U.S. patent application number 09/875896 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-20 for seat pad for cyclist pant, and process of manufacture thereof.
Invention is credited to Garneau, Louis.
Application Number | 20010052146 09/875896 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22786244 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010052146 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Garneau, Louis |
December 20, 2001 |
Seat pad for cyclist pant, and process of manufacture thereof
Abstract
A flexible seat pad for fitting onto the inside crotch portion
of a cyclist, the seat pad consisting of a generally convex unitary
flexible sheet member, the sheet member defining: a number of pad
bulges, integral to the sheet member, the pad bulges being
resiliently compressible; and hinge lines, hingedly interconnecting
adjacent pairs of pad bulges. The hinge lines assist in enabling
said flexible sheet member to conformingly fit onto the inside
crotch portion of the cyclist for dynamic comfort of the cyclist
during pedalling.
Inventors: |
Garneau, Louis;
(St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LESPERANCE & MARTINEAU
1440 WEST
STE-CATHERINE ROOM 700
MONTREAL
QC
H3G1R8
CA
|
Family ID: |
22786244 |
Appl. No.: |
09/875896 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60211278 |
Jun 13, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/455 ;
2/267 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 1/084 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/455 ;
2/267 |
International
Class: |
A41D 027/26; A41D
001/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A flexible seat pad for mounting into the inside crotch portion
of a cyclist pant, said seat pad comprising: a) a thick
intermediate layer made from resiliently compressible material; b)
a thin top layer made from a non-compressible sheet material; and
c) a thin bottom layer made from a non-compressible sheet material;
wherein said intermediate layer has a variable thickness and said
seat pad is sized and shaped so as to conformingly fit against the
inside crotch portion of a cyclist pant, for dynamic comfort of the
cyclist during pedalling.
2. A seat pad as in 1, wherein said intermediate layer consists of
open cell foam.
3. A seat pad as in 2, wherein said intermediate layer consists of
polyurethane.
4. A seat pad as in 1, wherein said top layer consists of a
synthetic material.
5. A seat pad as in 4, wherein said top layer consists of
polyester.
6. A seat pad as in 5, wherein said top layer consists of brushed
micro-fiber polyester.
7. A seat pad as in 1, wherein said bottom layer consists of a soft
synthetic material.
8. A seat pad as in 7, wherein said bottom layer consists of
polyester felt.
9. A seat pad as in 1, wherein each of said top layer and bottom
layer has between 0.5 to 1 mm thickness.
10. A seat pad as in 9, wherein said seat pad is subdivided into a
number of pad bulges of variable thickness, each pair of adjacent
said pad bulges being interconnected by a hinge line, said hinge
line being formed by bringing directly together said top layer and
said bottom layer and releasing said compressible material of the
intermediate layer therebetween.
11. A seat pad as in 10, wherein said pad bulges include an
intermediate pad bulge and a front pad bulge each of intermediate
thickness relative to the other pad bulges, a pair of rear pad
bulges of largest thickness relative to the other pad bulges, a
first pair of lateral side pad bulges and a second pair of lateral
side pad bulges each of smallest thickness relative to the other
pad bulges.
12. A seat pad as in 11, wherein said intermediate pad bulge and
said front pad bulge each has about 5 mm in thickness, said rear
pad bulges each has about 10 mm in thickness, said first lateral
side pad bulges each has about 3 mm in thickness, said second
lateral side pad bulges each has about 4 mm in thickness, and each
said hinge line has a thickness of between 1 to 2 mm.
13. A seat pad as in 11, wherein said seat pad defines a front
portion and a rear end portion, said front portion being narrower
than said rear end portion, said front portion defining a generally
semi-cylindrical shape in front end view, said rear end portion
being slightly arcuate and coextensive with said generally
semi-cylindrical shape of said rear end portion.
14. A seat pad as in 1, further including a number of air/moisture
circulation channels, made onto said top layer, for promoting
diffusion of cyclist transpiration moisture.
15. A process of manufacture of a seat pad for mounting into the
inside crotch portion of a cyclist pant, the seat pad of the type
having a thick open cell foam intermediate layer, a thin
micro-fiber polyester top layer, and a thin polyester felt bottom
layer, said process comprising the following steps: a) molding the
seat pad with an ultrasound gun, so as to shape the seat pad
conformingly to the crotch portion of the cyclist pant; and b)
permanently compressing selected areas of the seat pad intermediate
layer by heat stamping, wherein thin hinge lines are formed by
bringing together and merging the top and bottom layers of the seat
pad and release of the open cell foam therebetween, these hinge
lines delineating a number of variable-thickness seat pad bulges,
said seat pad bulges sized to conformingly fit against
corresponding portions of the crotch portion of the cyclist
pant.
16. A flexible seat pad for fitting onto the inside crotch portion
of a cyclist, said seat pad consisting of a generally convex
unitary flexible sheet member, said sheet member defining: a) a
number of pad bulges, integral to said sheet member, said pad
bulges being resiliently compressible; and b) hinge means, hingedly
interconnecting adjacent pairs of said pad bulges, said hinge means
assisting in enabling said flexible sheet member to conformingly
fit onto the inside crotch portion of the cyclist for dynamic
comfort of the cyclist during pedalling.
17. A seat pad as in claim 16, wherein each of said pad bulges
includes a core layer made of polyurethane, a first surface layer
and a second surface layer opposite said first surface layer, both
said first surface layer and second surface layer being made from
polyester.
18. A seat pad as in claim 17, wherein said first surface layer is
made from polyester felt, said polyester felt for engaging the
thigh skin of the cyclist; and said second surface layer is made
from brushed micro-fiber polyester.
19. A seat pad as in claim 16, wherein said pad bulges include: a)
an intermediate pad bulge, having about 5 mm in thickness; b) a
front pad bulge, having about 5 mm in thickness; c) a pair of rear
pad bulges each having about 10 mm in thickness; d) a first pair of
lateral side pad bulges each having about 3 mm in thickness; and e)
a second pair of lateral side pad bulges each having about 4 mm in
thickness.
20. A seat pad as in 16, wherein said seat pad defines a front
portion and a rear end portion, said front portion being narrower
than said rear end portion, said front portion defining a generally
semi-cylindrical shape in front end view, said rear end portion
being slightly arcuate and coextensive with said generally
semi-cylindrical shape of said rear end portion.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/211,278 filed on Jun. 13, 2000.
[0002] This invention relates to seat pads for shorts, in
particular for cyclists shorts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Bicycling has several advantages over other means of
transport. It is very efficient, it is good for the cardiovascular
health of the person practicing this sport, it is environmentally
friendly since no toxic wastes are generated per se, it is
lightweight, it takes little storage space when not in use, it is
easy to handle through heavy road traffic, it can access narrow
roads not accessible by larger vehicles, etc. Governments in
developed and developing countries promote its use.
[0004] Among its disadvantages, there are the safety considerations
from road hazards, the absence of adverse weather shielding, and
physical strain associated with long duration trips. In particular,
there is a problem of comfort linked to the seat, and also a
possible health hazard connected to the load biases applied by the
seat to the genital parts of the cyclist. For example, in man,
possibly damaging compressive forces whose direction, frequency and
magnitude are often unpredictable are applied by the seat directly
to the scrotum and indirectly to the prostate. In woman, possible
damaging shearing or shaffing forces are applied by the seat to the
vulva labiae.
[0005] The present invention is therefore directed at addressing
the issues raised by the bodily injuries that can be sustained as a
consequence of riding on a bicycle seat, by providing an
ergonomically designed seat pad destined to fit against and be
stitched to the inside crotch portion of a cyclist pant.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention relates to a flexible seat pad for mounting
into the inside crotch portion of a cyclist pant, said seat pad
comprising: a) a thick intermediate layer made from resiliently
compressible material; b) a thin top layer made from a
non-compressible sheet material; and c) a thin bottom layer made
from a non-compressible sheet material; wherein said intermediate
layer has a variable thickness and said seat pad is sized and
shaped so as to conformingly fit against the inside crotch portion
of a cyclist pant, for dynamic comfort of the cyclist during
pedalling.
[0007] Said intermediate layer could consist of open cell foam,
preferably polyurethane. Said top layer could consist of a
synthetic material, preferably polyester, most preferably brushed
micro-fiber polyester. Said bottom layer could consist of a soft
synthetic material, preferably polyester felt.
[0008] Preferably, each of said top layer and bottom layer has
between 0.5 to 1 mm thickness. Said seat pad could be subdivided
into a number of pad bulges of variable thickness, each pair of
adjacent said pad bulges being interconnected by a hinge line, said
hinge line being formed by bringing directly together said top
layer and said bottom layer and releasing said compressible
material of the intermediate layer therebetween. Preferably, said
pad bulges include an intermediate pad bulge and a front pad bulge
each of intermediate thickness relative to the other pad bulges, a
pair of rear pad bulges of largest thickness relative to the other
pad bulges, a first pair of lateral side pad bulges and a second
pair of lateral side pad bulges each of smallest thickness relative
to the other pad bulges. Preferably, said intermediate pad bulge
and said front pad bulge each has about 5 mm in thickness, said
rear pad bulges each has about 10 mm in thickness, said first
lateral side pad bulges each has about 3 mm in thickness, said
second lateral side pad bulges each has about 4 mm in thickness,
and each said hinge line has a thickness of between 1 to 2 mm.
[0009] Said seat pad could define a front portion and a rear end
portion, said front portion being narrower than said rear end
portion, said front portion defining a generally semi-cylindrical
shape in front end view, said rear end portion being slightly
arcuate and coextensive with said generally semi-cylindrical shape
of said rear end portion.
[0010] Preferably, there is further included a number of
air/moisture surface circulation channels, made onto said top
layer, for promoting diffusion of cyclist transpiration
moisture.
[0011] The invention also relates to a process of manufacture of a
seat pad for mounting into the inside crotch portion of a cyclist
pant, the seat pad of the type having a thick open cell foam
intermediate layer, a thin micro-fiber polyester top layer, and a
thin polyester felt bottom layer, said process comprising the
following steps: a) molding the seat pad with an ultrasound gun, so
as to shape the seat pad conformingly to the crotch portion of the
cyclist pant; and b) permanently compressing selected areas of the
seat pad intermediate layer by heat stamping, wherein thin hinge
lines are formed by bringing together and merging the top and
bottom layers of the seat pad and release of the open cell foam
therebetween, these hinge lines delineating a number of
variable-thickness seat pad bulges, said seat pad bulges sized to
conformingly fit against corresponding portions of the crotch
portion of the cyclist pant.
[0012] The invention also relates to a flexible seat pad for
fitting onto the inside crotch portion of a cyclist, said seat pad
consisting of a generally convex unitary flexible sheet member,
said sheet member defining: a) a number of pad bulges, integral to
said sheet member, said pad bulges being resiliently compressible;
and b) hinge means, hingedly interconnecting adjacent pairs of said
pad bulges, said hinge means assisting in enabling said flexible
sheet member to conformingly fit onto the inside crotch portion of
the cyclist for dynamic comfort of the cyclist during
pedalling.
[0013] Accordingly then, each of said pad bulges could then include
a core layer made of polyurethane, a first surface layer and a
second surface layer opposite said first surface layer, both said
first surface layer and second surface layer being made from
polyester. Said first surface layer could be made from polyester
felt, said polyester felt for engaging the thigh skin of the
cyclist; and said second surface layer could be made from brushed
micro-fiber polyester.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] In the drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the seat pad according
to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of this seat pad;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a lateral side edge view of this seat pad;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of this seat pad;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view at an enlarged scale of a
portion of this seat pad; and
[0020] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cyclist pant shown in
phantom lines, with the seat pad illustrated in full lines in its
crotch position into this cyclist pant.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, the seat pad 10
consists of a sheet member 12 being pretensioned into generally
upwardly convex shape, with its front end portion 14 and its rear
end portion 16 being raised relative to the intermediate section
thereof 18.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the front portion 14 is narrower than
the rear end portion 16, and defines a generally semi-cylindrical
shape in front end view.
[0023] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the seat pad 10 includes eight
different thick pad bulges 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34, being
separated from one another in adjacent pairs by thinned out hinge
lines 36. The intermediate pad bulge 20 and the adjacent front pad
bulge 22 each has a smaller overall thickness relative to the other
pad bulges, preferably of about five millimeters (5 mm), whereas
each of the two rear pad bulges 24, 26, adjacent the intermediate
pad bulge 20 has a larger overall thickness relative to the other
pad bulges, preferably of about 10 mm thickness. Along each of the
two opposite lateral side edges of the intermediate pad bulge 20,
there is found a pair of narrow but elongated side pad bulges 28,
30, and 32, 34. The edgewise side pad bulges 28 and 32 have the
smallest overall thickness relative to the other pad bulges,
preferably of about 3 mm thickness, while the inner side pad bulges
30, 34, adjacent to the intermediate pad bulge 20 also have a
smallest overall thickness relative to the other pad bulges, but
preferably slightly thicker than pad bulges 28 and 32. Preferably,
intermediate pad bulge 20 has about 4 mm of thickness.
[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the seat pad consists of three
layers of material:
[0025] a) a thick yet compressible intermediate layer 38 of open
cell foam, for example polyurethane or other "air breathing" foam
material;
[0026] b) a thin top layer 40 made from a non-compressible sheet
material, preferably a synthetic material such as polyester, most
preferably brushed micro-fiber polyester; top layer has preferably
between 0.5 to 1 mm thickness; and
[0027] c) a thin bottom layer 42 made from a non-compressible sheet
material, preferably a soft synthetic material, most preferably
polyester felt; bottom layer 42 has preferably between 0.5 to 1 mm
thickness.
[0028] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the felt layer 42 of the seat pad
10 is preferably directly stitched flatly and conformingly to the
crotch portion of the cyclist pant. However, the seat pad 10 could
alternately be mounted in free floating fashion onto the crotch
portion of the cyclist pant. This felt layer 42 is for example of
the unweaved tufted type, or other soft material kind to the
cyclist crotch skin.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 5, the micro-fiber polyester layer 40
includes shallow air and/or moisture circulation channels 44 that
further promotes surface diffusion of air and bodily fluids
transpiration. Channels 44 preferably have between 0.25 to 0.5 mm
in depth, i.e. about half the thickness of the polyester layer 40.
Each channel 44 may be cross-sectionally U-shape, as shown in FIG.
5, but a V-shape or other suitable trough shapes are not excluded
from the scope of the present invention, provided this channel is
able to convey fluids along the surface of the seat pad.
[0030] The hinge lines 36 are made by heat stamping and by
compression. When the hinge lines 36 are formed, the open cell foam
material is laterally released so that the top and bottom polyester
layers 40, 42 become fused with one another, as shown in FIG. 5.
Accordingly, no--or very little--open cell foam layer remains at
the hinge lines 36 between the two opposite surface layers 40, 42.
The hinge lines 36 will have for example a total thickness of about
1 to 2 mm.
[0031] The general molding process is preferably performed by an
ultrasound gun. The results are such that the thick various pad
bulges 20-34 are hinged to one another by the thin hinge lines 36,
and these pad bulges are of varying overall thickness--as per
varying permanent compression of the intermediate compressible open
cell foam layer 38, to provide optimum comfort at the genital
areas. This optimum comfort is brought about by the fact that, due
to the modulated thickness of the seat pad sheet member 12,
adjusted compressive forces are applied by the seat pad 10 to the
crotch body parts of the cyclist, thus substantially reducing the
discomfort to the genital areas by accommodating the thickness of
the sheet member 12 to the corresponding adjacent anatomical
topography of the person.
[0032] The pretensioned frontward and rearward flaring of the front
and rear sheet portions 14 and 16 again provide snug anatomical
conformation to the cyclist crotch portion, again enhancing overall
comfort.
* * * * *