WO1992011175A1

WO1992011175A1 - Orthotic cycle saddle having forwardly projecting raised cantle surfaces

Info

Publication number: WO1992011175A1
Application number: PCT/US1991/009687
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul M. Yates; George R. Yates; George Yates, Jr.
Original assignee: Yates Paul M; Yates George R; Yates George Jr
Priority date: 1990-12-20
Filing date: 1991-12-18
Publication date: 1992-07-09

Abstract

An anatomically conforming cycle saddle (2, 100) having a compound surface including an elongated horn section transitioning rearwardly into a laterally flared, raised cantle. A perineum/genital relief (56) is symmetrically disposed along the longitudinal axis of the generally horizontal upper horn surface as seen in plane view. A cantle (16) includes a pair of opposed, bilaterally symmetrical, inclined dished surfaces (22), and may have a generally triangular, bilaterally symmetrical, raised, inclined coccyx support member (44) disposed centrally and rearwardly therebetween. In another embodiment of the invention, the coccyx support is eliminated and in both embodiments, forwardly projecting surfaces are provided as part of the bilateral cavities for enabling increased pedal thrust by a rider.

Description

ORTHOTIC CYCLE SADDLE HAVING FO ARDLY PROJECTING RAISED CANTLE SURFACES

FIELDϊ

This invention relates to new and improved saddles for cycles, the contours of which (particu¬ larly the horn and cantle) are specially adapted to conformingly support the sacral, coccal, ischial and perineal/genital regions of the rider in order to improve rider comfort and permit improvements in a cyclist's pedaling efficiency and power output while remaining seated. More particularly, the invention relates to a new anatomic bicycle seat design that incorporates a cantle having forwardly projecting raised cantle surfaces.

BACKGROUND;

The basic design of a bicycle saddle, much like the basic design of the bicycle, has not changed significantly in over 100 years. The shape of modern, performance-oriented bicycle saddles is generally horizontal in profile with a narrow front end portion (the horn or pommel) and a wider, flared tail portion with a concave intermediate portion for thigh clear¬ ance.

The materials of construction of early saddles were generally limited to solid or perforated wood, cane, or like rigid materials. The design of later saddles included cushion covers incorporated with a wood or metal framework. Some modern saddles still employ materials that were common in the early history of cycling, such as the semi-rigid, all-leather, shell-type saddle, but the majority of today's saddles take advantage of the great advances in materials technology.

Most modern high performance saddles consist of a pliable or semi-rigid molded plastic or nylon shell over which conforming padding material is placed, and finally a leather, plastic or vinyl cover is fitted. The use of these materials in modern saddles has resulted in a lighter, more durable and more appealing saddle than those of even ten years ago, but the seat contours remain substantially the same.

The recent trend in saddle design is to find the right amount of padding necessary to provide adequate comfort to the rider while still conforming to the saddle shell. Too little padding conforms to the semi-anatomic shape of the saddle nicely, but padding (especially foam) gives out at the point of most pressure and therefore bottoms out at the most painful areas directly beneath the pelvic bones. To address the point pressure problem inherent with foam padded saddles, manufacturers have introduced visco-elastic polymer (VEP) padding to replace the foam padding on today's state-of-the-art saddles. The VEP saddles employ a gel-like polymer to displace point loads under the ischial tuberosities. This VEP type padding creates a "water bed" type of pressure displacement by immersing the buttocks area in a semi-liquid type padding. This "water bed" type of pressure displace- ment may spread out the point load pressure upon the ischial tuberosities, but because it is a moveable fluid it still cannot firmly grip the pelvis; thus undue movement of the pelvis occurs during a pedaling motion. Hence, there is a loss of energy transmitted to the pedals when the pelvis is left unsupported or not firmly supported, and stability is decreased through undue movement of the buttocks on the saddle surface.

Thus, the problem with today's more heavily padded, semi-anatomic saddles is that discomfort is caused to the cyclist from excessive pelvic float or movement on the seat surface. This excessive movement or grinding of the pelvic areas can cause bruising, groin pain, numbness, urethritis, neuritis, saddle sores and chafing. These ailments are aggravated by friction and any undue pressure that is caused to be exerted on the blood vessels and nerves along the inner and underside of the rider's pelvic region. This is to be contrasted with the present invention which requires no break-in period to obtain full, initial anatomic conformity. In accordance with the present invention, point loads are fully displaced and excessive friction causing movement upon the saddle is eliminated.

It is known in the art that power transmission can be enhanced by constraining the movement of the rider's pelvis on the saddle. U.S. Pat. No. 638,861 (Bean, 1899) discloses a bicycle harness designed to provide an abutment for a point of resistance more or less directly above the pedals, which enables a rider to greatly augment the power of his downward thrust upon the pedals. More recently, a device called the "tether," a wire sling leading from the handle bar rearward around the waist of the cyclist has been used by professional racing cyclists. In addition to pro¬ viding a point of resistance for allowing the rider to maximize his thrust potential against the pedals while seated, valuable energy is conserved since the rider is relieved of using his or her own arm muscles to provide this resistance. The tether also encourages a round spin whereby full use of the quadriceps muscles imparts a driving force on the pedals at substantially every degree of crank arm rotation. Furthermore, the tether encourages the cyclist to assume a relatively more aerodynamic posture, reducing the frontal area of the rider/machine combination. A reduction in frontal area means less wind resistance to the cyclist, permitting him or her to sustain a higher average speed for a longer period of time.

However, the tether is not without its serious disadvantages. The tether can be dangerous when riding in crowded situations where mishaps are likely to occur, as is likely in an organized recreational ride, training ride, or race. Tethers are dangerous because they have no quick release mechanism to prevent a rider from becoming entangled with his or her bike during a crash. Consequently, the use of a tether has been banned in all types of mass-start racing in the United States and all other countries subject to UCI (Union Cyclist International) rules, which include any country that sanctions amateur or professional bicycle racing. The Present invention provides increased aerodynamic and thrust advantages of tethers without the dangers thereof.

As will be discussed hereinafter, the uppermost regions of the rearwardly disposed concavities of the present invention include raised cantle surfaces that project forward for contacting a rider's pelvis.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a lightweight orthotic cycle saddle having improved performance, support and comfort character- istics. It is another object of this invention to provide a cycle saddle specially contoured to support up to

50% more of the bone, muscle and tissue structure of the pelvis and buttocks over conventional saddle designs.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved cycle saddle specially contoured to unweight sensitive genital areas of both male and female cyclists.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved cycle saddle specially contoured to distribute the rider's weight evenly over a larger surface of the saddle thereby eliminating point loads between the rider's pelvic bones and coccyx and the hard contact area of the saddle.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved cycle saddle specially contoured to redistribute pressure which is normally on the anter¬ ior portions of the ischial tuberosities and upon anterior portions of the pelvis and pelvic arch in conventional saddles, to the steeply rising posterior sections of the pelvis including the rear ischium, sciatic notch area, ischial spines, and sacrum.

It is another object to provide a cycle saddle with an inclined, anatomic, bilaterally flared cantle containing a pair of rearwardly disposed, inclined concavities having forwardly projecting surfaces that form a power-improving thrust plate into which the corresponding bones of the rear ischium (which also rise to a near vertical attitude) slide rearwardly into. SOMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A new, more completely and anatomically con¬ forming bicycle seat provides various unique anatomic conforming features fully supporting the rider gener¬ ally includes a shell having a single, compound upper seating surface, said seating surface including a forwardly disposed horn member having a generally horizontal upper surface and a rearwardly disposed laterally flaring cantle thrust plate member, the cantle thrust plate member including means, defining a pair of bilateral concavities commencing in the horn member of the saddle and elevating and inclining above the generally horizontal upper surfaces of the horn member to end in highly elevated, forwardly projecting surfaces, for providing bilateral anatomic support for the rise to near vertical portion of the right and left rear ischium, including corresponding musculature and tissue. Apparatus is also provided for securing the shell to a cycle saddle post.

More particularly, in one embodiment of the present invention, a coccyx support is provided between the forwardly projecting cantle surfaces. In another embodiment of the present invention, a specific absence of structure for supporting the coccyx is featured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood by the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the specially contoured saddle of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the saddle shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a front view of the saddle shown in Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example, not by way of limita¬ tion of the principles of the invention. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the present invention.

Figures 1 and 2 are various views of the specially contoured saddle of the present invention. The saddle 2 includes a shell A , elongated horn 6 having a pommel 8 at one end 10 and a pair of concave thigh surfaces 14 forming a transition of the horn 4 to a bilaterally flared rear cantle 16.

The saddle 2 is preferably fabricated from injection-molded polypropylene, polyurethane, ABS copolymer, nylon or other like material in a monocoque construction. The density and molecular weight are selected to be sufficiently high to provide a rela¬ tively rigid construction that, while permitting some flexing, should not be so flexible to promote fatigue, inefficiency or inadequate support. Any conventional fixture 18 may provide a means for securing the shell 4 to a cycle saddle post 20.

The bilaterally flared rear cantle 16 may be further defined by a pair of rearwardly disposed, inclined, scoop or dish-like concave surfaces 22. The concave surfaces are concave-up and are symmetrical about and spaced laterally from the longitudinal axis A-A of the saddle 2.

An upper edge 26 of the dish surfaces 22 is spaced inwardly from a rear top 28 of the cantle 16 to provide forward projecting surfaces 30.

An elevated cantle ridge coccyx support surface 32 is located medially behind the raised cantle sur¬ faces 22 of saddle 1. The elevated cantle ridge coccyx support surface 32 is formed to support the placement of the coccyx (not shown) between and behind the aforementioned upper edges 26. This enables the steeply rising cantle surface 22 and projecting surfaces 30 to not intersect the rider's coccyx when bouncing on the saddle while riding.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 , the dished surface concavities, or right and left rear ischii support surfaces 22 begin aft of a transition zone 40 where the ischial tuberosities of the pelvis will be supported by the shell 4 and then incline rapidly up- wardly and rearwardly to perimeter area 42 where the incline has reached an approximately vertical atti¬ tude, in comparison to the normal, generally horizon¬ tal plane of conventional saddles. This rise in the surface of the concavities to an approximately verti- cal attitude closely follows the rise to near vertical of the rear right and left ischium of the pelvis. Continuous with the perimeter 42 and extending forwardly are the surfaces 30 which provide for engagement with the rider's posterior during heaving pedaling to enhance pedaling thrust. That is, the surfaces 30 prevent the rider from "slipping" upwardly out of the saddle and increase pedal thrust without the use of a tether (not shown) as hereinbefore described.

The right and left rear ischial support surfaces of the concavities 22 rise above the generally hori¬ zontal horn surface 6 and simultaneously rise later¬ ally forward of the near vertical plane created by the posterior side of a rider's sacrum and coccyx of the seated rider.

The angle of inclination of the bilaterally - separated, raised cantle surfaces 22 of the saddle 2 is sufficient to prevent the rear ischial support surfaces of the concavities 22 from rising up lat¬ erally behind the near vertical plane established by the posterior side of the sacrum and the coccyx.

The vertical height of the upper edges 26 of the near vertical, right and left rear ischial support surface of the concavities 22 is sufficiently above the generally horizontal upper horn surface 6 to cause the coccyx of the rider to intersect the horizontal plane established by the upper edges 26.

Also, it should be noted that the upper-outer edges 44 of the coccyx support 44 lie in an elevated position relative to the general location of the concavities 22, thereby forming the raised, flared and wedge-like side surfaces 46 of the coccyx support 32. Thus, a specific support is created for the coccyx and surrounding tissues and musculature between the buttocks (located directly below and forward of the coccyx) .

It must also be noted that in the preferred embodiment of this invention, the raised, opposed wedge-like surfaces 46 are transitioned smoothly into the adjacent concavities 22, but, regardless of blending techniques, the main purpose is to differen- tiate the anatomic support of the coccyx and sur¬ rounding tissues and musculature from the support of the rear ischium and its surrounding tissues and musculature.

The generally triangular (or flared wedge-shaped) coccyx support 32 extends rearwardly from its apex position between the concavities 22 and extends rear¬ wardly and laterally outward to transition smoothly into the upper edge 26 of a cantle ridge 50 formed between the concavity margins 52. The coccyx support area 32 extends forward and makes a smooth transition to a raised pelvic arch ridge zone which in turn ex¬ tends forwardly to the perineum/genital groove 56. The coccyx support area 32 is elevated, as defined by opposed, wedge-like side surfaces 46, and inclined at about 25° or more up from the horizontal upper top surface of the horn, and is preferably slightly dished (concave upwards) . It may also be generally flat or the concavity may be lightly padded.

It must be noted that a top surface 60 of the raised coccyx support 32 is blended into the rear cantle ridge 50 adjacent to the upper edges 26 of the concavities 22 in this embodiment. -li¬

lt is understood that the exact dimensions corresponding to the depth, width and height of the dished concavities 22 may vary within the scope of the present invention depending on the performance and comfort requirements of different riders and their bicycles. For example, the dimensions of the con¬ cavities 22 on a woman's model would be shorter longi¬ tudinally and wider laterally to compensate for the generally wider skeletal differences in the female pelvis. Additionally, racing saddles would generally tend to have minimal cantle flare, be streamlined side to side to reduce weight, and be somewhat less flex¬ ible, while recreational and "cruiser" type versions would have greater lateral flare (width of the cantle) with less concern to save weight.

Another anatomic feature of the saddle 2 is the perineal/genital groove 56 (herein the "P/G groove") which is disposed along the longitudinal axis A-A of the saddle medial of concavely curved bilateral thigh surfaces 4 and generally in the aft 1/3 to 1/2 of the horn 2. The P/G groove 56 is sized and contoured to provide pressure relief due to the contact of the private parts (perineum and/or genitalia, depending on forward or rearward riding position, respectively ) of both male and female cyclists with the saddle 2. It should be appreciated that the P/G groove 56 need not be overly deep to provide adequate pressure relief, as is common in other saddle designs, since the better support offered by the rearward concavities 22 and coccyx support area 32 (including the rearwardly flaring, wedge-like side surfaces 46) alleviates a substantial amount of pressure normally caused by conventional saddles on the area of the cyclist's perineum and genital regions. Figures 3 and 4 show an alternative embodiment 100 of the present invention without the coccyx support 32, the reference numerals or characters in Figures 3 and 4 refer to identical or corresponding parts shown in the embodiment 2 of Figures 1 and 2. In the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, the forward facing bilateral concavities 22 are bilaterally separated in order to allow the coccyx and related sacrum (not shown) to ride between and behind the near vertical, bilateral concavity surfaces without sup¬ porting the coccyx.

It must be understood that within the scope of this invention, depending on the embodiment, the coccyx support 32 (Figures 1 and 2) may be hollowed downwardly and rearwardly so as to not particularly support the coccyx but instead to allow the coccyx and sacrum to ride between and behind the said near vertical, highly raised, bilateral concavity surfaces located in the upper perimeter area 102 of the concavities 22 when the rider is rearwardly seated in the saddle and simultaneously when the rider's pelvis is bouncing up and down on the saddle while riding.

It should also be appreciated that in the embodi¬ ments 2, 100 of the present invention, the raised, opposed wedge-like surfaces 46 are transitioned smoothly into the adjacent concavities 22, but, regardless of blending techniques, the main purpose is to differentiate the anatomic support of the coccyx and surrounding tissues and musculature from the support of the rear ischium and its surrounding tissues and musculature.

It should be understood that various modifica¬ tions within the scope of this invention can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, the saddle of this invention may be readily adaptable to recumbent bicycles, tricycles and other forms of human-powered vehicles. Therefore the present invention is to be defined by the scope of the appended claims as broadly as the prior art will permit, and in view of the specification if need be.

Claims

1797-PCT WHAT IS CLAIMED ISϊ

1. A cycle saddle comprising: a shell having a single, compound upper seating surface, said seating surface in¬ cluding a forwardly disposed horn member 5 having a generally horizontal upper surface and a rearwardly disposed laterally flaring cantle thrust plate member, the cantle thrust plate member including means, defining^' a pair of forwardly facing bi- 0 lateral concavities commencing in the horn member of the saddle and elevating and inclining above the generally horizontal upper surfaces of the horn member to end in highly elevated, forwardly projecting sur- 5 faces, for providing bilateral anatomic support for the rise to near vertical por¬ tion of the right and left rear ischium, including corresponding musculature and tissue; and 0 means for securing said shell to a cycle saddle post.

2. The cycle saddle according to claim 1 further comprising means, defining a forwardly facing central coccyx support member raised above the gener¬ ally horizontal upper horn surface, and disposed

5 between said forwardly projecting surfaces.

3. The cycle saddle according to claim 2 wherein said coccyx support member is concave in a downward direction.

4. The cycle saddle according to claim 3 wherein said central coccyx support member has a wedge-like shape.

5. The cycle saddle according to claim 4 wherein said cantle thrust plate member is inclined upwardly from said horn member at an angle greater than 35 degrees.

6. The cycle saddle according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4 wherein said horn upper seating surface includes means for relieving contact pressure between the perineum region and genitals of the rider.

7. The cycle saddle according to claim 1 wherein the forwardly projecting surfaces of the cantle are spaced apart with no structure therebetween for contact with a rider's coccyx.

8. The cycle saddle according to claim 7 wherein said horn upper seating surface includes means for relieving contact pressure between the perineum region and genitals of the rider.

9. The cycle saddle according to claim 1 or 7 wherein said means for relieving contact pressure comprises a groove bilaterally and symmetrically disposed along a longitudinal axis of the shell.