Title of Invention

"GRAB RAIL MOUNTING STRUCTURE OF MOTORCYCLE"

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a structure in which a lateral distance between seat receiving portions can be increased even when grab rail mounting portions are located nearby. [Means for Resolution] A grab rail 31 is a member configured in such a manner that mounting seats 52, 52 with respect to a vehicle body frame 13 are arranged in the fore-and-aft direction in pair, seat receiving portions 54, 54 are integrally formed on the outsides of the mounting seats 52, 52 in the lateral direction at a higher level than the mounting seats 52, 52, and the seat receiving portions 54, 54 are arranged between the mounting seats 52.... The grab rail 31 is set to a bracket 51 fixed to the vehicle body frame 13, and the grab rail 31 is fixed to the bracket 51 with mounting bolts 59.... [Selected Drawing] Fig. 6

Full Text

[Designation of Document] SPECIFICATION [Title of the Invention] GRAB RAIL MOUNTING STRUCTURE OF MOTORCYCLE [Technical Field] [0001] The present invention relates to a grab rail mounting structure to be mounted on a rear portion of a vehicle body frame of a motorcycle. [Background Art] [0002] Hitherto, a grab rail mounting structure to be mounted to a rear portion of a vehicle body frame of a motorcycle is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). [Patent Document 1] JP-A-2003-306180 (Fig. 7) [0003] A grab rail mounting structure in which a cross member 8 (the same reference numerals as in the abovementioned Patent Document are used, hereinafter) is extended between a pair of left and right seat rails 5, 5, a seat lock device 26 is arranged at a center of the cross member 8 in the width direction of a vehicle, brackets 33, 33 as base members of the grab rail 27 are arranged on the cross member 8 laterally of the seat lock device 26, and the brackets 33, 33 and the seat lock device 26 are covered by a seat 21 shown by an imaginary line is shown in Fig. 7 in Patent Document 1. [0004] A housing section 30a of the seat lock device 26 also serves as a receiving portion of the seat 21, that is, a seat receiving portion. [0005] When the lateral distance between the seat receiving portions are required to be increased in order to enhance the safety of the seat 21, in the structure shown in Patent Document 1, the lateral distance cannot be enlarged since the seat receiving portions are located inside the brackets 33, 33 and hence interferes with the brackets 33, 33. Therefore, a structure in which the lateral distance between the seat receiving portions can be enlarged even though the grab rail mounting portions such as the brackets 33, 33 are located nearby is required. [Disclosure of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] [0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a structure in which a lateral distance between seat receiving portions can be enlarged even through a grab rail mounting portions are located nearby. [Means for Solving the Problems] [0007] The invention according to Claim 1 is, in a grab rail mounting structure for a motorcycle in which a grab rail which a passenger can grab is mounted on a rear portion of a vehicle body frame, characterized in that a seat receiving portion is integrally formed on the outsides of mounting seats of the grab rail with respect to the vehicle body frame at a level higher than the mounting seats. [0008] The invention according to Claim 2 is characterized in that a protective wall for covering the sides of the mounting seats is formed integrally with the seat receiving portion. [0009] The invention according to Claim 3 is characterized in that the mounting seats are provided in the front and the rear in pair, and the seat receiving portion is provided between the mounting seats. [Advantage of the Invention] [0010] In the invention according to Claim 1, the seat receiving portion is formed on the outside of the mounting seats of the grab rail with respect to the vehicle body frame at a level higher than the mounting seats, and the heights of the seat receiving portion and the mounting seats are offset in the vertical direction. [0011] Since the seat receiving portion is formed on the outside of the mounting seats of the grab rail with respect to the vehicle body frame, even when the left and right seat receiving portions which receive a load of a seat are arranged so as to be shifted outward, the seat receiving portion and the grab rail mounting portions do not interfere with each other. [0012] In addition, even when the heights of the seat receiving portion and the mounting seats are offset from each other in the vertical direction, if the height of heads of grab rail mounting bolts can be kept within an offset amount, interference between the heads of the mounting bolts to be provided on the mounting seats and seat side members does not occur. [0013] According to the present invention, since the seat receiving portion is integrally formed at a level higher than the mounting seats, the seat receiving portion and the mounting seats can be arranged at positions close to each other. Since a space for avoiding interference is not necessary on the side of the seat side members, a space for arrangement of the seat receiving portion and the mounting seats can be downsized. [0014] In the invention according to Claim 2, the protective walls for covering the sides of the mounting seats are formed integrally with the seat receiving portion. Since the seat receiving portion is formed on the outsides of the mounting seats, the protective walls are formed on the outsides of the mounting seats, and hence the mounting seats can be protected from the outside. Since the mounting seats can be protected from the outsides, it is difficult to operate the mounting bolts from the outsides, and hence there is an advantage such that an anti-theft effect can be improved. [0015] In the invention according to Claim 3, since the mounting seats are provided in the front and the rear in pair and the seat receiving portions are provided between the mounting seats, the seat receiving portions can be arranged so as to overlap at least partly with fastening members mounted to the mounting seats in the lateral direction. By arranging the seat receiving portions so as to overlap at least partly with the fastening members mounted to the mounting seats in the lateral direction, the left and right seat receiving portions can be arranged closer in the lateral direction. By arranging the left and right seat receiving portions closer to each other in the lateral direction, there is an advantage such that the space for arranging the seat receiving portions with respect to the vehicle body frame is not necessary to increase more than necessary. [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention] [0016] Referring now to the attached drawings, a best mode for carrying out the invention will be described below. The terms, "front", "rear", "left ", "right", "top", "bottom" are directions based on a driver, and reference sign Ft represents the front side, Rr represents the rear side, L represents the left side, R represents the right side, T represents the top side, and the B represents the bottom side. The drawings are to be viewed in the orientation in which reference numerals are viewed in the right way. [0017] Fig. 1 is a left side view of a motorcycle provided with a grab rail according to the present invention. A motorcycle 10 includes a vehicle body frame 13 including a main frame 11 and a rear frame 12 mounted to a rear portion of the main frame 11, and is a vehicle configured in such a manner that a head pipe 14 is provided at a front end of the main frame 11, a front fork 15 is steerably provided on the head pipe 14, a front wheel 16 is rotatably mounted to a lower end of the front fork 15, a steering handle 17 is mounted to an upper end of the front fork 15, an engine 18 is suspended from the main frame 11, a rear swing arm 21 is swingably attached to the main frame 11, a rear wheel 22 is rotatably attached to the rear swing arm 21, a lower end portion of a rear cushion 23 is mounted to the rear swing arm 21, an upper end of the rear cushion 23 is mounted 5 the rear frame 12, a fuel tank 25 and a seat 26 are mounted 3 the rear frame 12, an air cleaner 27 is arranged above the ngine 18, and a grab rail 31 is mounted to a rear portion of he rear frame 12. [0018] Furthermore, a headlight 32 is provided on the steering tandle 17, a front cowl 33 is provided on the head pipe 14, i mud guarding front fender 34 for the front wheel 16 is provided >n the front fork 15, a center cowl 35 for covering the engine L8 on the main frame 11, and a rear cowl 36 is provided on the rear frame 12. Reference numeral 3 7 des ignates a center stand, reference numeral 38 designates a side stand, reference numeral 39 designates a tail lamp, and reference numeral 41 designates a rear fender. [0019] Fig. 2 is an enlarged drawing showing a principal portion of the motorcycle provided with the grab rail according to the present invention. A grab rail mounting portion 50 includes the grab rail 31 arranged on the rear portion of the vehicle body frame 13, and the grab rail 31 is mounted to the vehicle body frame 13. The seat is omitted here. [0020] The grab rail 31 has a predetermined shape and a strength so that a passenger can grab, and is a member to be mounted by fixing a bracket 51 to the vehicle body frame 13, the grab rail 31 is set from above a top surface 51a of the bracket 51, and a grab rail mounting seat 52 and a bottom surface 51b of the bracket 51 are tightened by a fastening member 53. [0021] Material of the grab rail 31 is preferably, for example, aluminum die casting alloy when the strength and reduction of the weight are considered. Reference numeral 54 designates a seat receiving portion provided on the grab rail 31 for receiving a load of the seat 26 (see Fig. 1). [0022] Fig. 3 is a drawing viewed in the direction indicated by an arrow 3 in Fig. 2. The grab rail mounting portions 50, 50 employ a structure to set the grab rail 31 on the top surface 51a of the bracket 51 fixed to the vehicle body frame 13 and fix the same by the fastening members 53... (... designates plurality, hereinafter). [0023] The grab rail 31 includes seat receiving portions 54, 54 integrally formed on the laterally outsides of the mounting seats 52, 52 with respect to the vehicle body frame 13 and protective walls 63, 63 provided outsides of the seat receiving portions 54, 54 for preventing a tool or the like from accessing thereto from the outside. [0024] Since the seat receiving portions 54, 54 are formed on he laterally outsides of the mounting seats 52, 52 with respect o the vehicle body frame 13 of the grab rail 31, even when :he left and right seat receiving portions 54, 54 which receive i load of the seat 2 6 is moved laterally outsides of the vehicle, :he seat receiving portions 54 and the grab rail mounting seats 52 do not interfere with each other. Consequently, flexibility in arrangement of the seat receiving portion 54 may be improved. [0025] Furthermore, the mounting seats 52, 52 with respect to the vehicle body frame 13 are preferably provided in the front and rear (in the left and right in the drawing) in pair. In this arrangement, the seat receiving portion 54 can be arranged between the mounting seats 52, 52. [0026] In this embodiment, the mounting seats 52, 52 with respect to the vehicle body frame 13 are provided in the front and the rear in pair, the seat receiving portion 54 is provided between the mounting seats 52, 52, the seat receiving portion 54 is approached between the fastening members 53, 53 mounted on the mounting seat, and the seat receiving portion 54 is arranged so as to overlap at least partly with the fastening members 53, 53 in the lateral direction. [0027] By arranging the seat receiving portion 54 so as to overlap at least partly with the fastening members 53, 53 in the lateral direction, the left and right seat receiving portions 54, 54 can be arranged closer to each other in the lateral direction. Since the left and right seat receiving portions 54, 54 can be arranged closer to each other in the lateral direction, the space for arranging the seat receiving portion 54 with respect to the vehicle body frame 13 is not enlarged more than necessary. [0028] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 4-4 in Fig. 3, and referring to this drawing, the grab rail mounting structure will be described more detail. The grab rail mounting portion 50 is configured in such a manner that the bracket 51 is mounted to the rear frame 12, a collar member 56 for fixing the grab rail 31 is mounted on the top surface 51a of the bracket 51, the grab rail 31 is placed on a top surface 56a of the collar member 56, a hole 57 of the grab rail 31 is aligned with a hole 58 of the collar member 56, and the grab rail 31 is fixed to the bracket 51 with a mounting bolt 59 as the fastening member 53. [0029] Fig. 5 is a drawing illustrating how to set the seat to the grab rail mounting portion by showing a positional relation between the grab rail mounting portion and the seat 26. A rubber bush 71 provided on the seat 26 side is aligned with the seat receiving portion 54 provided on the grab rail 31 at a position where the load of the seat 26 can be received stably for receiving the load of the seat 26, and a seat lock bar 7 2 fixed to the seat 2 6 side so as to be directed downward is engaged with a claw portion 74 of a seat lock mechanism 73 integrated in the bracket 51, whereby the seat 26 is locked. [0030] Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the grab rail mounting structure according to the present invention. Description will be given below referring to Fig. 3 and Fig. 6. The grab rail 31 includes a main body 61, extending portions 62, 62 extending inward from the main body 61, the mounting seats 52... provided on the extending portions 62, 62, the seat receiving portions 54, 54 arranged on the outsides of the mounting seats 52..., and the protective walls 63, 63 to be arranged on the laterally outsides of the seat receiving portions 54, 54. Then, the seat receiving portions 54, 54 are integrally formed on the outsides of the mounting seats 52.. . of the grab rail 31 with respect to the vehicle body frame 13 at a higher level than the mounting seats 52.... [0031] The protective walls 63, 63 are formed integrally with the seat receiving portions 54, 54, and wrap-around portions 64... are provided in the front and rear of the protective walls 63, 63. In other words, the seat receiving portions 54, 54 are integrally formed with the protective walls 63, 63 for covering the sides of the mounting seats 52... and the mounting bolts 59..., and the protective walls 63, 63 are provided with the wrap-around portions 64... for covering the front and rear of the mounting seats 52... and the mounting bolts 59.... [0032] The arrangement relation between the seat receiving portion 54 and the protective wall 63 will be described below. The seat receiving portion 54 is a member provided at a center in the fore-and-aft direction and at a center between the mounting seats 52, 52 in the fore-and-aft direction, and projected from between the mounting bolts 59, 59 mounted to the mounting seats 52, 52. In plan view, the protective wall 63 and the seat receiving portion 54 are formed into substantially an E-shape. [0033] The seat receiving portions 54, 54, each having a circular top surface, are arranged in such a manner that outer peripheral surfaces of the seat receiving portions 54, 54 are circumscribed with outer edges 65, 65 of the protective walls 63, 63 so that the seat receiving portions 54, 54 are positioned on the laterally inside of the protective walls 63, 63. [0034] Since the mounting seats 52, 52 and the protective walls 63, 63 for covering the mounting bolts 59... are formed integrally with the seat receiving portions 54, 54, and the seat receiving portions 54, 54 are arranged on the laterally outs ides of the mounting seats 52, 52 and the mounting bolts 59.. ., the protective walls 63, 63 are formed on the outsides of the mounting seats 52, 52, and protect the mounting seats 52, 52 from the outside. Since the mounting seats 52, 52 can be protected from the outside, operation of the mounting bolts 59... from the outside by a tool or the like is difficult, whereby the anti-theft effect can be improved. [0035] The operation of the grab rail mounting structure according to the present invention will be described. Referring back to Fig. 4, the seat receiving portion 54 is formed on the laterally outsides of the mounting seat 52 of the grab rail 31 with respect to the vehicle body frame 13 at a level higher than the mounting seat 52, so that the heights of the seat receiving portion 54 and of the mounting seats 52 are offset in the vertical direction. [0036] When a height T of the head of the grab rail mounting bolt 59 can be kept within an offset amount S by arranging the seat receiving portion 54 and the mounting seats 52 so as to be offset by the offset amount S in the vertical direction, interference between the head 59a of the mounting bolt 5 9 provided on the mounting seat 52 and the seat side members does not occur. [0037] Furthermore, since the seat receiving portion 54 is integrally formed at a position higher than the mounting seat 52, the seat receiving portion 54 and the mounting seat 52 can be arranged closer to each other. Since these members can be arranged closer to each other, a space for avoiding interference is not necessary, and hence the space for arranging the seat receiving portion 54 and the mounting seats 52 can be reduced. [0038] Although the grab rail mounting structure of the present invention is applied to a motorcycle in this embodiment, it can also be applied to tricycles, and it can be applied to general vehicles without problem. [Industrial Applicability] [0039] The grab rail mounting structure of the present invention is suitable for a motorcycle. [Brief Description of the Drawings] [0040] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a left side view of a motorcycle provided with a grab rail according to the present invention. 5 [Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is an enlarged drawing showing a principal portion of the motorcycle provided with the grab rail according to the present invention. [Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a drawing viewed in a direction indicated by an arrow 3 in Fig. 2. 0 [Fig* 4] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 4-4 in Fig. 3. [Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a drawing illustrating how to set a seat to the grab rail mounting portion. [Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a grab rail 5 mounting structure according to the present invention. [Description of Reference Numerals and Signs] [0041] 10...motorcycle, 13...vehicle body frame, 31...grab rail, 52...grab rail mounting seat, 54 — seat receiving 0 portion, 63...protective wall [Designation of Document] CLAIMS [Claim 1] A grab rail mounting structure for a motorcycle in which a grab rail which a passenger can grab is mounted on a rear portion of a vehicle body frame, characterized in that a seat receiving portion is integrally formed on the outsides of mounting seats of the grab rail with respect to the vehicle body frame at a level higher than the mounting seats. [Claim 2] The grab rail mounting structure for a motorcycle according to Claim 1, characterized in that a protective wall for covering the sides of the mounting seats is formed integrally with the seat receiving portion. [Claim 3] The grab rail mounting structure for a motorcycle according to Claim 1, characterized in that the mounting seats are provided in the front and the rear in pair, and the seat receiving portion is provided between the mounting seats.

Documents:

1689-CHE-2005 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 29-09-2011.pdf

1689-CHE-2005 AMENDED CLAIMS 29-09-2011.pdf

1689-CHE-2005 EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECEIVED 29-09-2011.pdf

1689-CHE-2005 FORM-3 29-09-2011.pdf

1689-CHE-2005 OTHER PATENT DOCUMENT 29-09-2011.pdf

1689-CHE-2005 POWER OF ATTORNEY 29-09-2011.pdf

1689-CHE-2005 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 28-10-2011.pdf

1689-CHE-2005 CORRESPONDENCE PO.pdf

1689-CHE-2005 ENGLISH TRANSLATION 28-10-2011.pdf

1689-CHE-2005 FORM-18.pdf

1689-che-2005-abstract image.jpg

1689-che-2005-abstract.pdf

1689-che-2005-claims.pdf

1689-che-2005-correspondnece-others.pdf

1689-che-2005-description(complete).pdf

1689-che-2005-drawings.pdf

1689-che-2005-form 1.pdf

1689-che-2005-form 3.pdf

1689-che-2005-form 5.pdf