Saddle for rider and bicycle including the saddle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a saddle for a rider and a bicycle comprising the saddle. The saddle (200) comprises a frame and a covering (202). The frame comprises a front portion, a rear portion and a middle portion between the front portion and the rear portion. The covering comprises a seat panel (240) and at least one side panel or at least one tensioning plate. The seat panel comprises a seat surface facing upward. The seat panel (240) is supported by the front portion of the frame and the rear portion of the frame and extends from the front portion of the frame to the rear portion of the frame.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority under 35 USC § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 249,190, filed on September 28, 2021, entitled “Soft Bicycle Seat,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a saddle for a rider of a bicycle or the like. Background Art

[0004] Bicycles have relatively unique saddles compared to other modes of transportation and office or home seating. A variety of styles have been considered over the years and may differ depending on the purpose of the bicycle (e.g., leisure bike, road bike, or mountain bike). Traditional bicycle saddles, especially those used for road bikes, can be hard and uncomfortable, leading to pain (e.g., so-called "saddle pain"). Summary of the invention

[0005] In one aspect, the present invention relates to a saddle for a rider, the saddle comprising a frame and a covering. The frame comprises a front portion, a rear portion, and a middle portion located between the front portion and the rear portion. The front portion and the rear portion each have a support portion. The support portion of the front portion and the support portion of the rear portion are positioned to form a chamber in the middle portion. The covering comprises a seat panel and a plurality of side panels. The seat panel is supported by the support portions of the front portion of the frame and the rear portion of the frame to span the chamber. The seat panel comprises a seat surface facing an upward direction. The plurality of side panels extend from the front portion to the rear portion. Each side panel comprises a side extending outwardly from the saddle in a direction different from the upward direction.

[0006] In another aspect, the present invention relates to a saddle for a rider, comprising a frame and a covering. The frame comprises a front portion, a rear portion, and a middle portion located between the front portion and the rear portion. The front portion and the rear portion each have a support portion. The support portion of the front portion and the support portion of the rear portion are positioned to form a chamber within the middle portion. The covering comprises a seat panel and at least one tensioning plate. The seat panel is supported by each support portion of the front portion of the frame and the rear portion of the frame. The seat panel extends from the front portion of the frame to the rear portion of the frame and comprises a seat surface. The at least one tensioning plate extends from the front portion of the frame to the rear portion of the frame. The tension of the tensioning plate is greater than the tension of the seat panel.

[0007] In another aspect, the present invention relates to a saddle for a rider, comprising a frame and a covering. The frame comprises a front portion, a rear portion, and a middle portion between the front portion and the rear portion. The covering comprises a seat panel and a plurality of side panels. The seat panel comprises a seat surface facing in an upward direction. The seat panel is supported by the front and rear portions of the frame, but not by the middle portion of the frame. The plurality of side panels extend from the front portion to the rear portion. Each side panel comprises a side facing outward from the saddle in a direction different from the upward direction.

[0008] These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 A bicycle equipped with a bicycle saddle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0010] Figure 2 According to one embodiment, for Figure 1 A front view of a bicycle saddle is shown.

[0011] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 , wherein a cover of the bicycle saddle is shown in outline to illustrate the frame of the bicycle saddle.

[0012] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A side view of a bicycle saddle is shown, illustrating different pivotable orientations of the bicycle saddle.

[0013] Figure 5 for Figure 2 A side view of a bicycle saddle is shown illustrating the process of installing the cover to the frame.

[0014] Figure 6 for Figure 2 A rear view of the bicycle seat shown.

[0015] Figure 7 yes Figure 2 A front view of a variation of a bicycle saddle is shown.

[0016] Figure 8 According to another embodiment, for Figure 1 A front view of a bicycle seat is shown in FIG.

[0017] Fig. 9 yes Figure 8 A view of a bicycle saddle is shown with a cover of the bicycle saddle shown in outline to illustrate the frame of the bicycle saddle.

[0018] Fig.10 yes Figure 8 Bottom view of the bicycle saddle shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] As mentioned above, conventional bicycle saddles may be hard and uncomfortable, especially those performance saddles designed for control rather than comfort. Other bicycle saddles may be intended to provide comfort, but these saddles often lack the features that performance saddles have that can control the bicycle well. The embodiments of bicycle saddles discussed herein achieve a comfortable riding experience through a seat panel suspended between the front and rear of the saddle frame. The seat panel has tension, and when a person sits on the seat panel, the seat panel at least partially fits the person's buttocks, thereby forming a concave shape between the front and rear of the saddle frame. Therefore, the rider can use these side panels to help control the bicycle, for example, by using his or her inner thigh to compress one of the side panels. In addition, these side panels also help to stabilize the seat panel, which is otherwise only supported by the front and rear of the saddle frame. In some embodiments, the tension of the side panels of the saddle is greater than the seat panel.

[0020] Figure 1 A bicycle 100 equipped with a bicycle saddle 200 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The bicycle 100 shown in this embodiment is referred to as a mountain bike, but the bicycle saddle 200 can also be used with any suitable bicycle, such as a road bicycle, a hybrid bicycle, and an electric bicycle. Here, the two terms "bicycle" and "cycle" can be used interchangeably. In addition, although the preferred embodiment is a bicycle, and the saddle discussed here is referred to as a bicycle saddle, the saddle is not limited to this and can also be used in other applications, such as other types of bicycles, more specifically, other types of bicycles. These other types of bicycles include, for example, unicycles and tricycles, such as rickshaws, and are not limited to bicycles that only use human power, but also include bicycles with motorized auxiliary functions, such as electric bicycles (ebikes). Therefore, such a saddle can be referred to as a saddle for a rider here.

[0021] The bicycle 100 in this embodiment includes a frame 110. A rear wheel 120 is attached to the frame. The rear wheel 120 is drivingly connected to a crankset 130 via a chain 122. The chain 122 is engaged with a sprocket 124, which may be part of a flywheel 126, so as to be rotated by the chain 122. The sprocket 124 is drivingly connected to the rear wheel 120, so that when the sprocket 124 rotates, the rear wheel 120 also rotates.

[0022] The crankset 130 includes a pair of pedals 132, each of which is connected to a chainring 134 via a crank 136. The rider rotates the pedals 132 with his feet to rotate the chainring 134. The chainring 134 is a sprocket, and the chain 122 is engaged with the chainring 134 so that the chain 122 is driven by the chainring 134 as the chainring 134 rotates. Therefore, the crankset 130 is drivingly connected to the sprocket 124 and the rear wheel 120, so that when the crankset 130, more specifically the pedals 132 and the chainring 134, rotate, the rear wheel 120 is rotated. In this embodiment, the crankset 130 is rotatably attached to the frame 110.

[0023] The bicycle 100 further includes a front wheel 140 connected to a fork 142. The fork 142 is rotatably fixed to the frame 110. A handlebar 144 is connected to the fork 142 and further connected to the front wheel 140. The rider rotates the handlebar 144 to rotate the fork 142 and the front wheel 140, thereby controlling the steering of the bicycle 100.

[0024] The bicycle seat 200 is connected to the frame 110 via the seat post 150. In some embodiments, the seat post 150 can be adjusted toward or away from the frame 110 to adjust the height of the bicycle seat 200. The bicycle seat 200 is located above the crankset 130 so that the rider can pedal the bicycle 100 when sitting on the bicycle seat 200. In this document, the bicycle seat 200 may also be referred to as a saddle or a seat.

[0025] Figure 2 and Figure 3 yes Figure 1 2 is a perspective view of a bicycle seat 200. The bicycle seat 200 in this embodiment includes a cover 202 and a frame 204. Figure 3 2, the cover 202 of the bicycle saddle 200 is shown in outline to illustrate the frame 204. In the following discussion of the bicycle saddle 200, directional terms (or their derivatives) are relative to the bicycle 100 and / or the frame 110 of the bicycle 100. Forward is directed toward the front of the bicycle 100 (e.g., toward the handlebars 144 or the front wheel 140), and rearward is directed toward the rear (rear) of the bicycle 100 (e.g., toward the rear wheel 120). Left and right are directions relative to a rider sitting on the bicycle saddle 200 looking forward. Upward refers to a direction away from the frame 110 of the bicycle 100, and downward refers to a direction toward the frame 110 of the bicycle 100.

[0026] The frame 204 of the bicycle seat 200 includes a front portion 210, a rear portion 220, and a middle portion 230. The middle portion 230 is located between the front portion 210 and the rear portion 220. In this embodiment, the frame 204 is in the shape of a wire frame to provide strength and support the cover 202. The frame 204 can be made of any suitable material, such as a metal alloy, such as high carbon steel, or a composite material, such as a carbon fiber material. The edges of the frame 204 are contoured, such as by tapering or including radii on all corners, to avoid damaging the cover 202 or injuring the rider. As will be discussed further below, the frame 204 may also include elasticity (e.g., spring action) to provide resilience against road vibrations. The frame 204 may have other suitable constructions besides a wire frame. For example, the frame 204 may be molded plastic or carbon fiber having multiple planar surfaces. The edges of the planar surfaces may be located, for example, Figure 3 Where the wireframe shown is located.

[0027] The cover 202 includes a seat panel 240, and the frame 204 thus supports the seat panel 240. In order to support the seat panel 240, the front portion 210 includes a seat support portion 212, and the rear portion 220 includes a seat support portion 222. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the front portion 210 is a pommel having an upwardly curved or convex shape, and its upper surface (or edge) constitutes a seat support portion 212 of the front portion 210. Herein, the front portion 210 may also be referred to as a pommel. Similarly, the rear portion 220 is also a convex or upwardly protruding portion of the frame 204, and its upper surface constitutes a seat support portion 222. In this embodiment, the seat support portion 222 is a portion of a wire frame (bar) extending transversely relative to the front-to-back direction of the bicycle 100. Therefore, the seat support portion 212 of the front portion 210 and the seat support portion 222 of the rear portion 220 are positioned to define a cavity 232 in the middle portion 230. The front portion 210 and the rear portion 220 protrude upward from the lower portion of the frame 204 located below the cavity 232. The rear portion 220 extending upward forms a cantle of the rear portion 220, and thus may be referred to as a cantle.

[0028] As described above, the seat support portion 222 of the rear portion 220 extends laterally. In this embodiment, the rear portion 220, more specifically the seat support portion 222, is wider than the front portion 210. The pommel (front portion 210) is narrower than the cantle (rear portion 220), and the frame 204 can be Y-shaped or T-shaped. The size and shape of the cover 202 are designed to tightly surround the frame 204, so in this embodiment, the cover 202 and the bicycle seat 200 as a whole are triangular.

[0029] The cover 202 of this embodiment is made of leather or fabric (such as cloth). These fabrics and cloths can be any suitable material, including woven cloth made of natural or synthetic fibers (such as plastics or elastomers). Preferably, the cover 202 is made of a soft but waterproof (or water-resistant) material that is durable and suitable for outdoor environments where the saddle is exposed to natural elements, such as sunlight and precipitation, such as rain and snow. The cover 202 should also not be rigid, but should be flexible to allow the rider to tighten or loosen the cover 202 as needed. Therefore, the cover 202 is preferably a flexible cover made of a flexible material such as leather, cloth or other fabric. Other flexible materials for the cover 202 include other thin sheets, such as a thin plastic sheet. In some embodiments, the cover 202 may be made of fabric or other thin sheet materials that are stretchable, but in other embodiments, the cover material is not stretchable.

[0030] As described above, the cover 202 includes a seat panel 240. The seat panel 240 is located on top of the bicycle seat 200 and includes a seat surface 242. The seat surface 242 is the outwardly facing surface, and more specifically, the upwardly facing surface of the seat panel 240, on which the rider's buttocks are placed when he or she sits on the bicycle seat 200. The seat panel 240 extends from the pommel (front portion 210) to the cantle (rear portion 220). Therefore, the seat panel 240 spans the cavity 232 while being vertically supported by the seat support portion 212 of the front portion 210 and the seat support portion 222 of the rear portion 220. As will be discussed further below, the extension of the seat panel 240 over the cavity has a tension force that keeps the seat panel 240 taut in the absence of a person sitting thereon, and in this state, the seat surface 242 is generally planar and generally in the fore-aft direction. In some embodiments, the seat panel 240 has an upward angle from the front of the seat panel 240 to the rear of the seat panel 240. The tension of the seat panel 240 is set so that when a person sits on the seat surface 242 of the seat panel 240 and applies a downward force to the seat surface 242, the seat panel 240 forms a downward concave shape between the pommel (front portion 210) and the pommel (rear portion 220). When a person sits on the seat surface 242, the seat panel 240 extends downward to the chamber 232. Therefore, when a person sits on the seat surface 242, the seat panel 240 provides a hammock-like comfort.

[0031] As described above, the frame 204 provides hammock-like comfort by allowing the seat panel 240 to move downward into the cavity 232 when the rider sits on the seat surface 242, and to move upward by the tension of the cover 202 when the rider is not sitting on the seat surface 242. The seat panel 240 is directly supported only by the seat support portion 212 of the front portion 210 and the seat support portion 222 of the rear portion 220, and the frame 204 does not include any intervening supports in the middle portion 230 that directly support the cover 202, and more specifically, support the seat panel 240. Therefore, the seat panel 240 is suspended in the cavity 232.

[0032] Another advantage of the bicycle saddle 200 is that the surface area of ​​the seat surface 242 is much larger than that of conventional saddles. In addition to providing hammock-like comfort, the rider's weight can be distributed over a larger area, thereby reducing pressure points on his or her hips. In this embodiment, the length L of the seat surface 242 may be greater than 12 inches. In some embodiments, the length L of the seat surface 242 is between 12 inches and 16 inches, and more preferably between 13 inches and 15 inches. Similarly, the maximum width W of the seat surface 242 is max May be larger than 7 inches. Maximum width W max It may be greater than 10 inches, for example, between 10 inches and 14 inches. In this embodiment, the maximum width W max Located at the rearmost portion of the seat surface 242. As described above, the rear portion 220 of the frame 204 is wider than the front portion 210 of the frame 204, so the seat surface 242 includes a forward width W located at the front of the seat surface 242. f The forward width W f It may be the width of the head of the seat, and thus may be considered the width of the seat panel 242, where it is supported by the support portion 212 of the front 210 of the frame 204. In many cases, the frontmost portion of the cover 202 is rounded or curved, so the forward width W f The distance from the front tip of the seat surface 242 to avoid such bending may be, for example, 0.2 inches from the tip or 0.25 inches from the tip. f It may be taken, for example, from 0.2 inches to 1 inch from the tip, or more preferably about 0.5 inches from the tip. The forward width W of the seat panel 242 f It may be about 2.5 inches. Therefore, the maximum width W of the seat panel 242 max Probably at least the forward width W f More preferably, the maximum width W max At least the forward width W f Four times the width, for example, the forward width W f four to six times the width of the

[0033] The cover 202 also includes a plurality of side panels 250 extending from the front portion 210 to the rear portion 220. In this embodiment, there are two side panels 250: a left side panel and a right side panel. Figure 2 In the embodiment of the present invention, the right side panel is visible, while the left side panel is a mirror image of the right side panel, and the following discussion is applicable to the left side panel. As used herein, "side panel 250" refers to the left side panel or the right side panel, or both. The side panel 250 includes a side 252. The side panel 250 is at a different angle from the seat panel 240. More specifically, in this embodiment, the side panel 250 is positioned to be inclined or orthogonal to the seat panel 240, and the side 252 is outwardly facing from the seat in a direction different from the upward direction. The side 252 of the right side panel 250 faces the right side and the front, and the side 252 of the left side panel 250 faces the left side and the front. The forward facing of the side 252 is the result that the bicycle saddle 200 is triangular, and the vertex of the triangle is located at the front of the bicycle saddle 200.

[0034] The side panel 250 extends from the front portion 210 of the frame 204 to the rear portion 220 of the frame 204. The front portion 210 includes a side support portion 214, which is the front surface of the front portion 210 in this embodiment. The rear portion 220 includes an upwardly extending side support portion 224, which is located at both ends of the seat support portion 222 and extends upward from the middle portion 230 to the seat support portion 222. The side panel 250 is supported by the side support portion 214 of the front portion 210 and the side support portion 224 of the rear portion 220 and is tensioned therebetween. As described above, the frame 204 is Y-shaped (or T-shaped), so the side panel 250 is spaced apart from the frame 204 in the middle portion 230 of the frame 204, so that when the side 252 is subjected to a force, the side panel 250 can move laterally inward, for example, forming an inward concave shape. The frame 204 is shaped to support the side panels 250 at a front portion 210 of the frame 204 and a rear portion 220 of the frame 204 to allow the side panels 250 to move laterally inwardly therebetween.

[0035] The side panels 250 of this embodiment provide tension to secure the cover 202 to the frame 204 and may therefore be referred to as tension panels. In one embodiment, the tension of each side panel 250 is greater than the tension of the seat panel 240. This enables the seat panel 240 to form a concave shape that enters the chamber 232 while still providing a tensioned cover 202. In some embodiments, the fabric of the side panels 250 is heavier and / or stiffer than the seat panel 240, but in other embodiments, the side panels 250 may contain elastic fibers 254 that are oriented in the longitudinal direction (front-to-back direction) of the side panels 250 to provide additional tension. Thus, the side panels 250 may be elastically deformed in the longitudinal direction of the side panels 250, wherein the side panels 250 and more specifically the elastic fibers 254 provide a biasing force that causes the side panels 250 to contract in the longitudinal direction. The elastic fibers 254 are an example of a biasing member embedded in the side panels 250. Additionally, the upwardly extending side support portions 224 allow for some resilient fore-aft movement (e.g., spring action) to keep the cover 202, and more specifically the side panels 250, taut. In embodiments where the material used for the cover 202 is not stretchable, it is preferred to have some resiliency (fore-aft movement) within the frame 204, as the frame 204 thus provides resiliency to keep the cover taut. This resiliency of the frame 204, and more specifically the side support portions 224 and resiliency and / or resiliency of the side panels 250, also provides resiliency against road vibrations.

[0036] In addition to providing tension, the side panels 250 can also be used to help the bicycle 100 turn. The side panels 250, more specifically the side 252, provide a surface on which the rider can press to lean and thereby turn the bicycle 100. The size and position of the side panels 250 are designed to allow the rider to press the inner thighs against the side 252. In this way, the bicycle seat 200 not only provides comfort, but also enhances the control of the bicycle. In addition, the side panels 250 provide stability for the seat panel 240. The side panels 250 are connected to the seat panel 240, and in the embodiment shown herein, each side panel 250 is sewn on the peripheral side edge of the seat panel 240, thereby forming a gap between the side panels 250 and the seat panel 240. The side panels 250 attached to the seat panel 240 and positioned in the frame 204 in this way also provide stability for the lateral movement of the seat panel 240. Without the side panels 250, the lateral movement of the seat panel 240 is only limited by the tension in the seat panel 240. Therefore, to prevent the seat panel 240 from swaying laterally, tension should be increased, which inhibits the hammock-like effect of the seat panel 240. The side panels 250 thus help prevent lateral movement (swaying) of the seat panel 240 on the frame 204 by securing the covering laterally to the frame 204.

[0037] like Figure 3As shown, the frame 204 is connected to the seat post 150 of the bicycle 100. The frame 204 can be connected to the seat post 150 in any suitable manner. In this embodiment, the frame 204 is attached to the upper end of the seat post 150 by a pivotable connection to allow the frame 204 to pivot relative to the bicycle 100, and more specifically, relative to the seat post 150. Any suitable pivotable connection can be used, but in this embodiment, the pivotable connection is a U-clip fastener 260. The U-clip fastener 260 includes a U-clip 262, a lug 264, and a U-clip pin 266. One of the U-clip 262 and the lug 264 is attached to the upper end of the seat post 150, and the other of the U-clip 262 and the lug 264 is attached to the frame 204. Figure 3 , a U-shaped clip 262 is attached to the upper end of the seat post 150, and a lug 264 is attached to the frame 204. A pair of lateral stays 234 are located in the middle portion 230 of the cover 202 and connect the left and right portions of the wire frame 204. The lug 264 is attached to the lateral stays 234.

[0038] The lug 264 is inserted between the U-shaped forks of the clevis 262. The clevis pin 266 is inserted through a hole in the fork of the clevis 262, then passes through the lug 264, and finally is inserted into the other fork of the clevis 262. The clevis pin 266 of this embodiment is a threaded pin that engages with a thread or nut formed in one of the forks of the clevis 262. Therefore, the clevis pin 266 can be tightened to maintain the orientation of the bicycle seat 200, or loosened to allow the bicycle seat 200 to pivot. The clevis pin 266 includes a knob 268, which can be used to tighten or loosen the clevis pin 266 and the clevis fastener 260 by hand.

[0039] Figure 4 2 is a side view of a bicycle saddle 200 showing the pivotable movement of the bicycle saddle 200. The pivotable connection (U-clip fastener 260) and more specifically the pivot axis 261 are oriented to allow the front portion 210 to move up and down. The front portion 210 can be in a first upward position that is generally horizontal for comfort. However, when the bicycle 100 is used for speed and performance, the front portion 210 can be pivoted downward (moved toward the frame) from the first position to a second position. In this orientation, the bicycle saddle 200, and more specifically the seat surface 242 (when tensioned), tilts upward from front to back.

[0040] like Figure 5 As shown, the cover 202 in this embodiment is removable and replaceable. Figure 5 The cover 202 is shown connected to the frame 204. The cover 202 may also include a rear panel 270 (see also Figure 6) and a lower side panel 280. An opening 282 is formed on the underside of the cover 202 to facilitate attachment of the frame 204 to the seat post 150, in this embodiment, by means of a U-clip fastener 260. The lower side panel 280, the side panels 250, and the seat panel 240 are connected to one another to form a pocket 284. To attach the cover 202, the cover 202 is slid over the front portion 210 of the frame 204, such as by inserting the front portion 210 (pommel) into the pocket 284 so that the front portion 210 is located within the pocket 284. The cover 202 is then stretched between the front portion 210 and the rear portion 220 to position the seat panel 240 and the side panels 250, as described above. In the case where the seat panel 240 and the side panels 250 are attached to the rear panel 270, the cover 202 can be stretched with the rear panel 270 located behind the rear portion 220 (pommel). The cover 202 can be attached to the frame 204 by any suitable means. The cover 202 may be held in place by tension in the cover 202, but the cover 202 may also be attached to the frame 204 in other ways, such as using fasteners, such as snaps 272 (see also Figure 6 ), the cover 202 is engaged with the frame 204, and more specifically, the rear panel 270 is engaged with the rear portion 220 of the frame 204. The reverse process is used to remove the cover 202.

[0041] Figure 6 2 is a rear view of a bicycle saddle 200 showing a rear panel 270. As described above, the bicycle saddle 200 in the embodiment discussed herein is larger than many conventional bicycle saddles, resulting in a larger rear panel 270 and allowing accessories 290 to be attached thereto. Therefore, the rear panel 270 includes an accessory connection portion, which in this embodiment is a mounting strap 274. The mounting strap 274 can be any suitable strap, such as a nylon strap, which can be attached to the rear panel 270 and support the weight of the accessory 290 without causing damage to the mounting strap 274. The mounting strap 274 can be attached to the rear panel 270 in any suitable manner, such as by sewing. In this embodiment, each end of the mounting strap 274 is sewn to the rear panel 270 to position the mounting strap 274 transverse to the longitudinal direction of the bicycle saddle 200. The length of the mounting strap 274 is set to have at least one loop to which various accessories 290 can be attached. These accessories include, for example, a reflector 292, a light 294 (e.g., a red flashing light), and a storage container 296. Each of these accessories 290 may include a hook 298 or other suitable attachment portion that is configured to engage with the mounting strap 274 , such as by sliding over the top of the mounting strap 274 and into a loop between the mounting strap 274 and the rear panel 270 .

[0042] In some embodiments, the seat surface 242 may include an opening 244, such as Figure 7As shown. Seat surface 242 applies pressure to the rider, and openings 244 may be located in seat surface 242 to avoid applying pressure to selected areas of the rider. For example, openings 244 may be positioned to relieve soft tissue pressure. Figure 7 As shown, the bicycle seat 200 includes a longitudinal centerline 206, and the position of the opening 244 is such that the longitudinal centerline 206 extends therethrough. The opening 244 is also an opening that is elongated in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) of the bicycle seat 200, more specifically the seat panel 240. The opening 244 is located above the cavity 232. Figure 7 , opening 244 is shown as having an oval shape, but any suitable shape may be used.

[0043] Figures 8 to 10 A method for Figure 1 The bicycle seat 300 of the bicycle 100 shown in FIG. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The bicycle saddle 300 of the present embodiment is similar to the bicycle saddle 200 discussed above. For components that are the same or similar to the components of the bicycle saddle 200 described above, the bicycle saddle 300 of the present embodiment will use the same reference numerals. The discussion of these components is applicable to the present embodiment, so the detailed description of these components is omitted here. Figure 8 and Fig. 9 FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bicycle seat 300. Fig. 9 , the cover 202 of the bicycle saddle 300 is shown in outline form to illustrate the frame 204. Fig.10 for Figure 8 and Fig. 9 A bottom view of a bicycle saddle 300 is shown.

[0044] In the above-described embodiment, the cover 202 of the bicycle seat 200 is fixed to the frame 204 and tensioned by stretching the fabric of the cover 202 onto the frame 204, and more specifically in some embodiments, the side panels 250 provide tension to hold the cover 202 on the frame 204. The cover 202 may be fixed and / or tensioned by other suitable means. In this embodiment, the bicycle seat 300 includes at least one tensioning strap 310 for fixing the cover 202 to the frame 204 and tensioning the cover 202. In this embodiment, the tensioning strap 310 is a nylon strap, but any suitable strap may be used.

[0045] The tensioning band 310 is attached to the cover 202. The tensioning band 310 includes a first end 312 and a second end 314. At least one end of the tensioning band 310 is connected to the frame 204 to attach the cover 202. In this embodiment, the first end 312 and the second end 314 are both connected to the frame 204. The tensioning band 310 can be adjustably attached to the frame 204. The tensioning band 310 can include an adjustable length portion 316, the length of which can be adjusted to adjust or change the tension in the cover 202.

[0046] The tensioning band 310 may be attached to the cover 202 at any suitable location. In this embodiment, the tensioning band 310 is attached to the seat panel 240, more specifically the underside 246 of the seat panel 240. The tensioning band 310 may be attached to the underside 246 by any suitable means, such as sewing. The adjustable length portion 316 may be the portion of the tensioning band 310 from its attachment point to the cover 202 to its connection point or attachment point to the frame 204. In this embodiment, the tensioning band 310 is positioned above the seat support portion 222 and then connected to the portion of the frame 204 below the seat support portion 222. In this embodiment, the connection point of the tensioning band 310 to the frame 204 is the crossbar 226. The crossbar 226 is located on the rear portion 220 of the frame 204, and is located lower than the rods that form the seat support portion 222. The crossbar 226 extends in the lateral direction and is connected to each side support portion 224.

[0047] The buckle 320 is used to set the length of the adjustable length portion 316. The buckle 320 is used to hold the tensioning band 310 and prevent the adjustable length portion 316 from changing length without user intervention. The buckle 320 can be directly attached, such as by welding, to the crossbar 226, or alternatively, the tensioning band 310 is wrapped around the crossbar 226 before engaging the buckle 320. Any suitable buckle 320 can be used. Preferably, the buckle 320 is configured to release the tensioning band 310 and allow the adjustable length portion 316 to be increased. Suitable buckles include, for example, three-bar (or three-slide) sliding buckles.

[0048] The tensioning belt 310 in this embodiment is U-shaped or V-shaped. Starting from the first end 312, the tensioning belt 310 extends from the crossbar 226 through the seat support portion 222. Then, the tensioning belt 310 crosses the middle portion 230 from the seat support portion 222 of the front portion 210 to the seat support portion 212 of the front portion 210 on the right side of the frame 204. The tensioning belt 310 loops back to the seat support portion 212 of the front portion 210 on the left side of the frame 204, and then crosses the middle portion 230 again to the seat support portion 222 of the rear portion 220. Next, the tensioning belt 310 extends downward from the seat support portion 222, returns to the crossbar 226, and ends at the second end 314.

[0049] The tensioning strap 310 may be attached to other portions of the cover 202. For example, the tensioning strap 310 may be attached to the side panel 250, wherein the tensioning strap 310 spans the distance between the side support portions 224.

[0050] As mentioned above, the seat support portion 222 can be a rod. The rod can be straight, but can also be curved, for example, with an arcuate shape.

[0051] Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with certain specific exemplary embodiments, in view of this disclosure, many additional modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention can be practiced in a manner different from that specifically described. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention should be considered illustrative and not restrictive in all aspects, and the scope of the present invention should be determined by any claims supported by the present application and its equivalents, rather than by the aforementioned description.

Claims

1. A saddle for a rider, comprising: a frame including a front portion, a rear portion, and a middle portion between the front portion and the rear portion, the front portion and the rear portion each having a support portion, the support portion of the front portion and the support portion of the rear portion being positioned to form a chamber in the middle portion; and Coverings, including: a seat panel supported by the front and rear support portions of the frame to span the chamber, the seat panel including a seat surface and a lower side surface, the seat surface facing in an upward direction; a plurality of side panels extending from the front to the rear, each side panel including a side facing outwardly from the seat in a direction different than an upward direction; and At least one tensioning strap having an adjustable length to adjust the tension of the seat panel, the at least one tensioning strap directly supporting the underside of the seat panel, the tensioning strap spanning the cavity from the front of the frame to the rear of the frame, the tensioning strap adjustably attached to the rear of the frame to have at least one length that allows the seat panel to extend downward into the cavity when a person sits on the seat surface.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein: The seat panel is supported only by the support portions of the front and rear portions of the frame.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein: The frame is shaped to support the side panels at the front of the frame and at the rear of the frame to allow the side panels to move laterally inwardly therebetween.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein: The seat panel has a maximum width and a forward width, the forward width being the width of the seat panel at the support portion of the front portion of the frame, the maximum width of the seat panel being at least three times the forward width.

5. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one tensioning strap is attached directly to the front portion of the lower side of the seat panel.

6. The vehicle seat of claim 1, further comprising a buckle engaged with the at least one tensioning strap to set a length of the at least one tensioning strap.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein: The cover includes a rear panel including accessory connection means.

8. The vehicle seat according to claim 7, wherein: The accessory connection device is a mounting strap.

9. A bicycle comprising: frame; a seat post extending from the frame; and The vehicle seat of claim 1 connected to a seat post.

10. The bicycle according to claim 9, wherein: The saddle is pivotally connected to the seat post by a pivotable connection that includes a pivot axis oriented to allow a front portion of the saddle's frame to move toward and away from the frame of the bicycle.

11. A saddle for a rider, comprising: a frame including a front portion, a rear portion, and a middle portion between the front portion and the rear portion; and Coverings, including: a seat panel including a seat surface and an underside, the seat surface facing in an upward direction, the seat panel being supported by a front portion of the frame and a rear portion of the frame but not by a middle portion of the frame; and a plurality of side panels extending from the front to the rear, each side panel including a side facing outwardly from the seat in a direction different than an upward direction; and At least one tensioning strap, which is adjustable to adjust the tension of the seat panel, is fixedly attached directly to the underside of the seat panel.

12. The vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein: The at least one tensioning strap is connected to a rear portion of the frame.

13. The vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein: The at least one tensioning strap is adjustably attached to the frame.

14. The vehicle seat according to claim 13, wherein: The at least one tensioning strap includes an adjustable length portion, the length of which can be adjusted to adjust the tension of the seat panel.

15. The vehicle seat according to claim 14, wherein: The adjustable length portion is the portion of the tensioning strap from the attachment point to the underside of the seat panel to the connection point to the frame.

16. A saddle for a rider, comprising: a frame including a front portion, a rear portion, and a middle portion located between the front portion and the rear portion, the front portion and the rear portion each having a support portion, the support portion of the front portion and the support portion of the rear portion being positioned to define a chamber in the middle portion; and Coverings, including: a seat panel supported by the front and rear support portions of the frame to span the chamber, the seat panel comprising a seat surface and a lower side surface, the seat surface facing in an upward direction; a plurality of side panels extending from the front to the rear, each side panel including a side facing outwardly from the seat in a direction different than an upward direction; and At least one tensioning belt, which can be adjusted in length to adjust the tension of the seat panel, the at least one tensioning belt directly supports the lower side of the seat panel, the at least one tensioning belt is connected to the frame at a connection position on the frame below the support portion of the rear portion of the frame, and can be adjusted in length in the direction transverse to the seat panel between the connection position on the frame and the support portion of the rear portion of the frame.

17. The vehicle seat according to claim 16, wherein: The at least one tensioning strap is positioned over the support portion of the rear portion of the frame.

18. The vehicle seat of claim 16, further comprising a buckle engaged with the at least one tension strap to set the length of the at least one tension strap.

19. The vehicle seat according to claim 16, wherein: The frame comprises a crossbar extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle seat, the at least one tensioning belt being connected to the crossbar.

20. The vehicle seat according to claim 19, wherein: The crossbar is located on the rear portion of the frame at a height lower than the support portion of the rear portion of the frame.

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