Seating device

Abstract

The invention is a vehicle seating device (1) comprising a rigid support (2) suitable for installation at a seating area of a vehicle; a soft seating body (3) superimposed on the support (2) and including a seating surface (3a) suitable for supporting buttocks or back of a user; at least one collapsible element (4) disposed between the support (2) and the body (3) at the seating surface (3a) and including an internal portion (40) comprising elastically compressible material so as to allow geometric variation of the seating surface (3a) at least along a main direction (4a) transverse to the seating surface (3a); an casing (41) including the internal portion (40) and including a gas-tight membrane; volume variation means (5) suitable for extracting and / or injecting gas into the casing (41), and comprising a pump (50) suitable only for extracting gas from the casing (41), and a valve (51), suitable for allowing or blocking the introduction of gas into the casing (41); wherein the collapsible element (4) comprises at least one contact portion (43) integrally constrained to the internal portion (40) along one side of the internal portion (40) facing the body (3) and including rubbery material such as to generate frictional resistance with the casing (41) so as to enable the shape of the internal portion (40) deformed by the buttocks of said user in sitting on the seating surface (3a) to be maintained.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] SEATING DEVICE

[0003] This invention relates to a seating device of the type specified in the preamble of the first claim.

[0004] Specifically, this invention relates to a device capable of being implemented within vehicle seating systems, for example, a seat of any vehicle equipped with a seat and backrest, or even a saddle, i.e. , the seating portion, of a two-, three- or four- wheeled motor vehicle, or even non-vehicle seats.

[0005] As is well known, vehicle seating devices often consist of seats that allow stable and comfortable seating of the user driver.

[0006] Normally, a vehicle seat has a seat and backrest. The seat is determined by the area on which the buttocks rest, while the backrest is the area on which the user's back rests.

[0007] Because the seats must provide stability and comfort, they very often have padded portions, possibly including inflatable bladders, that allow for local increase or decrease in the volume and mechanical characteristics of the seating surface.

[0008] Also known are devices designed to work in depression that, due to the depression imposed on the seating surface while the user is sitting, can take a counter-shape to the user's body thus locally increasing comfort.

[0009] The prior art involves some significant drawbacks.

[0010] Conventional seats equipped with bladders are not sufficiently comfortable and may, indeed, introduce local stresses on the user's body, due to the increased pressure and stiffness given by the swelling of the bladder, which damages the user's health. In addition, although there are systems that take advantage of depression to maintain a user-compatible shape, such systems are bound to lose shape over time or even very quickly when the user gets up from the seat.

[0011] Thus, devices of the prior art are unable to maintain the state of comfort in a lasting way.

[0012] Furthermore, regarding the specific category of motorcycles, however, they are smaller motor vehicles than cars, mostly having two wheels, sometimes even three, up to four in the case of quads.

[0013] Motorcycles are characterized by the fact that the rider is exposed outside while sitting on a saddle. Especially with regard to two-wheeled motorcycles, when the support stand is not pulled out, the stability of the motorcycle is determined and guaranteed solely by the rider's feet resting on the ground.

[0014] This situation can occur especially when the driver has to stop at a stop sign, or a traffic light.

[0015] Therefore, if the rider is of short stature and / or the motorcycle has a high distance of the seat from the ground, the rider may have some difficulty in keeping the motorcycle nimbly supported on the ground without incurring falls or, at least, large inclinations that may subject one or more of the rider's limbs to great strain.

[0016] Therefore, saddles on common motorcycles have the important drawback of being very uncomfortable, while providing little safety or guarantee for keeping the motorcycle stable while resting on the ground from a standstill, especially when the motorcycle is high or the rider is of short stature.

[0017] In this context, the technical task underlying this invention is to devise a seating device capable of substantially overcoming at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0018] Within the scope of the said technical task, it is an important purpose of the invention to obtain a seating device that is able to conform to the body of the sitting user and that is, likewise, able to maintain the shape over time.

[0019] In addition, a further technical task of the invention is to make a vehicle seating device that maintains its shape whether or not the user remains seated on the device.

[0020] Thus, an additional task of the invention is to greatly increase the comfort conferred by the device.

[0021] Concerning the adoption of a vehicle seating device according to the invention on a motorcycle, an important purpose of the invention is to obtain a motorcycle saddle that allows any user, regardless of stature and height of the motorcycle, to rest stably on a ground even while the motorcycle is stationary, without an extracted stand.

[0022] In this embodiment, another important purpose of the invention is to make a motorcycle saddle that is comfortable and that, in any configuration, allows a high state of comfort to be maintained on the seated rider.

[0023] In conclusion, a further task of the invention is to make a simple and versatile motorcycle saddle that can be easily adapted to any motorcycle in particular without introducing substantial changes to common saddles.

[0024] The technical task and the specified aims are achieved by a seating device as claimed in the attached claim 1 .

[0025] Preferred technical solutions are highlighted in the dependent claims.

[0026] The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further clarified by the detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0027] Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal cross-section view of a vehicle seating device according to the invention in which the internal portion is expanded and, therefore, the valve is opened to allow gas to enter the casing and the seat has a maximum height;

[0028] Fig. 2 illustrates a longitudinal section view of the saddle in Fig. 1 in which the internal portion is contracted by the pump and the height of the vehicle seating device is minimal;

[0029] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the vehicle seating device according to the invention in which the position of the collapsible element is shown in hatching; and

[0030] Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the vehicle seating device according to the invention in which the body and collapsible element are removed from the support.

[0031] In this document, measurements, values, shapes, and geometric references (such as perpendicularity and parallelism), when associated with words like "approximately" or other similar terms such as "virtually" or "substantially," are to be understood as subject to measurement errors or inaccuracies due to production and / or manufacturing errors and, most importantly, subject to a slight deviation from the value, measurement, shape, or geometric reference to which they are associated. For example, such terms, when associated with a value, preferably indicate a deviation of no more than 10% from the value itself.

[0032] Moreover, when terms such as "first," "second," "upper," "lower," "primary," and "secondary" are used, they do not necessarily identify an order, priority of relation, or relative position but can simply be used to distinguish different components more clearly one from the other.

[0033] Unless otherwise specified, as results from the following description, terms such as "processing", "computing", "determination", "computation", or similar are considered to refer to the action and / or processes of a computer or similar electronic computation device that manipulates and / or transforms data represented as physical quantities, such as electronic magnitudes of records of a computing system and / or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within computer systems, records, or other storage, transmission, or information display devices.

[0034] The measurements and data reported in this text are to be considered, unless otherwise indicated, as being performed in the International Standard Atmosphere (ICAO) (ISO 2533:1975).

[0035] With reference to the figures, the seating device according to the invention is generally denoted by number 1.

[0036] Device 1 is preferably a vehicle seat, thus part of a vehicle. The vehicle can be of any kind, such as a motor vehicle or a flying vehicle or even a water vehicle.

[0037] Device 1 preferably includes one seat. For example, it may consist of a seating device with a seat and a backrest. It can also be a seat of a chair for homes or offices or planes or trains or other.

[0038] Or, if the vehicle is, for example, a motorcycle, device 1 may include a motorcycle seat. The motorcycle can be of any type, such as a two-wheeled, three-wheeled or even four-wheeled vehicle, preferably a two-wheeled vehicle.

[0039] Therefore, the invention may also include a motorcycle that includes the saddle, i.e., device 1 in a specific embodiment, as later described in more detail.

[0040] In any case, in general, device 1 preferably includes a support 2.

[0041] Support 2 is basically a rigid element. Specifically, the term "rigid" refers to an element whose material is capable of maintaining its geometric shape when device 1 is in use.

[0042] More specifically still, support 2 is suitable for installation at a vehicle seating area. Therefore, support 2 is the rigid portion of device 1 designed to realize the interface with the vehicle. In addition, support 2 is, depending on the type and shape of the vehicle, shaped so that it can be properly accommodated at the portion of the vehicle intended for user seating.

[0043] Support 2 may therefore include polymeric material.

[0044] In addition, device 1 includes, like any seat or saddle of prior art, a seat body 3, which may in turn include a seat or backrest.

[0045] Body 3 is basically a soft element. Therefore, unlike support 2, body 3 is an element of device 1 that is subject at least in part to deformation, whether small or large, during the use of device 1 i.e., during sitting on user's device 1. Therefore, body 3 may include polymeric yielding material, such as polyurethane foams or other related polymer types.

[0046] Body 3 is, therefore, superimposed on support 2. Thus, body 3 is basically adhered at least in part, and in contact, with support 2. In addition, body 3 includes a seating surface 3a.

[0047] Seating surface 3a is basically the part of body 3 that the user interacts with. Therefore, seating surface 3a is the part of body 3 suitable for supporting buttocks and / or back of a user.

[0048] Device 1 , also preferably includes at least one collapsible element 4.

[0049] Collapsible element 4 is preferably placed between support 2 and body 3.

[0050] Also, in detail, the collapsible element 4 is arranged at the seating surface 3a, that is, below it considering, for example, the configuration of device 1 in use on a vehicle.

[0051] The collapsible element 4, can then be part of the seat, as shown in Figs. 1 -4 or part of the backrest, for example it may be the lumbar support of a seat, particularly a car seat, or for example a support similar to those described in European Patent EP 3 580 090 B1 , in Figs. 1 , 2, 4, 5 and paragraphs 48-57.

[0052] Collapsible element 4, is preferably deflated and can be placed in depression so as to geometrically vary, i.e., change the shape, of the seating surface 3a. It is preferably at a distance of less than 3 cm from the seating surface 3a, more preferably less than 2 cm, and most preferably between 5 mm and 1 .5 cm. In other words, the portion of body 3 that separates seating surface 3a from collapsible element 4 can have thicknesses as just described.

[0053] Preferably, collapsible element 4 includes an internal portion 40.

[0054] The internal portion 40 is preferably made of elastically compressible material.

[0055] In detail, the internal portion 40 is the part of collapsible element 4 that gives the latter the ability to geometrically vary the seating surface 3a. Preferably, the internal portion 40 includes material whose density is less than the density of the material constituting the body 3 at least at the seating surface 3a.

[0056] In particular, preferably, the internal portion allows for geometric variation of the seating surface 3a at least along one main direction 4a.

[0057] The main direction 4a is preferably transverse to the seating surface 3a.

[0058] Therefore, when device 1 is in use on a vehicle, the main direction 4a preferably corresponds to the vertical axis of the vehicle, which, when the vehicle is stationary, is at least transverse, sometimes normal, to the ground.

[0059] Thus, the deformation of the internal portion 40 allows the seating surface 3a to be lowered or raised above the ground when device 1 is in use.

[0060] The collapsible element 4 includes, in addition, a casing 41.

[0061] Casing 41 is an outer portion of collapsible element 4. Therefore, casing 41 interfaces with support 2 and body 3 and separates them from the internal portion 40. In addition, the casing 41 includes the internal portion 40. In this regard, casing 41 includes, or consists of, a flexible gas-tight membrane.

[0062] Preferably, the internal portion 40 can have different shapes, particularly considering a top view of a surface in size and shape analogous to the surface occupied by two buttocks of the user when seated on the device 1 , and in variable height, when not compressed or expanded and preferably between 5 cm and 1 .5 dm, e.g., preferably 1 dm.

[0063] Casing 41 , preferably surrounds in contact and without wrinkles or overlaps said internal portion 40 when this is expanded. It is preferably in a gas impermeable membrane, itself known. The purpose of the casing 41 is to contain the internal portion 40 and to enable airtight isolation of the latter from the external environment. In general, the internal portion 40 is preferably polymeric foam or expanded polymeric material or otherwise elastically compressible and preferably polymeric material. For example, it is made of polyurethane foam or other material. Preferably, the internal portion 40 is submerged in a volume of the body 3, and separated from it by the casing 41 , with the body 3 in turn preferably made of a material with properties very similar to the properties of the material of the internal portion 40, e.g. preferably made of the exact same material.

[0064] The outer casing 41 is preferably made of a flexible gas-tight polymer, such as polymeric material films and the like.

[0065] In even more detail, the internal portion 40 is preferably made of material, or materials, which, when the casing 41 is placed under vacuum, has a volume that is reduced by at least 5%. More preferably said volume is reduced by more than 10%, more preferably still, by more than 20%, more preferably still, by more than 30%, more preferably still, by more than 40%, more preferably still, by more than 50%, and more preferably still by more than 60%.

[0066] The internal portion 40 thus has a compressibility coefficient (3, according to the well- known formula [3 = - 3V / (V 3p), preferably greater than 0.5 GPa’1, more preferably greater than 1 GPa’1, more preferably greater than 2 GPa’1, more preferably greater than 3 GPa’1, more preferably greater than 4 GPa’1, more preferably greater than 5 GPa’1, more preferably greater than 6 GPa’1.

[0067] In this regard, and as mentioned above, the internal portion 40 preferably includes, or is made of, a polymer foam, preferably a polyurethane foam, which is preferably open-cell and preferably highly expanded. For example, such materials are known by the term foam rubber. Other such materials are known as foam. The internal portion 40 can be made of open-cell polyurethane foam or similar materials.

[0068] Casing 41 and internal portion 40 thus define a bladder which, however, in the position of maximum extension, appropriately retains the shape of the internal portion 40 that may be arbitrary and not limited to the round, spherical shapes of known bladders and which, as mentioned above, may be shaped like a user's buttocks.

[0069] The internal portion 40 can be compressed by the application of a depression to the casing 41 or even just by external forces such as the weight of the human body or objects.

[0070] In other words, collapsible element 4 is preferably capable of allowing expansion or shrinkage of the volume of casing 41 at most equal to the volume defined by the internal portion 40. It is, preferably, not allowed for the casing 41 to be inflated further because, in detail, the collapsible element 4 is preferably subjected to pressures mainly below atmospheric pressure, which, when they are maximum, are about equal to atmospheric pressure. Specifically, internal portion 40 is exclusively used at volumes equal to or less than the volume of internal portion 40 at ambient pressure.

[0071] The membrane that makes the casing 41 can then define a minimum extension configuration and a maximum extension configuration. In the configuration of minimum extension, there are essentially no aeriforms inside the membrane and atmospheric pressure compresses, with the pressure of about 1 bar, the internal portion 40 reducing its volume maximally. In the configuration of maximum extension preferably the internal portion 40 is not substantially compressed by the membrane, which, preferably, precisely surrounds the internal portion 40 itself by substantially adhering to it. In such a configuration, the pressure inside casing 41 is preferably the ambient pressure, alternatively the membrane could define casing 41 with an internal volume greater than the volume of the internal portion 40, and the maximum extension configuration could still provide a slight depression (e.g., 0.1 - 0.2 bar) that allows the shape of the internal portion 40 to be substantially maintained.

[0072] In addition to what has already been described, device 1 may also include a control portion 42. If present, the control portion 42 is preferably inside the casing 41 .

[0073] In general, the control portion 42 is stiffer at least than the internal portion 40. Preferably, the control portion 42 is rigid enough to be nearly undeformed when device 1 is in use.

[0074] Thus, similar to support 2, control portion 42 can enable it to maintain its geometric shape even when device 1 is subjected to the pressure exerted by a user's weight. The control portion 42, moreover, is preferably integrally constrained to the internal portion 40. Specifically, control portion 42 is constrained to internal portion 40 along one side of internal portion 40 facing support 2. From a structural point of view, the control portion 42 may include a slab, or layer, integrally constrained to part of the internal portion 40. Such constraint can be achieved, for example, by bonding.

[0075] For example, a control portion 42 whose volume does not deform beyond 5 percent of the initial unstressed volume as a result of the imposed pressure gradients can be considered as substantially undeformed.

[0076] Also preferably, the control portion 42 is breathable. For example, such a control portion 42 can be made from a material such as a nonwoven fabric, preferably with a thickness of more than 1 mm, or from a net made of rigid material, polymeric or metallic material, or other materials that enable the above characteristics to be achieved.

[0077] This control portion 42 is basically designed to control the deformation direction of the seating surface 3a of device 1 . In fact, when a depression is made in casing 41 , the direction of deformation turns out to be almost normal to the control portion 42, and the part of the internal portion 40 directly connected to the control portion 42, locally retains its shape while the internal portion 40 is compressed allowing the rest of the internal portion to adapt to the shape of the user's buttocks, in fact adapting the seating surface 3a to it.

[0078] In general, control portion 42, if present, defines a preferred compression direction, perpendicular, for example, to the side of internal portion 40 on which control portion 42 is glued.

[0079] Also, in a preferred embodiment, collapsible element 4 includes at least one contact portion 43. The latter is preferably integrally constrained to the internal portion 40 along one side of the internal portion 40 facing body 3.

[0080] Preferably, the contact portion 43 includes, or consists of, a high-friction material, such as a rubbery material or otherwise such as to generate frictional resistance with the casing 41 . Thus, the contact portion 43 is able to develop a resistance, augmented by the under-vacuum i.e. , the depression realized in the casing 41 , that enables it to maintain the shape of the internal portion 40 deformed by the user's buttocks while sitting on the seating surface 3a.

[0081] Preferably, the contact portion 43 includes, at least at the seating surface 3a, EPM or neoprene or closed-cell polyurethane foam.

[0082] More generally, the contact portion 43 includes material that, in contact with the material of the internal portion 40, is capable of resulting in a coefficient of friction of at least 0.6, for example, between 0.7 and 0.9.

[0083] The contact portion 43 is preferably arranged at an opposite side of the internal portion 40 from the other control portion 42, if the control portion 42 is present.

[0084] Thus, in this way, collapsible element 4 defines a sandwich structure formed by control portion 42 and contact portion 43 separated by internal portion 40. The result of such a configuration is that when the casing 41 is subjected to a depression, the deformation of the internal portion 40 results in a reduction of distance between the control portions 42 that by themselves maintain the shape. Thus, in this configuration, collapsible element 4 behaves as a sandwich panel with variable thickness. In this case, when a depression is made in casing 41 , the contact portion 43 maintains the shape of the seating surface 3a conferred on it by the buttocks of the user.

[0085] In addition to the intrinsic features of the collapsible body 4 just described, which allow control of deformations and directions of deformation, collapsible body 4 can be geometrically realized in such a way as to favor, cooperating with body 3, certain directions of deformation. In this sense, preferably, collapsible element 4 can define a parallelepiped shape, possibly even a rectangle, and body 3 can define a housing shaped in such a way as to contain exactly collapsible element 4, that is, shaped as a negative of the parallelepiped itself.

[0086] Device 1 , further comprises, preferably, volume variation means 5 of the internal portion 40, preferably suitable for extracting and / or injecting gas within casing 41 .

[0087] Collapsible element 4 is therefore available in a compressed configuration, in which it is under vacuum, preferably at least 0.3 bar below ambient pressure and more preferably at least 0.5 bar below ambient pressure, and in an expanded configuration, in which it is preferably at ambient pressure.

[0088] The volume variation means 5 can be of various types. Advantageously, the same exploit, particularly for volume increase, the natural tendency of the material to return to its original shape, or springback.

[0089] Preferably, the volume variation means 5, include a pump 50 designed to at least extract gas from the casing 41. More preferably, pump 50 is only suitable for extracting gas, and more preferably, there are no active means of inserting gas into the casing 41. Logically, the extraction of gas from the casing 41 follows the compression of the internal portion 40, due to ambient pressure, and thus a change in the seating surface 3a, e.g., a lowering of elevation as illustrated in Figs. 1 -2.

[0090] Pump 50 may be absent, in which case the volume variation means 5 may consist of the user physically operating compression and / or elasticity of the material tending to return to its original shape.

[0091] Preferably, the volume variation means 5, also include a valve 51 suitable for allowing or blocking the entry of gas into the casing 41 , preferably from the external environment. Valve 51 is preferably normally open and is closed only at the time of gas extraction from casing 41 . It is also preferably a solenoid valve.

[0092] To return collapsible element 4 to the expanded, or larger volume configuration, it is preferable to simply leave valve 51 open by exploiting the springback of the internal portion 40.

[0093] Device 1 preferably also includes control means, for example electronic means such as an Arduino® microcomputer or similar.

[0094] Advantageously, the control means are at least configured to contract and / or expand the collapsible element 4.

[0095] Preferably, the contraction of the collapsible element 4 is done by placing it under vacuum by operation of pump 50. Thus, with contraction, collapsible element 4 reduces its size at least along the main direction 4a. Advantageously, the dimensional reduction along the main direction 4a is at least 50%. This effect results, when device 1 is in use, in a reduction in overall thickness of device 1 along the main direction 4a. If the collapsible element 4a has, for example, a defined thickness along the main direction 4a of 1 dm, the change can correspond to 5 cm, and device 1 can then lower by 5 cm.

[0096] Dually, the expansion of collapsible element 4 is defined along the main direction 4a. This expansion is realized by the control means by operating the opening of valve 51 . Advantageously, the dimensional reduction along the main direction 4a is, consistently with the reduction, at least 50%. This effect results, when device 1 is in use, in an increase in overall thickness of device 1 along the main direction 4a. If the collapsible element 4a has, for example, a defined thickness along the main direction 4a of 1 dm, the change can correspond to 5 cm, and device 1 can then rise by 5 cm.

[0097] As anticipated above, the invention also includes a new vehicle comprising device 1. For example, as mentioned above, device 1 may include or be part of a seat or backrest of a vehicle seat.

[0098] In addition, the vehicle may be a motor vehicle. Thus, device 1 can be a saddle.

[0099] The vehicle may, in addition, include additional accessories. For example, control means and volume variation means 5 and also other elements may also not be structurally integrated with the device 1 itself and, for example, included in the car's control unit or similar.

[0100] Especially in the case where device 1 defines a motorcycle seat, the vehicle, i.e. , motorcycle, may also include at least one speed sensor. The speed sensor, already known and present in motor vehicles, is preferably operationally connected to the control means.

[0101] In addition, the speed sensor can in detail be configured to issue a stop signal when the vehicle has a speed below a predetermined speed threshold value and a motion signal when the vehicle has a speed above the same predetermined speed threshold value.

[0102] For example, the predetermined threshold value can be close to zero with tolerances of a few tenths of a km / h.

[0103] Thus, the control means can be advantageously configured to actuate pump 50 in response to the stop signal, to lower the saddle, i.e., device 1 , relative to the ground, and actuate valve 51 in response to the move signal, to raise the saddle, i.e., device 1 , relative to the ground.

[0104] The sensitivity of such an overall control system can also be increased by providing additional data to the control means.

[0105] For example, it may be planned to operate pump 50 when the vehicle undergoes intense deceleration, or when simultaneously the vehicle decelerates and the speed is below a given value. Conversely, valve 51 actuation may follow acceleration, or when simultaneously the vehicle accelerates and the speed reaches and exceeds a given value.

[0106] The operation of device 1 previously described in structural terms is as follows.

[0107] It defines an innovative method of deforming a motorcycle saddle.

[0108] The method is preferably applied on the saddle, given by device 1 as previously described, and whose preferred applications are described.

[0109] The method includes, at least, the contraction and expansion phases.

[0110] Specifically, as explained, in the contraction phase the collapsible element 4 is contracted, placing it under vacuum by means of pump 50 actuation, so that its size is reduced along the main direction 4a by at least 50%, with the result that the overall saddle thickness is also reduced along the main direction 4a.

[0111] In the expansion phase, however, preferably the collapsible element 4 is expanded along the main direction 4a by operating the valve 51 opening to increase the overall saddle thickness along the main direction 4a.

[0112] With the expansion and contraction of collapsible element 4, the seating surface 3a changes in elevation or hardness, procuring raising or lowering relative to the ground for the user.

[0113] Thus, the invention also enables a new method of controlling the seat height of a motor vehicle.

[0114] The method is implemented by device 1 when configured as a saddle by applying the deformation method of device 1 previously described.

[0115] In detail, advantageously, during the contraction of collapsible element 4, the vehicle reduces its seat height, and during the expansion of collapsible element 4, the vehicle increases its seat height. The vehicle seating device 1 , and the related deformation method according to the invention achieve important advantages.

[0116] In general, mainly due to the contact portion 43, device 1 is able to conform to the body of the sitting user while maintaining the shape over time.

[0117] In addition, the vehicle seating device 1 maintains its shape whether or not the user remains seated on device 1 .

[0118] Thus, device 1 allows for a seat or saddle with greatly increased comfort.

[0119] Specifically, when device 1 is a motorcycle saddle, and related method of saddle deformation, it allows any user, regardless of stature and height of the motorcycle, to rest stably on a ground even while the motorcycle is stationary, without a stand pulled out.

[0120] In addition, the motorcycle saddle, and related method of seat deformation, ensure the user's comfortable sitting and, in any configuration, a high state of comfort on the seat.

[0121] In conclusion, the motorcycle saddle is simple and versatile, easily adaptable to any motorcycle in particular by avoiding making substantial changes to common saddles.

[0122] The invention is susceptible to variations within the scope of the inventive concept defined by the claims. Within this scope, all details can be replaced with equivalent elements, and materials, shapes, and sizes can be any.

Claims

CLAI MS1. Seating device (1 ) comprising:- a stiff support (2);- a soft seating body (3) superimposed on said support (2) and including a seating surface (3a) suitable to support buttocks and / or back of a user; and characterized in that it comprises- at least a collapsible element (4) arranged between said support (2) and said body (3) at said seating surface (3a) and including:- an internal portion (40) comprising elastically compressible material, so as to allow the geometrical variation of said seating surface (3a) at least along a main direction (4a) transversal to said seating surface (3a),- a casing (41 ), including said internal portion (40) and including a gas-tight membrane;- volume variation means (5) suitable to allow extracting and / or introducing gas inside said casing (41 ),- said collapsible element (4) comprising at least a contact portion (43) constrained integrally to said internal portion (40) along one side of said internal portion (40) facing said body (3) and including material so as to generate a friction resistance with said casing (41 ) so as to allow to keep the shape of said internal portion (40) deformed by said buttocks of said user sitting on said seating surface (3a).

2. Device (1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising control means configured at least for:- contracting said collapsible element (4), by putting it under depression by actuating said pump (50), so that said collapsible element (4) reduces its own size along said main direction (4a) at least by 50% to reduce the overallthickness of said device (1 ) along said main direction (4a), and- expanding said collapsible element (4) along said main direction (4a), by actuating the opening of said valve (51 ), to increase the overall thickness of said device (1) along said main direction (4a).

3. Device (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said collapsible element (4) comprises at least a stiffer control portion (42) than said internal portion (40) so as to result almost undeformed when said device (1 ) is in use, and constrained integrally to said internal portion (40) along one side of said internal portion (40) facing said support (3) so that said collapsible element (4) defines a sandwich-like structure formed by said control and contact portions (42, 43) separated by said internal portion (40).

4. Device (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said elastically compressible material includes polymer foam.

5. Device (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said body (3) comprises material identical to said internal portion (40).

6. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said valve (51 ) is a usually open electro-valve.

7. Device (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said volume variation means (5) comprise:- a pump (50) suitable exclusively to extract said gas from said casing (41 ), and- a valve (51 ), suitable to allow or to block the introduction of said gas into said casing (41 ).

8. Vehicle comprising a device (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims.

9. Vehicle according to the preceding claim, wherein said vehicle is a motorvehicle, said device (1 ) is a saddle for motor vehicle.

10. Vehicle according any of the claims 8-9, comprising at least a speed sensor operatively connected to said control means and configured to emit a stop signal when said vehicle has a lower speed than a predetermined speed threshold and a motion signal when said vehicle has a higher speed than said predetermined speed threshold; and said control means are configured to actuate said pump (50) in response to said stop signal and to actuate said valve (51 ) in response to said motion signal.

11. Method for deforming a device (1 ) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it includes:- contracting said collapsible element (4), by putting it under depression by actuating said pump (50), so that said collapsible element (4) reduces its own size along said main direction (4a) at least by 50% to reduce the overall thickness of said device (1 ) along said main direction (4a), and- expanding said collapsible element (4) along said main direction (4a), by actuating the opening of said valve (51 ), to increase the overall thickness of said device (1 ) along said main direction (4a).

12. Method of controlling the seating height of a motor vehicle, including a vehicle according to claim 8 and a deforming method of a device (1 ) according to the preceding claim, wherein during said contraction said vehicle reduces its own seating height and during said expansion vehicle increases its own seating height.

13. Method of controlling the seating height of a motor vehicle according to the preceding claim, wherein said contraction is implemented in response to said stop signal and said expansion is implemented in response to said motion signal.

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