Bicycle assist devices

Abstract

In conventional bicycles, the method of attaching the seat post to the seat tube has the problem of the seat post rotating within the seat tube. Creating a special shape for the relationship between the seat tube and seat post would require the creation of dedicated parts, which would make it impossible to implement on existing bicycles. [Solution] The bicycle support device 7 is shaped such that when rotation occurs around the seat post 3 connected to the saddle 2 at the point where the post-side support member 10 and the tube-side support member 30 are in close contact, the shape at the point where they are in close contact pushes the seat post 3 connected to the saddle upward.

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bicycle auxiliary device that can be retrofitted to a bicycle and can maintain the horizontal angle of a bicycle saddle at a set appropriate position by the driver's own weight. [[Background Art]]

[0002] Bicycles are one of the means of transportation that are deeply rooted in people's lives. In most bicycles, as a method for fixing the saddle, a seat post is inserted into a seat tube using a cylinder that is part of the frame, or into a seat lug connected to the seat tube, and a seat pin is used to tighten the seat post onto the seat tube from the outside of the seat tube into which the seat post is inserted to fix it (this method is hereinafter referred to as a seat clamp). The reason why the relationship between the seat tube and the seat post is arranged as a cylinder and a cylinder is that this is a conventionally used reliable shape, and it has good strength and is easy to process. In addition, regarding the diameter standards for seat posts and seat tubes, standardization has been promoted and general-purpose parts are supplied, because the division of labor in the bicycle industry and the easy availability of repair parts. [[Prior Art Documents]] [[Patent Documents]]

[0003] [[Patent Document 1]] Japanese Utility Model Application No. Sho 61-071806 [[Summary of the Invention]] [[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]]

[0004] However, the conventional method involved tightening the cylindrical seat tube of the bicycle with a seat clamp attached to the outside of the seat tube, and then tightening and fixing the cylindrical seat post to the cylindrical seat tube. In this conventional method, the relationship remains that of a cylinder inserted into a cylinder, and a force greater than a certain amount is required to tighten with the seat clamp, so there are cases where the seat clamp is not tightened enough by workers with weak arm strength. Furthermore, even if the worker judges that the tightening is sufficient, due to the structure of the bicycle, when force is applied to the end of the saddle (the part visible from the rider's crotch when the rider is sitting on the saddle, hereinafter referred to as the saddle end), the force from the legs is amplified on the seat post due to the lever principle, making it easier to rotate the seat post.

[0005] In particular, when traveling on rough roads for extended periods, the bicycle is subjected to vibrations, which in turn affect the seat clamp, causing it to loosen. Furthermore, if excessive force is applied to the saddle, for example, when the saddle is subjected to an impact, or when the cyclist tries to increase leg strength by moving their buttocks and thighs excessively from side to side while going uphill, excessive force is applied from the buttocks and thighs to the end of the saddle. This causes the seat post to move from side to side within the seat tube to conform to the seat tube, resulting in a problem where the horizontal angle of the saddle shifts. In this application, the horizontal angle refers to the angle obtained by rotating the saddle clockwise or counterclockwise from 0 degrees, with the seat post as the central axis in a plan view of the bicycle (the shape of the bicycle as seen from above, a plan view), where 0 degrees is defined as the case where the end of the saddle appears to overlap with the bicycle frame (where the end of the saddle is pointing towards the midpoint of the handlebars).

[0006] Prior art documents, such as Patent Document 1, have proposed means to solve the aforementioned problems. According to the contents of Patent Document 1, the purpose is to address the weak tightening force of the seat clamp and to ensure that the saddle is in the correct horizontal rotation position. As a solution, a design is proposed in which a recess 7 is provided in a part of the seat post, and a wedge 6 is pressed into the recess 7 from the seat tube side with a bolt 8.

[0007] However, in order to provide a recess 7 in a part of the seat post and a wedge 6 and bolt 8 in the seat tube, existing bicycles would require significant modification of the seat tube, and there was a problem that the relationship between the seat tube and seat post would need to be made into a dedicated part. Furthermore, in the invention of Patent Document 1, since a recess 7 is provided in the seat post, there was a problem that this could lead to a localized reduction in strength due to the recess 7 in the seat post, and that it was difficult to properly process the recess 7 to fit the wedge 6 while maintaining the strength of the recess 7.

[0008] Furthermore, in some conventional specialized bicycles, the relationship between the seat tube and seat post is not that of a cylinder and a column, but rather a column-and-tube relationship such as an ellipse or polygon, using specialized parts to prevent the horizontal angle deviation that is inherent to circles. However, this method is only for specialized bicycles and does not consider compatibility with existing bicycles, which presents the problem of difficulty in procuring parts for repairs or modifications. Moreover, changing the relationship between the seat tube and seat post of an existing bicycle to something other than a cylinder and a column would require significant modification of the frame because the seat tube is integrated with the frame, making it virtually impossible.

[0009] Furthermore, if the rotation of the saddle is completely fixed in order to maintain a constant horizontal angle, there is a problem in that the force cannot be dissipated in the event of an accident such as a fall, which may lead to more serious injuries. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following technical measures.

[0011] The first invention is a bicycle aid used in a bicycle in which a cylindrical seat post to which a saddle is attached is fitted into a cylindrical seat tube and fastened with a seat clamp. The aid consists of a tube-side auxiliary member that is attached (fixed) to the seat tube, and a post-side auxiliary member that is attached (fixed) to the seat post in a state in close contact with a part of the tube-side auxiliary member while the tube-side auxiliary member is attached (fixed). The aid is characterized in that when rotation occurs around the seat post, which is connected to the saddle, due to the shape of the area where the post-side auxiliary member and the tube-side auxiliary member are in close contact, the shape of the area in close contact pushes the seat post, which is connected to the saddle, upward. The bicycle assist device of the second invention is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the shape of the portion where the post-side assist member and the tube-side assist member are in close contact is formed from a combination of a plane perpendicular to the line with respect to the axis of the seat post, a plurality of protrusions such as triangles or semicircles that become smaller from the vertical plane toward the tip, and a plurality of recesses that are molded to be in close contact with the protrusions. The third invention of the bicycle assist device is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the shape of the portion where the post-side assist member and the tube-side assist member are in close contact is a surface (flat or curved) that is inclined at a predetermined angle from a plane perpendicular to the line with respect to the axis of the seat post. The bicycle assist device of the fourth invention is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 2 or claim 3, the outer surfaces of the post-side assist member and the tube-side assist member are provided with alignment marks that allow for external position confirmation when they are in close contact. The fifth bicycle assist device is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 2 or claim 3, the tube-side assist member is provided with means for preventing rotation between itself and the seat tube. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] By having the technical means described above, the following effects are achieved.

[0013] This invention allows for the retrofitting of components to the seatpost and seat tube, and because there are parts that closely connect the two components, the rider's own weight can maintain the horizontal angle in the appropriate position. Furthermore, since the seatpost and seat clamp are not completely fixed, safety is ensured in the event of an accident such as a fall. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a side view of a bicycle to which the bicycle assist device of the present invention is attached. [Figure 2] This is an enlarged view of part A in Figure 1, illustrating the state in which the bicycle assist device according to the present invention is attached. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the horizontal angle formed by the saddle and frame as viewed from above on the bicycle according to the present invention. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram of the post-side auxiliary device of Embodiment 1 according to the present invention, where (a) is a front view and (b) is a bottom view. [Figure 5] This is an explanatory diagram of the tube-side auxiliary device of Embodiment 1 according to the present invention, where (a) is a front view, (b) is a top view, and (c) is a left side view. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view of the main part when the post-side auxiliary device and the tube-side auxiliary device of Example 1 of the present invention are in close contact. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view illustrating the state in which the contact points of the post-side auxiliary device and the tube-side auxiliary device of Embodiment 1 of the present invention separate when the seatpost rotates by a predetermined angle. [Figure 8] This is an explanatory diagram of the post-side auxiliary device of Embodiment 2 according to the present invention, where (a) is a front view, (b) is a bottom view, and (c) is a left side view. [Figure 9] This is an explanatory diagram of the tube-side auxiliary device of Embodiment 2 according to the present invention, where (a) is a front view, (b) is a top view, and (c) is a left side view. [Figure 10] It is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a main part when the post-side aid and the tube-side aid according to Example 2 of the present invention are brought into close contact with each other. [Figure 11] It is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a main part in a state where the close contact portion is separated when the seat post of the post-side aid and the tube-side aid according to Example 2 of the present invention is rotated by a predetermined angle. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0015] An embodiment of a bicycle auxiliary device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. The present invention is not limited by this embodiment. EXAMPLE

[0016] Example 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. Since the bicycle auxiliary device of Example 1 can be retrofitted to an existing bicycle 1 as shown in FIG. 1, a typical bicycle 1 is taken as an example in FIG. 1 to describe the parts necessary for explaining the bicycle auxiliary device of the present invention. It goes without saying that the bicycle auxiliary device of the present invention can be implemented by being attached to a new bicycle from the beginning.

[0017] In the bicycle 1 of FIG. 1, the bicycle components related to the present invention are a saddle 2, a seat post 3, a seat tube 4, a seat clamp 5 attached to the seat tube, and a frame 6 (main frame of the bicycle) coupled to the seat tube 4. Although the frame 6 includes a wide range of bicycle frames, in order to explain the relationship with the saddle 2, the frame connecting the handlebar and the seat tube 4 is particularly described as the frame 6.

[0018] The saddle 2 is attached to a cylindrical seatpost 3. The seat tube 4 is integrally formed with the frame 6 of the bicycle 1, and one or more notches are provided at the upper end of the cylindrical seat tube 4. The seat clamp 5 can be tightened by moving in a direction that reduces the inner diameter of the seat clamp 5, or conversely, released by using a screw type or quick lever type. In Figure 1, the seat clamp 5 is shown as an example of a screw type.

[0019] In the bicycle 1 shown in Figure 1, releasing the seat clamp 5 allows the seat post 3 to which the saddle 2 is attached to be removed from the seat tube 4. The relationship between the top surface of the seat clamp 5 and the seat post 3 is such that the seat post 3 extends vertically upward from the top surface of the seat clamp 5. Note that bicycle 1 is just one example of a bicycle, and the diagram shows a side view of a city bike, or so-called "mamachari" (utility bicycle). However, if the seat post 2, seat tube 4, and seat clamp 5 are of a similar type, this can also be implemented on road bikes, mountain bikes, and hybrid bikes.

[0020] Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the main part of the present invention enclosed by the dashed circle in Figure 1. The diagram shows the general state in which the seat post 2 to which the saddle 2 is attached has been removed from the aforementioned seat tube 4, and the tube-side auxiliary member 30, shown by the dashed line, is attached to the seat tube 4 side with the seat clamp 5 attached, and the post-side auxiliary member 10, also shown by the dashed line, is attached to the seat post 2 side. The bicycle auxiliary device 7 is formed by combining the post-side auxiliary member 10 and the tube-side auxiliary member 30.

[0021] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the aforementioned horizontal angle. In a plan view of bicycle 1 (the shape of the bicycle as seen from above), the position where the saddle end 2a of saddle 2 appears to overlap the frame 6, with the seat post 3 as the axis, is defined as 0 degrees. The dashed lines illustrate the state when the orientation of the saddle end 2a is rotated by a predetermined angle clockwise (cw) and counterclockwise (ccw) relative to 0 degrees. Since the seat tube 4 is generally tilted a predetermined angle backward with respect to the horizontal plane, in a plan view, the length of saddle 2 becomes shorter when rotated clockwise (cw) or counterclockwise (ccw), and when viewed from the side of bicycle 1, the saddle end 2a moves downward.

[0022] The bicycle support device 7 will be explained using Figures 4 to 7. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the shape of the post-side support member 10 that constitutes the bicycle support device 7. Figure 4(a) is a front view of the post-side support member 10, and Figure 4(b) is a bottom view of the post-side support member 10. The post-side support member 10 is formed of metal or a strong synthetic resin to have a thick, roughly cylindrical shape. The size and shape of the post-side support member 10 should be determined by considering the relationship with the diameter of the seat post 3, the size and arrangement of the triangular recess 12 (described later), the effective thread thickness of the post fixing screw hole 13 (described later), the material and strength of the material used, and its molding method. However, considering the cost of materials and the ability to lower the saddle 2 all the way down, thereby expanding the range of application of the post-side support member 10, it is best to select a shape that is as small as possible.

[0023] The inner cylindrical portion of the post-side auxiliary member 10 is formed to become a seatpost through-hole 11 through which the seatpost 3 passes. Therefore, the hole diameter is provided with a slight margin over the diameter of the seatpost 3, for example, a margin of about 0.5 to 1 mm.

[0024] On the bottom surface of the post-side auxiliary member 10, three triangular recesses 12 are provided concentrically with the seatpost through-hole 11, corresponding to the three triangular protrusions 32 of the tube-side auxiliary member 30, which will be described later. On the side surface of the post-side auxiliary member 10, three post fixing screw holes 13 are provided, which are threaded through the member. The member is configured to be fixed to the seatpost 3 by using hexagonal bolts (screws) or wing bolts (screws) with male threads of a diameter corresponding to the post fixing screw holes 13. In addition, a marking 15 is provided on the side surface of the post-side auxiliary member 10 in an easily visible location, such as by engraving or a sticker. This, along with the marking 35 on the tube-side auxiliary member 30, which will be described later, allows for easy external confirmation of the mounting relationship between the post-side auxiliary member 10 and the tube-side auxiliary member 30.

[0025] Regarding the number of post fixing screw holes 13, it is sufficient to ensure that the seatpost 3 is properly secured; for example, one post fixing screw hole 13 may suffice. Furthermore, the diameter of the female thread on the seatpost 3 should be such that it makes proper contact with the outer surface of the seatpost 3 without damaging it, for example, around M5(mm) to M8(mm). In addition, regarding hexagonal bolts (screws) and wing bolts (screws), other types of bolts (screws), such as hexagonal sockets or Phillips heads, may be used, taking into consideration the fixing force to the seatpost 3 and ease of installation.

[0026] The structure of the tube-side support member 30 that constitutes the bicycle support device 7 will be explained using Figure 5. Figure 5(a) is a front view of the tube-side support member 30, Figure 5(b) is a top view of the tube-side support member 30, and Figure 5(c) is a left side view of the tube-side support member 30. The tube-side support member 30 is made of metal or a strong synthetic resin so as to have a donut-shaped upper plate with an appropriate thickness on the upper side and a roughly "U" shaped side plate with an appropriate thickness below the upper plate. The size and shape of the tube-side support member 30 should be determined by considering the relationship with the diameter of the seat post 3, the size of the seat clamp 5, the size and arrangement of the triangular protrusion 32 (described later), the material and strength of the material used, and the molding method. However, considering the cost of materials and the fact that the saddle 2 can be lowered all the way down, and that the range of application of the post-side support member 10 is expanded, it is best to select a shape that is as small as possible.

[0027] The seatpost 3 passes through the center of the upper plate of the tube-side auxiliary member 30, and a seatpost through-hole 31 is formed on the upper surface of the seat clamp 5. Therefore, the diameter of the seatpost through-hole 31 is also provided with a slight margin over the diameter of the seatpost 3, for example, a margin of about 0.5 to 1 mm.

[0028] On the upper surface of the tube-side auxiliary member 30, three triangular protrusions 32 are provided concentrically around the seatpost through-hole 31, corresponding to the three triangular recesses 12 of the post-side auxiliary member 10. Regarding the relationship between the triangular recesses 12 of the post-side auxiliary member 10 and the triangular protrusions 32 of the tube-side auxiliary member 30, they may be designed to fit snugly into the triangular recesses 12 without any gaps, or the triangular protrusions 32 may be made slightly smaller, for example, by about 0.5 to 1 mm, to facilitate processing and installation. Note that in Figures 4 to 7, the triangular protrusions 32 are shown even smaller to make them easier to understand by avoiding overlapping lines.

[0029] The inner shape of the roughly U-shaped side plate of the tube-side auxiliary member 30 is designed to fit onto the outer surface of the seat clamp 5, covering the seat clamp 5 with the tube-side auxiliary member 30, and is appropriately formed to match the shape of the seat clamp 5. Furthermore, tube fixing portions, which are notches that overlap the screws of the seat clamp 5, are provided at both ends of the roughly U-shaped side plate of the tube-side auxiliary member 30 to secure the tube-side auxiliary member 30 to the seat clamp 5. The tube-side auxiliary member 30 only needs to fit onto a part of the seat clamp 5 or frame, and its movement such as rotation should be stopped on the outer surface of the seat clamp 5, so it can be made to match the outer shape of the seat clamp 5. In addition, a marking 35 is provided on the side of the tube-side auxiliary member 30 in an easily visible location, such as by engraving or a sticker. This, along with the marking 15 on the post-side auxiliary member 10, allows for easy external confirmation of the mounting relationship between the post-side auxiliary member 10 and the tube-side auxiliary member 30.

[0030] Figure 6 shows the post-side auxiliary member 10 and the tube-side auxiliary member 30, which were cut along the DD cross-section in Figure 4, attached to the bicycle 1, with the saddle end 2a of the saddle 2 facing forward and the seat post 3 viewed at a right angle. In Figure 6, the bolts (screws) in the three post fixing screw holes 13 of the post-side auxiliary member 10 are omitted from the illustration for clarity, but it is assumed that they are attached, and the post-side auxiliary member 10 is fixed to the seat post 3, and the seat post 3 and saddle 2 are fixed together. The tube-side auxiliary member 30 is also fixed to the seat clamp 5, and the bicycle auxiliary device is properly attached by the post-side auxiliary member 10 and the tube-side auxiliary member 30. In Figure 6, since the post-side auxiliary member 10 is cut along the DD cross-section, it is shown that the triangular recess 12 of the post-side auxiliary member 10 and the triangular projection 32 of the tube-side auxiliary member 30 fit together properly.

[0031] Figure 7 shows the same state as in Figure 6, but with the saddle 2 rotated counterclockwise (ccw) in a top view, so that the position of the saddle end 2a is moved to the right from the center in Figure 6. In Figure 7, the post-side auxiliary member 10 is also cut along the DD cross section of Figure 4, and the DD cross section has also moved to the right. In this case, the triangular recess 12 of the post-side auxiliary member 10 comes into contact with the left-side slope of the triangular projection 32 of the tube-side auxiliary member 30 in Figure 7, pushing the entire post-side auxiliary member 10 upward, and also pushing the seat post 3 and saddle 2 fixed to the post-side auxiliary member 10 upward. As a result, the top surface of the tube-side auxiliary member 30 and the bottom surface of the post-side auxiliary member 10 change from being in close contact to having a gap.

[0032] Normally, when the rider sits on the saddle 2, the rider's weight is added to it. If the rider consciously or unconsciously applies their weight to the saddle 2, the slope of the triangular recess 12 of the post-side auxiliary member 10 slides along the slope of the triangular projection 32 of the tube-side auxiliary member 30, returning the upper surface of the tube-side auxiliary member 30 and the bottom surface of the post-side auxiliary member 10 to a state where they are in close contact, for example, a state similar to that shown in Figure 6. Although the description above has focused on the counterclockwise (ccw) rotation of the saddle 2 when viewed from above, the same applies to the clockwise (cw) rotation.

[0033] Furthermore, although the explanation describes the case where the post-side auxiliary member 10 has a triangular recess 12 and the tube-side auxiliary member 30 has a triangular recess 12, if the size and strength of the bicycle auxiliary device 7 are not considered, the same can be implemented by having a triangular projection on the post-side auxiliary member 10 and a triangular recess on the tube-side auxiliary member 30. Moreover, the combination of a triangular projection and a triangular recess 12 can also be implemented as a projection that becomes smaller at the tip or a recess that becomes smaller at the bottom, for example, a semi-circular projection or recess. [Examples]

[0034] Example 2 will be described using Figures 8 to 11. Note that the bicycle 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3 in Example 1 is the same in Example 2, so the same reference numerals are used and its description is omitted.

[0035] Figure 8 illustrates the shape of the post-side support member 20 that constitutes the bicycle support device 8. Figure 8(a) is a front view of the post-side support member 20, Figure 8(b) is a bottom view of the post-side support member 20, and Figure 8(c) is a left side view of the post-side support member 20. The post-side support member 20 is formed of metal or a strong synthetic resin to have a thick, roughly cylindrical shape.

[0036] The post-side auxiliary member 20 is formed of metal or a strong synthetic resin to have a thick, roughly cylindrical shape. The size and shape of the post-side auxiliary member 20 should be determined by considering the relationship with the diameter of the seatpost 3, the thickness of the effective thread of the post fixing screw hole 23, the material and strength of the material used, and the molding method. However, considering the cost of materials and the ability to lower the saddle 2 all the way down, thereby expanding the range of application of the post-side auxiliary member 20, it is best to choose a shape that is as small as possible.

[0037] The inner cylindrical portion of the post-side auxiliary member 20 is formed to become a seatpost through-hole 21 through which the seatpost 3 passes. Therefore, the hole diameter is provided with a slight margin over the diameter of the seatpost 3, for example, a margin of about 0.5 to 1 mm.

[0038] The bottom surface of the post-side auxiliary member 20 is a post-side flat plate slope 22 that corresponds to the tube-side flat plate slope 42 of the tube-side auxiliary member 40, which will be described later. The post-side flat plate slope 22 is formed so that the thickness of the post-side auxiliary member 20 in the vertical direction decreases from the front to the rear, and the post-side auxiliary member 20 as a whole is formed in the shape of a cylinder with one end cut diagonally. Therefore, as shown in Figure 8(c), when viewed from the side, it has a trapezoidal shape with parallel vertical directions. Three post fixing screw holes 23 with internal threads are provided on the side of the post-side auxiliary member 20, and it is configured to be fixed to the seat post 3 by using hexagonal bolts (screws) or wing bolts (screws) with external threads of the diameter corresponding to the post fixing screw holes 23. In addition, a marking 25 is provided on the side of the post-side auxiliary member 20 in an easily visible location, such as by engraving or a sticker. This is because, in conjunction with the alignment mark 45 on the tube-side auxiliary member 40 described later, the mounting relationship between the post-side auxiliary member 20 and the tube-side auxiliary member 40 can be easily confirmed from the outside.

[0039] Regarding the number of post fixing screw holes 23, it is sufficient to ensure that the seatpost 3 is properly secured; for example, one post fixing screw hole 23 may suffice. Furthermore, the diameter of the female thread on the seatpost 3 should be such that it makes proper contact with the outer surface of the seatpost 3 without damaging it, for example, around M5(mm) to M8(mm). Additionally, regarding hexagonal bolts (screws) and wing bolts (screws), other types of bolts (screws), such as hexagonal sockets or Phillips heads, may be used, taking into consideration the fixing force to the seatpost 3 and ease of installation.

[0040] The structure of the tube-side support member 40 constituting the bicycle support device 8 will be explained using Figure 9. Figure 9(a) is a front view of the tube-side support member 40, Figure 9(b) is a top view of the tube-side support member 40, and Figure 9(c) is a left side view of the tube-side support member 40. The tube-side support member 40 is formed with a donut-shaped top plate that is cut diagonally so that it is thinner towards the front and thicker towards the rear, so that the top surface (top surface) of this top plate is formed as the tube-side flat plate slope 42. Below the top plate is a roughly "U" shaped side plate with an appropriate thickness, made of metal or a synthetic resin with sufficient strength. The size and shape of the tube-side support member 40 should be determined considering the diameter of the seat post 3, the size of the seat clamp 5, the material and strength of the material used, and the molding method. However, considering the cost of materials and the fact that the saddle 2 can be lowered all the way down, and that the range of application of the post-side support member 20 is expanded, it is best to select a shape that is as small as possible.

[0041] The seatpost 3 passes through the center of the upper plate of the tube-side auxiliary member 40, and a seatpost through-hole 41 is formed on the upper surface of the seat clamp 5. Therefore, the diameter of the seatpost through-hole 41 is also provided with a slight margin over the diameter of the seatpost 3, for example, a margin of about 0.5 to 1 mm.

[0042] The inner shape of the roughly "U" shaped side plate of the tube-side auxiliary member 40 is designed to fit onto the outer surface of the seat clamp 5, covering the seat clamp 5 with the tube-side auxiliary member 40, and is appropriately formed to match the shape of the seat clamp 5. In addition, tube fixing portions, which are notches that overlap the screws of the seat clamp 5, are provided at both ends of the roughly "U" shaped side plate of the tube-side auxiliary member 40 to fix the tube-side auxiliary member 40 to the seat clamp 5. The tube-side auxiliary member 40 only needs to fit onto a part of the seat clamp 5 or frame, and its movement such as rotation should be stopped on the outer surface of the seat clamp 5, so it can be made to match the outer shape of the seat clamp 5. Furthermore, a marking 45 is provided on the side of the tube-side auxiliary member 40 in an easily visible location, such as by engraving or a sticker. This, along with the marking 25 on the post-side auxiliary member 20, allows for easy external confirmation of the mounting relationship between the post-side auxiliary member 20 and the tube-side auxiliary member 40.

[0043] Figure 10 shows the seatpost 3 at a right angle to the seatpost 2, with the post-side auxiliary member 20 and the tube-side auxiliary member 40 attached to the bicycle 1, with the saddle end 2a of the saddle 2 facing forward. In Figure 10, the bolts (screws) in the three post fixing screw holes 23 of the post-side auxiliary member 20 are omitted from the illustration for clarity, but it is assumed that they are attached, and the post-side auxiliary member 20 is fixed to the seatpost 3, and the seatpost 3 and saddle 2 are fixed together. The tube-side auxiliary member 40 is also fixed to the seat clamp 5, and the bicycle accessories are properly attached by the post-side auxiliary member 20 and the tube-side auxiliary member 40. In this state, the post-side flat plate slope 22 and the tube-side flat plate slope 42 are shown to be in close contact.

[0044] Figure 11 shows the state in Figure 10, but with the saddle 2 moved counterclockwise (ccw) in a top view, so that the position of the saddle end 2a in Figure 11 is moved to the right from the center of Figure 10. In this case, the post-side flat plate slope 22 of the post-side auxiliary member 20 moves while making contact with the tube-side flat plate slope 42 of the tube-side auxiliary member 40 in a sliding upward manner, pushing the entire post-side auxiliary member 20 upward, and the seat post 3 and saddle 2 fixed to the post-side auxiliary member 20 are also pushed upward. As a result, the state in which the tube-side flat plate slope 42 of the tube-side auxiliary member 40 and the post-side flat plate slope 22 of the post-side auxiliary member 20 are in full contact changes to a state in which only a part is in contact, and a gap is created between the tube-side flat plate slope 42 and the post-side flat plate slope 22.

[0045] Normally, when the rider sits on the saddle 2, the rider's weight is added to it. If the rider consciously or unconsciously applies their own weight to the saddle 2, the post-side flat plate slope 22 of the post-side auxiliary member 20 slides against the tube-side flat plate slope 42 of the tube-side auxiliary member 40, returning to a state of close contact, for example, a state similar to that shown in Figure 10. Although the description above has focused on the counterclockwise (ccw) rotation of the saddle 2 when viewed from above, the same applies to the clockwise (cw) rotation.

[0046] In Example 2, the post-side flat plate inclined surface 22 and the tube-side flat plate inclined surface 42 were described as flat surfaces. However, since the deformation between the post-side auxiliary member 20 and the tube-side auxiliary member 40 due to the rotation of the post-side auxiliary member 20 accompanying the seat post 3 to which the saddle 2 is fixed will be less than in Example 1, the inclined surface may not be flat, but rather a curved inclined surface that starts at a steep angle (the part beginning from the alignment marks 25 and 45) and then gradually deforms into a more gradual angle.

[0047] Of course, if the relationship between the post-side flat plate inclination 22 and the tube-side flat plate inclination 42 is a steep slope, the vertical length of the post-side auxiliary member 20 and the tube-side auxiliary member 40 will increase, increasing material costs and narrowing the range of bicycles 1 that can be fitted. However, compared to Example 1, although Example 2 has only one point of contact when rotated, the overall shape of the post-side auxiliary member 20 or the tube-side auxiliary member 40 is not deformed much, making it easier to process and allowing for strength proportional to the wall thickness.

[0048] Although the present invention has been described above based on the first and second embodiments, the present invention is not limited in any way to the configuration of these embodiments. Furthermore, this invention is not limited to these embodiments, but includes the invention described in the claims and its equivalents. [Industrial applicability]

[0049] The bicycle assist device of the present invention has industrial applicability because it can be attached to existing bicycles to improve convenience. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0050] 1: Bicycle 2: Saddle 2a: Saddle end 3: Seatpost 4: Seat tube 5: Seat clamp 6: Frame 7, 8: Bicycle assist devices 10, 20: Post-side auxiliary members 11, 21, 31, 41: Seatpost through-holes 12: Triangular depression 13, 23: Post fixing screw holes 15, 25, 35, 45: joint seal 22: Post-side flat plate slope 30, 40: Tube-side auxiliary members 32: Triangular protrusion 33, 43: Tube fixing part 42: Tube-side flat plate slope

Claims

1. An auxiliary device for bicycles in which a cylindrical seat post to which a saddle is attached is fitted into a cylindrical seat tube and fastened with a seat clamp, comprising a tube-side auxiliary member fixed to the seat tube and a post-side auxiliary member attached to the seat post in close contact with a part of the tube-side auxiliary member while the tube-side auxiliary member is fixed, wherein a set of close contact shapes is provided in which a part of the tube-side auxiliary member is in close contact with the post-side auxiliary member, so that when the seat post connected to the saddle rotates in the forward and reverse directions around the seat post as an axis, the set of close contact shapes is formed in a direction that pushes the seat post connected to the saddle upward.

2. The bicycle accessory according to claim 1, characterized in that the set of close-fitting shapes is formed from a plane perpendicular to a line with respect to the axis of the seat post, a plurality of protrusions that become smaller towards the tip from the vertical plane, and a plurality of recesses that are molded to fit in close contact with the protrusions.

3. The bicycle accessory according to claim 1, characterized in that the set of fitting shapes is a surface inclined at a predetermined angle from a plane perpendicular to the line with respect to the axis of the seat post.

4. The bicycle auxiliary device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the outer surfaces of the post-side auxiliary member and the tube-side auxiliary member are provided with alignment marks that allow for external position confirmation when they are in close contact.

5. The bicycle auxiliary device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the tube-side auxiliary member is provided with means for preventing rotation between itself and the seat tube.

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