Adjustable seat bump stop for a motorcycle

A seat bump stop has a pad having a first end and a second end separated by a width of 3-8 inches, the pad having a height that is between 1-5 inches. The seat bump stop further includes a mounting system for adjustably and removably mounting the pad on the motorcycle seat. The mounting system including a first strap attached to the first end of the pad, a second strap attached to the second end, and a fastener for fastening the first and second straps around the motorcycle seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to motorcycle accessories seats, and more particularly to an adjustable and removable seat bump stop for a motorcycle.

Description of Related Art

It is desirable to teach a person learning how to ride a motorcycle where to seat himself or herself on the seat of the motorcycle. While this can be done verbally, it would be useful to have a device that physically limits the rider's movement to the correct position, while they are learning.

The prior art teaches “bump stops” that are adhesively bonded to the motorcycle or the seat. For example, an existing product includes a small foam tube that is bonded to the foam core of the motorcycle seat, and then covered with the seat cover. This bump stop is not adjustable or removable.

The prior art also teaches a variety of back rests and similar support devices that can be mounted on a motorcycle for supporting the back of the rider, for his or her comfort. For example, Chiba, U.S. Pat. No. 10,625,801, teaches backrest mounted on a seat body of the motorcycle. While this backrest supports the user's back for his or her comfort, it is not suitable for training a beginner how to sit on the motorcycle correctly, and it is not readily adjustable in position.

Paige, U.S. Pat. No. 2,966,938, teaches a seat divider and rest that is mounted onto the motorcycle seat via L-shaped side brackets that are adjustably mounted on the seat. A similar back rest is shown in Paige, U.S. Pat. No. 2,307,709.

The prior art teaches various products that are semi-permanently installed on or near a motorcycle seat. However, the prior art does not teach an adjustable and removable motorcycle seat bump stop.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a seat bump stop for a motorcycle seat, the seat bump stop comprising a pad having a first end and a second end separated by a width of 3-8 inches, the pad having a height that is between 1-5 inches; and a mounting system for adjustably and removably mounting the pad on the motorcycle seat. The mounting system may include at least one strap, and a fastener for fastening the at least one strap around the motorcycle seat.

In another embodiment, the invention is a seat bump stop for a motorcycle seat, the seat bump stop comprising a pad having a first end and a second end separated by a width of about 4.5 inches, the pad having a height that is about 1.5 inches; and a mounting system for adjustably mounting the pad on the motorcycle seat.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a seat bump stop having advantages not taught by the prior art.

Another objective is to provide a seat bump stop that can be adjustably and removably mounted on a motorcycle for teaching a rider where to position himself or herself on the motorcycle seat.

A further objective is to provide a seat bump stop having a mounting system that allows easy adjustment of the position of the seat bump stop, and removal of the seat bump stop, when desired.

A further objective is to provide a seat bump stop that is large enough to guide a rider in correct positioning, but small enough to not interfere with the rider's movement on the motorcycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG.1is a perspective view of a seat bump stop10mounted on a motorcycle seat14of a motorcycle12according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG.1, the seat bump stop10includes a pad20and a mounting system30for adjustably and removably mounting the seat bump stop10to the motorcycle seat14. As shown inFIG.1, the pad20is adapted to be positioned on top of and frictionally engage the motorcycle seat14, while the mounting system30fits around the seat so that the position of the seat bump stop10may be readily adjusted to fit the rider of the motorcycle12.

For purposes of this application, the term “adjustable” is defined to mean that the position of the bump stop can be moved forward and backward on the motorcycle seat with minimal effort in less than 1 minute and without the use of tools, except for any tools that may be needed to lift the motorcycle seat.

For purposes of this application, the term “removable” is defined to mean that the bump stop can be removed entirely from the motorcycle seat with minimal effort in less than 1 minute and without the use of tools, except for any tools needed to lift the motorcycle seat.

As shown inFIG.1, the pad20includes a first end22and a second end24, which are connected by a front surface26aand a rear surface26b. The front surface26bis adapted to abut the rider of the motorcycle12, so that the ride is able to determine his or her correct position on the motorcycle12.

The seat bump stop10further includes a mounting system30for adjustably and removably mounting the pad20on the motorcycle seat14. The mounting system30may include at least one strap and a fastener, and in this embodiment includes a first strap32attached to the first end22of the pad20, a second strap34attached to the second end24, and a fastener36for fastening the first and second straps32and34around the motorcycle seat14.

FIG.2is a perspective view of the seat bump stop10being installed on the motorcycle12, wherein the motorcycle seat14is hinged upward to so that the seat bump stop10can be mounted on the motorcycle seat14. As shown inFIG.2, the first and second straps32and34may be wrapped around the motorcycle seat14, once the seat has been lifted or otherwise raised or separated from the body of the motorcycle12. The straps32and34may be tightened so that the pad20is held securely against the seat, to prevent movement.

While one embodiment of the fastener36is shown, any form of buckle, clip, snap, or other form if fastener known in the art may be used. Furthermore, while one version of the mounting system30is shown, any form of mounting system that allows for easy installation, removal, and adjustment may be used; for example, a single strap adapted to wrap around the motorcycle seat14and fasten to the pad20on the other side may be used, or any other mounting system known in the art.

As shown inFIG.2, in use, the rider may hinge or otherwise lift the motorcycle seat14upward to secure the straps around the motorcycle seat14, and adjust as desired before putting the seat14back down, wherein the pad20will be secured atop the seat14.

FIG.3is a sectional view of the seat bump stop10. As shown inFIG.3, in this embodiment, the first end22has a first side surface28a, and the second end24has a second side surface28b, which are separated by a width W. The first and second side surfaces28aand28bare connected by a top surface29aand a bottom surface29b, which are separated by a height H. The bottom surface29bforms the gripping surface that frictionally engages the motorcycle seat14, as shown inFIG.1.

As shown inFIG.3, in this embodiment the pad20of the seat bump stop10includes an insert23within an outer layer that includes the various surfaces described above. The pad20has a width W that is between 3-8 inches, a height H that is between 1-5 inches, and a thickness that is between 1.5-6.5 inches. In this embodiment, the width W is about 4.5 inches, the height H is about 1.5 inches, and the thickness (between the front and rear surfaces26aand26b, shown inFIG.1) is about 3 inches. While the pad20of this embodiment is generally rectangular, or perhaps trapezoidal, in alternative embodiments, the pad20may be a different shape, e.g., tubular, rounded, polygonal, etc., or any other shape suitable for use by the rider.

As shown inFIG.3, the insert23may be constructed of soft and yielding material and is substantially surrounded by the outer layer. For the purposes of this application, “soft and yielding” is defined to include any materials with enough cushioning and resilience for the rider to repeatedly sit on/against in relative comfort, including, but not limited to, various types of foam (e.g., in the form of a sponge, micro-beads, etc.), fabric stuffing, down, paperboard blends, soft rubber or silicone, a mixture of these, or any other similar materials known in the art. In another embodiment, the pad20may be a single, solid construction of a suitable material that is firm enough to function as a bump stop, but preferably resilient enough to be comfortable for the rider.

As shown inFIG.2, to mount the seat bump stop10, the rider lifts the motorcycle seat14upwardly such that the straps32and34can be passed through underneath the motorcycle seat14. Next, the seat bump stop10is positioned on the motorcycle seat14, in a location determined for correctly positioning the rider on the motorcycle, such that the gripping surface29bis in contact with the motorcycle seat14, and the pair of straps32and34are disposed on either side of the motorcycle seat14, wherein the rider may wrap the pair of straps32around the motorcycle seat14and secure them together with the fastener34. The motorcycle seat14may then be returned to its original position, wherein the seat bump stop10is securely mounted to the motorcycle seat14and ready for use.

The bottom surface29b(shown inFIG.3) forms a gripping surface that frictionally engages the motorcycle seat14. The gripping surface of the bottom surface29bhas a coefficient of friction that is high enough to prevent sliding relative to the motorcycle seat14while the rider is sitting on the motorcycle12, as inFIG.1. In this embodiment, the bottom surface29bis formed of a woven or textured rubber or rubber-like material or other form of non-slip material, but in other embodiments may be other suitable material, e.g., such as cloth fiber (e.g., polyester, acrylic, yarn fibers, elastic, rayon, etc.), with a non-slip coating. In this embodiment, the non-slip material is rubber, which may include natural or synthetic rubber, nitrile, latex, or vulcanized rubber, etc. Furthermore, the non-slip material may include epoxy resin, silicone, PVC, etc., a mixture of these, or any other non-slip materials known to those skilled in the art.

As used in this application, the words “a,” “an,” and “one” are defined to include one or more of the referenced item unless specifically stated otherwise. The terms “approximately” and “about” are defined to mean+/−10%, unless otherwise stated. Also, the terms “have,” “include,” “contain,” and similar terms are defined to mean “comprising” unless specifically stated otherwise. Furthermore, the terminology used in the specification provided above is hereby defined to include similar and/or equivalent terms, and/or alternative embodiments that would be considered obvious to one skilled in the art given the teachings of the present patent application. While the invention has been described with reference to at least one particular embodiment, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments, but rather the scope of the invention is defined by claims made to the invention.