SEAT BASE WITH FLEXIBLE FINGERS

A straddle vehicle including a seat assembly with at least one seating area for a person straddling the vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat base, and one or more upholstery layers disposed atop the seat base. A frame of the straddle vehicle supports the seat assembly. The seat base and the frame form a mount for securing the seat assembly into an assembled position with respect to the frame. A body structure is coupled to the frame in an assembled position directly adjacent to a peripheral edge portion of the seat assembly such that, in their respective assembled positions, the peripheral edge portion contacts an interfering portion of the body structure. The seat base, in the peripheral edge portion, is partitioned into a plurality of flexible fingers that conform to a shape of the interfering portion of the body structure.

BACKGROUND

The present invention is directed to a vehicle seat and more particularly to a vehicle seat for a straddle vehicle, such as a motorcycle. Motorcycles and other straddle vehicles can be offered by a manufacturer in numerous configurations, and sometimes user-customizable. Additionally, the seat on a straddle vehicle often forms an exposed top side surface of the vehicle and held in its assembled position by a latch and/or fasteners that enable full removal of the seat. A seat base separate from the upholstery layers forms a hidden structural bottom layer of the seat and provides the mechanical interface for fastening the seat to the underlying frame.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the invention provides a straddle vehicle including a seat assembly with at least one seating area for a person straddling the vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seat base, and one or more upholstery layers disposed atop the seat base. A frame of the straddle vehicle supports the seat assembly. The seat base and the frame form a mount for securing the seat assembly into an assembled position with respect to the frame. A body structure is coupled to the frame in an assembled position directly adjacent to a peripheral edge portion of the seat assembly such that, in their respective assembled positions, the peripheral edge portion contacts an interfering portion of the body structure. The seat base, in the peripheral edge portion, is partitioned into a plurality of flexible fingers that conform to a shape of the interfering portion of the body structure.

In another aspect, the invention provides a seat assembly for a straddle vehicle. The seat assembly includes a seating area for a person straddling the vehicle, the seating area having a narrowing width toward a forward end of the seat assembly. A seat base having a bottom surface provides an interface for selectively mounting with and releasing from the straddle vehicle. One or more upholstery layers are disposed atop the seat base and defining a top surface of the seat assembly at which the seating area is defined. The seat base includes a peripheral edge portion partitioned into a plurality of flexible fingers at the forward end.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of assembling a seat assembly on a straddle vehicle. The method includes providing the seat assembly having a seat base and one or more upholstery layers disposed atop the seat base, providing a frame of the vehicle with an exposed surface configured to form a mutual mounting interface with the seat base, and providing a body structure of the vehicle secured to the frame adjacent and interfering with an assembly position of the seat assembly. The seat assembly is secured to the frame with a movement toward an assembled position. During the movement to secure the seat assembly to the frame, a plurality of flexible fingers provided in a peripheral edge portion of the seat base are elastically deflected to accommodate interference between the seat assembly and an interfering portion of the body structure.

Before explaining one or more embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments, which can be practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides a seat assembly20for a straddle vehicle or “saddle ride” vehicle such as the exemplary motorcycle24, a portion of which is shown inFIG.1. The motorcycle24includes a frame28that is elongated in a longitudinal direction for supporting a single front wheel and a single rear wheel directly behind the front wheel, defining a single track. Other configurations, for example tricycle configurations with either two front wheels or two rear wheels are optional. Four wheel configurations of a straddle vehicle can be embodied in the form of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), for example. The seat assembly20of the illustrated construction is a single or solo seat having a single seating area configured to support the buttocks of a single individual (i.e., rider/operator). The seating area is defined between a front end20A and a rear end20B of the seat assembly20. The rear end20B can have a backstop portion or ridge with upward slope. The front end20A is tapered to a narrowed width W1(FIG.3) compared to a maximum width W2which is further rearward, such as in a rear or central portion. The width W1at the front end20A can be70percent or less than the maximum width W2. The reduced width W1not only conforms to the shape and aesthetic of the motorcycle24, but also facilitates positioning between the legs of the seated person.

The seat assembly20includes a seat base40as a lowermost portion or layer, and a cover42as an uppermost or outermost portion. The seat base40is predominantly or completely concealed from view when the seat assembly20is mounted on the motorcycle24. The seat base40can have a rigid construction (e.g., of engineering plastic, composite, etc.) providing structure for supporting the remainder of the seat assembly20. The cover42(e.g., constructed of leather, vinyl, or similar material) forms the durable exposed contact surface on the outside of the seat assembly20and can cover one or more intermediate layers (e.g., foam44,FIG.8). The cover42and the foam44constitute upholstery layers that provide occupant comfort and a desirable aesthetic, which cannot be achieved by the seat base alone.

As shown inFIG.1, the motorcycle24includes a fuel tank assembly having a fuel tank56and a console60provided on a top surface of the fuel tank56. The console60can extend longitudinally along a majority of the length of the fuel tank56. The console60can have a forward portion provided with an opening for a fuel cap, or alternately an instrument gauge or display. A rear end of the console60can be coupled to the frame (e.g., with a single fastener) at a position under the seat base40. However, the seat base40can include an opening or access port exposing the joint coupling the console60to the frame28. This joint can be integrated with a portion of the sliding mount described below. The fuel tank56is centrally located across the width of the motorcycle24and is positioned directly in front of the seat assembly20, which is the subject of further description below. The fuel tank56can be provided as a single-wall vessel, or alternately with an internal vessel for receiving fuel and a decorative fuel tank cover over the internal vessel. The fuel tank56is shown to straddle a central, longitudinally extending backbone portion64of the frame28(FIG.1). Whatever form it takes, the fuel tank assembly constitutes a fixed body structure of the motorcycle24as it is generally immovable with respect to the frame24once mounted. It is also noted that, short of destructive means, the structure of the fuel tank assembly is rigid and generally lacks flexibility.

The seat base40has a front end that defines a mount, for example a sliding mount, with the frame28. As shown inFIG.2, the sliding mount includes a tab48and a recess or pocket50for receiving the tab48when assembled or mounted. In the illustrated construction, the tab48is provided (e.g., rearwardly extending) on a bracket52of the frame28, and the pocket50is provided (e.g., forwardly opening) on the seat base40. In other constructions, the components of the sliding mount may be alternately configured and/or reversed between the frame28and the seat base40. In some constructions, there may be a plurality of sliding mounts between the frame28and the seat base40. The sliding mount can be configured to require a movement of the seat assembly20with respect to the frame28, such as a movement that is one or both of forward and downward. In some cases, a pivoting movement of the seat assembly20may be required to secure the mount when assembling. As described further below, the assembly movement of the seat assembly20can require contact and deformation between a portion of the seat assembly20and the fuel tank assembly.

FIG.4illustrates the seat assembly20from below, showing a bottom surface of the seat base40that is ribbed for enhanced rigidity. Under the seating area and within the ribbed section, the seat base40includes a plurality of mounting portions, embodied as bosses68. Each of the mounting bosses68can protrude downward, and each can include an opening configured to receive a fastener for securing the seat assembly20to the frame28. The mounting bosses68can provide standoffs that situate a majority of the seat base40, particularly in the area corresponding to the seating area, spaced up above the frame28. At the rear end20B of the seat assembly, the seat base40includes a mounting flange70. The mounting flange70can include one or a plurality of openings for receiving respective mounting fasteners72. In some constructions, the fasteners72can be screws that extend up from below a rear fender76of the motorcycle24. The fasteners72can be threaded into nuts positioned on a top side of the mounting flange70. In some constructions a further seat for a pillion passenger can be mounted directly behind the seat assembly20, and optionally using some shared mounting points and/or fasteners. In other constructions, the seat assembly20is modified to include both a forward seating area for rider/operator and a rear seating area for a pillion passenger, all with one continuous seat base.

With respect toFIGS.2,5, and6in particular, it is shown that the seat base40, in a peripheral edge portion (e.g., a front or forward edge portion), is partitioned into a plurality of flexible fingers80. As described in further detail below, the flexible fingers80serve to allow the otherwise rigid seat base40to locally conform to a shape of an interfering structure mounted to the frame28adjacent the seat assembly20. In the illustrated construction, the interfering structure is the fuel tank assembly. Furthermore, the partitioned flexible portion with the fingers80is limited to a central region of the seat base40(e.g., less than the front end width W1, and less than half the maximum width W2). Each of the flexible fingers80includes a base portion82spaced rearward of the forward peripheral edge portion. The base portions82can be integrally formed or fixedly secured with the rest of the seat base40to form proximal portions of the fingers80. Each flexible finger80projects outward from the base portion82to define an elongate neck portion84. As illustrated, the neck portions84extend forwardly from the respective base portions82. The neck portion84of each finger80terminates at a distal tip or head portion86. The head portions86can have a rounded profile as viewed inFIGS.7and8. The head portions86can be formed with a greater cross-sectional area than the neck portions84such that the flexibility of the fingers80is predominantly or entirely provided by the base and/or neck portions82,84. In other words, flexure in the fingers80will cause the head portions86to move relative to the remainder of the seat base40, but the head portions themselves are substantially without deformation.

The respective head portions86form a discontinuous part of the peripheral edge portion of the seat base40. In other words, the head portions86lie along a contour established by adjacent edge portions that are separated from each other by the portion that is subdivided into the fingers80. Additionally, across the width direction, the head portions86are substantially wider than the neck portions84so as to leave only small gaps along the peripheral edge portion of the seat base40. This serves to inhibit witnessing of the fingers80through the upholstery when the fingers80are forced to flex upwardly into the upholstery. In some constructions, the spacing distance S1between two adjacent head portions86(FIG.5) is less than one-third or less than one-fourth of the spacing distance S2between the neck portions84of the two adjacent fingers. In some constructions, the spacing distance S1between two adjacent head portions86is less than 7 mm or less than 5 mm.

FIGS.6and7illustrate the seat base40and also the fuel tank56and console60in their assembled positions on the frame28. The seat base40is shown without the upholstery (e.g., cover42and foam44) attached. As such, the natural or at-rest state of the flexible fingers80can be observed. In this at-rest, assembled state, the head portions86of the flexible fingers80are spaced a distance D1(FIG.7) from the nearest portion of the fuel tank assembly (e.g., the upper surface of a lower end of the console60). However, as shown inFIG.8, the complete seat assembly20with the upholstery layers mounted on the seat base40does not allow the fingers80to assume the at-rest position, but rather, forces the fingers80to assume a deflected position due to the upholstery coming into contact with the fuel tank assembly. In other words, the uncompressed thickness of the upholstery between the flexible fingers80and the fuel tank assembly is greater than the spacing distance D1shown inFIG.7—requiring compression of one or more portions of the seat assembly20to enable assembly against the fuel tank assembly. It is also noted here that the flexible fingers are contoured in a direction toward the interfering structure of the fuel tank assembly such that the head portions86constitute the closest parts of the flexible fingers80(i.e., the parts with the most potential interference). In alternate constructions, the flexible fingers80can have an alternate curved contour, or a straight contour. In alternate constructions, the flexible fingers may contact the fuel tank assembly or other fixed body structure directly, rather than contacting through the upholstery.

As mentioned above, the plurality of fingers80allow flexing of the peripheral edge portion of the seat base40to absorb the packaging interference between the seat assembly20and the fuel tank assembly (one or both of the fuel tank56and the console60). In other constructions, flexible fingers like those shown in the seat base40can be configured to deflect to absorb interference with a different body structure on the motorcycle24or another vehicle.

Various alternatives to the disclosed embodiment(s) are contemplated as being within the scope of the claims of the present invention. It is also to be understood that, although the foregoing description and drawings describe and illustrate in detail one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention, to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates, the present disclosure will suggest many modifications and constructions, as well as widely differing embodiments and applications without thereby departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.