Title of Invention

"AN ATTACHMENT STRUCTURE OF A HEADLIGHT"

Abstract An attachment structure of a headlight which is supported by a vehicle front cover covering a vehicle front portion and supported by a vehicle body, by an opening for the headlight, the opening being provided in the vehicle front cover, and by an inside of the vehicle front cover while facing to the opening for the headlight, and is set capable of being freely tilted with aiming shafts taken as centers, characterized in that a headlight supporting member is disposed inside of the vehicle front cover, and the headlight supporting member is made to support the aiming shafts provided on both left and right side portions of the headlight.
Full Text The present invention relates to an attachment structure of a headlight.
The present invention relates to a headlight attachment structure in a scooter-type motorcycle and the like, and particularly to one which includes an aiming mechanism for adjusting an optical axis of a headlight. [Background Art] [0002]
There is one in which a headlight is attached onto a front cover forming a vehicle front cover of a scooter-type vehicle. In a headlight attachment structure of the vehicle of this style, there have been one which aims at a reflecting plate provided inside of the headlight (refer to Patent Document 1) and one which swings the headlight by use of an upper portion or lower portion thereof as a supporting point (refer to Patent document 2). Moreover, there is also one which includes aiming supporting shafts on approximate centers on both left and right sides of the headlight. [0003]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H8 (1996)-268360
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-205594
[Disclosure of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
[0004]
The scooter-type vehicle covers a periphery of the headlight with the front cover, and accordingly, in the one which aims the reflecting plate, the aiming mechanism becomes complicated, and the number and weight of parts are increased, leading to a cost increase. Moreover, in the one which swings the headlight by use of the upper portion or lower portion thereof as the supporting point, the entire headlight will be swung to a great extent, and undesirably, a movement thereof becomes large. Furthermore, in the one which includes the aiming supporting shafts on the approximate centers of the headlight, though the aiming mechanism is simplified and the movement of the swing can also be reduced, an aiming supporting portion provided on a cover will be provided in the vicinity of an opening portion, and a reinforcement thereof is required. Particularly, when a headlight supporting portion provided integrally with the front cover is reinforced, it is necessary to consider shrinkage and the like because the front cover is an exterior part, and limitations in terms of design have been imposed on the reinforcement. [Means for Solving the Problem]
[0005]
In order to solve the foregoing problems, a headlight attachment structure according to the invention of the present application is an attachment structure of a headlight which is supported by a vehicle front cover covering a vehicle front portion and supported by a vehicle body, by an opening for the
headlight, the opening being provided in this vehicle front cover, and by an inside of the vehicle front cover while facing to this opening for the headlight, and is set capable of being freely tilted with aiming shafts taken as centers, characterized in that a headlight supporting member is disposed inside of the vehicle front cover, and this headlight supporting member is made to support the aiming shafts provided on both left and right side portions of the headlight.
[0006]
In this case, the headlight supporting member may be disposed along at least a part of a peripheral edge of the opening portion for the headlight in a periphery of the headlight. [Effects of the Invention]
[0007]
The aiming shafts provided on both of the left and right side portions of the headlight are made to be supported on the headlight supporting member disposed in the vehicle front cover Accordingly, the aiming mechanism can be composed without increasing the number of parts to a very large extent, and this can be simplified. In addition, in the peripheral edge portion of the opening portion for the headlight in the vehicle front cover, portions in the vicinities of aiming shafts can be readily reinforced.
[0008]
According to Claim 2, the headlight supporting member is made to be disposed along at least a part of the peripheral edge of the opening portion for the headlight in the periphery of
the headlight. Accordingly, even if the opening portion for the headlight is upsized, the vicinity of this opening portion for the headlight can be readily reinforced.
In addition, since it becomes unnecessary to integrally provide a reinforcement portion in the periphery of the opening for the headlight, reinforcement for this portion becomes facilitated, and an exterior appearance of the periphery of the opening can be favorably maintained.
The present invention relates to an attachment structure of a headlight which is supported by a vehicle front cover covering a vehicle front portion and supported by a vehicle body, by an opening for the headlight, the opening being provided in the vehicle front cover, and by an inside of the vehicle front cover while facing to the opening for the headlight, and is set capable of being freely tilted with aiming shafts taken as centers,
characterized in that a headlight supporting member is disposed inside of the vehicle front cover, and the headlight supporting member is made to support the aiming shafts provided on both left and right side portions of the headlight.
[BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION]
[0009]
An embodiment will be described below based on the drawings :
[Brief Description of the Drawings] [0045] [Fig. 1]
A side view of a motorcycle to which the invention of the present application is applied. [Fig. 2] A plan view of the same as above.
[Fig. 3] A front view.
[Fig. 4] A cross-sectional view along a line 4-4 of Fig. 3.
[Fig. 5] A cross-sectional view along a line 5-5 of Fig. 3.
[Fig. 6] A front view of a headlight.
[Fig. 7] A back view of the same as above.
[Fig. 8] A cross-sectional view along a line 8-8 of Fig. 6.
[Fig. 9] A front view of a headlight bracket.
[Fig. 10]
A cross-sectional view along a line 10-10 of Fig. 9.
[Fig. 11]
A cross-sectional view of a pressing piece in a length direction.
First, based on Figs. 1 to 3, an outline of a scooter-type motorcycle to which the invention of the present application is applied will be described. Fig. 1 is a side view of a whole of the motorcycle. A front fork 2 of a front wheel 1 is coupled to a handle shaft 4 supported in a head pipe 3 so as to be freely rotatable, and interlocked with a rotational movement of a handle bar 5 provided on an upper end of the handle shaft 4.
[0010]
From the head pipe 3, a down tube 6 is extended toward the rear to be tilted downward, and from a lower end portion thereof, a rear frame 7 branched left and right is extended toward the rear. A swing-type power unit 9 is supported by a rear-half portion 8 of the rear frame 7 so as to be freely swingable, and drives a rear wheel 10 supported by a rear end of the power unit 9.
[0011]
A storage 11 is supported on the rear-half portion 8, and an opening portion open above the storage 11 is covered with a tandem seat 12 so as to be freely openable. Between a rear portion of the tandem seat 12 and the swing-type power unit 9, a rear cushion 13 is provided. [0012]
A periphery of the head pipe 3 and the down tube 6 is covered from front with a front cover 14, and covered from rear with a legshield 15. The front cover 14 constituting a vehicle front cover is made of an appropriate resin material, a front lower portion thereof also serves as a front fender, and on a center front face thereof, a headlight 16 is provided. In a rear portion of the head pipe 15 in the legshield 15, a trunk 17 is provided, in which a lid 18 is set so as to be freely openable.
[0013]
A portion of the handle bar 5 is covered with a handle cover 20, and on left and right of a front face thereof, front winkers 21 are provided. On a front-half portion of the rear frame 7, a floor cover 22 in which a front portion is continuous is provided, and a rear portion thereof is continuous with front ends of a rear cover 23.
[0014]
The rear cover 23 is a member covering a rear portion of the vehicle body under the tandem seat 12, the rear portion including the storage 11. A carrier 24 extended from a rear
end of the tandem seat 12 toward the rear is provided, and between this carrier 24 and a rear upper portion of the rear cover 23, a tail cover 25 is provided.
[0015]
With the carrier 24, a rear grip 26 and side grips 27 are integrated. Below the rear portion of the tandem seat 12, a fuel tank 28 is supported by the rear portion of the rear-half portion 8, and below the fuel tank 28, an air cleaner 29 is disposed. An intake duct 30 is provided from a rear end portion of the air cleaner 29 through above the air cleaner 29 toward the front, and in the rear cover 23 on a front end of the intake duct 30, an inlet port 31 is provided.
[0016]
Moreover, a cooling air duct 32 extended in a fore-and-aft direction in insides of the floor cover 22 and the rear cover 23 is provided, a front end thereof opens to the rear of the front wheel 1, and a rear end thereof opens to the vicinity of a front portion of a crankcase of the swing-type power unit 9. Reference numeral 33 denotes a side stand, and reference numeral 34 denotes a main stand. Both of them are supported by the rear frame 7.
[0017]
Fig. 2 is a plan view, in which the headlight 16 is provided on a center of the front cover 14 in a width direction. Reference numeral 35 denotes a meter provided on an upper surface of the handle cover 20. The trunk 17 is formed substantially all over the legshield 15 in the vehicle width
direction. Reference numeral 36 denotes a foot brake pedal. The inlet port 31 is a slit open f orwardly at a connecting portion of a rear end of the floor cover 22 and a front end of the rear cover 23, and is close to a front end opening of the intake duct 30.
[0018]
The rear grip 26 is formed along the rear end portion of the tandem seat 12, and the side grips 27 go along side faces of the rear portion of the tandem seat 12. Both of the grips 26 and 27 are individually formed to be gripped by hand. Reference numerals 37 denote rear winkers, and reference numeral 38 denotes a tail lamp.
[0019]
Fig. 3 is a front view showing an upper portion of the front cover 14 and the handle cover 20. The headlight 16 is located at an overlapping position with an upper front portion of the head pipe 3. The trunk 17 partially overlaps the headlight 16, and is provided to be horizontally oriented at an overlapping position with the head pipe 3.
[0020]
Next, an attachment structure of the headlight 16 will be described. As shown in Fig. 3, on the center front face of the front cover 14, formed is an opening 40 for the headlight, which forms an approximately pentagonal shape, for exposing a front face of the headlight 16. Along an outline of the headlight 16 when viewed from the front, which surrounds an upper half portion of the opening 40 for the headlight, a
headlight bracket 41 is provided inside of the front cover 14, and upper left and right thereof are attached to bosses 42 and 42.
[0021] The headlight bracket 41 is a headlight supporting member, and is a member forming an approximate gate shape, which is formed separately from the front cover 14 and the headlight 16. Both left and right side portions of the headlight bracket 41 support aiming shafts 43 and 43 so as to be freely rotatable, which are provided so as to protrude laterally outward in approximate center portions of the headlight 16 in the vertical direction on both left and right sides of the headlight 16. Lower ends of the headlight bracket 41 are attached to the left and right bosses 44 and 44.
[0022]
Fig. 4 shows a cross section along a line 4-4 of Fig. 3. The aiming shafts 43 and 43 are located on sides of a socket portion 45 of the headlight 16, and are supported so as to be freely rotatable between the headlight bracket 41 and a separate pressing piece 47 to be overlapped on the headlight bracket 41 and integrated therewith. Reference numeral 46 denotes a curved portion provided on the headlight bracket 41, and each aiming shaft 43 is housed therein. Also on the pressing piece 47, a similar curved portion (to be described later) is formed.
[0023]
The pressing piece 47 overlaps with a lower portion of the headlight bracket 41 while sandwiching each aiming shaft
43 therebetween, and is fastened by a screw 48 to each boss 44 formed integrally with an inner surface of the front cover 14 and protruding to be tilted downward. Moreover, a portion opposite to this screwed portion in a length direction with the aiming shaft 43 interposed therebetween is attached by a screw 50 to a nut 49 provided in an intermediate portion of the headlight bracket 41.
[0024]
In the headlight bracket 41, a protruding portion 51 bent and extended upward so as to approach an inner surface of the headlight 16 is provided on an upper side than the nut 49. Here, the protruding portion 51 is attached by a screw 52 to each boss 42 from below in the inside of the headlight 16. The boss 42 protrudes from the inner surface of the headlight 16 to be tilted downward and is formed integrally therewith.
[0025]
On a center lower end of the headlight 16, an aiming stay 53 is formed to protrude downward, and a slide nut 54 is engaged here. With the slide nut 54, a screw portion of an aiming screw 55 is engaged, one end thereof in a length direction penetrates a bracket 57, and on this bracket 57, a head portion 56 of the slide nut 54 is positioned and supported. The bracket 57 is screwed to left and right bosses 58 and 58 formed integrally so as to protrude from the inner surface of the headlight 16 to be tilted downward.
[0026]
The aiming screw 55 can adjust an optical axis A of the
headlight 16 by inserting a tool such as a driver from an adjusting hole 59 formed below the opening 40 for the headlight in the front cover 14 and rotating the head portion 56.
[0027]
In the case of this drawing, when the aiming screw 55 is a right screw, the slide nut 54 moves toward an upper left of the drawing on an axis of the aiming screw 55 by rotating the right screw to the right, rotates the headlight 16 clockwise about the aiming shaft 43, and directs the optical axis A upward. When the aiming screw 55 is rotated backward, the slide nut 54 moves in a reverse direction, the headlight 16 rotates counterclockwise about the aiming shaft 43, and directs the optical axis A downward.
[0028]
Fig. 5 shows a cross section along a line 5-5 of Fig. 3. With regard to the headlight 16, a peripheral portion of a lens 61 is fitted into and integrated with a headlight case 60 with a seal 62 interposed therebetween. The aiming shafts 43 are integrally formed so as to protrude laterally outward in approximate center portions of the headlight case 60 in the vertical direction on both left and right sides of the headlight case 60. The headlight 16 is made of an appropriate material such as resin, and the inner surface of the headlight 16 is made as a reflector forming a concave shape aluminized and so on.
[0029]
As apparent from a cross section also illustrated in this drawing, each aiming shaft 4 3 forms a shaft shape having a slit
63 cut therein. Moreover, the aiming shaft 43 is located more inward than the opening 40 for the headlight in the inside of the front cover 14. The aiming shaft 43 is formed integrally with the resin-made headlight case 60. However, the headlight case 60 may be made of metal, and in this case, the aiming shaft 43 can be provided separately and can be integrated by welding and the like.
[0030]
Fig. 6 is a front view of the headlight 16, Fig. 7 is a back view thereof, and Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view along a line 8-8 of Fig. 6. As shown in these drawings, the headlight case 60 and the lens 61 form approximately pentagonal shapes substantially analogous to the opening 40 for the headlight, and the periphery of the lens 61 is fitted into and integrated with the headlight case 60. In a center portion of the headlight case 60, a bulb 64 is provided, and below the bulb 64, a position light 65 is provided (Fig. 7).
[0031]
As shown in Fig. 6, the respective centers of the bulb 64, the position light 65 and the aiming screw 55 are located on a centerline C of the headlight 16 in the vertical direction. Moreover, an aiming axis line L connecting centerlines of the left and right aiming shafts 43 overlaps with the bulb 64 at a position somewhat above the center thereof.
[0032]
Moreover, a center portion 57a of the bracket 57 is formed lower, and a through hole for passing the aiming screw 55
therethrough is provided here, and both left and right ends 57b and 57b are bent to be formed higher than the center portion 57a, and through holes 57c and 57c are formed here. Both of the ends 57b and 57b are configured to be overlapped with the bosses 58 and 58, respectively, and to be screwed by screws (not shown) passed through the through holes 57c and 57c.
[0033]
Fig. 9 is a front view of the headlight bracket 41, and Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view along a line 10-10 of Fig. 9. The headlight bracket 41 is formed of appropriate metal such as iron or appropriate rigid resin. As shown in Fig. 9, the headlight bracket 41 integrally includes a crossing portion 66 substantially along an upper edge of the headlight 16, and side portions 67 extended from left and right thereof downward in the drawing and substantially along left and right edge portions of the headlight 16.
[0034]
On the left and right of the crossing portion 66, protruding portions 51 protruding upward are provided, and through through holes 68 provided therein, respectively, are screwed by the screws 52 to the bosses 42 (refer to Fig. 4). Moreover, the nuts 49 are integrated with upper portions of the side portions 67 by welding and the like, through holes 69 are formed on lower ends of the side portions 67, and here, the side portions 67 are attached to the bosses 44 by the screws 48 (refer to Fig. 4) .
[0035]
On intermediate portions of the side portions 67, the semicircular curved portions 4 6 are provided, and the aiming shafts 43 are configured to be fitted here. In lower portions of the side portions 67, flanges 70 are provided in ranges including the curved portions 46, thus increasing rigidity thereof.
[0036]
Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the pressing piece 47 in a length direction. The pressing piece 47 is extended substantially symmetrically in the length direction with respect to a semicircular curved portion 71 provided on a center thereof, and in both end sides thereof, through holes 72 and 73 are provided. The through hole 72 corresponds to the nut
49 and is one for coupling the pressing piece 47 by the screw
50 to the nut 49. The through hole 73 corresponds to the through hole 69 and passes the screw 48 therethrough. Moreover, a flange 74 is erected in all over the length direction, and the pressing piece 47 is thus reinforced.
[0037]
The pressing piece 47 is configured to be overlapped with each side portion 67 of the headlight bracket 41, to form a circular space by facing the curved portion 46 and the curved portion 71 to each other, and to support here each aiming shaft 43 so as to be rotatable.
[0038]
Next, an operation of this embodiment will be described. In order to support the headlight 16 in the inside of the front
cover 14, first, the headlight bracket 41 is inserted into the inside of the front cover 14, the through holes 68 of the protruding portions 51 are overlapped with the bosses 42, and the headlight bracket 41 is attached to the bosses 42 by the screws 52.
[0039]
Subsequently, the headlight 16 is disposed in the inside of the front cover 14 while being matched with the opening 40 for the headlight. Then, after inserting the aiming shafts 43 into the curved portions 46, the pressing pieces 47 are overlapped with the side portions 67, the aiming shafts 43 are inserted into the curved portions 71, the through holes 72 are made to coincide with the nuts 4 9, and then the side portions 67 and the pressing pieces 47 are coupled to each other by the screws 50. Furthermore, while the through holes 69 of the side portions 67 and the through holes 69 of the pressing pieces 47 are being made to coincide with each other, the side portions 67 and the pressing pieces 47 are overlapped with the bosses 44, and screwed together with the screws 48.
[0040]
Furthermore, both of the ends 57b and 57b of the bracket 57 are overlapped with the bosses 58 and 58 and screwed thereto, and thus the bracket 57 is attached to the bosses 58 and 58. In such a way, the headlight 16 is supported on the headlight bracket 41 by the left and right aiming shafts 43 and 43, and the inside of the headlight 16 is attached to the front cover 14 by the bracket 57 of a center lower end of the headlight 16.
Moreover, the headlight bracket 41 is attached to the left and right bosses 42 and 42, and 44 and 44.
[0041]
Hence, the headlight 16 is attached to the inside of the front cover 14 through six points in total, which are the left and right bosses 42 and 42, 44 and 44, and 58 and 58 . In addition, these left and right bosses 42 and 42, 44 and 44, and 58 and 58 are located in the vicinity of the edge portion of the opening 40 for the headlight so as to surround the opening 40.
[0042]
As described above, the aiming shafts 43 and 43 are provided in the left and right intermediate portions of the headlight 16, and thus an aiming adjustment mechanism becomes simple. In addition, the aiming shafts 43 and 43 are supported on the left and right intermediate portions of the headlight 16 in the vertical direction, and accordingly, a displacement amount at the time of adjusting the aiming is reduced, and a gap between the headlight 16 and the edge portion of the opening 40 for the headlight can be reduced. Therefore, it becomes easy to prevent the entrance of water and the like, and an exterior appearance of the periphery of the opening can be made favorable.
[0043]
Moreover, as apparent from the front view (Fig. 3), the headlight bracket 41 is disposed along an inside of an edge portion of the front cover 14, which surrounds the opening 40 for the headlight, and accordingly, the front cover 14 can be
reinforced. In addition, the headlight bracket 41 is attached by use of the bosses 42 and 42, 44 and 44, and 58 and 58, and accordingly, a load of the headlight 16 can be widely distributed.
[0044]
In addition, ones to be provided on the edge portion of the front cover 14, which surrounds the opening 40 for the headlight, for the above-described reinforcement, are only the bosses 42 and 42, 44 and 44, and 58 and 58, and these are relatively small ones. Accordingly, it becomes easy to prevent shrinkage of the resin, and even if the front cover 14 is made of the resin, an exterior appearance thereof can be favorably maintained. Moreover, these bosses 42 and 42, 44 and 44, and 58 and 58 can be formed at positions apart from the edge portion of the opening 40 for the headlight. ' Accordingly, it is easy to form the bosses, and the shape of the headlight bracket 41 to be attached to these bosses becomes relatively free. Therefore, a degree of freedom in designing the support for the headlight 16 and the reinforcement structure for the peripheral portion of the opening 40 for the headlight is increased.
[Explanation of the Reference Numerals]
[0046] 14: FRONT COVER; 16: HEADLIGHT; 41: HEADLIGHT BRACKET; 42: BOSS; 43: AIMING SHAFT; 44: BOSS; 47: PRESSING PIECE; 53: AIMING STAY; 54: SLIDE NUT; 55: AIMING SCREW; 57: BRACKET; AND 58: BOSS




We claim:

1. An attachment structure of a headlight which is supported by
a vehicle front cover (14) covering a vehicle front portion and
supported by a vehicle body, by an opening (40) for the headlight
(16), the opening (40) being provided in the vehicle front cover (14),
and by an inside of the vehicle front cover (14), while facing to the
opening (40) for the headlight (16), and is set capable of being
freely tilted with aiming shafts (43 and 43) taken as centers,
characterized in that a headlight supporting member (41) is disposed inside of the vehicle front cover (14), and the headlight supporting member (41) is made to support the aiming shafts (43 and 43) provided on both left and right side portions of the headlight (16).
2. The attachment structure of a headlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the headlight supporting member (41) is disposed along at least a part of a peripheral edge of the opening portion (40) for the headlight (16) in a periphery of the headlight (16).
3. An attachment structure of a headlight substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.




Documents:

1624-del-2004-abstract.pdf

1624-del-2004-claims.pdf

1624-del-2004-complete specification(granted).pdf

1624-DEL-2004-Correspondence-Others-(15-06-2010).pdf

1624-del-2004-correspondence-others.pdf

1624-del-2004-correspondence-po.pdf

1624-del-2004-description (complete).pdf

1624-del-2004-drawings.pdf

1624-del-2004-form-1.pdf

1624-del-2004-form-19.pdf

1624-del-2004-form-2.pdf

1624-del-2004-form-3.pdf

1624-del-2004-form-4.pdf

1624-del-2004-form-5.pdf

1624-del-2004-gpa.pdf

1624-del-2004-petition-137.pdf

1624-del-2004-petition-138.pdf


Patent Number 241212
Indian Patent Application Number 1624/DEL/2004
PG Journal Number 27/2010
Publication Date 02-Jul-2010
Grant Date 23-Jun-2010
Date of Filing 27-Aug-2004
Name of Patentee HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Applicant Address 1-1, MINAMIAOYAMA 2-CHOME, MINATO-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 JUNICHI NAKATAKE C/O KABUSHIKI KAISHA HONDA GIJUTSU KENKYUSHO, 4-1 CHUO 1-CHOME, WAKOSHI, SAITAMA, JAPAN.
2 HIROYUKI NAKAJIMA C/O KABUSHIKI KAISHA HONDA GIJUTSU KENKYUSHO, 4-1 CHUO 1-CHOME, WAKOSHI, SAITAMA, JAPAN.
PCT International Classification Number F62J 17/04
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 2003-329112 2003-09-19 Japan