# US 2016/0355225 A1 · Bicycle seatpost assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0355225 A1 - Document ID: US20160355225A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/728,998 - Filed: 2015-06-02 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-02 - Assignees: Shimano Inc. - Applicants: Shimano Inc. - Inventors: Toyoto SHIRAI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160355225A1 ## CPC - B62J 1/06: Saddles capable of parallel motion up and down - B62J 1/08: Frames for saddles; Connections between saddle frames and seat pillars; Seat pillars (attaching seat pillars to cycle frames B62K19/36) - B62K 19/36: for attaching saddle pillars, e.g. adjustable during ride - B62J 2001/085: {Seat pillars having mechanisms to vary seat height, independently of the cycle frame} - 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 ## Abstract A bicycle seatpost assembly comprises a first cylinder, a second cylinder, a positioning structure, an actuation structure, and a connecting rod. The second cylinder is configured to be telescopically received in the first cylinder. The positioning structure is configured to relatively position the first cylinder and the second cylinder. The actuation structure is configured to actuate the positioning structure and is disposed at a distal end of the first cylinder. The connecting rod is configured to operatively couple a control cable to the actuation structure. The connecting rod extends from the distal end of the first cylinder in a longitudinal direction of the first cylinder. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bicycle seatpost assembly comprising: a first cylinder; a second cylinder configured to be telescopically received in the first cylinder; a positioning structure configured to relatively position the first cylinder and the second cylinder; an actuation structure configured to actuate the positioning structure and disposed at a distal end of the first cylinder; and a connecting rod configured to operatively couple a control cable to the actuation structure, the connecting rod extending from the distal end of the first cylinder in a longitudinal direction of the first cylinder. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting rod is provided in the first cylinder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first cylinder includes an inner peripheral surface, the second cylinder includes an outer peripheral surface provided to face the inner peripheral surface of the first cylinder, and the connecting rod is at least partly provided between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 3, wherein the first cylinder includes a guide groove extending in the longitudinal direction and provided on the inner peripheral surface, and the connecting rod is provided in the guide groove. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 1, wherein the positioning structure includes a switching member configured to switch a state of the positioning structure between a positioning state where the first cylinder and the second cylinder are relatively positioned, and an adjustable state where a relative position between the first cylinder and the second cylinder is adjustable, and the actuation structure is configured to move the switching member in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first cylinder includes an opposite end opposite to the distal end in the longitudinal direction, and the actuation structure is configured to move the switching member in the longitudinal direction toward the opposite end of the first cylinder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting rod includes a rod body extending along the longitudinal direction and including a first rod end and a second rod end opposite to the first rod end, a first coupling end provided at the first rod end and configured to be coupled to the actuation structure, and a second coupling end provided at the second rod end and configured to be coupled to the control cable. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 7, wherein the first coupling end has a first maximum length defined from the first rod end, the second coupling end has a second maximum length defined from the second rod end, and the first maximum length is longer than the second maximum length. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 7, wherein the actuation structure includes a first pin configured to be coupled to the first coupling end of the connecting rod, and the first coupling end extends from the first rod end of the rod body toward the first pin and is contactable with the first pin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 9, wherein the first rod end of the rod body is spaced apart from the first pin in a rest state where the connecting rod is not operated via the control cable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 7, further comprising: a pivot member pivotable relative to the first cylinder about a pivot axis, wherein the connecting rod is configured to be coupled to the control cable via the pivot member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 11, wherein the pivot member includes a second pin configured to be coupled to the second coupling end of the connecting rod. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 12, wherein the second coupling end extends from the second rod end of the rod body toward the second pin and is contactable with the second pin. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 12, wherein the second pin is at least partly provided radially outward of the first cylinder in a rest state where the connecting rod is not operated via the control cable. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 12, wherein the pivot member includes a cable attachment portion to which an inner wire of the control cable is attached, and a first distance defined between the pivot axis and the second pin is longer than a second distance defined between the pivot axis and the cable attachment portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 15, further comprising: an outer cover including an accommodation space in which the pivot member is pivotally provided. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 16, wherein the outer cover includes a cable guiding portion configured to guide the control cable in the longitudinal direction of the first cylinder. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 17, wherein the cable guiding portion includes a guiding hole through which the control cable is to extend, and the guiding hole extends from the accommodation space in the longitudinal direction toward the distal end of the first cylinder. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 17, wherein the cable guiding portion includes an outer-casing attachment part to which an outer casing of the control cable is to be attached. ### Claim 20 (depends on 7) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 7, wherein the rod body has a cross-sectional shape different from a circular shape, the cross-sectional shape being taken along a virtual plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first cylinder. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The bicycle seatpost assembly according to claim 20, wherein the first cylinder includes an inner peripheral surface, and the cross-sectional shape of the rod body is an elongated shape along the inner peripheral surface.