Indian Patents. 272006:A MOTORCYCLE WITH A FRONT COVER HAVING A HOLE AND A BRACKET HAVING A PORTION PASSING THROUGH THE HOLE

Title of Invention	A MOTORCYCLE WITH A FRONT COVER HAVING A HOLE AND A BRACKET HAVING A PORTION PASSING THROUGH THE HOLE
Abstract	A motorcycle includes a front cover disposed above a headlight. The front cover includes: a front cover main body portion; and a hole formed in the front cover main body portion. The front cover main body portion is provided at a back side thereof with a mount portion for a bracket having a portion passing through the hole.

Full Text	MOTORCYCLE This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-338781 filed on December 28, 2007. 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a motorcycle and particularly to a motorcycle having a front cover disposed above 10 a headlight. 2. Description of the Related Art There is a widespread motorcycle provided with a front cover for covering a headlight in front of a vehicle body in order to protect a rider from flowing air, reduce traveling 15 resistance, and improve appearance (e.g., JP-A-S58-56977). Although the prior-art front cover has the functions of protecting the rider from flowing air, reducing traveling resistance, and improving appearance, to add a yet another function to them has never be thought of. The inventor of the 20 present application tried to increase a degree of freedom in design of the motorcycle by adding a new function to the front cover. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made with this point in 25 view and it is a main object of the invention to provide a 1 motorcycle in which a plate member can be mounted to the front cover. A motorcycle of the present invention includes a front cover disposed above a headlight. The front cover includes a 5 front cover main body portion and a hole formed in the front cover main body portion. The front cover main body portion is provided at a back side thereof with a mount portion for a bracket having a portion passing through the hole. According to the motorcycle of the invention, the front 10 cover main body portion forming the front cover is provided at the back side thereof with the mount portion for the bracket having the portion passing through the hole formed in the front cover main body portion. Therefore, if the portion passing through the hole has a retaining portion for retaining a plate 15 member in front of the front cover main body portion, it is possible to mount the plate member in front of the front cover main body portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 20 In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a general side view of a motorcycle 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of a front cover 100 according to the embodiment of the invention; 25 Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along a line III-III in 2 FIG. 2; and Fig. 4 is a back view of the front cover 100 according to the embodiment of the invention. 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment according to the present invention will be descried below with reference to the drawings . In the following drawings, components having substantially the same functions will be shown with the same reference numerals to simplify the 10 description. The invention is not limited to the following embodiment. With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a motorcycle 1000 according to the embodiment of the invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a general side view of the motorcycle 1000 15 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the motorcycle 1000 of the embodiment is formed of a front wheel 110, a rear wheel 120, and a drive source (engine) 130 provided between the front wheel 110 and the rear wheel 120. The front wheel 110 is rotatably supported by front forks 20 140. The front wheel 110 is covered with a front fender 180 while the rear wheel 120 is covered with a rear fender 190. The front forks 140 are connected to handlebars 150 with head pipes 142 interposed therebetween. Behind the handlebars 150, a fuel tank 160 and a seat 170 on which a rider is seated 25 are provided. Below (or diagonally behind and below) the seat 3 170, the rear wheel (driving wheel) 120 is positioned. In front of the handlebars 150, a headlight 50 is positioned. Above the headlight 50, a front cover 100 is provided. In the embodiment, the headlight 50 is covered with 5 the front cover 100. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a structure of the front cover 100 of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along a line III-III in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a drawing showing a back of the front cover 100, i.e., a view from the handlebars 10 150. The front cover 100 includes a front cover main body portion 11 and a hole 20 formed in the front cover main body portion 11. The front cover main body portion 11 is made of resin, for example, and thickness of the front cover main body 15 portion 11 is 2 to 3 mm, for example. The hole 20 passes through the front cover main body portion 11 from a surface 11 to a back face 11b. This hole 20 extends along a front-back direction of the vehicle of the motorcycle 1000 as shown in FIG. 3. Moreover, the hole 20 20 extends in the direction along the surface 11 of the front cover main body portion 11. Provided behind the front cover main body portion 11 is a mount portion 14 for a bracket 10 having a portion 12 passing through the hole 20. The portion 12 passing through the hole 25 20 includes a retaining portion 16 for retaining a plate member 4 30 in front of the front cover main body portion 11. The retaining portion 16 has such a structure as to be able to retain the plate member 30. In one example in the embodiment, the plate member 30 is fixed to the retaining portion 16 by fastening 5 members (screws, pins, etc.). The mount portion 14 of the bracket 10 is disposed near the back of the front cover main body portion 11 and on a side of the back face 11b of the front cover main body portion 11 in this example. The mount portion 14 in the embodiment is made 10 of the same material as the front cover main body portion 11. The mount portion 14 and the bracket 10 are fixed to each other by using fastening members (e.g., screws) 15. In the embodiment, the plate member 30 is a license plate. The bracket 10 is a support member for the license plate and 15 is formed of a steel sheet, for example. The portion 12 of the bracket 10 passing through the hole 20 is formed of a member formed by bending one steel sheet or a stick-shaped member. Behind the front cover main body portion 11, a meter 60 for the motorcycle is disposed as shown in FIG. 3. Between the 20 front cover main body portion 11 and the meter 60, the mount portion 14 for the bracket 10 is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the surface 11a of the front cover main body portion 11 is formed with a recessed portion 19 sandwiched between ridge lines 17. In the embodiment, the hole 25 20 is formed at part of the recessed portion 19. The ridge lines 5 17 are a pair of left and right ridge lines 17. The hole 20 is formed across the surface 11a of the front cover main body portion 11 between the left ridge line 17 and the right ridge line 17. The hole 20 is in a rectangular or elliptic shape, 5 for example. In the motorcycle 1000 of the embodiment, the hole 20 is formed in the front cover main body portion 11 forming the front cover 100 and the front cover main body portion 11 is formed at the back side thereof with the mount portion 14 for the bracket 10 having the portion 12 passing through the hole 20. Because the portion 12 passing through the hole has the retaining portion 16 for retaining the plate member (here, the license plate) 30 in front of the front cover main body portion 11, it is possible to mount the plate member (license plate) 30 in front of the 15 front cover main body portion 11. With the structure of the embodiment, because the license plate can be mounted in front of the front cover main body portion 11, it is possible to increase a degree of freedom in design of the motorcycle 1000. 20 As a concrete example, if a license plate is required at a front portion of the motorcycle, the license plate 30 need to be mounted around the front forks 140 positioned between the headlight 50 and the front fender 180 in FIG. 1. In this case, because the license plate 30 is mounted between the headlight 25 50 and the front fender 180, a large space is required between 6 the headlight 50 and the front fender 180, which restricts design of the vehicle. With the structure of the embodiment, the license plate can be mounted in front of the front cover 100 and therefore it is possible to increase a degree of freedom 5 of design of the portion between the front cover 100 and the front fender 180 including the headlight 50. Moreover, because the front cover 100 is formed with the hole 20 passing through the front cover main body portion 11 from the surface 11a to the back face 11b, it is possible to 10 provide a straightening function of the flowing air that blows against the cover 100. Especially because the recessed portion 19 sandwiched between the ridge lines 17 is formed on the surface 11a of the front cover main body portion 11 and the hole 20 is formed in part of the recessed portion 19, the flow of the flowing 15 air is facilitated along the recessed portion 19 sandwiched between the ridge lines 17, which increases the effect of the straightening function. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the hole 20 is formed to be wide between the left and right ridge lines 17, it is possible to reliably obtain the effect of the 20 straightening function. Although the license plate is mounted as the plate member 30 in the structure of the embodiment, not only the license plate but also other plate members (e.g., an emblem plate) can be mounted. Moreover, not only the plate member 30 but also other 25 members (e.g., an emblem) can be mounted. 7 Although the invention has been described by way of the preferred embodiment, such descriptions are not restrictive and it is needless to say that various changes can be made. According to the invention, it is possible to provide a 5 front fork mount structure including a small number of parts and a saddle-type vehicle having the structure. 8 WE CLAIM: 1. A motorcycle comprising a front cover disposed above a headlight, wherein the front cover includes: a front cover main body portion; and 5 a hole formed in the front cover main body portion, and the front cover main body portion is provided at a back side thereof with a mount portion for a bracket having a portion passing through the hole. 10 2. The motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portion passing through the hole includes a retaining portion for retaining a plate member in front of the front cover main body portion, and the mount portion for the bracket is disposed near the 15 back of the front cover main body. 3. The motorcycle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plate member is a license plate, and the bracket is a support member for the license plate. 20 4. The motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a meter for the motorcycle is disposed behind the front cover main body, and the mount portion for the bracket is provided between the 25 front cover main body portion and the meter. 9 5. The motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a surface of the front cover main body portion is provided with a recessed portion sandwiched between ridge lines, and 5 the hole is formed at part of the recessed portion on the surface of the front cover main body portion. 6. The motorcycle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ridge lines are a pair of left and right ridge lines, 10 and the hole is formed across the surface of the front cover main body portion between the left ridge line and the right ridge line. 15 7. The motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hole passes through along a front-back direction of a vehicle of the motorcycle. 8. A motorcycle comprising a front cover disposed above a 20 headlight, wherein the front cover includes: a front cover main body portion; and a hole formed in the front cover main body portion, and the hole passes through the front cover main body portion from a surface to a back face. A motorcycle includes a front cover disposed above a headlight. The front cover includes: a front cover main body portion; and a hole formed in the front cover main body portion. The front cover main body portion is provided at a back side thereof with a mount portion for a bracket having a portion passing through the hole.

Full Text

MOTORCYCLE
This application claims priority from Japanese Patent
Application No. 2007-338781 filed on December 28, 2007.
5
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motorcycle and
particularly to a motorcycle having a front cover disposed above
10 a headlight.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a widespread motorcycle provided with a front
cover for covering a headlight in front of a vehicle body in
order to protect a rider from flowing air, reduce traveling
15 resistance, and improve appearance (e.g., JP-A-S58-56977).
Although the prior-art front cover has the functions of
protecting the rider from flowing air, reducing traveling
resistance, and improving appearance, to add a yet another
function to them has never be thought of. The inventor of the
20 present application tried to increase a degree of freedom in
design of the motorcycle by adding a new function to the front
cover.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made with this point in
25 view and it is a main object of the invention to provide a
1

motorcycle in which a plate member can be mounted to the front
cover.
A motorcycle of the present invention includes a front
cover disposed above a headlight. The front cover includes a
5 front cover main body portion and a hole formed in the front
cover main body portion. The front cover main body portion is
provided at a back side thereof with a mount portion for a bracket
having a portion passing through the hole.
According to the motorcycle of the invention, the front
10 cover main body portion forming the front cover is provided at
the back side thereof with the mount portion for the bracket
having the portion passing through the hole formed in the front
cover main body portion. Therefore, if the portion passing
through the hole has a retaining portion for retaining a plate
15 member in front of the front cover main body portion, it is
possible to mount the plate member in front of the front cover
main body portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
20 In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a general side view of a motorcycle 1000
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a front view of a front cover 100 according to
the embodiment of the invention;
25 Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along a line III-III in
2

FIG. 2; and
Fig. 4 is a back view of the front cover 100 according
to the embodiment of the invention.
5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An embodiment according to the present invention will be
descried below with reference to the drawings . In the following
drawings, components having substantially the same functions
will be shown with the same reference numerals to simplify the
10 description. The invention is not limited to the following
embodiment.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a motorcycle 1000
according to the embodiment of the invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a general side view of the motorcycle 1000
15 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the motorcycle
1000 of the embodiment is formed of a front wheel 110, a rear
wheel 120, and a drive source (engine) 130 provided between the
front wheel 110 and the rear wheel 120.
The front wheel 110 is rotatably supported by front forks
20 140. The front wheel 110 is covered with a front fender 180
while the rear wheel 120 is covered with a rear fender 190.
The front forks 140 are connected to handlebars 150 with
head pipes 142 interposed therebetween. Behind the handlebars
150, a fuel tank 160 and a seat 170 on which a rider is seated
25 are provided. Below (or diagonally behind and below) the seat
3

170, the rear wheel (driving wheel) 120 is positioned.
In front of the handlebars 150, a headlight 50 is
positioned. Above the headlight 50, a front cover 100 is
provided. In the embodiment, the headlight 50 is covered with
5 the front cover 100.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a structure of the front
cover 100 of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken
along a line III-III in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a drawing showing
a back of the front cover 100, i.e., a view from the handlebars
10 150.
The front cover 100 includes a front cover main body
portion 11 and a hole 20 formed in the front cover main body
portion 11. The front cover main body portion 11 is made of
resin, for example, and thickness of the front cover main body
15 portion 11 is 2 to 3 mm, for example.
The hole 20 passes through the front cover main body
portion 11 from a surface 11 to a back face 11b. This hole
20 extends along a front-back direction of the vehicle of the
motorcycle 1000 as shown in FIG. 3. Moreover, the hole 20
20 extends in the direction along the surface 11 of the front cover
main body portion 11.
Provided behind the front cover main body portion 11 is
a mount portion 14 for a bracket 10 having a portion 12 passing
through the hole 20. The portion 12 passing through the hole
25 20 includes a retaining portion 16 for retaining a plate member
4

30 in front of the front cover main body portion 11. The
retaining portion 16 has such a structure as to be able to retain
the plate member 30. In one example in the embodiment, the plate
member 30 is fixed to the retaining portion 16 by fastening
5 members (screws, pins, etc.).
The mount portion 14 of the bracket 10 is disposed near
the back of the front cover main body portion 11 and on a side
of the back face 11b of the front cover main body portion 11
in this example. The mount portion 14 in the embodiment is made
10 of the same material as the front cover main body portion 11.
The mount portion 14 and the bracket 10 are fixed to each other
by using fastening members (e.g., screws) 15.
In the embodiment, the plate member 30 is a license plate.
The bracket 10 is a support member for the license plate and
15 is formed of a steel sheet, for example. The portion 12 of the
bracket 10 passing through the hole 20 is formed of a member
formed by bending one steel sheet or a stick-shaped member.
Behind the front cover main body portion 11, a meter 60
for the motorcycle is disposed as shown in FIG. 3. Between the
20 front cover main body portion 11 and the meter 60, the mount
portion 14 for the bracket 10 is provided.
As shown in FIG. 2, the surface 11a of the front cover
main body portion 11 is formed with a recessed portion 19
sandwiched between ridge lines 17. In the embodiment, the hole
25 20 is formed at part of the recessed portion 19. The ridge lines
5

17 are a pair of left and right ridge lines 17. The hole 20
is formed across the surface 11a of the front cover main body
portion 11 between the left ridge line 17 and the right ridge
line 17. The hole 20 is in a rectangular or elliptic shape,
5 for example.
In the motorcycle 1000 of the embodiment, the hole 20 is
formed in the front cover main body portion 11 forming the front
cover 100 and the front cover main body portion 11 is formed
at the back side thereof with the mount portion 14 for the bracket
10 having the portion 12 passing through the hole 20. Because the
portion 12 passing through the hole has the retaining portion
16 for retaining the plate member (here, the license plate) 30
in front of the front cover main body portion 11, it is possible
to mount the plate member (license plate) 30 in front of the
15 front cover main body portion 11.
With the structure of the embodiment, because the license
plate can be mounted in front of the front cover main body portion
11, it is possible to increase a degree of freedom in design
of the motorcycle 1000.
20 As a concrete example, if a license plate is required at
a front portion of the motorcycle, the license plate 30 need
to be mounted around the front forks 140 positioned between the
headlight 50 and the front fender 180 in FIG. 1. In this case,
because the license plate 30 is mounted between the headlight
25 50 and the front fender 180, a large space is required between
6

the headlight 50 and the front fender 180, which restricts
design of the vehicle. With the structure of the embodiment,
the license plate can be mounted in front of the front cover
100 and therefore it is possible to increase a degree of freedom
5 of design of the portion between the front cover 100 and the
front fender 180 including the headlight 50.
Moreover, because the front cover 100 is formed with the
hole 20 passing through the front cover main body portion 11
from the surface 11a to the back face 11b, it is possible to
10 provide a straightening function of the flowing air that blows
against the cover 100. Especially because the recessed portion
19 sandwiched between the ridge lines 17 is formed on the surface
11a of the front cover main body portion 11 and the hole 20 is
formed in part of the recessed portion 19, the flow of the flowing
15 air is facilitated along the recessed portion 19 sandwiched
between the ridge lines 17, which increases the effect of the
straightening function. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the
hole 20 is formed to be wide between the left and right ridge
lines 17, it is possible to reliably obtain the effect of the
20 straightening function.
Although the license plate is mounted as the plate member
30 in the structure of the embodiment, not only the license plate
but also other plate members (e.g., an emblem plate) can be
mounted. Moreover, not only the plate member 30 but also other
25 members (e.g., an emblem) can be mounted.
7

Although the invention has been described by way of the
preferred embodiment, such descriptions are not restrictive and
it is needless to say that various changes can be made.
According to the invention, it is possible to provide a
5 front fork mount structure including a small number of parts
and a saddle-type vehicle having the structure.
8

WE CLAIM:
1. A motorcycle comprising a front cover disposed above a
headlight, wherein the front cover includes:
a front cover main body portion; and
5 a hole formed in the front cover main body portion, and
the front cover main body portion is provided at a back
side thereof with a mount portion for a bracket having a portion
passing through the hole.
10 2. The motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the portion passing through the hole includes a retaining
portion for retaining a plate member in front of the front cover
main body portion, and
the mount portion for the bracket is disposed near the
15 back of the front cover main body.
3. The motorcycle as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the plate member is a license plate, and
the bracket is a support member for the license plate.
20
4. The motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein
a meter for the motorcycle is disposed behind the front
cover main body, and
the mount portion for the bracket is provided between the
25 front cover main body portion and the meter.
9

5. The motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein
a surface of the front cover main body portion is provided
with a recessed portion sandwiched between ridge lines, and
5 the hole is formed at part of the recessed portion on the
surface of the front cover main body portion.
6. The motorcycle as claimed in claim 5, wherein
the ridge lines are a pair of left and right ridge lines,
10 and
the hole is formed across the surface of the front cover
main body portion between the left ridge line and the right ridge
line.
15 7. The motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hole
passes through along a front-back direction of a vehicle of the
motorcycle.
8. A motorcycle comprising a front cover disposed above a
20 headlight, wherein the front cover includes:
a front cover main body portion; and
a hole formed in the front cover main body portion, and
the hole passes through the front cover main body portion
from a surface to a back face.

A motorcycle includes a front cover disposed above a headlight. The front cover includes: a front cover main body portion; and a hole formed in the front cover main body portion. The front cover main body portion is provided at a back side thereof with a mount portion for a bracket having a portion passing through the hole.

Documents:

http://ipindiaonline.gov.in/patentsearch/GrantedSearch/viewdoc.aspx?id=vWVbB+XkQmNt2m+GnWdpCA==&loc=wDBSZCsAt7zoiVrqcFJsRw==

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Patent Number

272006

Indian Patent Application Number

1786/KOL/2008

PG Journal Number

12/2016

Publication Date

18-Mar-2016

Grant Date

14-Mar-2016

Date of Filing

22-Oct-2008

Name of Patentee

YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Applicant Address

2500 SHINGAI, IWATA-SHI, SHIZUOKA

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	FUMIYASU HIRAI	C/O. YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA 2500 SHINGAI, IWATA-SHI, SHIZUOKA 438-8501

PCT International Classification Number

F01L1/04; F01L1/053; F02F1/24; F02B61/02

PCT International Application Number

N/A

PCT International Filing date

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	2007-338781	2007-12-28	Japan