US20050093348A1

US20050093348A1 - "Butt-saver" TM

Info

Publication number: US20050093348A1
Application number: US10/887,512
Authority: US
Inventors: Steven Heady
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-10-30
Filing date: 2004-07-09
Publication date: 2005-05-05
Also published as: US7144029B1

Abstract

01 The “BUTT-SAVER™” allows the bicycle seat to move by pivoting upon the top of the seat post from side to side, thus helping to prevent friction to a rider's inner thigh and crotch area. An adjustable spring determines the amount of tension for the side to side movement, depending on the strength of the rider or what the rider deems comfortable. A safety device is built in at nine degrees to prevent the seat from tilting or tipping too far to the left or to the right. The BUTT-SAVER'S unique design allows the bicycle rider's butt to be “as one” with the bicycle seat, thus helping to prevent or reduce the friction that can cause irritation to the inside of the upper thigh and crotch areas. The “BUTT-SAVER™” is available in various types and styles to accommodate the variety of manufactured bicycles.

Description

01 Applicant claims the benefit of the Provisional Patent Application dated Oct. 20, 2003, filing number 60-515511. Applicant would like the date of this filing for invention to be Oct. 20, 2003. The title of this invention is “BUTT-SAVER”™

FIELD OF INVENTION

01 The invention relates to the field of bicycles and more particularly to the top of a bicycle seat post. International Class 12.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

01 Historically, bicycle seat posts have been attached to a bicycle seat with a clamp, which creates a tight and non movable seat.
02 With a typical saddle seat in a clamped position, the bicycle rider's inner thighs and crotch rubs against the sides and top of the bicycle seat while pedaling.
03 This movement against the sides and top of the bicycle seat can cause friction which causes irritation to the inner thighs and crotch of most novice riders.
04 The problem of inner thigh and crotch irritation caused by an unmovable bicycle seat was addressed with the invention of an adjustable seat post assembly, (U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,738), a type of clamp that adjusts the bicycle seat from front to back. However, this invention still tightens to a fixed position once the bicycle seat is firmly clamped into the desired position.
05 The problem of inner thigh and crotch irritation caused by an unmovable seat was also addressed with the invention of spring mattress seat assembly (U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,524), two springs located in the back of the bicycle seat—one on each side.
06 In the case of paragraphs 04 and 05 above, bicycle riders still find themselves with a fixed position, non-movable seat that continues to cause friction and irritation to the inner thighs and crotch.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

01 The “BUTT-SAVER” allows the bicycle seat to move by pivoting from side to side upon the top of the seat post, which helps to prevent friction on the inner thighs and crotch area suffered by many novice bicycle riders.
02 This unique design allows the bicycle rider's crotch and butt area to be “as one” with the top of the bicycle seat thus helping to prevent or reduce the friction that is present with the rigid and non moving type of bicycle seats.
03 The “BUTT-SAVER” helps to solve the age old problem that bicycle riders have endured—sore crotches and irritated inner thighs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE “BUTT-SAVER”

01 The present inventor will now describe more fully hereinafter with references to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exact embodiments set forth in the present drawings.
02 The invention as shown on FIG. 1 is as represented by the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
03 Identification of individual parts of the invention as shown in FIG. 1: 1—upper post (tang)

- 2—base (pivot block)
- 3—¼ inch diameter pin
- 4—two springs
- 5—two adjusting screws.

04 Also shown in FIG. 2 is a standard bicycle seat clamp 6 and a standard bicycle seat post 7. These two items are not part of the invention.
05 In FIG. 2, the apparatus comprising of the upper post (tang) 1 of the invention fits in an already manufactured seat post clamp 6.
06 In FIG. 1, the apparatus of the upper post (tang) 1, fits into the top of the base (pivot block) 2, is secured in place, and is allowed to pivot by a ¼ inch diameter pin 3.
07 In FIG. 1, the apparatus comprising the base (pivot block) 2, is designed to accommodate the upper post (tang) 1 according to paragraph number 06, with a nine degree allowance to the left or to the right for the pivoting effect.
08 The nine degree angle is a safety feature of the invention, preventing the bicycle seat from pivoting too far to the right or to the left and dismounting the bicycle rider.
09 In FIG. 1, the upper post (tang) 1, fits into the base (pivot block) 2 according to paragraph numbers 06. A ¼ inch diameter pin 3 is inserted into pre-drilled holes found in the upper post (tang) 1 and in the base (pivot block). 2
10 In FIG. 1, with the assembly of the upper post (tang) 1 and the base (pivot block) 2, the invention is ready for the insertion of two springs 4 which are located on both sides of the base (pivot block) 2. The two springs 4 are very important because they create resistance to the free movement of the upper post (tang) 1, seat clamp, and bicycle seat.
11 In FIG. 1, the two springs 4 are inserted in two pre-drilled and tapped holes, each ¾-16 UNF inches in size, located in the lower and center parts of the base (pivot block) 2.
12 An adjusting screw ¾-16 UNF inch by ½ inch 5 is screwed into the two pre-drilled and tapped holes of the base (pivot block) 2 according to paragraph number 11, securing the springs 4.
13 The adjusting screws 5, are inserted according to paragraph number 12, also serves as an important method for adjusting the tension of the two springs 4.
14 This ability to adjust the tension to the springs 4 creates the ability to select the amount of tension on the upper post (tang) 1 and to the seat itself and is an important and critical part of the invention.
15 The bicycle seat becomes adjustable and is able to pivot from side to side creating a more comfortable ride.
16 With the spring 5 assembly completed, the base (pivoting block) 2 is ready to be pressed (attached) to the original seat post 7, as shown in FIG. 3.
17 The fully assembled “BUTT-SAVER” is shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 3A.
18 The seat post 7 can now be inserted into the bicycle seat post housing. (Not shown)

Claims

01. An apparatus that allows the upper clamp assembly of a bicycle post to pivot from side to side (left to right and right to left).
02. An apparatus as mention in claim number 01 has a safety feature built in allowing the bicycle seat to swing or pivot to reach a maximum of nine degrees on each side as it pivots, for a total reach or swing of eighteen degrees from far left to far right.
03. An apparatus that is fully adjustable as described in claim number 04, 05, and 06, with spring tension.
04. An apparatus, according to claim number 03 that allows the bicycle rider to have their own degree of movement of the bicycle seat from zero degrees to eighteen degrees.
05. An apparatus, according to claim numbers 03 and 04 that allows the bicycle rider to determine the amount of resistance or tension upon the movement of the upper bicycle seat post assembly.
06. An apparatus, according to claim number 03, 04, and 05, that by turning the adjusting screws clockwise, tightens the spring tension; or by turning the adjusting screws counter clock wise, releases spring tension.
07. An apparatus, according to claim numbers 03, 04, 05 and 06, that creates controlled resistance to the free movement of the upper clamp assembly of a bicycle seat post.
08. An apparatus that when used in conjunction with the full seat post assembly and a bicycle seat, will help to reduce friction to the bicycle rider's inner thighs and chrotch areas.
09. An apparatus that when used in conjunction with the full seat post assembly a bicycle seat, allows the bicycle rider's crotch and butt area to adhere or “be one” with the top of the bicycle seat thus helping to reduce or prevent the friction that is caused to the upper thighs and crotch area while riding on a non-swiveling fixed position bicycle seat and seat post.