초록 ▼

The invention includes a bicycle saddle whose seating surface is made of a stretched membrane, where the membrane is stretched into a vaulted shape from the nose extending at least partially through the rider's crotch toward the cantle at the rear of the seat. The invention further includes at least

The invention includes a bicycle saddle whose seating surface is made of a stretched membrane, where the membrane is stretched into a vaulted shape from the nose extending at least partially through the rider's crotch toward the cantle at the rear of the seat. The invention further includes at least one carrier member acting upon the membrane to create, at least partly, the vaulted shape, and an attachment of at least part of a perimeter of the membrane to at least one of the carrier members. The attachment further provides the vaulted shape to the membrane and/or a tension to the membrane. The invention also further includes a saddle undercarriage attached to at least one of the carrier members providing at least part of the tension to the membrane, whenever the saddle undercarriage flexes. The saddle undercarriage is further comprised of a means for mounting to a seat post. An embodiment of the invention includes a ventilation path through the seating surface to the rider.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A bicycle saddle, comprising: a seating surface including at least one membrane, stretched into a vaulted shape from a nose extending toward a cantle supporting the buttocks of a rider seated on the saddle; wherein said vaulted shape extends at least partially through the

What is claimed is: 1. A bicycle saddle, comprising: a seating surface including at least one membrane, stretched into a vaulted shape from a nose extending toward a cantle supporting the buttocks of a rider seated on the saddle; wherein said vaulted shape extends at least partially through the crotch of the rider seated on the saddle; wherein said membrane comprises an indented perimeter near said cantle. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said membrane comprises at least one member of an elastomeric material, a textile, a woven fabric, and a membrane including a plurality of apertures formed therein. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: at least one carrier member acting upon said membrane to at least partially create said vaulted shape. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said seating surface further includes at least one muffin between said at least one membrane and carrier member. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an attachment of at least part of a perimeter of said membrane to at least one of said carrier members to at least partially provide at least one of said vaulted shape to said membrane and a tension to said membrane. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said attachment of at least part of said membrane perimeter to said carrier member is selected from one or more of the group consisting of: at least one encapsulation molding attaching said at least part of said membrane perimeter to said carrier member; at least one adhesive bonding attaching said at least part of said membrane perimeter to said carrier member; at least one stitching attaching said at least part of said membrane perimeter to said carrier member; and means for capturing said at least part of said membrane perimeter between at least two of said carrier member; wherein said capturing means includes at least one member of the collection comprising: means for encapsulation molding, means for adhesive bonding, and means for mechanical fastening. 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said seating surface includes a first membrane and a second membrane, both of said membranes being stretched into said vaulted shape from said cantle to said nose. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first membrane supports the right buttock of the rider, and wherein said second membrane support the left buttock of the rider. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a saddle undercarriage, said saddle undercarriage further comprising a seat post mount. 10. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a saddle undercarriage attached to at least one of said carrier members providing at least part of said tension to said membrane, when said saddle undercarriage is flexed, said saddle undercarriage further comprising a means for mounting to a seat post. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said saddle undercarriage comprises a formed assembly collection comprising a formed piece attached to a mating member collection. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said saddle undercarriage further includes: said formed piece formed into a shape that is narrow near said nose where at least two ends of said formed piece meet, at least two rails for attaching said seat post extending toward said cantle, and a rear section with at least two loops supporting said cantle; a front of said mating collection members attached to said formed piece providing a means for fastening to said nose; and a rear of said mating collection members attached to said formed piece providing a means for fastening to said cantle. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of said mating collection members attaches to said metal piece by a member of the collection comprising of said mating collection member being molded over said metal piece, and said mating collection member being assembled to said metal piece. 14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said saddle undercarriage providing at least part of said tension to said membrane further comprises said saddle undercarriage attached to said carrier member providing at least part of said tension to said member using a threaded mechanism. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said means for mounting to said seat post further comprises of at least two rails for mounting to said seat post. 16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said saddle undercarriage attached to said carrier member further comprises of at least one member of the collection comprising: a means for attaching said carrier member and said membrane to said saddle undercarriage, and provision for removing and replacing said carrier member and said attached membrane. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said means for attaching includes at least one member of the collection comprising: a threaded fastener, a snap fit, a non-fastening mechanical engagement. 18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an undercarriage assembled to said at least one carrier, and wherein said seating surface further includes at least one muffin between said at least one membrane and said undercarriage. 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said seating surface further includes a membrane collection comprising a first membrane and a second membrane, both of said membrane collection members stretched into said vaulted shape from said cantle supporting said rider buttocks to said nose extending through said rider crotch, wherein said first membrane supports a right buttock of said rider, and wherein said second membrane support a left buttock of said rider. 20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a depression formed in said seating surface by pulling a portion of said membrane toward said undercarriage. 21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said first membrane is separated from said second membrane by a gap. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said gap narrows towards said nose. 23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an indented perimeter attachment attaching at least part of said indented perimeter to said at least one carrier members. 24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said indented perimeter is between one half inch and four inches wide with respect to the perpendicular of the axis between said nose and said cantle. 25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said indented perimeter extends between one inch and eight inches from said cantle. 26. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ventilation path through said seating surface to said rider. 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said ventilation path is through said membrane. 28. A bicycle saddle comprising: at least one carrier, an undercarriage attached to said at least one carrier, at least one membrane coupled to said at least one carrier, and a tension applied to said membrane by said at least one carrier pulling said membrane into a vaulted shape from a nose of said saddle at least partially to a cantle of said saddle, and a depression formed in said seating surface by pulling a portion of said membrane toward said undercarriage. 29. The saddle of claim 28, wherein said undercarriage asserts a force on said at least one carrier thereby at least partially providing said tension applied by said at least one carrier to said membrane. 30. A method for adjusting said tension applied to said the membrane of the saddle of claim 29 comprising the step: deforming said undercarriage acting on said at least one carrier. 31. The saddle of claim 28, wherein said tension applied to said membrane varies over a surface of said membrane. 32. The saddle of claim 28, wherein said tension applied to a region of said surface of said membrane is selected to reduce pressure on the sitz bones of the user. 33. The saddle of claim 28, further comprising apparatus for adjusting said tension applied to said membrane. 34. A method for adjusting said tension applied to said the membrane of the saddle of claim 28 comprising the step: deforming said at least one of said at least one carrier. 35. The saddle of claim 28, wherein said tension applied to said membrane varies when at least one of said at least one carrier and said undercarriage are flexed. 36. The saddle of claim 28, further comprising a ventilation path through said membrane.