and engaging said plate to retain said first end of each of said arms a selected distance apart from each other;

a pair of saddles, each of said saddles being pivotally coupled to a respective one of said arms wherein each of said saddles is configured to support a respective one of the rider'"'"'s hip joints when the rider mounts the bicycle, each of said saddles being pivotal downwardly on said respective arm when the respective rider'"'"'s hip joint rotates as a consequence of a downward stroke on pedals of the bicycle wherein each of said saddles is configured to reduce friction and fatigue in the rider'"'"'s hip joints when the bicycle is pedaled, each of said saddles having an upper surface, a lower surface and a perimeter edge extending therebetween, said upper surface of each of said saddles being concavely arcuate with respect to said perimeter edge for enhancing comfort for the rider, said perimeter edge of each of said saddles having a front side and a back side, each of said saddles being elongated between said front and back sides such that each of said saddles has an ovoid shape;

a pair of tracks, each of said tracks being coupled to and extending downwardly from said lower surface of a respective one of said saddles, each of said tracks having a front end and a back end, each of said tracks being concavely arcuate between said front and back ends such that each of said tracks curves downwardly from said lower surface of said respective saddle;

a pair of first pins, each of said first pins extending through a respective one of said tracks and extending through said first pin aperture in a respective one of said arms, each of said first pins abutting said back end of said respective track when said respective saddle is in a horizontal orientation, each of said first pins travelling toward said front end of said respective track when said respective saddle is pivoted downwardly; and

a pair of second pins, each of said second pins extending through a respective one of said tracks and extending through said second pin aperture in a respective one of said arms, each of said second pins being centrally positioned between said front and back ends of said respective track when said respective saddle is in a horizontal orientation, each of said second pins abutting said front end of said respective track when said respective saddle is pivoted downwardly.

12. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein said outer surface of each of said arms has a top side and a bottom side, said bottom side of each of said arms having a stop thereon, said stop on a respective one of said arms being aligned with said second end of said respective arm.

13. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein:

said top side of each of said arms has a first groove extending downwardly toward said bottom side of said arms, said first groove in a respective one of said arms extending between said bend and said second end on said respective arm; and

said bottom side of each of said arms has a second groove extending upwardly toward said top side of said arms, said second groove in a respective one of said arms extending between said bend and said second end of said respective arm.

14. The assembly according to claim 13, further comprising a pair of brackets, each of said brackets having a primary portion forming an angle with a secondary portion, said primary portion of each of said brackets being coupled to said lower surface of a respective one of said saddles having said secondary portion of each of said brackets extending downwardly from said respective saddle.

15. The assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of first rollers, each of said first rollers being rotatably coupled to said secondary portion of a respective one of said brackets, each of said first rollers rollably engaging said first groove in a respective one of said arms, each of said first rollers travelling between said second end of said respective arm and said bend on said respective arm when said respective saddle pivots downwardly.

16. The assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a pair of second rollers, each of said second rollers being rotatably coupled to said secondary portion of a respective one of said brackets, each of said second rollers rollably engaging said second groove in a respective one of said arms, each of said second rollers travelling between said stop on said bottom side of said respective arm and said bend on said respective arm when said saddle pivots downwardly.