Bicycle saddle

Abstract

There is provided a bicycle saddle, having two identical portions (30, 31) arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bicycle saddle. A channel (15), open from top to bottom, is provided along the longitudinal axis of the bicycle saddle. The front of the saddle is curved downwardly in an aquiline shape. The two identical portions (30, 31) from the rear ends thereof up to extensions (9, 10) that laterally delimit the central channel (15) are provided with substantially flat areas (1, 2) on which the gluteal muscles of the user are intended to be positioned during use of the saddle. The substantially flat areas (1, 2) are substantially parallel to the ground on which the wheels of the bicycle rest.

Claims

1. A bicycle saddle (60) comprising two identical portions (30, 31) arranged symmetrically about a longitudinal axis of said saddle, a channel (15) open from top to bottom separating said two identical portions and extending from an intermediate part of said saddle to a front end (13) of said saddle at said longitudinal axis, said channel (15) having a width at a rear part substantially greater than at a front part, a recess (6) arranged at a rear part of said saddle separating said two identical portions (30, 31) and having a dovetail shape defined by two lateral points (7, 8) on the rear part of said saddle, a depression (5) continuing from said recess (6) up to the rear part of said channel (15), laterally of said recess (6) are first areas (1, 2) intended to support the gluteal muscles of a user seated on said saddle, said first areas (1, 2) continue towards the front end (13) of said saddle with respective second areas (3, 4) intended to support the ischiatic tuberosities of said user, said second areas (3, 4) continue towards the front end (13) of said saddle with respective first extensions (9, 10) followed by respective second extensions (11, 12) which join together at the front end (13) of said saddle in a substantially circular shape and inclining downwardly in an aquiline shape at said front end (13), wherein said first areas (1, 2) intended to support the gluteal muscles of a user, said second areas (3, 4) intended to support the ischiatic tuberosities of a user, and said first extensions (9, 10) are substantially planar and disposed substantially parallel to the ground.

2. The bicycle saddle according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of said saddle is devoid of padding.

3. The bicycle saddle according to claim 1, wherein said second areas (3, 4) are provided with a padding (40) on which a rider's ischiatic tuberosities are supported.

4. The bicycle saddle according to claim 3, wherein said saddle comprises a bearing body (50) including in the second areas (3, 4) of the two identical portions (30, 31) of the saddle respective upward facing concavities (16, 17) adapted to house the ends of the ischiatic tuberosities of a rider.

5. The bicycle saddle according to claim 1, which further includes a bearing body (50) an upper surface of which is covered with a padding (40), said bearing body (50) being supported at a bottom surface thereof by a support fork (14) adapted to be fixed to a seat post of a bicycle, wherein said bearing body (50) includes at the bottom surface two front pockets (21, 22) adapted to receive in a slotted fashion respective front ends of said support fork (14) and at the rear plates (18, 19) secured to the bearing body (50) by a series of screws (20) so as to fix the support fork (14) to the bearing body (50).

Description

(1) The present finding will now be illustrated and described in detail, with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, given as a non-limiting example, with the help of the attached tables of drawings, where:

(2) FIG. 1 (table I) illustrates a perspective view of the saddle according to the finding;

(3) FIG. 2 (table II) illustrates a perspective view of the support body of the saddle according to the finding;

(4) FIG. 3 (table III) illustrates a longitudinal middle section of the saddle according to the finding;

(5) FIG. 4 (table IV) illustrates a cross section of the rear part of the saddle according to the finding, where the ischiatic tuberosities are rested;

(6) FIG. 5 (table V) illustrates a cross section of the middle portion of the saddle according to the finding, in particular of the area in which the pubic arch is rested;

(7) FIG. 6 (table VI) illustrates a plan view from below of the saddle according to the finding;

(8) FIG. 7 (table VII) illustrates a dissected view of the structures of the perineal floor, of the ischiatic tuberosities and of the pubic arch arranged above the saddle.

(9) In this figure such elements are indicated with the following references: aanus b-bgluteal muscles ccoccyx d-dischiatic tuberosities eprostate f-fpudendal arteries gdeep dorsal vein of the penis hdeep dorsal artery of the penis i-ipubic arch lpenis mtesticles nbody of the penis.

(10) As can be seen in FIG. 1, the saddle 60 according to the finding longitudinally has two identical portions 30, 31 arranged symmetrically with respect to its longitudinal axis. At said longitudinal axis there is a channel 15 that is open from above to below, which separates said two portions from the intermediate part of the saddle up to the front part thereof. At the rear said channel has a greater width equal to about 30-35 mm, to then narrow and proceed with a constant width equal to about 10-20 mm, until it reaches the front end 13 of the saddle.

(11) Going back to the rear part, the two identical portions 30, 31 are separated from one another by a recess 6, defined at the side by two points 7, 8 that give the rear part of the saddle the dovetail shape. Said recess 6 proceeds towards the front part of the saddle with a depression 5, which ends right at the rear edge of the central channel 15. At the side of the recess 6 there are the areas 1, 2 where the gluteal muscles (ref. b-b of FIG. 7) are rested. These areas 1, 2 proceed at the front with the areas 3, 4 in which the ischiatic tuberosities (ref. d-d of FIG. 7) are rested. Going back to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the areas 3, 4 proceed with the extensions 9, 10 and then 11, 12.

(12) At the line y-y (see also FIG. 5) the pubic arch (ref. i-i of FIG. 7) also rests on the saddle. In this position the extensions 9, 10 have a total length equal to about 40-50 mm and then start to go downwards with the extensions 11-12, with an inclination of about 30-45, gradually narrowing, until the end 13 is reached, which is substantially semi-circular shaped. The front part of the saddle, seen from the side, substantially takes up a bird's beak configuration.

(13) Observing FIG. 3 it can be seen that in the saddle according to the finding the upper surface of areas 1 and 2, where the gluteal muscles rest, is arranged substantially horizontally (line z-z) with respect to the ground (w-w) when the saddle is arranged in conditions of actual positioning on the bicycle. This allows the cyclist to move without any problem back and forth without modifying the pedalling position even during extreme rides. Moreover, this horizontal condition is more comfortable and practical with respect to the use of the saddles according to the aforementioned documents.

(14) This applies in particular for cyclists who like to be able to move back and forth on the saddle during pedalling.

(15) Again in FIG. 3 it can be seen that the support fork 14 of the saddle is fixed to the body 50 thereof with a portion 14 inclined by about 10 with respect to the ground (w-w).

(16) In FIG. 4 it can be seen that, in a particular embodiment, it is possible to foresee for the ischiatic tuberosities to be supported at the areas 3, 4 through a padding 40 made, for example, from foamed polyurethane elastomer having a thickness equal to about 10-15 mm. However, it is possible to foresee for the saddle not to have such padding. In FIG. 2 it can be seen that on the bearing body 50, made from plastic material, beneath the visible portion of the saddle, there are two concavities 16-17, right at the aforementioned areas 3, 4, which have a concavity going upwards, to better aid the housing of the ends of the ischiatic tuberosities.

(17) Observing FIG. 5 it can be seen that also the pubic arch (i) is supported by a padding 40 made from foamed polyurethane elastomer of thickness equal to about 10-15 mm, which allows said pubic arch, under the weight of the torso of the human body, to not touch the underlying body 50, vice-versa consisting of rigid plastic material.

(18) The presence of the padding 40 in the areas 3-4, as well as in the extensions 9-10 is important in the saddle according to the finding; indeed, due to the lack of the support, which should come from the body of the penis (n), from the prostate (e), as well as from the penis (1), which in the case of the saddle according to the finding are housed inside the channel 15, the padding 40 allows the ischiatic tuberosities and the pubic arch to support the weight of the torso of the human body without touching the underlying body 50 made from rigid plastic material, which would make the use of the saddle according to the finding extremely difficult and painful.

(19) It should be noted that in bicycle saddles, in particular for racing bicycles, found on the market, which have the upper surface horizontal and which lack housing means for the structures of the perineum, the ischiatic tuberosities (and particularly the pubic arch) take advantage of the support of the prostate, of the body of the penis, as well as of the penis. Clearly, the aforementioned physiological elements undergo the squashing due to the presence of the weight of the torso of the human body (particularly the neuro-vascular structures). This in the long term causes serious problems for the uro-genital tracts, both in men and in women.

(20) In FIG. 6 it is possible to see in particular the bearing body 50, the fork 14 where the clamp of the seat tube is fixed, the pre-made front pockets 21 and 22, inside which the ends of the fork 14 are slotted and, at the rear, the plates 18 and 19 fixed with four screws 23, each of which is above the fork, to keep it firmly fixed to the body 50.

(21) Tests carried out have made it possible to establish that many users, both competitive and amateur, prefer to use the saddle according to the finding with respect to the saddles described in the aforementioned documents and this can be either due to their particular physical characteristics or due to their particular style of pedalling and sitting on the saddle.

(22) Basically, with the saddle according to the present finding it is also possible for users who do not find the saddles described in the aforementioned patents to benefit from the clearly advantageous and innovative characteristics present in such saddles (mainly the central channel with its inclined front portion, the particular configuration of its intermediate part, the support fork, etc. . . . ), for the sole reason that, otherwise, they would feel forced to remain in a position that is too forced and they would have no way to be able to move easily back and forth.