Posts
302
Joined
9/14/2012
Location
San Diego, CA
US
Edited Date/Time
10/29/2015 9:32am
Shimano recently published a patent for what looks to be a telescopic dropper post with a bar-mounted, 3-position remote ring trigger.
From what we can decipher, it looks like Shimano is taking a slightly different approach to the idea of a traditional dropper post and adding a second level of adjustability by way of a rack and pinion system that will micro-adjust the post length while still having the standard adjustment of a traditional dropper. This looks to be accomplished by adding a telescoping portion to the post in addition to the normal stanchion, if that makes sense. Check out the picture below:
Above, the rack and pinion is labeled "424" which is likely the "micro-adjust" portion of the post that drives the telescoping "extra travel."
The lever clearly has three positions, so perhaps one (P0 in the diagram below) is post locked out, and the other two control the two different adjustments with (P1) controlling the micro-adjustment and (P2) controlling the standard travel adjustment (or vice-versa).
Why build a secondary adjustment? We can only speculate, but the first thing that came to mind is 9Point8's idea of "Negative Drop" that they partially developed their Pulse "stepper post" around. Meaning, the seat's max height should actually be setup slightly HIGHER than normal, because when you pedal up steep inclines, most riders will scoot forward on the saddle which actually shortens the length between you and the pedals. Since your post still has, say five or ten millimeters of extra available travel, you can now just fully extend your post and be set in the proper body position. This of course means that finding your ideal seat post length for anything but the steepest climbs would be difficult, which could be why Shimano is making a second, completely independent micro-level of adjustment. You follow?
Again, this is just speculation since the language in the patent is pretty, well... tedious and technical, but that's our take.
What we can say for sure though, beyond speculation, is the post will be cable actuated and will still use body weight to push down.
Here's the meat of the Shimano patent (in Shimano speak):
If you want to check out the whole patent, go here.
What is claimed is:
A bicycle seatpost assembly comprising of:
a first cylinder;
a second cylinder configured to be telescopically received in the first cylinder;
a positioning structure configured to relatively position the first cylinder and the second cylinder and configured to switch a state of the bicycle seatpost assembly among a first adjustable state in which a positional relationship between the first cylinder and the second cylinder is adjustable within a first adjustable position range, and
a second adjustable state in which the positional relationship between the first cylinder and the second cylinder is adjustable within a second adjustable position range different from the first adjustable position range;
and an adjusting structure configured to adjust at least one of the first adjustable position range and the second adjustable position range.
From what we can decipher, it looks like Shimano is taking a slightly different approach to the idea of a traditional dropper post and adding a second level of adjustability by way of a rack and pinion system that will micro-adjust the post length while still having the standard adjustment of a traditional dropper. This looks to be accomplished by adding a telescoping portion to the post in addition to the normal stanchion, if that makes sense. Check out the picture below:
Above, the rack and pinion is labeled "424" which is likely the "micro-adjust" portion of the post that drives the telescoping "extra travel."
The lever clearly has three positions, so perhaps one (P0 in the diagram below) is post locked out, and the other two control the two different adjustments with (P1) controlling the micro-adjustment and (P2) controlling the standard travel adjustment (or vice-versa).
Why build a secondary adjustment? We can only speculate, but the first thing that came to mind is 9Point8's idea of "Negative Drop" that they partially developed their Pulse "stepper post" around. Meaning, the seat's max height should actually be setup slightly HIGHER than normal, because when you pedal up steep inclines, most riders will scoot forward on the saddle which actually shortens the length between you and the pedals. Since your post still has, say five or ten millimeters of extra available travel, you can now just fully extend your post and be set in the proper body position. This of course means that finding your ideal seat post length for anything but the steepest climbs would be difficult, which could be why Shimano is making a second, completely independent micro-level of adjustment. You follow?
Again, this is just speculation since the language in the patent is pretty, well... tedious and technical, but that's our take.
What we can say for sure though, beyond speculation, is the post will be cable actuated and will still use body weight to push down.
Here's the meat of the Shimano patent (in Shimano speak):
If you want to check out the whole patent, go here.
What is claimed is:
A bicycle seatpost assembly comprising of:
a first cylinder;
a second cylinder configured to be telescopically received in the first cylinder;
a positioning structure configured to relatively position the first cylinder and the second cylinder and configured to switch a state of the bicycle seatpost assembly among a first adjustable state in which a positional relationship between the first cylinder and the second cylinder is adjustable within a first adjustable position range, and
a second adjustable state in which the positional relationship between the first cylinder and the second cylinder is adjustable within a second adjustable position range different from the first adjustable position range;
and an adjusting structure configured to adjust at least one of the first adjustable position range and the second adjustable position range.
I bet they have more people in their "patent department" than most bike companies have design engineers.
Interesting business philosophy for sure....
Because this is such a simple design, one could simply buy a $25 Zoom brand grandpa- style suspension seatpost to utilize the larger, already capped and threaded (inside and out) tube. Then one could buy a replacement windshield wiper strut from ANY auto parts store. They say a 13.5" 60Nm windshield wiper strut runs about $20 dollars. This will give a total 6" range from fully extended to fully dropped. I've heard they sell little tiny 5/8" seatposts, with integrated seat guts for a few dollars. It's easy to find anodized black. Check your little brothers bike with the training wheels for it. Convert your old 3x shifter into a dropper remote. It's easy and free! Can stand up to the best designed dropper remote handlebars switches out there if done right.
One may want to take all the plastic and rubber crap off the windshield piston first. I've heard a simple hole and pin actuator would be the easiest and cheapest way to hold it in high and low position as well as allow it to travel. One also might want to use 2-3 $2 kindshock bushings to kill any right left movement of the post. One may want to research and purchase a high strength metal bonding compound to connect the strut into the tiny tubed seat post. This could be done mechanically as well.
You can make a handmade remote dropper post that is simple, self-serviceable, contains minimal parts, is comparatively very light weight, and most of all WORKS for as low as $50!
Note:Using the zoom suspension seat post will not fix the issue of too much length under your seat post clamp. It's the cheapest, easiest option to potentially use, though.
Message me if u have any qsts
-shlizzy
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