Air adjustable seat

• US 20070176403A1
• Filed: 02/01/2007
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dennis Calderone
• Original Assignee: Dennis Calderone
• Inventors: Calderone, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US11/701,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20070176403A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/26 Paddings involving other resilient material, e.g. sponge rubber with inflatable compartments

Abstract

An improved air adjustable seat includes an air pump, at least one air bag, and an air switch for adjusting seat height. The air pump is preferably controlled by a pressure switch. The air pump is connected to the air switch through a first air line, and the air switch is connected to the air bags through a second air line. The air pump is controlled by the pressure switch to maintain a minimum pressure in the first line. The air switch has three positions, fill, hold, and release. In the fill position, high pressure air from the air pump is passed to the air bags. In the hold position, the first line is blocked, and air in the air bags is held to maintain seat height. In the release position, the first line is blocked, and air is released from the air bags to lower the seat.

Claims

1. An air adjustable motorcycle seat comprising:

an electrical power source;

a pressure switch electrically connected to the electrical power source for receiving electrical power;

an air pump electrically connected to the pressure switch for receiving electrical power switched by the pressure switch and in fluid communication with the pressure switch for providing a first air flow to the pressure switch;

an air switch having an inlet port, a switched port, and an open air port, the air switch in switchable fluid communication with the air pump through the inlet port for receiving the first air flow from the air pump;

at least one air bag in switchable fluid communication with the air pump through the switched port, the switched port for receiving and sending a second air flow; and

a seat rear attached to the air bag, wherein the seat rear may be raised by providing the second air flow to the at least one air bag and may be lowered by removing the second air flow from the at least one air bag.

2. The air adjustable motorcycle seat of claim 1, wherein the air switch has:

a fill position wherein the inlet port is in fluid communication with the switched port to provide the second air flow to the at least one air bag to raise the seat;

a neutral position wherein the inlet port and the switched port are blocked; and

an empty position wherein the inlet port is blocked and the switched port is in fluid communication with the open air port to provide the second air flow from the at least one air bag to the open air port to lower the seat.

3. The air adjustable motorcycle seat of claim 2, wherein the at least one air bag comprises two air bags residing under the seat rear of the motorcycle seat.

4. The air adjustable motorcycle seat of claim 3, wherein the two air bags are attached to the motorcycle seat using a rotatable connection to reduce or prevent binding when the seat is raised or lowered.

5. The air adjustable motorcycle seat of claim 4, wherein the two air bags are attached to the motorcycle seat using a rotatable connection including shoulder bolts to reduce or prevent binding when the seat is raised or lowered.

6. The air adjustable motorcycle seat of claim 2, wherein the two air bags have a stroke between approximately 0.5 inches and approximately three inches.

7. The air adjustable motorcycle seat of claim 6, wherein the two air bags have a stroke of approximately two inches.

8. The air adjustable motorcycle seat of claim 2, wherein the two air bags have a diameter between approximately two inches and approximately three inches.

9. The air adjustable motorcycle seat of claim 8, wherein the two air bags have a diameter of approximately 2¾

inches.

10. The air adjustable motorcycle seat of claim 2, wherein the two air bags operate at a pressure of up to between 60 PSI and 120 PSI.

11. The air adjustable motorcycle seat of claim 2, wherein at least one rubber bumper resides under the motorcycle seat configured to prevent metal to metal contact when the seat is lowered.

12. The air adjustable motorcycle seat of claim 2, wherein at least one damper resides under the motorcycle seat configured to dampen upward and downward motion of the seat.

13. The air adjustable motorcycle seat of claim 1, wherein the electric power source comprises an ignition switch connected electrically serially between a battery and the pressure switch.

14. The air adjustable motorcycle seat of claim 1, wherein the electric power source comprises an on/off switch connected electrically serially between a battery and the pressure switch.

15. The air adjustable motorcycle seat of claim 7, wherein the pressure switch is connected to a charging terminal of the voltage regulator, and a diode resides between the charging terminal of the voltage regulator and the positive terminal of a battery to prevent discharge of the battery when the motor is not running.

16. An air adjustable motorcycle seat comprising:

an electrical power source;

a pressure switch electrically connected to the electrical power source for receiving electrical power;

an air pump electrically connected to the pressure switch for receiving electrical power switched by the pressure switch and in fluid communication with the pressure switch for providing a first air flow to the pressure switch;

at least one air bag supporting the motorcycle seat;

an air switch having;

an inlet port in fluid communication with the air pump ro receive a first air flow from the air pump;

a switched port in fluid communication with the at least one air bag to send and receive a second air flow to and from the at least one air bag;

an open air port for releasing air;

a fill position wherein the inlet port is in fluid communication with the switched port to provide the second air flow to the at least one air bag to raise the seat;

a neutral position wherein the inlet port and the switched port are blocked to hold the seat; and

an empty position wherein the inlet port is blocked and the switched port is in fluid communication with the open air port to provide the second air flow from the at least one air bag to the open air port to lower the seat.

17. An air adjustable motorcycle seat comprising:

an electrical power source;

a pressure switch electrically connected to the electrical power source for receiving electrical power;

an air pump electrically connected to the pressure switch for receiving electrical power switched by the pressure switch and in fluid communication with the pressure switch for providing a first air flow to the pressure switch;

two air bags supporting a rear of the motorcycle seat;

an air switch having;

an inlet port in fluid communication with the air pump ro receive a first air flow from the air pump;

a switched port in fluid communication with the two air bags to send and receive a second air flow to and from the at least one air bag;

an open air port for releasing air;

a fill position wherein the inlet port is in fluid communication with the switched port to provide the second air flow to the two air bags to raise the rear of the motorcycle seat;

a neutral position wherein the inlet port and the switched port are blocked to hold the rear of the motorcycle seat; and

an empty position wherein the inlet port is blocked and the switched port is in fluid communication with the open air port to provide the second air flow from the two air bags to the open air port to lower the rear of the motorcycle seat.