Adjustable seatpost assembly
OwnerRaphael Schlangerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A seatpost assembly having: a first seatpost portion and a second seatpost portion, where the second seatpost portion is axially displaceable relative to the first seatpost portion in retracting and extending directions and is configured to include a seating surface; a motive force transmitted by a control rod to drive the axial displacement in at least one of the extending and retracting directions. The motive force is actuated remotely from the seatpost assembly.
Claims21
A seatpost assembly comprising:
- a first seatpost portion;
- a second seatpost portion that is axially displaceable relative to said first seatpost portion along an axial axis in an axially retracting direction of increasing axial overlap with said first seatpost portion to a first axial position;
- and in an axially extending direction of decreasing axial overlap with said first seatpost portion to a second axial position that is axially extended relative to said first axial position;
- a motive force to drive said axial displacement;
- a control rod to transmit said motive force;
- wherein said second seatpost portion is configured to include a seating surface;
- wherein said motive force is an active motive force applied to drive said second seatpost portion in at least one of said extending direction and said retracting direction;
- wherein said motive force is actuated remotely from said seatpost assembly.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein said control rod may be displaced in a second longitudinal direction opposed to said first longitudinal direction to pull said second seatpost portion in said retracting direction.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein said displacement in said first longitudinal direction serves to apply a longitudinal compressive load to said control rod, including an original unsupported longitudinal length and a corresponding original slenderness ratio of said control rod, further including an alignment system that is functional to laterally support said control rod by limiting and/or restraining the lateral displacement of said control rod at a location within said original unsupported longitudinal length to provide a modified unsupported longitudinal length of said control rod therein that is shorter than said original unsupported longitudinal length and corresponding to a modified slenderness ratio that is less than said original slenderness ratio such that the inclusion of said alignment system serves to reduce the propensity for compressive buckling due to said longitudinal compressive load of said control rod due to said longitudinal compressive load within said original unsupported longitudinal length.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein the cross-sectional thickness of said control rod is less than or equal to 2.0 millimeters within said modified unsupported longitudinal length.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein the cross-sectional thickness of said control rod is less than or equal to 1.0 millimeters within said modified unsupported longitudinal length.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein said alignment system is axially extendable and axially collapsable between a longitudinally expanded orientation and a longitudinally collapsed orientation.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein said alignment system includes an elastic member that may be axially displaced within the elastic range of said elastic member.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein said elastic member includes a compression spring to provide elastic bias of said alignment system.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein said elastic member is passively driven by said axial displacement of said second seatpost portion.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein said alignment system serves to axially bias said second seatpost portion in said axially extending direction.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein said alignment system is axially braced between said first seatpost portion and said second seatpost portion.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein said alignment system includes a radially inboard opening therethrough and a radially outboard perimeter, wherein said control rod is radially piloted within said radially inboard opening and said radially outboard perimeter is radially piloted by at least one of said first seatpost portion and said second seatpost portion.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein said radially inboard opening has radial clearance with said control rod to permit independent axial displacement therebetween.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein said radially outboard perimeter has radial clearance with at least one of said first seatpost portion and said second seatpost portion to permit independent axial displacement between said alignment system and said at least one of said first seatpost portion and said second seatpost portion.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein said alignment system includes a spacer washer having a spacer inside diameter and a spacer outside perimeter thereof, wherein said control rod is piloted within said spacer inside diameter and said spacer outside perimeter is piloted by at least one of said first seatpost portion and said second seatpost portion.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein said alignment system includes a helical spacer having a radially inboard helical spacer inside perimeter and a radially outboard helical spacer outside perimeter, wherein said control rod is piloted within said helical spacer inside perimeter and said helical spacer outside perimeter is piloted by at least one of said first seatpost portion and said second seatpost portion.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein said helical spacer includes a clockwise helical form and a counterclockwise helical form.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein said alignment system includes an elastic bellows having a radially inboard bellows inside perimeter and a radially outboard bellows outside perimeter, wherein said control rod is piloted within said inside perimeter and said outside perimeter is piloted within at least one of said first seatpost portion and said second seatpost portion.
The seatpost assembly according to claim, wherein said alignment system is axially extendable and axially collapsable between an axially expanded orientation and an axially collapsed orientation, wherein said bellows includes diaphragm portions thereof and wherein said diaphragm portions include elastic corrugations such that said diaphragm portions may be passively radially collapsed due to axial deflection between said axially expanded orientation and said axially collapsed orientation to maintain said bellows inside perimeter and said bellows outside perimeter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.