Adjustable Bicycle Seat Nose Width Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bicycle seats often cause discomfort due to factors such as mis-match in pelvic dimensions, natural pelvic movement during pedaling, and pressure on sensitive areas like the perineum, with existing designs failing to accommodate individual preferences and anatomical variations effectively.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable bicycle seat assembly with a bifurcated nose portion that can be adjusted in width and shape to accommodate different rider anatomies, featuring a rail system with an actuator and movable supports to alter the position of the nose portions, allowing for customizable fit and reduced pressure on sensitive areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the seat width is increased to accommodate wider pelvic dimensions, then comfort for riders with wider pelvises is improved, but it interferes with the natural pedaling motion of riders with narrower pelvises by causing pressure on the sides of the seat
Solution Approach 1:
The nose portion of the seat is made adjustable in width through a mechanical system involving a rail, movable supports, and an actuator. This allows the seat width to be dynamically changed to match different rider pelvic dimensions, resolving the contradiction between accommodating wide pelvises and avoiding interference with narrow-pelvis riders' pedaling motion
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameter of seat nose width is made variable rather than fixed. By adjusting the distance between movable supports on either side of the longitudinal axis, the seat can be configured with different width parameters to suit individual rider anatomy, eliminating the harmful pressure effect while maintaining adaptability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the nose portion of the seat is made narrower to accommodate narrow pelvic dimensions, then comfort for riders with narrow pelvises is improved, but it increases pressure on the perineum and inner edges of the ischiopubic rami for riders with wider pelvises
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable nose portion allows the seat width to be dynamically configured. Riders with wider pelvises can set the nose portion to a wider configuration, ensuring the sit bones are properly supported and preventing excessive pressure on the perineum and inner edges of the ischiopubic rami
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the width parameter of the nose portion to match the rider's pelvic width, the seat distributes body weight appropriately across the sit bones, avoiding concentration of pressure on sensitive areas like the perineum
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed shape seat design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but it cannot accommodate individual anatomical variations and rider preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is divided into fixed portions and an adjustable nose portion. The nose portion is segmented into a base and movable supports that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows a relatively simple fixed base structure while adding adaptability through the adjustable components
Solution Approach 2:
A single seat design with an adjustable nose portion serves multiple functions: it can accommodate various pelvic widths, adjust to different rider preferences, and maintain a standardized base structure for efficient manufacturing. The universal design replaces the need for multiple fixed-seat models
Data Source
AI summary
A bicycle seat assembly having an adjustable width nose portion includes an H-shaped base that supports a lateral left side pad and a lateral right side pad. A rail extends under the base and between the left and right side nose portions of the seat assembly. A front rail mount includes a housing, a shuttle, an actuator, and left and right mount supports. Operation of the actuator alters the position of the left and right mount supports relative to the housing and thereby alters a distance between the respective left and right side nose portions of the seat base.