U.S. patent application number 13/820233 was filed with the patent office on 2013-06-20 for height adjustable saddle pole.
The applicant listed for this patent is Marzell Wilhelm Maier. Invention is credited to Marzell Wilhelm Maier.
Application Number | 20130156492 13/820233 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44534254 |
Filed Date | 2013-06-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130156492 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maier; Marzell Wilhelm |
June 20, 2013 |
HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE SADDLE POLE
Abstract
The invention relates to a height adjustable saddle pole
consisting of two tubes which are telescopically slidable into
another, that is to say a cladding tube for accommodating a saddle
support tube, whereas the saddle support tube is spring-loaded and
is fixed in position via a locking pin. The bores into which the
locking pin engages, are located in the region of the smallest
stress of the saddle support tube in order to weaken the static of
the saddle support tube as little as possible.
Inventors: |
Maier; Marzell Wilhelm;
(Isny/Sommersbach, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Maier; Marzell Wilhelm |
Isny/Sommersbach |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
44534254 |
Appl. No.: |
13/820233 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
August 20, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP11/04203 |
371 Date: |
March 1, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
403/109.7 ;
403/109.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62J 2001/085 20130101;
B62K 19/36 20130101; Y10T 403/32516 20150115; Y10T 403/32467
20150115; Y10T 403/1624 20150115; B62J 1/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
403/109.7 ;
403/109.1 |
International
Class: |
B62J 1/08 20060101
B62J001/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 3, 2010 |
DE |
10 2010 044 356.5 |
Claims
1. A height adjustable saddle pole consisting of two tubes which
are telescopically slidable into another, that is to say 1.1. a
cladding tube for accommodating a saddle support tube 1.2. a spring
element acting upon the saddle support tube, 1.3. a locking device,
which is arranged on the cladding tube with 1.3.1. a locking pin
1.3.2. a guide for the locking pin 1.3.3. means for adjusting the
locking pin in a latched position and an unlatched position,
whereas the locking pin is moved orthogonally with respect to and
in the direction of the axis of the saddle support tube 1.4.
whereas at least two axially spaced apart bores are provided in the
saddle support tube for accommodating the locking pin, wherein 1.5.
the locking pin in the latched position engages into one of the
bores through a recess of the cladding tube, whereas it completely
absorbs the axial forces of the saddle support tube, 1.6. whereas
the bores are located in the area of the smallest stress of the
saddle support tube.
2. The height adjustable saddle pole according to claim 1, wherein
the locking pin in the latched position accompanies the movement of
the saddle support tube more or less in the direction and in the
opposite direction of the cross product of the vector of the
longitudinal axis of the cladding tube with the vector of the
longitudinal axis of the locking pin.
3. The height adjustable saddle pole according to claim 1, wherein
the locking pin has a first flattening in the peripheral area of
its front end.
4. The height adjustable saddle pole according to claim 1, wherein
the locking pin comprises second flattenings into the partial
regions of its periphery on which the bores of the saddle support
tube have the largest relative movement with respect to the locking
pin.
5. The height adjustable saddle pole according to claim 1, wherein
the contour of the locking pin on its front end is adapted to the
contour of the saddle support tube.
6. The height adjustable saddle pole according to claim 1, wherein
the locking pin is designed in such a way that it absorbs the load
in direction of the longitudinal axis of the cladding tube over its
surface in its guide.
7. The height adjustable saddle pole according to claim 1, wherein
a lever mechanism is provided for bringing the locking pin into the
latched and into the unlatched position.
8. The height adjustable saddle pole according to claim 6, wherein
the lever mechanism is designed in such a way that it allows the
movement of the bore caused by the load of the saddle support
tube.
9. The height adjustable saddle pole according to claim 1, wherein
the adjustment of the locking pin is done via a sliding guide
mechanism.
10. The height adjustable saddle pole according to claim 1, wherein
a portion of the mechanism for actuating the locking pin is
arranged around the periphery of the cladding tube.
11. The height adjustable saddle pole according to claim 1, wherein
a Bowden cable is provided for adjusting the locking pin.
12. The height adjustable saddle pole according to claim 1, wherein
the spring element is a pneumatic spring.
13. The height adjustable saddle pole according to claim 1, wherein
the cladding tube is the saddle tube of a bicycle.
14. The height adjustable saddle pole according to claim 1, wherein
means are provided to prevent any twisting of the saddle support
tube with respect to the cladding tube.
15. The height adjustable saddle pole according to claim 1, wherein
a pinhole closure is provided for sealing the bores, which opens in
reaction to the force of the locking pin.
16. The height adjustable saddle pole according to claim 1, wherein
the upper end of the external tube of the pneumatic spring is fixed
at the upper end of the saddle support tube.
17. The height adjustable saddle pole according to claim 1, wherein
a wiping device is provided, which comprises a felt ring.
18. The height adjustable saddle pole according to claim 1, wherein
the locking pin consists of a high performance plastic.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a height adjustable saddle pole (S)
consisting of two tubes which are telescopically slidable into
another, that is to say a cladding tube for accommodating a saddle
support tube, a spring element acting upon the saddle support tube,
a locking device, which is installed on the cladding tube with a
locking pin, a guide for the locking pin, means for adjusting the
locking pin in a latched position and an unlatched position,
whereas the locking pin is moved orthogonally with respect to and
in the direction of the axis of the saddle support tube whereas at
least two axially spaced apart bores are provided in the saddle
support tube for accommodating the locking pin and whereas the
locking pin in the latched position engages into one of the bores
through a recess of the cladding tube and thus completely absorbs
the axial forces of the saddle support tube (16).
[0002] Saddle poles for fastening bicycle saddles are usually fixed
in the saddle tube with a mechanical clamp. Consequently, the
saddle tube is generally slit at the upper end so that the
periphery of the tube is reduced by the clamping effect and thus
the saddle tube bears upon the saddle pole with a positive fit. The
clamp is tightened with a nut or a quick clamping device is used,
at which the clamping force is reached by changing the position of
a lever. Such a "quick release lever" enables to adjust the height
of the saddle and to fix it without tool. Such is for example
necessary if the bicycle is going to be ridden by people of
different size or if the saddle should be adapted for one and the
same rider using certain parameters. Such is the case for instance
when riding in difficult terrain, as in particular in mountain
biking with mountain bikes. Uphill, the height of the saddle must
be adjusted optimally from an ergonomic viewpoint so as to achieve
good power transmission. When going downhill, the rider must shift
his centre of gravity backwards and downwards according to the
steepness and to the difficulty and for that purpose he must often
bring his buttocks behind the saddle. The deeper the saddle, the
easier the rider can shift his centre of gravity actively and
dynamically, but thereby also loses on cornering forces which he
can press with the inside of its thighs against the saddle when the
latter is accordingly in a raised position The optimal height of
the saddle therefore depends on the respective riding
condition.
[0003] The shortcoming of the described clamping device lies in
that the rider must dismount every time he needs to adjust the
height and driving direction of the saddle. To make this adjustment
easier it is suggested in the German disclosure DE 4237864 A1 to
provide a lateral locking pin with which the position in height of
the saddle pole can be fixed. This locking pin is however used
solely for fixing the height of the saddle pole, whereas conversely
the locking mechanism operates in the axial direction and thereby
the axial load has conventionally been absorbed by means of a
clamping device, hence in a friction locking manner. The rider
still needs to dismount for adjusting the height of the saddle
pole.
[0004] It would hence be desirable to provide a device for
adjusting the height of a bicycle saddle, which the rider can
adjust without having to dismount.
[0005] Height adjustable saddle poles are disclosed in the state of
the art which function after the principle of hydraulic locking.
The saddle poles described in the German utility model DE 20 2007
014515 U1 (Kindshock) or in the document U.S. Pat. No. 7,083,180 B2
(Paul Turner) operate with two oil chambers which are connected to
one another by a valve. A tube can be moved up and down in the
shank by opening the valve with the trigger. The lower oil chamber
is additionally filled with air so as to generate a force upwards.
Consequently the pole is pressed upwards by pulling the trigger and
releasing it simultaneously. The trigger is always actuated at the
upper end of the saddle support tube via a lever. Said lever can be
actuated manually directly on the head of the saddle pole.
Alternately, a Bowden cable can be provided from the handlebar for
remote actuation of the device via an appropriate mechanism. With
the embodiments available on the market at the moment and described
above, the adjustment range is currently 125 mm max.
[0006] The shortcoming of this pole is the relatively complex
structure of the hydraulic system. Furthermore, the hydraulic
medium required in the system increases with the adjustment range
and so does the weight of the system. An additional shortcoming due
to the system is the necessary mounting of the actuating lever on
the saddle head. If said lever should be actuated via a remote
control on the handlebar the mechanical, hydraulic or electric
control cable provided to that end must follow the adjustment
stroke of the saddle pole.
[0007] A height adjustable saddle pole is disclosed in the
international patent application WO 2007/117884 A2 with which a
bolt is brought into a recess of a saddle support tube, through a
recess of a cladding tube, in a latched position from the outside.
The bolt is operated by means of a magnet for adjusting the saddle
pole. The mechanism is designed in such a way that the shear force
maintains the locking bolt in the locking position as long as the
bolt can be loosened by the own weight of the rider. It is hence
not possible for example to adjust the height of the saddle pole
when the rider is standing on the pedals. Moreover, the mechanism
is relatively expensive and the bores are located on the front or
on the back in the driving direction, so that the static of the
saddle support tube is weakened maximally.
[0008] Another mechanical locking is disclosed in document U.S.
Pat. No. 6,354,557 B1 (RASE). In that case, a longitudinal groove
is inserted into the saddle support tube which also weakens the
saddle support tube strongly. The height adjustable saddle pole for
a bicycle, disclosed in the German patent specification DE 198 55
161 C1 admittedly has a lateral locking system, but operates with
three tubes which are telescopically slidable into another, whereas
the tube of the saddle pole has a continuous longitudinal groove in
the region of the largest stress, i.e. in the driving direction,
which causes maximal weakening of the saddle pole and consequently
rules it out for saddle poles with which minimal weight and high
mechanical stability are required.
[0009] All the height adjustable saddle poles known to the
applicant, which operate after the principle of a locking mechanism
by means of a locking pin, integrate the bores necessary to that
end from the front or from the rear (as seen in driving direction)
into the saddle support tube, or exhibit (as the DE 198 55 161 C1
mentioned) additional weaknesses in the area of the largest bending
stress. An exception is provided in the German utility model DE 20
2008 015 968 U1, in which the locking is more precisely performed
laterally, the locking bolt however engages tangentially with
respect to the saddle support tube into an accordingly deepened
recess, whereas such bolts are provided with smaller depth between
the deepened recesses, into which the accordingly shaped bolt (with
two diameters) engages during the height adjustment and hence
simultaneously forms an anti-twist device. The tangentially
arranged recesses reach further into the region of the increasing
bending stress and hence cause more significant weakening compared
with simple bores, they are also more difficult to realise than the
latter from a manufacturing technical viewpoint.
[0010] If the bores necessary to the locking mechanism or recesses
of other types are incorporated in the front or rear area of a
saddle support tube as seen in driving direction--this is here
(relative to the mechanical stability of such a construction) the
most inappropriate position for these recesses, since the bending
stresses induced by the operational forces reach a maximum in this
area. Tests have however shown that with the materials known at the
moment and rationally usable for saddle support tubes, which first
and foremost with mountain bikes must meet the requirements in
terms of robustness, lightweight and operational stability, the
saddle pole is weakened by the bores to thet extent that the tube
may break or buckle. The weakening of a saddle pole grows
exponentially when the recesses are located on the front or on the
back, compared to recesses located laterally. With a targeted
adjustment stroke of more than 150 millimetres the current tests
for saddle poles of mountain bikes, developed by testing agencies,
are not passed with such a construction in which the recesses are
located on the front or on the back. These tests are performed with
simulation of the forces prevailing during riding. It should be
noted that the saddle pole is not clamped or fixed in a friction
locking manner any longer with these systems, but in fact the load
is only absorbed by the locking mechanism in direction of the axis
of the saddle pole or of the saddle support tube. The saddle
support tube is not fixed any longer in the transition region
between saddle support tube and cladding tube.
[0011] The object of the invention is hence to remedy the
shortcomings aforementioned.
[0012] Another purpose of this invention is to provide a pole which
is of simple design and easy to maintain, and which allows for
adjustment ranges with a lift of more than 150 mm.
[0013] The invention should besides provide a solution for a remote
control cable running parallel on the cladding tube.
[0014] The object is satisfied in that the bores for accommodating
the locking pin are located in the area of the smallest stress of
the saddle support tube. In the context of the patent application,
the term "bore" should be understood as a recess, i.e. it need not
strictly be a circular hole but also other geometrical recesses can
be provided, for example also conical recesses and/or blind
hole-shaped recesses, etc. In the context of the patent
application, by "region" is meant that the centre of a bore or
recess need not exactly coincide with a point of the neutral fibre,
but that it is important to arrange the recesses in regions which
do not weaken the saddle support tube so much.
[0015] The stress in a saddle support tube is generated by the load
of the rider, whose weight force pushes the saddle support tube
backwards and downwards. This is due to the fact that the saddle
tube (this is the tube of the bicycle which receives the saddle
pole) extends obliquely from the receiving opening of the saddle
pole forwards and downwards to the bottom bracket bearing. The
tensile stress is therefore maximum in the front fibre of the
saddle support tube in the driving direction (the compressive
stress is accordingly maximum in the rear fibre in the driving
direction). The "neutral" fibre of a saddle support tube lies
laterally offset by nearly 90 degrees from the maximally stressed
fibres. The region of the neutral fibre is hence the region of the
smallest stress and hence the optimal region for mounting the
locking device.
[0016] Due to the bending load, the saddle support tube and hence
the bore of the saddle support tube move marginally backwards
(indications such as "backwards", "forwards", "laterally" are
always related to the driving direction), so that the latched
locking pin under load is pushed in this direction. It is hence
advantageous that the locking pin in the latched position
accompanies the movement of the saddle support tube more or less in
the direction and in the opposite direction of the cross product of
the vector of the longitudinal axis of the cladding tube with the
vector of the longitudinal axis of the locking pin. The degree of
freedom of the locking pin can be achieved through suitable
mounting of the locking pin or its guide.
[0017] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the locking pin has a first flattening or phase in the
peripheral area of its front end. The locking pin can hence be
latched in the bore more easily.
[0018] It is particularly advantageously if the locking pin in the
partial regions of its periphery, on which the bores of the saddle
support tube have the largest relative movement with respect to the
locking pin, contains second larger flattenings so that latching is
then secured when the deflection of the saddle support tube is
maximum.
[0019] It is further advantageous if the contour of the locking pin
on its front end matches the contour of the saddle support tube.
The locking pin lies thereby already over its surface on the saddle
support tube and can hence be brought in the latched position
faster, not to mention the release which is also facilitated. All
the more so if implemented in combination with the flattenings.
[0020] According to a further advantageous variation of the
invention, the locking pin is arranged in such a way that it
absorbs the load in direction of the longitudinal axis of the
cladding tube (28) or of the saddle support tube over its surface
in its guide. In the axial direction, the locking pin must absorb
almost the whole weight force of the rider. The force should
therefore be absorbed flatly as far as possible, preferably by a
plane surface area.
[0021] The locking pin can hence advantageously be brought into the
latched position and into the unlatched position. It is hence
meaningful since the force which has to be exerted can be
transformed with a lever.
[0022] The locking pin should consequently allow the movement of
the bore which is caused by the load of the saddle pole.
[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the
adjustment of the locking pin is done via a slotted guide
mechanism. Such a mechanism allows on the one hand to achieve a
particularly small design and on the other hand the distance-force
curve can be set up and optimised via the design of the sliding
path.
[0024] The size of the structure of the whole device can be reduced
particularly advantageously in such a way that a portion of the
mechanism for actuating the locking pin is arranged around the
periphery of the cladding tube.
[0025] In an advantageous variation of the invention, the locking
mechanism is actuated via a Bowden cable. According to the state of
the art, shifters or similar actuating devices are provided for
actuating such a Bowden cable, which can be fixed to the handlebar
of a bicycle, so that the rider can release the height adjustment
mechanism during riding. By reversing the actuation of the latching
mechanism for example, by means of a curved disc, it is possible to
bring the Bowden cable close to the cladding tube or the saddle
tube from below, so that it does not interfere with the rider.
[0026] An advantageous variation of the invention consists in that
the spring element acting upon the saddle support tube is a
pneumatic spring. This enables to achieve a relatively flat spring
characteristic and a practically constant extension force as well.
Such pneumatic springs are commercially available at low cost.
[0027] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the
cladding tube is the saddle tube of a bicycle. There is
consequently no need for an additional tube as a cladding tube and
the design of the device can be easier. The saddle tube should
indeed be prepared "in factory" accordingly.
[0028] According to another advantageous embodiment of the
invention, means should be provided to prevent any twisting of the
saddle support tube with respect to the cladding tube. This
substantially facilitates the adjustment for the rider while
riding, since otherwise the saddle might easily be twisted during
the adjustment and the locking pin would not latch.
[0029] An advantageous variation of the invention consists in that
a pinhole closure is provided for sealing the bores which opens in
reaction to the force of the locking pin 61. This prevents the
ingress of dirt through the bores.
[0030] It is further advantageous that the upper end of the
external tube of the pneumatic spring or gas spring is fixed at the
upper end of the saddle support tube. This hence prevents the
saddle pole from falling out or being removed completely. This
enables moreover to define the end stop of the maximum extended
position of the saddle support tube, which is also adjustable in
height through the setting of the pneumatic spring.
[0031] An advantageous variation of the invention consists finally
in that a wiping device is provided, which contains a felt ring 3.
This prevents the ingress of dirt. The felt ring can be soaked with
oil so that the saddle support tube is coated with a thin oil film
due to the up and down movement and thus absorbs less dirt. Better
sliding properties can thus also be obtained.
[0032] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below
using drawings. Wherein:
[0033] FIG. 1 shows a cut-out of a bicycle frame with a height
adjustable saddle pole fitted with a saddle
[0034] FIG. 2 shows a device for height adjustment of a saddle pole
in assembled condition
[0035] FIG. 3 shows an exploded drawing of the locking device V
with cladding tube 28, etc.
[0036] FIG. 4 shows a part of the exploded drawing according to
FIG. 3
[0037] FIG. 5 shows the locking device in latched position
[0038] FIG. 6 shows the locking device in unlatched position
[0039] FIG. 7 shows the locking pin 61 in enlarged view
[0040] FIG. 8 shows a cut D-D through the locking device V
[0041] FIG. 9 shows an exploded drawing of the locking device V
[0042] FIG. 10 shows a height adjustable saddle pole with the
forces acting upon it
[0043] FIG. 1 shows a cut-out of a bicycle frame along with a
schematic view of a height adjustable saddle pole fitted with said
saddle support tube 16 and said saddle plate SA. The locking device
V is here only schematically indicated. A pneumatic spring GF is
situated inside the saddle support tube 16. A Bowden cable 30 leads
from the locking device V along the upper tube OR of the bicycle
frame to the handlebar L and there terminates at the lever H. The
locking device V can be released by actuating the lever and the
saddle pole S pushed downwards by the weight of the rider or
extended when relieved from his weight while riding, whereas both
his hands can stay on the handlebar L. The structural design of a
corresponding remote control (lever H plus Bowden cable) is known
to the man of the art. A current spiral spring etc. can be also
used instead of a pneumatic spring GE
[0044] FIG. 2 shows a device for height adjustment of a saddle pole
in assembled condition fitted with a saddle plate SA on which a
conventional saddle can be fastened. The saddle support tube 16,
not visible here, is mounted telescopically in the cladding tube
28. The cladding tube 28 is closed up at the lower end with a
clamping nut 15 which for instance can be screwed with the cladding
tube 28 by means of a thread.
[0045] The locking device V, to which the saddle support tube 16 is
fixable relative to the cladding tube, is installed at the upper
end of the cladding tube 28. The locking device V can hence be
formed in one piece, but it can be installed as a separate
component on the cladding tube 28 for example by gluing. The Bowden
cable 30 is fastened at the bottom of the locking device V. The
locking device V is provided with the cover 5 of the base body
GK.
[0046] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the locking device V which
is fastened to the cladding tube 28, only shown as a cut-out. The
locking device V (the base body GK of the locking device V can be
seen) is hence arranged around the cladding tube 28 in the form of
a quarter circle. The base body GK has a guide for the slotted
slider 9. The pressure springs 10 of the slotted slider 9 are
supported at the lug 92 of the slotted slider.
[0047] The locking pin 61 is received by the guide 52 via the
roller 8. The tilting lever 6 is articulated at the axle 65 of the
locking pin 61. The axles 66 of the tilting lever 6 are received in
a recess 71 of the base body GK via the rollers 7. The whole pin
consists more advantageously of a high performance plastic, which
on the one hand meets the requirements in terms of solidity and on
the other hand has good sliding properties as regards its guiding
means.
[0048] The Bowden cable holder 27 is mounted on the right side of
the base body GK by means of the fastening screws 271. The Bowden
cable holder 27 forms a cavity together with the base body GK,
which serves as a guide for the slotted slider 9. It also receives
the Bowden cable 26. The slider 273 is actuated via the Bowden
cable 26 and engages with its roller 272 into the slotted guide 91
of the slotted slider 9.
[0049] FIG. 3 also shows a pre-wiper ring 1, a wiper ring 2, a felt
ring 3, a clamping nut 4 as well as a plastic bush 23. Pre-wiper
ring 1, wiper ring 2, felt ring 3 and the clamping nut 4 form a
wiping device 11. The pre-wiper ring 1 should hence wipe the coarse
dirt, when the saddle pole is pushed downwards. The wiper ring 2
then takes over the precision work. The use of the felt ring 3 is
particularly advantageous. It can be soaked with oil, so that the
saddle support tube is always wetted with a thin, dirt repelling
oil film.
[0050] The plastic bush 23 enables the saddle support tube 16 to
slide in the cladding tube 28 easily. It also absorbs the radial
forces of the saddle pole. The pre-wiper ring 1 is screwed on the
clamping nut 4 and hence fixes the wiper ring 2 and the felt ring
3. The clamping nut 4 itself is screwed on the cladding tube 28 and
hence fixes the plastic bush 23.
[0051] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged part of the exploded drawing
according to FIG. 3. The parts already known from FIG. 3 are
indicated by the same reference signs. The locking pin 61 is
represented together with the tilting lever 6 and the slotted
slider 9 assembled together. The locking pin 61 has in its guide 52
a clearance in the direction of the double arrow SP, whereas the
direction of the double arrow SP results from the cross product of
the vector of the longitudinal axis A28 of the cladding tube 28
with the vector of the longitudinal axis A61 of the locking pin 61.
The locking pin 61 can thus rotate in its guide 52 about its axis
65. Due to the linear movement of the slotted slider 9 and to the
radial movement of the tilting lever, the differences in length
generated during the movement of the bike must be compensated for.
To that end the recess 71, into which the axle 66 of the tilting
lever 6 engages by means of the roller 7, is formed accordingly and
the axle receptacle of the tilting lever 6, which receives the axle
of the slotted slider, is designed as a long hole. The locking pin
61 conversely is run via its shaft cylinder roller 67 in the guide
groove 68 in such a way that it has no lateral play. But it is also
possible to fix the axle 66 of the tilting lever 6 free of play in
the recess 71 and to form the axle receptacle of the tilting lever
6, which receives the axle of the locking pin 61, also as a long
hole.
[0052] FIGS. 5 and 6 show the locking device V in installed
condition with cut-open Bowden cable holder 27, for better
distinction of the position of the sliding mechanism. FIG. 5 shows
the locking device V in the latched position and FIG. 6 shows the
locking device V in the unlatched position. In the latched position
according to FIG. 5, the slider 273 attached to the Bowden cable 26
is pushed into the upper position via the compression spring 274
and has pushed the slotted slider 9 over the slide 91 outwardly in
such a way so that the pin 61 has been pushed inwardly over the
tilting lever 6. In the illustration according to FIG. 6, the
Bowden cable 26 has been clamped against the force of the
compression spring 274 so that the slider 273 is pulled downwards
and the slotted slider 9 is brought inwardly against the force of
the pressure springs 10, not visible in FIG. 6.
[0053] FIG. 7 shows the locking pin 61 in enlarged view. It has a
cuboidal body 611, on which the axle 65 is moulded. The cuboidal
body 611 is rounded on its longitudinal sides for
manufacture-technical reasons. A cylindrical lug 62 is mounted on
the front end of the locking pin 61. This lug 62 has a flattening
63 on its front circumference. The bores 29, 29', 29'' shown on
FIG. 8 can thus be latched into more easily. Second flattenings 64
are arranged laterally on the lug 62, which are larger compared
with the first flattenings 63. This measure is therefore taken
because the locking pin 61 in its initial position could be rotated
maximally about its axis. The second flattenings 64 also provide
for reliable renewed latching of the pin.
[0054] FIG. 8 shows a sectional view D-D of the locking device V.
An important point of the invention should be mentioned now,
namely, that the driving direction is illustrated in the direction
of the arrow F and which locking pin 61 engages from the side, that
is to say 90.degree. offset with respect to the driving direction.
The base body GK is here formed as a single piece around the
cladding tube 28 and fastened thereto for example by gluing. The
locking pin 61 can run freely in its guide 52 and be brought into
engagement into the bores 29, 29', 29'' of the saddle support tube
16. Three guide grooves 171 for the sliding blocks 17 (FIG. 9) are
inserted into the cladding tube 28 to prevent any twisting of the
saddle support tube 16 with respect to the cladding tube 28. The
contour of the front end 62 of the locking pin 61 matches the
contour of the saddle support tube 16, so that the locking pin 61
bears upon it directly.
[0055] The section D-D shows a pinhole closure 22, whose
three-dimensional representation is shown in FIG. 9. This closure
is for example made of plastic and enables to close the bores 29,
29', 29'' hermetically and hence to prevent the ingress of dirt.
Such pinhole closures 22 should preferably be provided for the
bores 29, 29', 29'' which may be situated outside the cladding tube
28, but a pinhole closure 22 can also be provided for each bore. A
countersink 291 can particularly advantageously be inserted in the
saddle support tube 16, for example by drilling or milling, for
fixing the pinhole closure 22. The latching lug 221 of the pinhole
closure 22 latches into this countersink 291. The insertion of the
countersink 291 is particularly straightforward since it lies
directly opposite the respective bore 29, 29', 29''. It is moreover
also situated laterally in the driving direction so that the
weakening of the axial resistance torque (as already mentioned
above) in the load direction is negligible.
[0056] FIG. 9 shows the whole device for adjusting the height of a
saddle pole in exploded view. There is no need to go into the
components described already in combination with FIGS. 1-8. The
driving direction is again indicated by the arrow F on the
receptacle for the saddle SA and it can be clearly seen that the
bores 29, 29', 29'' are inserted into the saddle support tube 16 at
right angle to the driving direction F.
[0057] The exploded drawing according to FIG. 9 additionally shows
the components of the pneumatic spring, that is to say the piston
12, the piston rod 13, the pneumatic spring outer tube 20, the
resilient seal 21, the cover 19, the pneumatic spring GF and the
fastening screws 24 of the pneumatic spring. The pneumatic spring
GF is centred in the cladding tube 28 with the adjustment disc 14.
The sliding blocks 17 as well as a pneumatic spring holder 18 are
further mounted on the saddle support tube 16. A guide bushing XX
is mounted on the lower end of the saddle support tube to absorb
the load of the stressed saddle pole 16. The pinhole closure 22
described using FIG. 8 is designated by the reference sign 22.
[0058] The pneumatic spring outer tube of the pneumatic spring GF
(FIG. 1) is fixed in the saddle support tube 16 by means of the
fixing sleeve 18. To do so, the fixing sleeve 18 is fastened on the
top in the saddle support tube 16 for instance by gluing and the
gas spring valve 25 inserted from below through the fixing sleeve
18, which is formed accordingly, and fixed from above with the
fastening screw 24. This has the advantage that firstly the saddle
support tube 16 cannot come out of the cladding tube 28 completely
and secondly the pneumatic spring GF establishes the end stop of
the maximum extended position. This end stop is moreover adjustable
in height through the setting of the pneumatic spring GF.
[0059] FIG. 10 shows the forces acting upon the saddle support tube
16 and the cladding tube 28. (Indications below such as back,
front, laterally, right, left, etc. always refer to the driving
direction, as shown by the thin arrow above the saddle tip). The
force FF caused by the rider is regularly exerted against the
driving direction, backwards and downwards. It finds a
counter-bearing at the upper rear end of the cladding tube through
the force FHO as well as in the front area of the cladding tube 28,
against which the guide bushing XX, which is situated at the lower
end of the saddle support tube, are pushed by the leverage effect
(force arrow FHN). The resulting force FV in the axial direction
downwards is absorbed by the locking pin 61 (not illustrated here)
The result is thus the stress curve indicated schematically in the
saddle support tube 16, which is a superposition of compression and
bending stresses. There is an increasing tensile stress ZS towards
the front area of the saddle support tube 16 away from the neutral
fibre NF while the compression stress DS increases with the
distance from the neutral fibre NF opposite to the driving
direction. The portion of the compression stress DS is greater in
the upper section than in the lower section due to the short lever
length of the radial force components. Consequently, the neutral
fibre NF is shifted forwards a little. The amount of stress in the
tube cross-section is however minimal, so that the upper bore (even
if it is a little remote from the neutral fibre NF) does not
compromise the operational stability of the whole system. The
portion of bending stress is significantly larger in the lower
section. The neutral fibre NF is consequently close to the centre
line. The amount of stresses is the greatest at the entrance into
the cladding tube 28. It is clearly visible in combination with
these embodiments that the bores (29, 29', 29'') are located in the
area of the smallest bending stress, i.e. close to the neutral
fibre NF of the saddle support tube 16).
[0060] The illustrated parts are listed below in the list of
reference numerals.
TABLE-US-00001 1 Pre-wiper ring 11 Wiping device 2 Wiper ring 23
Plastic bush 29, 29', 29'' Bores 291 Countersink in the saddle
support tube 16 3 Felt ring 4 Clamping nut 5 Cover of base body 51
Base body 52 Guide of locking pin 6 Tilting lever 61 Locking pin 62
Front end of the locking pin 63 First flattening (locking pin) 64
Second flattening 65 Axle of the locking pin 61 66 Axle of the
tilting lever 6 68 Guide groove of the shafted cylinder 67 7
Rollers of tilting lever (2) 71 Recess GK for rollers of the
tilting lever 8 Rollers of locking pin 9 Slotted slider 91 Slide of
the slotted slider 92 Lug of the slotted slider 10 Compression
springs of the slotted slider 12 Piston 13 Piston rod 14 Adjustment
disc 15 Clamping nut 16 Saddle support tube 17 Sliding blocks 171
Grooves for guiding the sliding blocks 18 Fixing sleeve 19 Cover of
pneumatic spring 20 Pneumatic spring outer tube 21 Resilient seal
of piston rod 22 Pinhole closure (closure for bores 29, 29', 29''
221 Latching lug of the pinhole closure 23 Plastic bush 24
Fastening screw of pneumatic spring 25 Pneumatic spring valve 26
Bowden cable 261 Bowden cable eaves 27 Bowden cable holder 271
Fastening screws of Bowden cable holder (2) 272 Roller of slide 273
Slider (for slide) 274 Compression spring of slider 28 Cladding
tube A28 Centre line of the cladding tube L Long hole V Locking
device S Height adjustable saddle pole GF Pneumatic spring OR Upper
tube H Lever FF Weight force of the rider FF FHO Force at the upper
end of the cladding tube FHG Force of the sliding blocks exerted on
the cladding tube FV Force absorbed by the locking pin ZS Tensile
stress DS Compression stress NF Neutral fibre XX Guide bushing
* * * * *