Bicycle seat support

Claim 2

A bicycle seat support for attaching a bicycle seat to a bicycle frame comprising: a first elongate beam having a front end for attachment to the bicycle frame, and a tail end distal from said front end; a second elongate beam located above said first elongate beam and having a front end spaced from said first beam front end so as to define a gap therebetween, and a tail end fixedly secured to said first beam tail end such that when opposed loads are imposed on said first beam front end and said second beam tail end, said beam tail ends remain fixedly secured to each other and said second beam front end shifts position longitudinally with respect to said first beam front end; a fastening means for securing the bicycle seat to at least one of said beam tail ends; an elastomeric material in said gap extending between said beam front ends, said material being deformed in response to relative movement of said beams; and a frame fastening means securing said first elongate beam front end and second elongate beam front end to the bicycle frame so as to prevent upward movement of said beam front ends and allow said second beam front end to move longitudinally.

Claim 3

The bicycle seat support of claim 1, wherein said first beam and said second beam are integrally joined at said beam tail ends.

Claim 4

The bicycle seat support of claim 1, wherein said beams include a foam core covered by a skin of resin bound fibers.

Claim 5

The bicycle seat support of claim 1, wherein each said beam includes a rigid foam core and a skin of epoxy resin bound fiberglass and wherein said elastomeric material is a polyurethane elastomer.

Claim 6

The bicycle seat support of claim 2, wherein said beams include a rigid foam core and a skin of epoxy resin bound fiberglass such that said epoxy fiberglass joins said beams together.

Claim 7

The bicycle seat support of claim 1, wherein said frame fastening means includes a first clamp adapted to be secured to the bicycle frame and at least one fastener attached to said first clamp for fixedly securing said first beam front end to said clamp.

Claim 8

The bicycle seat support of claim 6, wherein said frame fastening means further includes a first fastener attached to said first clamp and disposed in an opening formed in said beam front ends and in said elastomeric layer for securing said second beam front end against upward movement while allowing said second beam front end to move longitudinally with respect to said first fastener.

Claim 9

The bicycle seat support of claim 7, wherein said first and second beams define a uniaxial opening through which said first fastener is inserted.

Claim 10

The bicycle seat support of claim 8, wherein said first fastener is secured to said second beam by complementary fastening elements having a selected maximum dimension and said opening defined by said second beam has a longitudinal dimension greater than said maximum dimension of said fastening elements so that at least a portion of said second beam is capable of longitudinal movement with respect to said fastener.

Claim 11

The bicycle seat support of claim 9, wherein each said beam is provided with a middle section located between each said beam front and tail ends, said middle section being axially offset from said front and tail ends such that said front ends and said tail ends are axially spaced apart and approximately parallel to each other.

Claim 12

The bicycle seat support of claim 10, wherein said beam middle sections are spaced apart from each other such that said gap is located between said beam front ends and said beam middle sections and, said elastomeric material is located in said gap and extends between said middle sections.

Claim 13

The bicycle seat support of claim 11, wherein said beams have a vertical deflection adjacent where the bicycle seat is attached thereto of approximately 100 pounds per inch.

Claim 14

The bicycle seat support of claim 1 wherein said beams include a foam core and a skin of resin bound fiberglass and are integrally attached by said resin bound fiberglass at said beam tail ends.

Claim 15

The bicycle seat support of claim 1 wherein said frame fastening means is further adapted for securing said second elongate beam against upward movement while allowing said second elongate beam front end to move longitudinally with respect to said first beam front end.

Claim 16

The bicycle seat support of claim 1 wherein: said first and second elongate beam front ends and said elastomeric layer define a uniaxial opening, said opening in said second elongate beam having a longitudinal dimension greater that its lateral dimension; and said fastening means includes a clamp adapted to be secured to the bicycle frame, a fastener attached to said clamp and disposed in said opening, and at least one fastening element secured to said fastener in said second elongate beam opening, said at least one fastening element having a maximum longitudinal dimension less than said selected longitudinal dimension of said second elongate beam opening so that said secon beam is capable of longitudinal movement with respect to said fastener.

Claim 17

The bicycle seat support of claim 11 wherein each said beam includes a middle section located between each said beam front end and tail end, said beam middle sections being axially offset from said beam front and tail ends such that said beam front ends and said beam tail ends are axially spaced apart and are approximately parallel to each other, and said beam middle sections are spaced apart such that said gap is located between said beam middle sections and said elastomeric material is located in said gap between said middle sections.

Claim 18

The bicycle seat support of claim 14 wherein each said beam includes a middle section located between each said beam front end and tail end, said beam middle sections being axially offset from said beam front and tail ends such that said beam front ends and said beam tail ends are axially spaced apart and are approximately parallel to each other, and said beam middle sections are spaced apart such that said gap is located between said beam middle sections and said elastomeric material is located in said gap between said middle sections.

Claim 19

The bicycle seat support of claim 1, wherein adjacent sections of said first and second elongate beams are substantially parallel to each other.

Claim 20

The bicycle seat support of claim 7, wherein adjacent sections of said first and second elongate beams are substantially parallel to each other.

Claim 21

The bicycle seat support of claim 10, wherein adjacent sections of said first and second elongate beams are substantially parallel to each other.

Claim 22

The bicycle seat support of claim 15, wherein adjacent sections of said first and second elongate beams are substantially parallel to each other.

Claim 23

A bicycle seat support comprising a combination beam adapted for connection at one end to a bicycle frame and adapted for connection at an opposite end to a bicycle seat means, said combination beam including: a first portion having a front end adapted to be secured to the bicycle frame and a tail end and a second portion having a tail end connected to said first portion tail end and a front end spaced from said first portion front end so that when opposed loads are placed on said first portion tail end and said second portion front end, said second portion front end shifts position longitudinally with respect to said first portion front end; a fastening means attached to said first and second portion beam front ends for securing said first portion front end to the bicycle frame and for securing said second portion front end against upward movement while allowing said second portion front end to move longitudinally with respect to said first portion front end; and an elastomeric material positioned between said first second portion front ends and adapted to be deformed to slow the speed and reduce the amplitude of the movement of said second portion front end with respect to said first portion front end and, consequently, to slow the speed and reduce the amplitude of the movement of said seat up and down.

Claim 24

A bicycle seat support comprising a combination beam adapted for connection at one end to a bicycle frame and adapted for connection at an opposite end to a bicycle seat means, said combination beam including: a first portion having a front end adapted to be secured to the bicycle frame and a tail end and a second portion having a tail end connected to said first portion tail end and a front end spaced from said first portion front end so that when opposed loads are placed on said first portion tail end and said second portion front end, said second portion front end shifts position longitudinally with respect to said first portion front end; a fastening means attached to said first and second portion beam front ends for securing said first portion front end to the bicycle frame and for securing said second portion front end against upward movement while allowing said second portion front end to move longitudinally with respect to said first portion front end; and an elastomeric material positioned between said first second portion front ends and adapted to be deformed to slow the speed and reduce the amplitude of the movement of said second portion front end with respect to said first portion front end and, consequently, to slow the speed and reduce the amplitude of the movement of said seat up and down.

Claim 25

The bicycle seat support of claim 22, wherein said first and second portions of said combination beam are interconnected to each other at a point spaced from the connection point of said first portion to said bicycle whereby said first and second portions do not move relative to each other at the point of their interconnection.

Claim 26

The bicycle seat support of claim 22, wherein said combination beam is curved along its length.

Claim 27

The bicycle seat support of claim 22, including an adjustable fastening means for securing said beam first portion to the bicycle frame so that the angle of said combination beam with the bicycle frame and the resultant height of the seat can be selectively adjusted.

Claim 28

The seat support of claim 22, wherein said first and second portions of said combination beam are spaced from each other along at least a portion of their length to define a gap and said elastomeric material is positioned within said gap.

Claim 29

The seat support of claim 26, wherein said gap is adjacent the connection of said first portion of said combination beam to said bicycle.

Claim 30

The seat support of claim 26, wherein said elastomeric material is connected to the opposed surfaces of said first and second combination beam portions.

Claim 31

The seat support of claim 26, wherein the distance between the first and second portions of said beam defining said gap varies along the length of said gap.

Claim 32

A bicycle assembly comprising: a frame including a head tube, a top tube attached to said head tube, a bottom tube attached to said head tube below said top tube, a bottom bracket assembly attached to said bottom tube opposite said head tube, a chain stay extending between said bottom bracket assembly and a rear hub, and at least one frame stay extending between said top tube and said rear hub; a steerable front fork assembly pivotably mounted to said head tube a bicycle seat support comprising: a first elongate beam having a front end for attachment to said frame, and a tail end distal from said front end; a second elongate beam located above said first elongate beam and having a front end spaced from said first beam front end so as to define a gap therebetween, and a tail end fixedly secured to said first beam tail end such that when opposed loads are imposed on said first beam front end and said second beam tail end, said beam tail ends remain fixedly secure to each other and said second beam front end shifts position longitudinally with respect to said first beam front end; an elastomeric material in said gap between said beam front ends for absorbing the kinetic energy of said beam shifting movement; and a frame fastening means attached to said first elongate beam front end and second elongate beam front end to secure said seat support to said frame so as to prevent upward movement of said beam front ends and allow said second beam front end to move longitudinally with respect to said first beam front end; and a bicycle seat secured to at least one of said seat support elongated beams.

Claim 33

A bicycle assembly comprising: a frame including a head tube, a top tube attached to said head tube, a bottom tube attached to said head tube below said top tube, a bottom bracket assembly attached to said bottom tube opposite said head tube, a chain stay extending between said bottom bracket assembly and a rear hub, and at least one frame stay extending between said top tube and said rear hub; a steerable front fork assembly pivotably mounted to said head tube a bicycle seat support comprising: a first elongate beam having a front end for attachment to said frame, and a tail end distal from said front end; a second elongate beam located above said first elongate beam and having a front end spaced from said first beam front end so as to define a gap therebetween, and a tail end fixedly secured to said first beam tail end such that when opposed loads are imposed on said first beam front end and said second beam tail end, said beam tail ends remain fixedly secure to each other and said second beam front end shifts position longitudinally with respect to said first beam front end; an elastomeric material in said gap between said beam front ends for absorbing the kinetic energy of said beam shifting movement; and a frame fastening means attached to said first elongate beam front end and second elongate beam front end to secure said seat support to said frame so as to prevent upward movement of said beam front ends and allow said second beam front end to move longitudinally with respect to said first beam front end; and a bicycle seat secured to at least one of said seat support elongated beams.

Claim 34

The bicycle assembly of claim 30 wherein said seat support is attached to said frame top tube by a first clamp adjacent to said head tube and a second clamp means spaced rearwardly from said first clamp, and said frame is shaped so that from said second clamp, said top tube and said at least one frame stay are substantially linearly aligned.