Seat pad for cycling trousers

Abstract

A seat pad ( 1 ) for cycling trousers comprises a front portion ( 11 ) adapted to be arranged in a crotch area of a cyclist, and a back portion ( 12 ) adapted to be arranged in a perineal area of the cyclist. The front portion ( 11 ) and the back portion ( 12 ) are joined by one or multiple seams ( 15 ) which are running sideways of a longitudinal center line ( 19 ) of the seat pad between opposing peripheral areas ( 17, 18 ) of the seat pad, wherein the seat pad takes a three-dimensional concave shape in the joining region ( 14 ) of the front portion ( 11 ) and back portion ( 12 ). The three-dimensional concave shape is formed in that opposing seam joining lines ( 161,162 ) of the front portion ( 11 ) and the back portion ( 12 ) are joined along the one or multiple seams ( 15 ) thereby closing a respective tapered gap ( 13 ) between the front portion and back portion on each side of the longitudinal center line ( 19 ).

1 . A seat pad for cycling trousers, comprising
 a front portion adapted to be arranged in a crotch area of a cyclist,   a back portion adapted to be arranged in a perineal area of the cyclist,   wherein the front portion and the back portion are joined by one or multiple seams, wherein the one or multiple seams are running sideways of a longitudinal center line of the seat pad between opposing peripheral areas of the seat pad, wherein the seat pad takes a three-dimensional concave shape in the joining region of the front portion and back portion,   said three-dimensional concave shape being formed in that opposing seam joining lines of the front portion and the back portion are joined along the one or multiple seams thereby closing a respective tapered gap between the front portion and back portion on each side of the longitudinal center line.   
     
     
         2 . Seat pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the front portion and the back portion are joined by at least one seam which is running on the respective sides of the longitudinal center line between opposing peripheral areas of the seat pad, or by at least two seams which are, respectively running between the longitudinal center line and one of the opposing peripheral areas of the seat pad. 
     
     
         3 . Seat pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or multiple seams are inclined with respect to the longitudinal center line. 
     
     
         4 . Seat pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the front portion and back portion are made from two separate parts. 
     
     
         5 . Seat pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the front portion and back portion are made from one piece. 
     
     
         6 . Seat pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or multiple seams are formed by stitching, heat sealing or gluing. 
     
     
         7 . Seat pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or multiple seams are running symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center line of the seat pad, particularly axially-symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center line. 
     
     
         8 . Seat pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or multiple seams are intersecting the longitudinal center line of the seat pad at approximately ⅓±25% of the seat pad length from the front peripheral end of the front portion. 
     
     
         9 . Seat pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the front portion and back portion made from two different materials. 
     
     
         10 . Seat pad according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the front portion comprises a functional barrier layer. 
     
     
         11 . Seat pad according to  claim 10 , wherein the functional harrier layer is windproof. 
     
     
         12 . Seat pad according to  claim 10 , wherein the functional barrier layer is water vapor permeable. 
     
     
         13 . Seat pad according to  claim 10 , wherein the functional barrier layer comprises a porous membrane layer, particularly a porous PTFE membrane layer. 
     
     
         14 . Seat pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or multiple seams are inclined with respect to the longitudinal center line in a direction towards the front of the seat pad. 
     
     
         15 . Seat pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or multiple seams are inclined with respect to the longitudinal center line in a direction away from the front of the seat pad. 
     
     
         16 . Cycling trousers comprising a seat pad according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing a seat pad for cycling trousers, comprising the steps of:
 providing a front portion adapted to be arranged in a crotch area of a cyclist and a back portion adapted to be arranged in a perineal area of the cyclist, which are to be joined by one or multiple seams, wherein the one or multiple seams are running sideways of a longitudinal center line of the seat pad between opposing peripheral areas of the seat pad such that respective seam joining lines of the front portion and the back portion are arranged opposed to one another defining a respective tapered gap between the front portion and back portion on each side of the longitudinal center line.   joining the front portion and the back portion along the one or multiple seams in at least part thereof such that the respective gap is closed, thereby forming a three-dimensional concave shape of the seat pad in the joining region of the front portion and back portion.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the front portion and back portion are made from one padding piece and the respective gap is formed by making a cut-out into the padding piece removing material therefrom. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the front portion and the hack portion are made from at least two pieces which are joined together at the one or multiple seams. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the respective gap is substantially V-shaped with the open end arranged peripherally of the seat pad.