Adjustable Bicycle Saddle for Ischial Support and Soft Tissue Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bicycle saddles often cause physical injuries due to poor design, particularly for men and women, as they fail to accommodate the unique physiology of the human pelvis, leading to issues such as prostatitis, erectile dysfunction, incontinence, and genital pain during long-duration cycling.
Innovation Solution
A bicycle saddle design that includes adjustable seating portions shaped to accommodate the rider's ischial tuberosities, allowing for proper weight distribution and minimizing stress on soft tissue, with adjustable width and concave shape to fit individual pelvic dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional bicycle saddle designs are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but physical injuries and discomfort occur due to poor accommodation of human pelvic physiology
Solution Approach 1:
The saddle is divided into two separate adjustable seating portions instead of a single unified structure. Each portion can be independently positioned to accommodate the rider's ischial tuberosities, allowing customization without requiring complete structural redesign. This segmentation enables the saddle to adapt to individual anatomy while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular components.
Solution Approach 2:
The saddle incorporates adjustable seating portions that can be modified to fit different riders' pelvic dimensions. The adjustability feature allows the saddle structure to dynamically adapt to various anatomical configurations, improving comfort and preventing injuries. This dynamic capability is achieved through adjustable mechanisms that maintain structural integrity while accommodating individual variations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable seating portions are added to accommodate individual pelvic dimensions, then comfort and injury prevention are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable saddle is constructed from modular segments that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. Each seating portion can be produced separately using standardized components, which simplifies the manufacturing process compared to creating a completely custom saddle for each rider. The modular approach allows for mass production of individual parts while maintaining adaptability through combination.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable seating portions are designed with universal adjustment mechanisms that can accommodate a range of pelvic dimensions. Rather than requiring completely different saddle designs for different body types, the same base component can be adjusted to fit various riders, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining versatility.
3Reliability
If weight is distributed on soft tissue areas, then conventional saddle comfort is maintained, but soft tissue damage and injuries such as saddle sores and genital pain occur
Solution Approach 1:
The saddle design places support surfaces specifically at the ischial tuberosities, which are bony structures capable of bearing weight without damage. By concentrating support at these specific anatomical locations rather than distributing it across soft tissue areas, the saddle prevents injuries while maintaining comfort. This localized support approach ensures that weight-bearing functions are performed by structures designed for such loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The saddle proactively prevents soft tissue damage by positioning support surfaces to avoid contact with vulnerable areas entirely. Rather than reacting to discomfort after it occurs, the design anticipates potential injury locations and structures the support system to eliminate pressure on soft tissues before damage can occur. This preliminary protective action prevents injuries such as saddle sores and genital pain.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention provide a customizable bicycle saddle for a bicycle. The bicycle saddle has been designed to allow it to be adjusted to match the ischial tuberosities of each rider's pelvis in order to minimize the pressure placed on other portions of the rider's body while seated on the bicycle. The bicycle saddle comprises a first seating portion that has been configured to allow a rider to sit on the bicycle, a second seating portion that has been configured to allow the rider to sit on the bicycle. The bicycle saddle also includes a first adjustment means configured to allow the first seating portion to be moved closer to the second seating portion, and a second adjustment means configured to allow the saddle to be moved closer to a forward portion on the bicycle.