Bicycle Seatpost Assembly with Mechanical Position Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bicycle seatpost assemblies lack a reliable mechanism to inform riders of the optimal seat position within the adjustable range, making it difficult for cyclists to adjust their seat effectively during riding.

Innovation Solution

A bicycle seatpost assembly featuring a telescopically adjustable design with a mechanical position informing structure that generates a physical notification, such as a change in resistance force and vibration, when the seat reaches a reference position, utilizing a biasing chamber filled with compressible fluid and rolling elements to facilitate smooth movement and user feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a mechanical position informing structure is added to provide feedback to the user, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of seat position adjustmentVSAvoidcomplexity of seatpost assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a mechanical position informing structure that provides tactile feedback to the user during seatpost adjustment. When the informing portions slide against each other, they generate resistance force changes and vibrations that notify the user of the current position, enabling precise control without electronic components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces informing portions as intermediary elements between the telescopic cylinders. These informing portions slide against each other to transmit position information mechanically, acting as a mediator that converts position data into tactile feedback without requiring complex electronic sensors or actuators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a biasing structure with compressible fluid is used to generate biasing force, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of telescopic movementVSAvoidcomplexity of positioning structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a biasing structure that utilizes compressible fluid to generate the biasing force required for telescopic movement. The compressible fluid acts as a pneumatic or hydraulic element that provides smooth, controlled force to assist the user in adjusting the seatpost position without requiring excessive manual effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Measurement precision

If the mechanical position informing structure generates vibration and resistance force changes, then the measurement precision of position is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of position indicationVSAvoidcomplexity of informing structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes mechanical vibration generated by the sliding interaction of informing portions to indicate position. When the informing portions slide against each other, they produce vibrations that serve as a tactile signal to the user, providing precise position information through a simple mechanical mechanism rather than electronic sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces electronic position sensing and feedback systems with a purely mechanical solution. The informing portions use mechanical sliding, vibration, and resistance force changes to provide position information, substituting complex electronic systems with simple mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enables riders to easily identify and adjust the seat position to the optimal setting by providing tactile and auditory feedback, enhancing comfort and performance during cycling.

Implementation Method 1

the biasing structure includes a biasing chamber configured to be filled with a compressible fluid to generate the biasing force

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompressible fluid: Compression

Implementation Method 2

the mechanical position informing structure is configured to generate, as the physical notification, at least one of a change in resistance force against telescopic movement of the first cylinder and the second cylinder, and vibration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS9580124B2Bicycle seatpost assembly

Publication Date: 2017.02.28 SHIMANO INC

AI summary

A bicycle seatpost assembly comprises a first cylinder, a second cylinder, a positioning structure, and a mechanical position informing structure. The second cylinder is configured to be telescopically received in the first cylinder. The positioning structure is configured to relatively position the first cylinder and the second cylinder such that a positional relationship between the first cylinder and the second cylinder is continuously adjustable within an adjustable position range of the bicycle seatpost assembly. The mechanical position informing structure is configured to inform a user that at least one of the first and second cylinders reaches a reference position. The reference position is defined between a maximum-length position and a minimum-length position of the adjustable position range.