US4804221A — Variable seat for motorcycles

Claim 1

Independent Claim 365 words

An arrangement for adjustably supporting the waist of a motorcycle operator, comprising: (A) an elongated double seat structure extending along a longitudinal direction from a front saddle seat for a motorcycle operator to a rear saddle seat for a motorcycle passenger, (i) said front saddle seat having a seating portion on which the operator sits astride with legs on opposite sides of the seating portion, a rear portion against which only the back of the waist of the operator is supported, and a pair of side waist bolster portions against which only opposite sides of the waist of the operator are supported at opposite sides of the seating portion, said bolster portions being spaced apart in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction by a transverse distance, (ii) said rear saddle seat being connected to the front saddle seat and having a seating section on which the passenger sits astride with legs on opposite sides of the seating section, said seat section having a transverse width less than said transverse distance between the bolster portions; (B) an elongated seat frame extending longitudinally from a front support portion on which the front saddle seat is supported at a predetermined elevation, to a rear support portion on which the rear saddle seat is supported at an elevation above said predetermined elevation; and (C) means for adjusting said transverse direction between the bolster portions, including (i) a pair of rigid members, each located within a respective bolster portion, said rigid members being mounted on the seat frame for simultaneous movement toward each other to a first waist-supporting condition in which said transverse distance is decreased, and for simultaneous movement away from each other to a second waistsupporting condition in which said transverse distance is increased, (ii) a manually-operated element mounted on the double seat structure between the front and rear saddle seats at substantially the same horizontal level of the front seat surface and below the horizontal level of the rear seat surface, and (iii) a transmission mounted within the seat structure, and operatively connected between the element and the rigid members, for enabling the rigid members and the bolster portions to be moved between said waist-supporting conditions.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 365 words

An arrangement for adjustably supporting the waist of a motorcycle operator, comprising: (A) an elongated double seat structure extending along a longitudinal direction from a front saddle seat for a motorcycle operator to a rear saddle seat for a motorcycle passenger, (i) said front saddle seat having a seating portion on which the operator sits astride with legs on opposite sides of the seating portion, a rear portion against which only the back of the waist of the operator is supported, and a pair of side waist bolster portions against which only opposite sides of the waist of the operator are supported at opposite sides of the seating portion, said bolster portions being spaced apart in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction by a transverse distance, (ii) said rear saddle seat being connected to the front saddle seat and having a seating section on which the passenger sits astride with legs on opposite sides of the seating section, said seat section having a transverse width less than said transverse distance between the bolster portions; (B) an elongated seat frame extending longitudinally from a front support portion on which the front saddle seat is supported at a predetermined elevation, to a rear support portion on which the rear saddle seat is supported at an elevation above said predetermined elevation; and (C) means for adjusting said transverse direction between the bolster portions, including (i) a pair of rigid members, each located within a respective bolster portion, said rigid members being mounted on the seat frame for simultaneous movement toward each other to a first waist-supporting condition in which said transverse distance is decreased, and for simultaneous movement away from each other to a second waistsupporting condition in which said transverse distance is increased, (ii) a manually-operated element mounted on the double seat structure between the front and rear saddle seats at substantially the same horizontal level of the front seat surface and below the horizontal level of the rear seat surface, and (iii) a transmission mounted within the seat structure, and operatively connected between the element and the rigid members, for enabling the rigid members and the bolster portions to be moved between said waist-supporting conditions.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

The arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein each rigid member is pivotably mounted on the frame for movement about an inclined pivot axis.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 44 words

The arrangement as recited in claim 2, wherein the manually-operated element is a manually-turnable actuator, and wherein each rigid member includes a plate mounted within a respective bolster portion and extending through an opening in the frame, and an arm integral with the plate.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 77 words

The arrangement as recited in claim 3, wherein each arm carries an interiorly threaded nut, and wherein the transmission includes an elongated drive shaft having the actuator at one end thereof, said drive shaft having a pair of exteriorly threaded portions threadedly engaging each nut, said exteriorly threaded portions having threads of opposite pitch, and wherein the transmission further includes means on the drive shaft for preventing axial movement of the drive shaft relative to the frame.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 54 words

The arrangement as recited in claim 3, wherein the transmission includes a wheel operatively connected to the actuator for reciprocating movement about a wheel axis, and a pair of elongated links having first ends pivotably connected on the wheel at opposite sides of the wheel axis, and second ends pivotably connected to the arms.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 64 words

The arrangement as recited in claim 2, wherein each rigid member includes a plate mounted within a respective bolster portion, and an elongated rod on which the plate is fixedly mounted, and wherein the transmission includes a pair of meshing sector gears, each fixedly mounted on a respective rod for reciprocating movement therewith about a respective rod axis extending lengthwise of a respective rod.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 52 words

The arrangement as recited in claim 6, wherein the manually-operated element is a manually-pullable release member mounted for movement between a normally locked position in which the release member lockingly engages one of the sector gears, and a release position in which the release member is disengaged from said one sector gear.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 36 words

The arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the front and rear saddle seats are padded and covered with an outer covering which extends over the seating, rear and bolster portions of said front saddle seat.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-02-14	1992-08-15	1993-02-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-02-14	1996-08-15	1997-02-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-02-14	2000-08-15	2001-02-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Variable seat for motorcycles

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