Moldable bicycle saddles, external saddle heaters, fitting procedures, and related technologies
OwnerMichael Perreten, Aaron Brown +2inventors
InventorsMichael Perreten, Aaron Brown, Dylan Schuetze, Thomas Edstrand
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims49
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.
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.
A method for fitting a bicycle saddle, comprising:
- coupling a molding indicator to a moldable region of a thermoformable portion;
- heating the moldable region while the molding indicator indicates that a molding factor is below or within a molding range;
- and
- starting molding of the moldable region to a rider's anatomy while the molding factor is within a molding range.
A system comprising:
- a customizable bicycle saddle including
- 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;
- and
- a cushion covering the thermoformable portion;
- and
- means for heating the customizable bicycle saddle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.