Motorcycle fuel tank mounting arrangement

• US 20050006162A1
• Filed: 07/11/2003
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group Incorporated (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group Incorporated (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Inventors: Philipps, Brian J., Matthews, Scott W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,896,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/219
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 35/00 Fuel tanks specially adapted for motorcycles or engine-assisted cycles; Arrangements thereof fuel tanks forming part of cycle frames B62K11/00; tanks in general B60K ; closure caps for fuel tanks B60K15/0406

Abstract

A motorcycle including a frame having a forward portion, a rearward portion, and a backbone portion positioned between the forward and rearward portions. A fuel tank includes a top wall, side walls that extend generally downwardly from the top wall, and bottom walls that extend from the side walls generally toward one another. A tunnel wall extends between the bottom walls and defines a concave tunnel portion of the fuel tank, which is configured to receive the backbone portion of the frame. A one-piece mounting bracket is coupled to and extends along the tunnel wall. The mounting bracket includes a forward mounting portion coupled to the forward portion of the frame, and a rearward mounting portion coupled to the rearward portion of the frame to secure the fuel tank to the motorcycle.

Claims

1. A motorcycle comprising:

a frame including a forward portion, a rearward portion positioned rearwardly of the forward portion, and a backbone portion between the forward and rearward portions;

a fuel tank including a top wall, side walls extending generally downwardly from the top wall, bottom walls extending from the side walls generally toward one another, and a tunnel wall extending between the bottom walls and defining a concave tunnel portion of the fuel tank, the backbone portion of the frame being positioned in the tunnel portion; and

a mounting bracket coupled to and extending along the tunnel wall, the mounting bracket including a forward mounting portion coupled to the forward portion of the frame, and a rearward mounting portion coupled to the rearward portion of the frame to secure the fuel tank to the motorcycle.

2. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the forward mounting portion extends forwardly of the fuel tank.

3. The motorcycle of claim 2, wherein the forward mounting portion includes a pair of forwardly extending tabs coupled to and positioned on opposing sides of the forward portion of the frame.

4. The motorcycle of claim 3, wherein the forward portion of the frame includes a steering head.

5. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the rearward mounting portion extends rearwardly of the fuel tank.

6. The motorcycle of claim 5, wherein the rearward portion of the frame includes a seat pan portion.

7. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket is welded to the tunnel wall.

8. A motorcycle fuel tank assembly comprising:

a fuel tank having forward and rearward ends, an inner surface defining a fuel chamber, and an outer surface, the fuel chamber having a first side and a second side, the first and second sides being separated by a tank tunnel portion; and

a mounting bracket coupled to the outer surface and extending along the tunnel portion, the mounting bracket including a forward mounting portion near the forward end of the fuel tank, and a rearward mounting portion near the rearward end of the fuel tank.

9. The motorcycle fuel tank assembly of claim 8, wherein the mounting bracket is welded to the outer surface.

10. The motorcycle fuel tank assembly of claim 8, wherein the outer surface of the tunnel portion is generally concave, and wherein the tunnel portion receives a backbone portion of a motorcycle frame when the fuel tank assembly is mounted on a motorcycle.

11. The motorcycle fuel tank assembly of claim 8, wherein the mounting bracket includes a semi-circular cross-section that substantially corresponds to a curvature of the tunnel portion.

12. The motorcycle fuel tank assembly of claim 8, wherein the forward mounting portion includes a first tab extending forwardly of the first side of the fuel chamber, and a second tab extending forwardly of the second side of the fuel chamber.

13. The motorcycle fuel tank assembly of claim 8, wherein the tunnel portion is defined in a generally downwardly-facing portion of the fuel tank.

14. The motorcycle fuel tank assembly of claim 8, wherein the rearward mounting portion extends rearwardly of the fuel tank.

15. (Withdrawn)

16. (Withdrawn)

17. (Withdrawn)

18. (Withdrawn)

19. (Withdrawn)

20. (Withdrawn)

21. (Cancelled)