Motorcycle front body structure

• US 20050174787A1
• Filed: 02/04/2005
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Kawasaki Heavy Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Kawasaki Heavy Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Taniguchi, Nobumasa, Obuki, Ryota, Uemoto, Takumi
• Granted Patent: US 7,137,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/473
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/007 via a removable cap
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/02 shielding only the rider's front
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/026 characterised by the structure, e.g. casings

Abstract

To provide a motorcycle front body structure of a simplified design, which contributes to reduction in motorcycle height and air resistance, by the employment of a dedicated removable cover for selectively opening and closing the access opening defined in an undersurface of the lamp unit, the motorcycle front body structure includes a fairing (21) having a lamp opening (21a), a lamp unit (23) positioned in the lamp opening (21a) and having an undersurface formed with an access opening (23c), and a cover (24) removably fitted to the lamp unit (23) for covering the access opening (23c). The lamp unit (23) and the cover (24) have respective undersurfaces exposed to an air flow passage (40) above a front wheel (3).

Claims

1. A motorcycle front body structure, which comprises:

a fairing having a lamp opening;

a lamp unit positioned in the lamp opening and having an undersurface formed with an access opening; and

a cover removably fitted to the lamp unit for covering the access opening;

respective undersurfaces of the lamp unit and the cover being exposed to an air flow passage above a front wheel.

2. The motorcycle front body structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising position lamps positioned at a portion of the lamp unit generally intermediate of a width of the fairing and in the vicinity of the access opening.

3. The motorcycle front body structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the undersurface of the cover is formed with a guide surface so curved as to guide an air towards an radiator.

4. The motorcycle front body structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pair of cowl front members fastened to the lamp unit and forming a part of the air flow passage, and the cover has engagement pieces formed therein for engagement with engagement pieces formed in respective inner ends of the cowl front members.

5. The motorcycle front body structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an engagement mechanism for allowing the cover to be removably slid relative to the lamp unit in a direction forwardly and rearwardly of a motorcycle.

6. The motorcycle front body structure as claimed in claim 5, further comprising at least one fastening element for securing the cover to the lamp unit in an engaged condition.

7. A motorcycle fairing comprising;

a cowling body for attachment to a motorcycle having a first opening with an air passageway for providing intake air to an engine and a second opening with an air passageway for providing air to a radiator; and

a lamp unit mounted in the cowling body between the first opening and the second opening.

8. The motorcycle fairing of claim 7 further including position lamps positioned at a portion of the lamp unit approximately intermediate of a width of the cowling body and in the vicinity of the second opening.

9. The motorcycle fairing of claim 7 further including a cover removably fitted to the lamp unit and forming an air guiding surface downstream the second opening in the cowling body to assist in directing air to the radiator.

10. The motorcycle fairing of claim 9 further comprising a pair of cowl front members fastened to the lamp unit and forming a part of the air flow passage, wherein the cover has engagement pieces formed therein for engagement with engagement pieces formed in respective inner ends of the cowl front members.

11. The motorcycle fairing of claim 10, further comprising an engagement mechanism for allowing the cover to be removably slid relative to the lamp unit in a direction forwardly and rearwardly.

12. The motorcycle fairing of claim 11, further comprising at least one fastening element for securing the cover to the lamp unit in an engaged condition.

13. The motorcycle of claim 9 wherein the cowling body further includes a pair of cowl front members that are fastened to an undersurface of the lamp unit.

14. The motorcycle fairing of claim 13 wherein the second air passageway is defined between the pair of cowl front members, an undersurface of the cover and a front fender of the motorcycle.

15. A motorcycle front body structure, which comprises:

a fairing having a lamp opening;

a lamp unit positioned in the lamp opening and having an undersurface formed with an access opening; and

a cover removably fitted to the lamp unit for covering the access opening and shaped to direct air, wherein respective undersurfaces of the lamp unit and the cover form with the fairing an air flow passage above a front wheel.

16. The motorcycle front body structure as claimed in claim 15, further comprising position lamps positioned at a portion of the lamp unit generally intermediate of a width of the fairing and in the vicinity of the access opening.

17. The motorcycle front body structure as claimed in claim 15, wherein the undersurface of the cover is formed with a guide surface curved to guide air towards an radiator.

18. The motorcycle front body structure as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a pair of cowl front members fastened to the lamp unit and forming a part of the air flow passage, and the cover has engagement pieces formed therein for engagement with engagement pieces formed in respective inner ends of the cowl front members.

19. The motorcycle front body structure as claimed in claim 15, further comprising an engagement mechanism for allowing the cover to be removably slid relative to the lamp unit in a direction forwardly and rearwardly of a motorcycle.

20. The motorcycle front body structure as claimed in claim 19, further comprising at least one fastening element for securing the cover to the lamp unit in an engaged condition.