Abstract: A seat assembly for a motorcycle that includes a frame. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion, a seat pan coupled to the seat cushion, and a front mount that extends from a forward portion of the seat pan. A rear mount extends from a rearward portion of the seat pan and a central mounting portion is located on the seat pan between the front and rear mounts. The central mounting portion defines a frame mount that latches to the frame when the seat assembly is in a first position with respect to the frame, and that releases from the frame when the seat assembly is in a second position with respect to the frame.

Abstract: A cushion including any number of upholstery ornaments positioned in recessed and non-rotatable locations on the cushion is provided. The cushion filler is formed of a soft, flexible and relatively low-stiffness foam material that includes one or more inserts formed of a flexible, relatively high-stiffness material and has one or more rigid securing plates secured to the cushion filler. An upholstery cover including holes or recesses and holes aligned with openings in the inserts is placed over the cushion filler and secured to a suitable base or frame. The ornaments are positioned in the holes in the upholstery cover and openings in the inserts which provide recesses in the upper surface of the cushion into which the ornaments can be drawn and secured to the rigid securing plates to provide a recessed, non-rotating and aesthetically pleasing appearance to the cushion.

Abstract: A carrier for a vehicle that includes an insulation layer disposed between an inner shell and an outer covering. The carrier shell has at least one sidewall that defines an article receiving cavity. In a preferred embodiment, insulation is applied to an exterior surface of the sidewall. In one preferred embodiment, the insulation includes heat reflecting constituents that reduce heat transfer to the shell and to an object received and supported by the shell. One preferred composition includes ceramic and/or silica particles in a binder of acrylic, epoxy and/or latex that cures to adhere to the shell. Preferred carrier embodiments include a motorcycle saddlebag, a motorcycle tour pack and a vehicle seat assembly.

Abstract: A method of forming fabric for making foam-in-place molded articles such as preferably seat cushions. A film is secured to a frame and tacked by adhesive to a piece of fabric, not secured to the frame, that forms the outer covering of the seat cushion for permitting the fabric to move relative to the film during forming to enable fabrics which cannot stretch a considerable amount to be used. To form the fabric, the film and fabric are placed in a female mold and the film and fabric are drawn into a cavity of the mold and against a contoured surface in the cavity forming a recess in the film and fabric. To counteract compressive stresses in the fabric during forming, the frame can have one or more fabric tensioners that selectively apply tension to the fabric during forming. To mold the cushion, a foam is poured into the recess and allowed to cure until it hardens into a foam core and bonds with the film.

Abstract: A motorcycle seat having a backrest that is angularly adjustable, height adjustable and removable, all without requiring any tool. The backrest is mounted by a bracket to a pivot bracket carried by a frame of a backrest adjustment assembly all of which are disposed below the surface of the seat cushion. The assembly has a prime mover coupled to the frame and pivot bracket and communicates by cable with an actuator allowing selective angular backrest adjustment. The prime mover preferably is a gas cylinder, such as a rigid-in-compression gas spring, or a ball screw. The mounting bracket is pivotally coupled to the pivot bracket and has a coil spring between brackets which urges the mounting bracket rearwardly against the pivot bracket permitting the backrest to be manually urged forwardly to permit entry or exit from the seat and returning to its adjusted position when released.

Abstract: A method of making a seat (10) includes preassembling the seat by positioning a seat cover (26) over a contoured foam substrate (18) with a layer of heat activated adhesive (24) between the seat cover and the foam substrate. Securing the seat preassembly (10') in a fixture (106) and introducing heating fluid into the fixture to pressurize a flexible bladder (156) against the seat. The pressurized bladder urges the seat cover against the contoured foam substrate and heats the adhesive layer. Next, cooling fluid is introduced into the fixture to pressurize the flexible bladder against the seat, and the pressurized bladder urges the seat cover against the contoured foam substrate and cools the adhesive layer.

Abstract: A vehicle seat suspension having a scissors arm linkage disposed between a platform and base with a link pivotally connected at one end to a scissor arm of the linkage at a point spaced from a pivot interconnecting scissor arms of the linkage and operably connected at its other end to a slide carried by the platform for communicating scissor linkage motion to a spring carrier also connected to the link. The carrier includes at least one coil spring held captive preferably in compression between two spaced apart brackets, one of which is pivotally connected to the end of the link adjacent the slide. The point of pivotal attachment of the link to the scissor arm is spaced from the linkage pivot to create a moment about the pivot tending to resist collapse of the linkage when force from the spring is communicated to the linkage.

Abstract: A vehicle seat having a base that is carried by a floor on a seat adjuster that comprises two pairs of seat slide rails that permit the seat to be moved relative to the floor with at least one of the rails being of non-metallic, preferably plastic, construction. The non-metallic rails have an upper rail portion spaced from a lower rail portion defining a channel therebetween for receiving a flange of the other seat slide, preferably without requiring ball, roller or needle bearings. Preferably, the base and plastic rails are of one piece unitary construction for producing a low profile adjuster. Each of the other rails is preferably constructed of a metal, has a bottom wall anchored to the floor, and a pair of sidewalls with one of the sidewalls carrying the flange and the other of the sidewalls being notched. A latch is pivotally connected to the base enabling a grip of the latch to be lifted to free a latch tooth from a slide rail notch enabling the seat to be moved.

Abstract: A compact and modular armrest having a frame with a pair of spaced apart downturned sidewalls each possessing a slot for capturing a portion of the thumbwheel that receives a height adjuster bolt having one end threaded into a nut anchored to a top wall web interconnecting the sidewalls of the frame and a head at its other end rotatively coupled to the thumbwheel with the bolt head bearing against the free end of a post attached to a bracket pivotally mounting the armrest to a vehicle seat. A retainer ring is secured to the bolt adjacent the head for keeping the thumbwheel and bolt captive to the frame. The ring also limits how far the thumbwheel can slide axially along the bolt head which also limits armrest height adjustment in one direction when the bolt is rotated in one direction. Height adjustment in the opposite direction can be limited by the ring bearing against the anchor nut when the bolt is rotated in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A suspension for a vehicle seat having a scissors arm linkage with a load carrying flexible member secured to a spring and in operable contact with a cam-shaped pulley carried by the linkage for producing a suspension of compact structure, which enables seat height to be adjusted independently of weight adjustment, and which produces a suspension having desirable load-deflection characteristics. The suspension has a platform for carrying the seat which overlies the linkage and a base underlying the linkage that supports the suspension and permits mounting to the floor of a vehicle. Weight adjustment of the suspension is accomplished by selectively tensioning the springs without changing the distance between the platform and base. Height adjustment of the seat is accomplished by moving the spring and flexible member in unison to controllably collapse or expand the linkage thereby selectively changing the distance between the platform and base.

Abstract: A method of forming fabric for making foam-in-place molded articles such as preferably seat cushions. A film is secured to a frame and tacked by adhesive to a piece of fabric, not secured to the frame, that forms the outer covering of the seat cushion for permitting the fabric to move relative to the film during forming to enable fabrics which cannot stretch a considerable amount to be used. To form the fabric, the film and fabric are placed in a female mold and the film and fabric are drawn into a cavity of the mold and against a contoured surface in the cavity forming a recess in the film and fabric. To counteract compressive stresses in the fabric during forming, the frame can have one or more fabric tensioners that selectively apply tension to the fabric during forming. To mold the cushion, a foam is poured into the recess and allowed to cure until it hardens into a foam core and bonds with the film.

Abstract: A vehicle seat having a bladder with more than two inflatable chambers and an integral control flap, all of one piece, integral construction. To maximize inflatable volume of each chamber, each chamber preferably has a sidewall portion that is generally perpendicular. The control flap has passages in communication with the chambers and valving for selectively controlling inflation of the chambers. Valving preferably includes pinch valves having a generally T-shaped body with legs that pinch passages in the control flap to retain gas in a chamber and selectively inflate or deflate the chamber. The bladder is connected to a gas supply having a pump in communication with a reservoir for storing a charge of pressurized gas in the reservoir so that the pump need not immediately operate when gas is needed to inflate a chamber.

Abstract: A flexible unitary seat shell is disclosed to include: a base section defining a base section plane, the base section including two frame sockets for engaging, along axes that are substantially parallel to the base section plane, projections on a seat frame, each of the two frame sockets protruding from a back of said base section and including an encircling aperture that defines a plane that is nonparallel to the base section plane; a back section in angular relationship to the base section; and an intermediate section connecting the base section to the back section, the intermediate section forming a hinge between the base section and the back section to permit changes in the angular relationship between the base section and the back section.

Abstract: A flexible unitary seat shell including: a base section; a back section in angular relationship to the base section; and an intermediate section connecting the base section to the back section, the intermediate section forming a hinge between the base section and the back section to permit changes in the angular relationship between the base section and the back section.

Abstract: A seat including: (A) a shell including a front surface, the front surface of the shell including a channel formed in the shell, the channel including an inner wall and an outer wall and having a shape; (B) a cushion including a rear surface, the rear surface of the cushion including a ridge extending rearwardly from the cushion, the ridge (1) having a shape which compliments the shape of the channel and (2) extending into the channel; and (C) mechanical fasteners extending through the outer wall of the channel, though the ridge and into the inner wall of the channel so as to retain the cushion on the shell. The mechanical fasteners do not extend all the way through the inner wall.

Abstract: Methods for forming a strip of thermoplastic material by punch clamping are described.

Abstract: A seat suspension system for supporting a seat support member on a base member includes support arms which cooperate with a spring suspension so as to suspend loads imposed on the seat. The support arms are connected to one of the seat support member and base member by a support mechanism. A cam element acts upon at least one of the seat support member and the base member and presents a cam surface offering a resistance to the motion of the accompanying cam follower which varies depending upon the height of the seat support member. The system preferably includes a height adjust mechanism for adjusting the unloaded distance between the seat support member and the base member. The height adjust mechanism may be either a ratchet mechanism which is operated by lifting the seat support member, or a spring assisted mechanism which is operable independently of the main suspension springs and which automatically biases an unloaded seat support member upwardly.

Abstract: A backrest recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat or the like includes a connector and a locking mechanism which both pivot about the same line. The backrest recliner mechanism also utilizes the energy of the backrest biasing spring to aid in the return of the locking mechanism from a disengaged to engaged position. The mechanism is actuated by a handle which minimizes the forces required to unlatch the locking mechanism. The backrest recliner mechanism is designed so as to incorporate a minimum number of parts and also to be easily and quickly assembled with minimal modification of the seat shell.