Motorcycle upper-cowl

• US 6,276,482 B1
• Filed: 05/25/1999
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Moriya, Yasunori, Yoshiura, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): MAR, MICHAEL Y
• Application Number:
  US09/318,756
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/68.3, 180/68.4, 180/68.6, 180/229, 296/78.1, 296/180.1, 296/208
• US Class Current: 180/229
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/02 shielding only the rider's front

Abstract

The overall surface of the upper-cowl body and the headlamp cover attached to the front part thereof are formed with a streamlined, basic cross-sectional shape such as an arc, parabola or some analogous section, which curves with its tangent being gradually directed toward the rear, from the forward part to the rear outer sides. A pair of air intakes opening forward for guiding air for engine supercharging, cooling heat exchanger, etc., are provided on the outer sides of the headlamp cover while a pair of turn signal lenses are arranged on the outer sides of the openings of the air intakes, so that the lens surfaces are projected forward from the basic cross-sectional shape. Air flowing sidewards and rearward along basic cross-sectional shape is guided along the turn signal lens surfaces into the air intakes.

Claims

1. A motorcycle upper-cowl for covering the front side of handlebars and instruments in a top portion of a front part of a motorcycle, the upper-cowl comprising:

an upper-cowl body which includes a forwardmost portion, the upper-cowl body having a streamlined contoured exterior surface with lateral side portions formed by a curved tangent surface extending from the forwardmost portion to outwardly projecting rearward ends;

air intake means for at least one of engine supercharging and cooling a heat exchanger, the air intake means including a pair of openings being provided in the body and opening forwardly with the forwardmost portion being positioned between the pair of openings; and

a pair of turn signal lenses covering turn signal lamps provided proximate to outer sides of the pair of openings of the air intake means with the pair of openings being provided between the forwardmost portion and the signal lenses, each signal lens having a tip portion projecting forwardly from a respective lateral side portion of the upper-cowl adjacent an outer side edge of a respective opening of the air intake means and beyond the curved tangent surface of the respective lateral side portion for directing air into the respective opening.

2. The motorcycle upper-cowl according to claim 1, wherein the inner side, adjoining to the air intake means, of the turn signal has a cross-section slanted inward and rearward.

3. The motorcycle upper-cowl according to claim 1, wherein the pair of air intake openings are arranged, respectively, on the left and right sides of the upper-cowl body.

4. The motorcycle upper-cowl according to claim 2, wherein the pair of air intake openings are arranged, respectively, on the left and right sides of the upper-cowl body.

5. The motorcycle upper-cowl according to claim 1, wherein the upper-cowl body has a cross-section in the shape of an arc.

6. The motorcycle upper-cowl according to claim 1, wherein the upper-cowl body has a cross-section in the shape of a parabola.

7. The motorcycle upper-cowl according to claim 1, wherein the pair of turn signal lenses are adjacent to the outer side edges of the opening of the air intake means.

8. The motorcycle upper-cowl according to claim 1, wherein the lenses are contoured to direct air into the air intake means.