Cushion insert pad for a pair of riding shorts

Abstract

A cushion pad insert to be attached to and carried by a conventional pair of riding shorts of the kind to be worn, for example, by one riding a bicycle. The cushion pad insert includes an intermediate gel layer that is sandwiched between top and bottom cover layers and sized so as to completely cover the bicycle seat whereby to reduce the impact forces generated by the seat against the rider's buttocks. A series of gel-containment compartments are formed in the intermediate gel layer of cushion pad insert. The gel-containment compartments are separated from one another by seals or similar flow barriers that prevent the migration of gel from one containment compartment to another. By virtue of the foregoing, the gel of the intermediate gel layer will be evenly distributed throughout the cushion pad insert while avoiding accumulation or bunching at one end thereof in order to eliminate the formation of voids in the gel layer and thereby maximize support for the rider's buttocks as he slides his body and shifts his weight along the bicycle seat.

1 . For a pair of riding pants, a cushion insert pad to be attached to the riding pants to reduce the impact forces applied to the buttocks of a rider wearing said riding pants while riding, said cushion insert pad comprising a top cover layer, a bottom cover layer, and an intermediate layer containing a gel and being located between said top and bottom cover layers so as to be surrounded thereby. 
   
   
       2 . The cushion insert pad recited in  claim 1 , said cushion insert pad having the shape of a bicycle seat so that said intermediate layer is adapted to completely cover the bicycle seat when the rider is seated thereon. 
   
   
       3 . The cushion insert pad recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said top and bottom cover layers is manufactured from a fabric material that is adapted to stretch with the body movements of the rider. 
   
   
       4 . The cushion insert pad recited in  claim 1 , wherein said intermediate layer is divided into a plurality of gel-containment compartments, each of said compartments containing at least some of said gel, said plurality of gel-containment compartments being separated from one another to prevent the migration and bunching of the gel at any one location of said intermediate layer. 
   
   
       5 . The cushion insert pad recited in  claim 4 , wherein each one of said plurality of gel-containment compartments is separated from other ones of said gel-containment compartments by means of a seal, said seal creating a barrier to prevent the movement of gel from one containment compartment to another. 
   
   
       6 . The cushion insert pad recited in  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of gel-containment compartments are sized and arranged adjacent one another such that said intermediate layer has the shape of a bicycle seat. 
   
   
       7 . The combination of a pair of riding pants and a cushion insert pad carried by the riding pants to reduce the impact forces applied to the buttocks of a rider wearing said riding pants while riding, said cushion insert pad comprising a cushion layer containing a cushion material attached to said riding pants, said cushion layer being divided into a series of independent cushion material containment compartments, each of said containment compartments having at least some of the cushion material and being separated from one another to prevent the movement of said cushion material from one containment compartment to another. 
   
   
       8 . The combination recited in  claim 7 , wherein said cushion material is a gel, some of said gel being confined to each of said plurality of cushion material containment compartments, said combination further comprising a cover layer affixed to said pair of riding pants with said cushion layer containing said gel located between said cover layer and said riding pants. 
   
   
       9 . The combination recited in  claim 7 , wherein said cushion insert pad is attached to said riding pants by means of a vacuum seal. 
   
   
       10 . The combination recited in  claim 7 , wherein said cushion insert pad is attached to said riding pants by means of sewing. 
   
   
       11 . A method for making a cushion insert pad to be attached to clothing to reduce impact forces applied to the body of one wearing the clothing to which the cushion insert pad is attached, said method comprising the steps of:
 laying a bottom cover layer of porous material into a mold;   pouring a liquid gel onto said bottom cover layer laying in the mold;   attaching a top cover layer of porous material to said bottom cover layer with said liquid gel sandwiched therebetween at a time during which the liquid gel leeches into each of said top and bottom cover layers; and   dividing the liquid gel into a plurality of independent gel containment compartments such that each containment compartment has at least some of said liquid gel therewithin, said plurality of gel containment compartments being separated from one another to prevent the movement of liquid gel from one containment compartment to another.   
   
   
       12 . The method for making a cushion insert pad recited in  claim 11 , including the additional step of forming said mold to have the shape of a bicycle seat so that said cuhion pad insert also has the shape of a bicycle seat.