Title of Invention

"STEP FITTING STRUCTURE FOR MOTORCYCLE"

Abstract

In a step fitting structure for motorcycle, an under bracket (41) is fitted to a lower portion (74) of an engine (16), first and second step brackets (78, 79) are fitted to the under bracket through an elastic member (42), whereby vibration of the engine is difficultly transmitted to the steps (81), and a reinforcing member (62) of the under bracket and a step bar (43) are disposed staggered from each other in the front-rear direction, whereby the step bar can be disposed on a lateral side (82) of the reinforcing member. The step bar is disposed overlapping with the reinforcing member on lateral sides, whereby the step bar can be disposed near the lower portion of the engine. Therefore, the height from the ground of the lower portion of the engine can be enlarged.

Full Text

DESCRIPTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a step fitting structure for motorcycle for fitting a step member to a lower portion of an engine of a motorcycle. BACKGROUND ART Steps of a motorcycle are members for resting feel thereon, and can be divided into driver's steps and passenger's steps. The rider's steps are component parts affecting the operation of a change pedal and the operation of a brake pedal, so that they are fixed to the engine or the vehicle body frame at such a position as not to damage operability. As a structure of fixing the steps to the engine, there has been, for example, "Step Fitting Structure for Motorcycle" of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-38179. This step fitting structure for motorcycle will be described with reference to Fig. 10 hereof. Fig. 10 is an illustration of a conventional step fitting structure for motorcycle, and is a copy of Fig. 3 of the publication. In this step fitting structure for motorcycle, a bracket 102 (The symbol has been changed; other symbols, too.) is fitted to a lower portion of an engine 101, a step bar 104 is fitted to the bracket 102 through vibration-proof members 103, and a brake pedal 105 is provided on the lower side of the step bar 104. A side stand bracket 106 is fitted to the bracket 102 with an inclination at a predetermined angle, and a side stand 107 is swingably fitted to the side stand bracket 106. Thus, in the step fitting structure for motorcycle in the publication, the heat of the engine 101 is transmitted to the bracket 102, and is dissipated to the atmosphere from the surface of^the bracket 102, so that the vibration-proof members \L03 are not affected by the heat of the engine 101. In addition, vibration of the engine 101 is transmitted through the bracket 102 to the vibration-proof members 103, is then weakened by the vibration-absorbing action of the vibration-proof members 103, and can be suppressed to such a degree that the vibration transmitted to the step bar 104 cannot be felt to the feet. However, in the step fitting structure for motorcycle according to the publication, the bracket 102, the vibration-proof members 103 and the step bar 104 are fitted under the engine 101, so that the space between _thg engine .101 and the ground is gradually narrowed each time these component parts are fitted. Particularly, the brake pedal 105 provided at the lowest position of these component parts is nearest to the ground, and the height from the ground which is the distance between the ground and the lowest portion of the lower portion of the engine 101 of the motorcycle is small. On the other hand, in order to improve fuel consumption of the motorcycle, a reduction in the weight of the step fitting structure has been desired. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a step fitting structure for motorcycle which can enlarge the space between the engine and the ground and can increase the height from the ground of the lower portion of the engine. According to the present invention, there_is provided a step fitting structure for motorcycle in which a rod-shaped,, reinforcing member extending in the vehicle width direction is integrally fitted to a lower surface of an_under bracket fronting on a lower portion of an engine, a step bar extending in the vehicle width direction is integrally fitted to upper surfaces of step brackets fronting on the under bracket, left' and right steps are fitted to end portions of the step bar, the under bracket is fitted to the lower portion of the engine, and the step brackets are fitted to the under bracket through an elastic member, whereby vibration of the engine is difficultly transmitted to the steps, wherein the reinforcing member and the step bar are disposed staggered from each other in the front-rear direction, whereby the step bar can be disposed on a lateral side of the reinforcing member. Thus, according to the invention, the reinforcing member and the step bar are disposed staggered from each other in the front-rear direction, whereby the step bar can be disposed on a lateral side of the reinforcing member, so that the step bar can be made to overlap with the reinforcing member on lateral sides, and the step bar can be disposed nearer to a lower portion of the engine. Therefore, the space between the engine and the ground can be enlarged, and the height from the ground can be enlarged. In the present invention, the reinforcing member and the step bar are disposed to overlap with each other on the upper and lower sides. By this, an upper portion of the step bar can be disposed close to an upper portion of the reinforcing member, the space between the engine and the ground can be enlarged, and the height from the ground can be enlarged. In the present invention, the brake pedal is disposed on the inner side of the step bracket in the vehicle width direction. By this, the step bracket and the brake pedal are prevented from interfering with each other, and the height from the ground can be enlarged. In the present invention, the rod-shaped reinforcing member is a pipe member. By this, the weight of the reinforcing member can be reduced, and a reduction in the weight of the step fitting structure can be contrived. Further, in the present invention, a portion of the under bracket on the rear side of the reinforcing member is set lower than a portion of the under bracket on the front side of the reinforcing member. By this, the under bracket and the step bar can be prevented from interfering with each other, and, at the same time, the step bracket and the reinforcing member can be prevented from interfering with each other. As a result, a reduction in the vertical size of the reinforcing member and the step bar which overlap with each other on the upper and lower sides can be contrived. Furthermore, in the present invention, a left end portion or a right end portion of the under bracket is bent upward, and a side stand bracket is welded to a tip end of the bent portion. By this, fitting strength of the side stand bracket can be secured, and a member for reinforcing the side stand bracket can be omitted. Therefore, the production cost can be reduced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a left side view of a motorcycle employing a step fitting structure according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a right side view of the motorcycle employing the step fitting structure; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of an under bracket according to the invention; Fig. 6A is a top plan view of a step bar according to the invention; Fig. 6B is an enlarged sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 6A; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the step fitting structure according to the invention; Fig. 8A is a view as seen in the direction of arrows 8, 8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 8B is a view as seen in the direction of arrow B of Fig. 8A; Fig. 9A is a comparative view of a mode for carrying out the invention; Fig. 9B is a comparative view of the prior art; and Fig. 10 illustrates a conventional step fitting structure for motorcycle. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION As shown in Fig. 1, a motorcycle 10 comprises a vehicle body frame 11, a handle 13 and a front fork 14 steerably fitted to a head pipe 12 at the front end of the vehicle body frame 11, a front wheel 15 fitted to the front fork 14, an engine 16 disposed at a central lower portion of the vehicle body frame 11, a fuel tank 17 and a seat 18 disposed at upper portions of the vehicle body frame 11, a swing arm 21 vertically movably extended from a central lower portion of the vehicle body frame 11, a rear wheel 22 fitted to a rear portion of the swing arm 21, a rear sprocket 23 fitted to the rear wheel 22, a chain 24 for transmitting a driving force to the rear sprocket 23, a main stand 25 fitted to a lower portion of the vehicle body frame 11, passenger's steps 26, and rider's steps 27 fitted to a lower portion of the engine 16. Numeral 28 denotes a side stand. As shown in Fig. 2, numeral 31 denotes a silencer, 32 denotes a kick pedal, 33 denotes a brake pedal, 34 denotes the ground, 35 denotes a space between the engine 16 and the ground 34, and H denotes the distance from the ground 34 to the lowermost portion of the brake pedal 33, namely, the height from the ground. As shown in Fig. 3, the rider's steps 27 comprise an under bracket 41 fitted to a lower portion of the engine 16, elastic members 42 fitted to the under bracket 41, and a sep bar 43 fitted to the elastic members 42. Besides, the rider's steps 27 function also as a stopper for restricting the return position of the brake pedal 33, and the brake pedal 33 is stopped by the lower surface of the step bar 43. Thus, the position of the brake pedal 33 disposed under the rider's steps 27 is the lowest. Numerals 44 denote bolts for fitting the step bar 43, numerals 45 denote collars for supporting the elastic members 42, and numerals 46 denote bolts for fitting the under bracket 41. The brake pedal 33 is located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction in the figure) of a right fitting bolt 44 (first step bracket 78 (See Fig. 6A)) of the step bar 43. The side stand 28 is used by being lowered, as shown in Fig. 3, in which a swirling member 51 rotatably fitted to the under bracket 41 is provided, a support post 52 is fitted to the swirling member 51 by welding, a base plate 53 is fitted to an end of the support post 52, a first hook member 54 is fitted to the support post 52, and a tension spring 55 is hooked to the first hook member 54. Numeral 56 denotes a bolt. The under bracket 41 is so constructed that a rod-shaped reinforcing member 62 is fitted to the center of a bracket main body 61, and a side stand bracket 64 is fitted to a left end portion 63 of the bracket main body 61. As shown in Fig. 4, the reinforcing member 62 of the under bracket 41 is a pipe member. The pipe member is, for example, a structural steel pipe (JIS STAM). On the lower surface 65 of the under bracket 41, two elastic members 42 (not shown in the figure) are disposed on the front side (left side in the figure) of the reinforcing member 62, two elastic members 42 (See Fig. 3) are disposed on the rear side (right side in the figure) of the reinforcing member 62, and the step bar 43 is fitted to these front and rear elastic members 42. The elastic member 42 has an annular groove 67 formed in the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical main body 66, and the step bar 43 is fitted into the annular groove 67. As shown in Fig. 5, the bracket main body 61 of the under bracket 41 is provided with a front seat surface 71 on the front side (left side in the figure) of the reinforcing member 62, a rear seat surface 72 on the rear side (right side in the figure) of the reinforcing member 62, and a recessed portion 73 at the center. The rear seat surface 72 is set lower than the front seat surface 71 by a predetermined dimension Hz. A lower portion 74 of the engine 16 is provided with front bosses 75 (not shown in the figure} formed on the front side, and rear bosses 76 (See Fig. 3) formed on the rear side. The rear boss 76 is set lower than the front boss 75 by a predetermined dimension Hb (Hb = Hz). Symbol Lu is the distance from the rear boss 76 to the reinforcing member 62. As shown in Fig. 6A, the step bar 43 is so constructed that a first step bracket 78 and a second step bracket 79 are fitted to a bar main body 77, and steps 81 are fitted to both ends of the bar main body 77. As shown in Figs. 6A and 6B, the first step bracket 78 is so constructed that a front seat portion 78a is provided on the front side, the front seat portion 78a is provided with a first fitting hole 78b, a rear seat portion 78c is provided on the rear side, the rear seat portion 78c is provided with a second fitting hole 78d, and an upper surface 78e at the center is provided with a recessed portion 78f. The rear seat portion 78c is set lower than the front seat portion 78a by a predetermined dimension Hs. Symbol Ls is the distance from the rear boss 76 to the bar main body 77, and Ls > Lu (See Fig. 5). The second step bracket 79 has a recessed portion 79f formed in an upper surface 79e at the center, and has the same form as the first step bracket 78, so that detailed description thereof is omitted. In Fig. 7, as has been described, the under bracket 41 is fitted to a lower portion of the engine 16 (See Fig. 5) with the four bolts 46, and the step bar 43 is fitted to the under bracket 41 with the four bolts 44. Namely, as shown in Figs. 3 to 7, the step fitting structure for motorcycle according to the present invention is a step fitting structure for motorcycle in which the rod-shaped reinforcing member 62 extending in the vehicle width direction is integrally fitted to the lower surface 65 of the under bracket 41 fronting on the lower portion 74 of the engine 16, the bar main body 77 of the step bar 43 extending in the vehicle width direction is integrally fitted to the upper surfaces 78e, 79e of the first and second step brackets 78, 79 fronting on the under bracket 41, the left and right steps 81 are fitted to end portions of the bar main body 77 of the step bar 43, the under bracket 41 is fitted to the lower portion 74 of the engine 16, and the first and second step brackets 78, 79 are fitted to the under bracket 41 through the elastic members 42, whereby vibration of the engine 16 is difficultly transmitted to the steps 81 wherein the reinforcing member 62 and the step bar 43 are disposed staggered from each other in the front-rear direction by a distance L (See Figs. 4 and 7), whereby the step bar 43 can be disposed on a lateral side 82 of the reinforcing member 62. The distance L satisfies L = Ls - Lu. In Fig. 8A, as has been described, the under bracket 41 has the side stand bracket 64 fitted to a left end portion 63. In concrete, at a left portion (left side in the figure) of the under bracket 41, a bent portion 83 formed on the left side of the bracket main body 61 and a welded portion 84 formed on the rear side are provided. Symbol 64a denotes a second hook member. As shown in Fig. 8B, the side stand bracket 64 is welded to the tip end of the bent portion 83 under desired welding conditions. Numerals 85 denote beads after welding. While the bent portion 83 is provided on the left side, a right end portion may be bent upward where the bent portion is necessary on the right side. The action or effect of the step fitting structure for motorcycle described above will be described below. As shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the step fitting structure for motorcycle according to the present invention is so constructed that the reinforcing member 62 and the step bar 43 are disposed staggered from each other in the front-rear direction by the distance L, whereby the step bar 43 is disposed on the lateral side 82 of the reinforcing member 62, and, therefore, the step bar 43 can be overlapped with the reinforcing member 62 by a predetermined dimension Hr. As a result, the step bar 43 is disposed greatly close to the lower portion 74 of the engine 16, whereby the space 35 between the engine 16 and the ground 34 can be enlarged, and the height from the ground can be enlarged. In addition, since the brake pedal 33 is located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the first step bracket 78 of the step bar 43, the first step bracket 78 and the brake pedal 33 do not interfere with each other, and the height from the ground can be enlarged. Further, since the rod-shaped reinforcing member 62 is constituted of a pipe member, the weight of the reinforcing member 62 can be made small. Therefore, a reduction in the weight of the step fitting structure can be contrived. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the under bracket 41 has the rear seat surface 72 on the rear side of the reinforcing member 62 set to be lower than the front seat surface 71 on the front side of the reinforcing member 62, so that the under bracket 41 and the step bar 43 can be prevented from interfering with each other, and, at the same time, the first and second step brackets 78, 79 (See Fig. 6A) and the reinforcing member 62 can be prevented from interfering with each other. Therefore, a reduction in the size in the vertical direction can be contrived. As shown in Fig. 5, the under bracket 41 has the rear seat surface 72 on the rear side of the reinforcing member 62 set to be lower than the front seat surface 71 on the front side of the reinforcing member 62, so that the range of bend of the recessed portion 73 of the under bracket 41 can be made small, and the forming of the under bracket 41 is made easy. As shown in Figs. 3, 8A and 8B, the left end portion 63 of the under bracket 41 is bent upward and the side stand bracket 64 is welded to the tip end of the bent portion 83, so that the number of component parts of the under bracket 41 can be reduced. Therefore, production cost can be cut down. Next, the mode for carrying out the invention and the prior art will be described comparatively. In Fig. 9A, the dimension from the reinforcing member 62 of the under bracket 41 fitted by the step fitting structure for motorcycle according to the invention to the step bar 43 is represented by Y. In Fig. 9B, the dimension from the reinforcing member 108 of the bracket 102 fitted by the step fitting structure for motorcycle according to the prior art to the step bar 104 is represented by Yl. As is clear from Figs. 9A and 9B, the dimension Y is smaller than the dimension Yl; namely, according to the present invention, the size in the vertical direction can be reduced by a dimension Y2 (Y2 = Yl - Y) as compared with the prior art. As a result, space saving and reduction in size of the step fitting structure in the height direction can be contrived. Incidentally, the reinforcing member 62 and the step bar 43 in Fig. 4 showing the mode for carrying out the invention can be replaced with each other on the front and rear sides. The shape of bend of the bar main body 77 of the step bar 43 is merely an example, and more complicated bending can be applied, depending on conditions. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention resides in that the reinforcing member and the step bar are disposed staggered from each other in the front-rear direction, whereby the step bar can be disposed on a lateral side of the reinforcing member, so that the step bar can be made to overlap with the reinforcing member on lateral sides and the step bar can be disposed close to the lower portion of the engine. Therefore, the space between the engine and the ground can be enlarged, and the height from the ground can be enlarged. In addition, the invention resides in that the rod-shaped reinforcing member is constituted of a pipe member, so that the weight of the reinforcing member can be made small, and, at the same time, a reduction in the weight of the step fitting structure can be contrived. Further, in the present invention, a portion of the under bracket on the rear side of the reinforcing member is set lower than a portion of the under bracket on the front side of the reinforcing member, so that interference between the under bracket and the step bar can be obviated, and, at the same time, interference between the step bracket and the reinforcing member can be obviated. As a result, it is possible to contrive a reduction in size in the vertical direction of the reinforcing member and the step bar made to overlap with each other. Furthermore, the present invention resides in that the left end portion or the right end portion of the under bracket is bent upwards and the side stand bracket is welded to the tip end of the bent portion, so that fitting strength of the side stand bracket can be secured, and members for reinforcing the side stand bracket can be omitted. As has been described, according to the present invention, the space between the engine and the ground can be enlarged, and the height from the ground can be enlarged; therefore, the present invention is of use as a step fitting structure for motorcycle. claim: 1. A step fitting structure for motorcycle in which a rod-shaped reinforcing member (62) extending in the vehicle width direction is integrally fitted to a lower surface (65) of an under bracket (41) facing a lower portion (74) of an engine (16), a step bar (43) extending in the vehicle width direction is integrally fitted to upper surfaces (78e, 79e) of step brackets (78, 79) facing said under bracket (41), left and right steps (81) are fitted to end portions of said step bar (43), said under bracket (41) being fitted to said lower portion (74) of said engine (16), and said step brackets (78, 79) being fitted to said under bracket (41) through an elastic member (42) so that transmission of vibration from the engine (16) to the steps (81) is suppressed by the elastic member, characterized in that said reinforcing member (62) and said step bar (43) are offset from each other in the front-rear direction of the motorcycle so that said step bar (43) can be disposed on a lateral side (82) of said reinforcing member (62). 2. A step fitting structure for motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing member (62) and said step bar (43) are disposed overlapped with each other on the upper and lower sides. 3. A step fitting structure for motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a brake pedal (33) is disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction than said step bracket (78). 4. A step fitting structure for motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rod-shaped reinforcing member (62) is a pipe member. 5. A step fitting structure for motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of said under bracket (41) on the rear side of said reinforcing member (62) is lower than a portion of said under bracket (41) on the front side of said reinforcing member (62). 6. A step fitting structure for motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a left end portion (63) or a right end portion of said under bracket (41) is bent upward, and a side stand bracket (64) is welded to a tip end of said bent portion (83). 7. A step fitting structure for motorcycle is substantially as herein described with reference to the foregoing examples.

Documents:

2162-delnp-2003-abstract.pdf

2162-delnp-2003-claims.pdf

2162-delnp-2003-complete specification(granted).pdf

2162-delnp-2003-correpsondence-others.pdf

2162-delnp-2003-correpsondence-po.pdf

2162-DELNP-2003-Correspondence Others-(22-03-2011).pdf

2162-delnp-2003-description (complete).pdf

2162-delnp-2003-drawings.pdf

2162-delnp-2003-form-1.pdf

2162-delnp-2003-form-19.pdf

2162-delnp-2003-form-2.pdf

2162-DELNP-2003-Form-27-(22-03-2011).pdf

2162-delnp-2003-form-3.pdf

2162-delnp-2003-form-5.pdf

2162-delnp-2003-gpa.pdf

2162-delnp-2003-pct-210.pdf

2162-delnp-2003-pct-409.pdf

2162-delnp-2003-petition-137.pdf

2162-delnp-2003-petition-138.pdf