Bicycle saddle

Abstract

A bicycle saddle includes a saddle shell with a saddle frame arranged on the lower side thereof. A first saddle cushion is arranged on the upper side of the saddle shell. An intermediate shell is arranged on an upper side of the saddle cushion. On the upper side of the latter, a second cushion element is arranged. The intermediate shell includes at least one recess for improving comfort in particular in the case of a perched sitting position.

Claims

1. A bicycle saddle comprising a saddle shell, a saddle frame arranged on a lower side of the saddle shell, a first cushion element arranged on an upper side of the saddle shell, an intermediate shell of a hard plastic material arranged on an upper side of the first cushion element, and a second cushion element arranged on an upper side of the intermediate shell, wherein the intermediate shell comprises at least one recess, and wherein the first cushion element and the second cushion element contact each other in a region of the at least one recess, and wherein the first and second cushion elements, or at least a portion of the first and second cushion elements, are formed integrally, so that a single complete cushion is defined by the connection between the first and second cushion elements within the at least one recess.

2. The bicycle saddle of claim 1, wherein the intermediate shell is formed in a frame-shaped design and is arranged only around an edge region of the cushion elements.

3. The bicycle saddle of claim 1, wherein the recess is formed through a sitting region, a central region, and in a region of a saddle tip.

4. The bicycle saddle of claim 1, wherein the recess is formed to include a portion of a sitting region and a portion of a central region.

5. The bicycle saddle of claim 1, wherein the recess has a width of 40 to 60% of the width of the intermediate shell in a sitting region or in a central region or in a region of a saddle tip.

6. The bicycle saddle of claim 1, wherein the intermediate shell is symmetric with respect to a longitudinal axis.

7. The bicycle saddle of claim 1, wherein the recess is completely spanned by the first cushion element or the second cushion element.

8. The bicycle saddle of claim 1, wherein the at least one recess is positioned to form a contact between the first cushion element and the second cushion element based on a saddle type or application of the saddle, and wherein the at least one recess is arranged such that sitbones of the user are positioned above an intermediate shell.

9. The bicycle saddle of claim 8, wherein the at least one recess is formed in the intermediate shell to increase softness in a central region of the saddle, and wherein the position of the at least one recess avoids contact of the sitbones with an edge of the intermediate shell.

10. The bicycle saddle of claim 1, wherein an intermediate shell provides a first recess positioned to provide comfort by padding sitbones of a rider when a rider is in a bent sitting position and a second recess is positioned to provide comfort by padding sitbones of a rider when a rider is in an upright sitting position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the Figures:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a bicycle saddle,

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the bicycle saddle in the longitudinal direction along line II-II in FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of an alternative bicycle saddle in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the bicycle saddle illustrated in FIG. 2, and

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic top plan view of an intermediate shell.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) A bicycle saddle comprises a sitting region 10 adjoined by a central region 12 and a region of the saddle tip 14 (FIG. 1). In a rather upright sitting position, the sitbones are essentially positioned in the sitting region 10. The more perched the sitting position is, the farther the pressure points are shifted into the central region 12 or even also into the region of the saddle tip 14.

(7) The bicycle saddle has a saddle shell 16 with a saddle frame 20 arranged on the lower side 18 thereof (FIG. 2). The saddle frame 20 serves for connection with a seat post. A first cushion element 24 is provided on an upper side 22 of the saddle shell 18. The upper side 26 of the first cushion element 24 has an intermediate shell 28 arranged thereon so that a lower side 31 of the intermediate shell 28 rests on the upper side 26 of the first cushion element 24. In the embodiment illustrated, the saddle shell 28 comprises a recess 30 extending in the longitudinal direction or in the traveling direction 32, respectively.

(8) On the upper side 34 of the intermediate shell 28 a second cushion element 36 is arranged, wherein the second cushion element 36 protrudes into the recess 30, so that the two cushion elements 24, 36 contact each other or abut against each other. If so desired, the two cushion elements 24, 36 may also be formed integrally and in particular be manufactured together.

(9) In the alternative embodiment of the bicycle saddle illustrated in FIG. 3 similar and identical components are identified by the same reference numerals.

(10) The only essential difference is that the intermediate shell 28 does not protrude into the edge region of the saddle. As such, the intermediate shell 28 does not protrude into the edge region 35. Rather, the two cushion elements 24, 36 lie directly one upon the other in this edge region, so that a softer edge is formed. Such a design is advantageous not only in the region of the saddle tip 14, as well as in the rear region of the saddle, as illustrated in FIG. 3, but also in particular in the lateral region, since the inner side of the upper thigh of the user is in contact with the saddle.

(11) As can be seen in FIG. 4, the recess 30 has different regions. It is preferred that the recess 30 is wider in the sitting region 10 than in the central region 12 and in the region of the saddle tip 14. As illustrated in the embodiment, it is further preferred that an edge region 38 in the sitting region 10 is wider than an edge region 45 in the central region 12. By designing the width of the edge region correspondingly, the comfort and the elasticity can be adjusted. The latter may in addition be adjusted by the type of material used and/or the material thickness.

(12) The intermediate shell 28, as well as preferably the entire saddle, are symmetric with respect to a center line 40 that extends in the traveling direction 32.