Abstract:
A seat for racing bicycles which is mounted on the seat post by a longitudinally extending rail of lightweight material, preferably of T cross section, formed integrally with the seat.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to bicycle seats, and more particularly to an improved mounting system for lightweight bicycle seats. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Weight is an extremely important factor in the design of lightweight bicycles, with even minute weight savings being prized by competitors in that sport. In essentially all bicycles, the seat is conventionally attached to the seat post by two generally parallel metal bars or rods running longitudinally of the seat and spaced from its underside. These bars are engaged and held in place by appropriate mounting hardware associated with the seat post. 
     Because of the weight factor and the need for strength, bicycle seats are typically sold with one of three kinds of bars: steel, chromalloy, or titanium. In ascending order, these materials are lighter but more expensive. Nevertheless, many riders are willing to bear the high cost of titanium in order to minimize the weight of the seat assembly. 
     A mechanical disadvantage of the conventional seat mounting is the fact that the bars tend to bend in use, so that the seat eventually goes out of alignment. Also, the attachment brackets for the bars interfere with the aerodynamic flow of air under the seat. 
     It would therefor be desirable to provide a seat mounting which is very light yet sturdy, inexpensive, aerodynamic and easy to mount. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a seat mounting with the above-identified desirable qualities by forming the seat mounting integrally with the seat itself. The inventive mounting includes a preferably T-shaped or T-beam rail that protrudes perpendicularly from the underside of the seat and extends longitudinally thereof. Like the seat itself, the rail of this invention is formed of nylon impregnated with carbon fiber. This material rivals the strength of titanium but is still lighter, yet less expensive and easily moldable into an aerodynamic shape that easily slides into a mounting bracket on the seat post. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the conventional way of mounting a seat on a bicycle seat post; 
     FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view but showing the mounting of this invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an underside view of this invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a vertical section along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 5 is a vertical section along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the currently conventional seat mounting  10  upon which the present invention is intended to improve. On the underside of the seat  12 , a pair of bars  14  are secured in rear brackets  16  and a front bracket  18 . The bars  14  extend generally longitudinally of the seat  12 . The seat  10  is conventionally secured to the seat post  20  by a three-piece mechanism  22 ,  24 ,  26 . The bars  14  are clamped between a top member  22  and a bottom member  24 . The bottom member  24  has an arcuate serrated surface on its underside which engages a corresponding arcuate serrated surface  28  on the top of the seat post  20  to allow adjustment of the angle between the post  20  and the seat  10 . The seat  10  is fixed in position by assembling the top member  22  and bottom member  24  around the bars  14 , and then tightening the bolt-and-nut element  26 . 
     FIGS. 2-5 illustrate, by contrast, the seat mount  30  of this invention. The seat  32  is constructed of a lightweight nylon and carbon fiber material that is very strong and readily moldable. A mounting rail  34  is formed integrally with the seat  32  and extends vertically downward from the seat  32 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting rail  34  has a T-shaped cross section best illustrated in FIG.  4 . 
     The rail  34  cooperates with a guide  38  secured to the seat post  40 , into which it can be readily slid in a single motion. Guide  38  consists of channel plates  46  and  48 . When inserted into the guide  38 , the rail  34  is. readily secured by tightening the nuts  35  on the bolts  52 . The T cross-section of the rail  34  firmly anchors the rail  34  in guide  38  (FIG. 4) formed by the channel plates  46 ,  48  which are adjustably supported by the arcuate seat post head  42 . 
     The inventive mount  30  is particularly advantageous when combined with the seat post  40  of FIG.  2 . The seat post  40  includes an adjustable head  42  which is rotatable about a shaft  44 , within the limits of slots  54 , for seat angle adjustment. The head  42  in turn supports guide  38  which includes a pair of channel plates  46 ,  48  which together form a guide or channel  38  into which the rail  34  can be slid, and in which the rail  34  is clamped by clamping bolts  52 . As is evident from FIG. 2 of the drawings, the guide  36  can be slid anywhere along the rail  34  so that a guide attachment length exists along the entire length of rail  34 . 
     It will be noted that the channel plates  46 ,  48  are of a shape that allows them to be manufactured as inexpensive and lightweight extrusions that need only be cut and drilled. Because the clamping bolts  52  moving in the adjustment slots  54  hold the channel plates  46 ,  48  in parallel relationship to each other and at the same angle with respect to the post  40 , the guide  38  will always be ready to quickly receive the rail  34  without the need to move any parts of the head  42 . At the same time, the inventive mount  30  dispenses with the need for the machined top member  22  and bottom member  24  of the prior art. 
     The inclined faces  56 ,  58  of the rail  34  used in a preferred embodiment of the invention facilitate insertion of the rail  34  into the guide  38 , and contribute to the aerodynamic properties of the mount  30 . It will thus be seen that the integral construction of the seat  32  and the rail  34  is highly advantageous in that it provides a seat mounting that is light, sturdy, aerodynamic, economical, and easy and quick to mount. 
     It will also be understood that the described embodiment is only exemplary, and that the invention can be modified, within the ambit of the claims, to suit various circumstances and environments.