TECHNICAL FIELD

Generally, the present disclosure relates to wheeled vehicle frame structures and seat post clamping arrangements thereof. Particularly, however not exclusively, the present disclosure pertains to an arrangement for a seat post clamp.

BACKGROUND

Many different types of seat post clamps are known from the prior art. One of the most typical types utilize a clamp that tightens a part of the bicycle frame around the seat post. The clamp may be tightened by several different means, such a quick release screw or another type of screw. Another type of seat post clamp is one that is integrated inside the bicycle frame and which connects directly between the seat post and the bicycle frame by wedging the seat post against the inner wall of the vehicle frame causing asymmetric distribution of forces to the seat pole. Alternatively, the seat may be integrated or connected to the vehicle frame with a spacer that can attach over and around the seat post of the frame. The latter approach is commonly used with monocoque frames wherein the seat post is fixed part of the frame and cannot be adjusted other than by cutting it shorter. Different profiles for all of the mentioned clamping means have been presented since seat posts and vehicle frame are designed with various profiles for aerodynamic purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the embodiments of the present disclosure is to at least alleviate one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks evident in the prior art techniques particularly in the context of seat post clamping arrangements. The objective is generally achieved with an arrangement in accordance with the present disclosure.

A technical advantage of the present disclosure is that it allows for a stiff fixing of the seat pole at a position wherein the force is applied in a symmetric maimer to the seat pole. In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure a seat post clamp arrangement in a wheeled vehicle frame, wherein

- the vehicle frame comprising a hollow part for a seat post, the hollow part having a curvilinear profile,

- the arrangement further comprising a movable part set against the vehicle frame at the side of the vehicle frame on the level of the hollow part,

- the movable part being connected to the vehicle frame by fastening means,

- wherein the fastening means can be adjusted to tighten the movable part in relation to the vehicle frame to tighten the movable part against the surface of a seat post and the seat post against the inner surface of the hollow part to fix the seat post at a position by the force adjusted to the fastening means.

Further embodiments are disclosed in the claims.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure bike frame comprising the seat post clamp arrangement of claim 1

The present disclosure is usable for different wheeled vehicle frames including but not limited to mountain, endure, road and cross-country bicycle frames. The present disclosure may also be used in motored vehicle frames, such as electric motor-powered bicycle frames.

As briefly reviewed hereinbefore, the utility of the different aspects of the present disclosure arises from a plurality of issues depending on each particular embodiment.

The expressions “bicycle” and “bike” are herein used to refer to various wheeled or wheel-based vehicles for a number of users, which may be manually operable or motor-powered or a combination of the aforementioned, such as in the case of electric bicycles, and it is meant to encompass also tricycles quadracycles, and the like. In a broader sense, the expressions may be also seen as to encompass motorbikes. The expression “a number of’ may herein refer to any positive integer starting from one (1). The expression “a plurality of’ may refer to any positive integer starting from two (2), respectively.

The term “exemplary” refers herein to an example or example-like feature, not the sole or only preferable option.

Different embodiments of the present disclosure are also disclosed in the attached dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are reviewed more closely with reference to the attached drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 illustrates a view of an embodiment of the present disclosure,

Fig. 2 illustrates a cutaway view of an embodiment of the present disclosure, and

Fig. 3 illustrates a view of a bike frame comprising an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate different view of an embodiment of the seat post clamp arrangement (100). The seat post clamp arrangement (100) seat post clamp arrangement (100) is arranged to a wheeled vehicle frame (102), such a bicycle. The vehicle frame (102) comprises a hollow part (104) wherein a seat post (105) may be inserted. The hollow part (104) has a curvilinear profile, which profile may be chosen in view of design parameters, requirements and preferences to house a seat post (105) with a corresponding profile.

The arrangement (100) comprises also a movable part (106) arranged against the vehicle frame (102). The movable part (106) is connected to the vehicle frame (102) with fastening means (108) at the side of the vehicle frame (102) so that the fastening means (108) may be adjusted to move and tighten the movable part (106) against the vehicle frame (102) and against the seat post (105) to facilitate clamping of the seat post (105) between the vehicle frame (102) hollow part (104) walls and the movable part (106). The movable part (106) is situated at a level to which the seat post (105) always reaches when the seat post (105) is clamped to the vehicle frame (102). The movable part (106) preferably comprises a curvilinear profile that matches the profile of the seat post (105). The movable part (106) may comprise a concave flat area arranged to face the seat post (105), wherein the size of the area may be chosen in view of the desired friction and pressure properties that are exerted to the seat post (105) by the movable part (106) in order to facilitate suitable tightness of the clamp. The movable part (106) may further comprise a coating or an overlay on the surface of the movable part (106) that is arranged to face the seat post (105), which coating or overlay may be used to attain different friction properties.

The movable part (106) may be arranged in a recess of the vehicle frame (102) such that the movable part (106) does not protrude from the vehicle frame (102). This is more convenient to the rider and also beneficial in terms of the aerodynamic properties of the vehicle frame (102) overall. As can be seen from the figure 2, the vehicle frame (102) preferably comprises a recess having dimensions corresponding to the movable part (106) and the fastening means (108).

The fastening means (108) are used to connect the movable part (106) to the vehicle frame (102). The fastening means (108) are connected to the vehicle frame (102) inside the outer wall of vehicle frame (102). The fastening means (108) may comprise for example a number of threaded fasteners as shown in figure 2. The fastening means (108) are used to adjust the tightness of the movable part (106) against the vehicle frame (102) and the seat post (105) therebetween. This way the force exerted to the seat post (105) may be adjusted and the seat post (105) may be set to a preferred height. Preferably, two fastening means (108) are used at each side of the movable part (106) as illustrated in figure 2 to facilitate evening tightening of the movable part (106) against the vehicle frame (102) and the seat post (105) therebetween.

The seat post clamp arrangement (100) may comprise an additional part between the movable part (106) and the vehicle frame (102) for distributing the load or tightening the connection between the movable part (106) and the vehicle frame (102). This kind of additional part may essentially facilitate the role of a gasket.

Figure 3 illustrates a bike frame comprising the seat post clamp arrangement (100).

The scope of the disclosure is determined by the attached claims together with the equivalents thereof. The skilled persons will again appreciate the fact that the disclosed embodiments were constructed for illustrative pur- poses only, and the innovative fulcrum reviewed herein will cover further embodiments, embodiment combinations, variations and equivalents that better suit each particular use case of the disclosure.