TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a support structure like for example a saddle suitable for being used in bicycles and vehicles with pedals of various kinds or, more generally, a seat and/or a backrest equipped with areas with variable rigidity capable of ensuring a differentiated support in relation to the weight and the physical characteristics of the user. According to the present invention such areas with variable rigidity are interchangeable and can be personalised as desired based on the support and appearance characteristics wanted by the user.

The present invention also concerns a method for obtaining said support structure.

STATE OF THE ART

In the field of bicycle saddles or seats in general, monolithic and non-interchangeable padding structures, formed from foams and/or polyurethane gels, are known in which the areas with variable rigidity are given by the presence of materials with differentiated density and/or rigidity arranged in overlying layers .

In European patent application EP1846282 to Selle Royal S.p.A. is described an ergonomic support structure that comprises a main body equipped with an insert made from visco-elastic material permanently anchored to it.

In international patent application WO2008/126052 to Selle Royal S.p.A., on the other hand, a saddle is presented comprising a layer of a continuous element having areas with deformability rigidity and with smaller thickness positioned in the areas of greatest contact with the user.

PURPOSES OF THE INVENTION

A purpose of the invention is to improve the state of the art.

A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a support structure, like for example a saddle and/or a seat and/or a backrest, equipped with areas with variable rigidity able to be personalised by the user according to the personal support, comfort and aesthetic requirements.

Another purpose of the invention is to have a support structure, like for example a saddle and/or a seat and/or a backrest, which combines different materials that have different elastic characteristics .

Another purpose of the invention is to have a support structure, like for example a saddle and/or a seat and/or a backrest, equipped with interchangeable comfort areas.

According to an aspect of the present invention, these purposes are achieved by a support structure, like for example a saddle and/or a seat and/or a backrest, as specified in claim 1.

Another purpose of the invention is to make anatomical areas that have variable shapes and sizes and differentiated degrees of compressibility.

These and other purposes are achieved by the dependent claims 2-17 that refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Yet another purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for making said support structure, like for example a saddle and/or a seat and/or a backrest, equipped with areas with variable rigidity and able to be personalised by the user according to the personal support, comfort and aesthetic requirements.

A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for making a support structure, like for example a saddle and/or a seat and/or a backrest, equipped with interchangeable areas, as specified in independent claim 18. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a support structure, like for example a saddle and/or a seat and/or a backrest, illustrated for indicating purposes in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view from above of a saddle equipped with an interchangeable insert according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view from above of an interchangeable insert according to figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view from above of another type of interchangeable insert according to figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view from above of a further type of interchangeable insert according to figure 1;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section view along the axis Y of a saddle according to figure 1;

Figure 6 is a cross section view along the axis X of a saddle according to figure 1;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section according to the axis Y of an interchangeable insert according to the present invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective side view of a seat and of a backrest equipped with an interchangeable insert according to the present invention;

Figure 9 is a perspective side view of a further seat and a further backrest equipped with an interchangeable insert according to the present invention;

Figure 10 is a view from above of a saddle equipped with a further version of an interchangeable insert according to the present invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures, reference numerals 1, 11 and/or 18 are used to indicate a support structure, like for example a saddle and/or a seat and/or a backrest, used in bicycles and vehicles with pedals of various kinds and/or seats and/or other types of support, according to the present invention.

With reference to figures 1-7 and 10, the support structure 1 is equipped with a padding 2 usually formed in foam and/or other materials suitable for the purpose.

The support structure 1, in said padding 2, has at least one recess 10. Said at least one recess 10, of equal dimensions to a part or all of the padding 2, is suitable for containing at least one interchangeable insert 3. The at least one interchangeable insert 3 can be positioned in different areas of said padding 2 and ensures a high level of comfort for the user.

Such areas in which the at least one interchangeable insert 3 is positioned are those in which the user needs greater comfort or the areas subject to greater loads from the user himself: in particular, they can, for example, be the middle area of a saddle, the lumbar area of a backrest or the supporting area of a seat, etc. Such areas can have different positions and be in different numbers, without for this reason departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

The at least one interchangeable insert 3 is made from one or more materials that have different elasticity characteristics with respect to the rest of the support structure 1 and can be personalised by the user according to his physical characteristics, like for example weight and/or physical shape, to his support and comfort requirements and even according to his aesthetic tastes. The at least one interchangeable insert 3 can indeed have various colours and can contain graphical and/or aesthetic elements inside it as wished by the user. The at least one interchangeable insert 3 can easily be replaced according to requirements and has variable shapes and sizes.

The recess 10 and the interchangeable insert 3 can be smaller, larger or the same size as the padding 2, as illustrated in figure 10.

The at least one interchangeable insert 3 can have an outer casing 4 suitable for containing and enclosing the interchangeable insert 3 itself. This outer casing 4 is a structure, a fabric, a non-woven fabric, or a film that contains and/or connects to the interchangeable insert 3 and is formed from various materials suitable for the purpose, like for example polycarbonate, polyurethane-based polymers, etc.

The outer casing 4 forms a protective and containing layer that sticks to the at least one interchangeable insert 3 and/or to the material present inside it, therefore forming a single body with them.

The outer casing 4 is resistant to atmospheric agents and to sun exposure and it is easy to clean, ensuring maximum comfort and hygiene.

As an alternative to the outer casing 4, to contain and/or enclose and/or protect the interchangeable insert 3 it is possible to foresee a protective coating, like for example a paint suitable for the purpose .

The at least one interchangeable insert 3 can be self-supporting and therefore not need an outer casing 4 or a protective coating.

The at least one interchangeable insert 3 can be made from one or more materials that have different elastic behaviours, like for example visco-elastic materials, polyurethane gels, air, low-viscosity gels, silicones, materials that incorporate air microbubbles and/or phase change materials at the temperature of use and/or other filling materials 5 that give differentiated elastic characteristics, like for example cork, wood, microspheres that can consists of different shapes and materials that are arranged in the most suitable way to give maximum comfort to the user, etc.

The possible air microbubbles and/or the phase change materials at the temperature of use and/or other filling materials 5, incorporated in the material that forms the interchangeable insert 3, have different anatomical shapes and sizes to ensure different characteristics of comfort and/or elasticity. The possible air microbubbles and/or the phase change materials at the temperature of use and/or other filling materials 5, which have different elastic behaviours, are arranged, inside the outer casing 4 and/or inside the at least one interchangeable insert 3, in a kind of sandwich, as presented in figure 7. Such air microbubbles and/or the phase change materials at the temperature of use and/or other filling materials 5 can otherwise take up a random and/or partially layered arrangement, without for this reason departing from the scope of protection of the present invention, still taking up the arrangement most suitable to ensure maximum comfort for the user.

Inside the outer casing 4 and/or the at least one interchangeable insert 3 a rigidity differentiation element 6 is also positioned. This rigidity differentiation element 6 can have cavities that can be filled with air and/or with phase change materials at the temperature of use and/or with other filling materials 5 and it is formed from various materials, such as visco-elastic materials, polyurethane gels, etc., with differentiated density to make the rigidity of the differentiation element 6 and consequently of the at least one interchangeable insert 3 vary. Moreover, the differentiation element 6 can have graphical elements, drawings, advertising, ornamental elements and/or colours that give the at least one interchangeable insert 3 and the entire support structure 1 aesthetic characteristics that can be personalised by the user.

The at least one interchangeable insert 3 has connection means 8, 8'. Such connection means 8, 8' can be of the mechanical type 8, like for example hook-and-loop type fastening elements, possibly in the form of strips of Velcro®, and/or metal or plastic clips and/or they can consist of undercut systems 8' .

The connection means 8, 8' allow the interchangeable insert 3 to be fixed inside the recess 10 of the padding 2.

Housing means 9, 9' are positioned in the recess 10. Such housing means 9, 9' correspond and are complementary to the connection means 8, 8' and they can be mechanical housing means 9, like for example hook-and-loop type fastening elements, possibly in the form of strips of Velcro®, complementary seats for said clips, spring elements, snap fasteners, seats for the insertion of pins, undercut systems 9' , other similar known systems, etc., which allow the connection means 8, 8' to enter/fasten/deform and reversibly block them.

The connection means 8, 8' and the housing means 9, 9' use known mechanisms, like for example insertion, hooking and unhooking, snap-fastening, pins to be inserted in suitable seats, insertion by deformation, adhesion, etc.

Figure 8 represents a seat 11 and a backrest 18 for seats, armchairs, sofas, etc. equipped with a recess 12, 15 situated in the padding 13, 16 of the seat 11 and of the backrest 18.

At least one interchangeable insert 14, 17 can be positioned in the recess 12, 15, said interchangeable insert having the same characteristics as the interchangeable insert 3 of the support structure 1.

The connection means 8, 8' and the housing means 9, 9' can be respectively positioned in the back part of the interchangeable insert 3, 14, 17 and/or in any other position thereof and inside the recess 10, 12, 15 or vice-versa.

Figure 9 represents a seat 11 and a backrest 18 equipped with an interchangeable insert 14, 17 that has the same dimensions as those of the padding 13, 16, respectively. In this way the entire padding 13 of the seat 11 and the entire padding 16 of the backrest 18 become interchangeable.

The at least one interchangeable insert 14, 17, just like the at least interchangeable insert 3 for the support structure 1, can involve different areas of the seat 11 and/or of the backrest 18 and/or the entire seat 11 and/or the entire backrest 18 making the characteristics of comfort offered by it interchangeable and personalizable .

The dimensions of the interchangeable insert 14, 17 and of the recess 12, 15 can be equal to, smaller than and/or slightly bigger than those of the entire padding 13, 16.

The present invention also concerns a method for making a support structure 1, 11, 18.

The method for producing a support structure 1, 11, 18 equipped with the padding 2, 13, 16, the at least one recess 10, 12, 15 and at least one interchangeable insert 3, 14, 17, comprises the following steps: providing a mould corresponding to said at least one interchangeable insert 3, 14, 17; providing the material that constitutes the at least one interchangeable insert 3, 14, 17; casting the material that makes up the at least one interchangeable insert 3, 14, 17; closing the mould, cooling and/or polymerizing the at least one interchangeable insert 3, 14, 17.

The method according to the present invention also comprises the following steps: positioning an outer casing 4 and/or a protective coating in the mould before carrying out the casting of the material that makes up the at least one interchangeable insert 3, 14, 17 and/or before closing the mould itself; closing the outer casing 4 and/or the protective coating to completely encase the interchangeable insert 3, 14, 17.

The method according to the invention also comprises the following steps: positioning a rigidity differentiation element 6 above the casting of the material that makes up the at least one interchangeable insert 3, 14, 17 and/or introducing air microbubbles and/or phase change materials at the temperature of use and/or other filling materials 5 into the material that makes up the at least one interchangeable insert 3, 14, 17 and/or into the rigidity differentiation element 6; possibly covering with a filling cast.

The method also comprises a step of positioning and/or moulding the connection means 8, 8' in the bottom part or in any other position of the at least one interchangeable insert 3, 14, 17 and a step of positioning housing means 9, 9' complementary to the connection means 8, 8' of the support structure 1, 11, 18 in the recess 10, 12, 15.

The present invention thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all of which are covered by the scope of protection of the claims.