Accessory for a saddle, a saddle provided with such an accessory and a saddle containing such an accessory The present invention relates to an accessory for a saddle, a saddle provided with such an accessory and a saddle containing such an accessory.

Various saddles and accessories are already known to prevent saddle soreness.

Saddle soreness can be caused because the pressure on the buttocks of the user of the saddle is too high. Traditionally, gel saddles are used to prevent saddle soreness when covering longer distances by bike.

Such gel saddles are intended to adapt to a user's buttocks and reducing the pressure on the user's buttocks.

However, practice shows that this is far from optimal and that many users of gel saddles still suffer saddle soreness, particularly when longer distances are covered. This is because the pressure exercised on the gel when sitting on the saddle is so high that the gel is compressed to such an extent that it can no longer give.

Consequently, the gel becomes almost as hard as the saddle and the pressure on the buttocks is not reduced. The gel saddle is synthetic such that it is difficult to dissipate the user's body heat. Consequently, the user may suffer discomfort due to perspiration on the level of the buttocks .

In case of long trips and/or the regular use of a saddle, overheating and perspiring on the level of the buttocks may even cause haemorrhoids. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a solution to at least one of the aforementioned and other disadvantages .

To this end, the invention relates to an accessory intended for a saddle of a bicycle and/or a motorbike and/or a horse and/or the like, said accessory containing a cover in which buckwheat hulls are inserted which are at least located on the level of the user's sit bones when using the accessory. An advantage of this is that the buckwheat hulls are resilient and provide good support, such that the discomfort for the user's buttocks is less and such that the user suffers little to no saddle soreness, not even when covering longer distances.

Consequently, a major discomfort is eliminated, namely the saddle soreness, such that people will be more inclined to cycle longer distances, which makes an important contribution to people's physical condition. This is particularly the case for elderly people who consequently are able to cycle more regularly without having to rest for a relatively long time afterwards due to saddle soreness and the mental threshold to cycle will also be lower.

Another advantage is that buckwheat hulls are relatively to extremely durable and retain their resilience for a relatively to very long time such that such accessory is relatively to very long lasting.

Such accessory can last many years for example.

Preferably, the buckwheat hulls are dried buckwheat hulls.

Such buckwheat hulls are air permeable and dissipate heat such that there is good ventilation and the user suffers less from perspiration on the level of the accessory. When the cover is then preferably produced from a water- repellent and/or breathable fabric it is possible that the user suffers much less from perspiration on the level of the accessory. Preferably, the cover is provided with a cutout on the seat side of the cover on the level of the user's genitals.

Consequently, pain of the genitals and/or of the prostate can be avoided. The present invention also relates to a saddle provided with the aforementioned accessory.

In addition, the invention also relates to a saddle containing a seat section and a front nose section connecting thereto, whereby buckwheat hulls are at least provided in the seat section.

It is clear that a saddle provided with an accessory according to the invention and a saddle integrated with such accessory according to the invention offers at least the same aforementioned advantages as the accessory for a saddle.

With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, a preferred embodiment of an accessory according to the invention is described hereinafter, by way of an example without any limiting nature, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of an accessory according to the invention; figure 2 shows a cross-section according to line II-II of figure 1; figure 3 shows an exploded view of an accessory and a saddle; figure 4 shows a view according to arrow F4 in figure

1; figure 5 shows a saddle according to the invention; figure 6 shows a cross-section according to line VI-VI in figure 5. The accessory 1 shown in figure 1 is intended for a saddle 2 of a bicycle.

The accessory 1 contains a cover 3 in which buckwheat hulls

4 are inserted which are located at least on the level of the user's sit bones when using the accessory 1.

Preferably, such accessory 1 contains a seat section 5 and a front nose section connecting thereto 6.

The seat section 5 is intended for sitting on when using the accessory 1, whereby the user's sit bones rest on the seat section 5.

Preferably, the buckwheat hulls 4 are packaged in one or more bags, for example two bags as shown in figure 2, said bags with buckwheat hulls 4 then being removably inserted or being able to be removably inserted in the seat section

5 of the cover 3.

Preferably, on the level of the user's sit bones, the seat section 5 of the cover 3, is filled with buckwheat hulls 4 with a thickness D which is chosen such that the user suffers little to no saddle soreness.

Thus, the seat section 5 of the cover 3 can be filled with buckwheat hulls 4 over a thickness D of at least one centimetre, more preferably at least two centimetres and most preferably at least three centimetres. However, it is also possible that the nose section 6 is provided with buckwheat hulls 4, whereby the nose section 6 preferably contains approximately the same thickness as the seat section 5 of the cover 3.

The cover 3 contains a saddle side 7 and a reverse seat side 8, whereby the saddle side 7 is intended to be applied on the saddle 2 when fastening the cover 3 on the saddle 2 and the seat side 8 is intended to be sat on, as shown in figure 3.

Preferably, the cover 3 is provided on the seat side 8 with a cutout 9 on the level of the user's genitals.

Such cutout 9 may comprise an opening in the cover 3.

However, it is also possible that the aforementioned cutout 9 is a sunken section in the cover 3 which in mounted condition of the cover 3 on the saddle 2 is located under the seat of the seat section 5.

Preferably, such sunken section is provided with few to no buckwheat hulls.

In a preferred embodiment the cover 3 is provided with fasteners 10 with which the cover 3 is or can be fastened on the saddle 2.

The cover 3 can be provided with a sealable opening 11 for inserting and/or removing the buckwheat hulls 4 and/or bags with buckwheat hulls 4. Consequently, the accessory 1 can be cleaned without buckwheat hulls 4 in the cover 3. If the accessory 1 has become too flat due to the use thereof, buckwheat hulls 4 can be added in the cover 3 and/or the bags with buckwheat hulls 4 can be replaced with other bags with buckwheat hulls 4. Preferably, the sealable opening 11 is provided with a seal 12, for example a zip as shown in figure 4.

The aforementioned seal 12 can be realised in different forms such as Velcro and/or snap fasteners and/or the like.

In an alternative embodiment, the cover 3 is divided into different compartments, whereby each compartment can be provided with a different amount of buckwheat hulls 4. For example, the seat section 5 of the cover 3 can be divided into various compartments. The compartments supporting the user's sit bones can then be provided with a larger amount of buckwheat hulls 4. In the case that the seat section 5 is divided into four compartments, two of said compartments can support the user's sit bones. The amount of buckwheat hulls 4 can differ in each compartment and be adapted to the user's needs. The saddle is provided with a seat side 16 which is intended to be sat on, as shown in figures 5 and 6.

Preferably, the saddle 2 is provided with a cutout 15 on the seat side 16 on the level of the user's genitals.

In a preferred embodiment, the cover is made from a water- repellent and breathable fabric such as teflon, better known as Gore-Tex®.

In addition, preferably, the cover 3 is also made from a cleanable fabric such that the accessory 1 can be cleaned relatively simply if desired.

The size of the accessory 1 and of the saddle 2 with such accessory 1 as well as of the saddle 2 can be adjusted for the saddle 2 of a motorbike and/or a horse and/or the like.

The present invention also relates to a saddle 2 provided with the aforementioned accessory 1.

In addition, the invention also relates to a saddle 2 containing a seat section 13 and a front nose section connecting thereto 14, whereby buckwheat hulls 4 are provided in at least the seat section 13 as shown in figures 5 and 6.

Preferably, on the level of the user's sit bones the seat section 13 of the saddle 2, is filled with buckwheat hulls 4 with a thickness E which is chosen such that the user suffers little to no saddle soreness. Thus, the seat section 13 of the saddle can be filled with buckwheat hulls 4 over a thickness E of at least one centimetre, more preferably at least two centimetres and most preferably at least three centimetres.

However, it is also possible that the nose section 14 is provided with buckwheat hulls 4, whereby the nose section 6 preferably contains approximately the same thickness as the seat section 13 of the saddle 2.

The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described as an example and shown in the figures, but an accessory according to the invention can be realised in all kinds of forms and dimensions without departing from the scope of the invention.