Cover structure and battery storing case structure for an electric vehicle

• US 5,513,721 A
• Filed: 10/19/1994
• Issued: 05/07/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Shimmura, Hiroyuki, Ogawa, Masao, Sako, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin T.
• Application Number:
  US08/325,877
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 180/220, 180/225, 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/68.3, 180/68.5, 180/65.1, 180/69.2, 180/69.25
• US Class Current: 180/220
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/126 Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/46 Luggage carriers forming part of frame luggage carriers per se B62J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2202/00 Motorised scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor for driving electrically assisted bicycles B62M6/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 7/12 with the engine beside or within the driven wheel

Abstract

A cover structure to improve a waterproof performance of a front surface of a battery storing case in an electric vehicle wherein subcovers are provided between a front fender covering a front wheel and a front surface of a battery storing case. In addition, a gap formed between the subcovers and the fender or the front surface of the battery storing case is formed like a maze so as to stop an upward flow of muddy water.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle including a cover structure, said cover structure comprising:

a battery storing case provided behind a wheel;

a fender partially covering a rear portion of said wheel;

a subcover provided between said fender and a front surface of said battery storing case, wherein a gap between said subcover and said fender forms a tortuous path so as to stop an upward flow of muddy water through said gap, and

wherein said subcover includes a pair of first subcovers which are attached to said front fender, and a pair of second subcovers which are attached to said front surface of said battery storing case.

2. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first subcovers are integrally formed as a unitary piece with floor side covers of said electric vehicle.

3. The electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said first subcovers are disposed at front portions of said floor side covers and are bent toward a transverse center of the vehicle.

4. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said second subcovers are integrally formed as a unitary piece with battery case side covers.

5. The electric vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said second subcovers are disposed at front portions of said battery case side covers and are bent toward a transverse center of the vehicle.

6. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said second subcovers each have an upper end which is bent forward relative to a traveling direction of said electric vehicle.

7. An electric vehicle including a battery storing case, said battery storing case comprising:

a bottom plate on which a battery is placed;

a pair of battery case side covers in close contact with right and left ends of said bottom plate, wherein a rear end of said bottom plate is in close contact with a vehicular frame, and a front end of said bottom plate is separate from said vehicular frame to define a space therebetween, said space comprising a first passage having one end exposed into said battery storing case and a second passage having one end connected to another end of said first passage and another end opening to an outside of said battery storing case and directed rearward of said vehicle.

8. The electric vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said bottom plate comprises a corrugated plate having crests and troughs, and said second passage is formed between the crests and the troughs of said corrugated plate.