Telescopic Seatpost Damping for Controlled Descent and Push-Back

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mechanical telescopic seatposts experience rapid descent due to insufficient elastic support, causing discomfort and excessive impact, and rapid ascent due to high push-back speed, compromising the balance between push-back speed and supporting elastic force.

Innovation Solution

A telescopic seatpost design incorporating a deceleration module and elastic member to reduce pressing-down and pushing-up speeds by increasing resistance through interference, utilizing a deceleration module and elastic member to control the speed of seat tube movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If the elastic coefficient of the elastic member is increased to provide sufficient supporting elastic force, then the supporting force is improved, but the push-back speed becomes excessively high causing collision with the user

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupporting elastic forceVSAvoidpush-back speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the force control function into two independent components: the elastic member provides supporting elastic force, while the damping member independently controls push-back speed. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The damping member acts as an intermediary between the elastic member and the seat tube, mediating the push-back motion by providing resistance that controls the speed of extension, thereby preventing excessive push-back speed while maintaining adequate supporting force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If the elastic coefficient of the elastic member is decreased to reduce push-back speed, then the push-back speed is improved, but the supporting elastic force becomes insufficient causing rapid descent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepush-back speedVSAvoidsupporting elastic force
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the functions of supporting force and speed control into distinct components, allowing the damping member to handle speed control while the elastic member maintains sufficient supporting force, eliminating the need to compromise either parameter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The damping member serves as an intermediary that provides speed control during both compression and extension, enabling the use of an elastic member with higher elastic coefficient without causing excessive push-back speed, thereby maintaining adequate supporting force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Speed

If the seat tube descends quickly under rider weight, then the responsiveness is improved, but the impact on the rider's buttocks becomes excessive causing discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedescending speedVSAvoidimpact on rider
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The damping member is configured to provide damping force during the compression process before the seat tube reaches its lowest position, cushioning the descent and reducing impact on the rider's buttocks while maintaining responsive operation.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The damping member acts as an intermediary that provides resistance during compression, controlling the descending speed and reducing impact harm to the rider while preserving the necessary responsiveness of the seatpost.

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 design effectively reduces the speed of seat tube descent and ascent, enhancing the riding experience by minimizing impact and collision risks, thereby improving comfort and stability.

Implementation Method 1

When the seat tube slides relative to the support tube along a second direction opposite to the first direction to switch to an extension mode, the elastic member elastically recovers to push the connecting seat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic recovery: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

During a process in which the telescopic seatpost is switched to the extension mode, the seat tube and the deceleration module interfere with each other to increase a push-back resistance, so that an ascending speed of the seat tube is reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

During a process in which the telescopic seatpost is switched to the compression mode, the seat tube and the deceleration module interfere with each other to increase a press-down resistance, so that a descending speed of the seat tube is reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4644217A1Telescopic seatpost
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 GIANT MANUFACTURING CO LTD
  • EP4644217A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4644217A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4644217A1 patent drawingFigure 1C~1E

AI summary

A telescopic seatpost (100, 100A, 100B) including a support tube (110, 110b), a seat tube (120, 120a, 120b), a connecting seat (130, 130a, 130b), a deceleration module (140, 140a, 140b), an elastic member (150, 150a, 150b), a first outer tube (170), and a second outer tube (180). The seat tube is slidably disposed in the support tube. The connecting seat is connected to an end of the seat tube away from the support tube. The deceleration module is connected to the support tube and sleeved on the seat tube. The elastic member is disposed on the connecting seat and the deceleration module and is spaced apart from the seat tube. A part of the elastic member presses down the deceleration module along a normal direction (ND).