Body cover and structure for motorcycle

• US 20020007977A1
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishii, Yoshihide, Kitamura, Yasuhiko, Miyagi, Keiji, Kikuhara, Hiroshi, Toyofuku, Kenji
• Granted Patent: US 6,588,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/219
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/10 Ventilation or air guiding devices forming part of fairings
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/02 Frames motorcycles or cycles with auxiliary engines characterised by position of engine B62M
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/04 characterised by the engine being between front and rear wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/48 Fairings forming part of frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2202/00 Motorised scooters
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/02 for driving cycles

Abstract

A motorcycle frame and body cover arrangement that provides a very neat appearance as well as good riding posture for the rider/operator and a co-rider and also for its good leg positioning when the vehicle is stationary. The body cover covers the major portions of the frame and engine assembly but leaves the crankcase of the engine exposed for cooling and to improve the foot area. Also, the body cover pieces are arranged so as to permit changes in styling details. Portions of the body that carry weight are supported by the frame by a sub-frame that encircles the head pipe. Also, the body configuration and seating arrangement is such that a rider can be comfortably seated behind the operator and his feet will be positioned well clear of the muffler and other running components while still maintaining a comfortable position.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprised of a frame assembly including a head pipe for journalling a front wheel for steering about a steering axis and a plurality of frame members rigidly affixed to each other, a seat carried by said frame assembly and adapted to accommodate at least a single rider seated in straddle fashion, a rear wheel supported by said frame assembly for suspension movement relative thereto, an engine transmission assembly carried by and forming a part of said frame assembly for driving said rear wheel, and a body cover assembly comprised of a plurality of body cover parts each detachably connected to said frame assembly and substantially concealing said frame assembly.

2. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the body cover assembly is comprised at least three separate components at each side in the area below the seat.

3. A vehicle as set forth in claim 2 wherein the three separate components of the body cover assembly comprise a foot rest adapted to support the feet of a rider seated on the seat and extending there beneath, a seat undercover covering the portion of the frame assembly beneath said seat, and a boomerang cover having a pair of angularly related leg portions covering the area of the frame assembly beneath said seat undercover.

4. A vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein the foot rests are comprised of forward, upwardly extending leg shield portions the trailing sides thereof being operative to receive a rider'"'"'s foot, rearwardly extending horizontal surfaces also adapted to receive the rider'"'"'s feet and vertically extending side cover portions.

5. A vehicle as set forth in claim 4 wherein the foot rest vertically extending side cover portions terminate adjacent the boomerang covers.

6. A vehicle as set forth in claim 4 wherein the engine transmission assembly includes a crankcase in which a crankshaft is journalled for rotation about a transverse axis and the body cover assembly is formed with cut outs for exposing at least a portion of the crankcase beneath the seat so a rider can place his feet on the ground in close proximity to said crankcase and so said crankcase can be exposed to the atmosphere for cooling.

7. A vehicle as set forth in claim 6 wherein the cut outs for exposing at least a portion of the crankcase are formed in the foot rest and the boomerang cover.

8. A vehicle as set forth in claim 7 wherein the cut outs formed in the foot rest is formed in a vertically extending part thereof that is juxtaposed to one leg of the boomerang cover.

9. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the frame assembly includes a sub frame fixed relative to and surrounding the head pipe and the body cover assembly is comprised of at least a pair of foot rests adapted to support the feet of a rider seated on the seat and extending there beneath, said foot rests being affixed to said sub frame for supporting the rider'"'"'s feet.

10. A vehicle as set forth in claim 9 wherein the foot rests are comprised of forward, upwardly extending leg shield portions the trailing sides thereof being operative to receive a rider'"'"'s foot and rearwardly extending horizontal surfaces also adapted to receive the rider'"'"'s feet.

11. A vehicle as set forth in claim 10 wherein the seat extends rearwardly a distance to accept a rider passenger in tandem with a rider operator and the foot rest rearwardly extending horizontal surfaces also is adapted to receive the rider passenger'"'"'s feet.

12. A vehicle as set forth in claim 9 wherein the sub frame includes a rearwardly extending hoop shaped section to which the foot rests are affixed.

13. A vehicle as set forth in claim 12 wherein the sub frame further includes a forwardly extending hoop shaped section to which a wind shield is affixed.

14. A vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the front fork comprises a pair of transversely spaced fork elements surrounded by the sub frame hoop shaped sections.

15. A vehicle as set forth in claim 14 wherein the foot rests are comprised of forward, upwardly extending leg shield portions the trailing sides thereof being operative to receive a rider'"'"'s foot and rearwardly extending horizontal surfaces also adapted to receive the rider'"'"'s feet.

16. A vehicle as set forth in claim 15 wherein the seat extends rearwardly a distance to accept a rider passenger in tandem with a rider operator and the foot rest rearwardly extending horizontal surfaces also is adapted to receive the rider passenger'"'"'s feet.

17. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the engine transmission assembly includes a crankcase in which a crankshaft is journalled for rotation about a transverse axis and the body cover assembly is formed with cut outs for exposing at least a portion of the crankcase beneath the seat so a rider can place his feet on the ground in close proximity to said crankcase and so said crankcase can be exposed to the atmosphere for cooling.

18. A vehicle as set forth in claim 17 wherein the body cover assembly is comprised at least three separate components at each side in the area below the seat and the cut outs for exposing at least a portion of the crankcase are formed in two of the components.

19. A vehicle as set forth in claim 18 wherein the three separate components of the body cover assembly comprise a foot rest adapted to support the feet of a rider seated on the seat and extending there beneath, a seat undercover covering the portion of the frame assembly beneath said seat, and a boomerang cover having a pair of angularly related leg portions covering the area of the frame assembly beneath said seat undercover.

20. A vehicle as set forth in claim 19 wherein the cut outs for exposing at least a portion of the crankcase are formed in the foot rest and the boomerang cover.

21. A vehicle as set forth in claim 20 wherein the cut outs formed in the foot rest is formed in a vertically extending part thereof that is juxtaposed to one leg of the boomerang cover.

22. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the seat extends rearwardly a distance to accept a rider passenger in tandem with a rider operator, the body cover assembly is comprised of a seat undercover covering the portion of the frame assembly beneath said seat, the engine assembly exhausts combustion products to the atmosphere through a muffler disposed below said seat undercover and above an axle about which the rear wheel rotates, and further including a pair of tandem foot rests each fixed to said frame assembly at a respective side thereof and forwardly of said muffler.

23. A vehicle as set forth in claim 22 wherein the body cover assembly is comprised at least three separate components at each side in the area below the seat.

24. A vehicle as set forth in claim 23 wherein the three separate components of the body cover assembly comprise a foot rest adapted to support the feet of a rider operator seated on the seat and extending there beneath, a seat undercover covering the portion of the frame assembly beneath said seat, and a boomerang cover having a pair of angularly related leg portions covering the area of the frame assembly beneath said seat undercover.

25. A vehicle as set forth in claim 24 wherein the pair of tandem foot rests are pivotally supported from the frame assembly between an outwardly positioned, operative position and in inwardly positioned, storage position.

26. A vehicle as set forth in claim 25 wherein the tandem foot rests lie forwardly of the muffler in each of their positions.

27. A vehicle as set forth in claim 26 wherein the tandem foot rests are received in recesses formed in the boomerang covers when in their inwardly positioned, storage positions.