Exposed carbon core bicycle seat post and method of manufacture thereof
US6213488A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 10, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 1, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62K19/16
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A light weight high strength bicycle seat post comprised of a metal tube having a pre-stressed, tubular composite core therein, with the core having an exposed end extending from the tube, and method making same are disclosed in which the tube includes a composite core compressively engaged with the interior of the metal tube. The composite core is compressively restrained inside the metal tube by compressive stresses in the order of not less than about twenty thousand pounds per square inch. The composite core is formed of a plurality of layers of carbon fibers in a triaxial arrangement. The method of making the bicycle seat post consists of inserting an uncured composite core into a metal tube and expanding the core into engagement with the metal tube under heat and pressure to cure the composite and establish a light weight high strength bicycle seat post. Accordingly, the article is particularly useful as a bicycle seat post that possess strength, rigidity, and light weight.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.