Abstract:
A seating system for motorized vehicles is adapted to saddles on which riders travel for extended periods of time, such as motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and the like. The saddle includes an isolator with a disconnect for lateral vibrations, and a damper for lateral and vertical absorption and isolation of shocks and vibration. A decoupler includes layers separating or uncoupling lateral shear loading from vertical spring loading so vertical forces are not increased by the tension against nearby, laterally displaced material. Cradles provide bolsters to support soft tissue and distribute loads on skeletal structures more evenly at increased area and lower stress. Coverings may include integrating liners, moisture barriers, and an outer wrapper or skin, and may include localized padding.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/746,177, filed Dec. 27, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. The Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to seating and, more particularly, to novel systems and methods for saddles attached to motorized vehicles. 
         [0004]    2. The Background Art 
         [0005]    Vehicles have included seats almost since their beginning. Notwithstanding chariots, in which riders typically stood afoot, most wheeled vehicles rely on a type of seat for a rider. Automobiles devote a considerable portion of their resources to making comfortable seating. Trucks, cars, and so forth have the benefit of space, distance, and weight capacity to support various systems for providing comfortable seating. 
         [0006]    In contrast, vehicles that are ridden, such as motorcycles, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), and the like typically have a standardized seating system that is not comfortable for long periods of time in a single seated position. 
         [0007]    The standard seating for a motorcycle or ATV involves a pan, typically formed of a molded, rigid plastic onto which is bonded or molded a large block of expanded elastomeric foam. Typically, a high-density, urethane foam may be molded to the shape of a saddle. A cover is placed over the saddle, and secured in place to the pan. The pan is then mounted to a vehicle frame. 
         [0008]    Such saddles provide a very uncomfortable ride over a long period of time (longer than one or two hours) for a rider who remains in a single seated position for an extended period of time. For example, a typical cruiser or large road bike is a motorcycle weighing from about four hundred to about nine hundred pounds. With a rider, the suspended weight may exceed one thousand pounds. Typically, the suspension is designed to support the rider and the motorcycle, and thus is not particularly responsive to the weight of the rider. 
         [0009]    Meanwhile, the interface between the rider and the motorized vehicle is the saddle, which is typically a covering of leather or synthetic leather on top of a contoured or molded block of urethane foam secured to the pan, in turn connected to the frame. Pressure points are not accommodated. Vibration from the motorcycle is transmitted through the saddle to a user. Shocks or impacts from bumps and irregularities in the road surface are transmitted up through the suspension, the frame, and the saddle to the user, and other problems arise. 
         [0010]    What is needed is a saddle that better accommodates the comfort of a user. A rider on an ATV will typically move around much more. Also, many ATV&#39;s are comparatively lighter, and closer to the weight of their rider. Thus, their suspensions are more responsive to the rider. However, many are heavier. Thus, what is needed for motorcycle and ATV saddles is a better system for removing the discomfort of a saddle in an extended riding situation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    In one embodiment, the present invention includes a stackup of various components that are inserted as a core into the original block of foam (pad) of a motorized vehicle saddle. Typically, an excavation of the original saddle pad removes a central core portion directly below a rider. A new perimeter or wall is inserted to line the excavation region. Thereafter, multiple layers are put into the excavation as a new core. The core may include an isolator, which includes a disconnect to disconnect lateral plane vibrations, as well as a damper to damp lateral vibrations and vertical vibrations. 
         [0012]    Likewise, the system may rely on a decoupler portion to remove the coupling between lateral stress and vertical stress that would otherwise exist within the original pad. That is, a foam pad, when depressed at any point in any direction is necessarily resisted by all the surrounding material in all three physical dimensions. Thus, a conventional seat or pad on a seat of a motorized vehicle saddle does not decouple the stresses transmitted to a rider in the three dimensions. Accordingly, a decoupler made up of several layers tends to decouple lateral plane forces from vertical forces transmitted. 
         [0013]    Meanwhile, the saddle in accordance with the invention includes several cradles. Typically, a conventional saddle does not provide side support or bolstering of the body of a rider. In anatomic terms, the pelvic bone applies direct pressure to soft tissues between it and the saddle. With the saddle pad providing very little deformation, substantial pressure arises at those anatomic pressure points. 
         [0014]    Meanwhile, the entire pelvic bone is surrounded below by a large mass of softer tissue. Conventional saddles do nothing to contain the soft tissue, nor rely on it to provide more generalized support over a larger area of the pelvic bone. Accordingly, the cradles provide a certain amount of deformation, limiting, and containing soft tissues, so those soft tissues tend to provide more lateral support and vertical support for the skeletal structures. 
         [0015]    This tends to relieve the pressure points. It contains soft tissues in order for them to provide a greater degree of support for the skeletal structures. This provides greater lateral and axial support to skeletal structures than they could receive in a more conventional seat. A cover system may be wrapped around the saddle, making it appear very much as it originally did, but with a very different mechanical performance. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The foregoing and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a frontal perspective of one embodiment of a saddle in accordance with the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a rear quarter perspective view thereof; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view thereof; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view thereof; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a front elevation view thereof; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a rear elevation view thereof; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a right side elevation view thereof; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a left side elevation view thereof; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a saddle in accordance with the invention excavated to receive the stack of layers forming the new core to improve the comfort of the saddle; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10A  is an exploded view thereof, showing the individual layers in one embodiment; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10B  is an exploded view of the layers forming the disconnect portion of the isolator of the saddle; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10C  is an exploded view illustrating the damper portion of the isolator of the saddle; 
           [0029]      FIG. 10D  is an exploded view of the decoupler of the saddle; 
           [0030]      FIG. 10E  is an exploded view of the cradle layers of the saddle; 
           [0031]      FIG. 10F  is an exploded view of the cover of the saddle; 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is an exploded cross-sectional view of the internal components of the core; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]    It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the drawings herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, as represented in the drawings, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but is merely representative of various embodiments of the invention. The illustrated embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a saddle  10  for a motorized vehicle may be arranged to provide certain freedom of motion, compactness, comfort, and durability. Typically, a saddle  10  or seating system  10  in accordance with the invention may take on certain appearances shared with other saddles. Typically, a seat for a motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle (ATV) may be referred to as a saddle or a seat. However, the term saddle usually indicates that a rider rides astride the saddle, rather than ensconced as within a seat. In a system  10  in accordance with the invention, a saddle may have various regions serving different functions. For example, a back  12  may be that portion nearest to where a rider&#39;s weight is placed. It may extend from a cantle-like containment region forward to a seating region. 
         [0036]    Similarly, a seat will typically have a front  14  or front portion  14  adapted to accomplish the objectives of restraining the rider from sliding forward when braking or turning, as well as forming an interface with the frame, fuel tank, or other apparatus on the vehicle. Thus, a certain amount of cushioning may be provided against impact around the front  14  of a saddle  10  or seating system  10 . 
         [0037]    Typically, a rider will ride on the top of the seat, with the majority of weight of the rider applied thereto. The top  16  may run from the extreme of the back  12  to the extreme of the front  14 . 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , while continuing to refer generally to  FIGS. 1-8 , a saddle  10  may include designs, various covering treatments, welting, ventilation, and so forth around the top  16  and other portions thereof. Typically, a cover may include additional padding, and various regions may be provided with differing degrees of softness, support, and so forth. 
         [0039]      FIG. 3 , in the illustrated embodiment, shows the division of the top  16  into various regions. Meanwhile,  FIG. 4  illustrates the structure of one embodiment of a pan  18  with a covering secured thereto. Meanwhile,  FIG. 5  illustrates the rise of the front  14  to interface with the frame or fuel tank and other structural components of a motorized vehicle. In contrast,  FIG. 6  illustrates that the rear of the saddle  10  will typically include a rise that is directed more to containment of padding mechanisms for improving the ride for a user. In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , one can see that the actual external profile of a saddle  10  may share much of the geometry of an equestrian saddle, which predates motorized vehicles. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , while continuing to refer generally to  FIGS. 1-12 , a saddle  10  may include a pad  20  or block  20  contoured to the general shape of the saddle  10 . Typically, the pan  18  is bonded by fastening, gluing, molding, integral formation, or otherwise to the pad  20 . Typically, the pan  18  is formed to be of a rigid material. It may be metal, rigid plastic, reinforced composite material (polymer and reinforcement fiber), or the like. 
         [0041]    In the illustrated embodiment, an excavation  22  is made in the pad  20  and a section  24  or removed section  24  is taken out. In the illustrated embodiment, the removed portion (section)  24  includes all the material from the top  16  of the saddle  10  down to the pan  18 . In other embodiments, a perimeter  26  or wall  26  defining the removed portion  24  need not be vertical, and need not extend all the way from the top  16  down to the pan  18 . Nevertheless, in manufacturing, the illustrated embodiment has been shown to be efficient and effective. 
         [0042]    As the removed portion  24  has been removed from the excavation  22  or cavity  22  of the pad  20 , the wall  26  or perimeter  26  remains. The perimeter  26  or wall  26  defines the remainder of the pad  20  that still exists toward the back  12 , the front  14 , and both sides of the saddle  10 . The portion  24  removed may be calculated to provide the necessary room for the new core  30 . By the same token, the perimeter  26  may be defined in such a way as to leave sufficient of the pad  20  beside the core  30  or insert  30  in order to provide additional support for a user, and for stabilizing the insert  30 . 
         [0043]    Into the cavity  22  is placed a stack of subsystems. The subsystems begin with an isolator  32 . The isolator may actually be made of several components. Regardless, the isolator acts to isolate vibration. Large motorcycles are frequently equipped with a V-twin engine. V-twin engines have two pistons offset at 45 degrees from one another. This is a system popularized by the Harley Davidson™ motorcycle company. The style has been adopted. However, such a configuration tends to produce substantial vibration due to the non-symmetric power stroke of each piston. 
         [0044]    Moreover, the two power strokes tend to come about 45 degrees apart with motion of the crankshaft, with the attendant addition of energy and subsequent reaction of the engine and motorcycle. Thus, the isolator  32  goes here provides isolation of the vibrations that are otherwise transmitted. The isolator  32  is very effective at isolating lateral motion. Lateral motion is motion within a plane substantially perpendicular to a vertical axis. Lateral may also be used to mean to the left or right side, but the lateral plane is a plane that extends forward, backward, left, and right from a vertical axis. Again, such directions are relative. A pan  18  of a saddle  10  is not necessarily horizontal at any particular location. Nevertheless, it is oriented more or less horizontally, and the rider sits with the spine more or less vertically (axially) oriented. 
         [0045]    The isolator  32  is tasked with isolating vibration particularly well in a horizontal plane or a lateral plane. It also may include components that tend to isolate vertically. Moreover, the isolator  32  includes systems to dampen or to remove energy of motion inelastically. Thus, the isolator  32  also tends to dampen motion and remove the energy of motion, rather than transmitting it from the motorcycle frame through the saddle  10  to a rider. 
         [0046]    Above the isolator  32  is the decoupler  38 . The decoupler  38  is formed of several layers. A benefit of the decoupler  38  is that it provides elastic support by way of various layers of foamed materials. Foam is a colloquial term for expanded polymer materials. Expanded polymers are formed of resins that are reacted or molded with large volumes of included gases, which defines cells. 
         [0047]    Expanded polymers may be open cell or closed cell. That is, the gases may be captured within closed volumes of the polymer or the volumes may be interconnected. For example, expanded polyethylene (EPE) is typically a closed-cell foam. In contrast, many urethane foams are open-cell. Thus, liquids, vapors, or generally fluids, will not pass through a closed-cell foam. However, they will readily pass through open-cell foams. 
         [0048]    The decoupler  38  provides the spring value of captured gases in closed-cell expended polymer layers. However, the polymer layers are not bound together, and thus may move laterally independently from one another. 
         [0049]    This will be explained in detail hereinbelow, but suffice it to say that the decoupler  32  decouples vertical (axial) motion from lateral motion that would otherwise exist in the pad  20  of the saddle  10 . That is, pressure applied with a probe pushing into the material of the pad  20  will be resisted by the material directly below it. However, upon penetrating some distance by deflecting or depressing the material, a probe will soon be resisted by a tensile force applied from surrounding material. 
         [0050]    Thus, not only does the spring constant of proportionality (in F=kx) of the foamed material come into play, but the coupled tensile forces from adjacent regions also tend to resist the force of the probe. Thus, if that probe is part of a pelvic bone structure pressing on a saddle  10  through the soft tissues of a rider, considerable discomfort can occur over a short period, and certainly over a long period, of time. The decoupler  38 , however, does not permit, or substantially resists and reduces, coupling of a horizontal force tending to couple to a vertical force. 
         [0051]    The cradles  40  provide support for soft tissue. In addition to pelvic bone structures that support a user, soft tissues support the pelvic structure. By containing soft tissue, rather than allowing it to deflect and deform around a saddle  10 , the cradles  40  or the cradles section  40  made up of three cradles  42 ,  44 ,  46  provides lateral support for soft tissues, thereby providing more soft tissues below and beside the pelvic skeletal structure, thus proving a greater distribution of a users weight over a larger area of the saddle  10 . Meanwhile, support for the skeletal structure comes from more volume and area of soft tissue than that small quantity of soft tissue directly between the skeletal protrusions and the saddle  10 . 
         [0052]    For appearance, weather protection, integration, and other protective functions, a cover  50  will typically envelop the entire pad  20  of the saddle  10 . As discussed hereinbelow, the cover  50  or cover system  50  also includes several layers in certain embodiments in order to accomplish multiple functions. Typically, the cover  50  may be formed of a fluid-impervious material, or may be comprised of a fabric-reinforced polymeric material, or a breathable material such as leather, fabric, or the like. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIGS. 10A through 10F , while continuing to refer generally to  FIGS. 1 through 12 , a saddle  10  or seating system  10  in accordance with the invention may include various embodiments. These embodiments may include one or more layers in an overall stackup  30  or core  30  inserted into the cavity  22  formed in the pad  20  of the saddle  10 . In one embodiment, the various layers may be grouped by certain functional characteristics provided. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 10A , one may inventory the components, which may then be discussed. Typically, the pan  18  is the pan  18  of the original saddle  10 . The pad  20  is excavated to form the cavity  22 . This excavation  22  or cavity  22  removes a portion of the pad  20  from above the pan  18  and replaces it with a new core  30 . 
         [0055]    The cradle system  40 , including cradles  42 ,  44 ,  46 , are each formed in a unique ways, provides unique benefits. The cradle system  40  includes a first cradle  42  that is lowest, having bolsters  43  that are filled to increase their strength, stiffness, and support. Similarly, another cradle  44  is also provided with bolsters  45  that are filled with a supportive material. Finally, a third cradle  46  includes bolsters  47  that are filled. However, the third cradle  46  is filled in various regions throughout, including a relief region  48 . 
         [0056]    The relief region  48 , includes specific instances  48   a ,  48   b ,  48   c . The relief region  46   a  as well as the relief region  48   b  are filled with a foam or an expanded polymeric foam. The mechanical properties of these relief regions  48   a ,  48   b  may be selected to keep a region of free motion below the tailbone of a rider, in order to provide relief against support by the saddle  10  that may end up with shock from the road being transmitted up through the vehicle and saddle  10  to a user. In contrast, the relief region  48   c  is filled with a granular material in order to provide displacement thereof. 
         [0057]    Meanwhile, the cover  50  or cover system  50  may include a liner  52  that covers substantially the entire pad  20 , including the cavity  22  with its core  30  inserted therein. A barrier  54  may be formed of a suitable material to resist transport of water. For example, in certain embodiments, the actual wrapper  56  that wraps around the entire assembly of the saddle  10  may be formed of a permeable fabric. 
         [0058]    In other embodiments, perforated, fiber-reinforced, flexible, polymeric materials may serve as the wrapper  56 . To the extent that the wrapper  56  may pass liquid water, a barrier  54  may be placed under the wrapper  56  in order to provide the cover system  50  with protection against an incursion of water. 
         [0059]    In some embodiments, the barrier  54  may be formed of a solid plastic film in some thickness that is particularly flexible. In other embodiments, the barrier  54  may be a semi-permeable membrane that will pass vapor but not liquid. 
         [0060]    Typically, the liner  52  may be formed of an expanded polymer, such as an open-cell urethane foam. The thickness of the liner  52  need not be large, and may range from about ¼ inch to about 1 inch. Typically, a thickness of about 1 inch to about ¾ inch has been found suitable. The barrier  54  is typically only a few thousandths of an inch (a few hundred microns) thick. The wrapper  56  may have padding  58  added on its under side or under surface. That padding  58  may also be provided with a certain amount of fill  59  or padding material  59 . In general, materials such as the liner  52 , the padding  58 , and the fill  59  also serve the function to shape the saddle  10  in an attractive manner. By shaping and smoothing the saddle  10 , the pleasing appearance may be maintained, despite the more complex stackup of various layers. Next, note those layers placed between the pan  18  and the cradles  42 ,  44 ,  46 . 
         [0061]    Into the cavity  22  may be placed a ring  62  or a circuit  62 . Typically, the ring  62  forms a liner  62  that lines the entire wall  26  or perimeter  26  of the cavity  22 . The liner  62  may typically have a thickness of be from about ⅛ to about ½ inch. Typically, it has been found that ⅛ to ¼ of an inch is sufficient to provide a degree of isolation and fit between the remainder of the core  30  and the wall  26  of the cavity  22 . This provides greater ease in fitting, and also provides a degree of isolation against transmission of lateral motion and force into the edges of the core  30 . 
         [0062]    Into the ring  62  or liner  62  may be placed a roller  60 . The roller  60  in the illustrated embodiment is constituted by a shape configured to fit around the geometry of the pan  18 , while riding on the pan  18 . The roller  60  basically provides a ball-bearing-type layer contained to isolate lateral motion. In the illustrated embodiment, a corrugated polymeric mat  63  or mat  63  rides on top of the roller  60 . The mat  63  provides an interface, which will be described in more detail hereinbelow. Inasmuch as many details of the components of  FIG. 10A  will be discussed hereinafter, a shorter description will be provided here. 
         [0063]    Above the mat  63  may be placed a wedge  64  toward the front  14  of the cavity  22  as an interface. This provides a reshaping of the cavity  22  in order to fit several other components it must fit within the cavity  22 . 
         [0064]    After the cavity  22  is lined with the ring  62  or liner  62  against the wall  26  of the cavity  22 , and the bearing  60  or roller  60  is inserted into the cavity  22 , on top of on the pan  18 , the mat  63  is set on top of the roller  60 , followed by a wedge  64 , typically of a foam (expanded polymer) of some elastomeric type such as urethane. A platform  66  may be formed and may result in several instances  66   a ,  66   b ,  66   c  used similarly to provide a surface that is continuous. Typically, the platforms  66  may be formed of a particle board, such as a heavy cardboard, but may also be formed of certain polymer sheets. 
         [0065]    It should noted that trailing letters indicate specific instances of an item designated by the reference numeral. Thus, it is proper herein to speak of a platform  66 , to mean any and all platforms of a particular type. Meanwhile, specific instances shown in the illustrations may also be referred to by their specific identifiers  66   a ,  66   b ,  66   c . Thus, the reference numeral  66  is the general designation whereas the trailing letter is a specific designation of an instance. 
         [0066]    Above the first platform  66   a  may be damping pillars  70   a ,  70   b  separated by a stabilizer  64 . The pillars  70   a  are connected by a contiguous connection, and provide certain instant elastic deflection, as well as delayed elastic or quasi-inelastic deflection. Thus, the pillars  70  provide isolation and vibration damping. On top of the second pillars  70   b  may be placed on other platforms  66   b.    
         [0067]    A sheet  74   a  may be formed of a closed-cell polymer, such as a polyethylene foam. A bubble sheet  76  or spring sheet  76   a ,  76   b  may be stacked, here in tandem, separated by another sheet  74   b . Finally, the second bubble sheet  76   b  or gas spring  76   b  is covered with a final foam sheet  74   c . Together, the stack of foam sheets  74  and bubble sheets  76  operates as a system of springs. 
         [0068]    Each set of springs is isolated laterally, although it may respond and support axially. The deflection in a vertical direction of any sheets  74 ,  76  does not cause nor require a lateral deflection in any adjacent sheet  74 ,  76 . That is, each of the sheets  74 ,  76  may slide with respect to one another in a lateral direction. Thus, a shear load or lateral load on any particular sheet  74 ,  76  will not necessarily transfer to an adjacent sheet  76 ,  74 . 
         [0069]    In contrast, a vertical load through one of the sheets  74 ,  76  will transmit to the adjacent sheets  74 ,  76 . However, it may be delayed in time, may be spread in extent (e.g. along principle stress lines at 45 degrees), and so forth. 
         [0070]    Referring to  FIGS. 10B through 10F , with particular reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , one may see the general shape of the plan view of each component, as well as the profile views of the various materials and constructions used therein. It must be understood that the insert  30  or core  30  in accordance with the invention may be formed in a variety of configurations, and with various materials. Thus,  FIGS. 10A through 10F  illustrate various components in one embodiment, and groupings of components into certain functional regions. 
         [0071]    For example, the isolator  32  does not actually include the pan  18 , but the pan  18  is shown in its relationship to the other components. The ring  62  or liner  62  provides a certain amount of deflection by elements of the core  30 , without significant influence from the surrounding pad  20  or the original pad  20  of the saddle  10 . It also provides a certain amount of relief (tolerance, in engineering terms) for inserting the components of the core  30  into the cavity  22 . A significant element of the isolator  32  is the roller  60 . That is, the isolator  32  includes a disconnect  34 , and a damper  36 . The disconnect  34  involves the ring  62  and the roller  60  interrupting the transmission of forces in a lateral plane from the pan  18  to the remainder of the core  30  above the roller  60 . 
         [0072]    Referring to  FIGS. 10A through 12 , one may best understand the invention by reference to all Figures therein together. For example,  FIG. 10A  lays out an exploded view of all the components in one particular embodiment of a saddle in accordance with the invention. However,  FIGS. 10B through 10F  group each of those individual components into a particular group operating to provide a specific function. Thus, individual components within a group may change to be fewer or greater in number, but may still provide the functionality required of that group.  FIG. 11  shows a representative cross sectional view in an elevation perspective of each of the layers in the illustrated embodiment.  FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of the stackup of materials forming the central portion of a saddle in accordance with the invention. Thus, hereinbelow, the details of a saddle in accordance with the invention will be discussed without respect to a particular figure number, but with respect to the components, subsystems, and system. Thus, one may refer to  FIG. 10A  generally,  FIG. 10  for the groupings, with  FIGS. 11 and 12  showing the groupings, their cross sections representative of their construction, and a perspective view thereof. 
         [0073]    In general, a saddle suitable for mounting on a motorized vehicle may include several regions, several individual components, in a variety of configurations. For example, components may be changed as to their order. Similarly, components may be changed in dimension, such as thickness, extent from front to back, as well as in the constituent material thereof. 
         [0074]    Thus, in general, a saddle  10  or seating system  10  in accordance with the invention may be described in terms of a back  12  and front  14 , as well as a top  16  which forms the seating region  16  for a user, as well as a pan  18  or bottom  18  that serves as the mechanical support for the entire saddle  10  and rider thereon as anchored by the pan to the frame of the motorized vehicle. 
         [0075]    When a pad  20  is formed or placed on a pan  18 , it may be molded or otherwise formed to have a particular shape which will be maintained in an adaptation in accordance with the invention. However, by excavating a cavity  22  and removing a removed portion  24  from the cavity, one is left with a perimeter  26  or wall  26  into which a core  30  may be inserted. 
         [0076]    Into the core  30  will typically go an isolator  32  to isolate lateral vibration, a decoupler  34  to uncouple vertical loading from horizontal loading and displacement, as well as a cradle system  40  to support soft tissue and vector the loading from the saddle  10  in a vertical (axial) direction and lateral direction. 
         [0077]    Together, these vector components provide more support for the skeletal structure through soft tissues, through more soft tissue, and distributed over a larger area of soft tissue. Thus, the stress that typically exists between the skeletal structure of a seated rider and the seat itself may be redistributed in a saddle  10  in accordance with the invention in order to reduce the pressure points and the stress level. 
         [0078]    Stress is a force per unit of area to which the force is applied. Shear stress, unlike the foregoing compressive stress or tensile stress is the force from distortion laterally, and may result from a vertically applied force or from opposing, laterally applied forces on upper and lower surfaces or upper and lower regions of a material. 
         [0079]    Likewise, deflection may be elastic or inelastic and represents deformation. Inelastic deformation is deformation that does not return all energy input. Inelastic deformation may permanent or temporary. 
         [0080]    For example, a putty material deforms inelastically. Once deformed, it remains deformed. Materials such as “memory foam” and certain rheologically interesting materials may deform inelastically in that they return slowly to their original positions. Thus they are not effectively elastic, because they absorb energy even though eventually returning to their original positions after the load is removed. 
         [0081]    Strain is the displacement within a material. For example, to the extent that a material stretches or collapses, that motion is strain. Strain is usually defined in terms of a unit of length per unit of length, such as inches per inch or microns per meter. Thus, a certain amount of deflection or deformation may occur within a material at a rate of so many inches or millimeters per total extent of inches or meters of material. 
         [0082]    The principal regions of the core  30  include an isolator  32  directed to isolating vibration in a lateral direction. By lateral direction is meant a substantially horizontal direction in a side-to-side direction, or in a front-to-back direction, the reverse thereof, or the like. Thus, in general, lateral may mean sideways, while transverse may be orthogonal to a lateral direction. However, herein, lateral refers to a substantially planar motion or extent defined by an axis in one horizontal direction, and an orthogonal axis in the same horizontal plane. By horizontal, is meant the relative direction as compared to a substantially vertical direction. 
         [0083]    A vertical (axial) direction for a rider on a motorized vehicle would be a direction away from the center of the earth or towards the center of the earth. Meanwhile, a lateral direction may be any direction within a plane perpendicular to that vertical direction. By vertical and lateral are not meant absolute directions, but general directions. That is, in general, a rider sits vertically oriented but a radial or horizontal direction that is not exactly orthogonal to a vertical direction may still be considered a lateral direction. 
         [0084]    The isolator  32  is responsible then to isolate the pan  18  from the core  30  as to lateral motion of the pan  18 . Thus, the isolator  32  tends to isolate the remainder of the core  30  from the small, powerful, and particularly high-frequency motions of the motor, the frame, and the pan  18 . The pan  18  is fixed to the frame and moves in comparatively rigid body motion with the frame. 
         [0085]    The decoupler  38  includes a variety of layers. The individual layers are typically elastic. In the illustrated embodiment, each deforms substantially entirely in an elastic deformation. In one contemplated embodiment, each of the layers in the decoupler  38  is formed of a closed-cell expanded polymeric foam or expanded polymeric material. This material is made from what is referred to in the plastics industry as a “resin” as that term is understood in that art. 
         [0086]    Different technologies define resin differently. In plastics manufacturing technology, resin usually means a raw polymer that is then molded to become a plastic. For example, the decoupler  38  may be formed of several sheets of polymeric material formed to have permanent, closed, bubbles, each acting as a balloon. Thus, each bubble provides elastic deformation. To the extent that it is deformed vertically, it may and must deform in some other direction. Pressing down at one location in a vertical direction may cause expansion upward in a vertical direction in another area. Similarly, a generalized planar or deflection along a vertical axis may result in lateral expansion of the bubble. 
         [0087]    A valuable feature of the decoupler  38  is the separation of layers, such that each contains no chemical or mechanical bonding with adjacent layers. Only friction, which tends to be greatly reduced by proper selection of materials, couples the layers of the decoupler  38  in a lateral direction. 
         [0088]    In contrast, closed-cell polymeric materials of the layers of the decoupler  38  transmit substantially all loads vertically. Those loads may be redistributed outward along principle stress lines when centered at a particular location, by transmission through the various layers, each of which will, by the principals of engineering, distribute itself laterally outward as one progresses along an axis in the direction of the load. 
         [0089]    The cradle portion  40  is valuable for several reasons. A very noticeable reason is the re-vectoring of loading. When a user sits on a saddle  10  of conventional design, soft tissues of the body have substantially no lateral support. Thus, in response to a vertical loading by the skeletal structures of a user, a rider on the vehicle, who is seated on the saddle  10 , in a conventional saddle, the soft tissues have no lateral support. They may be deformed away, leaving the skeletal structure only a comparatively small area of soft tissue, close to that area of the skeletal structure itself, compressed between the skeletal structure and the saddle. 
         [0090]    In contrast, in an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention, a saddle  10  may include a cradle  40 , which may be manufactured in multiple parts as multiple cradles  40 , that each include a bolster portion at the outer extrema. A bolster will cradle the soft tissues of a user with a comparatively firm outer perimeter, and a comparatively compliant central portion. 
         [0091]    Thus, the cradles  40  and particularly the bolster portions of the cradles  40  tend to redirect the loading of the seat  10  or saddle  10  against the user. They redirect the loading of the user into the saddle  10  to have a vector component directed laterally inward as well as one directed vertically. 
         [0092]    The cradles  40  tend to capture and contain, according to conservation-of-mass principles, the soft tissues, thereby rallying them in support of the skeletal structures. The skeletal structure is supported by a larger volume and area of soft tissue. This results in the soft tissue, in turn, distributing the loading of the weight of the rider across a greater area of the core, and the saddle  10  generally. Ultimately, a cover  50  envelops the entire pad  20  and core  30 . This includes the isolator  32 , the decoupler  38 , and the cradle  40 . 
         [0093]    Returning now to elaborate on further details, the isolator  32  includes two distinct portions. A disconnect  34  has a principal responsibility to literally disconnect lateral loading from vertical loading, vertical motion, or both that may be transmitted from the pan  18  into the core  30 . The disconnect  34  includes rollers  60 . The roller layer  60  includes container walls  78 , which may be a fiber-reinforced or fabric-reinforced polymeric material that is comparatively thin and flexible. It does not extend substantially in a lateral direction, but may bend or flex in a vertical direction. 
         [0094]    The container wall  78  may be stitched  79  together, to contain a layer of bearings  80 . A single layer of bearings  80  seems to function best. That is, the bearings  80  may roll on the container wall  78 . For example, the pan  18  may move laterally, thus drawing a lower container wall  78  therewith. Meanwhile, the remainder of the core  30  sits on top of the upper container wall  78 , isolated from the lower container wall  78  by the bearings  80 . Thus, the comparatively short but powerful motions of the pan  18  in vibration are isolated from the remainder of the core  30  above the roller layer  60 . 
         [0095]    The isolator  32  also includes a damper portion  36 . The damper portion  36  may be formed in one or more layers. Again, in one embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the invention, a damper  36  may include a mat  63 . 
         [0096]    In one embodiment, the mat  63  may actually be formed to have a base  82  with tapering or tooth-shaped pedestals  84  extending away from the base  82 . Each of the pedestals  84  may terminate in a peak  86  or point  86 . In one embodiment, the mat  63  may be laid down flat or substantially flat on the roller layer  60 . The pedestals  84  tend to isolate motions and deformations proximate the pedestals  84 , due to their sparse nature. That is, the spaces between the peaks  86  can receive deformations of material, and tend to provide expansion room or deformation room for distortions of materials. 
         [0097]    In certain embodiments, the mat  63  may be formed of a selected polymeric, and typically an elastomeric material. By polymeric material is meant the conventional definition of a polymer made up of long chains of individual mers. Thus, a mer is a building block which may be bonded to other mers in order to form a polymer. Polymers are typically formed of long chains of chemical structures. Chains may be cross linked entirely, substantially, minimally, or not at all. Thus, polymers may be rigid, comparatively speaking, or may be elastomeric. Elastomeric polymers tend to have comparatively large deflection or strain at comparatively lower loading (stress). Rigid polymers tend to have comparatively smaller strain even at substantially, comparatively larger loading or stresses. 
         [0098]    The mat  63  may support other components of a damper  36 . For example, platforms  66   a ,  66   b  may bound pillars  70   a ,  70   b  or pillar material  70   a ,  70   b . In the illustrated embodiment, the pillar materials  70   a ,  70   b  are each directed outward from their base material  88 . Meanwhile, their base material  88  has individual pillars  90  extending therefrom, each substantially independent, and only connected through their base  88 . 
         [0099]    A stabilizer  68 , which is formed of a comparatively rigid polymer mesh  68 , provides some mechanical load transmission between the bases  88  of the pillar materials or pillar layers  70   a ,  70   b . However, it also provides expansion space (in the openings) to absorb distortion or expansion of the base  88 . 
         [0100]    Meanwhile, the individual pillars  90  are captured by the platforms  66   a ,  66   b . The platforms  66  resist penetration, and stabilize the pillars  90  of the pillar layers  70   a ,  70   b  in a vertical direction. Nevertheless, the platforms  66  also provide a stability in a lateral direction. Thus, the pillars  70   a ,  70   b  may move individually, but will tend to move together, or deform together, as the platforms  66  define the planar extent of the extreme tips of the pillars  90 . 
         [0101]    Thus, in general, the platforms  66   a ,  66   b  are isolated from each other against lateral displacement, because the pillars  90  tend to be comparatively taller, and spaced apart. That is, when one of the platforms  66   a ,  66   b  is moved laterally, such as by movement of a user thereabove, or by a movement of the pan  18  therebelow, the other of the platforms  66   a ,  66   b  will not necessarily move the same amount, and will not at the same time. This is because the pillar layers  70   a ,  70   b  are formed of material that deforms elastically and inelastically. 
         [0102]    In certain embodiments, this material absorbs a certain amount of the energy transmitted into it. Moreover, the material is comparatively soft, and deforms in response to loads, according to conservation-of-mass principles. For example, a vertical load on a vertically oriented pillar  90  results in the pillar decreasing in length, and expanding in diameter. Likewise, a displacement horizontally of an outer tip of a pillar  90  in one direction while the base  88  is displaced in an opposite direction, results in the pillars both bending, distorting, and tilting. Thus, the pillars  90  may deflect in response to lateral loads as well as vertical loads. 
         [0103]    However, vertical loads will require that the pillars  90  deform, and hence, reduce in length, with the consequent expansion in diameter, in order to maintain a conservation of mass. That is, when material is driven to reduce in size in one direction, if it is a solid or “incompressible liquid” material, then it must expand in another dimension. This is not necessarily true for gases, which may rise in pressure. Typically, solid and liquid materials do not shrink in volume without excessive, comparatively speaking, loads. 
         [0104]    The pillar layers  70   a ,  70   b  may be formed of a material that also absorbs energy, and does not return it elastically. For example, energy may be dissipated within the pillars  90  and base  88 , and not be transmitted at all. Nevertheless, the deformation will typically be undone or restored to the original shape. However, this may not occur until loads are removed, and may typically result more slowly than the deformations were put into the pillars  90  and base  88 . Thus, the pillar materials  70   a ,  70   b  tend to provide vertical isolation as well as lateral isolation of deformation, and energy. 
         [0105]    Thus loads, forces, pressures, and the like may be absorbed and redistributed. The platforms of  66   a ,  66   b  also have a tendency to redistribute loads. However, the platforms  66   a ,  66   b  may be formed of a simple particle material that has been consolidated. For example, this may be wooden chip board, a cardboard, or a polymeric layer. The platforms  66   a ,  66   b  may be comparatively rigid, but in certain embodiments are somewhat flexible. In the illustrated embodiment, cardboard having a thickness of less than 1/16 inch (1 millimeter) has been shown to be suitable. 
         [0106]    A wedge  64  may be placed on the mat  63 , or may be abutted to the mat  63  toward the front  14  within the cavity  22 . A significant function of the wedge  64  is to provide an adaptation between the pan  18  and the various layers within the core  30 . That is, the materials positioned closest to the pan  18 , may typically be shorter in length, due to a rise in the pan  18  as it adapts from the top  16  of the seat to the front  14  to the seat. Typically, a substantial rise accommodates an angled orientation of structural members of the frame, the fuel tank, or both in a motorized vehicle bearing a saddle  10  in accordance with the invention. 
         [0107]    The wedge  64  may typically be formed of an open-cell, elastomeric polymer. A urethane foam having a stiffness and strength comparable to that of the pad  20  may be suitable. In other embodiments, a lesser resistance to deflection may be preferable. Also, the wedge  64  is a separate component from the pad  20 , and thus does not need to deflect with the pad or as the pad does, but may operate independently. In some embodiments, the wedge  64  may also support the edges of certain layers stacked up in the core  30 . It underlies other layers, and thus supports them, but permits axial deflection in response to loading. By axial is meant vertical, wherein the lateral direction would be radial with respect to the axial direction. 
         [0108]    The decoupler  38  may include multiple layers, and the illustrated embodiment shows several of them. For example, several spring sheets  74 ,  76  may be stacked together. In the illustrated embodiment, an initial spring sheet  74   a  may be formed of an expanded polyethylene polymer. Typically, this is a closed-cell foam that deforms elastically. The material deforms more in an axial or vertical direction, because the bubbles tend to be distributed through the sheet  74   a  in a thinner layer. 
         [0109]    In contrast, expansion in a lateral direction or compression therein is more difficult. This is not only because of the strength of the polymeric material, but because there is really only the interaction with the ring  62 , and the pad  20  to transmit loads from the motorized vehicle into the spring sheets  74 . 
         [0110]    Above the spring sheet  74   a  may be a bubble sheet  76   a . The bubble sheet  76  is typically formed to have a more-or-less planar base  92 , on which is bonded to another layer  94  of bubbles  94  that extend away from the base  92 . Thus, the base  92  is substantially inextensible such as a PET, while the bubbles  94  may typically be formed of a softer or thinner material, such as a polyethylene, that is more easily deflected. It may be deformed vertically, or expanded horizontally (radially, laterally) in response to vertical loading. 
         [0111]    The bubbles  94  are separated from one another in order to provide expansion space for the bubbles  94  in response to loading. Likewise, the bubbles may operate like parallelograms with the top surfaces of the bubbles  94  displacing from the base  92  in a lateral direction. Just as the pillars  90 , bubbles  94  may deflect laterally, thus isolating the top portion thereof from the bottom portion thereof with respect to radial or lateral deflections. 
         [0112]    The bubble sheet  76   a  may be separated from another bubble sheet  76   b  by an intermediate spring sheet  74   b . The bubble sheet  76   b  may operate exactly as the bubble sheet  76   a , but may be oriented in the same direction, or a different direction. That is, the bubbles  94  may be oriented upward, downward, or in opposite directions on the two bubble sheets  76   a ,  76   b.    
         [0113]    Meanwhile, the spring sheets  74   a ,  74   b ,  74   c  in the illustrated embodiment, may actually be identical to one another. For example, each may typically have a thickness of from about ⅛ inch (3 millimeters) to about ¼ inch (6 millimeters) and extend laterally throughout the cavity  22 . The bubble sheets  76   a ,  76   b  typically have bubbles that extend from about ⅛ inch (3 millimeters) to about ¼ inch (6 millimeters) away from the base  92 . 
         [0114]    One may consider all of the sheets  74 ,  76  as spring sheets. That is, each may deform elastically in a vertical direction. Each is isolated from any chemical or mechanical linkage in a lateral direction, other than by normal friction. Polyethylene tends to be a comparatively “slick” or “frictionless” material. Against itself, or against many other materials, polyethylene provides a very low coefficient of friction. 
         [0115]    Likewise, the bubble sheets  76  may be formed of a material such as polyethylene teraphthalate (PET), which is often sold under the trademark MYLAR™. This may serve as a good or suitable base  92 . In other embodiments, different densities of a polyethylene (PE) polymer may be used. Typically, the bubbles  94  may be formed of a polyethylene material. Other polymeric or elastomeric materials may likewise serve. Thus, it may be proper to speak of all the sheets  74 ,  76  as spring sheets. 
         [0116]    However, the sheets  74  differ in that they provide a substantially continuous and contiguous sheet  74  of enclosed bubbles, each of which may not distort laterally without influencing its laterally adjacent, neighboring bubble. In contrast, the bubbles  94  in the sheets  76  may distort and deflect laterally and vertically, without influencing adjacent bubbles  94  within their respective sheets  76 , due to the interstitial spaces between adjacent bubbles  94 . Meanwhile, the sheets  74  will transmit vertical loads therethrough. Likewise, the bubbles  94  of the bubble sheets  76  will transmit vertical loads therethrough. Nevertheless, according to the principles of engineering, each will tend to distribute a load applied at any point along principal stress lines that expand and distribute the load with progress in an axial (vertical) direction. 
         [0117]    The cradle system  40  is formed to accomplish several distinct functions. To do so, it may be formed as a single cradle  40 . However, in the illustrated embodiment, the cradle  40  is actually constituted by three cradles  42 ,  44 ,  46 . The first cradle  42  may include a cover  96 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cover  96  is an enclosed, sewn or stitched material. That material may typically be a fabric-foam, bonded material. 
         [0118]    For example, fabrics, whether woven or non-woven may be bonded to open-cell, expanded, polymers. These are referred to colloquially as foams. This is a different foam than fire suppression foam or shaving foam, or ocean foam. It is not actually foam, but is a foamed polymer or an expanded polymer as described hereinabove. 
         [0119]    A thin layer of polyurethane, open-cell foam may be about ⅛ inch thick, and may be bonded to the fibers of a fabric backer, which tends to stabilize the dimensions of the foam. Two layers of this may be sewn together. 
         [0120]    In the illustrated embodiment, the cover  96  has a bolster region  43  that is filled. Meanwhile, the region outside of the bolster  43  is not. The fill material  98  captured by the cover  96  is resin beads. These beads may be polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, or the like. These beads  98  or this fill material  98  may be granular in nature. 
         [0121]    A dimension of about ⅛ inch effective diameter (hydraulic diameter is an effective diameter, and is four times the area divided by the perimeter) or two millimeters has been effective. The fill  98 , as to each granule, is solid, and substantially undeformable. That is, very large stresses or forces, far larger than can be provided by a user seated on the saddle  10  would be required to provide any appreciable, visually detectable deformation in any granule of the fill  98 . 
         [0122]    Nevertheless, because the fill  98  is granular in nature, the resin beads  98  may displace in response to loads. Thus, if a comparatively larger load is applied at a particular point, the fill  98  will move aside, making way for penetration by the load, until the increase in support area is sufficient that the fill  98  may support the load. Thus, the fill  98 , as a granular material, tends to redistribute loads. In the illustrated embodiment, the load is redistributed to contain soft tissue of a user and provide a lateral component of force, rather than simply a vertical component of supporting force. 
         [0123]    A wedge  48   a  may be provided near the back center region of the cradle  42 . The wedge  40   b  may be formed of a comparatively soft foam that provides ready deflection and response to load. The entire column under the tail bone skeletal structure of a user is devoid of the most resistant materials in the saddle  10 . In this way, the shock and pressure of continuous and intermediate loading that may be transmitted from the road through the suspension and frame into the saddle  10  are not translated into this particular skeletal extremity. 
         [0124]    This is a major cause in conventional seats of discomfort, pain, and back injury or spinal injury to riders, the transmission to axial loads from the frame and saddle into the tail bone of a rider. A saddle  10  in accordance with the invention provides the wedges  48  in each of the cradles  42 ,  44 ,  46  in order to relieve force by displacing readily, or otherwise and redistributing any loading that might otherwise be transmitted to this skeletal structure. 
         [0125]    The bolsters  43 ,  45 ,  47  corresponding to each of the cradles  42 ,  44 ,  46 , respectively, may be formed to be of any suitable thickness. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the dimensions of the bolsters  43 ,  45 ,  47  are selected to provide a stackup dimension of the core  30  that fits within the envelope of the cavity  22 . The relative proportions of the bolsters  43 ,  45 ,  47  with respect to one another may be modified by design. 
         [0126]    The cradle  44  may again rely on a cover  96  similar to that of the cradle  42 . Meanwhile, the bolsters  45  will typically extend further inboard than do the bolsters  43  of the cradle  42 . Typically, the bolsters  43  constitute less than about ¼ of the width of the cradle  42 . In contrast, the bolsters  45  of the cradle  44  each constitute about ⅓ of the overall width of the cradle  44 . 
         [0127]    Also, the fill  100  in the bolsters  45  tends to be or is selected to be more displaceable and deformable. For example, it has been found that an expanded polystyrene (EPS) bead, which is formed substantially spherically, operates to provide elastic deflection. Whereas, appreciable elastic deflection was not effectively present in the fill  98  of resin beads  98 , the fill  100 , when formed of EPS beads does have the capacity for deformation within the range of the loads imposed by a rider. 
         [0128]    Nevertheless, a principal form of displacement of the fill  100  is to move away from a point load, as a beanbag would redistribute load by deformation of the bean bag. The bolsters  43 ,  45  tend to redistribute load, rather than transmit it vertically. Thus, they will deform to re-vector loads, spread them out, and provide lateral support to soft tissues. By deforming, a cradle  40  contains the soft tissues and re-vectors the loads from purely vertical, to have components both vertical and lateral to support skeletal structures with greater area and volume or mass of soft tissue. 
         [0129]    The cradle  46  may be provided with bolsters  47 , which may extend through and around the sides and back portions of the cradle  46 . Meanwhile, a wedge  48   c  like the wedges  48   a ,  48   b  is provided. However, the wedge  48   c  may contain a fill material  106 . Meanwhile, the fill material  106  is maintained within the bolsters  47  by stitching  104 . The stitching  104  tends to maintain distribution in the cradle  46 , whereas stitching in the cradles  42 ,  44  keeps material away from the center region. 
         [0130]    By contrast, the cradle  46  contains fill material  106  also in the central region between the bolsters  47 . Also, the same fill material  106  may be used in the wedge region  48   c . The wedge regions  48 , or relief regions  48 , operate differently between the cradles  42 ,  44 ,  46 . 
         [0131]    For example, in the cradle  46 , redistribution of load as described hereinabove with respect to the granular materials in the cradles  42 ,  44  operates in the cradle  46 . However, redistribution occurs throughout the cradle  46 . 
         [0132]    In certain embodiments, the thickness of the fill  106  within the central region between the bolsters  47  may be comparatively thinner. In other embodiments, it may have substantially the same thickness. Typically, the cover material  96  in the cradle  44  may be thicker, and may have a vertical dimension of from about ¼ inch (6 millimeters) to ½ inch (12 millimeters). Typically, an open-cell, elastomeric, expanded polymer may be used. A urethane foam have been found suitable. Thickness is on the order of ¼ or ½ inch (6 millimeters or 12 millimeters) has been suitable. 
         [0133]    This is a comparatively compliant material, and deforms readily with a minimal force. However, the stiffness of the foam may be controlled with all polymers by proper selection of the mechanical properties of the polymer that forms the foam. Thus, very soft and extendable elastomers may be used. Very low densities (as defined in the art) may be used. Very high densities, with small interstitial spaces, and comparatively stiffer polymers may be used. However, these may be designed according to the desires of a user, to be softer, or stiffer. Likewise, the densities thereof may be so selected according to the desires of a user or designer. 
         [0134]    The fill material  100  may be of any suitable type, but is vermiculite in the illustrated embodiment, vermiculite does not have the same regular and rounded shape that the fill materials  98 ,  100  have. Accordingly, it tends to engage other particles more, and distribute less, thus it forms more engagement vertically and laterally than do the other fill materials  98 ,  100 . Nevertheless, with loading, it does tend to deflect, much as expanded polystyrene, and will slip between granules, and thus redistribute load, but to a lesser extent. 
         [0135]    A cover  50  may include a liner  52  such as a selected open-cell, expanded elastomeric polymer. A suitable urethane foam of suitable density and stiffness with a dimension selected to fit a saddle  10  may be left to the design choices of a user or manufacturer. It has been found that a thickness of from about ½ to about 1 inch has been suitable. The liner  52  is typically cut from a sheet of stock, in a unique shape as illustrated, in order to be folded around the saddle  10 , and particularly around the pad  20 . 
         [0136]    The liner  52  tends to cover and contain the core  30  along with the pad  20 , and also serves to fill out the shape in order to obscure the presence of the disparate regions of the pad  20  and core  30 . Meanwhile, a barrier  54 , such as a water barrier may be formed of a polymeric material, that is completely impervious, or is semi-permeable. TYVEK™ brand semi-permeable material will permit the passage of vapors and resist (to a very high pressure) the passage of liquids. Accordingly, a TYVEK™ material may be suitable for the barrier  54 . In other embodiments, polyethylene, polypropylene, or other films on the order of a few thousandths (few microns) of thickness may be suitable, sufficiently flexible, and durable for resisting the incursion of water into the open-cell materials therebelow. 
         [0137]    Ultimately, a cover  50  may include a wrapper  56 . The wrapper  56  may include simply a skin  110  or an outer layer  110 . However, in other embodiments, additional padding  58  may be added. In the illustrated embodiment, the padding  58  is formed of the same open-cell expanded elastomeric polymer, in a fabric-bonded configuration has been shown suitable for the padding  58 . It has dimension of about ⅛ inch thickness (3 millimeters) and is bonded to a thinner layer of fabric. 
         [0138]    In the illustrated embodiment, additional padding  59  includes a material  108 , such as an elastomeric foam, having a comparatively soft deformability. The skin  110  may be formed of leather, a knit fabric, a synthetic leather, such as a Naugahyde™ or other fabric-reinforced polymer layer. 
         [0139]    What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: