# US 2016/0355224 A1 · Motorized vehicle saddle apparatus and method

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- Number: US 2016/0355224 A1
- Document ID: US20160355224A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/174,551
- Filed: 2016-06-06
- Published: 2016-12-08
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-27
- Inventors: Bryan W. Nappi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160355224A1

## CPC

- B62J 1/00: Saddles or other seats for cycles; Arrangement thereof; Component parts
- B60N 2/24: for particular purposes or particular vehicles
- B60N 2/40: saddle type
- B60N 2/646: {shape of the cushion}
- B68G 7/05: Covering or enveloping cores of pads {(in plastics material using a matching die B29C63/025)}
- Y10T 29/49716: Converting
- B62J: CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B68G: METHODS, EQUIPMENT, OR MACHINES FOR USE IN UPHOLSTERING; UPHOLSTERY NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A seating system for motorized vehicles is adapted to saddles on which riders travel for extended periods of time, such as motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and the like. The saddle includes an isolator with a disconnect for lateral vibrations, and a damper for lateral and vertical absorption and isolation of shocks and vibration. A decoupler includes layers separating or uncoupling lateral shear loading from vertical spring loading so vertical forces are not increased by the tension against nearby, laterally displaced material. Cradles provide bolsters to support soft tissue and distribute loads on skeletal structures more evenly at increased area and lower stress. Coverings may include integrating liners, moisture barriers, and an outer wrapper or skin, and may include localized padding.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for manufacturing a saddle, the method comprising:
providing an original saddle configured for a vehicle and having a loading region configured to provide support when a rider is seated thereon;
removing cover material;
providing a cavity defining a core in the loading region;
inserting within the cavity an isolator comprising a disconnect isolating lateral motion between a pan of the original saddle and the loading region above the pan, and a damper portion tending to isolate lateral motion between the core and the pan, vertical motion between the core and the pan, and absorb and dissipate energy associated therewith;
a decoupler comprising layers transmitting vertical loading and isolating lateral loading between one another;
a cradle containing a central region positioned to support skeletal structures of a seated rider and a bolster portion outboard thereof and supporting soft tissue surrounding the skeletal structures to relieve stress; and
applying a cover system to enclose the original pad and core.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising providing rollers intermediate the pan and the core isolating lateral relative motion therebetween.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising providing a stabilizer between two arrays of pillars disposed above and below the stabilizer, the pillars formed of a polymer providing elastic deformation and inelastic deformation in response to lateral motion and vertical motion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising providing spring sheets comprising closed-cell, expanded polymeric, sheet material providing elastic deformation in a vertical direction, and isolated from one another to resist transmission of lateral displacement.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising providing a container containing the rollers and applying transmitted forces in a vertical direction to the rollers, while rolling in non-slipping contact with the rollers.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a spring layer comprising elastically deforming bubbles distributed throughout a substantially planar region and provided with spaces intermediate to bubbles in which the bubbles may deform and expand laterally in response to deflections imposed vertically thereon.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising providing bolsters in the cradle, the bolsters comprising a flexible and deformable covering in a laterally extreme portion, filled with a comparatively incompressible, granular material displaceable and deformable as a mass, but substantially non deformable as individual granules.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising providing a plurality of cradles, each comprising a container extending throughout a horizontally disposed lateral region and containing a fill material in a bolster region thereof, the fill materials for each cradle being distinct from those of the other cradles.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising providing the rollers as the disconnect and the pillars as a damper of the isolator.

### Claim 10

A method for manufacturing a saddle, the method comprising:
providing a saddle for a vehicle, the saddle having a pan, providing a rigid support, and a loading region thereabove, configured to provide support under a rider when seated thereon;
removing a cover material;
providing a cavity defining a core in the loading region;
inserting within the cavity a core comprising
an isolator comprising a disconnect isolating lateral motion between the pan and the loading region,
a damper tending to isolate relative motion between the core and the pan and absorb and dissipate energy associated therewith,
a decoupler comprising layers transmitting vertical loading and isolating lateral loading between one another, and
a cradle containing a central region positioned to support skeletal structures of a seated rider and a bolster portion outboard thereof and supporting soft tissue surrounding the skeletal structures to relieve stress; and
applying a cover system to enclose the original pad and core.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the decoupler comprises rollers intermediate the pan and a remainder of the core above the decoupler.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the damper comprises arrays of pillars formed of a polymer providing elastic deformation and inelastic deformation in response to lateral motion and vertical motion.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the core further comprises a sheet material providing elastic deformation in a vertical direction and slippage in a lateral direction.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the decoupler comprises rollers intermediate the pan and a remainder of the core above the decoupler, the rollers being contained within a containment to transmit vertical forces and rolling laterally in response to lateral forces.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a spring layer comprising elastically deforming bubbles distributed throughout a substantially planar region and provided with spaces intermediate to bubbles in which the bubbles may deform and expand laterally in response to deflections imposed vertically thereon.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a cradle having a central support region and a bolster outboard from the central support region to provide support in a direction toward the central support region.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising providing rollers operating as the isolator and pillars operating as the damper.