WO2005019017A1

WO2005019017A1 - Motorcycle pad

Info

Publication number: WO2005019017A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/003545
Authority: WO
Inventors: Prince Nathaniel Carter
Original assignee: Prince Nathaniel Carter
Priority date: 2003-08-18
Filing date: 2004-08-18
Publication date: 2005-03-03
Also published as: GB0319385D0; GB2405128A

Abstract

A motorcycle cushioning device comprising a cushioning pad (10) extending from the motorcycle body which, in use, is configured to abut the abdominal region of a rider of the motorcycle. The cushioning pad (10) may be integral with the motorcycle seat (11) or be separately attachable to the motorcycle body using a bracket (13). The position of the cushioning pad (10) is adjustable longitudinally and/or laterally to suit the rider.

Description

Motorcycle pad

The present invention relates to motorcycle accessories and attachments.

Motorcycles are designed mainly from the viewpoint of aesthetics and enhancing their efficiency particularly from the point of view of a streamlined design. The comfort of a motorcycle rider is usually of secondary importance.

Most motorcycles have a padded seat of some design, which abuts the petrol tank. In this regard, the petrol tank is positioned between the seat and the steering mechanism of the bike, so that the rider straddles the seat, and typically leans over the petrol tank to some degree, whilst grasping the handle-bars of the steering mechanism.

This design of modern motorcycles is such that there is a tendency for riders to arch their backs so as to crouch over towards the handle-bars. From the point of view of a rider's posture this is not desirable.

Further, in use, a motorcycle generates significant vibrations, which affect the rider and particularly affect the rider's position on the seat. For example, when the bike is in motion, riders are often forced forward by the vibrations so that they are effectively worked into contact with the adjacent body of the motorcycle, which is typically the petrol tank. This can place an uncomfortable pressure on the rider's body. Frequent seating readjustment is therefore generally required in order to relieve the pressure and resume a more comfortable position. This can be difficult to effect when the motorcycle is in motion, particularly from the point of view of balance and the forward forces on the rider, which counter the rider's ability to move backwards on the seat. Therefore the rider often has to maintain the uncomfortable position until a point in time that they are able to safely and easily readjust their seating position. According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a cushioning device and a motorcycle, said motorcycle having a motorcycle body, said device comprising: a cushioning means extending from the motorcycle body, which in use is configured to abut the abdominal region of a rider of the motorcycle; and an adjustment means for adjusting the position of the cushioning means in the region of the rider's abdominal region.

Preferably the adjustment means is a bracket that allows adjustment of the cushioning means longitudinally and/or laterally. This enables riders to position the cushioning device to suit their physical requirements.

The cushioning device may be made integral with the motorcycle body or attached thereto.

This cushioning device of the present invention aids the comfort of the motorcycle rider. It prevents vibrations and other forces experienced whilst riding from working the rider's seating position forward onto the motorcycle body adjacent the seat. Therefore, the present invention ensures that there is no or at least minimal physical contact between the rider's body and the motorcycle body, which is typically the petrol tank. Further, the adjustment means allows the rider to adjust the position of the pad to suit their body shape and/or size in order to maximise comfort.

Where the adjustment means comprises a bracket, the bracket is preferably configured to extend from the motorcycle body. The bracket may be affixed to the motorcycle body beneath the seat of the motorcycle or on the forward petrol tank. The bracket may alternatively be integral with the motorcycle body or a part of the motorcycle body, such as the seat or petrol tank.

It is also preferable that the bracket is configured to extend from the motorcycle body adjacent a forward petrol tank of the motorcycle. For instance, the bracket may extend from the motorcycle body from between the adjacent petrol tank and a seat of the motorcycle. Alternatively the bracket may extend from a mounting affixed onto the surface of the petrol tank. In use, it is preferable that the cushioning means is positioned between a rider of the motorcycle and a petrol tank.

In a preferred aspect the bracket includes a main body portion configured to extend upwardly from the motorcycle seat; a lateral portion; an elbow portion interconnecting the main body portion with the lateral portion; and a head portion associated with the cushioning means, which is configured to adjustably connect to the lateral portion.

In an alternative preferred embodiment the adjustment means of the cushioning device includes: a runner portion; a lateral portion adjustably attachable to the runner portion and configured to extend outwardly from the forward petrol tank, and wherein the lateral portion is associated with the cushioning means. Preferably it further includes a head portion connected to the cushioning means, which is configured to adjustably connect to the lateral portion.

These aspects of the present invention can also assist in improving a rider's posture, as since it abuts the abdominal region of the rider, it encourages the rider to not arch their back to any great degree, although this is still possible.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a side view of a first embodiment of a cushioning pad according to the present invention, positioned between a seat of the motorcycle and a petrol tank of the motorcycle;

FIGURE 2 illustrates a further side view of the first embodiment the portion of the bracket beneath the seat of the motorcycle illustrated in dotted outline;

FIGURE 3 illustrates a perspective view of the FIGURE 2 embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 4 illustrates an adjustable cushion pad head according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 illustrates a perspective view of the main arm of a bracket according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 6 illustrates a two-piece bracket for connecting the cushioning pad according the second embodiment of the invention to a motorcycle comprising the main arm of FIGURE 5 and a cushion attachment portion;

FIGURE 7 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein the bracket of the cushioning pad is integral with the motorcycle body;

FIGURE 8 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the present invention, wherein the arrangement comprises bracket embedded in a rubber setting which is affixed to the petrol tank of the motorcycle;

FIGURE 9 illustrates two parts of a three-piece bracket suitable for use in the fourth embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 illustrates the three parts of a three piece bracket suitable for use in the fourth embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 11 illustrates a side view of the cushioning pad arrangement of FIGURE 8 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, positioned on the petrol tank of the motorcycle.

With reference to FIGURE 1, a cushioning pad (10) is illustrated according to a first embodiment of the invention, whereby it is affixed to a body of a motorcycle, between the seat (11) of the motorcycle and the petrol tank (12). The cushioning pad is elevated above the seat by a bracket (13). The bracket has an elbow (13a), which serves to position the cushioning pad at a distance from the petrol tank (12). The bracket extends beneath the seat, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The bracket can be affixed by any means, including using screw attachments or by welding. To attach the bracket, the motorcycle seat would need to be removed, and then replaced once in position.

The cushioning pad is of a thickness, x, which is preferably of the order of 80 mils (i.e. approximately 20.32 mm). The height, z, of the pad is also preferably of the order of 80 mils. Further the distance from the base of the cushioning pad to the top of the motorcycle seat, y, is preferably of the order of 50 mils (i.e. approximately 12.7 mm). Referring to FIGURE 3, which illustrates a perspective view of the FIGURE 2 cushioning pad and bracket adjacent the motorcycle seat, the length, /, of the cushioning pad is of the order of 135 mil (i.e. approximately 34.3mm).

It is to be appreciated that FIGURES 2 and 3, and the rest of the drawings for that matter, are not to scale.

The dimensions just defined have been found to be suitable for abutting a rider's abdominal region when astride the motorcycle. The cushion is positioned such that it extends laterally from the motorcycle body (12) and also above the motorcycle seat 11, so that a rider, when forced forward, is forced onto the cushion (10) and not against the body of the cycle (12). The placement of the cushion in the region of a rider's abdomen improve the comfort for the rider, as the muscles in a person's abdomen are able to more comfortably withstand pressure applied to them than is a person's crotch region. This is particularly the case when the pressure is applied by an elongate and padded object, which spreads the forces applied to the rider's body.

The cushioning pad can be made by any means. As shown in FIGURE 3, typically the cushioning pad (10) comprises a sponge-like material affixed to a metal backing (14), with a leather covering (15), that can be replaceable. The bracket (13) in this embodiment of the invention is welded onto the metal backing (14).

FIGURE 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention, where the bracket (60) for affixing the cushioning pad to the motorcycle body, is of two-part form. This bracket (60) has a main body portion (61) with screw holes (62) for attaching the main body portion (61 ) to the motorcycle body. It is to be appreciated that these screw holes would not be required for a bracket that is to be welded onto the motorcycle body, or for one that is integral with the motorcycle body or seat.

The main body portion has an elbow (61 ) that leads into a lateral portion (63). The lateral portion (63) is configured to receive a head portion (64), which is the second part of the bracket.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the cushioning pad (10) is connected to the head portion (64) of the bracket. This head portion (64) is adjustable relative to the main body portion of the bracket (61). In this regard, the head portion (64) has two circular holes (65) for receiving screw, bolts or the like.

Referring to FIGURE 5, the lateral portion (63) of the bracket's main body portion (61) has two elongated apertures (66). These elongated apertures (66) are configured to receive the bolts or screws passing through the holes (65) in the head portion (64). These bolts or screws would be clamped into position on the lateral portion (63), such as by using a nut. The elongate nature of the apertures (66) allows the position at which the head portion is clamped to the lateral portion (61) to be laterally adjustable.

It is to be appreciated that the exact shape of the bracket is not essential to the invention. The bracket can be shaped so as to suit the motorcycle to which it is to be attached. In this regard, with reference to FIGURE 7, a cross-section of an alternative form of bracket (70) is shown. The bracket (70) is L-shaped and hollow and is integral with the motorcycle body (71). The motorcycle body (71) in this instance may be the seat of the motorcycle or the main body of the motorcycle beneath the seat.

In a further embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGURE 8, a pad arrangement has been designed so that it is suitable for attachment to the forward petrol tank of the motorcycle. The arrangement comprises a runner bracket 81 to which a pad 82 is adjustably attached. The runner 81 includes a number of nut holes along its length to which a corresponding bracket (85 - see FIGURES 9 and 10) associated with the pad 82 can be attached. The nut holes allow the position of the pad to be adjusted longitudinally in order to suit the rider. The runner 81 is embedded in a flexible rubber mount 83. This rubber mount can in turn be adhered to the petrol tank of the motorcycle. In FIGURE 8 the rubber mount 83, has a number of protrusions, such as 84a and 84b, which aid in stabilising the arrangement when mounted to a motorcycle's forward petrol tank. In FIGURE 8 these protrusions are stylised to add visual appeal. The rubber mount, however, may be any appropriate shape. The rubber mount 83 in FIGURE 8 is preferably of the order of 24cm in length and 24cm width at its greatest span. Other dimensions and materials are possible. FIGURE 11 schematically illustrates this cushioning arrangement of FIGURE 8, as it could be affixed on the forward petrol tank of a motorcycle.

With reference to FIGURES 9 and 10, a suitable three-part bracket for use in the cushioning arrangement shown in FIGURE 8 is illustrated. The runner 81 is preferably a flat rectangular portion with nut holes, although it may be of any shape or curved to suit the shape of the motorcycle's petrol tank. A lateral portion 85 is adjustably affixable to the runner 81, such as via screws. The lateral portion 85 is essentially L- shaped, and, as with the FIGURE 5 embodiment, includes elongated apertures 66 to which a head portion 64 is adjustably affixed. The cushioning means 82 is affixed to the head portion. Therefore, with this three-part bracket, the cushioning means is adjustable both laterally and longitudinally, as required by the rider. This allows greater flexibility and choice to the rider in achieving their optimum riding position and comfort while riding.

In this context, the expression longitudinal adjustment means adjustment of the pad's position along the longitudinal direction from the base of the petrol tank, adjacent the seat, towards the motorcycle's handlebars. This allows adjustment of the pad up and down the rider's abdominal region, as required. Similarly, by lateral adjustment, it is intended to refer to adjustment along an axis essentially at right angles to surface of the petrol tank. This allows adjustment of the pad into or away from the abdominal region of the rider, as required. Alterations and additions are possible, as will be apparent to the person skilled in the art. Also, although not shown in some of the FIGURES, the bracket can be adjustable longitudinally, so that the positioning of the height > of the pad can be altered to suit a particular rider's preference. Further, multiple pads may be used to abut the rider's abdominal region, rather than just one. For example, two pads in spaced relation are within the scope of this invention.

In addition, instead of using a metal bracket and backing plate for the pad, other sturdy materials may be used, such as a rigid plastic. Also, the exact adjustment mechanisms shown are not essential to the invention; any suitable approach may be utilised, as would be apparent to the skilled person.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A cushioning device for attachment to a motorcycle, said device comprising: a cushioning means configured to extend from a motorcycle body such that in use the cushioning means abuts the abdominal region of a rider of the motorcycle; an adjustment means for adjusting the position of the cushioning means in the region of the rider's abdominal region.

2. A cushioning device and a motorcycle, said motorcycle having a motorcycle body, said device comprising a cushioning means extending from the motorcycle body, which in use is configured to abut the abdominal region of a rider of the motorcycle; and an adjustment means for adjusting the position of the cushioning means in the region of the rider's abdominal region.

3. The cushioning device of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a bracket, wherein the cushioning means is attached to the bracket, and the bracket is configured to extend from the motorcycle body.

4. The cushioning device of claim 3 wherein the bracket is integral with the motorcycle body.

5. The cushioning device of claim 3 or 4 wherein the bracket is configured to be affixed to the motorcycle body.

6. The cushioning device of claim 5 wherein the bracket is affixed to a forward petrol tank of the motorcycle body.

7. The cushioning device of any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein the bracket is configured to extend from the motorcycle body adjacent a forward petrol tank of the motorcycle.

8. The cushioning device of any preceding claim wherein the adjustment means allows the cushioning means to be adjusted longitudinally and/or laterally, relative to a forward petrol tank of the motorcycle.

9. The cushioning device of any preceding claim wherein the adjustment means adjusts a lateral position of the cushioning device.

10. The cushioning device of any preceding claim wherein the adjustment means adjusts the height of the cushioning device.

11. The cushioning device of any preceding claim wherein the adjustment means includes: a runner portion; a lateral portion adjustably attachable to the runner portion and configured to extend outwardly from the forward petrol tank, and wherein the lateral portion is associated with the cushioning means.

12. The cushioning device of claim 11 further comprising a head portion connected to the cushioning means, which is configured to adjustably connect to the lateral portion.

13. A cushioning device according to any preceding claim wherein, in use, the cushioning means is positioned between a rider of the motorcycle and a petrol tank.

14. A cushioning device configured to extend from a motorcycle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.