Patent Publication Number: US-8109423-B2

Title: Quick-connect structure for bicycle saddle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/194,082, filed Jul. 28, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,264,308, which application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. VI2004A0000217, filed Sep. 17, 2004, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention finds application in the field of sport and leisure accessories, and particularly relates to a quick-connect structure for bicycle saddles. The invention further relates to various components of a quick-connect structure. 
     BACKGROUND 
     One of the drawbacks associated with two-wheeled vehicles, particularly bicycles and motorcycles, is known to be the limited luggage-carrying capacity of such means of transport. Especially in bicycles, a problem may also arise from the need of carrying emergency equipment and accessories to be used in case of mechanical breakdowns, including screw drivers or wrenches. Special containers or tool kits have been designed to this purpose. 
     A number of technical arrangements have been developed to solve the problem of carrying such containers. EP 1413504 discloses a bicycle saddle having a hollow compartment at its front end for storage of equipment. This arrangement is rather uncomfortable and bulky and requires a rather large saddle. 
     PCT Published Patent Application WO 03/013946 discloses an apparatus that allows for attachment of a tool kit to a bicycle seat post. This arrangement is also bulky and impractical and has the disadvantage of at least partly preventing seat post adjustment, thereby limiting the function of this component. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,126 discloses a system for attaching accessories to the saddle using a clip to be connected to the saddle rail. This arrangement also has drawbacks in that, in addition to limiting rail adjustment, it uses a connector member between the saddle and the accessory to be connected, which may loosen or fail with time. Other arrangements more or less associated to the above are disclosed in the following publications: U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,694; WO 03/024770; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/149792; U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,501; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,617. 
     PCT Published Patent Application WO 02/038436 discloses a connector system located behind a bicycle saddle, which connector system comprises a support designed to house a tool kit and is directly connected to the saddle. In addition to the same problem of bulkiness as the above models, such arrangement has the disadvantage of causing undesired noisy vibrations of the objects being carried, especially when they are made of metal. Also, the connector device alone is attached to the rear of the saddle by appropriate attachment means, which may loosen and cause an accidental loss of accessories. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of this invention is to overcome the above drawbacks by providing a quick-connect structure for a bicycle saddle which achieves high efficiency and has a relatively simple construction. A particular object is to provide a structure that allows an easy and safe connection of accessories to the bicycle saddle. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a structure that does not limit the adjustment of the saddle&#39;s sliding parts, such as the seat post or the rails. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a structure having minimum space requirements. 
     These objects, as well as other objects that will be apparent hereafter, are achieved by providing a quick-connect structure for a bicycle saddle. In one embodiment, the saddle has at least one load-bearing body for attachment to a bicycle frame, and the quick-connect structure comprises at least one male member that may be snap-fitted in a corresponding female member. The male and female members are separately associated to one of the saddle and an object for attachment to the saddle. The quick-connect structure is preferably formed such that at least one of the male and female members is integrally and monolithically formed in the body of the saddle. 
     The structure of the invention beneficially allows an easy and safe connection of accessories to the bicycle saddle. 
     According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a male member of a quick-connect structure for a bicycle saddle. In one embodiment, the male member is designed to be rigidly attached to an object, such as a tool kit or the like. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a female member of a quick connect structure for a bicycle saddle. In one embodiment, the female member is designed to be an integral part of the saddle body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the detailed description of a few preferred, non-exclusive embodiments of a quick-connect structure according to the invention, which is described as a non-limiting example with the help of the annexed drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a partly sectional side view of a bicycle saddle comprising one embodiment of the quick-connect structure according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of a bicycle saddle comprising one embodiment of the quick-connect structure according to the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a partly sectional side view of a detail of the quick-connect structure according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partly sectional side view of a further detail of the quick-connect structure according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a detail of the quick-connect structure according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an axonometric view of the quick-connect structure of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of a detail of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a partly sectional side view, taken on a plane VII-VII, of a detail of one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With particular reference to the figures, a quick-connect structure  1  according to the invention is particularly suitable for removably coupling an accessory A, such as a tool kit, a mudguard, a reflector, a water bottle cage, or the like, to a saddle S. It is understood that the foregoing examples are non-limiting, and the invention further encompasses the removable coupling of other items readily recognizable as possibly useful to the user of a saddle to which the particular item could be coupled. The saddle S has at least one load-bearing body  2  to be attached to a bicycle frame T, which is made, for instance, by injection molding of a plastic material. 
     The quick-connect structure  1  comprises at least one male member  3 , which can be formed so as to be snap-fitted in a corresponding female member  4 . The quick-connect structure  1  is particularly formed such that the male member  3  and female member  4  may each be associated to either the saddle S or the accessory A. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, the male member  3  is associated with the saddle S, and the female member  4  is associated with the accessory A. In another embodiment, the male member  3  is associated with the accessory A, and the female member  4  is associated with the saddle S. 
     In one particular embodiment of the invention, at least one of the male member  3  and the female member  4  is integrally and monolithically formed in the body  2  of the saddle S. Advantageously, when one of the male member  3  and the female member  4  is so formed in the body  2  of the saddle S, the other member can be formed so as to be attachable to the accessory A. Preferably, such attachment is a rigid attachment. Accessories of any type may thus be easily and safely connected to the saddle with no connection members therebetween which may be easily broken or damaged. 
     In the particular embodiments of the invention shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , by way of indication and without limitation, the female member  4  is integrally and monolithically formed in the body  2  of the saddle S in the proximity of its rear edge  5 . By this arrangement, the presence of the quick-connect structure  1  (and accordingly, the item attached thereby) does not limit the adjustment of the saddle&#39;s sliding parts, such as the seat post or the saddle rail, as the latter do not interact with any part of the quick-connect structure  1  of the invention. 
     Suitably, the male member  3  can include a first elongated portion  6  useful for removable connection to the female member  4  and a second portion  7  for rigid connection to the accessory A. According to one particular embodiment, the first portion  6  and the second portion  7  can be joined together to form a predetermined angle α, as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 4  through  FIG. 6 , the first portion  6  and the second portion  7  may be rotatably coupled for mutual relative rotation about a predetermined axis X. Thus, the accessory A may be even more conveniently mounted. The possibility of mutual articulation of the first portion  6  and the second portion  7  allows for placement of the accessory A in the most convenient position to facilitate the connection/release thereof to and from the saddle S, regardless of its shape and relative adjustments. 
     In both of the embodiment described above, the first portion  6  may have an elongated appendix  8  having a substantially prismatic shape, tapering toward the free end  9 , for insertion in a complementary receptacle  10  that defines the female member  4 . Suitably, the appendix  8  can have a substantially trapezoidal plan shape with a major base B and a shorter base b with rounded edges at the free end  9 . Further, the appendix  8  can have a decreasing thickness S moving from the major base B to the free end  9 . This facilitates the introduction of the appendix  8  in the receptacle  10 . 
     The shape of the receptacle  10  may in turn be complementary to that of the appendix  8 , having a shape for receiving the substantially prismatic shaped elongated appendix  8  that is tapered toward the free end  9  thereof. For example, in one embodiment, the complementary shape of the receptacle can be formed of an upper wall  11  and a lower wall  12  joined together by a pair of side walls  13  and  13 ′. Advantageously, at least one of the upper wall  11  and the lower  12  can have a curved edge  14  to act as a guide surface to introduce the appendix  8  in the receptacle  10 . 
     Suitably, the height h of the receptacle  10  will not be less than the thickness s′ of the appendix  8  at its longer base, the major base B. Thus, the introduction of the appendix  8  in the receptacle  10  is fast and effective, even when the user is in a rotated position, as is frequently the case. 
     The appendix  8  may be prevented from accidentally disengaging from the receptacle  10  by a pulling action by providing the appendix  8  with a suitable snap lock means  15 . Preferably, the snap lock means  15  includes a projection or a tooth  16 , which is engagable in a corresponding slot  17  in the receptacle  10 . For example, the slot  17  can be formed in the lower wall  12  of the female member  4 . Such an arrangement facilitates a firm and safe lock between the male member  3  and the female member  4 . 
     Preferably, the snap lock means  15  is biased into a position such that the snap lock means  15  engages the female member  4 , such as in the slot  17  described above. Further, the snap lock means  15  is preferably formed such that accidental or unintentional disengagement is avoided but that intentional disengagement by a user is easily facilitated. For example, the snap lock means  15  can be pivotally attached to the appendix  8 , such as near the area where the first portion  6  and the second portion  7  are joined together to form the predetermined angle α. Accordingly, the male member  3  can be disengaged from the female member  4  by depressing an end of the snap lock means opposite the projection or tooth  16 , thereby pivoting the snap lock means such that the projection or tooth is disengaged from the corresponding slot  17 . 
     Suitably, the second portion  7  can have one or more holes  18  for facilitating attachment of the second portion  7  to the accessory A. Attachment means  19  can include any suitable means, such as screws or rivets, for example, to facilitate fastening of the second portion  7  to the accessory A, thereby assuring a stable and effective coupling thereof. 
     From the above disclosure, the quick-connect structure of the invention proves to fulfill the proposed objects and particularly meets the requirement of allowing an easy and safe connection of accessories to the bicycle saddle. Particularly arising from the monolithic integration of the female member  4  in the body  2  of the saddle S, and also to the configuration of the male member  3 , an accessory A can be firmly connected to a saddle S while minimizing the risks of accidental losses or failures. 
     In line with the above description of certain embodiments of the quick-connect structure, the invention further provides a method of attaching an accessory to a bicycle. In one embodiment, the method comprises attaching the accessory to one of the male member or the female member of the quick-connect structure. The members can then be snap-locked together, thereby securely attaching the accessory to the bicycle. Preferably, the bicycle includes a saddle with at least one load-bearing body, and the male member or female member not attached to the accessory is integrally and monolithically formed in the body of the saddle. 
     The structure of the invention is susceptible to a number of changes and variants within the inventive concept discloses herein. All the details thereof may be replaced by other technically equivalent parts, and the materials may vary depending on different needs, without departure form the scope of the invention. While the structure has been described with particular reference to the accompanying figures, the numerals referred in the disclosure are only used for the sake of a better intelligibility of the invention and are not intended to limit the claimed scope in any manner.