Lightweight high strength bicycle seat post and associated clamp

Abstract

A bicycle seat post and clamp includes a tube and a flange connected to an end thereof with the flange comprising a pair of opposing ears extending longitudinally outwardly from the tube and having an upper surface defining a laterally extending recess for receiving a lower clamp member. A lower clamp member preferably includes a lower clamp body portion having a lower surface defining a laterally extending partial cylindrical shape received in the recess of the flange, and a pair of lower rail channel defining portions connected to respective opposing longitudinally extending sides of the lower clamp body portion. Each of the lower rail channel defining portions preferably includes at least one cantilevered rail support portion extending outwardly from the lower clamp body portion. The upper clamp member preferably includes an upper clamp body portion and a pair of upper rail channel defining portions connected to respective opposite longitudinally extending sides of the upper clamp body portion. A pair of fasteners secure opposing longitudinal ends of the upper clamp body portion to corresponding ears of the flange so as to clamp the bicycle seat rails between upper and lower rail channel defining portions of the upper and lower clamp members. The flange and the clamp may have relative strengths so that the tube of the seat post bends, responsive to a relatively large force offset from an axis of the tube, and prior to failure of one of the flange and the clamp.