METHOD FOR PRODUCING A CUSTOM SADDLE SHELL, SADDLE SHELL, SADDLE AND BICYCLE WITH SADDLE

Abstract

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.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A method for producing a customized saddle shell, comprising the following steps: determining an individual extent of a genital region, in particular of a prostate, and producing the customized saddle shell having a recess for accommodating and relieving the genital region, in particular the prostate, wherein the dimension and/or geometry of the recess is determined on the basis of the prostate.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the extent is determined by means of an imaging method.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the imaging method used to determine the extent comprises an ultrasound measuring method.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the dimension of the recess is between 20 and 45 mm.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the dimension of the recess is determined from one of the following five size ranges: a first size range for prostate volumes of less than 20 ml corresponds to a first recess dimension of 20 mm and/or a second recess dimension of 25 mm, a second size range for prostate volumes from 20 ml to 40 ml corresponds to a first recess dimension of 25 mm and/or a second recess dimension of 30 mm, a third size range for prostate volumes from 40 ml to 60 ml corresponds to a first recess dimension of 30 mm and/or a second recess dimension of 35 mm, a fourth size range for prostate volumes of 60 ml to 90 ml corresponds to a first recess dimension of 40 mm and/or a second recess dimension of 45 mm, and a fifth size range for prostate volumes from 90 ml to 120 ml corresponds to a first recess dimension of 40 mm and/or a second recess dimension of 45 mm.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein the saddle shell is produced by means of an injection molding process.

22. A saddle shell, having a recess for accommodating and relieving a genital region, in particular the prostate, wherein the dimension and/or the geometry of the recess is formed according to the method in claim 16.

23. The saddle shell according to claim 22, wherein the recess penetrates the saddle shell and is designed as an isosceles Reuleaux triangle.

24. The saddle shell according to claim 22, wherein a peripheral edge of the recess has a convex shape.

25. The saddle shell according to claim 22, wherein the dimension and/or geometry comprises a length in a first axis (A201) and a width in a second axis (A202) of the saddle shell.

26. The saddle shell according to claim 16, wherein a region of the saddle shell (20) is designed as a sitting surface and has a surface curved toward a seat plane and toward a saddle nose.

27. The saddle shell according to claim 26, wherein the curved surface comprises a saddle pad, the saddle pad being formed from a plastics material.

28. The saddle shell according to claim 27, wherein a depression is formed in the saddle pad along a longitudinal axis (L20), in which a center (Z30) of the recess is arranged at a predefined distance (A30) from a rear saddle edge.

29. The saddle having a saddle shell according to claim 22, and having a frame and two saddle struts.

30. A bicycle having a saddle according to claim 29.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Embodiments of the invention are explained with reference to the drawings and to the description following them. In the drawings:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a male genital region;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a method according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of an upper side of a saddle shell according to a further embodiment of the invention;

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the top of the saddle shell according to a further embodiment of the invention;

[0030] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a rear saddle edge of the saddle shell according to the invention;

[0031] FIG. 6A shows a diagram of a relationship between a first dimension of the recess 30 to the prostate volume 44 according to a further embodiment of the invention; and

[0032] FIG. 6B shows a diagram of a relationship between a second dimension of the recess 30 to the prostate volume 44 according to a further embodiment of the invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a male genital region 40 as well as of a prostate 42 as a pyramidal, ellipsoidal, or chestnut-shaped organ, which is located below a urinary bladder in front of a rectum. A volume 44 of the prostate 42 varies, depending on age and condition, between slightly less than 20 ml up to 120 ml.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows steps of a method for producing a customized saddle shell 20 according to a first embodiment of the invention. Herein, the dimension and, based on this, the volume 44 of the prostate 42 are determined in a first step by means of a transrectal ultrasonic measurement. Then, based on the volume 44, the dimension of a recess 30 for accommodating and relieving the pressure on the prostate 42 is determined. The customized dimension of the recess having been determined in this manner, the customized saddle shell 20 is then produced by means of an injection molding process.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a saddle 10 which comprises a saddle shell 20. The saddle 10 has an upper side 12 and a lower side 14 opposite from it (see FIG. 5). Furthermore, the saddle 10 comprises a recess 30 designed to accommodate and relieve the genital region 40. A length 34 of the recess 30 extends in the direction of a first axis A201, and a width 36 extends in the direction of a second axis A202 of the saddle shell 20. The recess 30 penetrates the saddle shell 20 and is designed as an isosceles triangle. A peripheral edge 32 of the recess 30 has a convex, i.e., outwardly curved, shape. This allows the anatomical manifestation and size of the prostate 42 to be taken into account and thus prevents a damaging pressure response and associated pain in the genital region 40 of a rider sitting on the saddle 10.

[0036] Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows a region of the saddle shell 20 designed as a sitting surface and a surface 27 curved toward a seat plane 28 (see FIG. 5) and toward a saddle nose 26 (see FIG. 4). Therein, the curved surface 27 forms a saddle pad 29. The saddle pad 29 is preferably formed from a thermoplastic elastomer such as polyurethane. The saddle pad 29 can also be provided with a cover material. The shape of the saddle pad 29 is designed in such a way that the prostate 42 is relieved in the perineum region and the pressure, resulting from the body weight of the rider in question, is thus transferred to the ischial tuberosities.

[0037] In the saddle pad 29 itself, a depression 22, which tapers toward the saddle nose 26, is formed along a longitudinal axis L20. A center Z30 of the recess 30 is formed in this depression 22 at a predefined distance A30 from a rear saddle edge 24. The distance A30 between the rear saddle edge 24 and the center Z30 of the recess 30 is 90 mm. The geometry based on the position of the center Z30 and the length 34 and width 36 of the recess 30 is selected as an isosceles triangle or chestnut shape, depending on the anatomical conditions of the prostate 42 when sitting on the saddle 10.

[0038] The perspective view of the upper side 12 of the saddle shell 20 in FIG. 4 shows the depression 22 which is described in FIG. 3 and in which the recess 30 is formed, and the surface 27, which is designed to be curved toward the seat plane 28 and toward the saddle nose 26.

[0039] Furthermore, the plan view of the rear saddle edge 24 of the saddle shell 20 shown in FIG. 5 illustrates the depression 22 formed in the saddle pad 29, as well as the curved surface 27 extending toward the seat plane 28 and toward the saddle nose 26.

[0040] The saddle 10 having the saddle shell 20 furthermore has at least two saddle struts (not shown in the figures), which are preferably formed from a steel alloy with high tensile strength, such as chromium-molybdenum steel.

[0041] FIG. 6A shows a diagram which illustrates a relationship between a first dimension of the recess 30 and the prostate volume 44. FIG. 6B shows a diagram which illustrates a relationship between a second dimension of the recess 30 and the prostate volume 44. The diagrams in FIG. 6A, 6B each show graphs for volume or size ranges, namely max. volume, mean volume and min. volume. The first dimension corresponds to the length 34 and the second dimension corresponds to the width 36. According to a further embodiment, the first dimension corresponds to the width 36 and the second dimension corresponds to the length 34.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0042] 10 Saddle [0043] 12 Upper side [0044] 14 Lower side [0045] 20 Saddle shell [0046] 22 Depression [0047] 24 Saddle edge [0048] 26 Saddle nose [0049] 27 Curved surface [0050] 28 Seat plane/sitting surface [0051] 29 Saddle pad [0052] 30 Recess [0053] 32 Edge [0054] 34 Length (of 30) [0055] 36 Width (of 30) [0056] 40 Genital region [0057] 42 Prostate [0058] 44 Volume (of 42)

[0059] A30 Distance (between 24 and 30) [0060] A201 (First) axis (of 20) [0061] A202 (Second) axis (of 20) [0062] L20 Longitudinal axis (of 20) [0063] Z30 Center (of 30)