Title of Invention

"HANDLEBAR COVER FOR MOTORCYCLE"

Abstract

A handlebar cover 13 for a covering a handlebar 5 of a motorcycle, which is of a split type having a front cover body 50 and a rear cover body 60, and which has a structure allowing mirrors 31 to pass therethrough so as to be mounted on said handlebar 5, characterized in that at least one of a rear edge 50a of said front cover body and a front edge 60a of said rear cover body has approximately U-shaped cutouts 51 for allowing said mirrors therethrough so as to be mounted on said handlebar. The front cover body or the" rear cover body can be dismounted only by movement back and forth without removal of the mirrors. This is effective to enhance workability in mounting/dismounting of the handlebar-cover.

Full Text

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an improved handlebar cover for a motorcycle. -f$0$2t [Related Art] A technique regarding a handlebar cover of a scooter type motorcycle has been known, for example, from Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 7-5111 titled "Cable Guide Structure for Bandlebar Cover of Motorcycle/Cycle Car", in this technique, as shown in Figs. 2, 4 of the reference cited, a steering handlebar 5 (reference numerals used in the description of the related art are the same as those used in the reference cited) is covered with a handlebar cover 12 of a split type having a front cover 13 and a rear cover 14, and mirrors are mounted on the steering handlebar 5 while passing through the handlebar cover 12. In general, such a handlebar cover 12 has the following structure: Fig. 10 is an exploded view in perspective of a related art handlebar cover for a motorcycle. A handlebar cover 101 is of a split type having a front cover 102 and a rear cover 103. The front cover 102 is mounted on a handlebar 104 by means of a vis 105, and the rear cover 103 is mounted on the handlebar 104 by means of a vis (not shown). The front cover 102 is connected to the rear cover 103 by means of vises 107, 107. Right and left mirrors 108, 108 are respectively mounted in sockets 104a, 104a of the handlebar 104 through circular holes 102a, 102a of the front cover 102. Reference numeral 109 indicates a rubber boot for covering a mounting arm of the mirror 108. [Problem to be Solved by the Invention] In the related art handlebar cover, the front cover 102 must be dismounted for exchange of a head lamp. The dismounting procedure of the front cover 102 is that the front cover 102 is moved forward after the right and left mirrors 108, 108 are removed. The mounting procedure of the front cover 102 is reversed to the dismounting procedure thereof. In this way, the related art handlebar cover is disadvantageous in that the mirrors 108, 108 must be i removed for each mounting/dismounting of the front cover 102, to thereby deteriorate workability in mounting/ dismounting of the front cover 102. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a handlebar cover capable of improving workability in mounting/dismounting thereof. [Means for Solving the Problem] To achieve the above object, according to an invention described in claim 1, there is provided a handlebar cover for a covering a handlebar of a motorcycle, which is of a split type having a front cover body and a rear cover body/ and which has a structure allowing mirrors to pass therethrough so as to be mounted on the handlebar, characterized in that at least one of a rear edge of the front cover body and a front edge of the rear cover body has approximately-U-shaped cutouts for allowing the mirrors therethrough so as to be mounted on 'the handlebar. With this configuration, the front cover body or the rear cover body can be dismounted only by movement back and forth without removal of the mirrors, thereby enhancing workability in mounting/dismounting of the handlebar cover. {-0000]— According to an invention described in claim 2, there can be provided a handlebar cover for a motorcycle, wherein only the rear edge of the front cover body has the cutouts With this configuration, a head lamp can be removed simultaneously with dismounting of the cover body from the handlebar, it is possible to more easily carry out maintenance works (including checking works). Accordingly, the present invention relates to a handlebar cover for a covering a handlebar of a motorcycle, of a split type having a front cover body and a rear cover body, and a structure allowing mirrors to pass therethrough mounted on said handlebar, characterized in that: at least one of a rear edge of said front cover body, and a front edge of said rear cover body has approximately U-shaped cutouts for allowing said mirrors therethrough se—scs- • tcr* mounted on said handlebar. [Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings] [Fig. 1] A side view of a motorcycle used for the present invention. [Fig. 2] A side view of a handlebar cover of the present invention. [Fig. 3] A plan view of the handlebar cover of the present invention. [Fig. 4] An exploded view in perspective of the handlebar cover of the present invention. [Fig. 5] A view showing a mounting structure of a mirror mounting boot of the present invention. [Fig. 6] A view showing a function of the handlebar cover of *. the present invention. [Fig. 7] A sectional view of a mounting structure of a head lamp of the present invention. [Fig. 8] A sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1. [Fig. 9] A sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8. [Fig. 10] An exploded view in perspective of a related art handlebar cover for a motorcycle. [Embodiment of the Invention] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the drawing should be seen along the direction of characters . Fig. 1 is a side view of a motorcycle used for the present invention. A scooter type motorcycle 1 includes a body frame 2, a body cover 10 covering the body frame 2, a front wheel 21, a rear wheel 22, a seat 23, and a power unit 41. The body frame 2 includes a head pipe 3, a front fork 4 operably supported on the head pipe 3, a handlebar 5 connected to the front fork 4, a down tube extending i rearward, downward from the head pipe 3, and a rear frame 7 continuous to a lower end of the down tube 6 and extending rearward therefrom. A front wheel 21 is suspended by a lower end portion of the front fork 4. The rear frame 7 is formed in an approximately elliptic shape in a plan view, which includes a pair of right and left front frame portions 7a (only one is shown in this figure) extending rearward from the lower end of the down tube 6 substantially in the horizontal direction, a pair of right and left intermediate frame portions 7b each extending rearward, upward from rear portions of the front frame portions 7a, and a rear frame portion 7c connecting rear ends of the intermediate frame portions 7b to each other. The body cover 10 includes a front cover 11 covering both a front portion of the head pipe 3 and an upper portion of the front wheel 21, front side covers 12, a handlebar cover 13 covering the handlebar 5, a front inner cover 14 covering a front side of a leg portion of a driver, a front panel 15 supporting feet of the driver, a center cover 16 covering front portions of the intermediate frame portions 7b, side covers 17 covering both side surfaces of a rear portion of the body frame 2, an under cover 18, and a rear upper cover 19 covering an upper side of the rear portion of the body frame 2. In addition, a rear fender 24 covering an upper portion of the rear wheel 22 is disposed in back of the side covers 17. The handlebar 5 has mirrors 31. The power unit 41 includes a two-cycle forced-air-cooled engine 42, and a continuously variable transmission 43 for transmitting an output of an engine 42 to the rear wheel 22. The continuously variable transmission 43 is connected to the rear wheel 22. A rear suspension of the motorcycle 1 is of a swing arm type in which the power unit 41 of a swing arm type is suspended on the rear portion of the body frame 2 by rear cushions (dampers) 44. Reference numeral 45 indicates a spare tire, which is mounted on the rear portion of the body frame 2 by means of a rear carrier 46 and a support 47. Reference numeral 48 indicates a main stand. [0012-] Fig. 2 is a side view of the handlebar cover 13 of the present invention, in which the mirrors 31 are removed therefrom. The handlebar cover 13 is of a split type having a front cover body 50 and a rear cover body 60. A rear edge 50a of the front cover body 50 is overlapped on and screwed with a front edge 60a of the rear cover body 60. The handlebar 5 is formed in an approximately T-shape in a front view (seen from the left direction), and includes mirror mounting sockets 5a (only one is shown in this figure) on right and left sides. The front cover body 50 covers upper portions of the mirror mounting sockets 5a, and it includes approximately U-shaped cutouts 51 which are formed in the rear edge 50a of the front cover body 50 so as to be positioned over the mirror mounting socket 5a. The mirror 31, having a lower threaded portion 32, is mounted on the handlebar 5 by screwing of the threaded portion 32 with the mirror mounting socket 5a. While being fully described with reference to Fig. 5, a boot 36 covering a mounting arm 33 of the mirror 31 can be mounted in the handlebar cover 13 by fitting of its lower portion with both the cutout 51 and the front edge 60a of the rear cover body 60. In this way, the mirror 31 and the boot 36 are mounted through the cutout 51, In addition, the boot 36 is made from a flexible material such as a rubber material. Reference numeral 5b indicates a front bracket for screwing the front cover body 50 with the handlebar 5, and reference numeral 5c indicates a rear bracket for screwing the rear cover body 60 with the handlebar 5. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the handlebar cover 13 of the present invention, in which meters and the like are not mounted . The right and left mirrors 31 are each mounted on the handlebar 5 through the cutouts 51. While being fully described with reference to Fig. 7 t reference numeral 56, 58 indicate right and left hangers for hanging an upper portion of the head lamp, and reference numeral 59 indicates a slot 'formed at the center of the body, which is used for screwing a lower portion of the head lamp. In addition, reference numeral 5d indicates a handlebar grip; 88 is a lens for a head lamp; and 89, 89 are lenses for winkers. Fig. 4 is an exploded view in perspective of the handlebar cover of the present invention. The front cover body 50 includes a center projection 52 at the center of an upper portion of the rear edge 50a, side projections 53, 53 on the right and left of the upper portion of the rear edge 50a, a front center boss 54 at the center of the lower portion, and front side bosses 55, 55 on the right and left of the lower portion. The rear cover body 60 includes a center fitting hole 62 at the center of an upper portion of the front edge 60a, side fitting holes 63, 63 on the right and left of the upper portion of the front edge 50a; rear center bosses 64, 64 at the center of the lower portion; and rear side bosses 65, 65 on the right and left of the lower portion. The center projection 52 is fitted in the center fitting hole 62; the side projection 53 is fitted in the side fitting hole 63; the front center boss 54 is fixed in the front bracket 5b by means of a vis 71 (see Fig. 2); the rear center boss 64 is fixed in the rear bracket 5c by means of a vis 72 (see Fig. 2); and the front side boss 55 is fixed in the rear side boss 65 by means of a vis 73. In addition, reference numeral 56 indicates a window for mounting the head lamp; and 57, 57 indicate windows for mounting the winkers. Figs. 5(a), 5(b) show a mounting structure of the mirror mounting boot of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 5(a), an opening end of the cutout 51 is closed by overlapping the front edge 60a of the rear cover body 60 under the rear edge 50a of the front cover body 50. The boot 36 includes, around an outer periphery of a lower portion, a front groove 37 to be fitted to a peripheral edge of the cutout 51 and a rear groove 38 to be fitted with the front edge 60a of the rear cover body 60, wherein the rear groove 38 is lower than the front groove 37. As shown in Fig. 5(b), in a state in which the mirrors 31 are mounted on the handlebar (not shown), each boot 36 is mounted in the front and rear cover bodies 50, 60 by fitting the front groove 37 with the peripheral edge of the cutout 51 and fitting the rear groove 38 with the front edge 60a of the rear cover body 60. Accordingly,the lower portion of the boot 36, which is positively mounted in the front and rear cover bodies 50, 60 by fitting, is prevented from being slipped up, resulting in the enhanced outward appearance. Incidentally, the boot 36 includes a stepped portion 39 on an inner peripheral surface of the lower portion at positions corresponding to those of the front and rear grooves 37, 38. On the other hand, the mounting arm 33 of the mirror 31 includes a stopper plate for suppressing the slip-up of the stepped portion 39. As a result, the lower portion of the boot 36 is prevented from being slipped up, so that the front and rear grooves 37, 38 are not slipped from the peripheral edge of the cutout 51 and from the front edge 60a of the rear cover body 60. The boot 36 can be thus more positively mounted in the front and rear cover bodies 50, 60. Next, mounting and dismounting procedures of the handlebar cover 13 having the above configuration will be described with reference to Figs. 2, 6. In addition, the mounting and dismounting procedures are described for a clearer understanding of the above configuration, and therefore, they are not restrictive. Fig. 6 is a view showing a function of the handlebar cover of the present invention. Now, it is assumed that the handlebar cover 13 is in a state shown in Fig. 2 in which the front cover body 50 is fixed by means of a vis to the front bracket 5b of the handlebar 5; the rear cover body 60 is fixed by means of a vis to the rear bracket 5c; the front cover body 50 is fixed by means of a vis to the rear cover body 60; and the mirrors 31 are each screwed with the mirror mounting sockets 5a of the handlebar 5. The dismounting procedure of the front cover body 5Q in this state is as shown in Fig. 6. (1) First, a vis 71 fixing the front cover body 50 to the handlebar 5 is removed; vises 73, 73 fixing the front cover body 50 to the rear cover body 60 are removed; the center projection 52 shown in Fig. 4 is removed from the center fitting hole 62; and the side projections 53, 53 are removed from the side fitting holes 63, 63. (2) Next, the connections for couplers 75 for wire harnesses of the head lamp and winkers are released. (3) Finally, the front cover body 50 is moved forward with respect to the mirrors 31 mounted on the handlebar 5, to be thus dismounted. The mounting procedure of the front cover body 50 is reversed to the above-described dismounting procedure. In this way, the front cover body 50 can be dismounted only by movement back and forth without removal of the mirrors 31. On the other hand, the dismounting procedure of the rear cover body 60 is as follows: (1) First, after the front cover body 50 is dismounted, the vises 72, 72 fixing the rear cover body 60 to the handlebar 5 are removed (see Fig. 4). (2) Next, the connections for couplers for wire harnesses of meters, switches and the like (not shown) are released. (3) Finally, the rear cover body 60 is removed by movement rearward. The mounting procedure of the rear cover body 60 is reversed to the above-described dismounting procedure. Next, a mounting structure for a head lamp will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the mounting structure of the head lamp of the present invention. • The front cover body 50 includes the right and left hangers 58, 58 [only one is shown in this figure (see Fig. 3)] on the inner surface of the upper portion, and the slot 59 longer back and forth which is formed in the inner surface of the lower portion. The head lamp 81 includes right and left hooks 82 , 82 at its upper portion, and a bracket 83 at its lower portion. The hanger 58 includes a hole 58a penetrating the hanger 58 in the vertical direction, and an upper portion of the hook 82 is fitted into the hole 58a. The hanger 58 is held together with the hook 82 by means of a near-pin shaped clip 85 having a spring characteristic, and thereby it hangs the upper portion of the head lamp 81 rockably back and forth. The bracket 83 of the head lamp 81 is fixed to the lower portion of the front cover body 50 by means of a bolt 86. More specifically, the bracket 83 has a nut 87 which is screwed with the bolt 86 through the slot 59. The head lamp 81 is also adjustable in its optical axis by rocking back and forth after loosening of the bolt 86. In this way, the head lamp 86 can be mounted on the front cover body 50 with a simple structure. The head lamp 86 can be also hung rockably back and forth, so that it can be easily adjusted in its optical axis only by loosening one bolt 86. Next, a structure of the front inner cover 14 will be described with reference to Figs. 8, 9. Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1 showing a state in which the head pipe 3 is covered with the front cover 11 and the front inner cover 14. The head pipe 3 has at its front portion a horn 91 for generating an alarm. The front inner cover 14 integrally includes a containing box 95 extending forward while crossing the head pipe 3. The containing box 95 has a rear opening closed by a removable lid 96, and it includes a checking port 97 opposite to the mounting position of the horn 91. '[0024] - Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8. The horn 91 includes a support 93 to be fixed on the head pipe 3 by means of a bolt 92. The checking port 97 disposed at the mounting position of the horn 91 is closed by an internal lid 98 fixed by means of a vis. In exchange of the horn 91 (including maintenance and checking, and the same applies correspondingly to the following), only the lid 96 and the inner lid 98 may be opened. Accordingly, the front cover 11 being difficult in mounting/dismounting is not required to be dismounted upon exchange of the horn 91, resulting in the increased workability. Furthermore, since the containing box 95 is closed by the lid 96, the internal lid 98 is not viewed from the outside. This makes it possible to keep the good outward appearance of the front inner cover 14. In the embodiment of the present invention, the motorcycle 1 is not limited to the scooter type, and it may include any type including the front cover 11, handlebar cover 13, and front inner cover 14. Furthermore, in the handlebar cover 13, at least one of the rear edge 50a of the front cover body 50 and the front edge 60a of the rear cover body 60 may include the cutouts 51, and the mirrors 31 may be" mounted through the cutouts 31. For example, only the front edge 60a of the rear cover body 60 may include the cutouts 51 or each of the rear edge 50a of the front cover body 50 and the-front edge 60a of the rear cover body 60 may include the cutouts 51. V In addition, the cutout 51 may be formed in an approximately U-shaped. For example, it may be formed in a semi-circular, V-shaped or square shape. [Effect of the Invention] The present invention having the above-described configuration has the following effects. According to the invention described in claim 1, at least one of a rear edge of a front cover body and a front edge of a rear cover body has approximately U-shaped cutouts for allowing mirrors to pass therethrough so as to be mounted to a handlebar, so that, the front cover body or the rear cover body can be dismounted only by movement back and forth without removal of the mirrors. This is effective to enhance workability in mounting/dismounting of a handlebar cover composed of the front cover body and the rear cover body. F&errr According to the invention described in claim 2, only the rear edge of the front cover body has the cutouts, so that a head lamp can be removed simultaneously with dismounting of the front cover body from a handlebar. This is effective to more easily carry out maintenance works (including checking works). [Explanation of Characters] 1: motorcycle, 3: head pipe, 5: handlebar, 5a: mirror mounting socket, 13: handlebar cover, 31: mirror, 32: threaded portion for mounting, 33: mounting arm, 34: stopper plate,' 36: boot, 37: front groove, 38: rear groove, 39: stepped portion, 50: front cover body, 50a: rear edge, 51: cutout, 60: rear cover body, 60a: front edge [Explanation of Characters] 1: motorcycle, 3: head pipe/ 5: handlebar, 5a: mirror mounting socket, 13: handlebar cover, 31: mirror, 32: threaded portion for mounting, 33: mounting arm, 34: stopper plate1,' 36: boot, 37: front groove, 38: rear groove, 39: stepped portion, 50: front cover body, 50a: rear edge, 51: cutout, 60: rear cover body, 60a: front edge We claim: 1. A handlebar cover (13) for a covering a handlebar (5) of a motorcycle (1) , of a split type having a front cover body (50) and a rear cover body (60), and which has a structure allowing mirrors to pass therethrough mounted on said handlebar (5), characterized in that: at least one of a rear edge (50a) of said front cover body (50), and a front edge (60a) of said rear cover body (60) has U-shaped cutouts for allowing said mirrors therethrough mounted on said handlebar. 2. A handlebar cover for a covering a handlebar of a motorcycle substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings

Documents:

2523-del-1996-abstract.pdf

2523-del-1996-claims.pdf

2523-del-1996-correspondence-others.pdf

2523-del-1996-correspondence-po.pdf

2523-del-1996-description (complete).pdf

2523-del-1996-drawings.pdf

2523-del-1996-form-1.pdf

2523-del-1996-form-19.pdf

2523-del-1996-form-2.pdf

2523-del-1996-form-4.pdf

2523-del-1996-form-6.pdf

2523-del-1996-gpa.pdf

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