Patent Description:
Providing a comfortable seat that is easy to assemble for a vehicle has been a goal for vehicle providers for years. Motorcycle manufacturers often use a common frame for various models with various options. Seating arrangements can vary in the various model. One and two seat configurations are possible. To seat arrangements that allow the customer to make the change are also possible. However, providing a convenient configuration for making the change is important. A vehicle according to the preamble of claim <NUM> is disclosed in <CIT>.

The invention is defined in independent claims <NUM> and <NUM>. Preferred embodiments of the invention are provided in the dependent claims.

The present disclosure provides an improved seating configuration that allows easy assembly and reconfiguration from one to two seating positions. While the system is suitable for various types of automotive vehicles, the configuration set forth herein provides a configuration particularly suitable for motorcycles and open air vehicles.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the various views of the drawings.

Although the following description includes a motorcycle application, it is understood that the features herein may be applied to any appropriate vehicle, such as snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, utility vehicles, moped and scooters. The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings.

The relative terms used in the present disclosure are relative to a vehicle <NUM> in a normal operating position. The vehicle direction in <FIG> with a longitudinal axis that corresponds to a normal direction of travel. Right, left, front, back, under and above all referred to relative position of the vehicle in a normal upright position on a road surface.

Referring now to <FIG>, a vehicle <NUM> is illustrated. The vehicle <NUM> in this example is a two-wheeled vehicle. The two-wheeled vehicle <NUM> illustrated is a touring style motorcycle. However, the present example is also applicable to other types of vehicles including snowmobiles, scooters, utility vehicles, and off-road vehicles that accommodate passengers in a one of many seating positions.

The vehicle <NUM> includes a frame <NUM> that is used to support the vehicle components including wheels <NUM> and <NUM>. Wheel <NUM> is a front wheel which is coupled to the handlebars <NUM> by way of a first fork for steering. The rear wheel <NUM> is a coupled to a powertrain assembly <NUM> that is used to provide the rotational force to the rear wheel <NUM>, in this example. Of course, all of the wheels on a vehicle or a selected few of the wheels may be coupled to the powertrain assembly <NUM>. The powertrain assembly <NUM> includes an engine <NUM> and transmission <NUM>. The powertrain assembly <NUM> may also include an exhaust pipe <NUM> that removes waste exhaust from the engine <NUM>.

A rear fender assembly <NUM> is disposed above the rear wheel <NUM>. The rear fender assembly <NUM> is secured to the frame <NUM>.

The vehicle <NUM> also has a longitudinal axis <NUM> that extends in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle <NUM> that extends from the front wheel <NUM> to the rear wheel <NUM>.

The frame <NUM> is also used to support a seat assembly <NUM>. The seat assembly <NUM> includes a driver seat <NUM> and a passenger seat <NUM>. In this example, the driver seat <NUM> and the passenger seat <NUM> are assembled to form the seat assembly <NUM>. However the driver seat <NUM> may be used without the passenger seat <NUM> in embodiments not being part of the invention. The passenger seat <NUM> is higher (relative to the road during driving) than the driver seat <NUM>.

Referring now additionally to <FIG>, an exploded view of the driver seat <NUM> of the seat assembly <NUM> is set forth. A first seat cover <NUM> is the outer surface of the driver seat <NUM>. The seat cover <NUM> may be made of various materials including but not limited to cloth, leather, plastics or vinyl. The first seat cover <NUM> is secured to the first seat pan <NUM>. The seat pan <NUM> has a bottom portion 48A and a back portion 48B. The shape of the seat pan <NUM> ultimately determines the space of the seat position. Depending on the vehicle and the desired styling of the vehicle, the first seat pan <NUM> may take many shapes. A first seat support <NUM> is disposed between the first seat cover <NUM> and the first seat pan <NUM>. By way of example, the first seat support <NUM> may be a cushion formed of a foam material. The first seat support <NUM> is used to support the body of the driver. Of course, the first seat support <NUM> may having heating and cooling disposed therein.

The driver seat <NUM> may also include a plurality of feet <NUM>. The feet <NUM> are secured to the bottom of the first seat pan <NUM> to provide isolation between the frame or fender and the first seat pan <NUM>. The feet <NUM> may be formed of various types of materials including, but not limited to, foam, felt, rubber, plastic or nylon. A first bracket 54B is secured to the back portion 48B of the first seat pan <NUM>. One or more fasteners <NUM> may secure the first bracket to the first seat pan <NUM>. A fastener <NUM> may couple the first bracket 54A and thus the first seat pan <NUM> to the fender assembly <NUM> as will be described in more detail below. The first bracket 54A is used to secure only the first seat pan <NUM> to the fender assembly <NUM>.

The first bracket 54A is used when the driver seat <NUM> is to be used alone, which is not part of the invention. When - as according to the invention - the passenger seat <NUM> is to be used, an alternate first bracket 54B is used. To switch from one configuration to the other the fasteners <NUM> are removed. The first bracket 54A is removed and bracket 54B is secured with the fasteners <NUM> to the same position in the first seat pan <NUM>. A grab strap <NUM> is coupled to the first bracket 54B at grab strap slots <NUM> set forth below. Various ways for coupling the grab strap <NUM> to the first bracket 54B may be used. The grab strap <NUM> may be made of various materials and allows a passenger to grip thereto.

Referring now to <FIG>, the passenger seat <NUM> has a second seat cover <NUM>, a second seat pan <NUM> and a second seat support <NUM> disposed between the second seat cover <NUM> and the second seat pan <NUM>. The second seat pan <NUM> has a first opening <NUM> used to receive the grab strap <NUM> during assembly. A second opening <NUM> is used to receive the fastener <NUM> as will be described in more detail below. The second opening <NUM> has a reinforcement member <NUM> disposed therein. The reinforcement member <NUM> is used to receive the fastener <NUM> (or a fastener head <NUM> set forth below) during assembly.

A second bracket <NUM> is secured to the second seat pan <NUM> with one or more fasteners <NUM>. The fasteners <NUM> may, for example, be screws. The second seat pan <NUM> may also include feet <NUM> formed in a similar manner to that set forth above. The feet <NUM> are used to space the seat pan <NUM> from the fender assembly <NUM>. A fastener <NUM> is used to couple the second bracket <NUM> and thus the second seat pan <NUM> to the fender assembly <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, the first seat pan <NUM> is illustrated relative to the second seat pan <NUM>. When the driver seat <NUM> is coupled to the passenger seat <NUM>, the second seat pan <NUM> has the back portion 48B partially received therein.

Referring now to <FIG>, the underside of the second seat pan <NUM> is illustrated in further detail. A recess <NUM> in the second seat pan is used to receive at least a portion of the rear of the first seat pan. The first bracket 54B which is coupled to the first seat pan <NUM> is illustrated. Also, the fastener <NUM> is also illustrated.

Referring now to <FIG>, a cross-sectional view of the first seat pan <NUM> within the recess of the second seat pan <NUM> is set forth. In this example, a receiver <NUM> receives the fastener <NUM>. The fastener <NUM> is secured within the receiver <NUM> by a press fit or threading. When the fastener <NUM> is inserted within the receiver <NUM>, the first bracket 54B is held toward the fender assembly <NUM>. The reinforcement member <NUM> is illustrated around the thickness of the second seat pan <NUM> to reinforce the second opening <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, the fastener <NUM> is illustrated in further detail. The fastener <NUM> has a bottom portion <NUM> that may be threaded. A flange portion <NUM> is adjacent to the bottom portion <NUM>. A shaft portion <NUM> is directly adjacent to the flange portion <NUM>. The shaft portion <NUM> has a head portion <NUM>. The head portion <NUM> has a greater diameter than the shaft portion <NUM>. The head portion <NUM> may be used to provide an interference fit so that the shaft portion <NUM> is directly adjacent to the reinforcement member <NUM> after assembly. The wider head portion <NUM> retains the second seat pan <NUM> to the fender assembly <NUM>. The flange <NUM> provides an increased area over which to provide a force on the first bracket 54B to urge the first bracket 54B towards the fender assembly <NUM>. The second seat pan <NUM> and/or the reinforcement member <NUM> may be slightly conformable to receive the head <NUM> but still retain the fastener <NUM> in position during operation.

Referring now to <FIG>, a method for assembling the seat assembly <NUM> is set forth. Specifically, in step <NUM>, the grab strap <NUM> is coupled to the driver seat <NUM>. In particular, the grab strap <NUM> may be looped through the first bracket 54B. The first bracket 54B is assembled to the first seat pan <NUM> using the fasteners <NUM>. This is illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring now specifically to <FIG> and <FIG>, in step <NUM>, the tabs <NUM> illustrated above are inserted within receivers <NUM> of the frame <NUM>. The receiver <NUM> may be disposed directly on the frame or in a bracket <NUM> coupled to the frame <NUM>. The tabs <NUM> and the receivers <NUM> may be referred to as a coupler <NUM> for coupling the seat pan <NUM> to the frame. In this example, the receiver <NUM> comprises a pair of slots disposed on either side of the vehicle <NUM>. The receiver <NUM> receive the tabs <NUM> with a forward motion of the first seat pan <NUM>. In this example, the tabs <NUM> are inserted into the receiver <NUM> in a forward direction.

<FIG> also illustrates further details of the fender assembly <NUM>. The fender assembly <NUM> may include an outer fender 28A an inner fender 28B and a space for electronics <NUM> therebetween. The electronics <NUM> are hidden from view by the fender assembly <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, step <NUM> fastens the driver seat pan <NUM> to the fender assembly <NUM> using the fastener <NUM>. The fastener <NUM> holds the first bracket 54B against the fender assembly <NUM>. The opening <NUM> has the grab strap <NUM> inserted therein. It should be noted that the opening <NUM> corresponds to the opening <NUM>' within the seat cover <NUM> and the second seat support <NUM>. In <FIG>, the first opening <NUM> is positioned over the fastener <NUM>. That is, the head portion <NUM> is received within the second opening <NUM>. The reinforcement member <NUM> is used to reinforce the second seat pan and receive the head portion <NUM> so that the shaft portion <NUM> is adjacent to the reinforcement member <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, the rear of the passenger seat is coupled to the fender assembly <NUM>. The fastener <NUM> is used to retain the second bracket <NUM> and thus the second seat pan <NUM> against the fender assembly <NUM>.

In operation, the driver seat <NUM> may be used alone, which is not part of the invention, and thus the grab strap <NUM> may be tucked under the first seat pan or removed. When a second or passenger seat <NUM> is desired - as in accordance with the invention -, the second seat pan <NUM> is coupled to the fender assembly <NUM> in the front through the fastener <NUM> and in the back through the fastener <NUM>.

Examples are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the appended claims to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of examples of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that examples may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the appended claims. In some examples, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

Claim 1:
A vehicle (<NUM>) having a vehicle frame (<NUM>), a rear fender assembly (<NUM>), a seat assembly (<NUM>) and a longitudinal axis (<NUM>), the seat assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
a first seat pan (<NUM>) of a driver seat (<NUM>) having a first coupler (<NUM>) coupling the driver seat (<NUM>) to the vehicle frame (<NUM>);
a first seat support (<NUM>) of the driver seat (<NUM>) adjacent to the first seat pan (<NUM>);
a grab strap (<NUM>) coupled to the first seat pan (<NUM>);
a first seat cover (<NUM>) of the driver seat (<NUM>) coupled to the first seat pan (<NUM>);
a first fastener (<NUM>) coupling the driver seat (<NUM>) to the rear fender assembly (<NUM>);
a passenger seat (<NUM>) having a second seat cover (<NUM>), a second seat pan (<NUM>) and a second seat support (<NUM>) disposed between the second seat cover (<NUM>) and the second seat pan (<NUM>), the second seat pan (<NUM>) being coupled to the rear fender assembly (<NUM>) with the first fastener (<NUM>), and
a second fastener (<NUM>) coupling the second seat pan (<NUM>) to the rear fender assembly (<NUM>);
characterized by said second seat pan (<NUM>) comprising a first opening (<NUM>), the grab strap (<NUM>) being inserted through the first opening (<NUM>) in the second seat pan (<NUM>) and through the second seat support (<NUM>) and the second seat cover (<NUM>).