Bicycle Seat Post Wire Routing via Nested Passage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bicycle seat post structures face assembly difficulties due to protruding steel ropes or electric wires, which lead to increased complexity and risk of damage, affecting the reliability of the height adjustment mechanism.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a wire passage within the lower tube to house the wire, preventing it from protruding externally and ensuring secure internal routing, thereby simplifying assembly and reducing the risk of damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a steel rope or electric wire is used to connect the driving set and controlling set, then the height adjustment function is achieved, but the wire protrudes from the outer surface of the lower tube causing assembly difficulty and increased risk of damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewire integrityVSAvoidassembly difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The wire passage is nested within the lower tube structure, allowing the wire to be routed internally through the lower tube from the driving set to the controlling set. This nesting approach eliminates the protruding wire problem while maintaining the height adjustment function, thereby improving both reliability and ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The wire passage acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the wire and the external environment. By providing a dedicated internal pathway, it protects the wire from damage and eliminates assembly difficulties associated with protruding wires, while still allowing the wire to transmit control signals for height adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the wire protrudes from the lower tube to connect driving set and controlling set, then control function is achieved, but the wire is easily damaged during assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol functionVSAvoidwire damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wire is nested within the lower tube through the wire passage, protecting it from external damage during assembly and operation. The control function is maintained as the wire can still transmit signals between the driving set and controlling set, while the wire's internal routing eliminates the damage risk associated with protruding wires.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The wire passage provides beforehand protection for the wire by routing it through a protected pathway within the lower tube before any potential damage can occur. This prior cushioning approach ensures the wire is shielded from mechanical damage during the assembly process while maintaining full control functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Device complexity

If a conventional C-shaped clip is used to secure the upper tube and lower tube, then the structure is simple, but the securing method is easily loosened reducing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidsecuring reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wire passage is merged with the lower tube structure, creating an integrated component that provides both structural support and wire routing functionality. This merging approach maintains structural simplicity while improving securing reliability by eliminating the need for separate C-shaped clips that are prone to loosening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11780522B2Bicycle seat post structure

Publication Date: 2023.10.10 LIMOTEC METAL IND LTD

AI summary

A bicycle seat post structure includes an upper tube and a lower tube. The lower tube includes an inserted space and a wire passage. The inserted space is configured for the upper tube to be movably disposed therein. The wire passage is located at one side of the inserted space and is configured to receive at least one wire.