Title of Invention

"AN IMPROVED BODY STRUCTURE OF A SCOOTER"

Abstract

An improved body structure of a scooter type vehicle, comprising: a front frame (33) having a head pipe (16) operably supporting a front fork (18), an inclined portion (35) extending rearward, downward from said head pipe (16), and a rearward extending portion (36) continuous to a rear end of said inclined portion (35) and extending rearward in the horizontal direction; a rear frame (34) extending rearward, upward from a rear end of said front frame (33), said rear frame (34) being integrated with said front frame (33); and an article container (49) mounted on said rear frame (34); wherein said rear frame (34) is provided with a containing recessed portion (50) having side walls (51, 52, 53) upward rising therearound with an upper portion thereof opened, and said article container (49) is mounted on said rear frame (34) with at least part thereof contained in said containing recessed portion (50).

Full Text

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved body structure fox a scooter type vehicle including a front frame having at a front end thereof a head pipe operable supporting a front fork. 2. Description of Related Art Body structures of this type have been already known, for example, from Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. Hei 7-156852 and Hei 1-311975. In the body structure disclosed in Japanese Patent 'Laid-open No. Hei 7-156852, a portion supporting a bottom portion of an article container for containing a helmet or the like is provided on a rear frame extending rearward, upward from a rear end of a front frame. Accordingly, if the supporting portion is designed to have a section modulus necessary for ensuring the strength enough to support a load of a driver seating on a seat disposed on the article container, the height (thickness) of the supporting portion is increased, leading to the increased height of an upper end of the article container, that is, the height of the seat or the increased weight. In the body structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 1-311975, a pair of stays, spaced at a distance in the longitudinal direction, are integrally provided projectingly on each of right and left sides of the front frame for supporting a floor panel, and the front frame supports a load from each floor panel at positions spaced at a distance in the longitudinal direction. As a result, in the above related art body structure, since the front frame applied with a relatively large load at the positions where the stays are provided must ensure a strength enough to support the relatively large load, it is formed in a hollow pipe shape, which leads to a difficulty in manufacturing the front frame integrated with the stays. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first object of the present invention is to provide a body structure of a scooter type vehicle, which is capable of making lower the height of an upper end of an article container and enhancing the strength of a rear frame. A second object of the present invention is to provide a body structure of a scooter type vehicle, which is capable of eliminating the need of giving a large strength to a front frame by uniformly applying a load from floor panels on the front frame, whereby simplifying the structure of the front frame. To achieve the above first object, according to the present invention, there is provided a body structure of a scooter type vehicle, including: a front frame having a head pipe operably supporting a front fork, an inclined portion extending rearward, downward from the head pipe, and a rearward extending portion continuous to a rear end of the inclined portion and extending rearward substantially in the horizontal direction; a rear frame extending rearward, upward from a rear end of the front frame, the rear frame being integrated with the front frame; and an article container mounted on the rear frame; wherein the rear frame is provided with a containing recessed portion having side walls upward rising therearound with an upper portion thereof opened, and the article container is mounted on the rear frame with at least part thereof contained in the containing recessed portion. With this configuration, it is possible to enhance the rigidity of the rear frame without an increase in thickness of a portion supporting a bottom portion of the article container, and to make lower the height of an upper end of the article container, that is, the height of the seat without an increase in weight. To achieve the above second object, according to the present invention, there is provided a body structure of a scooter type vehicle including: a front frame having at a front end thereof a head pipe operably supporting a front fork; and floor panels, mounted on the front frame, for supporting the feet of a driver; wherein stays extending in the longitudinal direction are each integrally provided on right and left sides of the front frame for supporting the floor panels. With this configuration, it is possible to avoid a load acting to the stays from being locally applied to the front frame and hence to substantially equalize the load applied to the front frame over a relatively longer distance in the longitudinal direction. As a result, since the front frame may of a simple structure having an opened shape in cross-section for sufficiently supporting the load from the floor panels, it can be easily formed integrally with the stays. Therefore, the present invention relates to an improved body structure of a scooter type vehicle, comprising: a front frame having a head pipe operably supporting a front fork, an inclined portion extending rearward, downward from said head pipe, and a rearward extending portion continuous to a rear end of said inclined portion and extending rearward in the horizontal direction;a rear frame extending rearward, upward from a rear end of said front frame, said rear frame being integrated with said front frame; and an article container mounted on said rear frame; wherein said rear frame is provided with a containing recessed portion having side walls upward rising therearound with an upper portion thereof opened, and said article container is mounted on said rear frame with at least part thereof contained in said containing recessed portion. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a side view of a scooter type vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the scooter type vehicle; Fig. 3 is a side view of a body frame of the scooter type vehicle; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the body frame; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional side view of a portion shown by an arrow 6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional side view of a connection portion between a rear cushion and the body frame; Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical sectional side view of a portion shown by an arrow 10 of Fig. 1; Fig. 11 is a plan view taken in the direction of an arrow 11 of Fig. 10; and Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 10. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a scooter type vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. The scooter type vehicle includes a body frame 15 having at a front end thereof a head pipe 16 operably supporting a front fork 18. The front fork 18 has a steering handlebar 17 at an upper end thereof and rotatably supports a front wheel WF at a lower end thereof. A power unit 20 composed of an engine and a continuously variable transmission includes a casing 21 serving as a crank case for the engine and a mission case for the continuously variable transmission. The casing 21 is suspended from the body frame 15 via a link mechanism 22, and a rear cushion 23 is disposed between the casing 21 and the body frame 15. A rear wheel WR is rotatably supported at a rear end portion of the casing 21. The body frame 15 is almost covered with a body cover 24. The body cover 24 includes a front cover 25 covering a front portion of the head pipe 16 and an upper portion of the front wheel WF; a leg shield 26, joined to the front cover 25, for covering a portion in front of a leg portion of a driver; floor panels 27, 27, disposed on right and left sides of the body frame 15 continuously to the leg shield 26, for supporting the feet of the driver; under covers 28, 28, connected to both the floor panels 27, 27 continuously to the front cover 25, for covering both the sides of the body at positions under the floor panels 27, 27; and a rear cover 29, joined to the floor panels 27, 27, for covering right and left sides of a rear body, in addition, a seat 30 on which the driver is seated is disposed on the rear cover 29. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the body frame 15 includes a main frame 31 and a sub-frame 32 fastened to a rear end portion of the main frame 31. The main frame 31 includes a front frame 33 having the head pipe 16 integrally provided thereon, and a rear frame 34 continuous to a rear end of the front frame 33. Such a main frame is integrally cast from a light alloy such as an aluminum alloy, or it is integrally molded from a synthetic resin reinforced by a long-fiber reinforcing member such as glass long-fibers or carbon long-fibers. Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, and particularly to Fig. 5, the front frame 33 includes the head pipe 16, an inclined portion 35 extending rearward, downward from the head pipe 16, and a rearward extending portion 36 continuous to a rear end of the inclined portion 35 and extending rearward substantially in the horizontal direction. Stays 37, 37, extending relatively longer in the longitudinal direction, are integrally provided on right and left sides of the inclined portion 35 and the rear extending portion 36 of the front frame 33 in such a manner as to project sideward therefrom. The floor panels 27, 27 are each fixedly supported on upper surfaces of these stays 37, 37. More specifically, each floor panel 27 is fastened on the stay 37 by a plurality of nuts 38, ..., 38 abutted on and engaged with the lower surface of the stay 37 and bolts 39, ..., 39 screwed with the nuts 38, Incidentally, the front frame 33 has, at a center portion thereof in the width direction of the body, a swelled portion 33a which is upward swelled in an approximately U-shape in transverse cross-section, and the stays 37, 37 are each integrally provided at right and left lower ends of the swelled portion 33a. Further, stepped portions 33b, 33b to be engaged with inner side edges of the floor panels 27, 27 are each provided on right and left sides of the front frame 33. Thus, the floor panels 27, 27 are each supported on the stays 37, 37 in such a manner that the swelled portion 33a is exposed to the outside at a height position over the floor panels 27, 27. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 40 are integrally provided on lower surfaces of the inclined portion 35 and the rearward extending portion 36 of the front frame 33, and both end portions of a reinforcing member 41 extending between the right and left stays 37, 37 positioned at right and left lower ends of the front frame 33 are fastened on the lower surfaces of the stays 37, 37 by bolts 42, ..., 42. Auxiliary device mounting stays 43, 44 and 45 are integrally provided on a front portion of the front frame 33. A battery 46 as an auxiliary device is mounted on the auxiliary device mounting stay 43; a horn 47 as another auxiliary device is mounted on the auxiliary device mounting stay 44; and a combination switch (not shown) as a further auxiliary device is mounted on the auxiliary device mounting stay 45. Referring to Figs. 1 to 8, and particularly to Figs. 6 to 8, the rear frame 34 is integrally provided on a rear end of the front frame 33 in such a manner as to extend rearward, upward from the rear end of the front frame 33, and an article container 49 for containing an article such as a helmet 48 (see Fig. 1) is mounted on the rear frame 34. The article container 49 is formed from a synthetic resin into a box-like shape with an upper portion thereof opened, and the upper portion of the article container 49 is covered with the seat 30. In other words, the seat 30 is disposed on the rear cover 29 in a state allowing the opening of the upper side of the article container 49. The rear frame 34 is provided with a containing recessed portion 50. The containing recessed portion 50 has upward rising peripheral walls composed of a front wall 51, right and left walls 52, 52, and a rear wall 53, with an upper portion thereof opened. The article container 49 is mounted on the rear frame 34 in such a manner that at least part thereof is contained in the containing recessed portion 50. Each of the right and left walls 52, 52 has an inner side plate 52a forming an inner side surface of the containing recessed portion 50, an outer side plate 52b disposed outward from the inner side plate 52a with a distance put therebetween, and a connecting plate 52c connecting upper ends of the inner side plate 52a and outer side plate 52b to each other, and it is formed into an approximately U-shape opened downward in transverse cross-section. Like the right and left walls 52, 52, the front wall 51 is also formed into an approximately U-shape opened downward in transverse cross-section. A pair of mounting recessed portions 54, 54, spaced from each other at a distance in the width direction of the body, are provided in a bottom portion of a front end of the containing recessed portion 50, and a mounting recessed portion 56 is provided in a bottom portion of a rear end of the containing recessed portion 50. On the other hand, mounting projecting portions 49a, 49a to be fitted in the mounting recessed portions 54, 54 are projectingly provided on a bottom portion of a front end of the containing recessed portion 49, and they are fastened on the rear frame 34 by threaded members 57, 57. A mounting projecting portion (not shown) projectingly provided on a bottom of a rear end of the container 49 is also fastened on the rear frame 34 in a state being fitted in the mounting recessed portion 56. Engine hanger brackets 58, 58 are integrally provided on the rear frame 34 in such a manner as to be each hung downward from right and left sides of a front end portion of the rear frame 34, and the power unit 20 is suspended from the engine hanger brackets 58, 58 via the link mechanism 22. The link mechanism 22 includes a link 60 composed of a base portion 60a and a leading end portion 60b, which have parallel axial lines and formed into cylindrical shapes, and a connecting arm portion 60c integrally connecting the base portion 60a and the leading end portion 60b to each other. The base portion 60a is supported via a pair of rubber bushes 62, 62 on a first supporting shaft 61 horizontally fixed on the engine hanger brackets 58, 58, and the leading end portion 60b is supported on a second supporting shaft 63. The second supporting shaft 63, which is inserted in the leading end portion 60b, is supported via a rubber bush 64 on a connecting cylinder portion 21a provided in the casing 21 of the power unit 20. The base portion 60a of the link 60 is fixed with a stopper arm 65 extending in the reversed direction to the connecting arm portion 60c, and stopper rubbers 66, 67 are fixed on upper and lower surfaces of a leading end of the stopper arm 65. On the other hand, a box-like portion 68 is integrally provided on a lower portion of a front end of the rear frame 34, and the stopper rubbers 66, 67 are inserted in the box-like portion 68. With such a link mechanism 22, the power unit 20 can be rocked around the second supporting shaft 63, and the link 60 can be rocked around the first supporting shaft 61 while absorbing a vibration from the power unit 20 by the rubber bushes 62, 64. And, the rocking vibration of the link 60 is attenuated by the stopper rubbers 66, 67 and is transmitted to a rear frame 34, that is, to the body frame 15 side. Incidentally, since the rear frame 34 is integrally cast from a light alloy such as an aluminum alloy or integrally molded from a synthetic resin reinforced with a long-fiber reinforcing member such as glass long-fibers or carbon long-fibers, the accuracy of the dimension between both the engine brackets 58, 58 is affected by strain or contraction and thereby it tends to become poor. To cope with such a reduction in accuracy of the dimension between both the engine brackets 58, 58, washers 69, 69 for adjusting the dimension therebetween are each interposed between the rubber bushes 62, 62 and the engine brackets 58, 58. Referring to Figs. 1 to 11, and particularly to Figs. 9 to 11, a downward recessed rear cushion mounting portion 70 is provided in a rear portion of the main frame 31, that is, in a rear portion of the rear frame 34 at a position proximity to the left wall 52 of the containing recessed portion 50, and an upper end of the rear cushion 23 disposed between the main frame 34 and the power unit 20 is directly connected to the rear cushion mounting portion 70 via rubbers 79, 80. The rear cushion 23 includes a hydraulic damper 71 and a coil spring 72. The hydraulic damper 71 is composed of a cylindrical damper main body 71a and a rod 71b projecting from a lower end of the damper main body 71a, and the coil spring 72 is provided between an upper portion of the damper main body 71a and a lower portion of the rod 71b in such a manner as to surround the hydraulic damper 71. The lower end of the rear cushion 23, that is, the lower end of the rod 71b is connected via a shaft 73 to the rear portion of the casing 21 of the power unit 20. The upper end of the rear cushion 23, that is, the upper end of the damper main body 71a is coaxially fixed with a connecting shaft 74, and the rear cushion mounting portion 70 is provided with a mounting hole 75 into which the connection shaft 74 is inserted. The rubber 79, which is prevented from being expanded radially outward by the recessed rear cushion mounting portion 70, is interposed between the rear cushion mounting portion 70 and a washer 76 passing through an upper portion of the connecting shaft 74, and a bolt 77 engaged with the washer 76 is screwed with the upper end portion of the connecting shaft 74. On the other hand, the rubber 80, which is prevented from being expanded radially outward by a guide member 78 having a cylinder portion 78a fitted in the mounting hole 75 and formed into a cap shape, is interposed between an upper end of the damper main body 71a and the guide member 78. That is, the upper end of the rear cushion 23 is directly connected to the rear cushion mounting portion 70 via the rubber 79, 80. The sub-frame 32 has a pair of right and left vertical frame portions 83, 83 extending rearward, upward, obliquely in the longitudinal direction, and it is integrally cast from a light alloy such as an aluminum alloy or it is integrally molded from a synthetic resin reinforced with a long-fiber reinforcing member. Mounting portions 85, 85 integrally provided on front ends of both the vertical frame portions 83, 83 are fastened to the rear end portion of the main frame 31, that is, the rear end portion of the rear frame 34. A pair of mounting legs 86, 87, spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction, are integrally provided on each of the mounting portions 85, 85 in such a manner as to project toward the rear end side of the rear frame 34. On the other hand, supporting projections 90, 91 corresponding to both the mounting legs 86, 87 are provided on the rear end portion of the rear frame 34 in such a manner as to project toward the sub-frame 32 side. The mounting legs 86, 87 are each fastened to the supporting projections 90, 91, that is, the rear end portion of the rear frame 34 by fastening bolts 88, 89 in such a state that leading ends of the mounting legs 86, 87 are brought in contact with the corresponding supporting projections 90, 91. Further, at the rear portion of the rear frame 34, since the supporting projections 90, 91 provided on the left side of the body where the rear cushion mounting portion 70 is provided are disposed in front of and behind of the rear cushion mounting portion 70, the sub-frame 32 is fastened to the rear frame 34, that is, the main frame 31 in front of and behind of the rear cushion mounting portion 70. The sub-frame 32 is disposed in such a manner as to surround both side portions and a rear portion of a fuel tank 92, and both the sides of a front end portion of the fuel tank 92 are fastened and supported on the mounting portions 85, 85 of the sub-frame 32. On the other hand, tank supporting portions 84, 84 are integrally provided at rear ends of both the vertical frame portions 83, 83, and both the sides of a rear end portion of the fuel tank 92 are each fastened and supported on both the tank supporting portions 84, 84. Further, while not shown, a rear fender, tail lamp, and the like are mounted on the sub-frame 32. The sub-frame 32 is also integrally provided with a rear grip 97 connected to the rear ends of both the vertical frame portions 83, 83 and formed in a portal shape, and a rear end of the seat 30 is supported on a supporting portion 98 integrally provided on the rear grip 97 at a position intermediate between both the sides of the rear grip 97. Referring to Figs. 1 to 12, and particularly to Fig. 12, both the vertical frame portions 83, 83 of the sub-frame 32 serve as side grips, and opening portions 99 allowing a driver to grip the vertical frame portions 83, 83 are each provided on both the sides of the rear cover 29. Next, the function of this embodiment will be described. According to this embodiment, in the main frame 31 composed of the front frame 33 having the head pipe 16 integrally provided at the front end thereof and the rear frame 34 integrated with the front frame 33, since the stays 37, 37 are integrally provided on the right and left sides of the front frame 33 and the floor panels 27, 27 for supporting the feet of a driver are each supported on the stays 37, 37, it is possible to eliminate the need of provision of any special frame separately from the front frame 33 and hence to reduce the number of parts. Further, since the front portion of the front frame 33 is integrally provided with the auxiliary device mounting stays 43, 44, and 45 for mounting the battery 46, horn 47, and the combination switch respectively, it is possible to eliminate the need of provision of any separate auxiliary device mounting stays and hence to reduce the number of parts. The stays 37, 37 are each integrally provided on the right and left sides of the front frame 33 in such a manner as to extend relatively longer in the longitudinal direction, so that it is possible to avoid a load acting to the stays 37, 37 from being locally applied to the front frame 33, and hence to substantially equalize the load applied to the front frame 33 over a relatively longer distance in the longitudinal direction. As a result, since the front frame 33 may be formed into an opened shape in cross-section for sufficiently supporting the load from the floor panels 27, 27, it can be easily formed integrally with the stays 37, 37. Since the front frame 33 has at the central portion in the width direction of the body the swelled portion 33a which is swelled upward into an approximately U-shape in transverse cross-section, it is possible to make relatively larger the transverse cross-sectional area of the front frame 33 and hence to improve the rigidity of the front frame 33. By provision of the reinforcing member 41 between the stays 37, 37 present on the lower ends of the right and left sides of the front frame 33, the rigidity of the front frame 33 can be further improved. Also, since the floor panels 27, 27 are each supported on the stays 37, 37 in such a manner that the upper portion of the swelled portion 33a is exposed to the outside, it is possible to make relatively smaller the sizes of the leg shield 26 and the floor panels 27, 27 of the body cover 24. Since the rear frame 34 of the main frame 31 is provided with the containing recessed portion 50 having upward rising peripheral walls composed of the front wall 51, right and left walls 52, 52, and rear wall 53, with an upper portion thereof opened, and the article container 49 is mounted on the rear frame 34 with part thereof contained in the containing recessed portion 50, it is possible to eliminate the need of increasing the thickness of a portion for supporting the bottom portion of the article container 49 and enhance the rigidity of the rear frame 34, and hence to make lower the height of the upper end of the article container 49, that is, the height of the seat without an increase in weight. Since the left wall 52 of the containing recessed portion 50 has the inner side plate 52a forming the inner side surface of the containing recessed portion 50, the outer side plate 52b disposed outward of the inner side plate 52a with a distance put therebetween, and the connecting plate 52c connecting the upper ends of the inner side plate 52a and the outer side plate 52b to each other, and it is formed into an approximately u-shape opened downward in transverse cross-section; and the upper end of the rear cushion 23 is connected to the rear frame 34 at a position proximity to the left wall 52, it is possible to enhance the mounting rigidity of the rear cushion 23 to the rear frame 34. Further, since the engine hanger brackets 58, 58 are integrally provided on the rear frame 34, it is possible to eliminate the need of any special brackets for engine hangers and hence to reduce the number of parts. Since the upper end of the rear cushion 23 is directly connected to the rear cushion mounting portion 70 provided on the rear frame 34 with the rubbers 79, 80 interposed between the upper and lower surfaces of the rear cushion mounting portion 70, it is possible to eliminate the need of provision of any special brackets for mounting the rear cushion 23, and hence to reduce the number of parts. Also, since the rear cushion mounting portion 70 is provided in the rear portion of the rear frame 31 in the form of the recessed shape, it is possible to relatively increase the rigidity of the rear cushion mounting portion 70, and also since the rubber 79 is fitted in the recessed rear cushion mounting portion 70, it is possible to eliminate the need of provision of any guide member for restricting the expansion of the rubber 79 in the radial direction and hence to reduce the number of parts. Although an upward load is applied from the rear cushion 23 to the rear portion of the rear frame 34, the sub-frame 32 receiving part of a load of a driver from the seat 30, a load of the fuel tank 92, and a load applied when the driver lifts the vehicular body while gripping the vertical frame portions 83, 83 serving as side grips and the rear grip 97 is fastened to the rear portion of the rear frame 34 in front of and behind of the rear cushion mounting portion 70. Accordingly, a load having a reversed phase to that of the upward load from the rear cushion 23 can be applied to the rear frame 34 in front of and behind of the rear cushion mounting portion 70. This makes it possible to prevent a relatively large load in one direction from being applied to the rear portion of the rear frame 34, and hence to eliminate the need of increasing the thickness of the rear frame 34 and provision of any reinforcing ribs, leading to the reduced weight of the body. Since the sub-frame 32 mounted with the fuel tank 92, rear fender, tail lamp and the like can be assembled on the rear frame 34, it is possible to previously assemble the fuel tank 92, rear fender, tail lamp and the like on the sub-frame 32 in the assembling step of the scooter type vehicle, and hence to improve the assembling efficiency. Further, since the sub-frame 32 is integrally provided with the vertical frame portions 83, 83 serving as side grips and the rear grip 97, it is possible to eliminate the need of provision of any special grips and hence to reduce the number of parts. While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims. WE CLAIM: 1. An improved body structure of a scooter type vehicle, comprising: a front frame (33) having a head pipe (16) operably supporting a front fork (18), an inclined portion (35) extending rearward, downward from said head pipe (16), and a rearward extending portion (36) continuous to a rear end of said inclined portion (35) and extending rearward in the horizontal direction; a rear frame (34) extending rearward, upward from a rear end of said front frame (33), said rear frame (34) being integrated with said front frame (33); and an article container (49) mounted on said rear frame (34); wherein said rear frame (34) is provided with a containing recessed portion (50) having side walls (51, 52, 53) upward rising therearound with an upper portion thereof opened, and said article container (49) is mounted on said rear frame (34) with at least part thereof contained in said containing recessed portion (50). 2. The structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of right and left walls (52) of said containing recessed portion (50) has an inner side plate (52a) forming an inner side surface of said containing recessed portion (50), an outer side plate (52b) disposed outward of said inner side plate (52a) with a distance put therebetween, and a connecting plate (52c) connecting upper ends of said inner side plate (52a) and said outer side plate (52b) to each other, said wall (52) being formed into a U-shape opened downward in transverse cross-section; and an upper end of a rear cushion (23) is connected to said rear frame (34) in a position proximity to one of said right and left walls (52). 3. The structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said rear frame (34) is integrally provided with engine hanger brackets (58). 4. The structure as claimed in claim 1, having floor panels (27), mounted on said front frame (33), wherein stays (37) extending in the longitudinal direction are each integrally provided on right and left sides of said front frame (33) for supporting said floor panels (27). 5. The structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein said front frame (33) has, at a central portion in the width direction of the body, a swelled portion (33a) which is swelled upward into U-shape in transverse cross-section, and said stays (37) are each integrally provided on lower ends of both sides of said swelled portion (33a). 6. The structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein said floor panels (27) are each supported on said stays (37) and an upper portion of said swelled portion (33a) is exposed to the outside. 7. The structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein a reinforcing member (41) is installed between lower ends of right and left sides of said front frame. 8. The structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein a front portion of said front frame (33) is integrally provided with auxiliary device mounting stays (43, 44, 45) for mounting auxiliary devices (46,47). 9. The structure as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 8, wherein said front frame (33) is made from a light alloy or a synthetic resin reinforced with a long-fiber reinforcing member. 10. An improved body structure of a scooter substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

1321-DEL-1997-Abstract.pdf

1321-del-1997-claims.pdf

1321-DEL-1997-Correspondence-Others.pdf

1321-del-1997-correspondence-po.pdf

1321-del-1997-description (complete).pdf

1321-del-1997-drawings.pdf

1321-DEL-1997-Form-1.pdf

1321-del-1997-form-13.pdf

1321-del-1997-form-19.pdf

1321-del-1997-form-2.pdf

1321-del-1997-form-3.pdf

1321-del-1997-form-4.pdf

1321-DEL-1997-Form-6.pdf

1321-DEL-1997-GPA.pdf

1321-del-1997-petition-137.pdf

1321-del-1997-petition-138.pdf