A seat cushion includes an edge portion and a three-dimensional fiber structure including core-sheath fusible fibers and skeletal fibers thermally fused at intersections thereof. The sheaths of the core-sheath fusible fibers are made of a thermoplastic elastomer to fuse the intersections and form a bulging portion at each of the fused intersections. The skeletal fibers and the cores of the core-sheath fusible fibers are made of a non-elastomer resin. The skeletal fibers are crimp-processed bulky fibers, and a fineness of the skeletal fibers and a fineness of the core-sheath fusible fibers are in a range of 1 to 200 dtex. The seat cushion has a layered structure including a plurality of layers fused together, each of the layers has the three-dimensional fiber structure, and the seat cushion has a density distribution based on regional variations of the layered structure and a stiffness distribution that depends on the density distribution.

The invention relates to a backrest for devices driven by means of pedals comprising a holder for fastening to the device and a contact surface for supporting a person operating the device, wherein the contact surface has a base body, on which at least one spherical segment-shaped contact surface, a roller segment-shaped contact surface arranged parallel to the pedals when in use, and/or a contact surface, which can be moved relative to the base body, is arranged. The invention furthermore relates to a saddle comprising a backrest, in the case of which the backrest is arranged in an articulated manner relative to the saddle, preferably so as to lock in place, in order to form an essentially horizontal saddle extension.

A split-nose bicycle seat, comprising: a rigid plastic base provided with attachment points for mounting the seat to the bicycle frame, a total length of the seat of about 260-280 mm, a split nose section formed by two elongated protrusions of substantially constant width extending forward from a medial section to a front surface, said elongated protrusions angle inwardly, a cushioned pubis bone support surface with a substantially flat side profile, and a drooped nose, said split nose section transitioning aft to a medial section having a width of about 110 mm at the widest point of the seat, said medial section transitioning aft to a rear-end section.

A bladder formed inside or positioned on a seat accounts for variations in personal anatomy with changes in the configurations of multiple chambers in the bladder and may also allow for changes to the constriction between the chambers in the bladder. The bladder forms a cushioning device that is used for seating applications which involve movement and continuously changes softness between the chambers by using the movement of the rider. Rider movement results in the interchange of pressures through variable-sized orifices between variable-displacement chambers. The number and size of the chambers can be varied according to a desired seating configuration. The orifice size can be changed with a variable constriction mechanism. Different fastening configurations can change the number and shape of the chambers. The cushioning device can be used in retrofitting existing seats and can be produced in new seats.

The invention relates to a method having a plurality of steps for producing a customized saddle shell. Determining an individual extent of a genital region, in particular of a prostate. Producing the customized saddle shell having a recess for accommodating and relieving the genital region, in particular the prostate. The dimensions and/or geometry of the recess are/is determined as a function of the extent of the genital region, in particular of the prostate. Furthermore, the invention relates to the saddle shell, a saddle, and a bicycle having the saddle.

A bicycle saddle can be customized to a rider's body to achieve desired support and comfort. The support shell is configured to support a rider's body and can be heated by an external heater and/or at least one internal thermal element operable to heat the bicycle saddle such that the saddle is molded to the rider.

A bicycle saddle includes: a base structure having a top portion; and a cushion coupled to the top portion of the base structure, the cushion including a first lateral side and a second lateral side separated by a longitudinal plane, wherein each of the first lateral side and the second lateral side includes: a first region having a first stiffness; a second region having a second stiffness that is less than the first stiffness; and a third region having a third stiffness that is less than the second stiffness, wherein a perimeter of the second region is at least 75% enclosed within the first region, and wherein a perimeter of the third region is at least 75% enclosed within the second region.

A bicycle saddle with an ischial-perineal suspension region may include a monolithic frame, a flexible lamina stretched across and attached to the frame, a cushion on the lamina, and a cover over the cushion. The frame may include a mounting rail configured to attach to a seat post of a bicycle, a seat rail, a nose, and an open region circumscribed by the seat rail and the nose. The seat rail may include a rear rail that forms an arc-shape, a first side rail that forms a first trough, and a second side rail that forms a second trough. The nose may extend from the seat rail and/or the mounting rail. The open region may be an ischial-perineal suspension region. The flexible lamina may be stretched over the open region. The cushion may be disposed on the lamina over the open region.

A bicycle saddle can be customized to a rider's body to achieve desired support and comfort. The support shell is configured to support a rider's body and can be heated by an external heater and/or at least one internal thermal element operable to heat the bicycle saddle such that the saddle is molded to the rider. A molding indicator in thermal contact with the saddle measures a molding factor, such as temperature or deflection, and visually indicates the measured molding factor for molding the bicycle saddle.

In an embodiment, a hybrid structure having suspension quality, comprises a core member having an outer surface, a reducible-volume layer associated with the outer surface of the core member and having a reducible volume at least at a number of regions thereof, and a covering layer having an exterior and an interior surface and connected to the core member via the reducible-volume layer by a connection arrangement.