Split Hollow Bicycle Seat Pads to Minimize Perineum Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional bicycle seats that directly support the perineum cause discomfort and long-term health issues due to nerve and blood vessel compression, and existing alternatives fail to provide long-term comfort.
Innovation Solution
A bicycle seat design featuring two flexible and resilient, generally hollow seat pads that support the ischial tuberosities (sit bones) with a gap in between, allowing the pads to deform and accommodate the rider's weight, minimizing perineum support and enhancing stability and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional triangular seat cushion is used to support the rider's perineum and buttocks, then the rider receives direct support for the buttocks, but the perineum is compressed causing discomfort and long-term health issues
Solution Approach 1:
The seat cushion is divided into two separate seat pads positioned apart from each other, creating a gap in the center. This segmentation allows the sit bones to be supported directly while the perineum remains unsupported, eliminating compression of nerves and blood vessels in the perineal region.
Solution Approach 2:
The central region of the traditional triangular seat cushion is removed or lowered to create a gap. This extraction eliminates the harmful compression of the perineum while maintaining support for the sit bones through the two separated seat pads.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If two separated seat pads are used to support the sit bones, then perineum compression is avoided, but the rider's weight must be supported entirely by the buttocks which can become uncomfortable quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The seat pads are constructed as flexible hollow shells that can deform under the rider's weight. This flexibility allows the seat pads to conform to the rider's body shape and distribute weight more effectively, maintaining comfort for extended periods while continuing to avoid perineum compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat pads change their physical parameters (shape, volume, density distribution) in response to the rider's weight. The hollow flexible structure allows the seat pads to compress and redistribute the rider's weight across the sit bones, providing sustained comfort without perineum contact.
3Ease of operation
If foam-filled seat cushions are used to provide immediate comfort improvement, then rider comfort is enhanced, but the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum remain compressed
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful central region that would compress the perineum is removed from the seat cushion structure. The two separated seat pads provide comfort through direct sit bone support without any material contacting or compressing the perineal nerves and blood vessels.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible hollow seat pads provide immediate comfort through their ability to deform and conform to the rider's sit bones, distributing weight effectively while maintaining a gap that prevents perineum compression, thus eliminating the harmful effect while preserving the beneficial comfort.
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 seat pads effectively distribute weight over the sit bones, reducing movement and providing long-term comfort by adapting to rapid weight changes, thus minimizing perineum compression and enhancing rider stability.
Implementation Method 1
each seat pad comprising a flexible and resilient body which is generally hollow
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
This invention relates to a bicycle seat. The bicycle seat has a seat frame (12) and a seat cushion (16), the seat cushion having two seat pads (20) and a gap between the pads, each seat pad comprising a flexible and resilient body which is generally hollow.