Saddle based on three-dimensional printing and bicycle

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of three-dimensional printing, and provides a saddle based on three-dimensional printing and a bicycle, the saddle comprises a mounting frame, a shell, a buffer part and a wrapping part, the shell is used for bearing supporting force and is arranged above the mounting frame in the height direction; the buffer part is used for absorbing shock and arranged above the shell, the buffer part comprises a plurality of circuitous curved surfaces, one end of each circuitous curved surface is fixedly connected with the shell, and the other end of each circuitous curved surface freely extends upwards in the height direction; the wrapping piece is used for being exposed out of the saddle, and the wrapping piece is connected with the freely-extending end of each circuitous curved surface; the mounting frame, the shell, the buffer piece and the coating piece are manufactured into the saddle at a time through three-dimensional printing. The invention further provides a bicycle adopting the saddle based on three-dimensional printing. The technical problem that the saddle is difficult to recycle is solved, and the technical effects that the weight is light, assembly is not needed, and customization and recycling are convenient are achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of three-dimensional printing, and more specifically, relates to a saddle and a bicycle based on three-dimensional printing. Background Art

[0002] 3D printing creates products by stacking materials in layers. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a mainstream 3D printing technology. This type of printer melts and extrudes thermoplastic filaments, depositing the material layer by layer through a print nozzle in a build area to create the product. Compared to other 3D printing technologies, this method offers relatively low equipment cost, high product stability, and the ability to use a wider range of materials. Furthermore, the printed workpiece requires no post-processing and is ready for use. On a microscopic level, the long-chain polymers within the printing filament are chemically bonded and cross-linked, resulting in high mechanical strength. Because the workpiece is produced by stacking materials in layers, connected structures within the same layer can be formed from a continuous printing filament. However, the layers are bonded together by molten material, lacking chemical bonds, and their mechanical strength is significantly weaker than that of the underlying layers. Therefore, during the development process, this application considered the actual use and stress conditions of the product in all directions to avoid insufficient strength in key structures.

[0003] In recent years, carbon fiber has been widely used in bicycle saddles, replacing metal components to reduce weight. For mounting brackets that need to fit the seatpost's mounting specifications, have limited dimensions, and withstand high forces, the industry practice is to impregnate the carbon fiber filaments with a cross-linked epoxy resin compound and then mold them. This type of product is complex, costly, and challenging to recycle. This invention aims to replace traditional production processes with a 3D printer that can embed continuous fiber filaments within printed parts to achieve ultra-high workpiece strength.

[0004] Cycling is a popular and healthy activity. The saddle on a bicycle is an important component that contacts the rider with the bicycle. Bicycle saddles in the prior art are assembled from multiple parts. For example, a traditional bicycle saddle includes a pair of solid rails, a hard upper shell, and a soft cushion covering the upper shell. These components are first produced using traditional manufacturing methods and then assembled using screws, nails, and glue. However, since screws, nails, and glue are difficult to remove from the various components during recycling, the recycling process of traditionally manufactured bicycle saddles is challenging. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the embodiments of the present application is to provide a saddle and a bicycle based on three-dimensional printing to solve the technical problem of difficulty in saddle recycling in the related art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solutions adopted in the embodiments of the present application are:

[0007] In a first aspect, a saddle based on three-dimensional printing is provided.

[0008] The present application provides a saddle based on three-dimensional printing, which includes a mounting frame, a shell, a buffer and a covering. The mounting frame has built-in continuous carbon fiber filaments, the shell is used to bear supporting force, and is arranged above the mounting frame in the height direction; the buffer is used to absorb shock, and is arranged above the shell. The buffer includes a plurality of tortuous curved surfaces, one end of each of the tortuous curved surfaces is fixedly connected to the shell, and the other end of each of the tortuous curved surfaces is freely extended upward along the height direction; the covering is used to be exposed to the outside of the saddle, and the covering is connected to one freely extended end of each of the tortuous curved surfaces; wherein the mounting frame, the shell, the buffer and the covering are manufactured into the saddle at one time through three-dimensional printing.

[0009] The technical solution provided by this embodiment has the following beneficial effects compared to the prior art: a mounting frame, a shell, a buffer part and a covering part are printed out through a single three-dimensional printing process to form a complete saddle that does not require reassembly and is made of homogeneous material for easy recycling. Since the saddle is produced by three-dimensional printing, the overall structure of the saddle does not have any metal workpieces, so the saddle produced reduces the use of materials and achieves a technical effect of lighter weight. The covering part is a hollow structure, which improves the air permeability of the saddle. The structure in this embodiment not only simplifies the production process of the saddle, but also eliminates the assembly cost between the various components on the saddle and the quality problems caused by poor assembly. This embodiment uses an innovative structural design and a three-dimensional printer that can embed continuous carbon fiber filaments in the printed part to replace the traditional production process to produce saddles.

[0010] In one embodiment provided herein, the housing has a first through-hole extending along the height direction. The first through-hole is elongated and symmetrical about the housing's axis of symmetry. This reduces the overall weight of the housing while ensuring it can bear the rider's weight without breaking. Furthermore, the first through-hole allows for ventilation, preventing water droplets from forming on the saddle and affecting the rider's riding.

[0011] In an embodiment provided by the application, the plurality of meandering curves are divided into a first shock-absorbing group, a second shock-absorbing group and a third shock-absorbing group; the shell has a head portion and a tail portion arranged oppositely, the first shock-absorbing group is arranged between one end of the first through hole close to the head portion and the head portion, the first through hole has a first long side and a second long side arranged oppositely, the first long side is extended to the tail portion, and the second shock-absorbing group is arranged in an interval formed between the direction away from the second long side to the edge of the shell and the extension line of the tail portion, the third shock-absorbing group is arranged in an interval formed between the direction away from the first long side to the edge of the shell and the extension line of the tail portion; the second shock-absorbing group and the third shock-absorbing group are provided with a clearance, and the clearance is coincident with the extension line of the first long side and the extension line of the second long side in the height direction. In this way, the genitals of the rider are prevented from being compressed during riding, and the weight of the saddle is reduced, the riding experience is improved and the occurrence of saddle sores of the rider is reduced.

[0012] In an embodiment provided by the application, the meandering curves in the first shock-absorbing group, the second shock-absorbing group and the third shock-absorbing group are arranged at unequal intervals.

[0013] In an embodiment provided by the application, the meandering curves in the first shock-absorbing group, the second shock-absorbing group and the third shock-absorbing group are arranged at equal intervals. In this way, the stress is closer to the ideal condition of ergonomics.

[0014] In an embodiment provided by the application, the cover member has a woven structure. In this way, the air permeability and the stability of the connected cover member are better.

[0015] In an embodiment provided by the application, the cover member includes a plurality of arc-shaped structures extending in different directions, one end of part of the arc-shaped structures is connected to one end of two adjacent meandering curves respectively, there is a distance between two adjacent arc-shaped structures in the direction of the symmetry axis of the saddle, and two adjacent arc-shaped structures in the direction perpendicular to the symmetry axis of the saddle are staggered and overlapped.

[0016] In an embodiment provided by the application, the longitudinal section of the meandering curve is sawtooth-shaped. In this way, the vibrations in multiple directions can be absorbed, and the stability of the whole saddle is maintained.

[0017] In an embodiment provided by the application, the mounting bracket is arched downward in the height direction, the mounting bracket is provided with a second through hole for mounting the saddle on the bicycle; the mounting bracket includes a connecting portion for connecting the shell and a connecting portion for connecting the head portion and the tail portion, and the diameter of the connecting portion is greater than the diameter of the connecting portion. In this way, the mechanical strength of the mounting bracket is improved.

[0018] In one embodiment provided herein, the mounting frame is printed with continuous carbon fiber filaments, thereby conforming to the mounting dimensions of a bicycle seatpost while also being able to withstand the weight of a person and the impact of riding on rough roads.

[0019] In a second aspect, a bicycle is provided.

[0020] The present application provides a bicycle, comprising a frame and a saddle based on three-dimensional printing according to any one of the above embodiments.

[0021] Since the bicycle provided in this embodiment adopts the saddle based on three-dimensional printing in the above embodiment, the bicycle has all the technical effects of the saddle based on three-dimensional printing in the above embodiment, which will not be described in detail again. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or descriptions of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0023] Figure 1 A left side view of the overall structure of a saddle in one embodiment provided in this application;

[0024] Figure 2 This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a local structure of a saddle in one embodiment provided in this application;

[0025] Figure 3 A top view of the overall structure of a saddle in one embodiment provided in this application;

[0026] Figure 4 A three-dimensional diagram of the overall structure of a saddle in one embodiment provided in this application;

[0027] Figure 5 A front view and a top view of a first arc-shaped connecting member of a saddle according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 6 An enlarged view of a partial structure of a covering member of a saddle in one embodiment provided in this application;

[0029] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of a saddle cushion and a separate shock-absorbing group in one embodiment of the present application;

[0030] Figure 8A bottom view of the overall structure of a saddle in one embodiment provided in this application;

[0031] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the distribution of carbon fiber filaments within a mounting frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] Figure 10 for Figure 9 CC cross-sectional view.

[0033] Among them, the reference numerals in the figures are:

[0034] 100 - mounting frame; 110 - second through hole; 120 - connecting portion; 130 - joining portion;

[0035] 200 - housing; 210 - first through hole; 211 - first long side; 212 - second long side; 213 - third long side; 214 - fourth long side; 220 - head; 230 - tail;

[0036] 300 - buffer member; 310, 330 - curved surface; 311 - first shock absorbing group; 312 - second shock absorbing group; 313 - third shock absorbing group; 321 - first connecting member; 322 - second connecting member; 341 - interruption area;

[0037] 400 - covering member; 410 - arc-shaped structure; 411 - first arc-shaped connecting member; 412 - second arc-shaped connecting member; 413 - third arc-shaped connecting member; 414 - fourth arc-shaped connecting member; 421 - overlapping area of ​​the arc-shaped structure; 441 - fillet; 442 - chamfer;

[0038] 500-carbon fiber yarn;

[0039] H-height direction;

[0040] B-printing platform;

[0041] A-Avoidance space. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and beneficial effects to be solved by this application more clearly understood, this application is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0043] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being “fixed on” or “disposed on” another element, it may be directly on the other element or indirectly on the other element. When an element is referred to as being “connected to” another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or indirectly connected to the other element.

[0044] It should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on this application.

[0045] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. Throughout the description of this application, "plurality" means two or more, unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0046] Cycling is a popular and healthy activity. The saddle on a bicycle is an important component that contacts the rider with the bicycle. Bicycle saddles in the prior art are assembled from multiple parts. For example, a traditional bicycle saddle includes a pair of solid rails, a hard upper shell, and a soft pad covering the upper shell. These components are first produced using traditional manufacturing methods and then assembled using screws, nails, and glue. However, since screws, nails, and glue are difficult to remove from the various components during recycling, the recycling process of bicycle saddles manufactured using traditional methods is challenging.

[0047] Alternatively, in a 3D printed saddle produced using existing 3D printing technology, only the buffer 300 and the covering 400 are printed (the two are an integrated structure, or the buffer 300 is directly exposed and used without the covering 400, or the buffer 300 is painted and used as the covering 400). Other components, including the shell 200 and the mounting bracket 100, are manufactured using traditional production processes. The various components still need to be assembled, and various materials, including glue, nails, and screws, are also used in this method, which increases the difficulty of recycling.

[0048] Based on this, this application is filed.

[0049] The saddle produced by a single 3D printing in this application can eliminate the assembly process, use lighter carbon fiber materials instead of metal mounting frames, provide customized functions, facilitate recycling, etc. However, since the saddle integrates a structure with extremely high mechanical strength (mounting frame 100) and a soft structure (buffer 300 and covering 400), it is challenging to produce a complete saddle in a single 3D printing. This application solves this problem with a unique structural design, combined with a 3D printer that can embed continuous fiber filaments in the printed part.

[0050] This application provides a saddle based on three-dimensional printing, referring to Figure 1 The saddle includes a mounting frame 100, a shell 200, a buffer member 300 and a covering member 400. During three-dimensional printing, the mounting frame 100, the shell 200, the buffer member 300 and the covering member 400 are printed at one time to form the saddle, and no additional assembly is required.

[0051] Mounting frame 100 is a support frame used to connect a saddle to a bicycle. Mounting frame 100 is fixedly connected to housing 200 at both ends. Mounting frame 100 and housing 200 can form an inverted triangle or a quadrilateral, without limitation. The illustration shows mounting frame 100 forming a quadrilateral with housing 200 as an example for illustration purposes.

[0052] Housing 200 is a component used to bear the weight of the rider, preventing deformation or breakage of housing 200 after the rider sits on the saddle. Housing 200 is positioned above mounting frame 100 in height direction H. Height direction H refers to the height of the saddle in the illustrated position. The direction indicated by the arrow is upward, and the direction away from the arrow is downward.

[0053] The buffer 300 is a component used to absorb vibrations in multiple directions. The buffer 300 includes multiple tortuous curved surfaces 310. The tortuous curved surface 310 refers to a curved surface formed by multiple bending of a plane. The tortuous curved surface 310 has excellent buffering performance due to the multiple bending. Because the buffer 300 includes multiple tortuous curved surfaces 310, when a force impacts the buffer 300, the buffer 300 can absorb vibrations in multiple directions, thereby maintaining the overall stability of the saddle. The tortuous curved surface 310 can be a wavy surface, an arc-shaped surface, or a surface surrounded by one or more ellipses. The specific shape is not specifically limited here.

[0054] Optionally, multiple winding curved surfaces 310 can be arranged in a transverse direction of the saddle (the transverse direction refers to the direction parallel to the symmetry axis of the saddle). In this layout, the buffer member 300 can be formed in the fused deposition modeling printing process without additional structural support, and most of the printing layers in the middle of each winding curved surface 310 can be produced by continuous filamentary printing material without interruption, thereby ensuring the strength of the structure.

[0055] Alternatively, the plurality of winding curved surfaces 310 may be arranged in an array along the longitudinal direction of the saddle (the longitudinal direction being the direction perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the saddle). In this arrangement, the buffer 300 is formed by stacking multiple interrupted printing filaments during printing, which is structurally weaker than a transverse arrangement.

[0056] One end of each winding curved surface 310 is connected to the upper surface of the housing 200 (the upper surface refers to the surface of the housing 200 located above along the height direction H), and the other end of each winding curved surface 310 extends freely upward along the height direction H. Since the saddle in this embodiment is produced by three-dimensional printing, the connection between each winding curved surface 310 and the upper surface of the housing 200 is a fixed connection. The specific connection method is: refer to Figure 2 During printing, the buffer 300 and the housing 200 are connected by a first connector 321, a thickened, cylindrical component. This connector 321 ensures a seamless connection between the buffer 300 and the housing 200 during printing. Furthermore, on the same print layer, the filamentary printing material can flow from the housing 200 to the buffer 300 without interruption, achieving structural reinforcement. Therefore, the buffer 300 and the housing 200 are merely structurally different and are not two separate parts at the product level. In contrast, existing saddles utilize glue to bond the buffer 300 and housing 200 together, and in the prior art, these two components are made of different materials. This embodiment addresses the complex production process and assembly issues inherent in the prior art. Furthermore, the buffer 300 and housing 200 are made of the same material, allowing them to be processed together during saddle recycling without disassembly.

[0057] The number and thickness of the winding curved surfaces 310 and the distance between two adjacent winding curved surfaces 310 can adjust the working coefficient of the three-dimensional printing according to the weight of the rider, so the specific values ​​are not limited.

[0058] By designing the buffer member 300 , the shell 200 of the saddle can better withstand the weight of the human body and the impact force of riding on rough roads.

[0059] The covering member 400 is a component that is wrapped around the outside of the buffer member 300 and is used for the rider to directly contact the saddle. The covering member 400 connects the freely extended ends of each winding surface 310 within a plane.

[0060] Reference Figure 2The buffer 300 and the covering 400 are partially connected by a second connector 322. The second connector 322 is a thickened, cylindrical connector. This allows the connection between the buffer 300 and the covering 400 to be completed in a single printing process. On the same print layer, the filamentary printing material extends from the buffer 300 to the covering 400 without interruption during printing, achieving structural reinforcement. Therefore, the buffer 300 and the covering 400 only differ in structure and are not two separate parts at the product level. In existing saddles, the covering 400 and the buffer 300 are glued together, and in the prior art, the two are made of different materials. Therefore, this embodiment solves the problem of the relatively complex production process and assembly of saddles in the prior art. At the same time, the covering 400 and the buffer 300 in this embodiment are made of the same material, so they can be processed together during saddle recycling without having to be disassembled.

[0061] Preferably, the covering part 400 is hollow, has ductility in the three-dimensional printed structure and has high water permeability and air permeability. When subjected to external pressure, the covering part 400 and the buffer part 300 can undergo three-dimensional deformation along the direction of the matching force. After the external matching force disappears, the covering part 400 and the buffer part 300 are reset by the elastic potential energy of multiple tortuous surfaces 310.

[0062] 3D printing creates products by stacking and depositing materials. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a mainstream 3D printing technology. This type of printer melts and extrudes a thermoplastic filament, depositing the material layer by layer through a print nozzle in a build area to create the product. Compared to other 3D printing technologies, this method offers relatively low equipment cost, high product stability, and the ability to use a wide range of materials. Furthermore, the printed workpiece requires no post-processing and is ready for use. On a microscopic level, the long-chain polymers within the printing filament are chemically bonded and cross-linked, resulting in high mechanical strength. Because the workpiece is produced by depositing materials layer by layer, connected structures within the same layer can be formed by a continuous printing filament. However, the layers of the workpiece are bonded by molten material, lacking chemical bonds, and their mechanical strength is significantly weaker than that of the underlying layers. Therefore, the development of this embodiment took into account the actual use and stress conditions of the product in all directions to avoid insufficient strength in key structures.

[0063] Carbon fiber is widely used in bicycle saddles, replacing metal components to reduce product weight. For mounting brackets 100 that need to fit the seatpost's mounting specifications, have limited dimensions, and withstand high forces, the industry practice is to impregnate carbon fiber filaments with epoxy resin-based cross-linking compounds and then mold them. This type of product is complex, costly, and challenging to recycle. However, this embodiment aims to embed continuous fiber filaments within printed parts, achieving ultra-high workpiece strength using a 3D printer, replacing traditional production processes.

[0064] It's worth noting that because the fused deposition modeling equipment produces materials by stacking them in layers, the layers of the workpiece are bonded together with molten material, and their mechanical strength is weaker than the mechanical strength of the body within the layer. When the saddle is in use, it is directly subjected to force in the vertical direction. The body's weight is directly applied to the cover 400, and this pressure is buffered and dispersed by the buffer 300 before being applied to the shell 200. The pressure is then transmitted to the bicycle seatpost to which it is assembled through the mounting bracket 100 connected to the shell 200. In contrast, the force applied to the saddle in the left-right direction is relatively small. Therefore, the right side of the saddle is set parallel to the printer's printing platform B to ensure that the saddle has sufficient mechanical strength.

[0065] The technical solution provided in this embodiment offers the following advantages over existing technologies: a single 3D printing process is used to print the mounting frame 100, housing 200, cushioning member 300, and covering member 400, forming a complete, reusable, homogeneous saddle that requires no reassembly. Because the saddle is produced through 3D printing, the overall structure of the saddle contains no metal workpieces, reducing material usage and achieving a lighter weight. The hollow structure of the covering member 400 enhances the saddle's breathability. This embodiment not only simplifies the saddle's production process but also eliminates the assembly costs and quality issues associated with poor assembly between the various components.

[0066] In daily life, especially in winter, when you sit on a chair for a long time and then stand up, there will be water vapor on the seat of the chair, or when the weather is hot or when you do strenuous exercise, you will sweat. Similarly, this problem also exists on the saddle of a bicycle.

[0067] In view of this, in some embodiments, referring to Figure 3 The shell 200 of the saddle has a first through hole 210 that passes through it along the height direction H. The rider can breathe and get water through the first through hole 210 when riding. At the same time, such a design can reduce the weight of the shell 200.

[0068] The first through hole 210 is in an elongated strip shape.

[0069] The housing 200 has a symmetry axis and a center point. The first through hole 210 is a hole extending from the center point of the housing 200 to both ends (along two directions of the symmetry axis of the housing 200 ). The first through hole 210 is symmetrical about the symmetry axis of the housing 200 .

[0070] In this embodiment, by opening a first through hole 210 on the shell 200, the overall weight of the shell 200 can be reduced while ensuring that the shell 200 can bear the weight of the rider without being damaged. The first through hole 210 can also be used for ventilation and water permeability to prevent water droplets from forming on the saddle and affecting the rider's riding.

[0071] The design of the saddle has a significant impact on the rider's riding comfort. In addition to riding comfort, due to the friction between the rider and the saddle, the rider's contact area with the saddle may cause pain or saddle sores.

[0072] In view of this, in some embodiments, referring to Figure 3 The multiple winding curved surfaces 310 are divided into a first shock absorbing group 311, a second shock absorbing group 312 and a third shock absorbing group 313. The multiple winding curved surfaces 310 are arranged on the shell 200 by grouping, so that the buffer part 300 and the covering part 400 form an avoidance space A after the final three-dimensional printing is completed.

[0073] Specifically, the shell 200 has a head 220 and a tail 230 that are arranged relatively to each other. The width of the head 220 is smaller than the width of the tail 230. When the saddle is installed on a vehicle, the head 220 faces directly in front of the rider after he sits on the vehicle, and the tail 230 faces directly behind the rider after he sits on the vehicle.

[0074] The first through hole 210 has a first long side 211 and a second long side 212 that are oppositely disposed, and both the first long side 211 and the second long side 212 are parallel to the axis of symmetry of the housing 200. A third long side 213 is formed by extending from the end of the first through hole 210 near the head 220 along the first long side 211, and a fourth long side 214 is formed by extending from the end of the first through hole 210 near the head 220 along the second long side 212.

[0075] A first shock absorbing group 311 is three-dimensionally printed between one end of the first through hole 210 close to the head 220 and the head 220; a second shock absorbing group 312 is three-dimensionally printed between the third long side 213 and a side of the shell 200 close to the third long side 213; and a third shock absorbing group 313 is three-dimensionally printed between the fourth long side 214 and a side of the shell 200 close to the fourth long side 214.

[0076] Since the meandering surface 310 is not printed on the third long side 213 and the fourth long side 214, the area between the third long side 213 and the fourth long side 214 forms an avoiding space A. When the cover 400 connects the plurality of meandering surfaces 310, the connection is not made at the area of the avoiding space A, so that in the orthographic projection, only the shell 200 can be seen at the avoiding space A.

[0077] The width of the avoiding space A can be adjusted according to the riding posture and physiological characteristics of the rider.

[0078] In the embodiment, the avoiding space A can avoid the compression of the genitals of the rider during the riding process, and at the same time, the weight of the saddle is reduced. In addition, the avoiding space A can improve the riding experience and reduce the occurrence of saddle sores of the rider.

[0079] In some embodiments, the plurality of meandering surfaces 310 in the first shock-absorbing group 311, the second shock-absorbing group 312 and the third shock-absorbing group 313 are arranged at equal intervals.

[0080] In this way, it can be ensured that the inside of the buffer 300 and the cover 400 can be uniformly stressed, and the comfort of the rider during the riding process is improved.

[0081] In some embodiments, the cover 400 has a woven-like structure.

[0082] The woven-like structure refers to a design structure similar to the fabric structure. The fabric structure is generally a collective structure of fabric, which is the spatial relationship between the warp and weft in the fabric. It has the performance of allowing deformation under tension, but the structure remains intact.

[0083] In the embodiment, the cover 400 is designed in a woven-like structure to generate a plurality of small structures in multiple directions, thereby improving the stability and load-bearing capacity of the cover 400.

[0084] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 4 , the cover 400 includes a plurality of arc-shaped structures 410 extending in different directions. The arc-shaped structure 410 refers to a structure arrayed in the direction from the head 220 of the shell 200 to the tail 230 of the shell 200, and the two ends of the arc-shaped structure 410 are respectively connected to one end of the free extension of the two adjacent meandering surfaces 310. The arc-shaped structure 410 is the smallest unit on the cover 400, and the shape of each arc-shaped structure 410 is uniform (except for the part cut off by the frame).

[0085] Optionally, the arc-shaped structure 410 is approximately a part of the surface of a sphere or a flattened sphere, characterized by a top arch and lower four sides. Referring to Figure 5When viewed from the front, back, left, and right, the top of the curved structure 410 is relatively protruding, while its edges are rounded 441 or chamfered 442. When the curved structure 410 is used to pave a curved surface, these features enable the curved structure 410 to create a smooth curved surface with no sharp edges, even in the presence of height differences in the front, back, left, and right directions. This reduces pressure concentration between the human body and the saddle, improving riding comfort.

[0086] Optionally, the arc structure 410 is a three-dimensional, curled sheet-like structure. Therefore, when subjected to longitudinal tension (longitudinal tension refers to tension along the height direction H), the arc structure 410 can become relatively flat when viewed from the left or right, thereby achieving elastic deformation and preventing damage to the structure. When subjected to transverse tension (transverse tension refers to tension perpendicular to the height direction H), the arc structure 410 can become relatively flat when viewed from the front or back, similarly achieving elastic deformation and preventing damage to the structure.

[0087] Optionally, along the axis of symmetry of the shell 200, there is a gap between the ends of two adjacent arc-shaped structures 410, but both are connected to the free extension end of the same winding surface 310. There is a distance between the two adjacent arc-shaped structures 410 in the direction of the saddle's axis of symmetry (the saddle's axis of symmetry is also the longitudinal direction); in the direction perpendicular to the saddle's axis of symmetry (the direction perpendicular to the saddle's axis of symmetry is also the transverse direction), there is a staggered and overlapping structure between the two adjacent arc-shaped structures 410, such as the staggered overlapping area 421 of the arc-shaped structures in the figure. This structure is not a simple stacking, but is designed to cooperate with the three-dimensional printing technology of fused deposition modeling. This structure is coordinated with the placement direction of the workpiece on the printing platform B, so that the structure appears on the same printing layer. During printing, the filamentary material can be continuously distributed in the longitudinal direction of the structure, thereby greatly improving the mechanical strength of the covering 400.

[0088] Optional, see Figure 6 Along the symmetry axis of the saddle, two adjacent arc structures 410 are spaced apart. For example, there is a gap between the first arc connecting member 411 and the second arc connecting member 412. This design can improve the deformation ability and air permeability of the covering member 400.

[0089] For example, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3The arc structure 410 includes a first arc-shaped connector 411, a second arc-shaped connector 412 disposed adjacent thereto along the axis of symmetry of the housing 200, and a third arc-shaped connector 413 and a fourth arc-shaped connector 414 disposed adjacent thereto along a direction perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the housing 200. As shown, a gap is formed between the first arc-shaped connector 411 and the second arc-shaped connector 412, and the third arc-shaped connector 413 and the fourth arc-shaped connector 414 are disposed in an interlaced and overlapping manner.

[0090] The covering piece 400 formed by the multiple arc-shaped structures 410 has a large amount of breathable space, which can allow the sweat generated during riding to be easily carried away by the air, keeping the skin of the corresponding parts dry.

[0091] In some embodiments, the longitudinal section of the meandering surface 310 is sawtooth-shaped.

[0092] Specifically, the serrated surface 310 is a wavy surface. Because it is composed of multiple curved surfaces, it provides excellent cushioning properties. When a force impacts the upper surface of the cushioning member 300, the cushioning member 300 can absorb vibrations in multiple directions, maintaining the overall stability of the saddle. Furthermore, the cushioning member 300 is able to deform relatively when subjected to compression, and the thickness of the serrated structure can be adjusted on a computer drawing to adjust the support strength. This provides a simple and quick way to customize regional support.

[0093] Preferably, multiple width dimensions may appear in the same row of winding curved surfaces 310 (the same row refers to a row of winding curved surfaces 310 in a direction parallel to the symmetry axis of the saddle or a row of winding curved surfaces 310 in a direction from the left side of the saddle to the right side of the saddle in terms of the position of the saddle installed on the bicycle). Figure 7 The thickness of the winding curved surface 310 is greater than the thickness of the winding curved surface 330. Different material thicknesses can change the cushioning effect. Thicker materials deform less under the same force and have stronger support.

[0094] This embodiment also proposes the concept of zoned support: at the wider position of the saddle (near the saddle tail 230), an interruption area 341 appears in the connecting column of the buffer component 300 and the covering component 400. In this way, the support strength of the corresponding parts can be different. The above method can be used to adjust the local support force to achieve the effect of optimizing the support structure of the saddle for a specific rider.

[0095] In some embodiments, reference Figure 8 The mounting frame 100 is arched downward along the height direction H, and a second through hole 110 for mounting the saddle on the bicycle is provided on the mounting frame 100 .

[0096] Second through hole 110 is a hole extending through mounting bracket 100 in the height direction H and is used to mount the saddle on a bicycle. Typically, a bicycle has a seat post (not shown) where the saddle is mounted. The saddle is inserted into the seat post through second through hole 110 and then secured to the seat post using a fixing assembly (not shown).

[0097] The mounting frame 100 further includes a joint portion 120 and a connecting portion 130 . The joint portion 120 refers to a rod / plate member on the mounting frame 100 that is connected to the housing 200 , and the connecting portion 130 refers to a rod / plate member that connects all the joint portions 120 .

[0098] There are two joints 120, and the second through hole 110 is located between the two joints 120, so that the two joints 120 form a portion that matches the bicycle seatpost for mounting the saddle. In addition to meeting specific dimensions to fit on a standard seatpost, the saddle also needs to be installed in a limited position on the bicycle seatpost. In view of this, in this embodiment, the diameter of the joint 130 of the mounting frame 100 is larger than the diameter of the connecting portion 120, that is, the front and rear ends of the mounting frame 100 are thickened. Figure 10 The thickness of the mounting frame 100 is stepped, which can achieve two effects:

[0099] First, by thickening the joint portion 130 , the stability of the connection between the mounting bracket 100 and the housing 200 can be enhanced.

[0100] Secondly, it can limit the installation position of the bicycle seat post to avoid damage caused by its installation in an undesigned area.

[0101] The connecting portion 120 extends at both ends and merges with the joints 130 at both ends. This streamlined, gradually thickening and widening structure is developed based on the fused deposition modeling 3D printing technology. Because the strength between layers of fused deposition modeling 3D printing technology is significantly lower, this design increases the contact area between layers, which can enhance the lateral mechanical strength of the mounting frame 100 and the housing 200. The streamlined mounting frame 100 also has the effect of reducing wind resistance during riding.

[0102] In some embodiments, the printing material of the mount 100 has continuous carbon fiber filaments therein.

[0103] The mounting frame 100 includes continuous carbon fiber filaments during 3D printing, so that it can not only meet the installation size requirements of the bicycle seat post, but also withstand the weight of the human body and the impact of riding on rough roads.

[0104] Preferably, the mounting bracket 100 is produced using an FDM 3D printer that produces parts made of continuous carbon fiber material. The tensile modulus of the continuous carbon fiber material can be as high as 60 GPa, which makes the mounting bracket 100 in this embodiment strong enough to withstand the weight of the human body and the impact of vibration during riding.

[0105] In some embodiments, according to the above embodiments, the right side of the saddle is set to be parallel to the printing platform B of the printer. Figure 9 , so that the long strip mounting rail (the long strip mounting rail includes part of the joint portion 120 and the entire connecting portion 130) along the upper edge of the mounting frame 100 in the direction from the head portion 220 to the tail portion 230 is parallel to the printing platform B. This ensures that when the filamentous printing material is stacked, the carbon fiber filaments 500 can be continuously arranged from one end to the other in the connecting portion 130 of the mounting frame 100, especially the connecting portion 130 for mounting the saddle on the seatpost of a bicycle.

[0106] exist Figure 10 In the CC cross-sectional view, it can be seen that a single carbon fiber filament 500 is arranged longitudinally in one of the printing layers, and the joint portion 120 and the connecting portion 130 connecting the mounting frame 100 are arranged with carbon fiber filaments layer by layer to achieve high mechanical strength.

[0107] The present application also provides a bicycle, which includes a frame and a saddle based on three-dimensional printing in any one of the above embodiments. The bicycle has a seat post, and the saddle is mounted on the seat post and fixedly connected.

[0108] Since the bicycle provided in this embodiment adopts the saddle based on three-dimensional printing in the above embodiment, the bicycle has all the technical effects of the saddle based on three-dimensional printing in the above embodiment, which will not be described in detail here.

Claims

1. A saddle based on three-dimensional printing, characterized in that: include: A mounting frame with built-in continuous carbon fiber filaments; A housing for bearing a supporting force, disposed above the mounting frame in a height direction; A shock-absorbing and deformable buffer member is provided above the shell, the buffer member comprising a plurality of tortuous curved surfaces, one end of each of the tortuous curved surfaces being fixedly connected to the shell, and the other end of each of the tortuous curved surfaces freely extending upward along the height direction; a hollow covering member exposed on the outside of the saddle, the covering member being connected to one end of the free extension of each of the meandering curved surfaces; The mounting frame, the shell, the buffer component and the covering component are manufactured into the saddle at one time through three-dimensional printing.

2. The saddle based on three-dimensional printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shell has a first through hole penetrating along the height direction. The first through hole is in an elongated strip shape and is symmetrical about the symmetry axis of the shell.

3. The saddle based on three-dimensional printing according to claim 2, characterized in that: The plurality of winding curved surfaces are divided into a first shock absorbing group, a second shock absorbing group and a third shock absorbing group; The shell has a head and a tail portion that are oppositely arranged, the first shock absorbing group is arranged between an end of the first through hole close to the head and the head portion, the first through hole has a first long side and a second long side that are oppositely arranged, the second shock absorbing group is arranged in an area formed by an extension line of the first long side toward the tail portion and a direction away from the second long side to one side of the shell, and the third shock absorbing group is arranged in an area formed by an extension line of the second long side toward the tail portion and a direction away from the first long side to one side of the shell; An avoidance space is formed between the second shock absorbing group and the third shock absorbing group.

4. The saddle based on three-dimensional printing according to claim 3, characterized in that: The winding curved surfaces in the first shock absorbing group, the second shock absorbing group and the third shock absorbing group are arranged at equal intervals.

5. The saddle based on three-dimensional printing according to claim 3, characterized in that: The thickness and shape of the first shock absorbing group, the second shock absorbing group and the third shock absorbing group can be adjusted by a control program during printing.

6. The saddle based on three-dimensional printing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The covering member has a woven structure; The covering member includes a plurality of arc-shaped structures extending in different directions, one end of some of the arc-shaped structures is respectively connected to one end of the free extension of two adjacent tortuous curved surfaces, there is a distance between two adjacent arc-shaped structures in the direction of the symmetry axis of the saddle, and two adjacent arc-shaped structures in the direction perpendicular to the symmetry axis of the saddle are staggered and overlapped with each other.

7. The saddle based on three-dimensional printing according to claim 3, characterized in that: The longitudinal section of the winding curved surface is sawtooth-shaped.

8. The saddle based on three-dimensional printing according to claim 3, characterized in that: The mounting frame arches downward along the height direction, and the mounting frame is provided with a second through hole for mounting the saddle on a bicycle; The mounting bracket includes a joint portion for connecting the shell and a connecting portion for connecting the joint portions on the head portion and the tail portion. The diameter of the joint portion is larger than the diameter of the connecting portion.

9. The saddle based on three-dimensional printing according to claim 8, characterized in that: The mounting frame is printed with a material having continuous carbon fiber filaments.

10. A bicycle, characterized in that: The invention comprises a bicycle frame and a saddle based on three-dimensional printing according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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