# US 10,246,155 B2 · Adjustable assembly for a bicycle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,155 B2 - Document ID: US10246155B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/153,562 - Filed: 2018-10-05 - Published: 2019-02-07 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-11 - Assignees: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc. - Applicants: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc. - Inventors: Michael Lawrence McAndrews; Ronald Powers - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246155B2 ## CPC - B62J 1/08: Frames for saddles; Connections between saddle frames and seat pillars; Seat pillars (attaching seat pillars to cycle frames B62K19/36) - B62K 19/18: Joints between frame members - B62K 19/36: for attaching saddle pillars, e.g. adjustable during ride - B62K 25/08: for front wheel - F16B 7/1409: {with balls or rollers urged by an axial displacement of a wedge or a conical member} - B62J 2001/085: {Seat pillars having mechanisms to vary seat height, independently of the cycle frame} - B62K 2025/045: {Suspensions with ride-height adjustment} - B62K 2025/048: {with suspension manual adjustment details} - Y10T 403/32516: Remotely actuated - B62J: CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract According to some embodiments, an adjustable assembly for a bicycle includes a lower tubular support configured to be attached to a bicycle frame; an upper tubular support configured to be attached to a bicycle saddle; an expansion portion support member positioned within an interior space of the lower tubular support; an expansion portion disposed at an upper end of the expansion portion support member; and a resilient member configured to provide an upwardly-directed force to the upper tubular support to provide movement of the upper tubular support away from the lower tubular support. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adjustable assembly for a bicycle, comprising: a lower tubular support configured to be attached to a bicycle frame; an upper tubular support configured to be attached to a bicycle saddle, the upper tubular support longitudinally slidable relative to the lower tubular support; an expansion portion support member positioned within an interior space of the lower tubular support; an expansion portion disposed at an upper end of the expansion portion support member, wherein the expansion portion is configured to be moved between a radially expanded position and a radially contracted position, wherein an outer surface of the expansion portion is configured to engage an interior surface of the upper tubular support when the expansion portion is in the radially expanded position; a retention assembly movably connected to the expansion portion support member adjacent the expansion portion, the retention assembly configured to slidably move with respect to the expansion portion between a locked position and an unlocked position; wherein, when the retention assembly is in the locked position, the retention assembly engages an interior surface of the expansion portion to secure the expansion portion in the radially expanded position, thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the upper tubular support relative to the lower tubular support; wherein, when the retention assembly is in the unlocked position, the retention assembly is moved away from the interior surface of the expansion portion, thereby allowing the expansion portion to move to the radially contracted position and the upper tubular support to move longitudinally relative to the lower tubular support; a biasing member that biases the retention assembly into the locked position; a resilient member configured to provide an upwardly-directed force to the upper tubular support to provide movement of the upper tubular support away from the lower tubular support when the retention assembly is in the unlocked position; and an actuator operatively coupled to the retention assembly, the actuator being configured to selectively move the retention assembly between the locked position and the unlocked position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adjustable assembly of claim 1, wherein the expansion portion support member comprises a tubular member that is centered within the interior space of the lower tubular support. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The adjustable assembly of claim 1, wherein the expansion portion support member is rigidly coupled to the lower tubular support at a lower end of the lower tubular support. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The adjustable assembly of claim 1, wherein the biasing member exerts an upward force on the retention assembly to bias the retention assembly into the locked position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The adjustable assembly of claim 1, wherein the resilient member comprises an air spring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The adjustable assembly of claim 5, wherein the air spring comprises chambers positioned at least partially within the upper tubular support and the lower tubular support. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The adjustable assembly of claim 6, further comprising a valve configured to permit a user to inject fluid therethrough to adjust a resilient force created by the air spring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The adjustable assembly of claim 7, wherein the valve comprises a Schrader valve. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The adjustable assembly of claim 1, wherein the expansion portion comprises a collet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The adjustable assembly of claim 1, wherein the expansion portion is configured to engage a groove along the interior surface of the upper tubular support. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The adjustable assembly of claim 1, further comprising the bicycle frame, wherein the lower tubular support is attached to the bicycle frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The adjustable assembly of claim 5, wherein the air spring comprises at least a first chamber positioned within the lower tubular support and a second chamber positioned within the upper tubular support, the first chamber being in fluid communication with the second chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The adjustable assembly of claim 12, wherein the air spring comprises a first volume when the upper tubular support is in a fully extended position with respect to the lower tubular support, the air spring comprises a second volume when the upper tubular support is in a fully compressed position with respect to the lower tubular support, and a ratio of the first volume divided by the second volume is no greater than 1.5. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The adjustable assembly of claim 13, wherein the ratio is approximately 1.33. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The adjustable assembly of claim 13, wherein the ratio is within a range of 1.2 to 1.5. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The adjustable assembly of claim 13, wherein the ratio is no greater than 1.4. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The adjustable assembly of claim 12, wherein: the second chamber comprises a first cross-sectional area defined by a diameter of an elongate cylindrical inner surface of the upper tubular support, the expansion portion support member comprises an elongate tubular portion having a second cross-sectional area, and a ratio of the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area is at least 15 to 1. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The adjustable assembly of claim 17, wherein the ratio of the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area is at least 17.5 to 1. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The adjustable assembly of claim 17, wherein the ratio of the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area is no greater than 25 to 1. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The adjustable assembly of claim 12, wherein the first chamber is positioned within the expansion portion support member. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The adjustable assembly of claim 20, further comprising: a third chamber positioned at least partially between an inner surface of the lower tubular support and an outer surface of the expansion portion support member, wherein the third chamber is in fluid communication with the atmosphere, and wherein at least a portion of the upper tubular support is configured to move toward the third chamber, causing the third chamber to reduce in volume, during compression of the adjustable assembly.