Abstract:
A seat insert for mounting to a fixed seat, the insert having a rigid spine, having a periphery, a back surface, a front surface which is laminated with a soft fabric, and has securing device on the back surface disposed about the periphery for allowing the back surface to be mounted to the fixed seat. A cushion is attached to the back surface of the spine such that the cushion extends between the back surface of the spine and the fixed seat when the back surface is mounted to the fixed seat.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a padded, vandalism resistant, disposable vehicular seating insert system. More particularly, the invention relates to a seat bottom and seat-back insert which may detachably secured to a vehicular seat, providing an addition level of comfort thereto, while resisting destruction from vandals. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Traditional vehicular seats, namely those, seats employed by commuter buses and coaches, are often comprised of a hard material such as fiberglass or high-impact synthetic resins and plastics. These materials are often employed due to their resilient nature—they are not vulnerable to destruction due to intentional vandalism or high-volume commuter wear and tear. Furthermore, seats of this construction are also easily maintained in that they may be readily scrubbed with harsh abrasives to remove stains and markings, without obvious damage to the seat&#39;s finish. 
     However, while seats of this construction are easily maintainable, they tend to fail to provide even the slightest level of comfort to a commuter seated thereupon. The rigid construction can cause upper and lower back pains after short periods of time, as well as discomfort to the user&#39;s buttocks and thighs. A seating surface which employs softer and more cushioned seating surfaces is needed. Unfortunately, to construct commuter bus or coach seats of a more flexible and soft supple cloth-like material, as is often encountered in small passenger vehicles is not feasible since these types of seats are easily damaged, cut, and marred. To replace an entire such seat assembly in response to damage, cutting or marring would be extremely cost prohibitive. Accordingly, a device or system is needed which permits a commuter bus or coach seat to provide comfort to a user, without all of the problems inherent in the systems mentioned above. 
     In recent years, seating inserts have been used which a rigid spine is covered with a fabric, carpet-like pile, and then is attached to the seat frame. Such inserts marginally improve the comfort for the rider. In addition, because the fabric covering is glued directly to the rigid spine, a vandal can perhaps scrape through the fabric with a knife, but the rigid spine will prevent the vandal from doing little more than making a fine cut-line in the fabric pile. 
     The problem with such inserts, is that although the fabric pile provides a more attractive seat, which is soft on the surface, it fails to provide adequate cushioning for the rider. The obvious solution would be to provide a cushion between the fabric pile and the rigid spine. However, a simple cut from the vandal&#39;s knife would destroy such a seat. Accordingly, attempts to cushion such an insert have been coupled with attempts to prevent a vandal&#39;s knife from moving through the cushion—such as by putting a metal mesh within the foam, or a metal mesh in the fabric covering. All such attempts are easily defeated with sufficient strength and determination on the part of the vandal, and thus have been largely unsuccessful. 
     While these prior art units described herein may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a padded vehicular seating insert system. More particularly, the invention relates to a seat bottom and seat-back insert which may be detachably secured to a fixed vehicular seat, providing an addition level of comfort thereto. 
     In accordance with the invention, there is provided a seat insert which may be easily removed from a bus or coach seat in the event said insert needs to be cleaned or replaced. 
     Further in accordance with the invention, there is provided a seat insert which employs a rigid, vandal resistant plate, but still has enhanced comfort, by providing a cushion in addition to the fabric pile which covers the rigid plate. 
     Further in accordance with the invention, there is provided a seat insert which comprises a hard, plastic, rigid spine which is laminated with fabric, and has securing means disposed on the rear of said hard plastic spine, said securing means configured to engage mating securing means which are similarly disposed about the periphery of the seating surface to which the insert is to be affixed. The cushion is located on the rear surface of the spine so that it is not subject to vandalism. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows. 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the seat insert of the instant invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a flat version of the invention, showing the rear surface of the rigid spine of the seat insert of the instant invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross section view, taken generally along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the seat insert, having a curvature which facilitates its use with existing fixed seats commonly in use in public transportation vehicles. 
     FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view thereof. 
     FIG. 6 is a front elevational view thereof. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view, illustrating the seat insert about to be installed to a fixed seat of a public transportation vehicle. 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view, illustrating the fabric covering, securing means, and cushion, attached onto the rear surface of the rigid spine. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right,” “left,” “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the seat insert. The words “proximal end” and “distal end” refer, respectively, to ends of an object nearer to and further from the operator of the object when the object is used in a normal fashion or as is described in the specification. 
     In its most general terms, the invention is an insert  10 , which includes a rigid spine  12 , a fabric covering  14 , and a cushion  15 , which are each present throughout the drawing figures. In particular, the rigid insert  12  has a front surface  12 F which is mostly covered in the drawing figures, and a rear surface  12 R which is visible in some others, and has a periphery  12 P. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of the seat insert  10  of the instant invention, while FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom plan view thereof. Reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 along with the cross section view of FIG. 3 show the rigid spine  12  of the insert  10 , which is generally plate-like and made of a hard plastic material. The rigid spine  12  is upholstered (covered) with the soft fabric covering  14 , which is generally a carpet-like wool pile. The fabric covering  14  which upholsters the spine  12  can be seen in the front view of FIG. 1 as fully covering the front surface of the hard plastic spine  12  which is then fully obscured in FIG.  1 . The fabric covering is also seen in FIG.  2  and FIG. 3 as extending partially onto the rear surface  12 R, creating a border  17  which extends substantially parallel to the periphery  12 P, and which creates a central cavity therewithin. As seen in FIG. 3, the cushion  15  is affixed to the rear surface  12 R of the rigid spin  12 , within the central cavity. 
     Further, strips of securing means  16  such as hook and loop fasteners  16  are disposed on the rear surface  12 R of the rigid spine  12 . They are positioned on top of the fabric covering  14  as it wraps around to the rear surface  12 R and creates the border  17 . Thus, as seen in FIG. 8, the border  17  is actually created by the fabric covering  14  and the hook and loop fasteners of the securing means  16 . 
     FIG. 8 further details construction of the insert  10 , wherein the border  17 , comprised of the covering  14  and the securing means  16  at the rear surface  12 R, has a border thickness which is substantially equivalent to a thickness of the cushion  15 , such that the insert  10  is substantially flush at its rear, with the cushion  15  at substantially the same height from the spine rear surface  12 R as the combined covering  14  and securing means  16 . Preferably, {fraction (1/4″)} water resistant foam is preferably used for the cushion  15 , although the foam could be substituted in numerous ways, such as with rubber, a waffled plastic pad, or spring netting. Also detailed in FIG. 8, generally the securing means  16  and covering  14  are fastened directly to the spine  12  with fastening devices, such as staples  19 , as illustrated. Further, the covering  14  is glued at the front surface  12 F and the cushion  15  is glued to the rear surface  12 R. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a typical fixed bus seat  18 , which may be present on a bus, a train, or other public conveyance or public vehicle. Generally the seat  18  is contained in a seating unit  30 , which includes multiple individual seats. The seat  18  comprises a vertical hollow  20  and a horizontal hollow  22 , which are typically a concave area within the seat, where the back and buttocks are positioned when in use. Each of said hollows  20  and  22  has securement means  32  which engage the securing means  16  attached to the rear surface  12 R of the rigid spine  12  of the seat insert  10 . For instance, male hook and loop fasteners  16  can be used on the seat  18  while mateable female hook and loop fasteners  16  are used on the seat insert  10  to allow simple installation and removal of the seat insert  10  into one of the hollows of the bus seat  18 . Accordingly, said seat insert  10  may be changed at will in response to maintenance needs or the desire to vary the color or pattern thereof. When installed, said seat inserts  10  provide an additional level of comfort and support compared to the standard fixed bus seat  18 . The seat insert  10  may optimally be installed upon both the top member  20  and bottom member  22  of the standard bus or coach seat  18 . 
     Once installed, the cushion  15  provides additional comfort for the user. Although contact with the rigid spine  12  by the passenger is not itself softened by the cushion  15 —even the small travel (generally {fraction (1/4″)}) afforded by the cushion goes a long way to absorb vibration, shocks during motion of the vehicle—and unexpectedly provides significant comfort to the passenger seated thereupon. 
     FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 , and  8  generally illustrate a flat version of the insert  10 . However, as seen in FIG. 7, generally the hollows  20  and  22  in the seats  18  are concave. Thus, as seen in FIGS. 4,  5 , and  6 , the insert  10  is typically made to be concave, to fit snugly within the hollows  20  and  22 . Accordingly, the rigid plate  22  is formed in a concave shape to conform with the hollows  20  and  22 . Then the covering  14 , the securing means  16  and the cushion  15  are conformed and attached to the rigid plate  22 . 
     In conclusion, herein is presented a seating insert with use with a fixed vehicle seat, wherein a cushion is provided to enhance comfort without sacrificing the vandal resistance of the insert. This concept is embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However such drawings are illustrative only. Numerous variations may be made while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention.