Bicycle Saddle with Composite Resin Frame and Mesh
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bicycle saddles face challenges in balancing flexibility/comfort and strength/rigidity, particularly when made with a single synthetic resin material, and struggle with water resistance and maintenance issues due to the use of shock-absorbing pads.
Innovation Solution
A bicycle saddle design featuring a frame member made of a rigid synthetic resin with through holes and a mesh member made of a softer resin, both integrated using insert molding, where the frame member provides strength and the mesh member offers flexibility, eliminating the need for a shock-absorbing pad.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a base member is made of a single synthetic resin material with through holes to improve flexibility and comfort, then the saddle can undergo elastic deformation and provide cushioning properties, but it becomes difficult to balance both flexibility/comfort and strength/rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure consisting of a base member made of a first synthetic resin material and a seat member made of a second synthetic resin material with different physical properties. The base member provides structural strength and rigidity, while the seat member provides flexibility and comfort. This composite material approach allows simultaneous achievement of both strength/rigidity and flexibility/comfort that cannot be achieved with a single material.
Solution Approach 2:
The saddle is divided into two functional segments: the base member and the seat member. The base member is responsible for structural support and rigidity, while the seat member is responsible for flexibility and comfort. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.
2Ease of operation
If a cushion sheet is laminated on the base member to improve comfort, then the saddle gains cushioning properties, but the cushion sheet is easily broken and comes out when the bicycle falls down
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the cushioning function into the seat member itself, which is integrally formed with the base member. The seat member is not a separate laminated layer but an integrated structural component that provides both cushioning and durability. This eliminates the problem of the cushion sheet being easily broken or detached while maintaining comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat member is made of a synthetic resin material different from the base member, providing inherent cushioning properties through material selection rather than relying on a separate cushioning layer. This composite approach ensures both comfort and structural integrity.
3Ease of operation
If an exterior sheet is used to cover the base member, then cushioning properties are attained, but rainwater easily seeps into the saddle and the saddle main body cannot be washed as it is
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the exterior sheet layer entirely and replaces it with an integrated seat member that combines cushioning, structural, and water-resistant functions. This eliminates the need for separate water-proofing measures and allows the saddle to be washed easily as a single integrated unit while maintaining cushioning properties.
4Ease of operation
If the cushion sheet is made thin and soft to provide cushioning, then comfort is improved, but the cushion sheet becomes easily broken and lacks water resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The seat member is constructed from a synthetic resin material that inherently provides both cushioning properties and water resistance. By selecting appropriate resin materials with different properties for the base member and seat member, the invention achieves a balance between softness for comfort and durability for water resistance without requiring thin, fragile cushioning layers.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a bicycle saddle wherein the seat is made from a resin base alone without using a shock-absorbing pad and the conflicting properties of softness/comfort and strength/rigidity can be balanced. The saddle comprises a main saddle body and a rail member for mounting the main saddle body on a frame. The main saddle body is configured from a frame member made of a first synthetic resin in which multiple through holes are formed, and a mesh member made of a second synthetic resin that is laminated on the upper surface of the frame member and in which multiple through holes are formed in a mesh pattern. The second synthetic resin of the mesh member is selected from nylon, polyethylene and polypropylene. The first synthetic resin of the frame member is a synthetic resin such as a glass fiber-reinforced synthetic resin with a higher rigidity than the second synthetic resin.