Bicycle seat with adjustable support platforms

An adjustable bicycle seat includes first and second support platforms laterally separated by first an second relatively slidable, horizontally oriented, overlapping flanges respectively joined to the first and second support platforms and having a bolt extending through a passage therein to releasably secure the first and second platforms in laterally spaced relation. Each support platform includes an integral spring rotatably mounted in a clamp attachable to a bicycle frame. Apertures formed in the first and second flanges are selectively alignable when the bolt is removed from the passage to permit selective lateral and angular positioning of the first and second support platforms in a horizontal plane, and the bolt is engageable in the aligned apertures to secure the support platforms in such position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field Of The Invention 
The invention pertains broadly to a bicycle seat. More particularly, the 
invention relates to a bicycle seat having adjustable support platforms 
for rider comfort. 
2. Description Of The Prior Art 
Conventional bicycle seats typically include a unitary, rigid saddle having 
a pommel or horn projecting into the crotch of a rider straddling the 
saddle. Such saddles have many disadvantages, in that the pommel or horn 
applies pressure to the rider's crotch and creates friction with the 
rider's legs during pedaling of the bicycle. Thus, abrasion, muscle 
soreness and general inflammation of the upper thighs and genital area are 
common maladies in cyclists utilizing conventional saddles. Occasionally, 
these injuries necessitate medical treatment and/or abstinence from 
cycling that is equally disruptive to both a professional training regimen 
and the recreational participation in beneficial exercise. Even when these 
conditions do not require direct medical intervention, the discomfort 
caused thereby severely diminishes the rider's cycling pleasure and 
significantly limits the duration of the rider's workout. 
A further drawback possessed by conventional unitary bicycle saddles is 
that the saddles fail to uniformly support the rider's buttocks 
Conventional bicycle saddles provide only a small contact area for 
supporting the entire weight of the rider, and areas of the rider's 
buttocks supported by the saddle are subjected to intense pressure in 
relation to unsupported areas. The resulting imbalance between supported 
and unsupported parts of the rider's anatomy creates an unequal force 
distribution producing physical discomfort in the pressurized areas and in 
the rider's pelvis. The rider must engage in constant shifting and 
repositioning upon the bicycle seat to relieve the anatomical pressure 
points, and these movements interfere with the cyclist's rhythm and 
control. Conventional unitary bicycle saddles also compress the flesh of 
the rider's buttocks together, and the compression produces pressure on 
the rider's anal sphincter that is a source of additional irritation and 
discomfort. 
The deficiencies associated with conventional bicycle seats deprive the 
cyclist of the ability to select a seat with confidence that the seat will 
be comfortable during use. Frequently, a bicycle seat that feels 
comfortable when evaluated in a shop becomes problematic under actual 
riding conditions. However, a conventional bicycle seat, once selected, 
cannot be adjusted or 19 fine-tuned to accommodate the individual 
anatomical characteristics of the rider and to eliminate discomfort. When 
a conventional bicycle seat proves to be objectionable, the seat must be 
completely removed and replaced with another seat that is itself 
susceptible to the same problems. Frequent removal and replacement of 
bicycle seats is undesirable because it is costly, time consuming and 
impairs the rider's familiarity with the performance and "feel" of the 
bicycle. 
Bicycle seats having an adjustable width feature have been proposed, and 
illustrative bicycle seats are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 560,698 to Dyer; 
U.S. Pat. No. 593,331 to Noirit; U.S. Pat. No. 608,682 to Jamieson; U.S. 
Pat. No. 619,204 to Moore; U.S. Pat. No. 694,875 to Meighan; U.S. Pat. No. 
1,623,818 to Tichota; U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,925 to Barker et al and U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,877,286 to Hobson et al. Conventional adjustable width bicycle 
seats also typically include a pommel or horn extending into the rider's 
crotch and, as previously discussed, this structure is the source of 
numerous adverse effects. Additionally, conventional adjustable bicycle 
seats are generally very structurally complex and include a large number 
of extraneous components that increase the manufacturing and assembly 
costs of the seat and are prone to failure during use. Conventional 
adjustable bicycle seats usually require special tools to adjust the seat, 
as well as an intricate adjustment protocol, and on-road, spontaneous 
adjustments are difficult, if not impossible, to perform. Furthermore, 
conventional adjustable bicycle seats generally possess a range of 
adjustment that is inadequate to obtain comfort for the physical 
proportions of a vast majority of riders and, consequently, conventional 
adjustable bicycle seats have proven to be ineffective and have failed to 
gain rider acceptance. 
An additional factor affecting a cyclist's comfort relates to the structure 
mounting the bicycle seat on a bicycle frame. Although some conventional 
bicycle seats include mounting structure having a spring for absorbing 
bumps and vibrations transmitted to the seat through the bicycle frame, 
the spring is typically a separate, individual component that must be 
mounted on the bicycle frame and the seat with additional hardware. Such 
springs are generally ineffective in absorbing vibrations imposed on the 
bicycle seat, and contribute further to the manufacturing and assembly 
costs of the bicycle. Additionally, the springs tend to become loose 
during cycling and, therefore, require frequent monitoring and 
maintenance. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a bicycle seat 
that eliminates friction in the rider's crotch. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide a bicycle seat that 
eliminates pressure in the rider's genital area. 
It is also an object of the invention to provide a bicycle seat that 
uniformly supports the weight of the rider over a relatively large contact 
area. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a bicycle seat that separates 
the rider's buttocks. 
A still further object of the invention is to provide a bicycle seat that 
is laterally and angularly adjustable in a horizontal plane. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a bicycle seat that is 
easily adjustable without the need for special tools. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide a bicycle seat that is 
simple in design. 
Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a bicycle seat having 
an integral spring. 
Accordingly, these and other objects, benefits and advantages are obtained 
with the bicycle seat of the present invention as characterized by a first 
support platform and a second support platform laterally spaced from the 
first support platform by a pair of overlapping, relatively slidable, 
horizontally oriented flanges that are unitarily integrally joined, 
respectively, to the first and second support platforms. Each of the 
support platforms includes an upper surface elevated with respect to the 
overlapping flanges, and contoured and configured to independently support 
a buttock of a rider. A longitudinal passage is formed through the 
overlapping flanges and has a central longitudinal axis contained in a 
first vertical plane bisecting the flanges. An externally threaded bolt 
extends through this passage and an internally threaded wing nut is 
carried on the end of the bolt to permit the first and second support 
platforms to be secured in laterally spaced relation. A first hole is 
formed through one of the flanges to be disposed on one side of the first 
vertical plane, and has a central longitudinal axis contained in a second 
vertical plane that angularly intersects the first vertical plane A second 
hole is formed through the other of the flanges to be disposed on the 
opposite side of the first vertical plane and has a central longitudinal 
axis contained in a third vertical plane that angularly intersects the 
first vertical plane symmetrically to the second vertical plane. A spring 
is integrally joined to each of the support platforms, and each spring 
includes a vertically oriented depending leg positioned exteriorly of the 
respective support platform to be rotatably mounted in a respective 
passage in a clamp for securing the bicycle seat at a desired vertical 
height on the seat support post of a bicycle frame. The threaded bolt can 
be removed from the longitudinal passage in the overlapping flanges, and 
the first and second support platforms can be rotated in a horizontal 
plane around the depending legs of the springs to selectively align the 
first and second holes in the overlapping flanges and, therefore, increase 
the lateral separation between the support platforms. The bolt can be 
inserted through the aligned holes, and the wing nut can be applied to the 
bolt to secure the first and second support platforms in the laterally and 
angularly adjusted position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the bicycle seat 10 of the present invention 
includes a first support platform 12, a second support platform 14 
laterally spaced from first support platform 12, and contacting flanges 16 
and 18 joined, respectively, to the first and second support platforms to 
be centrally disposed therebetween in slidable overlapping arrangement. As 
particularly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and second support 
platforms 12 and 14 are defined, respectively, by a generally ovate 
peripheral wall 20 and 22 joined to a generally concave upper surface 24 
configured to individually support a buttock of a rider seated on the 
support platforms. Flange 16 is joined to the peripheral wall 20 of first 
support platform 12 in submerged relation to upper surface 24 to extend 
horizontally toward second support platform 14, and flange 18 is joined to 
the peripheral wall 22 of second support platform 14 in submerged relation 
to upper surface 24 to extend horizontally toward first support platform 
12 and closely underlying flange 16. Flanges 16 and 18 each include a rear 
edge 26 joined to the respective peripheral walls 20 and 22, a front edge 
28 joined to the respective peripheral walls 20 and 22, and a side edge 30 
angularly joining rear edge 26 to front edge 28. Side edges 30 are joined 
to front edges 28 at an obtuse angle, such that the side edges 30 taper 
from the front edges 28 laterally outwardly in the direction of the 
opposing support platform to join the rear edges 26 at an acute angle. 
Flange 16 is slidably positioned over flange 18 to define a lateral 
clearance C separating the adjacent peripheral walls 20 and 22 of the 
first and second support platforms 12 and 14. A vertically oriented, 
longitudinal passage 32 is formed through the overlapping flanges 16 and 
18 and includes a longitudinal central axis positioned centrally between 
rear edges 26 and front edges 28 of the contacting overlapping flanges. 
The axis is contained in a vertical plane P bisecting the overlapping 
flanges 16 and 18 from front edges 28 to rear edges 26 and dividing 
clearance C between next adjacent peripheral walls 20 and 22 into two 
substantially equal parts. A bolt 34 is disposed in passage 32, and 
includes an externally threaded end for projecting beneath flange 18 when 
the bolt 34 is positioned in passage 32. An internally threaded wing nut 
36 is threadedly engageable on the projecting end of bolt 34 to be 
longitudinally movable on the bolt for selectively securing flanges 16 and 
18 in overlapping fashion and for selectively disengaging the flanges. 
A hole 40 is formed through flange 16 proximate rearward edge 26 and side 
edge 30 of the flange to be positioned between plane P and support 
platform 14, and a hole 42 is formed through flange 18 in vertical 
alignment with hole 40. A bolt 44 can be positioned through the aligned 
holes 40 and 42 to further secure the flanges in overlapping arrangement. 
A hole 46 is formed through flange 18 proximate rearward edge 26 and side 
edge 30 of the flange to be positioned on the opposite side of plane P 
symmetrically with respect to hole 40. Hole 40 includes a longitudinal 
central axis contained in a vertical plane P.sup.2 that angularly 
intersects plane P to form an acute angle therewith, and hole 46 similarly 
includes a longitudinal central axis contained in a vertical plane P.sup.3 
that angularly intersects plane P symmetrically with respect to plane 
P.sup.2 to define a substantially identical acute angle with plane P as 
depicted in FIG. 1. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, a spring holder 48 is formed on the lower 
surface of the first and second support platforms 12 an 14. Each spring 
holder 48 includes a horizontally oriented, tubular channel 50 extending 
through the respective peripheral walls 20 and 22, and a vertically 
oriented tubular channel 52 joined to the horizontal channel 50 to extend 
downwardly from the lower surface of the respective support platforms. 
Channels 50 include longitudinal central axes contained in a common 
horizontal plane perpendicularly intersecting plane P; however, the 
longitudinal central axis of channel 50 for first support platform 12 is 
contained in a vertical plane P.sup.4 angularly intersecting plane P to 
form an acute angle therewith on one side of plane P, while the 
longitudinal central axis of channel 50 for second support platform 14 is 
contained in a vertical plane P.sup.5 disposed on the opposite side of 
plane P and angularly intersecting plane P symmetrically with respect to 
plane P.sup.4. Channels 52 for first support platform 12 and second 
support platform 14 include longitudinal central axes disposed, 
respectively, in planes P.sup.4 and P.sup.5. 
Springs 54, independently support each of the first and second support 
platforms, are disposed in each spring holder 48 and, as shown in FIG. 5, 
spring 54 includes a longitudinally elongated, tubular body 56 unitarily, 
integrally joined to a finger 58 depending perpendicularly downward from 
one end of body 56 and a mounting leg depending perpendicularly downward 
from the opposite end of body 56. Each spring 54 is disposed in a 
respective spring holder 48 to have finger 58 retained in channel 52 and 
body 56 retained in channel 50, with a portion of body 56 projecting 
through the peripheral wall of the respective support platform to position 
mounting leg 60 exteriorly of the peripheral wall. A clamp 62 for 
rotatably supporting mounting legs 60 of springs 54 includes a collar 64 
defining an annular cavity 66 having a vertically oriented, central 
longitudinal axis contained in plane P for receiving the vertically 
oriented, tubular seat support post 68 on a bicycle frame, a slot 70 
extending through collar 64 to communicate with cavity 66 and a pair of 
ears 72 laterally flanking collar 64. A longitudinal tubular opening 74 is 
formed in each ear parallel to cavity 66 to be disposed symmetrically in 
planes P.sup.4 and P.sup.5 on opposite sides of and in laterally spaced 
relation to plane P, and mounting legs 60 of springs 54 are rotatably 
mounted within openings 74 for pivotally supporting support platforms 12 
and 14 upon clamp 62. A bore 76 is formed through collar 64 and ears 72 to 
intersect slot 70 perpendicularly to cavity 66. A headed bolt 78 having an 
externally threaded shank is disposed in bore 76 to have the end of the 
shank extend exteriorly of an ear 72, and an internally threaded nut 80 is 
threadedly engaged on the end of bolt 78. Nut 80 can be threadedly 
advanced upon bolt 78 to selectively close slot 70 and, therefore, annular 
cavity 66, to tighten collar 64 around the seat support post 68. 
Preferably, the first and second support platforms 12 and 14 are each 
fabricated as a unitary, integral molding of lightweight material, such as 
Type 6 nylon plastic, although other plastic materials can be employed. 
Upper surface 24 of each support platform is preferably configured to 
include approximately twelve square inches of surface area to maximize the 
contact area over which the rider's weight is distributed. Springs 54 are 
preferably integrally molded with the first and second support platforms 
12 and 14 by placing them into the support platform mold, and then 
injecting plastic material into the mold to form channels 50 and 52 around 
the springs to prevent lateral, rotational and reciprocal movement of the 
springs in relation to the support platforms. It is preferred that side 
edges 30 of flanges 16 and 1 be joined angularly to rear edges 26 such 
that the side edges are contained in vertical planes disposed 
symmetrically on opposite sides of plane P parallel to planes P.sup.2 and 
P.sup.3 and defining an acute angle of approximately fifteen degrees with 
plane P when flanges 16 and 18 are secured via bolt 34 in passage 32. 
Preferably, holes 40 and 46 are formed, respectively, in flanges 16 and 18 
to have their longitudinal central axes positioned approximately one half 
inch laterally perpendicular to plane P and approximately three eighths 
inch forwardly of rear edges 26 such that, when flanges 16 and 18 are 
secured by bolt 34 in passage 32, the lateral distance between centers on 
support platforms 12 and 14 is approximately five and one half inches. 
In operation, the vertical seat support post 68 on a conventional bicycle 
frame is positioned in annular cavity 66 in collar 64, and bolt 78 is 
positioned in bore 76. Nut 80 is placed on the end of bolt 78 projecting 
from ear 72, and the nut is advanced upon the bolt with the appropriate 
tools to close slot 70 and reduce the size of cavity 66 to tighten collar 
64 around the seat support post 68 at a desired position along the 
vertical length of the seat support post. When the rider sits on seat 10, 
each buttock is independently supported by the support platforms 12 and 
14, and the submerged position of overlapping flanges 16 and 18 with 
respect to the upper surface 24 of the support platforms eliminates 
structure from the rider's crotch and, therefore, removes undesirable 
pressure in this anatomical area. Because each buttock is independently 
supported by a support platform separated by clearance C, and because the 
center to center distance between support platforms is preferably five and 
one half inches when flanges 16 and 18 are secured via bolt 34 in passage 
32, the rider's buttocks are likewise separated to allow flexing of the 
anal sphincter and to prevent pressure and irritation in the rider's anal 
area. Depending upon the rider's particular anatomical characteristics, 
additional separation of the first and second support platforms 12 and 14 
may be required for maximum comfort. In this case, wing nut 36 can be 
easily removed from bolt 34 without the need for any special tools, and 
bolt 34 can be withdrawn from passage 32. Once bolt 34 has been removed 
from passage 32, the first and second support platforms 12 and 14 can be 8 
rotated in a horizontal plane relative to clamp 62 to vertically align 
hole 40 in flange 16 with hole 46 in flange 18, such rotation 10 being 
permitted due to pivotal movement of spring mounting legs 60 in openings 
74 in clamp 62. In the rotated position for support 12 platforms 12 and 14 
shown in FIG. 4, the longitudinal central axis through the aligned holes 
40 and 46 is contained in plane P, and 14 bolt 34 can be inserted through 
the aligned holes to secure the flanges via wingnut 36 and obtain a center 
to center lateral separation for the support platforms 12 and 14 of 
approximately six and one half inches. 
Having described a preferred embodiment of a new and improved bicycle seat 
constructed in accordance with the invention, it is believed that other 
modifications, variations and changes will be suggested to those skilled 
in the art in view of the teachings set forth herein It is therefore to be 
understood that all such variations, modifications and changes are 
believed to fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by 
the appended claims.