TIP OVER STRUCTURE FOR A TWO WHEELED VEHICLE

• US 20080169627A1
• Filed: 01/17/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Bagnariol, David Louis, Holroyd, James Arthur John
• Granted Patent: US 7,658,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/304.3
• 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 11/04 characterised by the engine being between front and rear wheels

Abstract

A two-wheeled vehicle, a touring motorcycle, is disclosed. The touring motorcycle may include multiple fuel storage tanks arranged in a split side-by-side configuration. The touring motorcycle may include a rear suspension having a linkage which moves in a direction not parallel with a centerline plane of the motorcycle. The touring motorcycle may include a tip-over structure which prevents unwanted tip-over of the motorcycle.

Claims

1. A two-wheeled vehicle, comprising:

a front wheel;

a rear wheel generally positioned in line with the front wheel along a longitudinal plane of the two-wheeled vehicle;

a frame supported by the front wheel and the rear wheel;

an engine coupled to the frame and operably coupled to the rear wheel to power the rear wheel;

a straddle seat supported by the frame, the straddle seat having a support surface;

a storage compartment supported by the frame and positioned proximate to the rear wheel, the storage compartment positioned laterally outward of the rear wheel and overlapping a portion of the rear wheel from a direction normal to the longitudinal plane; and

at least one support member positioned to support the two-wheeled vehicle to prevent damage to an exterior of the storage compartment in the event of the two-wheeled vehicle unintentionally tipping, the at least one support member positioned in a non-overlapping relationship with the storage compartment.

2. The two-wheeled vehicle of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a rear frame member and a swingarm rotatably coupled to the rear frame through a pivot shaft and coupled to the rear wheel, the at least one support member being coupled to the pivot shaft.

3. The two-wheeled vehicle of claim 2, wherein the at least one support member is further coupled to the rear frame member.

4. The two-wheeled vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one support member supports a footrest.

5. The two-wheeled vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one support member is positioned to permit the vehicle to tip greater than halfway from vertical to a left side or a right side.

6. The two-wheeled vehicle of claim 5, wherein the at least one support member is positioned to permit the vehicle to tip up to 46 degrees from vertical to the left side or the right side.

7. The two-wheeled vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one support member includes a left front support member, a left rear support member, a right front support member, and a right rear support member.

8. The two-wheeled vehicle of claim 7, wherein the frame includes a rear frame member and a swingarm rotatably coupled to the rear frame through a pivot shaft and coupled to the rear wheel, the left rear support member and the right rear support member being coupled to the pivot shaft.

9. A two-wheeled vehicle, comprising:

a front wheel;

a rear wheel generally positioned in line with the front wheel along a longitudinal plane of the two-wheeled vehicle;

a frame supported by the front wheel and the rear wheel, the frame including a rear frame member and a swingarm, the swingarm being rotatably coupled to the rear frame member through a pivot shaft;

an engine coupled to the frame and operably coupled to the rear wheel to power the rear wheel;

a straddle seat supported by the frame, the straddle seat having a support surface; and

at least one support member positioned to support the two-wheeled vehicle from unintentionally tipping, the at least one support member being coupled to the pivot axis.

10. The two-wheeled vehicle of claim 9, wherein the at least one support member is further coupled to the rear frame member.

11. The two-wheeled vehicle of claim 9, wherein the at least one support member supports a footrest.

12. The two-wheeled vehicle of claim 9, wherein the at least one support member is positioned to permit the vehicle to tip greater than halfway from vertical to a left side or a right side.

13. The two-wheeled vehicle of claim 12, wherein the at least one support member is positioned to permit the vehicle to tip up to 46°

from vertical to the left side or the right side.

14. The two-wheeled vehicle of claim 9, wherein the at least one support member includes a left rear support member and a right rear support member.