Abstract:
Several different covers for a bicycle seat which can be stowed within the underside on the seat when not in use. Optionally, the seat covers are removable or detachable and may include auxiliary storage for other articles.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/062,360 filed on Oct. 10, 2014 and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/140,568 filed on Mar. 31, 2015, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Cycling has grown into a popular mode of transportation for both casual and competitive riders. Currently cyclists struggle keeping their bike seats dry during inclement weather when parking bicycles outside. Some cyclists resort to using disposable plastic bags to cover their seats between rides, but this solution requires the rider to remember to bring a bag with when the weather may be wet. This solution also requires the rider to have access to plastic bags which are falling out of favor in many locations and which can be fragile and tear easily thereby making them ineffective at protecting the seat from moisture. 
         [0003]    Seat covers can be used to keep the seat dry, but then the rider is left with the problem of storing a wet cover after removing it from the seat. Additionally, an attached seat cover may be subject to theft if visibly left attached to the seat when not in use. Another issue are potentially damaging environmental effects to bicycle seats from conditions such as ultraviolet light, rain, snow, sleet, bird droppings, road debris (such as when transporting a bicycle on a vehicle rack), and the like. What is needed is a bicycle seat cover which can be deployed to protect a seat when needed and stowed and/or removed when not in use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a seat cover according to one example of the disclosed invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the seat cover of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a partial cut away side view of the seat cover of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of a seat cover according to another example of the disclosed invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a seat cover according to still another example of the disclosed invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a partial cut away side view of a seat cover according to another example of the disclosed invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a seat cover according to yet another example of the disclosed invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is a rear view of a seat cover according to still another example of the disclosed invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the claimed technology and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the claimed technology is thereby intended, with such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the claimed technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the claimed technology relates. 
         [0013]    A first example of the disclosed invention comprises a cover  10  sized and adapted to cover a saddle-type bicycle  14  seat as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . In this particular example, a bicycle saddle  14  is equipped with a seat cover  10  according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention. The seat cover  10  includes a cover body portion  12  sized and configured so as to cover the saddle  14  when deployed as shown in  FIGS. 1-2  and a storage portion  16  as shown in  FIG. 3 . In this particular example, the cover portion  12  includes an elastic band  18  fixed to the outer edge  20  of the cover portion  12  by a suitable means such as stitching or adhesive. The elastic band  18  allows the perimeter of the cover portion  12  to stretch while being drawn over the saddle  14  when being deployed then draws the outer edge  20  of the cover portion  12  inward to secure it around the saddle  14  when released. When the cover portion  12  is being moved to the stowed position ( FIG. 3 ) the elastic band  18  may be stretched so as to allow the cover body portion  12  to be drawn over the body of the saddle  14 . The cover portion  12  can then be folded and stowed within the storage portion  16 . 
         [0014]    In this example, the storage portion  16  is a pouch  22  comprising a nylon mesh having an elastic-lined open end  24 . The open mesh of the pouch  22  allows the cover portion  12  to be exposed to air when in the stowed position, thereby allowing it to dry. An elastic lined opening  24  allows the cover portion  12  to be removed or placed within the mesh pouch  16  as desired while biasing the opening closed. The pouch  16  is secured to the underside of the saddle  14  using a suitable means such as rivets, staples, adhesive, stitching, clips, ties, and the like. In other embodiments, the storage portion is integrated into and/or is formed as part of the saddle. Typically the pouch  16  is disposed entirely under the saddle  14  and may or may not extend below the sides  26  of the saddle. In this example as shown in  FIG. 3 , the pouch  16  is entirely within the underside of the saddle  14  and generally not visible from the side. The pouch  16  is deployed under the saddle  14  aft of the bicycle seat post attachment point  28  in this example. In other examples, placement of the pouch can be adapted as desired to account for variations in saddle mounting configurations. The pouch positioning can also be adapted to account for other considerations such as seat suspension components and the like. 
         [0015]    Continuing with the present example, the cover body portion  12  and the storage portion  16  as connected by a strap  30 . The strap  30  in this particular example comprises two lengths of nylon webbing separably joined by a clip  32 . The strap  30  prevents the cover portion  12  from being accidentally lost and the clip  32  allows the cover portion  12  to be removed such as for cleaning or replacement if it becomes damaged. In other examples the strap  30  may be made of plastic, rubber, leather, cloth, or other suitable material. The clip  32  may be made from suitable materials such as metal or plastic or it may be replaced with snaps, buttons, hooks, or other suitable joining means. In still other examples, the joining means is omitted and the cover body portion may be permanently or semi-permanently mounted to the saddle or to the pouch as desired. 
         [0016]      FIG. 4  shows another example of the disclosed invention. In this particular example, the cover portion  34  includes a cord  36  sewn into a channel  38  in the outer perimeter  40  of the cover portion  34 . The perimeter may optionally be stretchable as in the previous example. The cord  36  may be made of cloth, leather, elastic, polymer, or the like. The ends  42 ,  44  of the cord  36  exit the channel at two openings  46 ,  48  fore of the saddle attachment point  50  distal from the storage pouch  52 . Optionally, the openings  46 ,  48  are reinforced with metal or plastic grommets. The ends of the cord  42 ,  44  pass through a toggle  54  or cinch which allows the cord  36  to be drawn tight and releasable held so as to secure the cover portion  34  over the saddle  56  when deployed. The cinch  54  can then be released and the cover  34  removed when moving it to the stowed position. 
         [0017]    The pouch storage portion  52  in this example is made of a solid fabric material so as to protect the cover portion  34  in the stowed position. The opening  58  in the pouch  52  is secured using snaps  60 . The cover portion  34  is attached to a strap  62  which is secured to the underside of the saddle  56  using a screw  64  or other suitable fastener. Securing the cover portion  34  to the saddle  56  without an easily released toggle or latch such as in the previous example prevents theft of the cover without cutting or otherwise damaging the device. 
         [0018]    The example shown in  FIG. 5  shows a seat cover  66  that is partially deployed. It has been removed from the storage portion (not shown) disposed below the saddle  68  but has not yet been placed over the saddle  68 . This particular example includes a cover portion  66  which does not have any means of securing or tightening the edge  70  of the cover  66  such as elastic ( FIGS. 1-3 ) or a cord ( FIG. 4 ). The cover  66  is simply generally shaped and sized similar to the saddle  68  and allowed to drape over the saddle  68  in the deployed position. The cover portion  66  is secured to the saddle  68  using a pair of straps  72 ,  74  joined using an adjustable toggle  76  so as to allow the length of the strap to be adjusted as desired. 
         [0019]      FIG. 6  shows a partial cut away view of another example of the disclosed invention. In this example, the cover storage portion  78  is attached to an auxiliary storage pouch  80  which is secured to the underside of the saddle  82 . The cover storage pouch  78  and the auxiliary storage pouch  80  have separate openings  82 ,  84  which may be secured using elastic, snaps, zippers, or hook-and-eye style fabric, or other suitable closure means. In other examples, the cover storage pouch  78  and the auxiliary storage pouch  80  share a single opening. The auxiliary pouch  80  is sized so as to allow storage of items such as money, keys, small tools and bicycle parts, and the like. The cover storage pouch  78  is positioned below the auxiliary storage pouch  80  so as to prevent a wet cover (not shown) from draining water into the auxiliary storage pouch  80  when in the stowed position. In other examples the auxiliary storage pouch and the cover storage pouch are in a more side-by-side configuration or the cover storage pouch may be disposed between the saddle and the auxiliary storage pouch. In any of these variations the cover portion would function in a manner similar to those examples previously described. 
         [0020]      FIG. 7  shows an example of the disclosed invention having an auxiliary storage pouch  86  and a cover storage pouch  88  disposed below the saddle  90  but not within the saddle body as with the previous examples. The pouches may be secured to the saddle  90  similar to those examples previously described, such as by a strap  96 . Optionally, the pouches in this example may also be secured to the saddle mounting bar  92  using a strap  94  or other suitable means. The cover portion would function in a manner similar to those examples previously described. The strap used to secure the cover portion to the cover storage pouch would need to be longer to account for the additional distance the cover portion is stored from the saddle. Optionally, the overall size of the cover could be increased so as to allow the cover portion to cover both the saddle and the auxiliary storage pouch, thereby shielding the auxiliary storage pouch from view when the cover is deployed. In other examples the auxiliary storage pouch  100  and the cover storage pouch  102  are disposed below the saddle seat  104  in a more side-by-side configuration such as is shown in  FIG. 8  or the cover storage pouch may be disposed between the saddle and the auxiliary storage pouch. In any of these variations the cover portion would function in a manner similar to the example previously described where the auxiliary storage and cover storage pouch disposed below the saddle. 
         [0021]    The seat covers, straps, and storage pouches in the preceding examples may be made from a variety of suitable materials, both synthetic and natural as well as combinations thereof. Various polymers such as nylon and vinyl, rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene membranes, carbon fibers, cotton, wool, hemp, and the like may be used. Composite and/or layered materials may also be used. In other examples, the cover portion may be made of more than one material, such as a waterproof vinyl outer shell to repel water and having a fleece inner shell to prevent scratching or other damage to an expensive saddle. 
         [0022]    In the preceding examples of the disclosed invention, various covers are shown in combination with a traditional saddle-type bicycle seat. This particular type of seat is shown for illustrative purposes only. It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the concepts of the disclosed invention could be adapted to fit different styles of bicycle seats including banana seats, ergonomic saddles, micro-saddles, racing saddles, saddles having suspension systems, seats having backs, and other styles of seats or saddles adapted for use on bicycles. It is also understood that the disclosed invention may be adapted for use with seats that are similar in size and configuration to bicycle seats such as scooter, motorcycle, moped, tractor, watercraft, buggy, swing, sled, and snowmobile seats. Covers according the disclosed invention may be generally narrower at one end than the other, generally oval in shape, or any other suitable irregular shape as desired to fit a particular bicycle seat shape and/or style. Typically a cover will be sized and configured so as to at least completely cover a particular bicycle seat on all exposed sides of the seat except for the underside of the seat. It is also understood that the seat or saddle may be made from a variety of materials including metal, plastic, wood, leather, and combinations thereof. 
         [0023]    While the claimed technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the claimed technology are desired to be protected.