Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/838,836, filed Aug. 14, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/145,270, filed Jun. 3, 2005, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/667,214, filed Mar. 31, 2005, the entireties of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to apparatus and methods for fitting a rider with a saddle, such as a bicycle saddle. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    For many years bicycle saddles have been designed with a convex upper surface on which the rider sits. These “traditional” bicycle saddles cause numbness in both male and female riders, resulting from pressure on the perineal area. In more extreme cases, a male rider can experience a decrease in blood flow in the pudendal arteries as a result of this pressure, which can lead to impotence. 
         [0006]    To remedy this problem, saddle manufacturers have introduced a variety of saddles having a central groove and/or cutout which minimizes the pressure on the perineal area of the rider. These saddles have significantly improved rider comfort while reducing male riders&#39; risk of cycling-related impotence. 
         [0007]    Notwithstanding these recent improvements, the development of bicycle saddle ergonomics continues, as further attempts are made to improve the fitting of a saddle to a rider. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In one embodiment, a bicycle saddle fit system comprises an impression pad of sufficient size to span the sit bones of an adult human, and a measurement gauge fixed to and extending along the impression pad. The measurement gauge is usable to measure the distance between sit-bone impressions made in the impression pad by a person previously seated on the impression pad. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a bicycle saddle fitting tool comprises a sit-bone impression region, and a width gauge fixed to the sit-bone impression region. The width gauge extends along the impression region to facilitate measurement of the distance between sit-bone impressions made in the region. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, a method of fitting a bicycle saddle to a human rider comprises measuring a sit-bone width of the rider, determining a preferred riding posture of the rider, and assessing a saddle characteristic suitable for the rider based on both the rider&#39;s sit-bone width and the rider&#39;s preferred riding posture. 
         [0011]    Certain objects and advantages of the invention are described herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such objects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. 
         [0012]    All of the embodiments summarized above are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. However, despite the foregoing discussion of certain embodiments, only the appended claims (and not the present summary) are intended to define the invention. The summarized embodiments, and other embodiments of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular embodiment(s) disclosed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of one embodiment of a saddle fitting tool. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the fitting tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the fitting tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the fitting tool of  FIG. 1 , as situated on a tabletop for use. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an elevation view of the fitting tool of  FIG. 1 , in use to measure a sit bone width of a user. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of the fitting tool of  FIG. 1 , depicting the measurement of sit-bone impressions made in an impression pad of the fitting tool. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a chart depicting the use of sit bone width and preferred rider posture to fit a saddle to a user. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of one embodiment of a group of saddles for use with the fitting tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of one of the saddles of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a rear elevation view of the saddle of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view of the saddle of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a side elevation view of the saddle of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a plan view of another embodiment of the fitting tool. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0026]      FIGS. 1-3  depict one embodiment of a saddle fitting tool  200 . The saddle fitting tool  100  is usable to fit a saddle, preferably a bicycle saddle, to a human rider by measuring the distance between the ischial tuberosities (or “sit bones”) of the rider&#39;s pelvis. 
         [0027]    The depicted embodiment of the fitting tool  200  generally comprises an impression pad  210  which is affixed to and overlies a substrate layer  220 . The substrate layer  220  preferably includes an exposed portion  222  which extends laterally beyond the perimeter of the impression pad  210 . A measurement gauge  230  is located on the exposed portion  222  of the substrate layer  220 , and extends along the impression pad  210 . (Alternatively, the measurement gauge may be located on a separate device or ruler which is used in combination with the impression pad  210 .) 
         [0028]    The impression pad  210  preferably comprises a layer of shape-memory material such as foam, foam rubber, memory foam, or alternatively cardboard or clay. More generally, the impression pad  210  can comprise any material that is sufficiently compressible to form, at least temporarily, impressions of the sit bones of an adult or juvenile human recently seated on the impression pad. Where the impression pad  210  is formed from a material which forms such impressions only temporarily, the material preferably has sufficient shape memory to “hold” the impressions long enough to permit the measurement of a distance between the impressions as further discussed below. Such an impression pad  210  can therefore be configured to hold the impressions for at least 2 seconds, at least 5 seconds, or at least 10 seconds in various embodiments. 
         [0029]    The material of the impression pad  210  can be selected to form sit bone impressions via plastic or elastic deformation. Advantageously, a material that forms sit-bone impressions only temporarily facilitates repeated measurements with the same impression pad, which in turn permits a user to take multiple measurements of sit-bone width and average the measurements for improved accuracy. The impression pad  210  can therefore be configured to hold the impressions for less than about 1 minute, or less than about 30 seconds, or less than about 10 seconds, in various embodiments. 
         [0030]    The impression pad  210  is preferably sufficiently large to span the sit-bone width of a large adult human pelvis. Alternatively, a smaller impression pad  210  may be employed, for example in a fitting tool  200  intended for use only with children. The size of the impression pad  210  is preferably selected to include additional area beyond the largest sit-bone width that the pad  210  is intended to accommodate. In the depicted embodiment, the impression pad  210  is a layer of memory foam about 280 mm wide with a maximum depth of about 100 mm and a thickness of about 10 mm. Of course, these are only preferred dimensions and they may be varied as is appropriate. In various embodiments, the width of the impression pad  210  can be about 150-350 mm, about 160-320 mm, or about 180-280 mm. 
         [0031]    The perimeter  212  of the impression pad  210  can have any suitable shape; however, in the depicted embodiment the perimeter  212  has a shape approximating that of an hourglass, defining first and second lobes  214   a ,  214   b  and a thinner neck portion  216  therebetween. The depicted “hourglass” shape advantageously assists the user in centering the impression pad before the user sits on it (discussed in further detail below). 
         [0032]    The substrate layer  220  preferably comprises a relatively stiff layer of cardboard; alternatively, other relatively stiff materials such as acrylic, plastics, aluminum, wood, etc. may be employed. As still another alternative, a relatively pliable material such as rubber may be used to construct the substrate layer  220 . 
         [0033]    As previously mentioned, the substrate layer  220  includes a measurement gauge  230  that extends along the impression pad  210 . The depicted measurement gauge  230  has a central “zero” point  232  and left-side and right-side markers  234   a ,  234   b , each of which count up from zero as they proceed outwardly from either side of the zero point  232 . This arrangement of the markers  234   a ,  234   b  and zero point  232  facilitates easy and accurate measurement of sit-bone width as will be discussed in further detail below. It is contemplated that other configurations of the measurement gauge  230  may be employed, such as one with markers that count up from a zero point located at one end of the gauge. The measurement gauge can be denominated with millimeters as shown, or with centimeters, inches, or any other suitable measurement unit. The depicted markers  234   a ,  234   b  are oriented generally perpendicular to the widthwise axis of the impression pad  210 . 
         [0034]    In still other embodiments, the measurement gauge  230  can be located partially or wholly on the impression pad  210  itself. For example, the markers  234   a ,  234   b  may extend from the substrate layer  220  onto the impression pad  210 . Where the measurement gauge  220  is located entirely on the impression pad  210 , the substrate layer  220  (or at least the exposed portion  222  thereof) may be omitted. In yet another embodiment, the measurement gauge  230  may be omitted from the tool  200 , and a separate measurement device may be used to determine the distance between impressions in the pad  210 . 
         [0035]    In the depicted embodiment, the substrate layer  220  forms a straight edge  224  which extends generally parallel to the widthwise axis of the impression pad. The straight edge  224  is useful for alignment of the tool  200  on a tabletop or the like for making measurements, as will be demonstrated below. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 4-7  depict one embodiment of a method of fitting a saddle to a rider. The various embodiments of fitting methods described herein may be performed with any of the embodiments of the fitting tool  200  described herein, or with any other suitable fitting tool. 
         [0037]    In the depicted method the fitting tool  200  is first placed on a sturdy, level surface such as the tabletop  350  shown in  FIG. 4 . Of course, other sturdy surfaces may be employed, such as a stool, flat bench, staircase, floor, etc. The straight edge  224  can be used to align the fitting tool  200  with a forward edge  352  of the tabletop  350 , to orient the fitting tool  200  generally parallel to the shoulders of a user standing in front of the tabletop. 
         [0038]    The user then sits on the impression pad  210  such that both of the user&#39;s sit bones press against the pad  210  (see  FIG. 5 ). Preferably, where the tool employed includes the central zero point  232 , the user sits on the impression pad  210  such that the sit bones press against the pad  210  on opposite sides of the zero point  232 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , the user preferably sits on the impression pad  210  in a slightly forward-leaning posture, and/or with the knees slightly raised to create a knee-to-back angle of approximately 70 degrees. (Other knee-to-back angles may be employed by the user and/or indicated on the fitting tool  200  as desired.) A foot support  360  can be provided to support the feet of the user and facilitate the raised-knee posture of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0039]    The sit bones of the seated user create sit-bone impressions  370   a ,  370   b  in the impression pad  210  (see  FIG. 6 ). After the user has stood up from the impression pad  210 , he or she can measure the distance between the impressions  370   a ,  370   b  to determine his or her sit-bone width. Preferably the user measures the distance between the approximate centers of the impressions to determine sit-bone width; alternatively the user can measure the distance between the inner edges of the impressions, the distance between the outer edges of the impressions, or the distance between any suitable points of the impressions, to determine sit-bone width. 
         [0040]    Where the tool  200  includes the measurement gauge  230  of the type shown in  FIG. 6 , the user&#39;s sit-bone width can be determined quickly and easily as follows. By using the left-side markers  234   a , the user determines the distance (as measured along the widthwise axis of the impression pad  210 ) between the center (or other appropriate point) of the left-side impression  370   a  and the zero point  232 . Due to the depicted arrangement of the measurement gauge  230 , the user can simply read this “left-side distance” from the left-side marker(s)  234   a  that correspond most closely to the center of the left-side impression. The process is then repeated with respect to the right-side impression  370   b , to determine a right-side distance between the center (or other appropriate point) of the right-side impression  370   b  and the zero point  232 . The left-side distance and right-side distance are added to arrive at the sit-bone width of the user. In the example shown in  FIG. 6 , the position of the impressions  370   a ,  370   b  relative to the zero point  232  has resulted in a left-side distance of 60 mm and a right-side distance of 70 mm, yielding a sit-bone width of 130 mm. 
         [0041]    In one embodiment, the user&#39;s sit-bone width alone can be used to fit a saddle to the user, and/or otherwise assess a saddle characteristic suitable for the user. However, in another embodiment a preferred riding posture of the user can be used in addition to (or instead of) the sit-bone width, to fit a saddle to the user, and/or otherwise assess a saddle characteristic suitable for the user. 
         [0042]    The preferred riding posture of the user, which is indicative of the posture that the rider prefers to assume when actually riding a bicycle, can be determined by selecting a riding posture from a group of several predetermined riding postures. For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the user can select a preferred riding posture from three predetermined riding postures: “aero” in which the rider&#39;s torso is bent far forward, as is common when a fast-moving road cyclist uses the “drop” portion of the handlebars; at the other extreme, “upright” in which the rider&#39;s torso is bent only slightly forward, characteristic of a more leisurely cyclist using a relatively high-mounted handlebar; or a midrange posture between aero and upright. In other embodiments, more or fewer predetermined riding postures can be provided for the user to choose from. 
         [0043]    In the depicted embodiment, the combination of sit-bone width and preferred riding posture is used to determine a saddle width which is suitable for the rider. For example, using the chart in  FIG. 7  a rider who has a sit bone width of 100-130 mm and prefers an “aero” riding posture should use a saddle with a width of 143 mm. 
         [0044]    More generally, the combinations of sit-bone width and preferred riding posture (or the sit-bone width or preferred riding posture alone) can be used to select a saddle type which is appropriate for the rider, from a group or range of saddle types. In the depicted embodiment, the combination of sit-bone width and preferred riding posture is used to select an appropriate saddle type from three available saddle types (130 mm, 143 mm, 155 mm). One embodiment of a group  500  of saddle types  510 ,  520 ,  530  is shown in  FIG. 8 . The depicted saddle types  510 ,  520 ,  530  are examples of the 130 mm, 143 mm and 155 mm saddle types discussed herein. 
         [0045]    The 130/143/155 mm type designators correspond to the overall widths of the depicted saddles. However, other saddle shape characteristics, best seen in  FIGS. 9-12 , may be more relevant to the suitability of a particular saddle to a particular combination of sit-bone width and preferred riding posture. These saddle shape characteristics include (but are not limited to): (a) the flatness or concavity of the upper surface  560 ; (b) the degree to which the upper surface  560  slopes downward to the sides and/or front of the saddle, as indicated at  562 ,  564 , respectively; (c) the degree to which the saddle tapers laterally outward as it extends rearward (see  FIG. 9 ); and/or (d) the front-to-rear slope of the rearward upper surface  566 . In the depicted embodiment, the following general trends are observed in the above-listed characteristics as corresponding to increasing sit-bone width and/or more-upright preferred riding posture: in characteristic (a), increasing flatness (and decreasing concavity); in characteristic (b), steeper slopes with points of origin further from the longitudinal centerline or rear of the saddle; in characteristic (c), a “sharper” outward taper; and in characteristic (d), a steeper slope. 
         [0046]    Accordingly, the 130/143/155 mm type designators in the depicted embodiment can serve as proxies for these more relevant (but potentially more difficult to specify to a user) saddle shape characteristics. Such a use of the saddle-type designators can be implemented by building or designing into the “130 mm” saddle the saddle shape characteristics most suitable for riders who have narrow sit-bone widths and prefer aero or midrange riding postures per the chart in  FIG. 7 . Similarly, the “143 mm” and “155 mm” saddles can be given the saddle shape characteristics which are most suitable for riders having the combinations of sit-bone width and preferred indicated in the chart as corresponding to those saddles. 
         [0047]    The overall saddle widths used to identify the saddle types thus refer to a saddle characteristic which is secondary in terms of saddle fit but which makes the selection of the appropriate saddle type easy and intuitive for the user, as increasing overall saddle widths correspond to increasing sit-bone width. To support saddle choice in this manner, a range of saddle types can be provided (such as, but not limited to the group  500  shown in  FIG. 8 ). Preferably, the 130/143/155 mm type designators are printed or otherwise set forth, either permanently or temporarily, on the saddles themselves and/or on the saddle packaging or other display items associated with the saddles. 
         [0048]    Alternatively, other saddle type designators can be employed in place of the overall-width designators discussed above, e.g. “type 1/type 2/type 3;” “small/medium/large;” etc. Whether the overall-width designators or other saddle type designators are used, the range of saddles provided (and the number of type designators used) can be fewer or greater than the three illustrated herein. 
         [0049]    The chart depicted in  FIG. 7  (or a variant thereof, prepared pursuant to the alternatives disclosed above) can be provided to the user to consult in making a saddle selection. Alternatively, some other summary or listing of saddle types appropriate for particular sit bone width-preferred riding posture combinations can be provided in lieu of the chart. The chart, summary, etc. preferably identifies the appropriate saddles by setting forth the same saddle type designators as are set forth on the saddles/packaging/etc. as discussed above. 
         [0050]    The above-described chart, summary, etc. can be set forth on the fitting tool  200 , e.g. on a reverse side thereof. Likewise, illustrations similar to  FIGS. 4-6  can be set forth on the fitting tool  200 , e.g. on the reverse side thereof, along with instruction text to assist the user in making measurements. 
         [0051]      FIG. 13  depicts another embodiment of the fitting tool  200 . The embodiment of  FIG. 13  can be generally similar to any of the other embodiments of the fitting tool  200  disclosed herein, except as further described below. In addition, the fitting tool  200  of  FIG. 13  can be used in practicing any of the methods disclosed herein for fitting a saddle to a user. 
         [0052]    The fitting tool  200  of  FIG. 13  includes first and second depressions or fitting cups  260 ,  262  which are employed in place of the impression pad  210  discussed above. Preferably, the first fitting cup  260  is fixed and immovable with respect to the substrate layer  220 , while the second fitting cup  262  is slidable longitudinally relative to the first cup  260 . Alternatively both of the cups  260 ,  262  can be made slidable relative to the substrate layer  220 . The cups  260 ,  262  depicted in  FIG. 13  have a circular configuration; however, other shapes may be employed, such as oval, square, etc. Preferably, the cups  260 ,  262  are formed from a relatively rigid material such as a plastic or acrylic. 
         [0053]    To measure sit-bone width, a user first sits on the fitting tool  200  in the manner discussed above, but with one sit bone centered or located in the first (fixed) cup  260 . The user then slides the second cup  262  until it is positioned underneath the user&#39;s other sit bone, and sits on the tool  200  momentarily with one sit bone located in each of the cups  260 ,  262 , to confirm that the cups are properly centered and indicative of the user&#39;s true sit bone width. 
         [0054]    The user&#39;s sit bone width can then be read from the measurement gauge  230  located adjacent the cups  260 ,  262 , based on the positions of the cups and their respective indicators  264 ,  266 . In the measurement illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the user&#39;s sit bone width is 120 mm. After measurement, the user&#39;s sit bone width can be used alone, or in conjunction with other information as discussed above, to fit a saddle to the user. 
         [0055]    Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.

Technology Category: b