Patent Description:
Owing to the increasing demands of the bike riders, a seat post that with a height-adjustable rod (saddle) has been reached in the market. Conventionally, the height of this kind of retractable seat post can be manually controlled to adapt to variant road conditions. For example, the saddle can be lowered by adjusting the height of the retractable seat post while riding downhill. Therefore, the center of gravity can be lowered so that the handling can be enhanced and the foot can touch the ground to assist to turn around the corner. This kind of retractable seat post is suitable for mountain biking or hillwood road biking owing to its capability of overcoming uncertainties of a rough road.

A kind of retractable seat post is wire-controlled. An exposed wire is connected to the handle bar and the retractable seat post under the saddle, and a lever or other linkage mechanism is used to open a hydraulic or a pneumatic valve thereby elongating or contracting the retractable seat post. However, no matter the wire is exposed out or not, interference or friction of the wire will commonly occur.

Another kind of retractable seat post with electricity controllability has been developed. In this kind of seat post, a motor is used to activate a hydraulic valve or a pneumatic valve. In this kind of seat post, issues on wire interference or friction can be eliminated; however, other issues are raised. For example, a sufficient torque is required to open the hydraulic valve or the pneumatic valve, and since a rotation speed is inversely proportional to a torque in a motor, the response time of the motor to produce sufficient torque is too low to reflect the road condition immediately. Furthermore, an extra device (e.g. a gear box) is also required to be assembled with the motor, thus bringing the inconvenience on assembling. In other word, this kind of motor-driven seat post can eliminate wire interference or friction issue of the wire-controlled seat post, but will raise new issues on low response speed and inconvenience of assembling.

Therefore, there is a need to develop a novel seat post that has low response time and is easy to assemble.

From patent application publication <CIT>, which discloses all the features of the preamble of independent claim <NUM>, and utility model publication <CIT> height adjustable seat posts are known comprising an electric motor by means of which a switch can be actuated. Patent specification <CIT> discloses a seat post allowing for a height adjustment of a saddle by means of a wire mechanism by which a switch can be actuated.

The present invention provides an electrically controllable seat post having the features of claim <NUM>. Further embodiments are subject-matter of the dependent claims. The electrically controllable seat post includes a retractable rod and a switch actuator. The retractable rod includes a switch and a cylinder, wherein the switch is configured to trigger an elongation and a contraction of the cylinder. The switch actuator is corresponding to the switch and includes a pushing member, an electromagnetic coil and a controller. The pushing member is linearly movable to open or close the switch so as to drive an elongation and a contraction of the retractable rod via elongation and contraction of the cylinder. The electromagnetic coil generates a magnetic force by injecting a current therethrough, wherein the pushing member has a pole of a magnetic field formed at an end of the pushing member by injecting the current through the electromagnetic coil or by a magnetic property at the end of the pushing member. The pushing member is directly and non-contactly driven by another pole of a magnetic field formed by the electromagnetic coil to be moved linearly. The controller controls the switch actuator. The electromagnetic coil includes an inner surface, the inner surface includes a spiral groove, the pushing member includes a protruding member corresponding to the spiral groove, and when the pushing member is elongated or contracted, the protruding member slides in the spiral groove to rotate the pushing member synchronously, so that the pushing member is linearly movable and rotatable to open or close the switch.

In one example, the cylinder is a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder or a liquid-gas modularized cylinder, and the switch is located on the cylinder.

In one example, the retractable rod is a pneumatic rod, a hydraulic rod or a liquid-gas modularized rod.

In one example, the switch is a valve and the pushing member is moved to open or close the valve.

In one example, the switch is a button and the pushing member is moved to push the button.

In one example, the retractable rod includes a rod axis, and a moving direction of the pushing member is perpendicular to the rod axis.

In one example, the switch actuator is immediately adjacent to the retractable rod.

In one example, the electromagnetic coil is located in the retractable rod.

In one example, the electromagnetic coil is located at an end of the retractable rod.

In one example, the electrically controllable seat post includes a recovering member, wherein the recovering member is located between the electromagnetic coil and the pushing member for providing a recovering force.

In one example, the pushing member includes at least one protruded limiting lever, an angle limitation mechanism is assembled outside of the limiting lever, the angle limitation mechanism opens at least one curved opening, the limiting lever is position-limitedly swung in the curved opening, and a rotation angle of the pushing member is constrained by the corporation between the limiting lever and the curved opening.

It is a purpose of the present disclosure to provide an electrically controllable and retractable seat post that has no motor response delay and ease of assembling.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of an electrically controllable seat post according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; <FIG> is a lateral cross-sectional view of a saddle of the electrically controllable seat post of <FIG>; <FIG> is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the saddle of the electrically controllable seat post of <FIG>.

In the first embodiment, an electrically controllable seat post <NUM> includes a retractable rod <NUM>, a cylinder <NUM>, an electromagnetic coil <NUM>, a pushing member <NUM>, a recovering member <NUM> and a controller <NUM>. The electromagnetic coil <NUM> and the pushing member <NUM> are operated corporately as a switch actuator (unnumbered).

The cylinder <NUM> is fixedly covered in the retractable rod <NUM>. The cylinder <NUM> includes a switch <NUM> and a rod axis X1. A saddle <NUM> is assembled on the retractable rod <NUM>. The switch <NUM> is used to trigger the elongation and contraction of the cylinder <NUM>, and the elongation and contraction of the cylinder <NUM> drives the elongation and contraction of the retractable rod <NUM>, thereby raising or lowering the saddle <NUM> instantly. The cylinder <NUM> can be a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder or a liquid-gas modularized cylinder; similarly, the retractable rod <NUM> can be a pneumatic rod, a hydraulic rod or a liquid-gas modularized rod. In the embodiment, the cylinder <NUM> is located inside of the retractable rod <NUM>.

The electromagnetic coil <NUM> is assembled in the retractable rod <NUM> and is corresponding to the switch <NUM>. A portion of the pushing member <NUM> is assembled in the electromagnetic coil <NUM>. A central axis X2 of the pushing member <NUM> is parallel to the rod axis X1 of the cylinder <NUM>. One end <NUM> of the pushing member <NUM> is linearly moved by the electromagnetic coil <NUM> to open or close the switch <NUM>.

The recovering member <NUM> is made from an elastic material. The recovering member <NUM> provides a recovering force to the end <NUM> of the pushing member <NUM> so that the pushing member <NUM> is recovered to its original position.

The controller <NUM> is assembled under the saddle <NUM>. The controller <NUM> controls the electromagnetic coil <NUM> through a connecting wire <NUM>.

In the aforementioned first embodiment, the central axis X2 of the pushing member <NUM> is parallel to the rod axis X1; therefore the switch <NUM> is triggered by the pushing member <NUM>, which is linear activated by the electromagnetic coil <NUM>. The controller <NUM> can control the electromagnetic coil <NUM> to trigger the switch <NUM> instantly. The recovering member <NUM> is used to provide the recovering force to the end <NUM> of the pushing member <NUM> to recover the pushing member <NUM> to its original position.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a saddle of an electrically controllable seat post according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure; <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a saddle of an electrically controllable seat post according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment, the end <NUM> is indirectly driven to trigger the switch <NUM>, and the electromagnetic coil <NUM> is located outside of the retractable rod <NUM> and is assembled immediately adjacent to the retractable rod <NUM> to ensure that the central axis X2 is parallel to the rod axis X1.

In <FIG>, an inverted-U shaped hydraulic linkage mechanism <NUM> is located between the end <NUM> and the switch <NUM> for triggering the switch <NUM>. Conventionally, the hydraulic linkage mechanism <NUM> includes components such as oil route, piston and oil injection channel, etc., and there is no description herein.

In <FIG>, a swing linkage mechanism <NUM> is located between the end <NUM> and the switch <NUM> for triggering the switch <NUM>. Conventionally, the swing linkage mechanism <NUM> includes components such as a swing lever and a triggering lever, etc., and there is on description herein.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a saddle of an electrically controllable seat post according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure; <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a saddle of an electrically controllable seat post according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the fifth embodiment and the sixth embodiment, the central axis X2 and the rod axis X1 are coaxial, the end <NUM> is indirectly driven to trigger the switch <NUM>, and the electromagnetic coil <NUM> is located inside of the retractable rod <NUM>. The electromagnetic coil <NUM> is assembled at an upper end of the retractable rod <NUM> coaxially (upper end of the cylinder <NUM>).

In <FIG>, an L-shaped linkage mechanism <NUM> is used to trigger the switch <NUM>. Conventionally, the linkage mechanism <NUM> includes components such as an L-shaped lever and a vertical triggering lever, etc., and there is on description herein. In <FIG>, the end <NUM> and the switch <NUM> are not necessarily located in the same axis owing to the L-shaped linkage mechanism <NUM>.

In <FIG>, a close-type linkage mechanism <NUM> is located between the end <NUM> and the switch <NUM> for triggering the switch <NUM>. Conventionally, the linkage mechanism <NUM> includes components such as double-inclined lever and a triggering lever, etc., and there is on description herein.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a saddle of an electrically controllable seat post according to a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the seventh embodiment, the central axis X2 and the rod axis X1 are coaxial, the end <NUM> is indirectly driven to trigger the switch <NUM>, and the electromagnetic coil <NUM> is located inside of the retractable rod <NUM>. The electromagnetic coil <NUM> is assembled at an upper end of the cylinder <NUM>. A vertical-type hydraulic linkage mechanism <NUM> is located between the end <NUM> and the switch <NUM> to trigger the switch <NUM>. Conventionally, the vertical-type hydraulic linkage mechanism <NUM> includes components such as a vertical oil route and a piston, etc., and there is on description herein.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a saddle of an electrically controllable seat post according to an eighth embodiment of the present disclosure; <FIG> is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the saddle of the electrically controllable seat post of <FIG>.

In the eighth embodiment, the central axis X2 and the rod axis X1 are coaxial, the end <NUM> is indirectly driven to trigger the switch <NUM>, and the electromagnetic coil <NUM> is located inside of the retractable rod <NUM>. The electromagnetic coil <NUM> is assembled at a bottom end of the cylinder <NUM>. The controller <NUM> (and/or an electric controlling unit such as a battery and a chip, etc.) assembled in the retractable rod <NUM> can also be used to reduce the amount of components located under the saddle <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a saddle of an electrically controllable seat post according to a ninth embodiment of the present disclosure.

In <FIG>, the controller <NUM> (and/or an electric controlling unit such as a battery and a chip, etc.) is assembled outside of the retractable rod <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of an electrically controllable seat post according to a tenth embodiment of the present disclosure.

In <FIG>, the electrically controllable seat post also includes the retractable rod <NUM>, the electromagnetic coil <NUM> and the cylinder <NUM>. In the tenth embodiment of <FIG>, the central axis X2 and the rod axis X1 are vertically arranged, and an L-shaped hydraulic linkage mechanism <NUM> is corporate with the switch <NUM> to raise or lower the saddle. Conventionally, the linkage mechanism <NUM> includes components such as double oil routes and piston, etc., and there is no description herein. Furthermore, the recovering member <NUM> is located outside of the electromagnetic coil <NUM> to provide a recovering force.

<FIG> is a schematic view showing that a pushing member is rotated to open a switch <NUM> according to an eleventh embodiment of the present disclosure; <FIG> is a schematic view showing that the pushing member is rotated to open the switch <NUM> of <FIG>.

In the present disclosure, the pushing member <NUM> can be linearly moved as in the aforementioned embodiments; or a pushing member 500a can be rotated as in the eleventh embodiment of <FIG>. The rotation of the pushing member 500a is formed by the corporation of a spiral groove 401a formed in an inner surface of the electromagnetic coil 400a with a protruding member 501a (a steel ball). When an elongation and contraction of the pushing member 500a is actuated by the electromagnetic coil 400a, the protruding member 501a slides in the spiral groove 401a to rotate the pushing member 500a. This kind of mechanism is to transfer a linear motion to a rotation motion and is a conventional technique.

<FIG> shows an operation procedure of an electromagnetic coil and two pushing members; <FIG> shows another operation procedure of the electromagnetic coil and the two pushing members of <FIG>.

In one embodiment, the pushing member can have a magnetic property. In <FIG>, a pushing member 500c having a magnetic property at its end (functioned as an S pole in a magnetic field) and a pushing member 500b having no magnetic property are shown. The electromagnetic coil <NUM> and the pushing member 500b both have no magnetic field before injecting a current. When the current is injected to the electromagnetic coil <NUM>, a corresponding N pole in a magnetic field is formed, and the pushing member 500b or the pushing member 500c is linearly moved owing to the repulsion of the magnetic field.

<FIG> a schematic view of an angle limitation mechanism of a pushing member according to a twelfth embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the twelfth embodiment of <FIG>, an angle limitation mechanism <NUM> is assembled in the pushing member 500a. The pushing member 500a further includes two L-shaped limiting levers 502a. The two limiting levers 502a are assembled diagonally, and a front end of each of the limiting levers 502a is protruded. The angle limitation mechanism <NUM> can be assembled at one end of the electromagnetic coil <NUM>. The angle limitation mechanism <NUM> opens two curved openings <NUM>, the front end of each of the limiting levers 502a is position-limitedly swung in the curved openings <NUM>, and a rotation angle θ of the pushing member 500a is constrained, thereby precisely controlling a movement of the pushing member 500a within the range of the rotation angle θ.

Claim 1:
An electrically controllable seat post (<NUM>), comprising:
a retractable rod (<NUM>) comprising a switch (<NUM>) and a cylinder (<NUM>), wherein the switch (<NUM>) is configured to trigger an elongation and a contraction of the cylinder (<NUM>); and
a switch actuator corresponding to the switch (<NUM>) and comprising:
a pushing member (<NUM>), which is linearly movable to open or close the switch (<NUM>) so as to drive an elongation and a contraction of the retractable rod (<NUM>) via elongation and contraction of the cylinder (<NUM>); and
an electromagnetic coil (<NUM>) generating a magnetic force by injecting a current therethrough; and
a controller (<NUM>) controlling the switch actuator;
wherein the pushing member (<NUM>) has a pole of a magnetic field formed at an end of the pushing member (<NUM>) by injecting the current through the electromagnetic coil (<NUM>) or by a magnetic property at the end of the pushing member (<NUM>);
wherein the pushing member (<NUM>) is directly and non-contactly driven by another pole of a magnetic field formed by the electromagnetic coil (<NUM>) to be moved linearly;
characterised in that
the electromagnetic coil (<NUM>) comprises an inner surface, the inner surface comprises a spiral groove (401a), the pushing member (<NUM>) comprises a protruding member (501a) corresponding to the spiral groove (401a), and when the pushing member (<NUM>) is elongated or contracted, the protruding member (501a) slides in the spiral groove (401a) to rotate the pushing member (<NUM>) synchronously, so that the pushing member (<NUM>) is linearly movable and rotatable to open or close the switch (<NUM>).