Fuel tank for straddle vehicle

• US 7,377,552 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyabe, Toshimasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Winner; Tony H.
• Application Number:
  US11/233,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20060066092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 280/835, 280/834, 180/219, 180/68.5
• US Class Current: 280/835
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/00 Motorcycles, engine-assisted cycles or motor scooters with one or two wheels fairings or streamlining parts not forming part of the frame B62J; transmission of drive from engines to wheels B62M
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/04 characterised by the engine being between front and rear wheels

Abstract

A straddle vehicle includes a main frame obliquely extending downward and rearward from a head pipe. Right and left sub-frames obliquely extend downward and rearward from the main frame, and seat rails obliquely extend upward and rearward from the sub-frames. A cross member extends between the seat rails. A rear cushion unit is supported by the cross member and an upper portion of the rear arm and slants forward. A lower portion of a fuel tank projects downward to a space defined between the rear cushion unit and a rear wheel.

Claims

1. A straddle vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body including a vehicle body frame having a head pipe, a front frame connected to the head pipe and obliquely extending downward rearward, and a rear frame connected to the front frame and obliquely extending upward rearward, and an engine supported by the vehicle body frame;

a seat supported by the rear frame;

a fuel tank disposed below the seat;

a rear arm supported by the vehicle body for swinging about an axis of a pivot shaft and extending rearward;

a rear wheel supported by the rear arm for rotation; and

a single rear cushion unit having a top support end supported by the rear frame, and a bottom support end supported by an upper portion of the rear arm that is positioned higher than a center thereof in a vertical direction, the single rear cushion unit slanting forward so that the top support end is positioned ahead of the bottom support end, wherein a lower portion of the fuel tank projects toward a space defined by the rear cushion unit and the rear wheel,

wherein the top support end of the rear cushion unit is positioned ahead of a bottom end of the fuel tank.

7. The straddle vehicle according to any of claims 1-5 and 6, wherein a bottom end of the fuel tank is positioned lower than the top support end of the rear cushion unit.

8. The straddle vehicle according to any of claims 1-5 and 6, further comprising a fuel pump disposed within the fuel tank.

2. A straddle vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body including a vehicle body frame having a head pipe, a front frame connected to the head pipe and obliquely extending downward rearward, and a rear frame connected to the front frame and obliquely extending upward rearward, and an engine supported by the vehicle body frame;

a seat supported by the rear frame;

a fuel tank disposed below the seat;

a rear arm supported by the vehicle body for swinging about an axis of a pivot shaft and extending rearward;

a rear wheel supported by the rear arm for rotation;

a single rear cushion unit having a top support end supported by the rear frame, and a bottom support end supported by an upper portion of the rear arm that is positioned higher than a center thereof in a vertical direction, the single rear cushion unit slanting forward so that the top support end is positioned ahead of the bottom support end, wherein a lower portion of the fuel tank projects toward a space defined by the rear cushion unit and the rear wheel; and

an air cleaner disposed under a front end of the seat, or below and ahead of the front end of the seat, and ahead of the rear cushion unit.

3. The straddle vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the air cleaner has a box shape such that a length thereof in the vertical direction is longer than any one of a length thereof in a fore to aft direction and a length thereof in a transverse direction, and the air cleaner extends generally parallel to the rear cushion unit.

4. A straddle vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body including a vehicle body frame having a head pipe, a front frame connected to the head pipe and obliquely extending downward rearward, and a rear frame connected to the front frame and obliquely extending upward rearward, and an engine supported by the vehicle body frame;

a seat supported by the rear frame;

a fuel tank disposed below the seat;

a rear arm supported by the vehicle body for swinging about an axis of a pivot shaft and extending rearward;

a rear wheel supported by the rear arm for rotation;

a single rear cushion unit having a top support end supported by the rear frame, and a bottom support end supported by an upper portion of the rear arm that is positioned higher than a center thereof in a vertical direction, the single rear cushion unit slanting forward so that the top support end is positioned ahead of the bottom support end, wherein a lower portion of the fuel tank projects toward a space defined by the rear cushion unit and the rear wheel; and

a battery disposed under the seat, ahead of the fuel tank, and above the rear cushion.

5. A straddle vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body including a vehicle body frame having a head pipe, a front frame connected to the head pipe and obliquely extending downward rearward, and a rear frame connected to the front frame and obliquely extending upward rearward, and an engine supported by the vehicle body frame;

a seat supported by the rear frame;

a fuel tank disposed below the seat;

a rear arm supported by the vehicle body for swinging about an axis of a pivot shaft and extending rearward;

a rear wheel supported by the rear arm for rotation; and

a single rear cushion unit having a top support end supported by the rear frame, and a bottom support end supported by an upper portion of the rear arm that is positioned higher than a center thereof in a vertical direction, the single rear cushion unit slanting forward so that the top support end is positioned ahead of the bottom support end, wherein a lower portion of the fuel tank projects toward a space defined by the rear cushion unit and the rear wheel,

wherein a front portion of the fuel tank has a front surface slanting rearward while extending downward; and

a rear portion of the fuel tank has a rear surface slanting forward while extending downward.

6. A straddle vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body including a vehicle body frame having a head pipe, a front frame connected to the head pipe and obliquely extending downward rearward, and a rear frame connected to the front frame and obliquely extending upward rearward, and an engine supported by the vehicle body frame;

a seat supported by the rear frame;

a fuel tank disposed below the seat;

a rear arm supported by the vehicle body for swinging about an axis of a pivot shaft and extending rearward;

a rear wheel supported by the rear arm for rotation;

a single rear cushion unit having a top support end supported by the rear frame, and a bottom support end supported by an upper portion of the rear arm that is positioned higher than a center thereof in a vertical direction, the single rear cushion unit slanting forward so that the top support end is positioned ahead of the bottom support end, wherein a lower portion of the fuel tank projects toward a space defined by the rear cushion unit and the rear wheel; and

a seat front cover that is positioned below and ahead of the seat and has a top open concave, in a side elevational view, to define a top open space in front of the seat.