Seat with an adjustable abutment portion

Abstract

A seat has a surface portion and an abutment portion which is movable out of the seat portion by a spring biasing mechanism. The mechanism includes rod and locking pin which can lock the rod in position to hold the abutment portion in a predetermined position. Seat mounting mechanisms are also disclosed which include clamp assemblies which have quick release compression cam fasteners for locking a seat in a desired position relative to the mounting mechanisms. Other mounting mechanisms include spring arrangements for biasing a seat forward and locking mechanisms may be included for locking the seat in a predetermined position. One seat mounting includes an arcuate guide sleeve which moves relative to a block so the seat can be moved along an arcuate guide path. Another mounting includes post segments which are pivotally connected together and bias by a spring into certain disposition. A compression lock is provided for locking the segments together. Another seat embodiment includes spring metal seat portion which flex and conform to a user's anatomy depending on the shape of the anatomy and load applied. Support members are also provided which include a plurality of elements which are biased by spring and rod assemblies to place the elements in predetermined positions.

The claims defining the invention are as follows:  
     
         1 . A seat including: 
 a seat surface portion for receiving at least part of a person's buttocks;    an abutment portion within the seat surface portion and forming part of the seat surface portion; and    adjustment means for adjusting the abutment portion out of the seat surface portion so that in a first position of the seat, a user can seat on the seat surface, and by adjustment of the adjusting means, the seat can be placed into a second position where the user seats against the abutment portion.    
     
     
         2 . The seat of    claim 1   , wherein in the first position the abutment portion is substantially co-planar with the remainder of the seat surface, and the abutment portion and the remainder of the seat portion form the entire seat surface for receiving at least part of a person's buttocks and, in the second position upon actuation of the adjustment means, the abutment portion is moved out of the plane of the remainder of the seat surface into the second position so that a user can seat only against the abutment portion rather than the entire seat surface.  
     
     
         3 . The seat of    claim 2   , wherein the abutment portion is for receiving a portion of a person's seating anatomy which coves one or both of the person's ischial bones or at least a part thereof, the abutment portion being dimensioned so that the majority of the seating compression to the person's seating anatomy occurs between the ischial bones and said abutment portion and so substantially all the muscle and/or soft tissue surrounding said portion of the seating anatomy is not compressed or squeezed when the person is on the abutment portion.  
     
     
         4 . The seat of    claim 1   , wherein the adjustment means can adjust the abutment portion from a position where the seat surface can take 100% of a rider's weight and the rider can be seated permanently on the seat surface and a position where the abutment portion is inclined and the abutment portion takes substantially none of the rider's weight but provides an abutment for a portion of the person's anatomy.  
     
     
         5 . The seat of    claim 4   , wherein the adjustment means provides for intermediate adjustment between the positions referred to above so that the user can be located on the abutment portion with varying amounts of the user's weight supported by the abutment portion.  
     
     
         6 . The seat of    claim 1   , wherein the abutment portion is pivotally coupled to the seat for movement from a position generally planar with the remainder of the seat surface to the second position, and wherein the adjusting means comprises a first member, a second member, the first and second members being moveable with respect to one another, a spring for biasing the first member and the abutment portion relative to the second member towards the second position.  
     
     
         7 . The seat of    claim 6    including locking means for locking the first and second members together to secure the abutment portion in the first or second positions or in a position between the first and second positions.  
     
     
         8 . The seat of    claim 6   , wherein the locking member comprises a pin locatable in any one of a plurality of aligned holes in the first and second members and a cable coupled to the pin for selectively removing the pin from one of the aligned holes to enable the spring to bias the abutment portion towards the second position and to relocate the pin in another of the aligned holes to secure the abutment portion in a required position.  
     
     
         9 . The seat of    claim 1    including locking means for locking the abutment portion in a certain position.  
     
     
         10 . The seat of    claim 1   , wherein the seat also includes seat positioning means for positioning the orientation of the seat, the positioning means comprising: 
 pivot means for enabling the seat surface to be altered in inclination by pivoting the seat surface about the pivot means.    
     
     
         11 . The seat of    claim 1   , wherein the abutment portion comprises a plurality of seat portions pivotally moveable out of the seat surface portion and biasing means for biasing the seat portion(s) out of the seat surface portion, and wherein the adjustment means comprises a compression lock means for locking the seat portions in a desired position at the first position, the second position or a position between the first and second positions.  
     
     
         12 . The seat of    claim 11   , wherein the seat surface portions also includes third and fourth seat portions which are also pivotally mounted for movement out of the seat surface portion and wherein second biasing means is provided for biasing the third and fourth seat portions.  
     
     
         13 . The seat of    claim 12   , including second compression lock means provided for locking the third and fourth seat portions in the first position, the second position or a position between the first and second positions so that the abutment portion made up of the first and second seat portions can move out of the seat surface portion alone or the abutment portion made up of the first and second seat portions can move together with the third and fourth seat portions or the third and fourth seat portions could move alone or any one of the first to fourth seat portions can move independently of the other seat portions.  
     
     
         14 . A seat, including: 
 a seat member; and    an arcuate shaped guide member coupled to the seat member for guiding movement of the seat member along an arcuate path.    
     
     
         15 . The seat of    claim 14    wherein the movement of the seat is between a lower rearward position and an upper forward position.  
     
     
         16 . The seat of    claim 14    including: 
 locking means for releasably locking the seat member in a desired position at the lower rearward position, the upper forward position or a position therebetween.  
 
     
     
         17 . The seat of    claim 14   , wherein the guide member comprises an arcuate sleeve and an arcuate rod moveable in the sleeve, the rod being coupled to the seat member.  
     
     
         18 . The seat of    claim 15   , including a spring for biasing the rod relative to the sleeve to thereby bias the seat along the arcuate path.  
     
     
         19 . The seat of    claim 14   , wherein the locking means comprises a hole in the sleeve and a plurality of holes in the rod, and a pin for location through the hole in the sleeve and into one of the holes in the rod to thereby lock the rod relative to the sleeve and position the seat in the desired position.  
     
     
         20 . The seat of    claim 18   , wherein a cable is coupled to the pin for controlling movement of the pin into and out of the holes in the rod to allow movement of the rod or to lock the rod to the sleeve.  
     
     
         21 . A mounting post for a seat, including: 
 a plurality of post segments;    pivotal coupling means arranged between adjacent segments for enabling the adjacent segments to pivot relative to one another; and    biasing means for biasing the adjacent segments toward a certain position.    
     
     
         22 . The mounting post of    claim 21    further including: 
 releasable locking means for locking the segments relative to one another.  
 
     
     
         23 . The post of    claim 20   , wherein the pivotal coupling means comprises opposed projections on the adjacent segments, the projections having an aligned opening for receiving a shaft about which one of the segments can pivot relative to another of the segments.  
     
     
         24 . The post of    claim 22   , wherein the locking means is a compression lock having a shaft, and the shaft comprises the shaft of the compression lock.  
     
     
         25 . The post of    claim 20   , wherein the biasing means is at least one torsion spring.  
     
     
         26 . The post of    claim 24   , wherein the biasing means is at least one torsion spring having a coiled section and the shaft of the compression lock passes through the coiled section of the torsion spring.  
     
     
         27 . A seat, including: 
 a seat member;    biasing means for biasing the seat member so that the seat member can float under the influence of the biasing means; and    wherein a user can sit on the seat member and push the seat member against the bias of the biasing member.    
     
     
         28 . The seat of    claim 27    wherein when the user moves, the seat member follows the user by virtue of being biased by the biasing means.  
     
     
         29 . The seat of    claim 27   , wherein the biasing means is arranged to bias the seat forward in a straight line which is substantially horizontal.  
     
     
         30 . The seat of    claim 27   , wherein the biasing means biases the seat member along an arcuate path from a lower rear position to a higher front position.  
     
     
         31 . The seat of    claim 27   , wherein the biasing means comprises a spring.  
     
     
         32 . The seat of    claim 27   , wherein the locking means is provided to lock the seat member and prevent floating movement of the seat under the influence of the biasing means.  
     
     
         33 . A seat mounting for a seat which has at least one mounting member coupled to the seat, said seat mounting including: 
 a first clamp member and a second clamp member for engaging said mounting member and selectively clamping said mounting member to fix the mounting member and releasing the mounting member, the first and second clamping members and aligned holes;    a shaft for passing through said aligned holes; and    a cam lever coupled to said shaft for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position, the cam lever having a cam surface, wherein in the closed position, the cam surface of the cam applied tension to the first and second clamp members for clamping the mounting member and locking the seat in position, and when the cam lever is pivoted to the open position, the cam surface is moved relative to the first and second clamp members to release tension for releasing the first and second clamp members from the mounting member to enable the mounting member and therefore the seat to be moved relative to the seat mounting.    
     
     
         34 . The mounting of    claim 33   , including third and fourth clamping members and the mounting member comprises a pair of rails, the first and second clamping members engaging one of the pair of rails and the third and fourth clamping members engaging the second of the pair of rails, the third and fourth clamping members having aligned holes which are aligned with the holes of the first and second clamp members; 
 a seat post bracket having a pair of lugs including aligned holes for location between the first and second clamp members and the third and fourth clamp members, the seat post bracket having a curved bracket portion for engaging a mounting post; and    wherein when the cam lever is in the closed position, the seat post bracket has a tension applied to it for clamping the bracket to the bicycle post and when the cam lever is in the open position, the tension is released to enable the seat post bracket to move relative to the seat post for adjustment of the bicycle seat.    
     
     
         35 . The mounting of    claim 34    wherein a stop is located at the end of the shaft for providing a reaction for the first, second, third and fourth clamp members and the seat post bracket.  
     
     
         36 . The mounting of    claim 34    wherein a moveable reaction is provided on the shaft for engagement by the cam surface for selectively applying tension and releasing tension from the clamp members and the seat post bracket.  
     
     
         37 . The mounting of    claim 36    wherein the moveable reaction members comprise a spacer sleeve.  
     
     
         38 . The mounting of    claim 33    wherein the attachment means comprises a post having a curved surface portion, a hole passing through the curved surface portion, the second clamp member having a curved surface portion for engaging the curved surface portion and the hole in the curved surface portion being aligned with the holes in the first and second clamp members, said shaft passing through the hole in the curved surface member and the hole in the first and second clamp members.  
     
     
         39 . A seat mounting mechanism for mounting a seat, including: 
 a support member for coupling to an article;    at least one first guide member coupled to the support member for movement in a generally horizontal direction relative to the support member; and    at least one second guide member coupled to the at least one first guide member for movement in a generally vertical direction relative to the at least one first guide member.    
     
     
         40 . The seat mounting of    claim 39    including: 
 locking means for locking the guide member relative to the support member.  
 
     
     
         41 . The seat of    claim 40    wherein the locking means also is for locking the seat coupling relative to the guide member.  
     
     
         42 . The seat mounting of    claim 39    wherein either the first or second guide member includes a substantially horizontal section and the other of the first or second guides includes a generally vertically arranged arcuate section.  
     
     
         43 . The mounting of    claim 39    further including a generally vertically arranged straight section coupled to either the first or second guide member.  
     
     
         44 . The mechanism of    claim 39    wherein the guide member comprises a pair of slotted rails arranged in channels on the support member for movement in the channels and the seat coupling comprises a pair of slotted rails which are arcuate in shape and which are coupled at ends of the rails which form the guide member.  
     
     
         45 . The mechanism of    claim 40    wherein the locking means comprises a compression lock for locking the slotted rails which form the guide member to the support member and a second compression lock for locking the rails that form the seat coupling to the rails which form the guide member.  
     
     
         46 . The mechanism of    claim 39    wherein biasing means is provided between the support member and the guide member for biasing the guide member.  
     
     
         47 . The mechanism of    claim 39    wherein second biasing means is provided between the guide member and the seat coupling for biasing the seat coupling.  
     
     
         48 . A seat mounting and adjusting mechanism, including: 
 a seat portion;    an abutment member for movement relative to the seat portion for engaging the seat portion and for moving the seat portion to move upwardly or downwardly relative to the abutment portion.    
     
     
         49 . A seat, including: 
 a seat member formed from spring material so that the seat member is able to flex and/or move and/or generally conform to a user's anatomy when the user sits on the seat member.    
     
     
         50 . The seat of    claim 49   , wherein the seat member comprises a single sheet of spring material.  
     
     
         51 . The seat of    claim 49   , wherein the seat member comprises a plurality of sheets of spring material and coupling means for coupling the plurality of sheets together so that each sheet is able to move independently of the other sheets to conform to a user's anatomy and/or flex and/or move.  
     
     
         52 . The seat of    claim 49    wherein the spring material is spring metal material.  
     
     
         53 . A support member having: 
 a support portion for receiving at least part of a user's anatomy, the support portion being formed from a plurality of support elements; and    biasing means for individually biasing the support elements towards a certain position so that when a user is supported on the support elements the support elements move against the bias of the biasing means to take up position depending upon a load placed upon the support elements and/or the contour of the user's anatomy.    
     
     
         54 . The support of    claim 53    wherein the support elements can flex.  
     
     
         55 . The support member of    claim 53    further including: 
 locking means for locking the support elements in position.  
 
     
     
         56 . The support member according to    claim 53    wherein the support elements each have a rod connected thereto which extends through a fixed member, the rod having a slot, and wherein the biasing means comprises a spring arranged between the fixed member and the element.  
     
     
         57 . The support member according to    claim 53    wherein a compression lock engages the rod and the slot for locking the element in a certain position.  
     
     
         58 . The support member according to    claim 53    wherein the rod has a ball which is received in a socket to form a universal ball and socket coupling.  
     
     
         59 . The support member of    claim 58    wherein the socket being formed in two socket members which are spring biased apart and wherein clamping means is provided for selectively locking the members together to lock the ball and therefore the shaft and element in a certain position or releasing the ball and therefore the shaft so that the element can move in universal fashion by movement of said ball in said socket.  
     
     
         60 . The support member according to    claim 53    wherein the rod has a universal joint formed of a ball and socket at its upper end for enabling the element to move in universal fashion relative to said rod.  
     
     
         61 . A seat including: 
 a seat surface portion for receiving at least part of a person's buttocks;    an abutment portion; and    biasing means for biasing the abutment portion relative to the seat surface portion.    
     
     
         62 . A seat according to    claim 61   , wherein the abutment portion is arranged within the seat surface portion and forms part of the seat surface portion so that in a first position of the abutment portion, a user can seat on the seat surface portion and the abutment portion and wherein the biasing means is for biasing the abutment portion to a second position out of the seat surface portion so that the user can seat against only the abutment portion.  
     
     
         63 . A seat according to    claim 61    or    62    wherein the biasing means comprises a spring.