SUPPORT POST FOR A BICYCLE SEAT

TIGE D'APPUI POUR SELLE DE BICYCLETTE

English Abstract

A support post for a bicycle seat includes a first
tubular member and a second tubular member. The first tubular
member has an interior cavity. The second tubular member is
telescopically received within the interior cavity of the first
tubular member. A shock absorbing medium, such as a coil
spring, resists telescopic movement of the second tubular into
the interior cavity. A bicycle seat is mounted to a remote end
of one of the first tubular member and the second tubular
member.

French Abstract

Une tige d'appui pour une selle de bicyclette comprend un premier élément tubulaire et un deuxième élément tubulaire. Le premier élément tubulaire a une cavité intérieure. Le deuxième élément tubulaire est reçu de façon télescopique dans la cavité intérieure du premier élément tubulaire. Un moyen amortisseur, tel un ressort hélicoïdal, résiste au mouvement du deuxième élément tubulaire dans la cavité intérieure. Une selle de bicyclette est montée sur le bout éloigné de l'un des premier et deuxième éléments tubulaires.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A support post for a bicycle seat, comprising:
a first tubular member having an interior cavity;
a second tubular member telescopically received within the
interior cavity of the first tubular member;
shock absorbing means to resist telescopic movement of the
second tubular member into the interior cavity; and
means for mounting a bicycle seat to a remote end of one
of the first tubular member and the second tubular member.
2. The support post as defined in Claim 1, wherein the shock
absorbing means is a coil spring.
3. The support post as defined in Claim 1, wherein the shock
absorbing means is hydraulic fluid.

4. In combination:
a bicycle frame;
a support post for a bicycle seat mounted in a
substantially vertical orientation to the bicycle frame, the
support post comprising:
a first tubular member having an interior cavity;
a second tubular member telescopically received
within the interior cavity of the first tubular member;
shock absorbing means to resist telescopic movement
of the second tubular member into the interior cavity;
mounting means for mounting a bicycle seat to a
remote end of one of the first tubular member and the second
tubular member; and
a bicycle seat mounted on the mounting means.

Description

CA 02208379 1997-06-20
TITLE OF THE lNV~L~lON:
support post for a bicycle seat
NAME OF lNV~NlOR:
Bayne Jason Andronyk
FIELD OF THE lNV~.llON
The present invention relates to a support post for a
bicycle seat
BACKGROUND OF THE lNV~NllON
A bicycle seat is mounted on a support post which is
telescopically received in a receptacle in a bicycle frame.
The support post can be secured in a variety of telescopic
positions relative to the frame, in order to adjust a height
of the bicycle seat to accommodate a leg length of a rider.
When a bicycle is ridden over rough terrain, it is
subjected to jarring impacts. That portion of each jarring
impact that is not absorbed by the bicycle's tires, is
transmitted along the support post to the bicycle seat and then
to the spine of the rider. The bicycle seat has limited
padding and, therefore, provides only limited relief from such
jarring impacts.
SUMMARY OF THE lNV~NllON
What is required is a support post for a bicycle seat that
will reduce the intensity of jarring impacts transmitted along

CA 02208379 1997-06-20
the support post to the bicycle seat.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a support post for a bicycle seat which includes a
first tubular member and a second tubular member. The first
tubular member has an interior cavity. The second tubular
member is telescopically received within the interior cavity
of the first tubular member. Shock absorbing means resists
telescopic movement of the second tubular into the interior
cavity. Mounting means is provided for mounting a bicycle seat
to a remote end of one of the first tubular member and the
second tubular member.
The support post, described above, is built to absorb
shocks. Jarring impacts result in a telescopic movement of the
second tubular member into the interior cavity of the first
tubular member, instead of being transmitted to the bicycle
seat. The telescopic movement is cushioned by the shock
absorbing means positioned within the interior cavity. The
shock absorbing means can take a variety of forms, including
a coil spring, hydraulic fluid or both.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view, partially in section,
of a first embodiment of support post for a bicycle seat
constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, a support post for a bicycle

CA 02208379 l997-06-20
seat generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be
described with reference to FIGURE 1.
Referring to FIGURE 1, support post 10 includes a first
tubular member 12 and a second tubular member 14. First
tubular member 12 has a first end 16, a second end 18 and an
interior cavity 20. Second tubular member 14 has a first end
22 and a second end 24. Second end 24 of second tubular member
14 iS telescopically received within interior cavity 20 at
10 first end 16 of first tubular member 12. Shock absorbing
means, which will hereinafter be further described, are
provided to resist telescopic movement of second tubular member
14 into interior cavity 20 of first tubular member 12. The
shock absorbing means can be in the form of a spring, hydraulic
15 fluid or both. In the illustrated embodiment both are
employed. A coil spring 26 iS positioned between retaining
plates 28 and 30. Retaining plate 28 iS secured to first
tubular member 12. Retaining plate is secured to second
tubular member 14. Spring 26 resists telescopic movement of
20 second tubular 14 into interior cavity 20. In addition,
interior cavity 20 iS filled with hydraulic fluid 32, which
further resists movement. A bicycle seat 34 iS mounted to first
end 22 of second tubular member 14, and secured in position by
a seat post clamp 36. Second end 18 of first tubular member
25 12 iS secured within a receptacle 38 of a bicycle frame 40.
In operation, jarring impacts result in telescopic
movement of second tubular member 14 into interior cavity 20
of first tubular member 12. This telescopic movement is
absorbed by coil spring 26 and hydraulic fluid 32.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter defined in the Claims.

Representative Drawing