Telescopic seatpost
A telescopic seatpost for supporting a bicycle saddle includes a support unit to be secured on or in the frame of a bicycle; a telescoping unit to be moved in a guided manner relative to the support unit within a specified telescoping range, the telescoping range extending from a minimum length of the seatpost to a maximum length of the seatpost; and a coupling device arranged between the telescoping unit and the support unit. A coupling device part which is paired with the support unit is connected to the support unit in a fixed manner, and the telescoping unit can be coupled to the support unit via the coupling device. A blocking device releasably blocks the guided telescoping movement of the telescoping unit relative to the support unit. The coupling device has an adjustment mechanism via which the maximum length of the seatpost can be adjusted, an axial force which acts on the telescoping unit being transmitted to the support unit via the coupling device.
1 . A telescopic seatpost for mounting a bicycle saddle, the seatpost comprising:
a support unit to be fixed to a frame of a bicycle,
a telescopic unit moveably guided within a predetermined telescopic range relative to the support unit, wherein the telescopic range extends from a minimum longitudinal extent of the seatpost to a maximum longitudinal extent of the seatpost, the telescopic unit having a first end to support a bicycle saddle thereon,
a coupling device arranged beween the telescopic unit and the support unit, the coupling device including:
coupling part fixedly connected to the support unit, and the telescopic unit being coupled to the support unit by the coupling device, and
an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the maximum longitudinal extent of the seatpost, the adjustment mechanism including an elongated adjustment part having a first end mounted to the first end of the telescopic unit, and the adjustment part being adjustably lockable to the coupling part at a plurality of positions along a longitudinal axis of the adjustment part so as to adjust a distance between the first end of the telescopic unit and the support unit, and thereby adjust the maximum longitudinal extent of the seatpost,
wherein the coupling device is configured to transmit an axial force acting on the telescopic unit to the support unit, and
a blocking device configured to releasably block a guided telescopic movement of the telescopic unit relative to the support unit.
2 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the adjustment part is configured to couple the telescopic unit to the support unit at at least two different coupling positions.
3 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the telescopic unit has a tubular configuration, and the support unit and/or the coupling device is at least partially arranged within the telescopic unit.
4 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 1 , wherein;
the adjustment part has a profiled notching, and
the coupling part has a corresponding profiled notching to achieve a positively locking connection of the telescopic unit to the support unit.
5 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 4 , wherein:
the profiled notching of the adjustment part is formed as a thread or as radial grooves or radial projections, and/or
the corresponding profiled notching in the coupling part is formed as a thread or as radial grooves or radial projections.
6 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 5 , wherein:
the profiled notching of the adjustment part is formed as peripherally limited radial grooves or radial projections, and/or
the profiled notching in the coupling part is formed as peripherally restricted radial grooves or radial projections.
7 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the adjustment part is mounted rotatably to the telescopic unit, and the telescopic unit is coupled to the support unit by a rotary movement of the adjustment part relative to the coupling part.
8 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the adjustment part is mounted rotatably in an inner region of the tubular telescopic unit.
9 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the adjustment part is arranged coaxially with the telescopic unit.
10 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the telescopic unit has an axial and/or radial opening, the opening being configured so that the coupling device is actuable from outside the telescopic unit.
11 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the opening is configured so that the coupling device is actuable from outside the telescopic unit by a lever.
12 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the coupling part is mounted non-rotatably to the support unit.
13 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the adjustment part comprises a sleeve, a spindle, or a toothed rack.
14 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the telescopic unit has an axial and/or radial opening, and the adjustment part of the adjustment mechanism is rotatable relative to the telescopic unit through the axial and/or radial opening.
15 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the coupling device is actuable to adjust the maximum longitudinal extent of the seatpost independently of an operation of the blocking device to releasably block the guided telescopic movement of the telescopic unit relative to the support unit.
16 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the guided telescopic movement of the telescopic unit relative to the support unit is a positively guided translatory telescopic movement restricted by the predetermined telescopic range.
17 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the blocking device is hydraulic.
18 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the support unit has a fixing device configured to connect the telescopic seatpost to a frame of a bicycle.
19 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 18 , wherein the fixing device is configured to connect the telescopic seatpost in a positively locking relationship to the frame of the bicycle.
20 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the blocking device has a force storage member.
21 . The telescopic seatpost as set forth in claim 20 , wherein the force storage member is a pneumatic force storage member.