Height adjusting mechanism and bicycle seat post structure

Abstract

The utility model provides a height adjusting mechanism and a bicycle seat post structure. The height adjusting mechanism comprises a pipe body, a piston and a driving module, the pipe body comprises a containing space, and fluid is contained in the containing space. The piston is movably inserted into the pipe body and comprises a piston head, an ejector pin hole, an ejector pin, a fluid flow channel, a piston rod and a cover piece. The ejector pin is movably inserted into the ejector pin hole. The fluid flow channel is located on the piston head, and the fluid flow channel comprises a longitudinal section located on one side of the ejector pin hole. The piston rod is connected with the piston head and comprises a driving space. The cover covers the upper end, away from the piston rod, of the ejector pin hole. When the ejector pin is positioned at the first position, the piston cannot move relative to the pipe body, and when the motor drives the ejector pin to be positioned at the second position, fluid is allowed to flow from the first side of the piston head to the second side of the piston head through the fluid flow channel so as to adjust the distance from the piston head to the top end of the pipe body. Therefore, the pressure borne by the ejector pin is reduced.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a height adjustment mechanism and a bicycle seat post structure, and particularly, to a height adjustment mechanism and a bicycle seat post structure driven by a motor. BACKGROUND

[0002] The height adjustment mechanism can have a tube and a piston, the piston includes a center channel and a needle, the tube contains fluid such as air, oil or both inside, and the needle can open the center channel to make the fluid flow to change the height of the piston in the tube, which is widely used in the fields of lifting chairs or bicycle seat posts.

[0003] The conventional mechanical control method is to drive the height adjustment mechanism by a wrench, the wrench is connected to a lever of the height adjustment mechanism by a cable, so that the operation of the wrench can drive the lever to open the center channel. The wrench is usually arranged under the seat cushion for the user to operate. However, when the height adjustment mechanism is used in a bicycle seat post, it is inconvenient for the user to operate the wrench to adjust the height of the seat cushion during the riding process.

[0004] Therefore, some manufacturers have developed an electric control method, which can control the motor of the height adjustment mechanism to control the movement of the needle by setting a remote controller on the handlebar to adjust the height. However, since the needle is located in the center channel, a larger driving force of the motor is required to move the needle against the pressure of the fluid, and there is still room for improvement. SUMMARY

[0005] To solve the above problems, the present application provides a height adjustment mechanism and a bicycle seat post structure, which can reduce the pressure of the fluid on the needle by structural configuration.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present application, a height adjustment mechanism is provided, which includes a tube, a piston, and a driving module. The tube includes a receiving space and has an axis, and the receiving space is configured to accommodate at least one fluid therein. The piston is movably inserted into the tube and includes a piston head, a needle hole, a needle, a fluid channel, a piston rod, and a cover. The piston head is located in the receiving space, and the needle hole is located in the piston head. The needle is movably inserted into the needle hole and positioned at a first position or a second position along the axis. The fluid channel is located in the piston head, and the fluid channel includes a longitudinal section located on one side of the needle hole. The piston rod is connected to the piston head and includes a driving space. The cover covers the upper end of the needle hole away from the piston rod. The driving module includes a motor, and the motor is accommodated in the driving space. When the needle is positioned at the first position, the piston cannot move relative to the tube, and when the motor drives the needle to be positioned at the second position, the at least one fluid is allowed to flow from the first side of the piston head to the second side of the piston head through the fluid channel, or from the second side of the piston head to the first side of the piston head through the fluid channel, so as to adjust the distance between the piston head and the top end of the tube.

[0007] Therefore, by locating the longitudinal section of the fluid flow channel on one side of the ejection pin hole and covering the upper end of the ejection pin hole with the cover, the fluid pressure is not concentrated on the ejection pin in the ejection pin hole, and the pressure of the fluid on the ejection pin is reduced.

[0008] The height adjustment mechanism according to the foregoing embodiment, wherein the fluid flow channel further comprises a connecting section, the connecting section being in communication with the longitudinal section and the ejection pin hole.

[0009] The height adjustment mechanism according to the foregoing embodiment, wherein the driving module further comprises a pushing block, the pushing block being located between the motor and the ejection pin, the motor being rotated to drive the pushing block to ascend so that the ejection pin is lifted from the first position to the second position.

[0010] The height adjustment mechanism according to the foregoing embodiment, wherein the driving module further comprises a battery, the battery being accommodated in the driving space and located on the side of the motor away from the ejection pin.

[0011] The height adjustment mechanism according to the foregoing embodiment, wherein the driving module further comprises a circuit board, the circuit board being accommodated in the driving space and electrically connected to the motor. The bicycle seat post structure according to the foregoing embodiment comprises a lower tube and a height adjustment mechanism, the height adjustment mechanism being inserted into the lower tube and comprising a tube body, a piston, and a driving module. The tube body comprises an accommodation space and has an axis, and the accommodation space is used to accommodate at least one fluid therein. The piston is movably inserted into the tube body and comprises a piston head, an ejection pin hole, an ejection pin, a fluid flow channel, a piston rod, and a cover. The piston head is located in the accommodation space, and the ejection pin hole is located in the piston head. The ejection pin is movably inserted into the ejection pin hole and is located at a first position or a second position along the axis. The fluid flow channel is located in the piston head, and the fluid flow channel comprises a longitudinal section located on one side of the ejection pin hole. The piston rod is connected to the piston head at one end and is fixed to the lower tube at the other end, and the piston rod comprises a driving space. The driving module comprises a motor, and the motor is accommodated in the driving space. The cover covers the upper end of the ejection pin hole away from the piston rod. When the ejection pin is located at the first position, the piston cannot move relative to the tube body, and when the motor drives the ejection pin to be located at the second position, the foregoing at least one fluid is allowed to flow through the fluid flow channel from the first side of the piston head to the second side of the piston head or to flow through the fluid flow channel from the second side of the piston head to the first side of the piston head, so as to adjust the distance between the piston head and the top end of the tube body.

[0012] The bicycle seat post structure according to the foregoing embodiment, wherein the fluid flow channel further comprises a connecting section, the connecting section being in communication with the longitudinal section and the ejection pin hole.

[0013] The bicycle seat post structure according to the foregoing embodiment, wherein the driving module further comprises a pushing block, the pushing block being located between the motor and the ejection pin, the motor being rotated to drive the pushing block to ascend so that the ejection pin is lifted from the first position to the second position.

[0014] The bicycle seat post structure according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the drive module further comprises a battery, the battery being accommodated in the drive space and located at a side of the motor away from the plunger.

[0015] The bicycle seat post structure according to the preceding embodiment, further comprising an upper tube, the upper tube being movably inserted into the lower tube, and the tube body being fixed in the upper tube. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a side view schematic diagram of a bicycle seat post structure according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a side view schematic diagram of a part of the bicycle seat post structure according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 3 shows a side view schematic diagram of another part of the bicycle seat post structure according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0019] REFERENCE NUMERALS:

[0020] 100: bicycle seat post structure

[0021] 1000: lower tube

[0022] 2000: height adjustment mechanism

[0023] 2100: tube body

[0024] 2200: piston

[0025] 2210: piston head

[0026] 2220: plunger hole

[0027] 2230: plunger

[0028] 2240: fluid flow passage

[0029] 2241: longitudinal section

[0030] 2242: connecting section

[0031] 2243: transverse section

[0032] 2250: piston rod

[0033] 2260: cover member

[0034] 2300: drive module

[0035] 2310: motor

[0036] 2320: push block

[0037] 2330: drive block

[0038] 2340: limiting sleeve

[0039] 2350: circuit board support

[0040] 2360: circuit board

[0041] 2370: battery

[0042] 3000: upper tube

[0043] S 1: accommodation space

[0044] X 1: axis DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the purpose of explanation, numerous specific details will be set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein. That is, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure can be practiced without the specific details set forth herein. In other instances, well-known structures and components are not described in detail or are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. Thus, the specific details set forth herein are merely exemplary. As such, it will be appreciated that the specification and drawings are illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

[0046] Furthermore, when an element or layer is referred to as being "on" or "connected to" another element or layer, it can be directly on or connected to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers can be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" or "directly connected to" another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", "including" and "has" are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or groups thereof. The process and method steps described herein are exemplary. The acts described herein can be performed in another sequence than described, and various acts can be modified, eliminated, or added to the process and method described herein.

[0047] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein Figure 1 and Figure 2 wherein Figure 1 a side view schematic diagram of a bicycle seat post structure 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, Figure 2 a side view schematic diagram of a bicycle seat post structure 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, Figure 1 a side view schematic diagram of a bicycle seat post structure 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, The bicycle seat post structure 100 comprises a lower tube 1000 and a height adjustment mechanism 2000. The height adjustment mechanism 2000 is inserted into the lower tube 1000 and comprises a tube body 2100, a piston 2200, and a driving module 2300.

[0048] The tube 2100 includes a receiving space S1 for accommodating at least one fluid therein, and has an axis X1. The piston 2200 is movably inserted into the tube 2100 and includes a piston head 2210, a needle hole 2220, a needle 2230, a fluid flow channel 2240, a piston rod 2250, and a cover 2260. The piston head 2210 is located in the receiving space S1, and the needle hole 2220 is located in the piston head 2210. The needle 2230 is movably inserted into the needle hole 2220 and is located at a first position or a second position along the axis X1. The fluid flow channel 2240 is located in the piston head 2210, and the fluid flow channel 2240 includes a longitudinal section 2241 located at one side of the needle hole 2220. The piston rod 2250 is connected to the piston head 2210 at one end and is fixed to the lower tube 1000 at the other end, and the piston rod 2250 includes a driving space. The driving module 2300 includes a motor 2310 accommodated in the driving space. The cover 2260 covers the needle hole 2220 away from the upper end of the piston rod 2250. In which, when the needle 2230 is located at the first position, the piston 2200 cannot move relative to the tube 2100, and when the motor 2310 drives the needle 2230 to be located at the second position, the aforementioned at least one fluid is allowed to flow through the fluid flow channel 2240 from a first side of the piston head 2210 to a second side of the piston head 2210, or from the second side of the piston head 2210 to the first side of the piston head 2210, so as to adjust the distance between the piston head 2210 and the top end of the tube 2100. In this way, by locating the longitudinal section 2241 of the fluid flow channel 2240 at one side of the needle hole 2220, and covering the upper end of the needle hole 2220 with the cover 2260, the fluid pressure is not concentrated on the needle 2230 in the needle hole 2220, and the pressure of the fluid on the needle 2230 is reduced.

[0049] The lower tube 1000 has a hollow tubular structure to allow the height adjustment mechanism 2000 to be inserted therein. In the present embodiment, the bicycle seat rod structure 100 can further include an upper tube 3000 movably inserted into the lower tube 1000, and the tube 2100 is fixed inside the upper tube 3000. Specifically, the upper tube 3000 also has a hollow tubular structure to allow the tube 2100 to be inserted and fixed therein, and thus one end of the upper tube 3000 can be provided with a seat cushion. The seat cushion can be raised and lowered by moving the upper tube 3000 relative to the lower tube 1000 through the height adjustment mechanism 2000. In other embodiments, the upper tube can not be included, and the seat cushion can be connected to one end of the tube. In this way, the seat cushion can also be controlled to be raised and lowered.

[0050] Please refer to Figure 3 , and refer to Figure 2 , in which Figure 3 is shown Figure 1Another part of the bicycle seat post structure 100 of the embodiment is shown in a side view and a cross-sectional view. As shown in FIG. 1 1 A, the pipe body 2100 is inserted into the pipe hole 1 100 of the seat post 1 100, and the piston head 2210 is located in the pipe body 2100. The pipe body 2100 is connected to the seat post 1 100 by the pipe hole 1 100, and the pipe body 2100 is connected to the piston rod 2250 by the piston head 2210. The pipe body 2100 is connected to the piston rod 2250 by the piston head 2210, and the piston rod 2250 is connected to the seat post 1 100 by the pipe hole 1 100. Figure 2 The pipe body 2100 can contain oil and gas. The piston head 2210 is located in the pipe body 2100 and divides the accommodation space S1 into an upper chamber on the first side of the piston head 2210 and a lower chamber on the second side of the piston head 2210. The diameter of the piston head 2210 can be greater than the diameter of the piston rod 2250, and the needle hole 2220 is in communication with the driving space. Figure 3 The needle hole 2220 can be located in the center of the piston head 2210, and the longitudinal section 2241 is located on one side of the needle hole 2220 in the radial direction. The fluid flow channel 2240 can further include a connecting section 2242 and a transverse section 2243. The connecting section 2242 is in communication with the longitudinal section 2241 and the needle hole 2220, and the transverse section 2243 is in communication with the needle hole 2220 and the lower chamber. The needle 2230 includes an upper half and a lower half. The outer diameter of the upper half is greater than the outer diameter of the lower half, and the upper half corresponds to the connecting section 2242 when the needle 2230 is in the first position as shown in FIG. 1 1 A, thereby preventing fluid from flowing between the connecting section 2242 and the needle hole 2220. Conversely, when the needle 2230 is raised from the first position to the second position as shown in FIG. 1 1 B, the lower half of the needle 2230 corresponds to the connecting section 2242, and the fluid can flow from the upper chamber to the lower chamber through the longitudinal section 2241, the connecting section 2242, the needle hole 2220, and the transverse section 2243, or vice versa, because the lower half has a smaller outer diameter and cannot prevent fluid from flowing between the connecting section 2242 and the needle hole 2220.

[0051] The needle hole 2220 can be located in the center of the piston head 2210, and the longitudinal section 2241 is located on one side of the needle hole 2220 in the radial direction. The fluid flow channel 2240 can further include a connecting section 2242 and a transverse section 2243. The connecting section 2242 is in communication with the longitudinal section 2241 and the needle hole 2220, and the transverse section 2243 is in communication with the needle hole 2220 and the lower chamber. The needle 2230 includes an upper half and a lower half. The outer diameter of the upper half is greater than the outer diameter of the lower half, and the upper half corresponds to the connecting section 2242 when the needle 2230 is in the first position as shown in FIG. 1 1 A, thereby preventing fluid from flowing between the connecting section 2242 and the needle hole 2220. Conversely, when the needle 2230 is raised from the first position to the second position as shown in FIG. 1 1 B, the lower half of the needle 2230 corresponds to the connecting section 2242, and the fluid can flow from the upper chamber to the lower chamber through the longitudinal section 2241, the connecting section 2242, the needle hole 2220, and the transverse section 2243, or vice versa, because the lower half has a smaller outer diameter and cannot prevent fluid from flowing between the connecting section 2242 and the needle hole 2220. Figure 2 Figure 3 The needle hole 2220 can be located in the center of the piston head 2210, and the longitudinal section 2241 is located on one side of the needle hole 2220 in the radial direction. The fluid flow channel 2240 can further include a connecting section 2242 and a transverse section 2243. The connecting section 2242 is in communication with the longitudinal section 2241 and the needle hole 2220, and the transverse section 2243 is in communication with the needle hole 2220 and the lower chamber. The needle 2230 includes an upper half and a lower half. The outer diameter of the upper half is greater than the outer diameter of the lower half, and the upper half corresponds to the connecting section 2242 when the needle 2230 is in the first position as shown in FIG. 1 1 A, thereby preventing fluid from flowing between the connecting section 2242 and the needle hole 2220. Conversely, when the needle 2230 is raised from the first position to the second position as shown in FIG. 1 1 B, the lower half of the needle 2230 corresponds to the connecting section 2242, and the fluid can flow from the upper chamber to the lower chamber through the longitudinal section 2241, the connecting section 2242, the needle hole 2220, and the transverse section 2243, or vice versa, because the lower half has a smaller outer diameter and cannot prevent fluid from flowing between the connecting section 2242 and the needle hole 2220.

[0052] The driving module 2300 can further include a pushing block 2320 located between the motor 2310 and the needle 2230. The motor 2310 rotates to drive the pushing block 2320 to rise, thereby raising the needle 2230 from the first position to the second position. Specifically, the driving module 2300 can further include a driving block 2330 and a limiting sleeve 2340. The driving block 2330 is located in the limiting sleeve 2340 and is rotationally connected to the output shaft of the motor 2310. The pushing block 2320 is located between the driving block 2330 and the limiting sleeve 2340 and is screwed to the driving block 2330. The pushing block 2320 is limited by the limiting sleeve 2340 and cannot rotate. Therefore, when the motor 2310 rotates, it can drive the driving block 2330 to rotate. The pushing block 2320 is limited by the limiting sleeve 2340 and can only move along the axis X1, and pushes the needle 2230 upward to the second position.

[0053] ​The driving module 2300 can further include a battery 2370, a circuit board support 2350, and two circuit boards 2360. The battery 2370 is accommodated in the driving space and located on the side of the motor 2310 away from the needle 2230. The circuit board support 2350 can be located between the motor 2310 and the battery 2370. The circuit boards 2360 are arranged on the circuit board support 2350 and electrically connected with the motor 2310 and the battery 2370. The circuit board support 2350 can include two arm portions extending upward to be connected with the motor 2310. The circuit board support 2350 can include two fixing grooves to limit the two circuit boards 2360. In this way, the motor 2310, the battery 2370, and the circuit boards 2360 can all be located in the driving space of the piston rod 2250, thereby forming a modular component for facilitating subsequent assembly.

[0054] From the above embodiments, it can be known that the present application has the following advantages. First, by locating the longitudinal section of the fluid flow channel on one side of the needle hole and covering the needle hole with the cover, the pressure of the fluid on the needle can be reduced, and thus the opening valve force and the bearing force are small. Second, by locating the driving module in the driving space of the piston rod, the space can be effectively utilized, and the height adjustment mechanism can be formed as a modular component.

[0055] Although the present application has been disclosed with the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present application. Any person skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A height adjustment mechanism, characterized by, A syringe includes: a barrel having an accommodation space for accommodating at least one fluid therein and having an axis; a plunger movably inserted into the barrel and including: a plunger head located in the accommodation space; a needle hole located in the plunger head; a needle movably inserted into the needle hole and located at a first position or a second position along the axis; a fluid flow channel located in the plunger head and including a longitudinal section located at one side of the needle hole; a plunger rod connected to the plunger head and including a driving space; and a cover member covering the needle hole away from an upper end of the plunger rod; and a driving module including a motor accommodated in the driving space; wherein, when the needle is located at the first position, the plunger is unable to move relative to the barrel, and when the motor drives the needle to be located at the second position, the at least one fluid is allowed to flow through the fluid flow channel from a first side of the plunger head to a second side of the plunger head or from the second side of the plunger head to the first side of the plunger head through the fluid flow channel to adjust a distance between the plunger head and a top end of the barrel. The fluid flow channel further includes a connecting section communicating the longitudinal section and the needle hole. The driving module further includes a push block located between the motor and the needle, and the motor is driven to drive the push block to rise so that the needle rises from the first position to the second position.

2. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 1, wherein, The driving module further includes a battery accommodated in the driving space and located at a side of the motor away from the needle.

3. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 1, wherein, The driving module further includes a circuit board accommodated in the driving space and electrically connected to the motor.

4. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 3, wherein, A syringe includes:

5. The height adjustment mechanism of claim 4, wherein, a lower barrel; and 6. A bicycle seat post structure, characterized by, a height adjustment mechanism inserted into the lower barrel and including: a barrel having an accommodation space for accommodating at least one fluid therein and having an axis; a plunger movably inserted into the barrel and including: a plunger head located in the accommodation space; a needle hole located in the plunger head; a needle movably inserted into the needle hole and located at a first position or a second position along the axis; a fluid flow channel located in the plunger head and including a longitudinal section located at one side of the needle hole; a plunger rod having one end connected to the plunger head and the other end fixed to the lower barrel, the plunger rod including a driving space; and a cover member covering the needle hole away from an upper end of the plunger rod; and a driving module including a motor accommodated in the driving space; wherein, when the needle is located at the first position, the plunger is unable to move relative to the barrel, and when the motor drives the needle to be located at the second position, the at least one fluid is allowed to flow through the fluid flow channel from a first side of the plunger head to a second side of the plunger head or from the second side of the plunger head to the first side of the plunger head through the fluid flow channel to adjust a distance between the plunger head and a top end of the barrel. The fluid flow channel further includes a connecting section communicating the longitudinal section and the needle hole. The driving module further includes a push block located between the motor and the needle, and the motor is driven to drive the push block to rise so that the needle rises from the first position to the second position. The driving module further includes a battery accommodated in the driving space and located at a side of the motor away from the needle.

7. The bicycle seat post structure of claim 6, wherein, The driving module further includes a circuit board accommodated in the driving space and electrically connected to the motor.

8. The bicycle seat post structure of claim 7, wherein, ​ 9. The bicycle seat post structure of claim 8, wherein, ​ 10. The bicycle seat post structure of claim 6, wherein, Further comprising an upper tube movably inserted in the lower tube, and the tube body is fixed in the upper tube.

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