Cycle seat support apparatus

Claim 1

A cycle seat support apparatus for dampening impact loading between a cycle frame and a cycle seat, the cycle frame including a hollow tubular member, the cycle seat support apparatus comprising: a plastic elongated sleeve defining a longitudinal axis of the sleeve and having a first end, a second end, and an elongated inner surface extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis from the first end toward the second end, the plastic exhibiting sufficient lubricity to permit sliding engagement of the inner surface with another compatible plastic surface thereby minimizing wear of the inner surface; a metal tube having a top end for receiving the sleeve in an interior of the tube, the tube including means for mounting the sleeve to the tube to limit relative movement between the tube and the sleeve, the tube being receivable by the hollow tubular member of the cycle frame to mount the sleeve to the cycle frame; a plastic elongated post defining a longitudinal axis of the post and having a first end, a second end, and an elongated outer surface extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the post from the first end toward the second end, the plastic of the post compatible with the plastic of the sleeve during sliding engagement, the first end of the post positioned in the first end of the sleeve thereby providing sliding engagement between the outer surface of the post and the inner surface of the sleeve and providing securable engagement of the post and the sleeve, the post further defining an inner passage in the post extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the post, the second end of the post being attachable to the cycle seat; a metal rod with at least a portion positioned in the inner passage of the post, the rod including means for interconnecting the post to the sleeve to limit movement of the post away from the sleeve to a predetermined amount; means for limiting rotational movement of the post with respect to the sleeve about each respective longitudinal axis; and means for biasing the post to urge the post toward an at rest position when the post is moved longitudinally relative to the sleeve.