GB2067142A - Protective covers for motorcycle seats - Google Patents

Abstract

A motorcycle seat (10) has a longitudinal recess (13), a support rod (27) pivoted to the seat in the middle of the recess and movable between an erect position and a collapsed position within the recess, and a weatherproof cover (34) which can be folded into the recess with the rod (27) or arranged over the erected rod and seat in the manner of a tent (32). The air space defined between the cover and seat is ventilated to atmosphere at the end of the recess and through openings in the seat bottom. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Motorcycle seat The present invention relates to a motorcycle seat cover which can be easily erected and collapsed, thereby protecting the seat top from the ill-effects of intensive sunlight, foul weather, and dust.

All of the motorcycle seats currently on the market have a solid, compact form, so that whenever the motorcycle is left outside in intense sunlight or pouring rain, the seat becomes either burning hot, sopping wet, or covered with dust. Each of these conditions greatly bothers riders, because pants are dirtied or our bodies are greatly disconforted and harmed, perhaps even to the extent of requiring medical treatment. In view of these many problems, these defects in conventional motorcycle seats should be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In order to facilitate understanding the following drawings and explanations have been prepared: Figure 1. An oblique, exploded drawing of the complete invention; Figure 2. A cross-section of the base of the mounting rod; Figure 3. A latitudinal cross-section of the seat, mounting rod, and erected tent; Figure 4. An oblique drawing of the seat with the tent and mounting rod partially erected; Figure 5. A top view with tent retracted; Figures 6A and 6B. A detailed view of the sleeve joint which secures the mounting rod in a verticle position; Figure 7. A longitudinal cross-section of the seat, mounting rod, and erected tent; Figure 8. A longitudinal cross-section of the seat, lowered mounting rod, and collapsed tent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION As Fig. 1 shows, the present invention is composed of two pieces of sponge 11, covered by a layer of plastic 1 2. (See also Fig.

2.) The sponges 11 are placed parallel to each other with a ventilation recess 1 3 passing between them to form the main body 10 of the invention. In the middle of the ventilation recess hollow rivet 1 6 over a small square metal washer 1 5 is placed to attach the sponge cushion 11 and plastic cover 1 2 to the base 1 8 beneath. Across the middle of the main body 10 and above the hollow rivet 1 6 and metal washer 1 5 is placed a plastic strap to which riders on the back may hold.

Underneath the sponge and cover is a base 18 with an edge 1 7 which runs perpendicular to the base 1 8 along its four sides. Also longitudinally down the center of base 1 8 is a recess 19, slightly shallower towards the front of the base, which is of equal length and slightly greater width than ventilation recess 13. In the centre of recess 19 is a small square depressed area 21 in which there is a small hole through which the rivet 1 6 can pass to secure it firmly to the main sponge body and plastic cover 1 2. Also along the bottom of the recess 1 9 are a plurality of holes 22 through which screws may pass and a plurality of ventilation holes 36.The flat surfaces 20 of base 1 8 which lie alongside recess 1 9 are covered with a strong adhesive which securely and firmly attaches the two sponges 11 of main body 10 to the base 1 8.

Also through recess 1 3 of main body 10 is placed a plate 24 which can be attached to base 1 8 by fastening screws 23 through holes 22 and holes 22C in the plastic 1 2 into screw-threaded holes 22B in base 18. The back passenger strap 1 4 is securely attached to the bottom of recess 1 3 by plate 24 which is securely fixed on top of it. The excess of plastic 1 2 along the edge 25 used to cover the main body and the outer edges of the back passenger strap 1 4 are attached to the inner side of edge 1 7 which circumvents the base 18.Along plate 24 are placed a plurality of ventalation holes 36 which holes also coincide with other ventilation holes 36C in the plastic cover and holes 36B in base 18.

Towards the front of mounting plate 24 are placed two screw holes 41 through which can be fixed the base 43 of a small wedge 42 made of sponge 44 and covered with plastic identical to plastic 1 2 covering the main body 10; said wedge being placed to increase the solid stability of the main body 10 when it is subject to deformation due to the weight of the rider. In the middle of plate is a hinged joint 26 comprising a mounting bracket, a hinge pin and a sliding socket. A mounting rod 27 is pivotally connected to said mounting bracket with said hinge pin, and said sliding socket is arranged to slide along the outer surface of said mounting rod and our said mounting bracket when said mounting rod is erected in substantially vertical position so as to lock said mounting rod 27. At the top of the mounting rod are screw threads 29 over which a washer 30 is placed.Above said washer 30 and below an additional washer 31 is placed a heat-proofed and water proofed small tent 32. A small nut 33 screwed onto threads 29 above the washer 31 secures the whole in place. Longitudinally along the top of tent 32 are placed two strips of cloth 34 whose width will be approximately that of the venting recess, which are to be made of cloth substantially heavier than that used in tent 32. Around the edges of tent 32 is to be placed a strip of an elastic nature which will firmly hold down the edges of tent 32 to the edges of the main body 10 of the seat. When the tent is erected over the main body 10 approximately 1/3 of the end of the venting recess will still be unblocked, thereby, along with ventilation holes 36, allowing fresh and cool air to circulate freely through the tent and thus improve its heat resistant capacities.

When the present invention is to be used, first raise and then use sliding socket 28 to lock the mounting rod 27 into an erect position, then open and spread heat and water proofed tent 32 over the seat using elastic strip 35 to secure it to be edges of the seat, and being sure to leave the end of the venting recess exposed. As the tent is made of water proofed material, the present invention will keep the motorcycle seat dry in wet weather.

Also, because air is not a good heat conductor, the air pocket between the tent and the seat top, along with fresh ventilation from the ends of the venting recess 1 3 and the ventilation holes 36, will help keep the seat from becoming overly heated. The erected tent will also keep the seat free of dust. As the mounting rod 27 can be easily and conveniently operated, when not in use the tent 32 can be collapsed, the sliding socket 28 can be slid away from hinged joint 26 allowing mounting rod 27 and tent 32 to be lowered into the venting recess 1 3. Then the thicker and stiffer strips 34 may be arranged with the material of tent 32 underneath them, so as to give the seat a pleasing appearance. (See Fig. 5).

Furthermore, any rain water which may fall on the seat, for instance while the tent is not in use, will flow out through the ends of the venting recess when the motorcycle is in motion.

The present invention is convenient in use, provides effective results, is of simple and outstanding construction, inexpensive, unique in the market place, beneficial to health, and suitable for large-scale production.

Claims (9)

1. A seat for a motorcycle, comprising an elongate recess in the upper surface of the seat, a rod member mounted on the seat and adjustable between a collapsed position, in which said member is received within and extends along said recess, and an erect position in which said member projects upwardly from the upper seat surface, and a weather resistant cover arranged to be positioned removably over the seat for covering at least the upper surface thereof and to be supported clear of said upper seat surface by the rod member when erect, whereby an air-filled space is defined between the cover and upper seat surface.

2. A seat according to claim 1, wherein said recess comprises a groove extending to an edge of the seat, and the cover is arranged so as not to cover the end of the groove at said edge when fitted over the seat, whereby an opening is formed for ventilating said air space to atmosphere.

3. A seat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one opening is provided through the bottom of said recess for ventilating said air space to atmosphere.

4. A seat according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the cover is attached to the rod member and arranged to be folded into said recess when the rod member is in its collapsed position.

5. A seat according to claim 4, wherein the cover includes a strip of stronger material for the rod member and cover when accommodated within the recess.

6. A seat according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the rod member is attached to the seat within the recess for pivotal movement relative thereto between the collapsed and erected positions.

7. A seat according to claim 6, wherein locking means is provided for releasably locking aid rod member in the erected position.

8. A seat according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said recess is a groove extending the full length of the seat, and a wedge of resilient material substantially fills said groove adjacent the forward end of the seat.

9. A seat for a motorcycle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.