Bicycle Saddle with Localized Padding for Weight Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bicycle saddles with excessive shock absorbent padding waste materials and add weight, leading to discomfort and reduced energy conversion for riders, particularly in sporty positions where precise machine control is necessary.

Innovation Solution

A bicycle saddle design featuring thinner, strategically placed shock absorbent padding in key locations, such as hourglass shapes, with varying thickness and softness, integrated or separate from the saddle base, to support the rider's ischial tuberosities and adjacent tissues, while omitting padding in non-supportive areas to reduce material and weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If thick shock absorbent padding is disposed over the entire saddle, then shock absorption is improved, but weight increases and material is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock absorptionVSAvoidsaddle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing shock absorbent padding only in specific regions where the rider's ischial tuberosities contact the saddle, rather than covering the entire saddle surface. This localized approach maintains shock absorption where needed while reducing weight and material usage in non-contact areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The saddle padding is segmented into distinct padded portions and non-padded portions. The padded portions are strategically positioned to align with the rider's sitting bones, creating a segmented structure that provides shock absorption only where anatomically necessary, thereby reducing overall weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If thick shock absorbent padding is disposed over the entire saddle, then shock absorption is improved, but material is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock absorptionVSAvoidmaterial waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing shock absorbent padding only in specific regions where the rider's ischial tuberosities contact the saddle, rather than covering the entire saddle surface. This localized approach maintains shock absorption where needed while reducing material usage in non-contact areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the shock absorption function from the entire saddle and concentrates it only in the necessary contact regions. By removing padding from non-essential areas, the design eliminates material waste while preserving the critical shock absorption function where the rider's weight is borne.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If excessive padding is used, then comfort is improved, but pedaling force conversion is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverider comfortVSAvoidpedaling force conversion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides cushioning only in the specific regions where the rider's ischial tuberosities contact the saddle, rather than using uniform padding across the entire saddle. This localized approach maintains comfort in load-bearing areas while minimizing padding in forward-leaning positions, allowing better force transfer to the pedals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of operation

If excessive padding is used, then comfort is improved, but rider control is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverider comfortVSAvoidmachine control responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides cushioning only in the specific regions where the rider's ischial tuberosities contact the saddle, rather than using uniform padding across the entire saddle. This localized approach maintains comfort in load-bearing areas while minimizing padding in forward-leaning positions, allowing better force transfer to the pedals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 design provides effective shock absorption and comfort in key areas, enhancing rider control and efficiency by minimizing unnecessary padding, resulting in a lightweight and ergonomic saddle that optimizes pedaling force conversion.

Implementation Method 1

thick shock absorbent padding is disposed over the entire saddle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShock absorption: Damping

Implementation Method 2

shock absorbent padding that may be thinner, thicker or the same thickness as the material of the saddle base

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscoelasticity: Viscoelasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9994272B2Bicycle saddle

Publication Date: 2018.06.12 MARUI SHINJI

AI summary

A lightweight bicycle saddle includes shock absorption padding in key locations to cushion a rider in various riding positions. The padding may be attached to a top surface of a saddle base or formed integrally with the base. The padding may also be configured as a web to operate with a web saddle. The padding includes a left portion and a right portion which may be formed separately or integrally. The padding may have a wider rear padded portion located in a rear saddle portion of the saddle and a tapered or narrow front padded portion located in a front saddle portion. The padding may be positioned to cover areas where the rail is attached to the saddle base. The padding is surrounded by non-padded portions which have a lesser cushion or no cushion.