Bicycle saddle cover and bicycle saddle with such a bicycle saddle cover

Abstract

Bicycle saddle cover (16) for attachment to a bicycle saddle shell (16) with a contact surface and connection areas (19, 21), characterized in that a front connection area (19) is designed and configured for a saddle nose (18) of the bicycle saddle shell (15) to be inserted longitudinally, and a rear connection area (21) is designed and configured for being slipped over a rear edge (20) of the saddle shell (15) opposite the saddle nose (18) after the saddle nose (18) has been inserted into the front connection area (19).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a bicycle saddle cover for attachment to a bicycle saddle shell with a contact surface and connection areas, and to a bicycle saddle with such a bicycle saddle cover.

[0002] Such a bicycle saddle cover and saddle are known from EP 3 907 125 A1. The bicycle saddle has a frame made of struts, by means of which the saddle can be attached to a saddle mount on the bicycle. The frame supports a saddle shell (hereinafter referred to as the saddle shell), which is usually glued, screwed, or riveted to the frame. In modern, high-end sport bicycles, the saddle frame and shell are made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic. However, they can also be made of other plastics or metals, such as aluminum. The saddle shell and frame do not necessarily have to be made of the same material.

[0003] The bicycle saddle cover, hereinafter referred to simply as saddle covers, is detachably attached to the saddle shell, thus forming a padded surface. Depending on the desired firmness of the padding, e.g., due to different riding conditions or a cyclist's preferences, the cyclist can replace the saddle cover. According to the aforementioned EP 3 907 125 A1, the saddle cover completely encircles the saddle shell. This makes it difficult to put the cover on the saddle shell. Nevertheless, there is a risk that it may unintentionally slip off the saddle shell depending on the riding situation.

[0004] Starting from this premise, the invention addresses the problem of further developing a bicycle saddle cover and a bicycle saddle of the type mentioned above in such a way that the bicycle saddle cover can be replaced more easily and yet is more securely prevented from unintentionally detaching from the saddle shell.

[0005] To solve this problem, the bicycle saddle cover according to the invention is characterized in that a front connection area is provided and designed for a saddle nose of the bicycle saddle shell to be inserted longitudinally, and a rear connection area is provided and designed for being slipped over a rear edge of the saddle shell opposite the saddle nose after the saddle nose has been inserted into the front connection area.

[0006] To attach the saddle cover to the saddle shell, the saddle nose is inserted into the front connection area, and then the rear connection area is slipped over the back edge of the saddle shell. Prototypes have confirmed that the saddle cover can be attached to and detached from the saddle shell very easily and, most importantly, without tools. Despite this ease of attachment, the saddle cover remains securely in place on the saddle shell in all tested riding situations without unintentionally coming loose.

[0007] According to a design embodiment of the invention, the front connection area is shaped like a pocket. This allows the front connection area to enclose the saddle nose, which further prevents the saddle cover from unintentionally detaching from the saddle shell.

[0008] The front connection area can have an opening on its underside. This makes it more elastic, which further facilitates fitting the saddle cover onto the saddle shell. The opening should be limited at the rear by a bridge, ensuring that the connection area still completely encloses the saddle nose. This helps prevent the saddle cover from unintentionally detaching from the saddle shell.

[0009] An opening can also be provided at the rear connection point, along the longitudinal center axis of the saddle shell. This increases elasticity and thus facilitates the fitting of the saddle cover. The opening should transition into a longitudinal groove, which, on some saddle covers, extends along the longitudinal center axis. This is particularly aesthetically pleasing.

[0010] In the saddle cover according to the aforementioned EP 3 907 125 A1, the padding element is an integral part of the saddle cover. It therefore cannot be replaced, for example, to replace a worn-out padding element or to exchange it for a padding element with a different firmness, for example, to adapt to a different riding situation.

[0011] To avoid this disadvantage, according to an aspect of the invention that can also be considered independently, the saddle cover has at least one pocket on the contact surface, which is designed and configured to hold a padding element. This allows existing padding elements to be removed from the at least one pocket and replaced with a different padding element. This makes it possible not only to replace worn-out padding elements, but also to remove an existing padding element and replace it with another. Since the padding elements are relatively small, they can easily be taken along on multi-day bike tours, for example, and replaced depending on the requirements of each stage. The firmness of the saddle cover can thus be easily adjusted to different riding situations or the cyclist's needs. For this purpose, the at least one pocket is preferably located in the ischial tuberosity area.It is particularly advantageous to have one pocket on each side of the longitudinal center axis of the bicycle saddle. This provides optimal support for the cyclist's sit bones.

[0012] To prevent the padding element from unintentionally falling out of its designated pocket while the saddle cover is not fitted to the saddle shell, the pocket features an undercut design. These undercuts are designed and constructed to hold the padding element, at least temporarily.

[0013] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a bicycle saddle with a saddle cover having the features of the invention in a bottom view, Fig. 2 the bicycle saddle according Fig. 1 in top view, Fig. 3 the bicycle saddle in cross-section in plane III-III according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, Fig. 4 the bicycle saddle in cross-section in plane IV-IV according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, Fig. 5 the bicycle saddle in cross-section in the plane VV according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

[0014] When, in the context of this revelation, the terms “front”, “front”, “back”, “rear”, or “rear” are used, they refer to the direction of view of a cyclist in the normal direction of travel of a bicycle, as indicated by arrow 10 in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 indicated.

[0015] The figure shows a bicycle saddle 11 with a saddle frame 12 consisting of struts 13 and 14, a saddle shell 15, and a saddle cover 16. The saddle frame 12 is connected to the saddle shell 15 in a suitable manner, e.g., by gluing, riveting, or screwing. In this case, the saddle frame 12 and the saddle shell 15 are made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). However, they can also be made of other plastics or metal, e.g., aluminum. The saddle frame 12 and the saddle shell 15 can be made of the same or different materials.

[0016] The bicycle saddle 11 and with it the saddle shell 15 and the saddle cover 16 have a rear sit bone area 17 which supports the sit bones of a cyclist and which tapers towards the front and thus transitions into a front saddle nose 18.

[0017] The saddle cover 16 has two connection areas: a front connection area, designed as a pocket 19, in the region of the saddle nose 18, and a rear connection area 21 on the rear edge 20 of the saddle shell 15 opposite the saddle nose 18, specifically in the area of ​​the seat bone 17. To attach the saddle cover 16 to the saddle shell 15, the saddle nose 18 of the saddle shell 15 is first inserted into the pocket 19 of the saddle cover, or the pocket 19 is slid over the saddle nose 18. The rear connection area 21 can then be slipped over the rear edge 20 of the saddle shell 15. The saddle cover 16 is now connected to the saddle shell 15 at at least three points: firstly, by the pocket 19, and secondly, by the left and right sections of the rear connection area 21.This connection is so secure that even under extreme riding conditions, the saddle cover 16 is prevented from unintentionally loosening or slipping on the saddle shell 15. However, the saddle cover 16 can be easily detached from the saddle shell 15 by first releasing the rear connecting area 21 from the saddle shell 15 and then sliding the saddle cover 16 forward until the pocket 19 exposes the saddle nose 18.

[0018] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the pocket 19 in this case has a closed underside. Preferably, however, an opening in the form of, for example, an elongated hole is provided. This elongated hole would then be bounded at the rear by a rib. This increases the elasticity of the pocket 19 and thus facilitates sliding the pocket 19 onto and off the saddle nose 18.

[0019] The rear connecting area 21 can also be used, as in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, recognizable, have an opening 22. This in turn increases the elasticity of the rear connection area 21 and thus further facilitates the fitting and removal of the saddle cover 16. As also in Fig. 1 and Fig. As can be clearly seen, the opening 22 transitions into a depression 27 running in the longitudinal direction of the saddle cave 16.

[0020] According to an aspect of the present invention that could also be considered independently, the saddle cover 16 has at least one pocket in the ischial tuberosity region 17 on its underside, which, when fitted to the saddle shell 15, forms a bearing surface for the saddle cover 16 on the saddle shell 15. Specifically, two pockets 23, 24 are provided on either side of a longitudinal central axis of the bicycle saddle 11. These pockets 23, 24 each serve to receive a padding element 25, 26. The pockets 23, 24 preferably each have undercuts by which the padding elements 25, 26 are at least temporarily held in the respective pocket 23, 24 as long as the saddle cover 16 is not fitted onto the saddle shell 15. This measure allows the padding elements 25, 26 to be easily removed from their respective pockets 23, 24 and replaced with padding elements 25, 26 of a different firmness.This allows the saddle cover 16 to be easily adapted to different riding situations or the needs of the cyclist. Reference symbol list: 10 Direction of travel 11 bicycle saddles 12 (bicycle) saddle frame 13 Strut 14 Strut 15 (bicycle) saddle shell 16 (bicycle) saddle covers 17. gluteal region 18 Saddle nose 19 bags 20 edge 21 Rear connection area 22 Opening 23 bags 24 bags 25 upholstered elements 26 upholstered elements 27 In-depth study QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 3 907 125 A1 [0002, 0003, 0010]

Claims

[1] Bicycle saddle cover (16) for attachment to a bicycle saddle shell (16) with a support surface and connecting areas (19, 21), characterized by in that a front connecting region (19) is arranged and designed so that a saddle nose (18) of the bicycle saddle shell (15) is inserted in the longitudinal direction, and a rear connecting region (21) is arranged and designed to be slipped over a rear edge (20) of the saddle shell (15) opposite the saddle nose (18) after the saddle nose (18) has been inserted into the front connecting region (19). [2] Bicycle saddle cover (16) according to claim 1, characterized by that the front connecting area (19) is designed as a pocket. [3] Bicycle saddle cover (16) according to claim 2, characterized by that the front connecting area (19) has an opening on its underside. [4] Bicycle saddle cover (16) according to claim 3, characterized bythat the opening is limited to the rear by a bridge. [5] Bicycle saddle cover (16) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the rear connecting area (21) has an opening (22) in the area of the longitudinal center axis of the bicycle saddle shell (15). [6] Bicycle saddle cover (16) according to claim 5, characterized by that the opening (22) of the rear connecting area (21) merges into a longitudinal recess (27) (23, 24) of the bicycle saddle cover (16). [7] Bicycle saddle cover (16) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by at least one pocket (23, 24) on the support surface, which is arranged and designed to receive a cushioning element (25, 26). [8] Bicycle saddle cover (16) according to claim 7, characterized by that the at least one pocket (23, 24) is arranged in a seat bone region (17). [9] Bicycle saddle cover (16) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized bytwo pockets (23, 24), each of which has a pocket (23, 24) arranged laterally of the longitudinal central axis. [10] Bicycle saddle shell (16) according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized by that the at least one pocket (23, 24) has an undercut. [11] Bicycle saddle (11) with a bicycle saddle shell (15) and a bicycle saddle cover (16) according to one of claims 1 to 10.

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