Bicycle Saddle Tube Protective Assembly with Elastic Centering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bicycle saddle tubes can suffer damage and generate noise due to contact between the seat tube and components like batteries or seat posts, especially in bicycles with electric auxiliary drives, where components are hidden and protected within the frame.

Innovation Solution

A protective arrangement featuring a protective body and a centering device with first and second centering elements, which are preferably elastic, to securely mount and center the inner body within the hollow body, preventing unwanted contact and noise generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If components are hidden and protected in a seat tube, then protection and security are improved, but contact damage and noise generation occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of inner bodyVSAvoidcontact damage and noise
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a protective body as an intermediary component between the inner body (seat post or battery) and the seat tube. This protective body prevents direct contact between the inner body and the seat tube, thereby eliminating contact damage and noise generation while maintaining the protective function of housing components within the seat tube.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the seat tube assembly into multiple segments: the outer seat tube, the protective body, and the inner body. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently - the seat tube provides structural support, the protective body prevents contact damage, and the inner body houses the functional components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a seat post is inserted into the seat tube, then the saddle can be positioned, but the seat tube or inner body can be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesaddle positioningVSAvoiddamage resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The protective body is installed beforehand in the seat tube to provide cushioning and protection against potential damage during seat post insertion. This pre-positioned protective element absorbs impact forces and prevents direct contact between the seat post and the inner body, thereby protecting the components from damage while allowing easy saddle positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If components are arranged in the seat tube, then protection is provided, but play in components generates noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent protectionVSAvoidnoise from component play
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective body acts as a mediator between the inner body and the seat tube, filling the gap space and preventing play-induced contact. This intermediary component eliminates the hollow space that causes noise from component play while maintaining the protective enclosure for the inner body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively prevents damage to the inner body during assembly or use and eliminates noise by ensuring a floating mounting and centering between the protective body, inner body, and hollow body, while allowing for cost-effective production and simple assembly.

Implementation Method 1

The first and/or second centering element is designed to be elastic. The first and/or second centering element is made of an elastic material, for example, or alternatively has elastic areas.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3290316B1Protective assembly and hollow-body assembly, in particular saddle tube
Publication Date: 2020.11.11 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3290316B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3290316B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a hollow body arrangement comprising a first hollow body (2), an inner body (3) arranged in the first hollow body (2), a protective body (4), and a centering device (5) with a first centering element (51) and a second centering element (52), wherein the protective body (4) is arranged between the first hollow body (2) and the inner body (3), wherein the first centering element (51) centers the protective body (4) relative to the inner body (3), and wherein the second centering element (52) centers the protective body (4) relative to the first hollow body (2).