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US 5,516,134 AGranted
Seat for a wheeled vehicle
AssigneePerfect Season, Inc.
InventorsKirk Crawford, Elliott C. Grusky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle seat has a generally L-shaped integral molded shell. The shell is molded with curves that effectively conform to and support the spine and hips of an occupant, including an ischial support portion, a lumbar vertebrae support portion, and a thoracic vertebrae support portion. The seat is particularly suited for use with a wheeled vehicle, such as a bicycle. The wheeled vehicle used with this seat further includes an adjustable pedal boom, and a hinged steering column, in order to fit the bike to the rider and provide further back comfort.
Claims8
A vehicle seat comprising:
- A rigid generally L-shaped shell, including a generally vertical back portion defining an axis for supporting a spine of a human occupant, the back portion including an upper edge, a thoracic vertebrae support portion proximate and below the upper edge curving away from the occupant, the thoracic vertebrae support portion having a first tangent line generally parallel to and spaced a first distance from the axis in a direction away from the occupant, joining to a lumbar vertebrae support portion below the thoracic vertebrae support portion curving back toward the occupant, the lumbar vertebrae support portion having a second tangent line generally parallel to and spaced a second distance from the axis in a direction toward the occupant, joining to a lower portion curving back away from the occupant;
- and
- a generally horizontal seat portion for supporting hips and pelvis of the human occupant, the seat portion including a leading edge and two side edges defining therebetween an ischial support portion curving up and joining the lower portion of the back portion, the ischial support having a third tangent line generally parallel to and spaced a third distance from the axis in a direction away from the occupant, wherein the first and second distances are substantially equal, and the third distance is greater than either the first distance or the second distance.
A wheeled vehicle comprising:
- a front wheel and at least one rear wheel;
- a frame including a tubular elongated support bar extending between the first and rear wheels including a front and a rear end;
- a rigid generally L-shaped seat attached to the support bar intermediate the front and rear ends, the seat including a back portion defining an axis, a thoracic vertebrae support curve having a first tangent line generally parallel to and spaced a first distance from the axis in a direction away from an occupant of the seat, a lumbar vertebrae support curve having a second tangent line generally parallel to and spaced a second distance from the axis in a direction toward the occupant, and an ischial support curve having a third tangent line generally parallel to and spaced a third distance from the axis, wherein the first and second distances are substantially equal and the third distance is greater than either the first distance or the second distance;
- means for steering the front wheel rotatably attached to the frame proximate the front end of the support bar;
- and
- a pedal boom extending from the front end of the support bar above the front wheel and terminating in a pair of foot pedals.
3 more elements
A vehicle seat comprising:
- a rigid generally L-shaped shell, including a generally vertical back portion for supporting a spine of a human occupant, the back portion including an upper edge, a thoracic vertebrae support portion proximate and below the upper edge curving away from the occupant, joining to a lumbar vertebrae support portion below the thoracic vertebrae support portion curving back toward the occupant, joining to a lower portion curving back away from the occupant;
- and
- a generally horizontal seat portion for supporting hips and pelvis of the human occupant, the seat portion including a body edge and two side edges defining therebetween a planar portion proximate the leading edge for supporting the thighs of the occupant joining an ischial support portion curving up and joining the lower portion of the back portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.