Abstract:
In a preferred embodiment, a shock-absorbing bicycle seat mount, including a post fixedly attached to a bicycle seat at a proximal end of the post, a distal end of the post being inserted into a bicycle seat tube for axial movement therein; biasing apparatus disposed within the seat tube to support the post; an axial movable platform disposed within the seat tube to support the biasing apparatus and the post; biasing apparatus external of the seat tube disposed to connect the support platform to an upper portion of the seat tube; apparatus to prevent rotational movement of the post within the seat tube; and means to manually fix a minimum height of the post and attached saddle with dis-engagement of the shock-absorbing apparatus at that point.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present application is a Division of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/752,086, filed Dec. 29, 2000 and titled SHOCK-ABSORBING BICYCLE SEAT MOUNT SYSTEM which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/253,113 filed Feb. 19, 1999 and titled A SHOCK-ABSORBING BICYCLE SEAT MOUNT SYSTEM, abandoned. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to bicycles generally and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a novel shock-absorbing bicycle seat mount system.  
           [0004]    2. Background Art  
           [0005]    Ordinarily, bicycle (bike) seats are supported on a post that is tightly clamped in a bike seat tube portion of a bike frame. This is true for movable bicycles and also for stationary, exercise bikes. Seat height location is provided by a certain extension of the seat post upwardly and outwardly from the seat tube. At a post height extension for a particular rider&#39;s desired seat height, a clamp located at the top of the tube is tightened to prevent any dislocation movement of the seat post. Thus, the seat post becomes, in effect, integral with the rigid bike frame which ordinarily does not provide for any road mechanical shock absorption other than that absorbed by the bike&#39;s inflated rubber tires and front fork shock absorbers when the latter are provided.  
           [0006]    A bike rider would experience a more comfortable ride on a seat mount that is free to move in a seat tube with provision for road shock absorption by spring support. It would be desirable therefor, to have a seat post cushioned on a compression spring supported on a platform in the bike seat tube with the platform movably suspended by an external extension spring connected to an upper portion of the bicycle.  
           [0007]    A cushioned seat post enabled to move in a quasi-vertical motion along the longitudinal axis of and inside a bicycle seat tube unrestrained by a tightened clamp as described above but restricted as to it&#39;s rotational, “swivel”, motion is preferentially required for this desired shock-absorbing effect.  
           [0008]    Accordingly, it is a principal objective of the present invention to provide a shock-absorbing bicycle seat mount that absorbs imparted road shock.  
           [0009]    It is a further objective of the invention to provide such a bicycle seat mount system that conjunctively prevents rotational motion of the bicycle seat mount.  
           [0010]    It is yet a further objective of the invention to selectively allow dis-engagement or limitation of the seat mount shock-absorbing effect with manual ease.  
           [0011]    It is an additional objective of this invention to provide such a bicycle seat mount system that can either be retrofitted to an existing bicycle or incorporated in the bicycle at the time of manufacture of the bicycle.  
           [0012]    It is another objective of this invention to provide such a bicycle seat mount system that can be economically constructed, easily installed and readily dis-engaged.  
           [0013]    Other objectives of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated in, or be apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    The present invention achieves the above objectives, among others, by providing in a preferred embodiment, a shock-absorbing bicycle seat mount system comprising: a post fixedly attached to a bicycle seat at a proximal end of said post, a distal end of said post being inserted into a bicycle seat tube for axial movement therein; biasing means disposed within said seat tube to support said post; a platform disposed partially within and without said seat tube for axial movement therein and support of said post and said biasing means; biasing means external of said seat tube to suspend said platform and re-direct force loading theron to an upper portion of the seat tube; a seat tube structurally configured to accomodate such shock absorption means and co-operatively prevent rotational movement of said post within said seat tube; and means to dis-engage or limit the bias of the shock-absorbing apparatus.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    Understanding of the present invention and the various aspects thereof will be facilitated by reference to the accompanying drawing figures, submitted for purposes of illustration only and not intended to define the scope of the invention on which:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is an exploded front elevational view, partially in cross section, of a spring cushioned bicycle seat post enabled to move longitudinally but not rotationally in a bicycle seat tube while supported on a platform that is enabled to move longitudinally within and extended out of, the bicycle seat tube.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 2A and 2B are side elevational and front elevational views, respectively, of one embodiment of an external extension spring linkage apparatus connected to a bicycle seat post&#39;s longitudinally movable support platform for shock absorption and transference of it&#39;s downward force loading to an upper portion of the seat tube.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of an extension spring linkage apparatus for use in a bicycle seat mount shock-absorbing system.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 4 and 5 are examples of clamps that may be used to attach the extension spring linkage apparatus to a bicycle seat tube.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate means to prevent or limit downward motion of a bicycle seat post that is otherwise enabled to move longitudinally within a bicycle seat tube.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a bicycle seat tube configured for insertion of a complementary shaped insert at it&#39;s top to prevent rotational motion of a shape conforming bicycle seat post and for axial movable outward extension of the seat post&#39;s support platform through openings in the seat tube wall.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is an illustration of a typical bicycle frame with it&#39;s seat tube identified.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]    This is a division of Ser. No. 09/752,086, Filed Dec. 29, 2000.  
         [0024]    Reference should now be made to the drawing figures herein, numbered from  1  to  9 , on which similar or identical elements are given consistent identifying numerals throughout the various figures thereof, and on which parenthetical references to figure numbers direct the reader to the view(s) on which the element(s) being described is (are) best seen, although the element(s) may be seen also on other views.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 illustrates inner elements of a shock-absorbing bicycle seat mount, generally indicated by the reference numeral  200 , constructed to accomodate longitudinal movement of a slotted seat post  210 , onto which bicycle saddle  212  is clamped by collar  214  but which is prevented from rotational motion by protrusion  262  that extends inwardly from snug fitting, dimensionally conforming insert  250  into slot  264  of seat post  210 . Rotational motion of insert  250  is prevented by tab  220  extending outwardly from the outer wall of  250 , depending from flange  252  and protruding into notch  240  of seat tube  202 .  
         [0026]    Seat post  210 , optional spacer blocks  222 , biasing means  224  and vibration eliminator wafer  230  are supported on platform  232  which is enabled to move longitudinally in seat tube  202  with it&#39;s opposite ends extended through diametrically opposite openings  246  through the wall of seat tube  202 .  
         [0027]    The ends of platform  232  are connected to one embodiment of an extension spring arrangement for use in a bicycle seat mount system that re-directs the downward force loading on  232  to an upper portion of a bicycle seat tube as shown in FIG. 2A.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 2A, generally indicated by the reference numeral  200 , is a side elevational view, partially in cross section, that illustrates a preferred embodiment of a bicycle shock-absorbing seat mount constructed according to the present invention.  
         [0029]    Extension spring arrangement  700  includes a first vertical tube  710  having disposed therein an extension spring  712 . The upper end of extension spring  712  is attached to the lower end of a first rod  720  and the lower end of extension spring  712  is attached to the upper end of a second rod  722 . The lower end of second rod  722  and the upper end of a third rod  730  are threadedly attached to a turnbuckle  732 . The upper end of first rod  720  is attached to a collar  740  operatively fixedly disposed around an upper perimeter of bicycle seat tube  702 , while the lower end of third rod  730  is attached to a yoke  742  which, in turn, is attached to the ends of support platform  744  that protrude through the wall of bicycle seat tube  702  through diametrically opposite vertical slots  746  (only one shown on FIG. 2A) which may be provided with a flexible cover. A second vertical tube  750  telescoping inserted into the lower end of first vertical tube  710  permits access to turnbuckle  732  for the adjustment thereof and provides for an adjustable total length of extension spring arrangement  700  that is suitable for emplacement along bicycle seat tube  702  of any originally manufactured bicycle. Upper and lower clamps  760  and  762 , respectively, may be provided for the attachment of extension spring arrangement  700  to bicycle seat tube  702  and/or the arrangement may be attached by weld  764 . Platform  744  movably supports a bicycle seat post and any ancillary components including biasing means which may be similar to those described above in FIG. 1. In any case, extension spring arrangement  700  re-directs a downward force loading on longitudinally movable support platform  744  to an upper portion of the bicycle and provides mechanical shock absorption. Upper and lower sliding means  770  and  772 , respectively, may be provided between bicycle seat tube  702  and first and third rods  720  and  730  and may consist of rollers, wheels, low friction blocks or the like.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2B is a frontal elevational view of the same components of extension spring  700  except weld  764  is not visible.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 3 illustrates a more simplified extension spring arrangement, generally indicated by the reference numeral  800 , as compared with extension spring arrangement  700  of FIGS. 2A and 2B. Extension spring arrangement  800  includes an extension spring  810  disposed in a vertical tube  812 . The upper end of extension spring  810  is attached to the lower end of an upper rod  820 , while the lower end of the extension spring is attached to the upper end of a lower rod  822 . The upper end of upper rod  820  is attached to a collar  826  disposed around an upper perimeter of bicycle seat tube  802 , while the lower end of lower rod  822  is attached to a yoke  830  which, in turn, is attached to the ends of support platform  832  that protrude through diametrically opposite openings in bicycle seat tube  802 . Upper and lower sliding means  840  and  842  may be provided, respectively, between bicycle seat tube  802  and upper rod  820  and lower rod  822 . Vertical tube  812  may be attached to bicycle seat tube  802  by means of a weld  850 .  
         [0032]    Extension spring arrangement  800  is applicable in OEM bike manufacture where the length of bicycle seat tube  802  is known and no adjustment of the total length of extension spring arrangement is required, as would be required for retrofitting in a variety of bicycle seat tube lengths.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 4 illustrates in more detail, the components of upper clamp  760  attaching first tube  710  to bicycle seat tube  702  while FIG. 5 illustrates in more detail, the components of lower clamp  762  attaching second tube  750  to the bicycle seat tube.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6 illustrates means to manually prevent downward motion of a bicycle seat post (and an attched saddle)  650  at a selected elevation when inserted in a bicycle seat tube  652 . A plurality of indents, as at  660 , is defined in the inner surface of vertical slot  662 . An annular collar  670  is disposed around bicycle seat post  650 , the collar having a threaded fastener  672  inserted therethrough and into a selected one of indents  660 , and the collar having dimensions such that it can rest on the top of bicycle seat tube  652  or any insert therein. Thus arranged, the minimum height of bicycle seat post  650  can be selectively fixed and further cushiong action dis-engaged.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 7 illustrates another arrangement for restriction of downward motion of a bicycle seat post  750  in a bicycle seat tube  752 . A plurality of holes, as at  760 , is defined in the inner surface of vertical slot  762 . A peg  772  with length exceeding the outer diameter of a flanged perimeter of bicycle seat tube  752 , is selectively inserted through one of the holes diametrically across and on the surface of said tube perimeter. Thus arranged, the minimum height of bicycle seat post  750  can be selectively fixed at which point of elevation, the means for shock-absorption described above are dis-engaged.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a bicycle seat tube  900  with notch cut-out  910  in it&#39;s upper perimeter for protrusion of a tab extending from the outer wall of a cylindrical, shape conforming insert (depicted as  220  and  240  respectively on FIG. 1) that prevents rotational motion of a seat post enclosed therein. Diametrically opposite, longitudinal, oblong slots  920  in a lower portion of seat tube  900  allow extension therethrough of a longitudinally movable seat post support platform.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 9 depicts a common bicycle frame with seat tube  900  identified.  
         [0038]    In the embodiments of the present invention described above, it will be recognized that individual elements and/or features thereof are not necessarily limited to a particular embodiment but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in any selected embodiment even though such may not be specifically shown.  
         [0039]    Terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “inner”, “outer”, “inwardly”, “outwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and the like, when used herein, refer to the positions of the respective elements shown on the accompanying drawing figures and the present invention is not necessarily limited to such positions.  
         [0040]    It will thus be seen that the objective set forth above, among those elucidated in, or made apparent from, the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown on the accompanying drawing figures shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limited sense.  
         [0041]    It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.