Seat assembly and adjustment assembly for a bicycle seat

Abstract

In one aspect, an adjustment assembly for a bicycle saddle is provided that includes a base, a slider, a locking arm, a front stop, and a rear stop. The base includes a base rail. The slider includes a first side wall and a second side wall shaped to engage a first side and a second side of the base rail to retain the slider on the base rail. The slider retains the saddle. The locking arm moves between a locked position that locks the slider in place and a released position that allows the slider to move. The front stop and the rear stop limit forward movement and rearward movement of the slider. One of the stops is a movable stop that is movable between a stop position that limits movement of the slider and a retracted position that allows the slider to move past an associated one of a forward-most position and a rearward-most position.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63 / 623,987, filed January 23, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, where permitted. Technical Field

[0003] The following content generally pertains to bicycles and other cycling vehicles; more specifically, it pertains to adjustable saddles for bicycles or other cycling vehicles. Background Technology

[0004] Removable saddles are known to be available for bicycles, typically using quick-release clamps to hold the seatpost in the seat tube. While allowing for saddle height adjustment and enabling riders to remove the saddle from the bicycle when not in use to prevent theft is a useful feature, removing the saddle and seatpost can be inconvenient. Furthermore, saddles with adjustable position and / or angle are known. However, some mechanisms proposed for this purpose have drawbacks. For example, these mechanisms can sometimes be difficult to use and require tools, making it difficult to adjust the saddle position while riding or when not at home where tools are readily available. Additionally, while the saddle rails themselves allow for some adjustment, there is often poor dimensional consistency between these rails and with the rails of other saddles the user may wish to install on the bicycle. Therefore, adjusting the saddle by loosening the rail clamps of a traditional bicycle, moving the saddle, and then retightening the rail clamps is often a time-consuming and laborious task.

[0005] It would be advantageous to provide a seat assembly that at least partially solves some of the aforementioned problems and / or other problems related to existing mechanisms and seats. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In one aspect, an adjustment assembly for a saddle of a riding vehicle (e.g., a bicycle) is provided, the adjustment assembly including a base, a slider, a locking arm, a front limiter, and a rear limiter. The base is mountable to the seatpost of the bicycle. The base includes a base rail. The base rail has a first side and a second side. The slider includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The first and second sidewalls are shaped to engage with the first and second sides of the base rail to retain the slider on the base rail. The slider is configured to hold the saddle. The locking arm is movable between a locked position and a released position, in which the locking arm locks the slider in place on the base rail, and in the released position, the locking arm allows the slider to move along the base rail. The front limiter is positioned to restrict forward movement of the slider along the base rail past its foremost position. The rear limiter is positioned to restrict rearward movement of the slider along the base rail past its rearmost position. At least one of the front limit member and the rear limit member is a movable limit member that is movable between a limit position and a retracted position. In the limit position, the movable limit member restricts the movement of the slider, and in the retracted position, the movable limit member allows the slider to move past the associated positions of the foremost and rearmost positions.

[0007] On the other hand, a saddle assembly for a riding vehicle (e.g., a bicycle) is provided, the saddle assembly including a base, a slider, a saddle, a locking arm, a front stop, and a rear stop. The base is mountable to the seatpost of a bicycle. The base includes a base rail. The base rail has a first side and a second side. The slider includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The first and second sidewalls are shaped to engage with the first and second sides of the base rail to retain the slider on the base rail. The saddle is mounted to the slider. The locking arm is movable between a locked position and a released position, in which the locking arm locks the slider in place on the base rail, and in the released position, the locking arm allows the slider to move along the base rail. The front stop is positioned to limit forward movement of the slider along the base rail past its foremost position. The rear stop is positioned to limit rearward movement of the slider along the base rail past its rearmost position. At least one of the front limit member and the rear limit member is a movable limit member that is movable between a limit position and a retracted position. In the limit position, the movable limit member restricts the movement of the slider, and in the retracted position, the movable limit member allows the slider to move past the associated positions of the foremost and rearmost positions.

[0008] Other advantageous aspects of this disclosure are also disclosed and are intended to be protected. Attached Figure Description

[0009] To better understand the various embodiments described herein and to more clearly illustrate how these embodiments can be implemented, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings by way of example only, in which:

[0010] Figure 1 A side view of a bicycle having a seat assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0011] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the seat assembly shown;

[0012] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 The perspective view of the seat assembly shown is without the saddle, illustrating the base rail, mounting components, and a slider in a locked position on the base rail.

[0013] Figure 4A yes Figure 3 A perspective view of the seat assembly in the unlocked position;

[0014] Figure 4B yes Figure 3 The image shows a perspective view of the seat assembly with the slider removed from the base rail.

[0015] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 The front view of the seat assembly shown;

[0016] Figure 5A yes Figure 2 The side view of a portion of the seat assembly shown illustrates the operation of the front and rear limit members;

[0017] Figure 6 It is a 3D view of the base guide rail and mounting components;

[0018] Figure 7A It is a sectional perspective view of the base guide rail in the first angular position on the mounting component; and

[0019] Figure 7B It is a sectional perspective view of the base guide rail in the second angular position on the mounting component. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To keep the illustrations concise and clear, reference numerals may be repeated in the drawings to denote corresponding or similar elements where deemed appropriate. Furthermore, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of one or more embodiments described herein. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. It should first be understood that although exemplary embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings and described thereafter, the principles of this disclosure can be implemented using any number of techniques, whether or not such techniques are currently known. This disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations and techniques shown in the accompanying drawings and described below.

[0021] The terms “comprising” and “including”, and their various inflections (e.g., “comprises”), should be understood as inclusive and open-ended, not exclusive. This means that if element A includes or contains element B, it should be understood that element A may include or contain other elements besides element B. The term “having” and its various inflections should also be understood as open-ended, similar to “comprising” and “including”. These terms should not be interpreted as excluding the existence of other features, steps, or components.

[0022] The terms “about” and “approximately” used in this article are intended to cover possible variations in the upper and lower limits of a numerical range, such as variations in properties, parameters, and dimensions.

[0023] For the purposes of this disclosure, the term "screw" is intended to be used interchangeably with the term "bolt" and is intended to refer to any threaded fastener having a head at one end.

[0024] Unless the context otherwise requires, the various terms used throughout this specification may be interpreted and understood as follows: “or” as used throughout is inclusive, as if written as “and / or”; singular articles and pronouns as used throughout include their plural forms, and vice versa; similarly, pronouns with gender connotations include pronouns of the opposite gender, and therefore should not be construed as limiting anything described herein to use, implementation, or execution by persons of only one gender; “exemplary” should be understood as “illustrative” or “illustrative”, and not necessarily as “preferred” compared to other embodiments. Further definitions may also be given for terms herein; it will be understood from reading this specification that these definitions apply to the context in which these terms appear before and after this specification. It should also be noted that in all cases, the terms “a” or “an” should be understood to mean “at least one” unless otherwise expressly stated, or it is understood that they must obviously mean “one”.

[0025] Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems, apparatuses, and methods described herein without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, components of the systems and apparatuses may be integrated or separated. Furthermore, the operation of the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may be performed by more, fewer, or other components, and the methods described herein may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, the steps may be performed in any suitable order. In this document, "each" means each member of a set, or each member of a subset of a set.

[0026] In this document, the term "attachment" used to describe the relationship between two connected components includes the following cases: two connected components are "directly attached" to each other in contact; and two connected components are "indirectly attached" to each other without contact, but connected by one or more other components in between.

[0027] In this document, terms describing the relative position of elements, such as “top,” “upper,” “bottom,” “lower,” or other similar terms, should be understood to refer to the position of the element being described when using the device to which it belongs, unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise. It should be understood, for example, that even if the object to which an element belongs is in a position different from its position when in use, the aforementioned position can still be considered the position of the element. For instance, if a device with an upper member is mentioned, it should be understood that describing the upper member as having an upper position means the position of the device to which it belongs when it is in use or in its use position, unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise. Further in conjunction with this example, it should be understood that even if the object is placed on its side due to storage, transportation, or some other reason, the aforementioned upper member of the object can still be considered its upper member.

[0028] The embodiments described herein are exemplary (e.g., in terms of materials, shape, size, and construction details) and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended to this application and any modifications thereof. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many other alternative implementations and modifications may exist, and the following examples are merely illustrative of one or more implementations. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure is limited only by the claims appended to this application and any modifications thereof.

[0029] Reference Figure 1A specific embodiment of a folding bicycle 10 is provided. The folding bicycle 10 includes a bicycle frame 12, handlebars 13, a first wheel 14, a pair of pedals 15, and a second wheel 16. The frame 12, the first wheel 14, and the second wheel 16 define a longitudinal axis 8 of the bicycle along the direction in which the bicycle travels on a horizontal surface when the first wheel 14 is kept in a straight-line direction using the handlebars 13. The bicycle frame 12 can be any suitable type of bicycle frame; for example, a folding bicycle. The bicycle frame 12 includes a rider saddle structure 101. The rider saddle structure 101 includes a seatpost 18 to which a bicycle saddle 20 is mounted. Figure 1 The saddle 20 is shown in a simplified form.

[0030] The saddle 20 is connected to the seatpost 18 via an adjusting assembly 101, which is secured to the frame 12 in any suitable manner, such as via an adjustable clamp 19. In some cases, the adjustable clamp 19 is held in place by screws and can be released using suitable tools, making the seatpost 18 more difficult to remove and adjust. In other cases, the adjustable clamp 19 may have a manual release mechanism, such as a quick-release lever or a screw with a wing head, or any other structure that can be loosened and tightened by hand (i.e., without the use of any tools).

[0031] The saddle 20 and the adjustment structure 101 can be collectively referred to as the seat assembly 102.

[0032] Advantageously, the saddle 20 is adjustable in position and can be easily removed from the bicycle frame 12 without removing the seatpost 18. This is advantageous for several reasons. One reason is that the seatpost 18 may accumulate dirt or grease, allowing it to slide within the seat tube (shown as 22) of the bicycle 10. Therefore, the user may inadvertently get grease or dirt on themselves while carrying the seatpost. Another reason is that when the user removes the seatpost 18 from the bicycle frame 12, the height position of the seatpost 18 is lost. Therefore, the user may have to adjust the seatpost 18 back and forth in different positions to find their preferred riding position. Yet another reason is that carrying the saddle 20 with the seatpost 18 attached can be inconvenient due to its relatively large size, making it more difficult to fit into a backpack or bag. By removing the saddle 20 and leaving the seatpost 18 on the bicycle frame 12, the user can more easily carry much smaller items.

[0033] While taking the above into account, from a safety perspective, for the position-adjustable saddle 20, it is preferable that the saddle 20 can resist complete separation from the rest of the bicycle 10 in the event that any mechanism locking it in place accidentally comes loose.

[0034] Reference Figures 2 to 7BThese figures show the seat assembly 102 in more detail. The seat assembly 102 provides position adjustment for the saddle 20, facilitates quick removal of the saddle 20 when needed by the user, and also resists accidental separation of the saddle 20 from the rest of the bicycle 10, especially during riding, if the saddle 20 is accidentally left unlocked.

[0035] Reference Figure 2 The seat assembly 102 includes a base 104 for mounting to the seat post 18 of the bicycle 10. The base 104 includes mounting members 238. Figure 4B , Figure 7A and Figure 7B The mounting member is shown most clearly. The mounting member 238 can be press-fitted into the seat tube 18 for permanent mounting to the seat tube 18. The base 104 also includes a base guide 226 having a first side 236a and a second side 236b. In some embodiments, the mounting member 238 may be referred to as a mounting module.

[0036] The seat assembly 102 also includes a slider 224 movable along the base guide rail 226. The slider 224 includes a first sidewall 231 and a second sidewall 233, which can be connected via a top wall 235. Figure 3 The first sidewall 231 and the second sidewall 233 are connected to each other. The first sidewall 231 and the second sidewall 233 are shaped to engage with the first sidewall 236a and the second sidewall 236b of the base guide rail 226 to retain the slider 224 on the base guide rail 226. In some embodiments, the slider 224 may be referred to as an engagement mechanism in relation to its engagement with the base guide rail 226. In some embodiments, the base guide rail 226 may be referred to as a slide rail in relation to the slider 224 being able to slide along the base guide rail 226 during adjustment or disassembly of the saddle 20.

[0037] The slider 224 is configured to hold the saddle 20. The saddle 20 can be any suitable saddle. Those skilled in the art will understand that the saddle 20 may include a saddle body 220 for supporting the rider, and a pair of saddle rails 222 located below the saddle body 220. The saddle rails 222 are spaced apart from each other laterally.

[0038] The saddle 200 is mounted on a slider 224, which is capable of sliding longitudinally on a base guide rail 226. Two saddle rails 222 can be clamped to opposite sides of the slider 224 using multiple suitable guide rail clamps 228 and clamping fasteners 230; for example, clamping fasteners are multiple standard bolts fastened in threaded holes, as those skilled in the art will understand. In some cases, each guide rail clamp 228 may include two clamping pieces that are laterally clamped on one side of the slider 224, stacked one on top of the other, and stacked one on top of the other using clamping fasteners 230; wherein one clamping piece of the guide rail clamp 228 holds one of the saddle rails 222 from below and one side, while the other clamping piece of the guide rail clamp 228 holds the saddle rail 222 from the opposite side and above. Other combinations of retaining mechanisms can be used to clamp the saddle rails 222 to the slider 224.

[0039] The slider 224 can be located approximately at the midpoint of the base guide rail 226 along its length. In one example, a pair of guide rail clamps 228 are mounted on the side of the slider 224 using clamping fasteners 230 (i.e., bolts). The lower edge of the slider 224 protrudes outward on each side of the mechanism 224 to provide clamping support, holding the saddle guide rail 222 from below and rigidly clamping the saddle 200 onto the slider 224. It should be noted that the position of the saddle 20 can be adjusted relative to the slider 224 by loosening the clamping fasteners 230.

[0040] Figure 3 Adjustment assembly 101 is shown. A slider locking screw 232 extends from one side of slider 224 to the opposite side through two aligned holes on sidewalls 231 and 233. The slider locking screw 232 and the associated holes on the sidewalls 231 and 233 of slider 224 may optionally extend perpendicular to the length direction of base rail 226. The inner sides of the sidewalls 231 and 233 of slider 224 include longitudinal grooves 234a and 234b. The shape and alignment of the longitudinal grooves 234a and 234b allow them to receive longitudinal sides 236a and 236b of base rail 226.

[0041] The sliding locking screw 232 can be threadedly engaged with the sliding locking nut 237. Alternatively, the sliding locking screw 232 can be threadedly engaged with the sidewall 231 or the sidewall of 231 furthest from the head of the sliding locking screw 232. The sliding locking screw 232 and the sliding locking nut 237 can be collectively referred to as a bolt-nut pair.

[0042] Rotate the sliding locking screw 232 in the first rotation direction (i.e., the tightening direction) to bring the first sidewall 231 and the second sidewall 233 closer together, thereby clamping the first side 236a and the second side 236b of the base guide rail 226. Rotate the sliding locking screw 232 in the second rotation direction (i.e., the loosening direction) to move the first sidewall 231 and the second sidewall 233 away from each other, thereby loosening the clamping of the first side 236a and the second side 236b of the base guide rail 226.

[0043] The locking arm 239 can be optionally provided. The locking arm 239 can be connected to the sliding locking screw 232 (or, in embodiments where a sliding locking nut 237 is provided, optionally connected to the sliding locking nut 237). The locking arm 239 is in the locked position ( Figure 3 ) and release position ( Figure 4A The slider 224 is movable between the base rails 226 and the base rail 226. In the locked position, the locking arm 239 locks the slider 224 in place on the base rail 226. In the released position, the locking arm 239 allows the slider 224 to move along the base rail 226.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, the locking arm 239 is rotatable from the released position to the locked position to drive the sliding locking screw 232 to rotate, thereby bringing the first sidewall 231 and the second sidewall 233 closer together, thereby clamping the first side 236a and the second side 236b of the base guide rail 226.

[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, the locking arm 239 is rotatable from the locked position to the released position to drive the sliding locking screw 232 to rotate, thereby moving the first sidewall 231 and the second sidewall 233 away from each other, and thus releasing the clamping of the first side 236a and the second side 236b of the base guide rail 226.

[0046] When the slider locking screw 232 is loosened, the two longitudinal grooves 234a and 234b can receive the longitudinal sides 236a and 236b, allowing the slider 224 to move freely back and forth longitudinally (i.e., travel) along the length of the base guide rail 226; while restricting the lateral and vertical movement of the slider 224 relative to the base guide rail 226. The gap between the surfaces of the two longitudinal grooves 234a and 234b and the longitudinal sides 236a and 236b is sufficient to allow the slider 224 to move freely forward and backward. In some embodiments, the corner edges of the sides 236a and 236b of the base guide rail 226 may be chamfered to allow the slider 224 to slide smoothly on the base guide rail 226 and to facilitate the removal of the slider 224 from the base guide rail 226 and the reinstallation of the slider 224 onto the base guide rail 226 (e.g., ...). Figure 4B (As shown). Therefore, by moving the locking arm 239 to the release position ( Figure 4AThe position of the slider 224 (and thus the saddle 20) can be adjusted forward or backward relative to the base 104 on the bicycle 10.

[0047] Figure 5 A front view of the adjusting assembly 101 is shown. The longitudinal sides 236a and 236b of the base rail 226 are located within the longitudinal grooves 234a and 234b of the slider 224. The base rail 226 is mounted on a mounting member 238, which is attached to the top of the seat rod 218. In some cases, the middle portion 242 of the slider locking screw 232 may be adjacent to or near the top surface of the base rail 226, thereby forming a small gap 244, which may optionally be used to limit the range of movement of the slider 224 on the base rail 226; for example, using… Figure 6 One or more limiting elements are also shown in the diagram.

[0048] The front stop 248a is positioned to restrict the sliding member 224 from moving forward along the base guide rail 226 past its foremost position. The rear stop 248b is positioned to restrict the sliding member 224 from moving backward along the base guide rail 226 past its rearmost position. The front stop 248a may be disposed in a first stop hole 246a on the base guide rail 226, and the rear stop 248b may be disposed in a second stop hole 246b on the base guide rail 226. The first stop hole 246a and the second stop hole 246b may be threaded, and the exterior of the front stop 248a and the rear stop 248b may be threaded accordingly.

[0049] At least one of the front limit member 248a and the rear limit member 248b is a movable limit member, which is in the limit position (at Figure 5 (shown in solid line) and retraction position (in) Figure 5 The slider 224 is movable between the two positions (shown as dashed lines). In the stopped position, the movable stop 248a or 248b restricts the movement of the slider 224. In the retracted position, the movable stop 248a or 248b allows the slider to move beyond the associated positions of the foremost and rearmost positions. In the illustrated embodiment, the movable stop is the front stop 248a.

[0050] The sliding member 224 includes a limiting member drive surface 251 that can be engaged by a movable limiting member. Figure 5 The adjusting assembly 101 also includes a biasing member 253, which applies a biasing force to the movable limit member to cause the movable limit member to move towards the limit position. The biasing member 253 may also be referred to as the limit member biasing member 253. The biasing member 253 can be any suitable type of biasing member, such as a helical compression spring.

[0051] The non-movable limiting member of the front limiting member 248a and the rear limiting member 248b can be a screw that can be screwed into its associated limiting hole 246a or 246b. Figure 5A As shown, the sliding locking screw 232 is shown in cross-section at its front position where it engages with the front limit member 248a (i.e., the movable limit member), and at its rear position where it engages with the rear limit member 248b. The portion of the surface of the sliding locking screw 232 that engages with the movable limit member can be referred to as the limit member drive surface 255. The portion of the movable limit member that is engaged by the limit member drive surface 255 can be referred to as the engagement surface 257.

[0052] The limiting member drive surface 255 and the engagement surface 257 are oriented relative to each other such that: movement of the slider 224 causes the limiting member drive surface 255 to engage with the movable limiting member with at least a selected force, and this movement overcomes the biasing force to drive the movable limiting member toward a retracted position. In contrast, movement of the slider 224 causes the slider locking screw 232 to engage with the rear limiting member 248b, and the slider 224 will stop regardless of the force applied because the rear limiting member 248b is a fixed-position limiting member.

[0053] It is more advantageous to make the front stop 248a a movable stop than the rear stop 248b. This is because, when a rider pedals the bicycle 10, the force applied by the rider during pedaling causes a rearward force on the rider. Therefore, it is unlikely that the rider will exert a forward force on the saddle 20, a force sufficient to drive the slider 224 against the bias member 253. Since the rear stop 248b is a fixed-position stop, there is no risk that the rider might push the slider 224 backward against the rear stop 248b.

[0054] Figure 6 A perspective view of the saddle 200 without the saddle body 220 and without the sliding member 224 is shown. It can be seen that the limiting holes 246a and 246b are located on the top surface of the base guide rail 226.

[0055] Figure 6 A mounting member 238 attached to the top of the seatpost 218 is also shown. The base rail 226 may include an additional support structure 250 below its rectangular bar to provide structural support for the mechanical rigidity of the base rail 226 and for mounting the base rail 226 onto the mounting member 238 or the seatpost 218. It should be noted that the shapes of the base rail 226 and the slider 224 themselves have better dimensional stability compared to the typical saddle rail 222 and the typical bracket to which the saddle rail is clamped in a typical bicycle of the prior art. Therefore, the position adjustment of the saddle 20 is generally easier and generally requires less effort than the adjustment operations often required on prior art bicycles.

[0056] like Figure 7A and Figure 7B As shown, the base rail 226 is optionally movably mounted to the mounting member 238. In such an embodiment, the base rail 226 may include an arcuate rail surface 270, and the mounting member includes an arcuate mounting member surface 272 that engages with the arcuate rail surface 270. The adjustment assembly 101 may also include a first angle adjusting screw 266 and a second angle adjusting screw 268. The first angle adjusting screw 266 and the second angle adjusting screw 268 each extend through the base rail 226, through the mounting member 238, and into an associated nut 274, which may be referred to as the angle adjusting nut 274. The first angle adjusting screw 266 and the second angle adjusting screw 268 are positioned such that driving one of the first angle adjusting screw 266 to a forward position and driving the other of the first angle adjusting screw 268 to a retracted position changes the angle of the base rail 226 relative to the mounting member 238. It should be noted that the angle adjusting nut 274, the first angle adjusting screw 266, and the second angle adjusting screw 268 are shown only in outline and are transparent so as not to obscure the features located behind them in the figure.

[0057] In one specific embodiment, the top surface of the base guide rail 226 may include two spherical recesses 254 and 256. Figure 7A and Figure 7B These two spherical recesses 254 and 256 are formed on the top surface of the base guide rail 226. The bottom openings of the spherical recesses 254 and 256 lead to a first angle adjustment hole and a second angle adjustment hole 259 in the base guide rail 226. The first angle adjustment hole and the second angle adjustment hole 259 are positioned at a range of angular locations (e.g., ...). Figure 7A and Figure 7B The positions shown are enlarged to accommodate the associated angle adjusting screws 266 and 268. A first through hole 262 and a second through hole 264 are provided on the mounting member 238 and are substantially aligned with the first angle adjusting hole and the second angle adjusting hole 259. The spherical shape of the spherical recesses 254 and 256, and the shape of the angle adjusting hole 259 located at the bottom of the spherical recesses 254 and 256, allow the first angle adjusting screw 266 and the second angle adjusting screw 268 to tilt forward and backward as needed, thereby continuing through the corresponding through holes 262 and 264 on the mounting member 238.

[0058] The first angle adjusting screw 266 and the second angle adjusting screw 268 are fastened to the nut 274 located at the bottom of the mounting member 238. The nut 274 is seated in suitable recessed supports that prevent the nut 272 from unscrewing from the first angle adjusting screw 266 and the second angle adjusting screw 268, while allowing the first angle adjusting screw 266 and the second angle adjusting screw 268 to tilt back and forth. Furthermore, in all positions, the heads of the first angle adjusting screw 266 and the second angle adjusting screw 268 are held inside the spherical recesses 254 and 256, thereby allowing the slider 224 to move freely on the base guide rail 226. The angle adjusting nut 274 may have a generally spherical shape so that its orientation can be changed according to the specific orientation of the respective angle adjusting screws 266 and 268 as needed.

[0059] The arcuate guide surface 270 may have a centroidal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal length direction of the base guide 226. Optionally, the arcuate guide surface 270 is generally partially cylindrical. The mounting member 238 has an arcuate mounting member surface 272, which may be complementary to the arcuate guide surface 270 of the base guide 226. When the base guide 226 is attached to the mounting member 238, the arcuate guide surface 270 is fixed inside the arcuate mounting member surface 272, thereby allowing adjustment of the longitudinal angle of the base guide 226 relative to the mounting member 238. By turning the first angle adjusting screw 266 in the tightening direction and the second angle adjusting screw 268 in the loosening direction, the base guide 226 tilts forward. Conversely, by turning the first angle adjusting screw 266 in the loosening direction and the second angle adjusting screw 268 in the tightening direction, the base guide 226 tilts backward. In practice, the base rail 226 and the removable saddle 200 can be tilted forward or backward by adjusting the first angle adjusting screw 266 and the second angle adjusting screw 268. It should also be noted that even if the saddle 20 and the slider 224 have been removed from the base rail 226, the angle of the base rail 226 remains fixed; therefore, no readjustment is required when the slider 224 is reinstalled on the base rail 226.

[0060] While the embodiments of the seat assembly and adjustment assembly described above are in connection with a bicycle, it should be understood that these embodiments can be used with any suitable riding vehicle, including road bicycles, mountain bikes (also known as mountain bikes), tricycles, scooters including a saddle, or any other type of riding vehicle. The aforementioned riding vehicles can be human-powered or motor-driven.

[0061] Furthermore, while the term "saddle" is used, it should be noted that this term is intended to encompass a wide range of seat elements used in cycling vehicles. Some examples include comfort saddles, mountain bike saddles, racing saddles, hybrid saddles, women-specific saddles, gel saddles, noseless saddles, and openwork saddles.

[0062] Advantageously, the saddles of these embodiments offer a detachable structure that allows for relatively easy and quick removal and reattachment of the saddle from and to the bicycle. This allows the saddle to be easily positioned further forward or completely removed, enabling the folding bicycle to be transformed into its most compact collapsible form. The saddles of these embodiments also allow for adjustment of the saddle angle.

[0063] Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the appended claims. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many more alternative implementations and modifications may exist, and that the examples above are merely illustrative of one or more implementations.

Claims

1. An adjustment assembly for a saddle of a bicycle, comprising: A base that can be mounted to the seatpost of the bicycle, wherein the base includes a base rail having a first side and a second side; A slider, the slider including a first sidewall and a second sidewall, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall are formed to engage with a first side and a second side of the base guide rail to retain the slider on the base guide rail, wherein the slider is configured to retain the saddle; A locking arm is movable between a locked position and a released position. In the locked position, the locking arm locks the slider in place on the base guide rail. In the released position, the locking arm allows the slider to move along the base guide rail. A front stop, positioned to restrict the slider from moving forward along the base guide rail past its foremost position; and A rear limiting member is positioned to restrict the sliding member from moving backward along the base guide rail beyond its rearmost position. Wherein, at least one of the front limiting member and the rear limiting member is a movable limiting member, which is movable between a limiting position and a retracted position. In the limiting position, the movable limiting member restricts the movement of the slider, and in the retracted position, the movable limiting member allows the slider to move past the associated position between the foremost position and the rearmost position.

2. The adjustment component according to claim 1, wherein, The base includes a mounting member for mounting to the seatpost of the bicycle, wherein the base guide rail includes an arcuate guide rail surface, and the mounting member includes an arcuate mounting member surface that engages with the arcuate guide rail surface. The adjustment assembly further includes a first angle adjusting screw and a second angle adjusting screw, wherein the first angle adjusting screw and the second angle adjusting screw extend through the base guide rail, through the mounting member, and into the nut. The first angle adjusting screw and the second angle adjusting screw are positioned such that: driving one of the first angle adjusting screw and the second angle adjusting screw to a forward position and driving the other of the first angle adjusting screw and the second angle adjusting screw to a retracted position changes the angle of the base guide rail relative to the mounting member.

3. The adjustment component according to claim 1, wherein, The locking arm is connected to a slider locking screw that extends through the first and second sidewalls of the slider. The locking arm is rotatable from the released position to the locked position to drive the rotation of the sliding locking screw, thereby bringing the first sidewall and the second sidewall closer together and clamping the first and second sides of the base guide rail. Furthermore, the locking arm is rotatable from the locked position to the released position to drive the rotation of the sliding locking screw, thereby moving the first sidewall and the second sidewall away from each other, and thus releasing the clamping of the first side and the second sidewall of the base guide rail.

4. The adjustment component according to claim 1, wherein, The movable limiting member is the front limiting member.

5. The adjustment component according to claim 1, wherein, The sliding member has a limiting member driving surface, which can be engaged by the mating surface of the movable limiting member. The adjustment assembly further includes a biasing member, which applies a biasing force to the movable limiting member to cause the movable limiting member to move towards the limiting position. Wherein, the limiting member driving surface and the engagement surface are oriented relative to each other such that: the movement of the slider causes the limiting member driving surface to engage with the movable limiting member with at least a selected force, the movement overcoming the biasing force and driving the movable limiting member toward the retracted position.

6. The adjusting assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The vehicle being ridden is a bicycle.

7. A bicycle seat assembly for a bicycle, comprising: A base that can be mounted to the seatpost of the bicycle, wherein the base includes a base rail having a first side and a second side; A slider, the slider including a first sidewall and a second sidewall, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall are formed to engage with the first side and the second side of the base guide rail to retain the slider on the base guide rail; A saddle, which is mounted to the sliding member; A locking arm is movable between a locked position and a released position. In the locked position, the locking arm locks the slider in place on the base guide rail. In the released position, the locking arm allows the slider to move along the base guide rail. A front stop, positioned to restrict the slider from moving forward along the base guide rail past its foremost position; and A rear limiting member is positioned to restrict the sliding member from moving backward along the base guide rail beyond its rearmost position. Wherein, at least one of the front limiting member and the rear limiting member is a movable limiting member, which is movable between a limiting position and a retracted position. In the limiting position, the movable limiting member restricts the movement of the slider, and in the retracted position, the movable limiting member allows the slider to move past the associated position between the foremost position and the rearmost position.

8. The seat assembly according to claim 7, wherein, The base includes a mounting member for mounting to the seatpost of the bicycle, wherein the base guide rail includes an arcuate guide rail surface, and the mounting member includes an arcuate mounting member surface that engages with the arcuate guide rail surface. The adjustment assembly further includes a first angle adjusting screw and a second angle adjusting screw, wherein the first angle adjusting screw and the second angle adjusting screw extend through the base guide rail, through the mounting member, and into the nut. The first angle adjusting screw and the second angle adjusting screw are positioned such that: driving one of the first angle adjusting screw and the second angle adjusting screw to a forward position and driving the other of the first angle adjusting screw and the second angle adjusting screw to a retracted position changes the angle of the base guide rail relative to the mounting member.

9. The seat assembly according to claim 7, wherein, The locking arm is connected to a slider locking screw that extends through the first and second sidewalls of the slider. The locking arm is rotatable from the released position to the locked position, so that the first sidewall and the second sidewall come closer to each other, thereby clamping the first and second sides of the base guide rail. Furthermore, the locking arm is rotatable from the locked position to the released position so that the first sidewall and the second sidewall move away from each other, thereby releasing the clamping of the first side and the second side of the base guide rail.

10. The seat assembly according to claim 7, wherein, The movable limiting member is the front limiting member.

11. The seat assembly according to claim 7, wherein, The sliding member has a limiting member driving surface, which can be engaged by the mating surface of the movable limiting member. The adjustment assembly further includes a biasing member, which applies a biasing force to the movable limiting member to cause the movable limiting member to move towards the limiting position. Wherein, the limiting member driving surface and the engagement surface are oriented relative to each other such that: the movement of the slider causes the limiting member driving surface to engage with the movable limiting member with at least a selected force, the movement overcoming the biasing force and driving the movable limiting member toward the retracted position.

12. The seat assembly according to claim 7, wherein, The vehicle being ridden is a bicycle.

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