Abstract: An automatic bicycle pedal, including a pedal body rotationally connected to a spindle suitable to be coupled to a pedal crank, said pedal body having a front-rear direction (A) and including a front portion and a rear portion which are engageable by a cleat, said cleat being connectable to the sole of a rider's shoe and including a front hook and a rear hook; the front portion includes flexible engagement means for said front hook of said cleat.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a support element for the human body, including a padding component and a base component or body, the base component including an upper, in use, surface, as well as a lower, in use, surface, the padding component includes an upper, in use, surface, and a lower, in use, surface designed to engage the upper, in use, surface of the base component, the support element including removable anchoring means of the base component to the padding component.

Abstract: A seat support and a method for obtaining same includes a support body made from polymeric materials derived from castor oil, a padding positioned on said body, and a coating that covers the padding. The padding includes at least one layer of foam made at least in part from a component derived from renewable sources and/or of natural origin like palm oil, castor oil, soybean oil, colza oil, or in general a vegetable oil, and it can include a layer and/or insert made from gel obtained by adding in dispersion with a polyolic and or isocyanic component, possible particles of cork and possible compatibilizing agents to maintain the continuity of the polymeric characteristics with the coating and promote sticking. The coating includes a polymer formed from castor oil. The seat support according to the present invention is therefore environmentally-friendly, biodegradable, easy to recycle and/or dispose of.

Abstract: A grip includes a substantially tubular body equipped with ends and having a substantially cylindrical cavity with a longitudinal axis (X), the body being able to be fitted on an end of the handlebars, a padding associated with the body, a cover positioned above the padding, means for fastening the grip to the handlebars, the cover including a thermoshrinking and/or thermoformable material, so that, following a heating and/or cooling, the cover takes the form of the padding.

Abstract: A support element (e.g., a seat, a saddle or a handgrip) for the human body including a layer made from soft and yieldable material and at least one surface insert with different characteristics in terms of appearance and/or comfort, in which said surface insert includes a visible surface to be in contact with the user, wherein said visible surface has a smaller size than said layer and wherein said surface insert includes at least one portion embedded in said layer. A process for making the support element is also presented.

Abstract: A handgrip for handlebars of a bicycle or similar vehicles includes a tubular group, which extends according to an axial direction (X) corresponding to the axis of the handlebars, the group being fitted onto an end of handlebars, the handgrip including padding means associated with the tubular group, means for attaching the handgrip to the handlebars, the tubular group including an inner body suitable for being fitted onto an end of the handlebars and a second outer body slidably fitted according to the direction (X) onto the inner body so as to adjust the axial length of the handgrip.

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.

Abstract: A support for parts of the human body, for example a bicycle saddle, padded support elements, cushions, chairs, armchairs, armrests, supports for triathlon bike handlebars, the support including a support shell, a padding positioned on said shell and a coating which covers the padding. The padding includes at least one first gel portion in the vicinity of the coating and a second foam portion in the vicinity of the support shell, the first gel portion being in the form of a layer with a progression which reproduces substantially the form of the upper supporting surface of the support. In one version at least part of this support includes a polymer material derived from renewable and/or natural sources.

Abstract: A shape-memory saddle structure, particularly for pedal driven vehicles, comprising a substantially rigid or semirigid support frame (2), means (4) for connecting said frame (2) to a vehicle, a yielding pad (7) secured to the upper face (S) of the frame (2), and a cover layer (5) laid over the yielding pad (3). The frame (2) has one or more portions (6, 6?, 6?) having a different deformability from that of the rest of the frame (2). The portions (6, 6?, 6?) include at least one membrane of fibrous material, which is susceptible to permanent deformation in response to a compression stress by a user, so as to take a deformed configuration. The membrane (7) is closely joined to at least one layer of elastomeric material (8), which is adapted to locally change the rigidity of the membrane (7) by elastically holding it at least partly in the deformed configuration, to customize the frame (2) to the specific user's body.

Abstract: A support element (e.g., a seat, a saddle or a handgrip) for the human body including a layer made from soft and yieldable material and at least one surface insert with different characteristics in terms of appearance and/or comfort, in which said surface insert includes a visible surface to be in contact with the user, wherein said visible surface has a smaller size than said layer and wherein said surface insert includes at least one portion embedded in said layer. A process for making the support element is also presented.

Abstract: A human body support includes a composite material base frame having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a cover element formed from a first polymer material associated to the base frame. The support also includes a film of a second thermoplastic polymer material, which is fixedly attached to the base frame. The second thermoplastic material has an affinity for the first polymer material so that the cover element may be fixedly attached to the base frame, thereby forming an integral support. A polyurethane gel may be disposed in a recess of the base frame. The first polymer material has a thickness of 0.1 to 0.3 mm, the second material has a thickness of 0.01 to 0.025 mm, and both may be optically transparent.

Abstract: A human body support comprises a composite material base frame (2) having a top surface (11) and a bottom surface (10) and a cover element ?(3) formed from a first polymer material (3) associated to the base frame (2). The support further comprises at least one film of a second thermoplastic polymer material (8) which is fixedly attached to the base frame (2). The second thermoplastic material (8) has an affinity with the first polymer material (3) so that the cover element may be fixedly attached to the base frame, thereby forming an integral support. A polymethane gel (4) may be disposed in a recess of the base frame (2). The first polymer material (3) has a thickness of 0.1 to 0.3 mm, and the second material (8) has a thickness of 0.01 to 0.025 mm, both may be optically transparent.

Abstract: Cycling footwear structure including a composite sole formed by at least one base sole and by at least one substantially annular shaped stiffening element, equipped with a front part, and with a back part and that extends progressively upwards until it wraps around at least one portion of the heel of a user and a method for making it.

Abstract: A handgrip for handlebars of a bicycle or similar vehicles includes a tubular group, which extends according to an axial direction (X) corresponding to the axis of the handlebars, the group being fitted onto an end of handlebars, the handgrip including padding means associated with the tubular group, means for attaching the handgrip to the handlebars, the tubular group including an inner body suitable for being fitted onto an end of the handlebars and a second outer body slidably fitted according to the direction (X) onto the inner body so as to adjust the axial length of the handgrip.

Abstract: A seat support and a method for obtaining same includes a support body made from polymeric materials derived from castor oil, a padding positioned on said body, and a coating that covers the padding. The padding includes at least one layer of foam made at least in part from a component derived from renewable sources and/or of natural origin like palm oil, castor oil, soybean oil, colza oil, or in general a vegetable oil, and it can include a layer and/or insert made from gel obtained by adding in dispersion with a polyolic and or isocyanic component, possible particles of cork and possible compatibilizing agents to maintain the continuity of the polymeric characteristics with the coating and promote sticking. The coating includes a polymer formed from castor oil. The seat support according to the present invention is therefore environmentally-friendly, biodegradable, easy to recycle and/or dispose of.

Abstract: A bicycle saddle structure includes a load-bearing shell having an elongate front portion, a widened rear portion and a bottom surface with a front seat and a rear seat which are formed at a predetermined minimum distance (dMu\l) therebetween, rails with a rear end portion, and a front end portion which is designed to interact with the front seat of the shell. The rails have a maximum longitudinal extension (Ir) longer than the predetermined minimum distance (dMu\l) between the seats. The structure includes a cam linkage member which is designed to be interposed between the front seat of the shell and the front portion of the rails to cause the shell to be snap fitted to the rails. A method of assembly of the above bicycle saddle structure is also provided.

Abstract: A human body supporting structure, particularly a bicycle saddle, includes a load-bearing shell having a topside designed to face towards a user and an underside designed to face a bicycle frame. The shell includes at least one continuous sheet element having at least one differently deformable portion located at particularly stressed regions of the user's body. The sheet element is formed of a thermoplastic resin matrix with reinforcement fibers embedded therein. The differently deformable portions have a smaller thickness (Si) and a locally greater average density (pi) than the rest of the extension of the shell, said portions are formed in a thermoforming step wherein a local thickness reduction is carried out by compression and by heating said sheet element to a temperature near the melting temperature of the thermoplastic matrix. A method of making such support structure is further provided.

Abstract: A sports footwear, particularly suitable for use in road and off-road bikes, including an outsole having means with differential stiffness, a heel cup made of at least a composite material with differential stiffness and a cushioning insert to be inserted into a padded tongue to achieve comfort and to customize said footwear, and a process to manufacture said footwear.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a quick-connect structure for a bicycle saddle, particularly for removably mounting an accessory, such as a tool kit or the like, to the saddle. The saddle has at least one load-bearing body to be attached to a bicycle frame. The quick-connect structure comprises at least one male member that may be snap-fitted in a corresponding female member. The male member and the female member are associated either to the saddle or to the accessory. Preferably, one of the male member and the female member is integrally and monolithically formed in the body of the saddle.

Abstract: A quick-mount frame structure, particularly for bicycle saddles and similar supports. The structure comprises at least one shell (2) having a top user-supporting surface (6) and a bottom surface (7), said shell (2) having a front portion (8) and a rear portion (9), saddle rails (3) for attachment of said shell (2) to a movable or stationary support, said rails (3) having an outer peripheral edge (10) and means for stable connection between said rails (3) and said shell (2). The connection means include snap engagement means (11) at least at one of said front (8) and rear (9) portions of said shell (2) for quick connection between the shell (2) and the rails (3). A process for making the above structure, and a saddle incorporating such structure.