Title of Invention

HEADLIGHT SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR MOTORCYCLES

Abstract

"HEADLAMP SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR MOTORCYCLE"In a motorcycle in which a handle cover includes a front cover and a rear cover, to avoid the use of a slide mold at the time of molding each of the front cover and the rear cover, to simplify the shape of each of the front cover and the rear cover, and to swingably support a headlamp, a pair of first bearing half portions (59) are provided on the front cover (39) and a pair of second bearing half portions (60) are provided on both the direction director lamps (47), a pair of supporting shafts (51) coaxially project from left and right sides of the headlamp (46), and each of the supporting shafts (51) is swingably supported by one of the first bearing half portions (59) and the corresponding one of the second bearing half portions (60) while being held in the longitudinal direction therebetween.

Full Text

The present invention relates to a motorcycle in which a headlamp is mounted to a synthetic resin made handle cover for covering a handlebar with an optical axis of the headlamp adjustable and a pair of direction director lamps disposed on left and right sides of the headlamp are also mounted to the handle cover, and particularly to an improved headlamp supporting structure BACKGROUND ART Japanese Patent No. 2767240 has disclosed a structure in which a handle cover includes a synthetic resin made lower cover for covering, from below, a handlebar, and a synthetic resin made upper cover for covering from above, the handlebar, and a headlamp is mounted to the handle cover with its optical axis adjustable and a pair of left and right direction director lamps are also mounted to the handle cover. In this structure, bearing portions for supporting, from below, supporting shafts provided on left and right sides of the headlamp are formed, into an approximately U-shape opened upwardly, on an upper end of a plate-like supporting portion integrally provided on the lower cover, and a projection provided on a lower portion of the headlamp is fastened to the lower cover in such a manner that a longitudinal position of the projection is adjustable. By the way, there has been also known a handle cover of a type including a synthetic resin made front cover for covering a handlebar from a front, and a synthetic resin made rear cover for covering, from rear, the handlebar, wherein a headlamp is mounted to the front cover with its optical axis adjustable and a pair of left and right direction director lamps are also mounted to the front cover. In the case of adopting the above-described related art headlamp supporting structure for such a head cover, there may occur the following inconvenience: namely, the direction along a mold parting line of the front and rear covers molded from a synthetic resin is perpendicular to the movement direction of molds for forming the bearing portions for supporting, from below, the supporting shafts provided on left and right sides of the headlamp. As a result, slide molds must be used for forming the bearing portions at the time of moulding the handle cover; however, in this case, the production cost for the handle cover is raised. For this reason, it has been expected to realize a headlamp supporting structure for a handle cover including a front cover and a rear cover without use of slide molds while preventing a shape of the handle cover from being complicated. In view of the foregoing, the present invention has been made, and an object of the present invention is to provide a headlamp supporting structure for a motorcycle in which a handle cover includes a front cover and a rear cover, which is improved so as to avoid the use of slide moulds ^t the time of m©llldlnj the front cover and the rear cover, to simplify a shape of each of the front cover and the rear cover, and to swingably support a headlamp. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION To achieve the above object, according to a first feature of the present invention, there is provided a headlamp supporting structure for a motorcycle. In this motorcycle, a handle cover for covering a handlebar includes a synthetic resin made front cover for covering the handlebar from a front and a synthetic resin made rear cover for covering, from rear, the handlebar, and a headlamp is mounted on the front cover with its optical axis adjustable and a pair of direction director lamps disposed on left and right sides of the headlamp are also mounted to the front cover. The headlamp supporting structure is characterized in that a pair of first bearing half portions are provided on one of the front and rear covers, and a pair of second bearing half portions are provided on the direction director lamps; a pair of supporting shafts coaxially project from both sides of the headlamp; and each of the pair of supporting shafts is swingably supported by one of the pair of first bearing half portions and the corresponding one of the pair of second bearing half portions while being held in the longitudinal direction therebetween. With this configuration, each of the supporting shafts coaxially provided on the left and right sides of the headlamp is swingably supported by one of the pair of first bearing half portions and one of the second bearing half portions while being held in the longitudinal direction therebetween. Accordingly, the first bearing half portions provided on one of the front cover and the rear cover can be molded in the same direction as that of the mold parting line at the time of molding the one of the front cover and the rear cover. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the need of the use of slid molds for forming the first bearing half portions, and hence to reduce the production cost of the handle cover. Further, since the first bearing half portions may be formed into simple shapes facing to the direction along the mold parting line, it is possible to simplify shapes of the front cover and the rear cover. According to a second feature of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first feature, a mounting portion for mounting each of the direction director lamps to the front cover and the second bearing half portion adjacent to the mounting portion project from an upper portion of the direction director lamp in such a manner as to be put in a row. With this configuration, since the direction director lamp is mounted to the front cover at a position near the second bearing half portion for supporting the rear half portion of the supporting shaft of the headlamp, it is possible to enhance a rigidity, for supporting the supporting shaft, of the second bearing half portion. Accordingly the present invention provides a headlamp supporting structure for a motorcycle in which a handle cover for covering a handlebar includes a synthetic resin made front cover for covering said handlebar from a front and a synthetic resin made rear cover for covering, from rear, said handlebar, and a headlamp is mounted on said front cover with its optical axis adjustable and a pair of direction director lamps disposed on left and right sides of said headlamp are also mounted to said front cover, said headlamp supporting structure being characterized in that a pair of first bearing half portions are provided on one of said front and rear covers, and a pair of second bearing half portions are ; provided on said direction director lamps; a pair of supporting shafts coaxially project from both sides of said headlamp; and each of said pair of supporting shafts is swingably supported by one of said pair of first bearing half portions and the corresponding one of said pair of second bearing half portions while being held in the longitudinal direction therebetween. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Now the features of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1 to 7 show one embodiment of the present invention, wherein Fig. 1 is a side view of a motorcycle; FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view seen along an arrow 2 in FIG. 1; FIG, 3 is an enlarged plan view seen along an arrow 3 in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a sectional view seen along an arrow 4 in FIG. 4, showing a state in which a front cover is omitted; FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 2. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. Referring first to FIG. 1, a body frame F of a motorcycle according to this embodiment includes a head pipe 12 for steerably supporting a front fork 11, a single main frame 13 extending rearwardly, downwardly from the head pipe 12, and a pair of left and right rear frames 14 connected to a rear portion of the main frame 13 and extending rearwardly, upwardly from the main frame 13. A front wheel WF is rotatably supported by lower ends of the front fork 11. A handlebar 15 is connected to an upper end of the front fork 11. A front fender 16 for covering an upper side of the front wheel WF is supported by the front fork 11. Hanger plates 17 are welded to both side surfaces of an intermediate portion of the main frame 13, and pivot plates 18 are welded on both side surfaces of a rear portion of the main frame 13, An engine unit E is disposed under the main frame 13. The engine unit E is suspended from the body frame F while being supported by the hanger plates 17 and the pivot plates 18. A cylindrical supporting shaft 19 is provided for the pivot plates 18. Front end portions of a pair of left and right rear fork portions 20 are vertically swingably supported by both end portions of the supporting shaft 19 A rear wheel WR is rotatably supported between rear ends of the rear fork portions 20. An upper side of the rear wheel WR is covered with a rear fender 21 mounted to the rear fork portions 14. A rear cushion unit 22 is provided between each of the rear frames 14 and the corresponding one of the rear fork portions 20. A fuel tank 23 supported by the rear frames 14 is disposed over the rear wheel WR. A luggage box 24 supported by the rear frames 14 is disposed in front of the fuel tank 23. A synthetic resin made cover 25 for covering the body frame F is mounted to the body frame F. The cover 25 includes front side covers 26 disposed on left and right sides of the main frame 13; leg shields 27 connected to front portions of both the front side covers 26 in such a manner as to cover leg portions of a driver from a front; a front top cover 28 connected to both the leg shields 27 in such a manner as to cover the head pipe 12 from front; a main frame top cover 29 connected to the front top cover 28 in such a manner as to cover, from rear, the head pipe 12 and cover, from above, the main frame 13; under covers 30 connected to lower portions of both the front side covers 26; and rear side covers 31 for covering, from both sides, the rear frames 14, the fuel tank 23 and the luggage box 24. A tandem seat 32 for covering, from above, the luggage box 24 and the fuel tank 23 is disposed between upper portions of both the rear side covers 31 in such a manner as to be openable and closable for allowing a luggage to be taken in and out of the luggage box 24. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the handlebar 15 includes grips 34 and 35 at left and right ends. A lever 37 operable by a driver's hand holding the grip 35 is provided at a right end portion of the handlebar 15. A central portion of the handlebar 15 is covered with a handle cover 38 in such a manner that the grip 34 projects from the left side and both the grip 35 and the lever 37 project from the right side. The handle cover 38 is formed by joining a synthetic resin made front cover 39 for covering the handlebar 15 from a front to a synthetic resin made rear cover 40 for covering, front rear, the handlebar 15. The rear cover 40 is mounted to the handlebar 15. A meter unit 41 is mounted to a central portion of an upper surface of the rear cover 40 of the handle cover 38. Supporting arms 42 are mounted to the handlebar 15 in such a manner as to pass through left and right sides of the front cover 39. Rear-view mirrors 43 for a driver sitting on the tandem seat 32 to view the rear side are mounted on upper ends of the arms 42. The front cover 39 has an opening portion 44 disposed at a central portion of a front surface of the front cover 39 and opening portions 45 disposed on left and right sides of the opening portion 44. A headlamp 46 is disposed in the opening portion 44. Direction indicator lamps 47 are disposed in the opening portions 45 and mounted to the front cover 39. The headlamp 46 is supported by the direction indicator lamps 47 and the front cover 39. In the state that the headlamp 46 is supported by the direction indicator lamps 47 and the front cover 39, an illumination direction, that is, an optical axis, in the vertical direction, of the headlamp 46 is adjustable. Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the headlamp 46 includes a synthetic resin made lamp body 48 formed into the shape of a dish which is opened on its front side and has an inner surface taken as a reflecting mirror, a bulb 49 held in a central portion of the lamp body 48, and a front lens 50 for covering an opening portion at a front end of the lamp body 48. Supporting shafts 51 are coaxially provided on left and right sides of the lamp body 48 of the headlamp 46 in such a manner as to project therefrom. The direction indicator lamp 47 includes a synthetic resin made lamp body 52 formed into the shape of a dish which is opened on its front side and has an inner surface taken as a reflecting mirror, and a bulb 53 held in a central portion of the lamp body 52, and a front lens 54 for covering an opening portion at a front end of the lamp body 52. A plurality (for example, three) of mounting portions 55, 56 and 57 project from the lamp body 52 of the direction indicator lamp 47 in such a manner as to be spaced from each other at intervals in the peripheral direction. These mounting portions 55, 56 and 57 are fastened to the front cover 39 with screw members 58. A pair of first bearing half portions 59 for supporting front half portions of the supporting shafts 51 are integrally provided on the front cover 39. A pair of second bearing half portions 60 for supporting rear half portions of the supporting shafts 51 are integrally provided on the lamp bodies of the direction indicator lamps 47. Each of the supporting shafts 51 is swingably supported by one of the pair of first bearing half portions 59 and the corresponding one of the pair of second bearing half portions 60. Each of the second bearing half portions 60 projects from the lamp body 52 at a position adjacent to the mounting portion 55. That is to say, the second bearing half portion 60 and the mounting portion 55 are put in a row. The mounting portion 55 is one, provided on an upper portion of the lamp body 52, of the three mounting portions 55," 56 and 57 provided on the lamp body 52 of the direction indicator lamp 47 for mounting the direction indicator lamp 47 to the front cover 39. Referring to FIG, 7, a receiving surface 61 is formed on an inner surface of a lower portion of the front cover 39 in such a manner as to face to a bottom surface of the lamp body 48 of the headlamp 46, and a nut 62 being in sliding-contact with the receiving surface 61 is provided on a bottom portion of the lamp body 48 of the headlamp 46. A slot 63 extending in the longitudinal direction is provided in the lower portion of the front cover 39, and a screw member 64 is inserted through the slot 63 and is screwed in the nut 62. The nut 62 is movable to a desired position in the longitudinal direction of the slot 63 by loosening the screw member 64. The headlamp 46 can be thus swung around axes of the supporting shafts 51 by moving the nut 62 in the state that the screw member 64 is loosened, and can be fixed at a desired position by fastening the screw member 64. As a result, a swing posture (angle), that is, an optical axis of the headlamp 46 can be held at a desired value. To allow easy turning operation of the screw member 64, a recess 65 opened on the front and under sides, in which a head of the screw member 64 is to be placed, is formed in an outer surface of the lower portion of the front cover 39. A function of this embodiment will be described below. The pair of supporting shafts 51 coaxially provided on both the sides of the headlamp 46 are swingably supported by the pair of first bearing half portions 59 and the pair of second bearing half portions 60. The pair of first bearing half portions 59 are integrally provided on the front cover 39 in such a manner as to support the front half portions of the supporting shafts 51. The pair of second bearing half portions 60 are integrally provided on the lamp bodies 52 of the direction indicator lamps 47 mounted to the front cover 39 in such a manner as to support the rear half portions of the supporting shafts 51. Each of the supporting shafts 51 is swingably supported by one of the pair of first bearing half portions 59 and one of the second bearing half portions 60 while being held in the longitudinal direction therebetween. Accordingly, the first bearing half portions 59 provided on the front cover 39 can be molded in the same direction as that of the mold parting line at the time of molding the front cover 39. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the need of the use of slid molds for forming the first bearing half portions 59, and hence to reduce the production cost of the handle cover 38. Further, since the first bearing half portions 59 may be formed into simple shapes facing to the direction of the mold parting line, it is possible to simplify shapes of the front and rear covers 39 and 40. since the mounting portion 55 for mounting the direction director lamp 47 to the front cover 39 and the second bearing half portion 60 adjacent to the mounting portion 55 project from the upper portion of each of the direction indicator lamps 47 in such a manner as to be put in a row, the direction director lamp 47 is mounted to the front cover 39 at a position near the second bearing half portion 60 for supporting the rear half portion of the supporting shaft 51 of the headlamp 46, it is possible to enhance a rigidity, for supporting the supporting shaft 51, of the second bearing half portion 60. While the embodiment of the present invention has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is to be understood that various changes in design may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention described in the following claims. For example, according to the embodiment, the first bearing half portions 59 for supporting the front half portions of the supporting shafts 51 are provided on the front cover 39; however, the present invention is not limited thereto but may be configured such that the first bearing half portions for supporting the rear half portions of the supporting shafts 51 are provided on the rear cover and the second bearing half portions for supporting the front half portions of the supporting shafts 51 are provided on the direction director lamps mounted on the front cover. 1. A headlamp supporting structure for a motorcycle in which a handle cover (38) for covering a handlebar (15) includes a synthetic resin made front cover (39) for covering said handlebar (15) from a front and a synthetic resin made rear cover (40) for covering, from rear, said handlebar (15), and a headlamp (46) is mounted on said front cover (39) with its optical axis adjustable and a pair of direction director lamps (47) disposed on left and right sides of said headlamp (46) are also mounted to said front cover (39), said headlamp supporting structure being characterized in that a pair of first bearing half portions (59) are provided on one of said front and rear covers (39, 40), and a pair of second bearing half portions (60) are provided on said direction director lamps (47); a pair of supporting shafts (51) coaxially project from both sides of said headlamp (46); and each of said pair of supporting shafts (51) is swingably supported by one of said pair of first bearing half portions (59) and the corresponding one of said pair of second bearing half portions (60) while being held in the longitudinal direction therebetween. 2. A headlamp supporting structure for a motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein a mounting portion (55) for mounting each of said direction director lamps (47) to said front cover (39) and said second bearing half portion (60) adjacent to said mounting portion (55) project from an upper portion of said direction director lamp (47) in such a manner as to be put in a row. 3. A headlamp supporting structure for a motorcycle substantially as herein above described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

0221-chenp-2004 abstract.pdf

0221-chenp-2004 claims dub.pdf

0221-chenp-2004 description (complete) dub.pdf

0221-chenp-2004 drawings.pdf

0221-chenp-2004-abstract.pdf

0221-chenp-2004-claims.pdf

0221-chenp-2004-correspondnece-others.pdf

0221-chenp-2004-correspondnece-po.pdf

0221-chenp-2004-description(complete).pdf

0221-chenp-2004-drawings.pdf

0221-chenp-2004-form 1.pdf

0221-chenp-2004-form 26.pdf

0221-chenp-2004-form 3.pdf

0221-chenp-2004-form 5.pdf

0221-chenp-2004-form19.pdf

221-chenp-2004 form-26.pdf