Bicycle seatpost construction with shock-absorbing function

Abstract

Bicycle seatpost assembly (10), characterized by: a seatpost unit (20) with a hollow structure and an opening (24) at an upper end thereof; a damping adjustment device (30) which is inserted into the seatpost unit (20) through the opening (24) and is detachably arranged on an upper section of the seatpost unit (20), wherein the damping adjustment device (30) has a mounting base (31), at least one positioning element (32), an adjustment rod (33) and a guide block (34);wherein the adjusting rod (33) is arranged within the mounting base (31), wherein the at least one positioning element (32) bears against an outer circumferential surface of the mounting base (31) and an inner circumferential surface of the seat post unit (20), wherein a first side of the guide block (34) bears against a lower end of the adjusting rod (33) and the adjusting rod (33) is movable relative to the mounting base (31) to drive the guide block (34) to an up and down movement; and a damping element (40) which bears against a second side of the guide block (34) of the damping adjustment device (30).

Description

Background of the invention 1. Field of the invention The present invention relates to a bicycle seatpost and in particular to a bicycle seatpost assembly with shock-absorbing function, in which a damping adjustment device is provided to enable convenient adjustment of the preload of a damping element and thus to meet different riding needs. 2. Description of the state of the art To prevent discomfort for the cyclist when riding on uneven road surfaces, a damping device is usually installed between the saddle and seatpost to absorb vibrations and provide shock absorption. Most existing bicycle seatposts use pneumatic or hydraulic systems for this damping. Such designs not only increase structural complexity but also lead to difficulties in maintenance and repair. Accordingly, some bicycle seatposts replace pneumatic or hydraulic structures with a damping structure made of rubber, polyurethane elastomer, or other elastic materials to reduce vibrations transmitted to the saddle. Taiwanese patent no. M 636793 discloses an improved shock-absorbing seatpost in which a damping assembly is arranged within an inner tube and comprises a first sleeve, a second sleeve, and a damping structure. A slotted hole is formed in the first sleeve, allowing a mounting rod to pass through an opening in the inner tube and extend into the slotted hole to secure a first mounting section of the first sleeve. A rider can use a tool to rotate a threaded rod of the first sleeve, causing the threaded rod to compress or release the damping structure and thereby adjusting the shock-absorbing effect. However, such damping structures generally exhibit a fixed coefficient of elasticity after manufacturing and therefore cannot meet the needs of riders with different body types or adapt to varying road conditions. Therefore, the aforementioned patent proposes a mechanism for adjusting the damping structure, whereby the position of the threaded rod within the inner tube is changed to adjust the preload of the damping structure. However, to prevent components below the threaded rod from rotating along with it and causing free-running, the fixing rod is used to lock the first mounting section in place, thus preventing its rotation. However, installing the fixing rod requires a modification of the original inner tube structure, thereby reducing the structural strength of the seatpost.Furthermore, when disassembling the damping assembly located in the inner tube, the process must be carried out from the underside of the entire seatpost, and other components inside the seatpost must be removed beforehand, resulting in a structure that is unfavorable for assembly and maintenance. Accordingly, providing a bicycle seatpost capable of adjusting damping performance while also facilitating maintenance and repair has become a problem to be solved in the industry. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In light of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bicycle seatpost assembly with a shock-absorbing function. By improving the structural design of the damping adjustment device, assembly and disassembly procedures can be simplified, while enabling a user to adjust the preload of the damping element.To solve the aforementioned problem, the present invention provides a bicycle seatpost assembly comprising a seatpost unit, a damping adjustment device, and a damping element. The seatpost unit is a hollow structure with an opening at its upper end. The damping adjustment device is inserted into the seatpost unit through this opening and is detachably mounted on an upper section of the seatpost unit. The damping adjustment device comprises a mounting base, at least one positioning element, an adjustment rod, and a guide block.The adjustment rod is arranged within the mounting base. At least one positioning element rests against an outer circumferential surface of the mounting base and an inner circumferential surface of the seatpost assembly. A first side of the guide block rests against a lower end of the adjustment rod, and the adjustment rod is movable relative to the mounting base to drive the guide block into an up-and-down movement. The damping element rests against a second side of the guide block of the damping adjustment device. Thanks to the aforementioned technical features, a user can perform maintenance on the damping adjustment device directly through the opening at the top of the seatpost assembly, providing a structure that is extremely convenient for assembly or maintenance. Furthermore, the user can operate the adjustment rod to move it relative to the mounting base, causing the guide block to compress or release the damping element to adjust its preload. Because the positioning element is located between the mounting base and the seatpost assembly, the mounting base and seatpost assembly are fixed relative to each other, thus limiting the position of the mounting base.Accordingly, the mounting base does not move with the adjusting rod during its operation; rather, only the adjusting rod moves relative to the mounting base to shift the guide block. This type of damping adjustment device prevents damage to the seatpost assembly's structure, eliminates the need for any modifications to the seatpost assembly, and preserves its structural integrity. Preferably, the seatpost assembly comprises an outer tube, an inner tube arranged within the outer tube, and a bracket located at the upper end of the outer tube. The damping adjustment device and the damping element are arranged within the outer tube and the bracket. Accordingly, the damping adjustment device can be installed without altering the structures of the outer tube and the bracket. Such a non-drilled seatpost assembly can maintain the original structural strength of the outer tube and the bracket and also ensure good water resistance. Preferably, the outer circumferential surface of the mounting base of the damping adjustment device is recessed such that at least one positioning groove is formed, wherein the at least one positioning element engages with the mounting base via the at least one positioning groove. Accordingly, the positioning element can be stably arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the mounting base, which improves ease of assembly and prevents displacement of the positioning element within the seatpost device. Preferably, the mounting base of the damping adjustment device has an inner circumferential surface provided with an internal thread, and the adjusting rod has an outer circumferential surface provided with an external thread that engages with the internal thread of the mounting base, so that the adjusting rod can rotate relative to the mounting base to generate an up-and-down movement. Accordingly, the mounting base and the adjusting rod interact through threaded engagement to generate movement, enabling stepless adjustment of the stroke of the adjusting rod as required, allowing the damping element to achieve optimal preload. Preferably, the upper end of the adjusting rod of the damping adjustment device forms an actuating section with a hexagonal recess. Accordingly, a user can engage a hexagonal key in the actuating section to rotate the adjusting rod, thus providing a user-friendly structure. Preferably, the adjusting rod of the damping adjustment device can be recessed inwards from its lower end to form a locking section. The guide block can have an inner annular wall and an outer annular wall surrounding the inner annular wall, the inner annular wall extending into and engaging with the locking section of the adjusting rod, so that the lower end of the adjusting rod rests against a region between the inner and outer annular walls. Accordingly, the guide block is more securely connected to the adjusting rod and can move linearly when actuated, thus making the results of each preload adjustment of the damping element more consistent. Preferably, the damping adjustment device comprises a first sealing ring and a second sealing ring. The first sealing ring is arranged on the outer circumferential surface of an upper section of the mounting base and rests against the inner circumferential surface of the seatpost assembly. The second sealing ring is arranged on an outer circumferential surface of an upper section of the adjustment rod and rests against an inner circumferential surface of the mounting base. Accordingly, the first sealing ring ensures good watertightness between the damping adjustment device and the seatpost assembly, and the second sealing ring ensures good watertightness of the damping adjustment device itself, thereby preventing corrosion of components inside the seatpost assembly. Preferably, the damping adjustment device can include a cover body having a working opening extending through its top and bottom. The cover body is positioned on the upper section of the seatpost assembly and covers the upper ends of the mounting base and the adjustment rod. Accordingly, the cover body can prevent external contaminants or moisture from penetrating the interior of the seatpost assembly, thereby reducing the likelihood of damage to the damping adjustment device. Preferably, the damping adjustment device can include a base arranged at one end of the damping element that does not abut the guide block. Accordingly, the base and the guide block jointly clamp the damping element securely, so that one end of the damping element can be compressed or released using the base as a support, thereby improving the operational stability of the damping element. Preferably, the damping adjustment device can be selected from a rubber block, a polyurethane elastomer block, or a spring. Accordingly, the damping adjustment device, with its simple structure, provides shock absorption, thereby improving ride comfort for the user. The further scope of application of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given below. However, it is clear that the detailed description and the specific examples, although they show preferred embodiments of the invention, serve only for illustration, since various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention will be apparent to a person skilled in the art from this detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be better understood with reference to the detailed description given below and the accompanying drawings, which serve only for illustration and thus do not limit the present invention, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a damping adjustment device of the present invention in which a base has been omitted; Fig. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the damping adjustment device of the present invention in which the base has been omitted; Fig. 5 shows a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the present invention; and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention showing a state in which a damping element is compressed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION First, it should be noted that identical or similar reference numerals used in the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings denote identical or similar elements or their structural features throughout the entire description in order to present the invention concisely. It should be noted that the components and structures shown in the figures are not drawn to actual scale and extent for the sake of clarity, and that the features mentioned in each embodiment can be applied to the other embodiments where practically feasible. Furthermore, when it is mentioned that one element is arranged on another, this means that the first-mentioned element is arranged directly on the last-mentioned element, or that the first-mentioned element is arranged indirectly on the last-mentioned element via one or more other elements between the first-mentioned and the last-mentioned element. When it is mentioned that one element is arranged directly on another element, this means that no other element is arranged between the first-mentioned and the last-mentioned element. With reference to Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. 4, a bicycle seatpost assembly 10 with shock absorption function according to the present invention essentially comprises a seatpost unit 20, a damping adjustment device 30 and a damping element 40. The seatpost unit 20 has a hollow structure and comprises an outer tube 21, an inner tube 22, and a bracket 23. The outer tube 21 is slid onto the inner tube 22, and a valve assembly can be installed in the inner tube 22. The bracket 23 is arranged at an upper end of the outer tube 21, and this upper end defines an opening 24 that communicates with an interior space of the outer tube 21. A saddle rail attachment element 25 for attaching saddle rails is also attached to the bracket 23. In another embodiment, the bracket 23 can be formed integrally at the upper end of the outer tube 21, so that the bracket 23 and the outer tube 21 form a single-piece structure.When the damping adjustment device 30 and the damping element 40 are installed, they are inserted through the opening 24 into the seatpost device 20 and positioned on an upper section of the seatpost device 20, namely within the bracket 23 and the outer tube 21. Similarly, when removing the damping adjustment device 30 and the damping element 40, the user can remove them through the opening 24 of the seatpost device 20. The damping adjustment device 30 comprises a mounting base 31, four positioning elements 32, an adjusting rod 33, and a guide block 34. An inner circumferential surface of the mounting base 31 is provided with an internal thread, and its outer circumferential surface is recessed to form four equally spaced positioning grooves 311. The positioning elements 32 can, for example, be elongated pin elements and each engages in the four positioning grooves 311 of the mounting base 31. An outer circumferential surface of the adjusting rod 33 is provided with an external thread; an upper end of the adjusting rod 33 forms an actuating section 331 with a hexagonal recess, and a lower end of the same forms a locking section 332.The locking section 332 is formed by an inwardly directed recess in a central area of ​​the lower end of the adjusting rod 33 to define a cylindrical hole, and an annular locking groove is further formed around the cylindrical hole. The guide block 34 is an annular plate body in which an inner annular wall 341 extends upward from a circumference of a central circular opening and an outer annular wall 342 extends upward from an outer edge of the guide block 34. The inner annular wall 341 has a height greater than that of the outer annular wall 342, and an annular projection 343 projects outward from an outer circumferential surface of the inner annular wall 341. In this embodiment, the mounting base 31 is provided with four positioning grooves 311 and interacts with four positioning elements 32. When the damping adjustment device 30 is installed in the seatpost device 20, the four positioning elements 32 enable a firm connection of the mounting base 31 to the inner circumferential surface of the seatpost device 20, so that the mounting base 31 achieves optimal resistance to twisting and displacement. However, an arrangement that uses only one positioning groove 311 in combination with one positioning element 32 is also able to limit the position of the mounting base 31, although such an arrangement is more likely to result in an uneven force distribution on the mounting base 31. During the assembly of the damping adjustment device 30, the adjusting rod 33 is inserted into the mounting base 31, and the external thread of the adjusting rod 33 engages with the internal thread of the mounting base 31. Subsequently, the inner annular wall 341 of the guide block 34 is inserted into the locking section 332 of the adjusting rod 33, so that the annular projection 343 of the inner annular wall 341 engages in the annular locking groove of the locking section 332, thereby connecting the guide block 34 to the adjusting rod 33 in a coupled manner. At this point, the lower end of the adjusting rod 33 abuts a first side of the guide block 34. More precisely, the lower end of the adjusting rod 33 abuts a region between the inner annular wall 341 and the outer annular wall 342 of the guide block 34.As the adjusting rod 33 moves within the mounting base 31, the guide block 34 is caused to move up and down. When the lower end of the adjusting rod 33 is flush with a lower end of the mounting base 31, the lower end of the mounting base 31 also abuts the area between the inner ring wall 341 and the outer ring wall 342 of the guide block 34. Since the mounting base 31 is restricted in its movement by the positioning elements 32, this position serves as the starting position of the adjusting rod 33. One end of the damping element 40 abuts a second side of the guide block 34 that does not rest against the adjusting rod 33, and the other end can rest directly against an upper end of the inner tube 22 or against a base 35. The base 35 is inserted into and secured in the upper end of the inner tube 22, so that the end of the damping element 40 that does not rest against the guide block 34 can rest against a top surface of the base 35, thus positioning the damping element 40 within the seatpost assembly 20. With further reference to Fig. 5, the damping adjustment device 30 for improving the durability of the bicycle seatpost assembly 10 further comprises a first sealing ring 36, a second sealing ring 37, and a cover body 38. The first sealing ring 36 and the second sealing ring 37 are O-rings. The first sealing ring 36 is arranged between the mounting base 31 and the seatpost assembly 20 and is placed on an outer circumferential surface of an upper section of the mounting base 31, while bearing against an inner circumferential surface of the seatpost assembly 20. Thus, the first sealing ring 36 tightly seals a gap between the mounting base 31 and the seatpost assembly 20. The second sealing ring 37 is arranged between the mounting base 31 and the adjustment rod 33 and is placed on an outer circumferential surface of an upper section of the adjustment rod 33, bearing against an inner circumferential surface of the mounting base 31.The second sealing ring 37 thus seals a gap between the mounting base 31 and the adjustment rod 33. The arrangement of the first sealing ring 36 and the second sealing ring 37 prevents water from penetrating the interior of the mounting base 31 and the adjustment rod 33 from the outside, thereby ensuring good water resistance for the bicycle seatpost assembly 10. The cover body 38 has an inverted U-shaped configuration, with a hexagonal working bore 381 formed at its central position. The working bore 381 extends through a top and a bottom surface of the cover body 38. An outer circumferential surface of the cover body 38 is optionally provided with an external thread, and an inner circumferential surface of the bracket 23 of the seatpost assembly 20 can be provided with an internal thread, so that the cover body 38 can be screwed into the bracket 23 through the opening 24 of the seatpost assembly 20.When the cover body 38 is installed in the seatpost unit 20, it is positioned over the mounting base 31 and the adjustment rod 33, covering their upper ends. This reduces the likelihood of dirt or moisture penetrating the damping adjustment device 30 from the outside, creating a dustproof and waterproof seal. Furthermore, the cover body 38 also secures the mounting base 31 and the adjustment rod 33 in place, preventing them from easily dislodging from the opening 24 in the seatpost unit 20. Referring to Fig. 6, during actual operation, since the working opening 381 of the cover body 38 is in contact with the actuating section 331 of the adjusting rod 33 and the size of the working opening 381 is larger than that of the actuating section 331, a user can insert a hexagon key through the working opening 381 of the cover body 38 and engage the actuating section 331 of the adjusting rod 33 to rotate the adjusting rod 33. If an increase in the preload of the damping element 40 is desired, the user turns the adjusting rod 33 clockwise using the Allen key. Since the mounting base 31 is fixed by the positioning element 32 and cannot rotate, the adjusting rod 33 is moved downwards relative to the mounting base 31, and the guide block 34 is moved downwards in accordance with the movement of the adjusting rod 33. Consequently, the adjusting rod 33 and the guide block 34 press against the damping element 40, compressing the damping element 40, with one end of it resting against the base 35 as a support, thereby increasing the preload of the damping element 40. Conversely, if the user turns the adjusting rod 33 counterclockwise, causing it to move upwards relative to the mounting base 31, the guide block 34 is moved upwards with the movement of the adjusting rod 33.At this point, the compressive force exerted on the damping element 40 by the adjusting rod 33 and the guide block 34 is reduced, and the damping element 40 springs back elastically due to its own restoring force, thereby reducing the preload of the damping element 40. In summary, the bicycle seatpost assembly 10 with the shock-absorbing function provided by the present invention has at least the following advantages compared to the prior art: 1. In the bicycle seatpost assembly 10 of the present invention, the adjusting rod 33 of the damping unit 30 is movable relative to the mounting base 31, so that the guide block 34 bearing against the adjusting rod 33 is driven accordingly to compress or relax the damping element 40, thereby achieving an adjustment of the preload of the damping element 40. Accordingly, the bicycle seatpost assembly 10 is better adaptable to riders of different body types and to different riding conditions. 2.In the bicycle seatpost assembly 10 of the present invention, the positioning element 32 of the damping adjustment device 30 is arranged between the mounting base 31 and the seatpost assembly 20, and the positioning element 32 simultaneously rests against both the mounting base 31 and the seatpost assembly 20, so that the mounting base 31 is engaged and fixed relative to the seatpost assembly 20. Since the seatpost assembly 20 itself is a stationary tubular structure, the mounting base 31 is thereby prevented from rotating and displacing. This design does not require any damage to or modification of the structure of the seatpost assembly 20 and thus allows the original structural strength of the seatpost assembly 20 to be maintained.In the bicycle seatpost assembly 10 of the present invention, the damping adjustment device 30 and the damping element 40 are installed or removed through the opening 24 at the upper end of the seatpost assembly 20 without having to remove any other components from inside the seatpost assembly 20 to access the damping adjustment device 30. Accordingly, the bicycle seatpost assembly 10 offers a structure that is convenient for assembly, maintenance, and repair. Finally, it should be noted that the components disclosed in the preceding embodiments of the present invention serve only as examples for illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Substitution or variation by other equivalent elements should be included within the scope of the following claims of the present invention. A bicycle seatpost assembly comprises a seatpost unit, a damping adjustment device, and a damping element. The damping adjustment device is detachably mounted to an upper section of the seatpost unit and includes a mounting base, at least one positioning element, an adjustment rod, and a guide block. The positioning element rests against the mounting base and the seatpost unit. The adjustment rod is movable relative to the mounting base to drive the guide block in an up-and-down movement, and the damping element rests against the guide block. Accordingly, the preload of the damping element is adjustable via the adjustment rod, and the damping adjustment device can be installed and removed from the top of the seatpost unit for ease of maintenance. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION 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 TW 636793

[0003]

Claims

Bicycle seatpost assembly (10), characterized by: a seatpost unit (20) with a hollow structure and an opening (24) at an upper end thereof; a damping adjustment device (30) which is inserted into the seatpost unit (20) through the opening (24) and is detachably arranged on an upper section of the seatpost unit (20), wherein the damping adjustment device (30) comprises a mounting base (31), at least one positioning element (32), an adjustment rod (33) and a guide block (34);wherein the adjusting rod (33) is arranged within the mounting base (31), wherein the at least one positioning element (32) bears against an outer circumferential surface of the mounting base (31) and an inner circumferential surface of the seat post unit (20), wherein a first side of the guide block (34) bears against a lower end of the adjusting rod (33) and the adjusting rod (33) is movable relative to the mounting base (31) to drive the guide block (34) to an up and down movement; and a damping element (40) which bears against a second side of the guide block (34) of the damping adjustment device (30). Bicycle seatpost assembly (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the seatpost unit (20) comprises an outer tube (21), an inner tube (22) arranged inside the outer tube (21) and a bracket (23) arranged at the upper end of the outer tube (21), and the damping adjustment device (30) and the damping element (40) are arranged inside the outer tube (21) and the bracket (23). Bicycle seatpost assembly (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer circumferential surface of the mounting base (31) of the damping adjustment device (30) is recessed to form at least one positioning groove (311); wherein the at least one positioning element (32) engages with the mounting base (31) via the at least one positioning groove (311). Bicycle seatpost assembly (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting base (31) of the damping adjustment device (30) has an inner circumferential surface which is provided with an internal thread; wherein the adjusting rod (33) has an outer circumferential surface which is provided with an external thread which engages with the internal thread of the mounting base (31) so that the adjusting rod (33) is rotatable relative to the mounting base (31) to produce an upward and downward movement. Bicycle seatpost assembly (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that an upper end of the adjusting rod (33) of the damping adjustment device (30) forms an actuating section (331) with a hexagonal recess. Bicycle seatpost assembly (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting rod (33) of the damping adjustment device (30) is recessed inwards from its lower end to form a locking section (332); wherein the guide block (34) has an inner annular wall (341) and an outer annular wall (342) surrounding the inner annular wall (341); wherein the inner annular wall (341) extends into and engages with the locking section (332) of the adjusting rod (33), such that the lower end of the adjusting rod (33) rests against a region between the inner annular wall (341) and the outer annular wall (342). Bicycle seatpost assembly (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the damping adjustment device (30) comprises a first sealing ring (36) and a second sealing ring (37); wherein the first sealing ring (36) is arranged on the outer circumferential surface of an upper section of the mounting base (31) and bears against the inner circumferential surface of the seatpost assembly (20); wherein the second sealing ring (37) is arranged on an outer circumferential surface of an upper section of the adjustment rod (33) and bears against an inner circumferential surface of the mounting base (31). Bicycle seatpost assembly (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the damping adjustment device (30) comprises a cover body (38) having a working opening (381) extending through its top and bottom; wherein the cover body (38) is arranged on the upper section of the seatpost assembly (20) and covers the upper ends of the mounting base (31) and the adjustment rod (33). Bicycle seatpost assembly (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the damping adjustment device (30) comprises a base (35) which is arranged at one end of the damping element (40) which does not abut the guide block (34). Bicycle seatpost assembly (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the damping element (40) is selected from a rubber block, a polyurethane elastomer block or a spring.

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