Abstract:
An adjustable seat for a riding device includes a frame adapted to be attached to the riding device. A saddle has an underside and a fastening mechanism is attached to the underside of the saddle. A spring seat is attached to the frame. A removable compression spring is positioned between the fastening mechanism and the spring seat. The fastening mechanism is adjustable so that a compression of the spring between the fastening mechanism and the spring seat may be adjusted.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to accessories for bicycles, exercise equipment and riding devices and, in particular, to an adjustable riding seat having springs where the configuration of the springs can be adjusted to alter the shock absorption properties of the seat to obtain a desired level of comfort for a rider. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Riding seats are used regularly on bicycles, spinning equipment, and other types of exercise equipment or riding devices. Generally, the rider sits on the saddle of the seat, and the underside of the seat is connected to a seat post that is fastened into the seat tube of the bicycle or other exercise riding equipment. In the ease of a bicycle, during use, vibration transferred from the ground is transferred to the rider via the tires, wheels, seat tube, and the seat post. The amount of vibration transferred to the rider can affect the rider&#39;s comfort level, as can the rider&#39;s specific anatomy—such as height, weight, and gender. 
         [0003]    A comfortable seal is required in order for the rider to enjoyably ride and power the bicycle, riding device or exercise equipment for an extended period of time. As a result, modern bicycle seats typically have some level of support, providing shock absorption, and rider comfort. While different varieties, of foam padding and gels, strategic arrangement of padding, elastomer bumpers and a variety of springs may be used, for this purpose, most bicycle seats utilize a combination of padding and metal or elastomer springs to provide rider comfort and shock absorption. 
         [0004]    As noted above, however, human being anatomy is slightly different from person to person in the way the body contacts the saddle of the seat, and riding conditions (i.e. surface and terrain characteristics) may differ. As a result, nearly an infinite number of specific seat needs or preferences exist. Differing types of padding (foam or gel) and spring configurations may address some of these needs, but a single seat, with a single associated padding and spring configuration, will only address the specific needs of a limited number of riders. In other words, a single riding seat configuration will only provide a limited number of riders with a “best choice” so be or she can sit on, and pedal the bicycle or exercise riding equipment in a tolerable comfort zone for an extended period of time. As a result, the rider is often required to try many different riding seats before finding one that provides; the most comfort for his or her anatomy and the riding conditions. Even then, the rider may have to change the seat if the riding conditions change. A need therefore exists for a riding seat that may be adjusted so that switching between alternative riding seats, both during selection of a seat and use of the bicycle, riding device or exercise equipment under changing conditions, may be avoided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TEE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is side perspective view of an embodiment of the adjustable riding seat of the invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the frame portion and springs of the adjustable riding seat of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of an adjustable spring assembly of the adjustable riding seat of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the adjustable riding seat of  FIG. 1  with the frame portion omitted; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the adjustable riding seat of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are rear perspective views of the seat of  FIGS. 1 and 5  illustrating the springs in low compression and high compression configurations, respectively; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating an alternative set or pair of springs that may be used with the seat of  FIGS. 1 ,  5 ,  6 A and  6 B. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    An embodiment of the adjustable riding seat of the invention is indicated in general at  10  in  FIG. 1 . While the adjustable riding seat of the invention will be described below in terms of a bicycle seat, it is to be understood that the seat may be used with other exercise equipment or riding devices including, but not limited to, stationary bicycles and spinning equipment. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the seat includes a saddle  12  and a frame  14  connected to the underside of the saddle. The saddle  12  preferably features a padded top surface. The padding may include foam, gel or any other padding arrangement known in the art. 
         [0013]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the frame  14  features a pair of elongated rails  22   a  and  22   b  that join at their leading ends to form a V-shaped leading end portion  23  of the frame. The rails  22   a  and  22   b  are clamped to the top portion of a seat post through any conventional clamping or attachment member known in the art. The seat post is then received within the seat tube of the bicycle frame. Examples of the seat and seat post mountings are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 8,317,261 to Walsh, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The frame rails  22   a  and  22   b  may be formed from a single piece of metal wire or two or more metal wire portions that are joined. Materials other than metal wire including, but not limited to, composite materials, may be used for the frame rails  22   a  and  22   b.    
         [0014]    A spring seat  24   a  is mounted to the trailing end of the frame rail  22   a , while spring seat  24   b  is mounted to the trailing end of frame rail  22   b . Spring seat  24   a  includes an annular channel  26   a  surrounding a central aperture  27   a , while spring seat  24   b  is similarly provided with annular channel  26   b  surrounding, central aperture  27   b.    
         [0015]    As is known in the art, the V-shaped portion  23  of the frame  14  is received by a bracket (illustrated in phantom at  28  in  FIG. 1 ) positioned on the underside of the leading portion of the saddle  12 . 
         [0016]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a pair of compression springs  32   a  and  32   b  are sized to engage the annular channels  26   a  and  26   b  of the spring seats  24   a  and  24   b . The springs are preferably wave springs, and can include single turn type wave springs, crest-to-crest wave springs, nested wave springs, or a combination thereof. Crest-to-crest wave springs can include shim ends, but could also not have shim ends. The springs can be constructed of various materials known in the art and may be used in various diameters, thickness, width, height, quantity, and assortment. 
         [0017]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , spring  32   a  is part of an adjustable spring assembly, indicated in general at  34   a . In addition to spring  32   a , the adjustable spring assembly includes a fastening member, indicated in general at  36   a , an actuator, such as a thumb wheel, indicated in general at  38   a  and a fastening knob, indicated in general at  42   a.    
         [0018]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , fastening member  36   a  includes a base portion  44   a  that is attached to the underside  46  of the saddle ( 12  in  FIG. 1 ) by adhesive, welding, fasteners or other arrangements known in the art. Positioned upon the base portion of the fastening member is externally threaded stud  48   a . A barrel portion  52   a , featuring a threaded bore  54   a , is positioned on the stud  48   a.    
         [0019]    The actuator, which in this embodiment is a thumb wheel  38   a  features a ribbed or knurled circumferential surface  56   a  and a threaded central opening  58   a  passing there through. In addition, the thumb wheel includes an annular recess  62   a  that surrounds the central opening and is sized to receive an end of the spring  32   a , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The threads of central opening  58   a  are compatible with the external threads of stud  48   a  so that the thumb wheel is movably positioned on the stud, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0020]    Fastening knob  42   a  features an externally threaded post  64   a  attached to a disk, portion  66   a  that features a ribbed or knurled circumferential surface  68   a . The threads of post  64   a  are compatible with the threads of bore  54   a.    
         [0021]    The assembled adjustable spring assembly of  FIGS. 1 and 4  is indicated in general at  34   a  in  FIG. 5 . As described above and illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the thumb wheel  38   a  is positioned on the stud ( 48   a  in  FIG. 3 ) of the fastening member with the threads of the thumb wheel central opening engaging the external threads of the stud. The spring  32   a  is positioned with an end of the spring received within the annular recess  62   a  ( FIG. 3 ) of the thumb wheel. The barrel, portion  52   a  of the fastening member passes through the center of the spring, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Turning to FIG.  5 , the spring seat  24   a  is then placed in engagement with the other end of the spring  32   a  so that the end of the spring is received within the annular channel ( 26   a  of  FIG. 2 ) of the spring seat. 
         [0022]    The post of the fastening knob ( 64   a  of  FIG. 3 ) is then moved through, the spring seat aperture ( 27   a  of  FIG. 2 ) and inserted within the bore  54   a  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) of the barrel portion  52   a  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) of the fastening member. As a result, the external threads of the post of the fastening knob engage the threads of the bore of the fastening member barrel portion. With reference to  FIG. 5 , the disk portion  66   a  of the fastening knob is then turned to secure the adjustable spring assembly  34   a  together, with spring  32   a  sandwiched between the thumb wheel  38   a  and the spring seat  24   a . The disk portion  66   a  may optionally include an opening  72   a  that receives an Allen wrench or other fool to further tighten the engagement between the fastening knob and the fastening member. 
         [0023]    Adjustable spring assembly  34   b  of  FIGS. 4 and 5  features a construction similar to spring assembly  34   a.    
         [0024]    Adjustment of the compression of the springs  32   a  and  32   b , and thus the force required to compress the springs  32   a  and  32   b  by a rider sitting on the saddle  12 , will now be explained with regard to  FIGS. 6A and 6B . In  FIG. 6A , the springs  32   a  and  32   b  are in a low compression configuration, in that thumb wheels  38   a  and  38   b  are in positions generally adjacent to base portions  44   a  and  44   b . As a result, the distances between thumb wheels  38   a  and  38   b  and spring seats  24   a  and  24   b  are maximized. When in this configuration the force required to compress the springs is less so that the seat provides a “softer” feel in that shocks are more easily absorbed. 
         [0025]    The seat may be adjusted to provide a firmer feel by turning the thumb wheels  38   a  and  38   b . Due to the threaded connection between the thumb wheels  38   a  and  38   b  and their corresponding studs  48   a  and  48   b , which are mounted to the underside  46  of the saddle  12  in a fixed fashion by base portions  44   a  and  44   b , the thumb wheels move into the positions illustrated in  FIG. 6B . As a result, the distances between the thumb wheels  38   a  and  38   b  and their corresponding spring seats  24   a  and  24   b  are decreased, so that the springs  32   a  and  32   b  are compressed. When in this configuration, the force required to compress the springs is greater, so that the seat provides a “firm” feel in that shocks are less easily absorbed. 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , a set of alternative compression springs  82   a  and  82   b  may be substituted for springs  32   a  and  32   b  if required to better suit the rider or riding conditions. The ease of disassembly of the adjustable spring assemblies  34   a  and  34   b  permits easy substitution of springs  82   a  and  82   b  for springs  32   a  and  32   b.    
         [0027]    While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.