Articulated Back Support for Bicycles with Rotating Contact Bodies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing back supports for pedal-driven devices, such as bicycles, lack optimal ergonomic adaptation and stability during dynamic weight shifts, and often interfere with the rider's movement, particularly when riding downhill or in situations requiring removal.
Innovation Solution
An articulated back support system with a mount and contact part, featuring a bracket with an I-shaped or L-shaped cross-section, allowing for adjustable positioning and movement, including rotational capabilities, to ensure optimal counter-pressure and ergonomic fit, using ball or roller contact bodies that can rotate about their axes, and a dividable mount for weight reduction and accessory integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the back support is made rigid and fixed, then stability is improved, but ergonomic adaptation during dynamic weight shifts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The back support employs articulated connections between the mount and contact part, allowing the contact part to pivot and rotate relative to the mount. This dynamic capability enables the back support to adapt to rider movement and weight shifts while maintaining structural stability through the controlled articulation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The back support is divided into separate components: a mount portion and a contact part, connected through articulated joints. This segmentation allows each component to move independently, providing both stability for the mount and ergonomic adaptation for the contact part that touches the rider's back.
2Ease of operation
If the back support is made removable and adjustable, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated connections enable the contact part to be easily removed from or attached to the mount through simple pivoting and rotating movements. The dynamic joints allow for quick assembly and disassembly without complex fastening mechanisms, maintaining ease of operation while managing structural complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If contact bodies are arranged fixedly, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ergonomic adaptation to rider movement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact bodies are mounted on articulated arms that can pivot and rotate, allowing them to maintain precise positioning relative to the mount while simultaneously adapting to rider movement. The dynamic joints enable the contact bodies to follow the rider's back contours during pedaling and weight shifts.
Solution Approach 2:
Each contact body is separated into its own articulated mounting unit, allowing independent adjustment and positioning. This segmentation enables precise manufacturing of each contact body's position while the articulated connections provide overall ergonomic adaptation to the rider's movement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides improved ergonomic adaptation, stability, and lightness, preventing sliding and optimizing counter-pressure distribution, while allowing for easy removal and reconfiguration to accommodate different riding conditions and accessory attachment.
Implementation Method 1
The contact bodies are arranged in some exemplary arrangements at a distance transversely to the riding direction, and the elastically cushioned surface thereof furthermore in some arrangements also provide for a certain adaptation about a vertical axis of rotation
Implementation Method 2
A lever arm provided by a bracket that extends operatively between the mount and a contact body provides for positioning of the contact body on a curved line around the articulated connection between contact part and mount
Implementation Method 3
the entire contact part with the contact bodies arranged thereon is connected in an articulated manner to a mount
Implementation Method 4
the elastically cushioned surface thereof furthermore in some arrangements also provide for a certain adaptation about a vertical axis of rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A back support (1) for a pedal driven device or other device including a saddle which provides a seat for a user of the device, includes a mount (2) which may be releasably engageable with the device. A contact part (4) which is configured to contact the back of the user of the device, is movably mounted in operative connection with the mount in an articulated manner. The exemplary contact part includes a bracket (7, 20) that is rotatable relative to the mount about a bracket axis (14). The bracket operatively connects the mount and contact bodies (6, 23, 24, 26, 27, 31, 32). The contact bodies are movably mounted in rotatable operative connection with the bracket about respective contact body axes (9, 28, 30) which extend parallel to the bracket axis.