Abstract:
A variety of cushion presenters may be provided in seats such as motorcycle. These cushion presenters are filled with air to envelop and support the hips of a rider. The cushion presenters may further be used to provide sacrum, support. Additional cushion presenters may be used in the buttock region to relieve tail burn. A linkage may further be provided to provide a actuated backrest.

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       APPENDIX 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to cushioning and, more particularly, to a cushion presenter system. 
         [0005]    2. Related Art 
         [0006]    Typical seats for motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, tractors, boats, riding lawn mowers and other similar vehicles are designed for basic functions and appearance. Third party aftermarket suppliers provide aftermarket seats that add extra padding support in a fixed position profile. 
         [0007]    These aftermarket seats can require a custom fit for each driver, have the added expense of installing a custom seat as an aftermarket accessory, and can be associated with a change in profile that can change the appearance of the vehicle. Presently, custom seating does not fit multiple drivers that have different statures. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invention is a seat cushion expansion system that expands cushion profiles. 
         [0009]    Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the seat of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A  is a front view of the seat of  FIG. 1 , with the cushion in an expanded position; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2B  is an elevated side view illustrating the seat of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3A  is a side view of the seat of  FIG. 1  of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3B  is a bottom elevated view of the seat of  FIG. 1  of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3C  is a front elevated view of the cushion presenter assembly of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3D  is a front view of the cushion presenter assembly of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3E  is a bottom elevated view of the cushion presenter assembly of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a front view of a first alternative embodiment of the present invention providing a sacrum support expansion zone; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the first alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6A  is a side view of a second alternative embodiment of the present invention providing dual sacrum support expansion zones; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6B  is a front view of the second alternative embodiment of the present invention, with the dual sacrum support expansion zones in a first position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6C  is a front view of the second alternative embodiment of the present invention, with the dual sacrum support expansion zones in a second position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a third alternative embodiment of the present invention that provides a further actuating backrest. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 1-3E  illustrate an embodiment of the present invention wherein a motorcycle seat, shown generally at  50 , is provided with a first side expansion zone, shown generally at  52 , and a second side expansion zone, shown generally at  56 . First side expansion zone  52  comprises a first cushion bolster  54 . Similarly, second side expansion zone  56  comprises a second cushion bolster  58 . First and second cushion bolsters  54 ,  58 , are connected by supporting strap  64  which is best seen in  FIGS. 3C ,  3 D, and  3 E. The first and second side expansion zones  52 ,  56  provide an occupant with lateral support. Each expansion zone  52 ,  56  may be expanded or presented (to a seat occupant). First and second cushion bolsters  54 ,  58  are air bladders. 
         [0027]    Air is introduced to the air bladders  54 ,  58 , via an air pump  66 , and air hose  68  connected between air pump  66  and first and second cushion bolsters  54 ,  58 . As air fills air bladders  54 ,  58 , they expand and provide lateral support to a seat occupant. It should be appreciated that air pump  66  does not have to be disposed on supporting strap  64 , but can be disposed at a distance so long as air hose  68  connects air pump  66  to first and second cushion bolsters  54 ,  58 . 
         [0028]    In operation, the user may turn the air pump on (preferably a two-way switch), the first and second cushion bolsters  54 ,  58 , expand and provide greater lateral support. As best seen in  FIG. 2A , the first and second expansion zones,  52 ,  56 , are relatively large, with each expanding several inches. Also, the first and second cushion bolsters  54 ,  58  expand in a way that essentially rotates each bolster  54 ,  58  around the buttocks of the seat occupant and up towards the hips of a seat occupant to provide a saddle-like contour to engage the outside of the hips of the seat occupant. It is important that the air hose  68  is connected to air pump  66  at a point which is intermediate the ends of the air hose  68 . When the motorcycle is turned off, the air pump  66  will automatically remain on and pump air out of the bolsters  54 ,  58 , to maintain a streamlined look. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 4 and 5  introduce a further alternative embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, disposed on motorcycle seat  50  there is a sacrum support expansion zone, shown generally at  72 , comprising a sacrum support bladder  74 . The purpose of the sacrum support bladder  74  is to expand, prevent pelvic roll forward, and minimize the discomfort in the lumbar region. The sacrum support bladder  74  is preferably supplied with air from air hose  68  and air pump  66 . However, a separate air hose (not shown) and/or air pump (not shown) may be provided if desired. In this alternative embodiment, when the motorcycle is turned off, the air pump  66  will automatically remain on and pump air out of sacrum support bladder  74 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 6A ,  6 B, and  6 C introduce a further alternative embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, disposed on motorcycle seat  50 , there is provided a first buttock expansion zone, shown generally at  78 , and a second buttock expansion zone, shown generally at  82 . First buttock expansion zone  78  comprises a first bladder  80 . Second buttock expansion zone  82  comprises second bladder  84 . First bladder  80  and second bladder  84  are each connected to air pump  66  via air hose  68 . The first and second buttock expansion zones  78  and  82  work together to provide a passive offset motion for massage. This minimizes what is commonly referred to as tail burn (discomfort in the buttock area) which is experienced by motorcycle riders who have been sitting for long periods of time. 
         [0031]    In operation,  FIG. 6B  shows a first position in which first bladder  80  is either empty or relatively deflated, and in which second bladder  84  is full or relatively inflated. Then, in  FIG. 6C , first bladder  80  is inflated further and second bladder  84  is deflated. Thus, the bladders  80  and  84  oppositely and cyclically inflate and deflate. This imparts a passive massage to the buttock region of the seat occupant and relieves the discomfort associated with tail burn. This cyclical passive massage can be activated by a switch, which actuates air pump  66  to either pump or draw air from each bladder  80 ,  84 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  illustrates a third alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this third embodiment, an actuating backrest, shown generally at  100 , is provided for additional comfort. An air tube  86 , connected at one end to air pump  66 , is connected to air cylinder  88 . Air cylinder  88  is connected to a slide pivot mechanism. Specifically, air cylinder  88  is connected to one end of first slide pivot  90 . The other end of first slide pivot  90  is connected to second link pivoting member  94 . As air cylinder  88  extends or retracts, first slide pivot  90  slides along seat track rails  92 , and a pivoting motion is observed between first slide pivot  90  and second link pivoting member  94 . Accordingly, second link pivoting member  94  may be raised or lowered relative to the motorcycle seat  50  to provide more or less back support to the rider. It will be appreciated that the covering of the seat around first slide pivot  90  and second link pivoting member  94  has been removed from view for clarity. 
         [0033]    When the bike is turned off, the air may alternatively be released instead of pumped out by air pump  66 . 
         [0034]    As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to the corresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.