Control device for adjustable bicycle seat

A bicycle seat adjustable device includes an outer tube and an inner tube inserted into the outer tube. A piston seat and a clamp unit are connected to the inner tube. A valve unit extends through the piston seat and is located in the inner tube. The valve unit includes a rod extending through the piston seat and reaches the bottom end of the outer tube. A control unit has a control unit connected to the bottom end of the outer tube and an action unit is located outside of the outer tube. The control unit has a push member connected with the rod. The action unit has a cable extending through the outer tube and connected to the push member. A switch is connected to the cable. The push member is indirectly moved to move the rod to control the hydraulic path in the piston seat by pulling the cable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a control device, and more particularly, to a control device using hydraulic and/or pneumatic means to control the hydraulic paths of the control device to adjust the height of the bicycle seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The proper height of the bicycle seat for the cyclist is crucial for protecting the cyclist from being injured during operation the bicycle and also for obtaining maximum efficiency of the operation of the bicycle. The adjustable bicycle seat is a trend for most of the bicycles when considering the cost of custom-made bicycle frames.

The existed bicycle seat adjustable devices use an adjustable mechanism located between the seat post and the seat tube so as to control the linear movement between the seat post and the seat tube. The conventional seat adjustable devices generally include mechanical adjustable devices, hydraulic/pneumatic adjustable devices, and hybrid adjustable devices which uses air and hydraulic media to adjust the seat. The mechanical adjustable devices use mechanical parts to set the relative height between the seat and the seat tube. The hydraulic/pneumatic adjustable devices use hydraulic media such as oil or air to achieve the purposes of adjustment of the seat. The hybrid adjustable devices utilize both of the air and hydraulic oil to adjust the height of the seat relative to the seat tube.

Each of the mechanical adjustable devices, hydraulic/pneumatic adjustable devices, and hybrid adjustable devices has a control unit so as to activate the adjustable device to allow the seat to be movable relative to the seat tube, when the seat is adjusted to a desired height, the control unit is locked to set the height of the seat. The control unit can be connected to the seat tube or the seat post directly so as to control the adjustable device. Alternatively, the control unit can be connected to any position of the bicycle frame other than the seat post and the seat tube.

One of the seat adjustable devices is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,083,180 and comprises a control unit located in the seat tube and the user can pivot a lever to push the rod in the adjustable device to seal or open the oil paths in the seat post and the seat tube so as to adjust the position of the seat.

Another adjustable device is disclosed in Taiwan Utility Patent Application No. 097223637 and comprises an inner tube which has an axial adjustment slot with two inclined insides, multiple holes are located at the bottom of the slot. An outer tube is mounted to the inner tube which is movable linearly relative to the outer tube. A cap seals the bottom of the outer tube and has a position rod extending into the outer tube. A spring is located in the outer tube and has one end extending through the positioning rod and the other end of the spring contacts the inner tube. An action unit extends through the outer tube and the slot, and includes a positioning member which is engaged with one of the holes. The positioning member has inclined surfaces which are matched with the inclined insides of the slot so that the positioning member is movable in the radial direction to control the relative position between the inner and outer tubes.

Yet another adjustable device is disclosed in Taiwan Utility Patent Application No. 094204651 and comprises a rise device and a control device, wherein the rise device has a spring and a locking member located in the recess of the seat tube. The locking member has a block and a passage, multiple hard sleeves, soft sleeves, washers and a base connected to the seat post. The base has protrusions on the periphery thereof to form a connection space. A washer, a locking member and a rod are located in the connection space. The control device has a lever and a cable which is fixed to a board by the locking member. The connection space of the seat tube has a closed end and the cable extends through the seat post. A flange extends from a mediate portion of the seat post and multiple blocks are connected to the lower end of the seat post to form connection slots.

The first two prior adjustable devices provide the switch close to the seat tube or the seat post, wherein the switch of the first adjustable device is directly connected to the rod so as to control the linear movement of the seat post and is suitable cooperated with the hydraulic/pneumatic adjustable devices. The second adjustable device provides an engaging device located between the seat post and the seat tube and has multiple holes located axially such that the positioning member is engaged with one of the holes to seat the height. The third adjustable device provides the lever outside of the seat post and the seat tube, and the user can operate the lever. The rise device is connected with a cable which activates the action of adjustment.

However, the hydraulic/pneumatic adjustment devices are restricted by the position of the rod so that the rod has to be connected to the related hydraulic/pneumatic parts. The rod extends downward from the post tube to the valve unit so that the most of the parts are located on the top section of the seat tube and the action unit is located close to the clamp unit. If the rod extends upward from the seat tube and is connected to the valve unit, the action unit has to be located at the lower portion so as to be connected to the rod and control the movement of the rod.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bicycle seat adjustable device and comprises an outer tube which is a hollow tube and has a top end and a bottom end. An inner tube is a hollow tube and inserted into the outer tube via the top end of the out tube. The inner tube has a piston seat and a clamp unit on two ends thereof. A valve unit extends through the piston seat and is located in the inner tube. The valve unit comprises a rod extending through the piston seat and reaches the bottom end so as to control hydraulic path in the piston seat. A control unit has a control unit connected to the bottom end of the outer tube and an action unit is located outside of the outer tube. The control unit has a push member connected with the rod so as to move the rod linearly. The action unit has a cable which extends through the outer tube and is connected to the push member. A distal end of the cable is connected to a switch. The push member is indirectly moved so as to move the rod to control the hydraulic path in the piston seat by pulling the cable. The inner tube is movable relative to the outer tube so as to set the height of the bicycle seat. The action unit is not restricted by the position of the rod and the switch can be installed to any position of the bicycle frame.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle seat adjustable device which is used for the hydraulic/pneumatic adjustable device, wherein the rod of the valve unit extends upward in the seat tube. The action unit is located out side of the seat tube such that the action unit is not restricted by the position of the rod and the switch can be installed to any position of the bicycle frame.

The secondary object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle seat adjustable device wherein the control unit is composed of two parts and is connected to the control unit and the rod located at the outer tube or the seat tube. The action unit is located out side of the seat tube and cooperated with a cable. The device includes less number of parts and can be easily and quickly assembled.

The third object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle seat adjustable device wherein the positioning unit is connected to the outer tube or the seat tube and the cable is wrapped to the positioning unit such that the cable does not shift or loosened.

The fourth object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle seat adjustable device wherein the action unit and the control unit are used for the hydraulic/pneumatic adjustable device, so that the action unit and the control unit can be used with mechanical adjustable device, hydraulic/pneumatic adjustable devices and electro-magnetic adjustable devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 6, the bicycle seat adjustable device of the present invention is installed in the seat tube51of a bicycle frame50and comprises an outer tube10in which an inner tube20is located. A valve unit30is located in the inner tube20and control assembly40is connected to the handlebar52of the bicycle frame50.

The outer tube10is a hollow tube and has a top end11and a bottom end12on two ends thereof. The outer tube has a slot13defined axially in outer surface thereof.

The inner tube20is a hollow tube which is inserted into the outer tube10via the top end11of the out tube10. The inner tube20has a piston seat21and a clamp unit22are connected on two ends thereof.

The valve unit30extends through the piston seat21and located in the inner tube20. The valve unit30comprises a rod31extending through the piston seat21and reaches the bottom end12so as to control hydraulic path in the piston seat21.

The control assembly40has a control unit41connected to the bottom end12of the outer tube10and an action unit42which is located outside of the outer tube10. The control unit41has a push member411connected with the rod31so as to move the rod31linearly. The action unit42has a cable421which extends through the outer tube10and is connected to the push member411. A distal end of the cable421is connected to a switch422. The push member411is indirectly moved so as to move the rod31to control the hydraulic path in the piston seat21by pulling the cable421.

The action unit42has a securing init423which comprises a pin424and two parts425,426. The two parts425,426form a clamping space427so as to be connected to the bicycle frame, such as the handlebar52. The switch422is pivotably connected to the two parts425,426. The control unit41has a frame412fixed in the bottom end12and the frame412has a space413. The rod31extends through the frame412and is inserted into the space413. The push member411is an elongate rod and pivotably connected to the space413and pivotable in the space413. The cable421extends through the outer tube10and the frame412and is located in the space413and connected to the push member411.

By the action unit42located outside of the bicycle frame50, the user pulls the cable421to indirectly move the push member411to move the rod31linearly and control the hydraulic path in the piston seat21. Therefore, the inner tube20is movable relative to the outer tube10. The action unit42is not restricted by the position of the rod31so that the action unit42can be installed to any position of the bicycle frame50.

When in assembling, the piston seat21and the clamp unit22are connected to the two ends of the inner tube20, and the piston seat21leads the inner tube20into the outer tube10. The valve unit30extends into the piston seat21and one end of the rod31extends into the piston seat21and the other end of the rod31extends toward the bottom end12. The push member411is pivotably connected to the space413of the frame412, the frame412is fixed in the bottom end12and the rod31extends into the space413. The two parts415,426and the switch422are pivotably connected to each other by the pin424so as to form the clamping space427. The cable421has one end extending into the space413and fixed to the push member411. The other end of the cable421extends through the slot13of the outer tube10.

As shown inFIG. 7, the clamping space427is mounted to the handlebar52of the bicycle frame52and the outer tube10, the inner tube20, the valve unit30and the control assembly40are installed in the seat tube51. The cable421extends through the seat tube51and is exposed from the bicycle frame50. The cable421extends toward the action unit42and is wrapped to a desired position of the bicycle frame50. Finally, the cable421extends through the part425and is connected to the switch422.

It is noted that the action unit42can be installed to any position of the bicycle frame50such as the handlebar52, the head tube, the top tube, the down tube and the seat tube51.

As shown inFIG. 8, when adjusting the bicycle seat, the user pivots the switch422to pull the cable421and the push member411is pivoted so that the rod31is moved toward the piston seat21to open the hydraulic path in the piston seat21such that the inner tube20is moved linearly relative to the outer tube10. When the bicycle seat reaches the desired position, the switch422is released and the cable421is released, the rod31is pushed to its original position by the spring in the valve unit30, and the hydraulic path in the piston seat21is closed. The rod31pushes the push member411back and the inner tube20is set relative to the outer tube10.

The valve unit30makes the rod31the rod31to extend upward and toward the piston seat21from the bottom end12, and this is different from the way of the rod of the conventional adjustable devices. Because the control portion of the valve unit30is located at the lower position so as to move the rod31up and down, so that the control unit41is installed to the bottom end12of the outer tube10.

The control assembly40is separated from the valve unit30so that the control unit41is connected to the rod31, and cooperated with the action unit42via the cable421. The action unit42is not restricted by the position of the rod31and the switch422can be installed to any position of the bicycle frame50. The adjustable device includes less number of parts and can be easily and quickly assembled.

The slot13provides a space for the cable421to extend so that the cable421is not shift or disengaged, and the cable421is not exposed out form the outer periphery of the outer tube10. When the outer tube10is located in the seat tube51, there will be not necessary to have a gap between the inner periphery of the seat tube51and the outer periphery of the outer tube10for the cable421. This also makes the assembly of the outer tube10and the seat tube51be easy because the cable421is not exposed.

The control unit41is installed in the bottom end12by the frame412with the space413, the frame412seals the lower end of the outer tube10to form a room for the hydraulic oil or air, the space413also accepts the control unit41.

The push member411is pivotably connected in the space413and one side of the push member411contacts an end of the rod31and the other end of the push member411is connected to the cable421. The cable421can be operated by smaller force to move the rod31.

FIG. 9shows the second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the outer tube10is integrally formed with the seat tube51of the bicycle frame50. The outer tube10has a positioning block14and the cable421extends through the positioning block14and is guided by the positioning block14.

In this embodiment, the seat tube51replaces the outer tube10and the parts are installed in the seat tube51, and this embodiment has the same functions as those of the first embodiment.

Referring toFIGS. 10 and 11, a third embodiment is disclosed, wherein the control assembly40has a positioning unit43which is mounted to the outer tube10and has an annular portion431. Two base parts432are connected to the annular portion431and separated from each other at a distance. A shaft433is located between the two base parts432and the cable421is wrapped to the shaft433. A sleeve428is mounted to the cable421that is exposed outside of the outer tube10.

In this embodiment, the positioning unit43is provided and is connected to a pre-set position of the outer tube10which does not need to have extra or different shape and structure. The positioning unit43guides the cable421to wrap correctly and prevents the cable421from being shifted.

Besides, the shaft433can be a fixed rod or a rod that is pivotable and can spin so as to drive the cable421. The sleeve428protects the cable421from the water and dust.

FIGS. 12 to 14show the fourth embodiment, wherein the control unit41has a frame412which is integrally formed with the bottom end12and the frame412has a space413. The rod31extends through the frame412and is inserted into the space413. The push member411is cone-shaped member and linearly movable in the space413. The cable421extends through the outer tube10and the frame412and is located in the space413and connected to the push member411. A spring414is located between an inside of the space413and the push member411so as to provide a force to the push member411.

The embodiment provides alternative embodiment of the control unit41and uses the cone-shaped push member411to move the rod31toward the piston seat21when the push member411is linearly moved. When the cable421is released, the push member411is moved in opposite direction by the spring414, the rod31is moved along the tapered surface of the push member411and rod31gradually moves toward the space413.

FIGS. 15 and 16show the fifth embodiment of the present invention wherein the control assembly40has a control unit41connected to the bottom end12of the outer tube10and an action unit42which is located outside of the outer tube10. The control unit41has a push member411connected with the rod31so as to move the rod31linearly. The action unit42has an oil hose429which extends through the outer tube10and is connected to the push member411. A distal end of the oil hose429is connected to a switch422. The push member411is indirectly moved so as to move the rod31to control the hydraulic path in the piston seat21by controlling hydraulic liquid in the oil hose429.

The control unit41has a control cylinder415fixed to the bottom end12and connected to the push member411. The control cylinder415drives the push member411to move linearly by hydraulic force. The oil hose429extends through the outer tube10and is inserted into the bottom end12so as to be connected to the control cylinder415which is controlled by the action unit42to indirectly move the push member411linearly. The rod31is in contact with an end of the push member411which moves the rod31. The action unit42has an action cylinder420located between the switch422and the oil hose429so as to control hydraulic oil in the oil hose429to flow to the control cylinder415to indirectly move the push member411and linearly move the rod31.

The action unit42and the control unit41of the embodiment can be operated by hydraulic oil and perform the same functions as those in the previous embodiments. The action unit42and the control unit41of the embodiment can also be operated in pneumatic or mechanical adjustable devices.

FIGS. 17 and 18show the sixth embodiment, wherein the control assembly40has an electric control valve unit44connected to the bottom end12of the outer tube10and an action unit45which is located outside of the outer tube10. The electric control valve unit44has a push member411connected with the rod31so as to move the rod31linearly. The action unit45has an electric wire451which extends through the outer tube10and is connected to the push member411. A distal end of the electric wire451is connected to a switch452so as to control the electric wire451and indirectly push the push member411to move the rod31linearly and control hydraulic path in the piston seat21by the electric control valve unit44.

The electric control valve unit44has an electric control member442fixed in the bottom end12and connected to the push member441. The electric control member442drives the push member441linearly by way of electro-magnetic force. The electric wire451extends through the outer tube10and is located in the bottom end12so as to be connected to the electric control member442which is controlled by the action unit45and indirectly drives the push member441linearly. The rod31is in contact with one end of the push member441and pushed by the push member441. The action unit45has an action member453located between the switch422and the electric wire452so as to transfer the electro-magnetic force in the electric wire451to the electric control member442to indirectly move the push member441and the rod31.

The action unit45and the electric control valve unit44of the embodiment can be used with any type of adjustable devices and perform the same functions.