Front cowling for motorcycles with deflectors for heated air

• US 4,457,552 A
• Filed: 06/29/1982
• Issued: 07/03/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Katsuoka, Tatsuzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Robert R.
• Application Number:
  US06/393,446
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 296/78.1, 296/15
• US Class Current: 296/78.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/06 Leg guards
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/10 Ventilation or air guiding devices forming part of fairings
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 33/00 Arrangements for warming riders specially adapted for cycles

Abstract

A front cowling for a motorcycle which extends from the front, where it has an aperture to admit engine-cowling air, and past to the sides of the engine to a location adjacent to the rider'"'"'s legs. A side post is formed in the cowling at each side, just ahead of the rider'"'"'s legs, and a respective baffle is mounted to the cowling so as selectively to close the side posts and permit flow of air to the legs that entered the aperture and was heated by the engine, or to open the side posts and deflect the heated air away from the legs and out the side posts. Thus, in cold weather, the rider'"'"'s legs can be warmed by the heated air, and in hot weather his legs need not be warmed by the heated air.

Claims

1. A front cowling for a motorcycle, said motorcycle including a frame having a forward direction, a seat for a rider so disposed and arranged that the rider'"'"'s legs straddle the frame, with the lower portions of the legs below the knees disposed rearwardly of at least part of the engine, said cowling having side portions which extend rearwardly alongside at least a portion of said engine, and which cowling has an aperture ahead of the engine whereby air that enters the cowling is heated by the engine, a side port in each side of said cowling forwardly from said lower leg portion, and rearwardly from at least a portion of said engine and a baffle pivotally mounted to said cowling adjacent to each said port adapted to be moved to close said port whereby to cause heated air to impinge on said lower portions of said legs, or to open said ports whereby to deflect said heated air away from said lower portions of said legs and out said ports.