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US 11,565,763 B1Granted
Bicycle saddle with spring-based vibration isolation
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsPaul A. Gilmore, Christian Arthur Trager, Umesh N. Gandhi, Ryohei Tsuruta, Michael Paul Rowe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vibration isolator can be configured to provide improved vibration isolation performance, such as in connection with a bicycle saddle. The bicycle saddle can be operatively connected to a bicycle frame. The vibration isolator can be located within a portion of the bicycle frame. The vibration isolator can be operatively positioned with respect to the bicycle saddle. The vibration isolator being configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile. The non-linear stiffness profile can include a region of quasi-zero stiffness. The vibration isolator including a plurality of spring members arranged in a stack.
Claims21
A vibration isolator comprising:
- a first plunger;
- a second plunger, the first plunger and the second plunger being arranged such that, when then first plunger is not depressed, the first plunger and the second plunger are spaced from each other by a distance, and such that, when the first plunger is depressed more than the distance, the first plunger depresses the second plunger;
- a landing, the first plunger being configured to be depressed toward the landing;
- and
- a plurality of spring members operatively positioned between the second plunger and the landing, the plurality of spring members being arranged in a stack, each spring member in the stack directly contacting at least one other spring member of the stack,
- the vibration isolator being configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile, the non-linear stiffness profile including a region of quasi-zero stiffness.
3 more elements
A vibration isolator comprising:
- a plunger;
- a landing, the plunger being configured to be depressed toward the landing;
- and
- a plurality of spring members operatively positioned between the plunger and the landing, the plurality of spring members being arranged in a stack,
- the vibration isolator being configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile, the non-linear stiffness profile including a region of quasi-zero stiffness,
- the landing being movable, whereby, when the plunger is depressed, the spring members are not compressed.
3 more elements
A vibration isolator comprising:
- a plunger;
- a landing, the plunger being configured to be depressed toward the landing;
- and
- a plurality of spring members operatively positioned between the plunger and the landing, the plurality of spring members being arranged in a stack,
- the spring members being magnetically activated.
2 more elements
A system for vibration isolation of a bicycle saddle, the system comprising:
- a bicycle saddle;
- a bicycle frame, the bicycle saddle being operatively connected to the bicycle frame;
- and
- a vibration isolator located within a portion of the bicycle frame, the vibration isolator being operatively positioned with respect to the bicycle saddle, the vibration isolator being configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile, the non-linear stiffness profile including a region of quasi-zero stiffness, the vibration isolator including a plurality of spring members arranged in a stack each spring member in the stack directly contacting at least one other spring member of the stack, the vibration isolator including:
- a first plunger;
- a second plunger, the first plunger and the second plunger being arranged such that, when then first plunger is not depressed, the first plunger and the second plunger are spaced from each other by a distance, and such that, when the first plunger is depressed more than the distance, the first plunger depresses the second plunger;
- and
- a landing, the first plunger being configured to be depressed toward the landing, the plurality of spring members being operatively positioned between the second plunger and the landing.
5 more elements
A system for vibration isolation of a bicycle saddle, the system comprising:
- a bicycle saddle;
- a bicycle frame, the bicycle saddle being operatively connected to the bicycle frame;
- and a vibration isolator located within a portion of the bicycle frame, the vibration isolator being operatively positioned with respect to the bicycle saddle, the vibration isolator being configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile, the non-linear stiffness profile including a region of quasi-zero stiffness, the vibration isolator including a plurality of spring members arranged in a stack, the vibration isolator including:
- a plunger;
- and
- a landing, the plunger being configured to be depressed toward the landing, the plurality of spring members being operatively positioned between the plunger and the landing, the landing being movable, whereby the stack of spring members is not compressed when the plunger is depressed and the landing is moved.
3 more elements
A system for vibration isolation of a bicycle saddle, the system comprising:
- a bicycle saddle;
- a bicycle frame, the bicycle saddle being operatively connected to the bicycle frame;
- and a vibration isolator located within a portion of the bicycle frame, the vibration isolator being operatively positioned with respect to the bicycle saddle, the vibration isolator being configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile, the non-linear stiffness profile including a region of quasi-zero stiffness, the vibration isolator including a plurality of spring members arranged in a stack,
- the plurality of spring members being magnetically activated, and further including:
- a magnetic field generator operatively positioned with respect to the plurality of spring members;
- a power source;
- and
- one or more processors operatively connected to control a supply of energy from the power source to the magnetic field generator.
5 more elements
A vibration isolator comprising:
- a first plunger, the first plunger including a head and a shaft;
- a second plunger, the second plunger including a head and a shaft, the first plunger and the second plunger being arranged such that, when then first plunger is not depressed, the first plunger and the second plunger are spaced from each other by a distance, and such that, when the first plunger is depressed more than the distance, the first plunger depresses the second plunger;
- a landing, the first plunger being configured to be depressed toward the landing;
- and
- a plurality of spring members operatively positioned between the second plunger and the landing, the plurality of spring members being arranged in a stack and defining a central passage, one end of the stack engaging the head of the second plunger, the shaft of the second plunger extending through a central passage,
- the vibration isolator being configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile, the non-linear stiffness profile including a region of quasi-zero stiffness.
3 more elements
A system for vibration isolation of a bicycle saddle, the system comprising:
- a bicycle saddle;
- a bicycle frame, the bicycle saddle being operatively connected to the bicycle frame;
- and
- a vibration isolator located within a portion of the bicycle frame, the vibration isolator being operatively positioned with respect to the bicycle saddle, the vibration isolator being configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile, the non-linear stiffness profile including a region of quasi-zero stiffness, the vibration isolator including:
- a plurality of spring members arranged in a stack and defining a central passage;
- a first plunger, the first plunger including a head and a shaft;
- a second plunger, the second plunger including a head and a shaft, the first plunger and the second plunger being arranged such that, when then first plunger is not depressed, the first plunger and the second plunger are spaced from each other by a distance, and such that, when the first plunger is depressed more than the distance, the first plunger depresses the second plunger;
- and
- a landing, the first plunger being configured to be depressed toward the landing,
- the plurality of spring members being operatively positioned between the second plunger and the landing, one end of the stack engaging the head of the second plunger, the shaft of the second plunger extending through the central passage.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.