Retractable nose saddle

A retractable nose saddle comprising a sliding assembly (3) underneath the saddle parts (5, 2), which enables the separate nose portion (2) to be moved underneath or into the noseless saddle portion (5) to form a noseless saddle or to be moved back out from underneath or from within the noseless portion (5) to form a nosed saddle again.

BACKGROUND

Cycling is one of the most enjoyable and accessible of activities. It not only provides exercise, but also enables the user to travel to a different location—for work or pleasure, thus saving money, reducing the pollution of the environment by use of motor vehicles.

However many saddle designs have a long nose, which can irritate the perineum region of the body.

Many manufacturers have solved this problem by designing noseless saddles.

However one criticism of the noseless saddle is that it results in loss of control by the user (although this control can be regained by retraining).

Advantages

The advantages of this invention are twofold:

1) Firstly it gives users the choice of saddle type and so enables accessibility to cycling to a wider group of people.

2) Secondly the saddle includes the option for less or more control of the saddle by retracting or extending the nose, which other saddles do not do, as they are either one or the other.

DESCRIPTION

The fixed portion of the frame of the saddle1is similar to the rigid portion of a noseless saddle. However the nose section2is retractable. This can be achieved in a number of different ways, one of which has been illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2.

Guide rails or runners3(sliding mechanism) are located near the base of the saddle seat post rails1as shown inFIGS. 1 & 2, which enable a separate padded nose section2to be pushed out into the space that a nose might ordinarily occupy on a normal nosed saddle.

The extent to which the nose is pushed out is adjustable and locking means4are provided on the sliding nose (in the pictures the locking means4have been located underneath the nose, however this can be located in any suitable position) to lock the nose2in position relative to the noseless saddle portion5.

The locking means illustrated is a releasable bolt4that locks the framework1(or saddle seat post rail) of the noseless saddle portion5to the sliding mechanism3of the nose2above it, thus preventing movement when the bicycle is in use.

Any other means may be employed to enable the nose portion to be retracted underneath the saddle and held in place by securing means.

Accessing and moving the retracted nose2would be from underneath the saddle5with the releasable bolt4released.

An alternative means of retraction using a series of nested frames of reducing size may be used. When the nose is pushed in, the framework of nested sections is also pushed into the body of the frame, forming a noseless saddle.

If the user then wishes to use the whole nose again, he can push the depressed nose out again from underneath the saddle.

The positioning of the springs, saddle shaft and other supporting parts underneath the saddle, which might impede the extension or retraction of the nose, can be redesigned to ensure that the pathway of the retracting nose2is unimpeded.

An example of an alternative sliding mechanism arrangement which enables the nose portion to retract underneath the saddle is illustrated inFIGS. 3 to 6. In these figures the sliding mechanism has been sub-divided into 4 component parts:3A,3B,3C &3D.

The sliding arrangement has also been attached to the underside of the saddle parts5and2.

The sliding mechanism parts are described as follows: part3A acts as a guide and is attached to part3B which is a rod section as well as to the nose portion2. Part3D secures part3C to the noseless saddle portion5and ensures alignment of parts3B and3C.

Part3C is a tube section with a cut out groove along its length which not only allows the rod section3B to move in and out of the tube section, but also allows part3A to also move along3C when the nose portion2is extending or retracting (seeFIGS. 4,5and6).

In this alternative arrangement the locking means4is a releasable bolt that locks the rod3A to the tube3C.

Any other means of enabling the nose of the saddle to be retracted within the saddle. underneath the saddle or even hinged back underneath the saddle may be employed to achieve a noseless saddle and by reference to the accompanying drawings and description.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

This invention seeks to solve the problem of irritation of the perineum region of the body but by means of choice. This new saddle therefore has a retractable nose that allows users who prefer the nose and the control it gives them to enjoy this aspect of the saddle, but gives those who do suffer from perineum irritation or who prefer not to use the nose to retract it.

A retractable nose saddle characterized by a nose portion that is retractable using retracting means that both turns and slides the nose to and from its retracted position to allow the saddle to be used as a noseless saddle, said nose portion when not retracted providing the user the option of using the saddle as a regular nosed saddle.