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US 12,365,410 B2Granted
Moldable bicycle saddles, external saddle heaters, fitting procedures, and related technologies
AssigneeReform Technologies Inc.
InventorsMichael Perreten, Aaron Brown, Dylan Schuetze, Thomas Edstrand
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle saddle can be customized to a rider's body to achieve desired support and comfort. The support shell is configured to support a rider's body and can be heated by an external heater and/or at least one internal thermal element operable to heat the bicycle saddle such that the saddle is molded to the rider. A molding indicator in thermal contact with the saddle measures a molding factor, such as temperature or deflection, and visually indicates the measured molding factor for molding the bicycle saddle.
Claims31
A customizable bicycle saddle comprising:
- a cushion;
- a thermoformable portion covered by the cushion and configured to be molded to a rider's anatomy while the rider is supported by the bicycle saddle;
- and
- a molding indicator in thermal contact with the thermoformable portion, wherein the molding indicator is configured to measure a molding factor and visually indicate the measured molding factor for molding the thermoformable portion, and wherein the molding indicator displays an output value visible along an exterior of the bicycle saddle.
1 more element
A customizable bicycle saddle, comprising:
- a saddle body including:
- a frame,
- a cushion, and
- a thermoformable portion covered by the cushion and configured to be molded to a rider's anatomy while the rider is supported by the bicycle saddle;
- and
- a molding indicator in thermal contact with the thermoformable portion, wherein the molding indicator is configured to measure a molding factor and visually indicate the measured molding factor for molding the thermoformable portion, wherein the molding indicator is coupled to an external surface of a sit bone region of the saddle body, and wherein the molding indicator is configured to visually display a surface temperature of the saddle body in a temperature range between 90 and 110 degrees Celsius.
3 more elements
A customizable bicycle saddle, comprising:
- a thermoformable portion configured to be molded to a rider's anatomy while the rider is supported by the bicycle saddle, wherein the thermoformable portion comprises at least one thermoplastic material;
- an outer frame coupled to the thermoformable portion and rails;
- a cushion covering the thermoformable portion;
- and
- a molding indicator thermally coupled to the thermoformable portion and configured to measure a molding factor, wherein the molding indicator is permanently embedded within a moldable region of the thermoformable portion.
2 more elements
A customizable bicycle saddle comprising:
- a cushion;
- a thermoformable portion covered by the cushion and configured to be molded to a rider's anatomy while the rider is supported by the bicycle saddle;
- and
- a molding indicator in thermal contact with the thermoformable portion, wherein the molding indicator is configured to measure a molding factor and visually indicate the measured molding factor for molding the thermoformable portion, and wherein the molding indicator includes a color-changing thermal sticker removably coupled to a moldable region of the thermoformable region.
1 more element
A customizable bicycle saddle comprising:
- a cushion;
- a thermoformable portion covered by the cushion and configured to be molded to a rider's anatomy while the rider is supported by the bicycle saddle;
- and
- a thermal indicator in thermal contact with the thermoformable portion, wherein the thermal indicator is positioned to measure a temperature of a sit bone region of the thermoformable region, wherein the thermal indicator is configured to visually indicate the measured temperature for molding the thermoformable portion, and wherein the thermal indicator includes a plurality of labeled temperature-sensitive markers which change color to indicate the temperature of the sit bone region.
1 more element
A customizable bicycle saddle comprising:
- a cushion;
- a thermoformable portion covered by the cushion and configured to be molded to a rider's anatomy while the rider is supported by the bicycle saddle;
- and
- a deflection indicator in thermal contact with the thermoformable portion, wherein the deflection indicator is configured to measure a deflection of a sit bone region and visually indicate the measured deflection for molding the thermoformable portion.
1 more element
A customizable bicycle saddle comprising:
- a cushion;
- a thermoformable portion covered by the cushion and configured to be molded to a rider's anatomy while the rider is supported by the bicycle saddle;
- and
- a molding indicator in thermal contact with the thermoformable portion, wherein the molding indicator is permanently embedded within a moldable region of the thermoformable portion, and wherein the molding indicator is configured to measure a molding factor and visually indicate the measured molding factor for molding the thermoformable portion.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.