Straddle Seat (e.g., Saddle Type, Etc.) Patents (Class 297/195.1)
  • Patent number: 8833848
    Abstract: A bicycle seat height adjustment method is provided for changing a height of a bicycle seat. The method includes operating an operating device to output a seat raising command which is received by a motorized seat height adjustment mechanism to adjust the seat height. The method further includes releasing the operating device after the operating of the operating device. The method further includes raising the bicycle seat using the electric motor to a higher seat position that is higher than a previous seat position existing immediately prior to the seat raising command, the raising of the bicycle seat occurring only after the releasing of the operating device such that the bicycle seat remains stationary until the operating device is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
  • Publication number: 20140203601
    Abstract: A bicycle saddle includes a saddle frame. A support cloth is mounted atop the saddle frame in a stretched manner. The saddle frame has at least three support spots to couple to edges of the support cloth. A middle portion of the support cloth is located above the saddle frame in a suspended manner. The bicycle saddle is composed of a saddle frame and a support cloth that is arranged above the saddle frame in a suspended manner. The suspension arrangement of the support cloth makes the hips of a rider in engagement with the support cloth rather than contacting the saddle frame. This makes riding comfortable. Further, the support cloth is of excellent performance of heat dissipation thereby reducing the adverse effect on the body health caused by the heat accumulation during riding a bicycle. The left and right frame members are foldably coupled to the bottom base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL TRIM SUPPLY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: David Lee REEB
  • Publication number: 20140145479
    Abstract: A seat device for a bicycle includes a seat and a frame assembled to a bottom of the seat. The frame has a front assembling portion and two elastic arms. Each elastic arm has a first inclined segment, a connecting segment and a second inclined segment in an order from a front end to a rear end of the seat. Each first inclined segment and each second inclined segment have flat cross sections, and each connecting segment has a circular cross section. Under this arrangement, when a rider rides on an unsmooth road, a road-induced vibration is delivered to the seat; and then, the seat shifts said vibration to the frame so that the frame deforms to absorb said vibration; therefore, the rider has a lower possibility in suffering damages caused by the road-induced vibration and the comfortableness of the rider is improved as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventor: Mu-Rong Li
  • Patent number: 8727436
    Abstract: A bicycle seat clamp assembly is disclosed herein which comprises upper and lower members to provide a vertical clamping force to the rails of a seat to attach a seat to the seat post. The upper and lower members are actuated by a horizontal fastening device which can be tightened or loosened with one hand. The bicycle seat clamp assembly provides for fine tuning of a front to back angular tilt as preferred by the user. Moreover, the seat post can be rotated to the forward direction or the rearward direction to increase a front to back adjustment range of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Felt Racing, LLC
    Inventor: Brendan Connors
  • Patent number: 8720992
    Abstract: An ergonomic saddle structure for bicycles and pedal machines, includes a shell made of relatively rigid material, and a connection member anchoring the shell to a frame of a bicycle or a pedal machine. The shell has a rear portion of enlarged plan shape and, a front portion with at least partially tapered plan shape, and an intermediate connection portion. The rear portion has uniformly joined lateral edges of a substantially convex shape. The intermediate portion has lateral edges of concave plan form and bend radius about equal to the average bend radius of the lateral edges of the convex rear portion (3), and a minimum width just greater than the maximum width of the connection member, so to define, at the user's thighs, a narrow zone adapted to reduce compression and rubbing of the inner surface of the thighs with the lateral edges of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Selle Italia S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Bigolin
  • Patent number: 8714640
    Abstract: A seat attachment device is provided that uses a single bolt to secure the seat rails to the seat attachment device and the seat attachment device to a post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ritchey Design, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Ritchey
  • Publication number: 20140110980
    Abstract: A seat (10, 20, 30, 70, 80, 90, 110) of a manual or powered ride on vehicle, the seat including at least one resilient elastomeric web seat portion (4, 24, 34, 78, 94, 114) suspended in tension between first (5, 25, 79a,119) and second (6, 26, 78, 79b, 87,118) supports, the suspended web(s) supporting a rider when sat on by the rider with the elastomeric web(s) resiliently stretching with increasing reactive tension under rider weight to react rider weight and give elastomeric tension seat support to the rider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Fuselage Design Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Graeme Scott Attey
  • Publication number: 20140110979
    Abstract: A bicycle seat suspension assembly has a parallelogram pivoting linkage connecting the frame with the seat. The parallelogram linkage has a frame link, seat link, upper link, and lower link. An upper spring assembly pivotally engages the frame link on one end and extends up to pivotally engage the upper link. A lower spring assembly pivotally engages the frame link on one end and the lower link on the other end. The suspension assembly is movable between an uppermost position wherein the upper and lower spring assemblies are pre-compressed, and a second position wherein the upper and lower spring assemblies are further compressed. In some embodiments one or both of the spring assemblies have a compression spring that can be swapped out with another compression spring to adjust the spring rate of the assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: CIRRUS CYCLES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Barkley, Charlie Heggem
  • Patent number: 8702167
    Abstract: A bicycle frame, particularly a racing bicycle frame, comprises two bars. The bars are connected to a head member for connection to a saddle member. In their frame-side end region, the two bars are formed as a hollow profile. In this region, the two bars have a semicircular cross section so that a common contact face is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canyon Bicycles GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Kaiser
  • Publication number: 20140091603
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an anchoring device for anchoring a bicycle saddle to a seatpost. The anchoring device comprises a first component adapted to receive a frame of the saddle, a second component detachable fixed on the first component for holding the frame of the saddle, and a third component adapted to be fixed to the seatpost. The first component and the third component are detachably mounted to each other in a male-female manner that allows a quick release of the saddle from the seatpost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: TIEN HSIN INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Roberto Monaco
  • Patent number: 8678339
    Abstract: A bicycle seat support that resiliently supports a bicycle seat and comprises an upper engagement member adapted to support a bicycle seat, a lower engagement member adapted to engage a bicycle frame, and a compliant support assembly coupling the upper engagement member to the lower engagement member. The compliant support assembly includes a first cantilevered beam cantilevered to the lower engagement member, and a second cantilevered beam cantilevered to the first cantilevered beam. The first and second cantilevered beams define a gap, and a resilient member is positioned in the gap. Preferably, the cantilevered beams include convex surfaces, and the resilient member includes concave surfaces shaped to receive the convex surfaces. The resilient member can include a body portion and a strut (e.g., two struts). The resilient member can also include a side surface and a recess in the side surface (e.g., extending all the way through the resilient member).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. D'Aluisio
  • Patent number: 8668262
    Abstract: An angle adjuster for a bicycle seat that is disposed between a frame of a vehicle and a seat. The angle adjuster for a bicycle seat includes: a frame connector configured to be connected with the frame; a seat connector configured to support the seat, rotatably connected to the upper end of the frame connector, and having a nose at bottom facing the frame connector; an angle adjusting assembly disposed between the frame connector and the seat connector, and having a plurality of locking steps where the nose is configured to be selectively engaged to control rotational angle of the seat connector; an operating lever configured to be mounted on the frame to operate the angle adjusting assembly; and a wire connecting the angle adjusting assembly with the operating lever and reciprocating the angle adjusting assembly, when the operating lever is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Chun Choo Kim
  • Patent number: 8668261
    Abstract: There is provided an adjustable saddle support that adjustably connects a conventional bicycle saddle with a conventional bicycle seat post. The conventional bicycle seat post has a conventional first saddle clamp mechanism. The adjustable saddle support comprises an adjustment mechanism that has a second saddle clamp mechanism and a support member which supports the adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism adjustably engages the support member. There is also a pair of rails which have parallel spaced apart sections. The pair of rails is connected with the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Paul Steven Schranz
  • Patent number: 8668260
    Abstract: A bicycle seat assembly for use in conjunction with a bicycle having a frame, a front and rear wheel, and a seat post extending generally vertically upwardly in the frame between the front and rear wheel. The bicycle seat assembly includes a seat having at least one elongated strut extending between the seat and the bicycle frame around the rear wheel axis of the vehicle. A second elongated strut extends between the seat post and the seat so that the seat is positioned generally vertically above the rear wheel axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Peter Kiilunen
  • Patent number: 8668259
    Abstract: This invention relates to bicycle saddles. Several scientific studies have pointed to the risks of damage to the pudendal nerves and arteries associated with extended bicycle riding with conventional bicycle seats. It is the object of this invention to to provide a bicycle seat that can support the rider's weight while minimizing the pressure on the region near the pudendal canal. A further object of the invention is to allow the rider's legs to pedal without interference with the seat. A further object of the invention is to provide comfortable seating while bicycling. The invention consists of a relatively wide, flat seating surface—with no nose—that supports the sit bones of the rider and that pivots about a vertical axis to allow the seating surface to move out of the way of the rider's legs when pedaling on the down stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nexride LLC
    Inventor: Karl Thatcher Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20140035332
    Abstract: Saddle for bicycle, comprising a shaped shell (2) for the support of the user and at least a rail (3) for connecting the saddle to a seat post, the saddle comprises fixing detachable means (4) of the rail to the shell, and means of regulation (28) of the rigidity of the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventor: Carl Winefordner
  • Patent number: 8628143
    Abstract: A corner-braced foot prop including a shelf and an angled support post resting on a base surface to support a load in an elevated position. The shelf includes a clearance hole through which the post is positioned and gripped by the clearance hole when the shelf rotates with respect to the post. The foot prop utilizes surrounding walls for lateral support while providing increasing stability when loaded by downward force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Inventor: Kristin Wald
  • Publication number: 20130320719
    Abstract: A saddle-ride type vehicle that does not require dismounting of a handhold regardless of the presence or absence of a carrier member. A stay member includes an outer portion situated beyond a seat in the outward direction of the vehicle body. A recess dented upwardly is formed in an underside of the outer portion. Because the recess is formed in the underside of the outer portion, a pillion passenger can grasp the recess after a carrier member has been dismounted from the stay member. In short, the recess serves as a handhold. The stay member remains attached to a seat rail either when the carrier member is mounted or dismounted. This eliminates the need to detach the handhold regardless of the presence or absence of the carrier member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoji KOMATSU, Takuma KOISHIKAWA, Keita MIKURA
  • Patent number: 8573624
    Abstract: A bicycle saddle and handlebar height adjustment device including a tubular element provided with elements for its connection to the saddle, and presenting a portion cooperating with a support element for the tubular element. The support element is associated with a ring nut rotating thereon and presenting a first thread cooperating with a corresponding first counter-thread provided on the tubular element. An alignment element is present to maintain the angular position between the tubular element and the support element. The ring nut is associated with the support element by way of a second thread cooperating with a corresponding second counter-thread provided on the support element. The first and second threads are counter-rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Inventor: Angelo Morelli
  • Publication number: 20130278025
    Abstract: A motorcycle seat frame, wherein a bottom surface part extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction and side surface parts standing upward at least at positions on both sides in a vehicle width direction of the bottom surface part are made of a fiber reinforced resin, thereby making an efficient improvement in the bending stiffness in a vehicle vertical direction possible using the anisotropy of the fiber reinforced resin, and also making marked weight reduction as a whole possible. The motorcycle seat frame achieves an efficient increase in bending stiffness in a desired direction in terms of material without improvement in mechanical structure, and enables marked weight reduction while required bending stiffness is ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicants: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki Wakabayashi, Shinji Hara, Shinya Hara
  • Publication number: 20130270876
    Abstract: A removable protective cover for a bicycle saddle that is convertible to a carrying case that can be clipped onto a bicycle frame, a bicycle basket/rack, cable, seat frame, belt loop, backpack, etc., for later use is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Brian A. Skarvan, Jean C. Ringwalt, Erik Skarvan
  • Patent number: 8550551
    Abstract: A bicycle seat height adjustment method is provided for changing a height of a bicycle seat. The method includes operating an operating device to output a seat raising or lowering command to adjust the seat height. The method further includes releasing the operating device after the operating of the operating device. If a raising command has been outputted, then the method further includes raising the bicycle seat to a higher seat position than a previous seat position existing immediately prior to the seat raising command after releasing the operating device. If a lowering command has been outputted, then the method further includes lowering the bicycle seat to a lower seat position that is lower than a previous seat position existing immediately prior to the seat lowering command after releasing the operating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
  • Publication number: 20130257115
    Abstract: A rear center cover is disposed in contact with a seat edge portion and a rear end portion of a passenger seat in a tandem seat. A pair of left and right grab rails are disposed overlapping the seat edge portion in a plan view, i.e., disposed overlapping the seat edge portion and the rear center cover from above in such a way as to cover the portion connecting the rear center cover. A rear portion extends to the upper side of a recessed portion. The lower surface of the rear portion is in intimate contact with the upper side. The rear portion covers the portion connecting the rear center cover and the seat edge portion and reinforces the rear center cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Toshiaki Kishi, Akira Omae
  • Publication number: 20130229037
    Abstract: A base for a bicycle saddle comprises a load-bearing panel body and a rim surrounding the panel body. The rim includes a plurality of sections. One of said sections has a strip-shaped opening so that the section is more flexible than any other place of the rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Velo Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsai-Yun YU
  • Publication number: 20130214568
    Abstract: A bicycle saddle, in particular a bicycle sports saddle, comprises a saddle shell. On the lower side of the saddle shell reinforcing ribs are provided. The present design and the arrangement of the reinforcing ribs make it possible to realize a light bicycle saddle having a high inherent flexibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: RTI SPORTS VERTRIEB VON SPORTARTIKELN GMBH
    Inventor: RTI Sports Vertrieb von Sportartikeln GmbH
  • Patent number: 8485598
    Abstract: A pitch adjusting mechanism for a bicycle saddle is arranged between a saddle and a seat post of the bicycle and includes: a base beneath the saddle; a connecting member being fixed to the seat post; a washer being removably assembled to a top or a bottom of the connecting member; and a fastener combining the connecting member, the washer and the base as a whole. When the washer is arranged on the top and beneath the bottom of the connecting member, a pitch of the saddle with respect to the seat post is different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignees: Flybikes S.L.
    Inventor: Ching-Chung Hsu
  • Patent number: 8485597
    Abstract: The present invention provides an angle adjustment device for a bicycle saddle which can adjust the angle of the saddle even when the bicycle is moving. The angle adjustment device includes a movable unit (110), a stationary unit (120) and a locking unit (130). The movable unit is coupled to the saddle. The stationary unit is coupled to the movable unit and rotatably supports the movable unit when the angle of the bicycle saddle is adjusted. The locking unit releasably holds the movable unit, so that when the locking unit releases the movable unit, the movable unit is allowed to rotate and adjust the angle of the bicycle saddle, and when the locking unit holds the movable unit, the movable unit is prevented from rotating so as to maintain the angle of the bicycle saddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventor: Chun Choo Kim
  • Publication number: 20130175783
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bicycle which comprises a bicycle frame, a pair of wheels, a gear assembly, and a bicycle saddle, the bicycle characterized in that: the bicycle saddle has a base and a main body, the main body being disposed on the base and extending to left and right sides along a longitudinal axis between front and rear ends of the bicycle frame. The rider feels comfortable when riding a bicycle of this invention because the rider's crotch area is not in contact with the saddle nor rubs against it. Moreover, a large area of the rider's buttocks can be in contact with the main body of the bicycle saddle, which makes the rider feel comfortable too.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Inventor: CHIN-CHIEN YUAN
  • Patent number: 8480170
    Abstract: A saddle-positioning apparatus includes a first positioning unit for positioning a saddle in a first dimension, a second positioning unit for positioning the saddle in a second dimension, and a lever connected to both of the first and second positioning units. The lever is movable from a neutral position in a direction to move the first positioning unit from a locking position to a releasing position to allow movement of the saddle in the first dimension. The lever is movable from the neutral position in an opposite direction to move the second positioning unit from a locking position to a releasing position to allow movement of the saddle in the second dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Jet Sport Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tai-Yang Lu, Ying-Pin Chiang
  • Publication number: 20130099530
    Abstract: A bicycle saddle includes a saddle frame. A support cloth is mounted atop the saddle frame in a stretched manner. The saddle frame has at least three support spots to couple to edges of the support cloth. A middle portion of the support cloth is located above the saddle frame in a suspended manner. The bicycle saddle is composed of a saddle frame and a support cloth that is arranged above the saddle frame in a suspended manner. The suspension arrangement of the support cloth makes the butt of a rider in engagement with the support cloth rather than contacting the saddle frame. This makes riding comfortable. Further, the support cloth is of excellent performance of heat dissipation thereby reducing the adverse effect on the body health caused by the heat accumulation during riding a bicycle. The left and right frame members are foldably coupled to the bottom base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: DAVID LEE REEB
  • Publication number: 20130082493
    Abstract: A bicycle seat assembly for use in conjunction with a bicycle having a frame, a front and rear wheel, and a seat post extending generally vertically upwardly in the frame between the front and rear wheel. The bicycle seat assembly includes a seat having at least one elongated strut extending between the seat and the bicycle frame around the rear wheel axis of the vehicle. A second elongated strut extends between the seat post and the seat so that the seat is positioned generally vertically above the rear wheel axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventor: Peter Kiilunen
  • Patent number: 8376455
    Abstract: A seat height adjustment apparatus includes a stepped portion provided on a bottom plate of a seat and formed in a stepped configuration, an adjust member removably attached to the stepped portion and having a lower face placed on a seat rail for adjusting the height between the seat rail and the seat, and vehicle body side fixing members provided on the seat rail for abutting with an abutting portion to fix the adjust member. Upon seat height adjustment, adjustment of the seat height can be carried out simply only by replacing the adjust member to an arbitrary stage of the stepped portion. Further, since the seat height adjustment apparatus is formed from the three parts of the stepped portion, adjust member and vehicle body side fixing member, the number of parts is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Inoue, Konichi Misaki, Hiroyuki Seki, Masayuki Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20120313407
    Abstract: A cycle seat post having an axial hollow region has formed therein or attached thereto a retaining structure for removably securing a power cell cartridge within the hollow region. The retaining structure comprises one or more shoulders for engaging corresponding shoulders on the power cell cartridge. A retaining cap in physical engagement with the power cell cartridge secures the power cell cartridge in place. An opening in the retaining cap permits connection between a power cell retained in the power cell cartridge and electronic and/or electromechanical devices external to the power cell cartridge. A biasing member and spring claim may further secure retaining cap in place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventor: Craig Calfee
  • Publication number: 20120286548
    Abstract: A bicycle seat assembly having an adjustable width nose portion includes an H-shaped base that supports a lateral left side pad and a lateral right side pad. A rail extends under the base and between the left and right side nose portions of the seat assembly. A front rail mount includes a housing, a shuttle, an actuator, and left and right mount supports. Operation of the actuator alters the position of the left and right mount supports relative to the housing and thereby alters a distance between the respective left and right side nose portions of the seat base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: JESS BAILIE, PO CHIN LIAO
  • Patent number: 8308234
    Abstract: A seating structure, particularly a bicycle saddle, includes a load-bearing shell and a cover element for contact with a user. The shell includes a first base element made from a composite material composed of a synthetic polymeric matrix and a natural fiber-containing reinforcement. The shell may have one or more differential deformable portions. A process for making such a seating structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Brooks England Limited
    Inventor: Stefano Segato
  • Patent number: 8297688
    Abstract: A rear body structure for a vehicle includes a body cover for covering a vehicle body, a rear grip member attached to a vehicle body frame and configured to be gripped by an occupant of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, and a rear grip cover attached to and covering the rear grip member. A portion of the body cover overlaps a top surface of the rear grip member. The rear grip member is provided with a body cover positioning section for positioning the body cover thereon. The rear grip cover is arranged above the body cover positioning section of the rear grip member for providing covering thereto. Such vehicle rear body structure provides an improvement in the outward appearance of a rear body structure of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Kanezuka
  • Patent number: 8281889
    Abstract: A seat structure for a vehicle, such as a motorcycle, includes a seat arranged rearwardly of a fuel tank mounted on a vehicle body frame. The seat includes a cushion member, and a bottom plate for holding the cushion member. The cushion member is made of an elastic material. The bottom plate is fixed to the vehicle body frame and to the fuel tank. The cushion member includes a bulging portion which bulges forwardly from a front end portion of the bottom plate and onto an upper surface of a stepped portion of the fuel tank. The bulging portion is supported on the upper surface of the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yusuke Inoue
  • Patent number: 8276987
    Abstract: A children's tricycle comprises a frame, a set of handlebars, a fork, three wheels and a seat adaptable for users of different sizes without modification. The frame comprises a top tube, a head tube and a rear triangle that is substantially perpendicular to the top tube. In some embodiments, the seat extends from the head tube to a point on the frame. In some embodiments, the seat extends from a pivot point of the tricycle along the top tube to the rear triangle. Accordingly, to utilize the tricycle, different sized users are able to move forward or backward on the seat to comfortably engage the pedals and handlebars of the tricycle. In some embodiments, the frame of the children's tricycle comprises one or more of steel, aluminum and metal composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Excelligence Learning Corporation
    Inventors: Jesper Bruhn Johansen, Lars Mathiesen
  • Publication number: 20120242119
    Abstract: A ventilated saddle structure for bicycles, motorbikes and/or pedal powered machines, comprising: a support frame (2) designed to be anchored to a bicycle, motorbike and/or pedal powered machine, a seating surface (3) associated with the frame (2), wherein the seating surface (3) comprises a membrane (4) made of a perforated and at least partially deformable material, shaped to match the user anatomy. The frame (2) comprises at least one thrust device designed to elastically interact from below with the membrane (4) to appropriately counter the deformation thereof and to support the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Giuseppe Bigolin
  • Publication number: 20120212013
    Abstract: An ATV is disclosed which includes a pedestal assembly incorporated into the foot-wells, which cooperate with a removable passenger seat. Furthermore, passenger seat is selectively added or removed from ATV by way of a latch assembly. Hand grips flank the removable seat and are attached to a rear accessory panel. The rear accessory panel also includes an integrated cup holder, and rack tie-downs are formed in a front or rear accessory panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventors: Richard D. Ripley, Roy A. Sunsdahl, Scott D. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8226058
    Abstract: A saddle mounting device includes a support member having a mounting portion formed thereon. A lower base is connected with the support member. The lower base has two guiding flanges diametrically formed thereon. Two gaps are respectively defined between the two guiding flanges. The lower base has two first engaging grooves defined therein. An upper base is movably connected with the lower base. The upper base has two sliding rods formed thereon for sliding along the two guiding flanges and are guided into the two gaps. The upper base has two second engaging grooves defined therein for corresponding to the two first engaging grooves. A fastener connects the support member with the lower base and is screwed with the upper base. The upper base is simultaneously moved relative to the lower base by a rotation of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Kalloy Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chao-Hu Chen
  • Patent number: 8197002
    Abstract: A seat adjustment device for a bike includes a holding base adapted to be engaged on a top of a support tube for a seat. First and second clamp blocks are received in the holding base. The second clamp block is moveable relative to the first clamp block. A bar-clamping space is formed between the first and second clamp blocks to clamp a support rod for the seat. An resilient member is provided between the first and second clamp blocks to bias the first and second clamp blocks towards an inner wall of the holding base. The first and second clamp blocks may be free to pivot around in the holding base, allowing the seat to be adjusted at a significantly increasing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Kind Shock Hi-Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-Yu Hsu
  • Patent number: 8167369
    Abstract: A cushion structure for a bicycle contains a body and a bottom tube. The body includes a circular inserting seat. The inserting seat includes a plurality of crossed support ribs extending radially from a center thereof and connecting with an outer rim thereof and formed in a cross shape. The bottom tube includes a connecting portion disposed on one end thereof. The connecting portion includes a circular inner hole corresponding to the inserting seat and includes a plurality of retaining slots formed therein corresponding to the support ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Foming Bicycle Parts Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: An-Ting Tsai
  • Patent number: 8151812
    Abstract: A sit down and stand up walker for assisting a user during walking and when not walking in a standing, partially standing or sitting positions with partial or full weight bearing support and with means to change from standing, partially standing to sitting positions with partial weight bearing support to a fixed elevation with full weight bearing support in any varied or repeated sequence. The partial or full weight bearing means supports a seat assembly which includes a seat and front body support with adjustable positioning to provide pelvic stability. The angle of the seat assembly relative to a flat ground surface is maintained at any elevation of the seat assembly between a standing and sitting position. The weight bearing means is responsive to the variable force supplied by the user as the user walks, stands or sits allowing the seat assembly to move up or down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventor: Eli Razon
  • Publication number: 20110316315
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide outdoor power equipment including a frame, a seat and at least one leg support angled from a horizontal plane. The outdoor power equipment can include one or more handles, a suspension unit coupled between the frame and the seat. In some embodiments, the seat can be declined with respect to a horizontal plane so that the operator's upper torso leans forward at an angle with respect to a vertical plane when the operator is sitting on the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: James F. Marshall, Matthew R. Hatch, Derrick R. Camenga, Joshua S. Williams, William J. Decker
  • Patent number: 8079642
    Abstract: A magnesium alloy frame part for use in a seat frame of a motorcycle includes a seat mounting section arranged to mount a seat thereon, the seat mounting section extending along a vehicle length direction; a first side wall section extending from the seat mounting section; a second side wall section extending from the seat mounting section and being located on the outer side, along a vehicle width direction, of the first side wall section; and a plurality of protrusions provided at at least one of a boundary between the seat mounting section and the first side wall section and a boundary between the seat mounting section and the second side wall section. The seat mounting section has a thickness greater than at least one of a thickness of the first side wall section and a thickness of the second side wall section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaharu Suzuki, Junichi Inami
  • Publication number: 20110298253
    Abstract: A split-nose bicycle seat, comprising; rigid plastic base provided with attachment points for mounting the seat to the bicycle frame, a total length of the seat of about 260-2S0 mm, a split nose section formed by two elongated protrusions of substantially constant width extending forward from a media! section to a front surface; said elongated protrusions angle inwardly and have a total width of at least 60 mm at a station 30 mm aft of the front surface, a cushioned pubis bone support surface with a substantially flat side profile, arid a drooped nose section forward thereof defining a droop angle ? of about 22-28°; said split nose section transitioning aft to a media! section having a width of about 130-138 mm at the widest point of the seat, and a width of at least 98 mm at a station 50 mm forward of the widest point of the seat; said medial section transitioning aft to a rear-end section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventor: Steven G. Toll
  • Publication number: 20110291446
    Abstract: A saddle support includes a pipe and a fixing clamp with a tightening lower plate and a tightening upper plate mounted at one upper end of the pipe and able to solidly tighten one or more support elements for supporting the saddle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventor: Vincent Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 8051938
    Abstract: A seat mounting structure having a seat rail for supporting a seat of a motorcycle includes seat rail members having front end portions thereof supported by an intermediate portion of a vehicle body frame. Each of the seat rail members extends rearwardly from the intermediate portion of the vehicle body frame. Each of the seat rail members has a slotted opening formed thereon at a rear portion thereof. The slotted openings are formed inwardly and upwardly from an outer portion of the seat rail members in a vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoki Nishijima, Noriyoshi Tsutsui
  • Publication number: 20110266844
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus may permit the mounting of bicycle components (16) such as seats, handlebars, and the like, to bicycles. A bicycle component mount (3) may be isolated from the structure of a bicycle. Forces generated at various points on the bicycle's structure may be substantially impeded or eliminated from transmission through an isolated bicycle component mount (3). Multidimensional motion of a bicycle component mount (3) may include rotational, translational, and rototranslational motion with progressive elastomeric resistance in multiple directions. A bicycle component mount (3) may exhibit movement about its own center of mass (12). Motions of a rider on a bicycle may be biomechanically compensated for by a bicycle component mount (3) to facilitate rider comfort, promote efficient transfer of rider motion to the operation of a bicycle, and decrease wear on bicycle components (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas H. Petrie, Ross Shafer