Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Seat pad for cycling trousers
The invention is related to a seat pad for cycling trousers and to cycling
trousers compris-
ing such seat pad. Further, the invention is related to a method of
manufacturing a seat pad
for cycling trousers.
Typically, cyclists active in cycling sports wear specially designed cycling
pants or trou-
sers that are constructed for durability, cushioning between the bicycle seat
and the cyclist,
minimum chaffing of the cyclist, and comfortable wear such as exhibiting good
elastic
properties and moisture transport away from the body. To distribute and
dissipate the pres-
sure, shock, and vibration transmitted by the bicycle seat, the pants or
trousers typically
include a padding which is located in most variants in the perineal and
buttocks regions,
in other variants also in the crotch or front pelvic region of the cyclist.
Usually, such seat
pads are installed in the crotch and perineal areas of the trousers sewn in
place within the
elastic material of the garment forming the leg and body portions of the
trousers.
While the seat pads known in the art provide increased protection of the
cyclist's anatomi-
cal parts which have contact with the padding, there are still some parts of
the cyclist's
body which, due to their anatomy, may suffer more from intensive motion during
pedalling
and pressure than others. Such region is, for example, the male genital region
which comes
into contact with the crotch area of the seat pad. On the one hand, the seat
pad should be
thin enough to enable intensive pedalling of the legs during cycling without
chaffing
against the skin. This typically also implies a tight fit of the trousers on
the cyclist's body,
thus exerting a compression of the seat pad on the genitals. On the other
hand, sufficient
protection should be given against constant pressure, shock, and vibration
transmitted by
the bicycle seat.
In EP 1 972 216 Bl, there is disclosed a protection seat for cyclist trousers
which is aimed
at improving known cyclist trousers obtaining better comfort and protection to
delicate
body parts during the use. Particularly, a protection seat for the crotch area
of a cyclist
trousers comprises, in a single piece, a front pubic portion and a perineal-
ischiatic rear por-
tion, wherein at least the front portion is formed with a concave shell shape.
The concave
shell shape is formed by a joint between opposite flaps of a longitudinal
median notch
made in the front portion of the seat. A method for manufacturing and pre-
forming a pro-
tection seat for cyclist trousers comprises the steps of shaping the seat with
a front portion
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and a rear portion, making a longitudinal median V-shaped notch on said front
portion
with an open end, obtaining two opposite flaps, and joining at least a portion
of the oppo-
site flaps of said notch, obtaining a front longitudinal joint thus pre-
forming a shell-shaped
concave region in said front portion of the seat.
While the pre-formed shell-shaped concave region provides better comfort and
protection
by a better fit to the anatomical parts, there are still some drawbacks. For
example, the
three-dimensional form of the concave shell shape, at least in some parts, is
still not suffi-
ciently adapted to the anatomical shape of the genitals. Further, the joint
between opposite
flaps of the longitudinal median notch may cause chaffing during use when
pressed against
the cyclist's body.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a seat pad for cycling
trousers which
provides improved protection and comfort to the wearer during use.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a seat pad for
cycling trousers,
comprising 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.
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. 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 lon-
gitudinal center line.
The invention is also related to cycling trousers comprising such a seat pad
as described
herein according to embodiments of the invention. The invention further
concerns a meth-
od of manufacturing a seat pad for cycling trousers as described herein.
According to the invention, in the joining region of the front and back
portion the seat pad
can be formed to have a three-dimensional concave shape with improved fitting
to the ana-
tomical shape of the wearer in the crotch region, particularly to the
anatomical shape of a
male cyclist's genitals. This is achieved by provision of one or multiple
seams which are
running sideways of a longitudinal center line of the seat pad between
opposing peripheral
areas of the seat pad. Accordingly, the concave shape can be extended more
breadthways
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and less in longitudinal direction, thus obtaining a deeper and broader three-
dimensional
concave shell shape of the seat pad resulting in reduced compression for the
genitals. Fur-
thermore, the one or more seams can be placed sideways in a way that they come
into con-
tact with body portions which are subjected to less pressure during cycling
than others,
such as in the side areas of the genitals, thus reducing chaffing.
For this purpose, the one or multiple seams are running sideways of the
longitudinal center
line of the seat pad. This means that the one or multiple seams are running in
side direction
with respect to the longitudinal center line between opposing peripheral areas
of the seat
pad. The one or multiple seams may be arranged such that they run through a
center part
and side parts of the seat pad on both sides of the longitudinal center line,
for example
crossing or touching the longitudinal center line. They may be arranged such
that they are
inclined with respect to the longitudinal center line, for example in a
forward or backward
direction of the seat pad. In this context, as well as in the following, when
it is referred to
forward, backward, left, right directions or locations, outer side, inner
side, etc., it is re-
ferred to directions and locations of the seat pad when worn by the cyclist
during use.
Further adjustments regarding the three-dimensional shape may be made by
appropriately
placing and forming the respective tapered gap between the front and back
portion on each
side of the longitudinal center line in combination with the sideways running
one or multi-
ple seams. For example, the tapered gap may have opposing seam joining lines
which are
substantially straight and/or rounded. For example, the seam joining lines may
be straight
or rounded in any combination, such that one of the seam joining lines is
straight while the
respective opposing seam joining line is rounded. According to a further
variant, one or
multiple of the seam joining lines may be straight in some portions and
rounded in other
portions. They can be rounded in any desired shape, for example, following a
half-circle or
elliptical line.
The tapered gap may be substantially V-shaped, wherein V-shape is understood
herein to
encompass straight as well as rounded seam joining lines as long as the shape
of the gap
comprises opposing seam joining lines forming legs which are closer to each
other in inner
regions than in outer regions of the seat pad (i.e. have the form of an
approximate V-
shape). In principle, the tapered gap may have any form which has opposing
seam joining
lines which are placed closer to each other in regions towards the
longitudinal center line
than in the peripheral regions.
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According to an embodiment, 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. According to another embodiment,
the front por-
tion and the back portion are joined 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.
In a preferred embodiment, the one or multiple seams are inclined with respect
to the lon-
gitudinal center line. In this way, in combination with an appropriately
shaped tapered gap
on each side of the longitudinal center line, there may be achieved an
improved three-
dimensional form of the concave shell providing a good fit for the male
genitals in all di-
rections of the seat pad, particularly also in the width direction. For
example, the one or
multiple seams are inclined with respect to the longitudinal center line in a
direction to-
wards the front of the seat pad, i.e forward of the seat pad. According to
another embodi-
ment, 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, i.e. backwards of the seat
pad.
According to an embodiment, the front portion and back portion are made from
two sepa-
rate parts. For example, the two separate parts are put together and joined at
the at least
one or multiple seams. Alternatively, the two parts may be already joined in
some region
of the seat pad, for example in a region around the longitudinal center line,
and are then
further joined at the at least one or multiple seams. In this way, the front
portion and back
portion may be constructed to have different properties. For instance, the
front portion may
be designed to have shielding and/or warming properties to prevent cooling in
the scrotal
area. The back portion, on the other hand, may be designed to have good
cushioning or
damping properties for a comfortable rest of the cyclist's pelvic or perineal
region on the
seat. It should be noted that it is not necessary that the front and back
portions are joined
continuously along the one or multiple seams, as long as they are joined along
the one or
multiple seams in some portions of the opposing seam joining lines.
According to another embodiment, the front portion and back portion are made
from one
piece. For example, the respective tapered gaps are cut out from the padding
piece and the
opposing seam joining lines along the gaps are then joined to form a
respective dart.
According to an embodiment, the one or multiple seams are formed by stitching,
heat seal-
ing or gluing.
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In a preferred embodiment, the one or multiple seams are running symmetrically
with re-
spect to the longitudinal center line of the seat pad. For example, the one or
multiple seams
are running axially-symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center
line.
5 According to an embodiment, the one or multiple seams are intersecting
the longitudinal
center line of the seat pad at approximately 1/3 of the seat pad length from
the front pe-
ripheral end of the front portion. In this way, the front portion can be made
with anatomi-
cal shape and the three-dimensional concave shell shape can be sized and
limited to front
areas of the seat pad, while other regions of the seat pad in the back portion
can be de-
la signed to not adversely affect the cyclist's pedaling movement.
According to an embodiment, the front portion and back portion are made from
two differ-
ent materials. That is, the front portion is made from a different material
than the back por-
tion. In this manner, the materials of the front portion and back portion may
be constructed
to have different properties.
In a further development of the seat pad according to the invention, at least
a part of the
front portion comprises a functional barrier layer. The functional barrier
layer contributes
to a particular function which may be desired, such as the front portion has
shielding
and/or warming properties to prevent cooling through cold air in the scrotal
area to mini-
mize the risk of a testitis.
For example, the functional barrier layer is windproof and preferably also
breathable (i.e.
water vapor permeable) to keep the body portions warm and guarantee long-
lasting corn-
fort. The functional barrier layer may be air permeable.
For instance, the functional barrier layer is comprised in a two layer or
three layer lami-
nate. When used in a two layer laminate, the functional barrier layer may be
placed on the
outer side, which may be covered by the outer material of the trousers, while
the other lay-
er of the laminate may form an inner layer or may be associated with an inner
layer of the
seat pad providing good comfort, support and wearing properties. When used in
a three
layer laminate, the functional barrier layer is sandwiched between two layers,
wherein an
outer side of the front portion may be formed by an outer layer of the
laminate.
For example, the functional barrier layer comprises a porous membrane layer,
such as a
porous PTFE membrane layer (usually implemented by an expanded polytetra-
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flourethylene layer), or a non-porous membrane layer, such as a non-porous PU
(polyure-
thane) membrane layer.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of manufacturing a seat
pad for
cycling trousers comprises 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. In a
next step, the front portion and the back portion are joined 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.
According to an embodiment, the front portion and back portion are made from
one pad-
ding piece and the respective gap is formed by making a cut-out into the
padding piece
removing material therefrom.
According to another embodiment, the front portion and the back portion are
made from at
least two pieces which are joined together at the one or multiple seams.
Further advantageous features and aspects of the invention are evident from
the dependent
claims.
The invention will now be described by way of example according to multiple
embodi-
ments with reference to the following Figures, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a top view of a seat pad construction according to an
embodiment of the
invention, in which the seam joining lines of the front and back portion are
not
yet joined,
Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the seat pad construction according to
Fig. 1 with
joined seam joining lines closing the respective gaps between the front and
back portion,
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Fig. 3 shows a
top view of a seat pad construction according to another embodiment
of the invention, in which the seam joining lines of the front and back
portion
are not yet joined,
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the seat pad construction according to
Fig. 3 with
joined seam joining lines closing the respective gaps between the front and
back portion,
Fig. 5 shows
top views of a seat pad construction according to another embodiment of
the invention, in which in Fig. 5A the seam joining lines of the front and
back
portion are not yet joined, and in which in Fig. 5B the seam joining lines are
joined closing the respective gaps between the front and back portion,
Fig. 6 shows a
schematic view of an exemplary cycling trousers having a seat pad ac-
cording to an embodiment of the invention as described herein.
Fig. 1 shows a top view of a seat pad construction according to a first
embodiment of the
invention in a stage during manufacture. It shows a seat pad 1 for cycling
trousers which
serves as a protection seat for a cyclist when sitting on a seat or saddle of
a bicycle. The
seat pad may be made part of a cycling trousers, for example, may serve as an
insert which
is sewn around its perimeter to corresponding portions of a cycling trousers
as commonly
known and as schematically shown in Fig. 6. It comprises a front portion 11
and a back
portion 12 which may be made from two separate parts. The front portion 11 and
back por-
tion 12 may be connected, or not, before they are joined at the seam or seams
closing the
respective gaps 13, as set out in more detail below, or may be unconnected
before they are
joined at the seam or seams. Alternatively, the front and back portions 11, 12
may be made
from one piece, wherein the respective gap 13 may be formed by a corresponding
cut out
or may be preformed, as appropriate.
The front portion 11 is adapted to be arranged in a crotch area of a cyclist,
thus supporting
the cyclist's front pelvic region, crotch or groin region, including
particularly the male gen-
itals. The back portion 12 is adapted to be arranged in a perinea] area of the
cyclist, thus
supporting the cyclist in the pelvic or perineal region. In accordance with a
preferred em-
bodiment, the back portion of the seat pad is equipped with at least a pair of
shaped pads
21, 22, which may be equally spaced apart and mirroring one another, i.e.
symmetrical,
with respect to the longitudinal center line 19 of the seat pad which runs
through the seat
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pad longitudinally along its length. The shaped pads 21, 22 may serve for
cushioning and
damping during cycling, as commonly known in the art.
Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the seat pad construction according to Fig.
1 with
joined seam joining lines closing the respective gaps 13 between the front and
back por-
tions 11, 12 of the seat pad 1, thereby forming a three-dimensional concave
shell shape in
the joining region as set out in more detail below.
Figures 3 and 4 show a seat pad 1 according to a second embodiment of the
invention in
which corresponding parts are designated with the same reference numerals as
in Figures 1
and 2. Figures 3 and 4 also show respective top and perspective views of the
seat pad con-
struction according to the second embodiment with unjoined and joined seam
joining lines,
respectively.
In the following, the structure and manufacture of embodiments of a seat pad
according to
the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to Figures 1 to
5:
The front portion 11 and the back portion 12 are arranged opposed to one
another in the
direction of the longitudinal center line 19 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, such
that they touch
in the region of the center line 19 in order to form a seat pad 1 when joined
together. The
front and back portions 11, 12 are to be joined by one or multiple seams 15,
16. In the em-
bodiment of Fig. 1 and 2, the portions 11, 12 are to be joined by one seam 15
which is run-
ning on the respective sides, i.e. left and right sides, of the longitudinal
center line 19 be-
tween the opposing peripheral areas 17, 18 of the seat pad. The front and back
portions 11,
12 are arranged such that the seam joining lines 161 of the front portion and
seam joining
lines 162 of the back portion 12 are arranged opposed to one another defining
a respective
tapered gap 13 between the front portion and back portion on each side of the
longitudinal
center line 19. The front portion 11 and the back portion 12 are joined along
the seam 15
in at least part thereof such that the respective gap 13 is closed, as shown
in Fig. 2, form-
ing a respective dart. With this closing of the gaps 13 on each side of the
longitudinal cen-
ter line 19, a three-dimensional concave shape of the seat pad is formed in
the joining re-
gion 14 of the front portion 11 and back portion 12. By joining both opposing
seam joining
lines along the respective gap 13, the seat pad 1 assumes a three-dimensional
shape like a
concave shell in the connecting region 14, thus supporting an anatomical space
for the
male genitals. The specific three-dimensional shape results from the one or
multiple seams
which work like a respective dart. By means of the one or multiple seams
running on both
sides of the longitudinal center line 19 as described, the shape of the three-
dimensional
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form may be made broader and better-fitting and, in addition, preventing a
centrally run-
ning seam along the longitudinal center line 19 which may cause chaffing.
In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the seam is running through the seat pad from one
side of the
center line 19 to the other opposing side of the center line 19. For example,
the seam 15
runs from one peripheral area 17 of the seat pad on one side of the center
line 19 to an op-
posing peripheral area 18 of the seat pad. The seam 15 is running sideways of
the center
line 19 between the opposing peripheral areas 17, 18. This means that the seam
15, when
the respective seam joining lines 161, 162 are joined (Fig. 2), is running in
side direction at
an angle with respect to the longitudinal center line 19 between the opposing
peripheral
areas 17, 18 of the seat pad. The seam 15 is preferably inclined forwards or
backwards
with respect to the center line 19, but may be in principle also rectilinear
to the center line
19. In Figs. 1,2, the seam 15 is inclined in forward direction of the seat
pad, i.e. in a direc-
tion towards the front of the seat pad.
In the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4, the portions 11, 12 are joined, in
principle, in the same
manner, but by two seams 15, 16 which are respectively running between the
longitudinal
center line 19 and one of the opposing peripheral areas 17, 18 of the seat
pad. For example,
the seam 15 runs from the peripheral area 17 of the seat pad on one side of
the center line
19 to or near the center line 19. The seam 16 runs from the opposing
peripheral area 18 of
the seat pad on the other side of the center line 19 to or near the center
line 19, where it
may touch the seam 15. Like the seam 15 in Figs. 1 and 2, the seams 15, 16 are
running
sideways of the longitudinal center line 19 between the opposing peripheral
areas 17, 18.
This means, the seams 15, 16, when the respective seam joining lines 161, 162
are joined
(Fig. 4), are respectively running in side direction at an angle with respect
to the longitudi-
nal center line 19. The respective seam 15, 16 is preferably inclined with
respect to the
center line 19, such as forwards or backwards, as in the previous embodiment.
In Figs. 3,
4, the seams 15, 16 are inclined in backward direction of the seat pad, i.e.
in a direction
away from the front of the seat pad. The seams 15, 16 may be arranged such
that they run
through a center part and side parts of the seat pad on both sides of the
longitudinal center
line 19, for example touching the longitudinal center line 19.
The features described with respect to the seam 15 in Figs. 1 and 2 and the
seams 15, 16 in
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 may be used and applied interchangeably, for example, the
seam 15 in
Figs. 1, 2 may be inclined backwards and the seams 15, 16 in Figs. 3, 4, 5 may
be inclined
forwards. Likewise, as will be described in more detail below, the one or
multiple seams
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15, 16 work as a respective dart, so that the terms "seam" and "dart" are also
meant inter-
changeably herein.
Preferably, to achieve an improved three-dimensional concave shell shape, the
seam 15 in
5 Fig. 2 and the seams 15, 16 in Fig. 4, 5, respectively, are running
symmetrically with re-
spect to the longitudinal center line 19, particularly axially-symmetrically
with respect to
the longitudinal center line 19.
Regarding the angle at which the seam 15 or seams 15, 16 are running with
respect to the
w longitudinal center line 19, the angle a (Fig. 2, 4) with respect to the
center line 19 is ad-
vantageously in a range between 10 and 140 with respect to the center line
19 in the
front portion 11. If the seam is running and inclined in forward direction of
the seat pad
(i.e. a < 90 ), it may be advantageous if the angle a of the seam is closer to
90 (e.g. 60 -
80 ) in order to avoid or reduce potential pressure marks in the front portion
of the seat
pad. Preferably, if the seam or seams are running and inclined in forward
direction (Fig. 2)
of the seat pad, the angle a is advantageously around 40 . If the seam or
seams are running
and inclined in backward direction (Fig. 4) of the seat pad, the angle a is
advantageously
around 100 .
According to an embodiment, it is advantageous if the seam or seams are
running and in-
clined in backward direction, as shown in Fig. 4, since seams can be avoided
in the front
area of the seat pad where seams may be undesired. Moreover, the part of the
seat pad in
front of the seam or seams can have an increased area which may be provided
with a
windproof material, as set out herein, so that wind protection can be
increased in area.
According to one embodiment, the seam joining lines 161, 162 are substantially
straight
(Figs. 1-4) or rounded (Fig. 5). For example, when unjoined (Figs. 1, 3, 5A),
the seam join-
ing lines 161, 162 have inner ends close together with straight lines or
tangent lines form-
ing an angle p between them of, e.g., 10 -60 , preferably 15 -50 , more
preferably 20 -
40 . The opposite open ends of the seam joining lines 161, 162 at the
peripheral areas 17,
18 may have the same angle 13 between them. Alternatively, as shown in Fig.
5A, particu-
larly when the seam joining lines 161, 162 have rounded shape, the opposite
open ends
may diverge so that tangent lines to the open ends at the peripheral areas 17,
18 form a
larger angle p between them than at the inner ends. The choice of the angle p
is particular-
ly dependent upon the stiffness and thickness of the material of the seat pad
adjacent the
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seam joining lines. If the material is quite stiff, then smaller angles may be
sufficient. Ac-
cording to an embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, the angle p is around 22 .
Preferably, seam joints are made along the entire extension of the respective
seam, joining
the seam joining lines 161, 162 continuously along their length. The seam
joints may also
be made only in some regions of the seams which may suffice in holding the
front and
back portions 11, 12 together along the seams.
In one embodiment, the seam 15 in Fig. 2 and the seams 15, 16 in Figs. 3, 5A
are intersect-
ing the longitudinal center line 19 of the seat pad at approximately 1/3 of
the seat pad
length from the front peripheral end of the front portion 11 to achieve a
desired and appro-
priately arranged three-dimensional shape of the region 14. The intersecting
of the longitu-
dinal center line 19 may vary between 25% of the 1/3 of the seat pad length
from the
front peripheral end of the front portion 11. According to an embodiment, the
intersecting
of the longitudinal center line 19 may vary between 20% of the 1/3 of the
seat pad length
from the front peripheral end of the front portion 11. For example, if the
longitudinal size
of the seat pad 1 along the longitudinal center line 19 is about 40 cm, the
longitudinal cen-
ter line 19 is intersected at about 11-15 cm.
In an embodiment in which the front portion 11 comprises a windproof material,
as set out
in more detail below, it may be appropriate that the front portion 11 is
longer in length in
order to provide sufficient protection against wind for the delicate body
portions. In this
case, the seam 15 in Fig. 2 and the seams 15, 16 in Figs. 3, 5A may be
intersecting the lon-
gitudinal center line 19 of the seat pad at a location greater than 1/3 of the
seat pad length
from the front peripheral end of the front portion 11. Particularly, the
location may be at
around 4/9 of the seat pad length from the front.
Regarding the gaps 13 on each side of the center line 19, they may be tapered
in any de-
sired form in a way that the seam joining lines 161, 162 are closer to each
other in an inner
region than in an outer region of the seat pad before they are joined. They
may be tapered
in a general V-shape with straight or rounded legs of a V and with the open
end arranged
peripherally of the seat pad. In Fig. 5A, for example, they are tapered with
rounded seam
joining lines 161, 162 (i.e., in a somehow rounded V-shape), which are
directed back-
wards, but which may also be directed forwards.
Alternatively to having two separate parts, i.e. having a seat pad made from
at least two
pieces which are joined together at the one or multiple seams 15, 16, the
front portion 11
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and back portion 12 may also be made from one padding piece and the respective
gap 13
may be formed by making a cut-out into the padding piece removing the material
of the
gaps 13 therefrom. The cut-out may be made such that the front and back
portions 11, 12
are still connected in a central region of the seat pad, e.g. near the
longitudinal center line
19. Again, the respective cut-outs may be made such that the gaps 13 are
inclined forwards
or backwards with the desired shape and angles.
In all embodiments, the one or multiple seams 15, 16 may be formed by
stitching, heat
sealing or gluing. Irrespective of whether the front and back portions 11, 12
are made from
one or multiple pieces, they may be made from two different materials. For
example, the
front portion 11 may comprise a warming and/or windproof material, whereas the
back
portion may comprise a material optimized for cushioning.
In an advantageous embodiment, at least a part of the front portion 11,
preferably the
whole front portion, comprises a functional barrier layer 30. The functional
barrier layer
30 may be comprised in a two layer or three layer laminate. In a two layer
laminate, the
barrier layer 30 may be arranged on an inner side or outer side of the
laminate. In a three
layer laminate, the barrier layer 30 is typically arranged between an outer
and inner layer,
such as a respective textile layer, to achieve good resistance and long-life
properties on the
outer side and good wearing comfort on the inner side of the seat pad.
Preferably, the functional barrier layer is windproof and advantageously water
vapor per-
meable. Providing the front portion 11 with a windproof barrier layer
contributes to keep
the scrotal and delicate body portions warm and protected from cold air to
guarantee a
long-lasting comfort. In this way, cooling through wind can be avoided in the
scrotal area
to minimize the risk of a testitis.
In a further embodiment, the seat pad 1 may be provided with a functional
barrier layer
over its whole or substantially whole area. Preferably, the functional barrier
layer is wind-
proof and advantageously water vapor permeable. In this way protection in the
whole area
of the seat pad can be increased.
According to an embodiment, the barrier layer may comprise a porous membrane
layer,
such as a porous PTFE (e.g., made from expanded polytetrafluorethylene)
membrane layer,
or a non-porous membrane layer, such as a continuous PU (polyurethane)
membrane layer.
A porous PTFE membrane layer may also be combined with a non-porous PU
membrane
layer in a composite barrier layer.
CA 02888654 2015-04-17
WO 2014/086714
PCT/EP2013/075242
13
The barrier layer may be waterproof. For example, the barrier layer is
windproof, water-
proof and water vapor permeable. For instance, the barrier layer is waterproof
in that it
bears a water pressure of at least 8 kPa (according to ISO 811 - 1981). It may
have a water
vapor transmission resistance Ret <20 m2Pa/W (ISO 11092). A material is water
vapor
permeable which has a water vapor transmission resistance Ret of lower than
100 m2Pa/W.
The barrier layer may be air impermeable: Air impermeability according to an
air permea-
bility < 1 1/m2/s (ISO 9237; 100 cm2, 2,5 kPa). The barrier layer may be
windproof: Wind-
proof according to an air permeability <50 1/m2/s (ISO 9237-1995; 100 cm2, 2,5
kPa). For
example, the barrier layer has an air permeability of not more than 6 1/m2/s
(according to
ISO 9237).
Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of an exemplary cycling trousers having a seat
pad accord-
ing to the invention as described herein. It shows an example of a skin-tight
trousers 40
having a seat pad 1 as described herein above in a front view of the trousers.
The seat pad
1, particularly its front portion 11, is arranged at the crotch or groin area
41 of the trousers
40 to protect the cyclist's crotch or front perineal body area and extends
backwards to also
protect the cyclist's central and rear perineal body area which is in contact
with the bicycle
seat during use. The seat pad 1 is associated with the trousers 40, e.g. by
sewing, or may be
formed integrally with the trousers 40. The connecting region 14 of the front
and back por-
tions of the seat pad having the three-dimensional concave shell shape is
arranged appro-
priately in the crotch or groin area 41 of the trousers 40 to support and
protect the male
genitals, as described above. Typically, the seat pad 1 is preformed with the
three-
dimensional shape in the connecting region 14 and then joined with the
trousers 40.
