Abstract:
A bicycle saddle system includes a plurality of molded bottom shells, each having a different resiliency, a plurality of molded top shells, each having a different resiliency and rails for attaching the bicycle saddle to a bicycle. Grooves in the top and bottom shells are provided for releasably fixing the rails therebetween and a cushion is removably attached to one of the top and one of the bottom shells. Selection of top and bottom molded shells provides for tailoring resiliency of the bicycle saddle.

Description:
The present invention is generally directed to the field of bicycle saddles or the like, and is more particularly directed to a bicycle saddle which is easily assembled and provides resilient cushioning for a rider without the use of springs or the like. 
     Typical bicycle saddles generally include a seat portion and a support frame with the saddle being generally horizontal along a longitudinal axis with a horn or pommel, and a substantially wider tail portion. The seat generally includes a shell or frame which may be molded plastic covered by a suitable cushion material. 
     Most saddles utilize a support frame which includes a pair of support rails that extend along the longitudinal axis of the saddle and are fixed to the underside of the frame. In addition, in order to provide a more resilient ride, springs are typically included in the saddle configuration for providing a suspension system for the saddle in order to reduce discomfort when riding over rough terrain. Without such springs, a typical saddle utilizes only padding for absorbing vibrations caused by bumps or unevenness in the road which are transmitted directly to the rider. 
     The typical spring suspension systems are expensive to manufacture and install and require a multitude of steps and parts. 
     The present invention provides for a saddle which is easily assembled without the use of springs and still provides a resilient suspension for the rider in addition to a cushion or pad. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A bicycle saddle in accordance with the present invention generally includes a molded bottom shell having a horn portion with a depending horn cavity, a seat portion with a depending seat cavity and a raised area interconnecting the horn and seat portions. This molded, configuration with the raised area interconnecting, provides resiliency to the saddle, as will be hereinafter described, without the use of springs. 
     Rails are provided for attaching the bicycle saddle to a bicycle and areas disposed in the bottom shell, are provided for supporting the rails between the horn and seat portion and between the raised area. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the areas may be groves and the rails may be fixed into the grooves by a molded top shell which is shaped and sized for nesting within the bottom shell. More particularly, the grooves include a horn grove disposed in a bottom of the depending horn cavity and a pair of seat grooves disposed in the bottom of the depending seat cavity. The horn groove is spaced apart from the pair of seat grooves. 
     Alternatively, the rails may be fixed into the depending groves by clamps disposed into the depending horn and seat cavities proximate the horn grooves and the seat grooves respectively. 
     The cushion may be molded with threaded members for receiving screws extending through the top and bottom molded shells for securing the cushion over the top and bottom molded shells together with the rails clamped between the top and bottom molded shells. Thus, the entire saddle may by assembled by nesting the components and screwing same together. 
     More particularly,, the bottom shell raised area may include a hole therethrough and the top shell, and cushion each may include holes therethrough with the holes being aligned with one another. This provides for ventilation through the saddle for the comfort of the rider. In addition, the cushion may include a shoulder around a lower perimeter thereof with the shoulder extending inwardly from the cushion side and the bottom shell may include a flared upper perimeter for engaging the cushion shoulder with the bottom shell perimeter being flush with the cushion side. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood with the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle saddle in accordance with the present invention generally showing a molded bottom shell with a cushion disposed thereover; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the saddle shown in FIG. 1 taken from a bottom perspective and showing the saddle comprising only three components, namely, a bottom shell, top shell, and cushion which are assembled through the use of screws as hereinafter described in greater detail; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the saddle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 more clearly showing the molded bottom shell having a horn portion with a depending horn cavity, a seat portion with a depending seat cavity and a raised area interconnecting the horn and seat portions along with rails clamped between the top and bottom shells and beneath a raised area interconnecting the horn and seat portions; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the saddle shown in FIG. 3 taken along line  4 — 4 ; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention in which the cushion is molded with threaded members for receiving screws for assembly; and 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the saddle shown in FIG. 5 taken along line  6 — 6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a bicycle saddle  10  in accordance with the present invention which includes a molded bottom shell  12 , molded top shell  14  and cushion  16 . The bottom shell  12  and top shell  14  may be molded from any suitable material having suitable rigidity and flexibility to support a rider (not shown) seated on the cushion  16 . The cushion  16  may be formed from any suitable material as for example, a gel made in accordance with any one of the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,679,193, 5,756,184, 5,932,046, 5,993,584, 6,007,149, 6,027,674, 6,030,035 to Yates, all of which are to be incorporated herewith in their entirety by the specific reference thereto. 
     Rails  20  are provided for attaching the bicycle saddle  10  to a bicycle (not shown). 
     As most clearly shown in FIG. 2, the bottom shell  12  includes a depending horn cavity  28  a depending seat cavity  30  with a raised area  32  therebetween. This molded structure provides resiliency between the horn cavity  28  and seat cavity  30 , which in turn, provides a spring-like quality to the saddle  10  without the actual use of springs (not shown). 
     To minimize structural complexity, specific areas, such as, for example, grooves  36  (see FIG. 2) disposed in the depending horn cavity  28  and grooves  40  in the depending seat cavity  30  (see FIG. 4) provide a means for supporting the rails  20  between the horn  28  and the seat portions  30  under the raised portion  32 . The top shell  14  may have corresponding areas or grooves  36   a ,  40   a  to provide a means for fixing the rails  14  in the grooves  36 ,  40 . It should be appreciated that while specific groves  36 ,  40  have been shown to support the rails  20 , other surface areas such as recesses, or spaced apart ribs, mounds, dimples or the like, not shown, may be utilized for rail  20  support on the bottom shell  30  or between the bottom shell  12  and top shell  14 . 
     In the embodiment  10  shown in FIG. 3-4, bolts  46  and nuts  48 , extending through the bottom shell  12  and top shell  14 , fix the top shell  14  to the bottom shell  12  with the rails  20  positioning and therebetween and nested in the grooves  36 ,  40 . As shown, the top shell  14  is shaped and sized for nesting within the bottom shell  12  to effect the rail  20  clamping. 
     In the embodiment  10  shown in FIGS. 1-4, the cushion  16  may be adhered to the top shell  14  in any conventional manner. To provide for comfort and ventilation, a hole  50   30  may be provided through the bottom shell  12  which is aligned with a hole  52  through the top shell  14  and an opening  54  through the cushion  16 . 
     This aligned passageway which consists of the holes  52 ,  54  and opening  56  also provides increased resiliency of the saddle  10  in the area of the raised portion  32  of the bottom shell  10  along with a raised portion  62  of the nested top shell  14 . 
     Manufacturing or assembly of the saddle  10  in accordance with the present invention is facilitated due to the minimum parts necessary, namely, bottom shell  12 , top shell  14  and cushion  16 , all of which may be molded, along with rails  20  and bolts  46  which are easily combined to form the saddle  10  with minimal labor. To provide a finished appearance, the cushion  16  may include a shoulder  64  around a lower perimeter  66  thereof and the bottom shell  12  includes a flared upper perimeter  68  which is flush with a cushion side  70 , see FIG.  4 . This upstanding or flared upper perimeter or portion  68  also provides firmness to support the cushion  16  to prevent significant expansion horizontally and provide edges strength to the cushion  16 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the saddle  80  in accordance with the present invention utilizing the bottom shell  12  and top shell  14  as herein above described. Common reference numbers in FIGS. 5 and 6 with those of FIGS. 1-4, represent components which are identical or substantially similar. 
     A cushion  82  of the s addle  80  as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, include threaded members  84 ,  86  which are molded thereinto in a conventional manner for receiving the bolts  46 . Accordingly, in this embodiment  80 , all three major components, namely, the bottom shell  12 , top shell  14  and cushion  82  are separable and exchangeable if desired. Exchangeability of components enables the assembly of the saddle  80  with bottom shells, top shells and cushions of various resiliencies (not shown) in order to modify the resilient characteristics of the saddle. 
     That is, the bottom shell may be formed with a raised portion  32  having thicker or thinner dimensions to control the resiliency thereof. This is also true of the corresponding raised portions  64  of the top shell  14 . In addition, the cushion  82  may be molded with gels of various consistencies to further tailor the resilient qualities of the saddle  80 . 
     Although there has been herein above described a bicycle saddle and system in accordance with the present invention for the purpose of illustrating a manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. Accordingly, any and all modifications, versions, or equivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art should be considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.