Vehicle motorcycle light unit having lens

• US 7,798,509 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Ohzono, Gen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Gunyoung T
• Application Number:
  US11/692,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20070230202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 362/473, 362/506, 362/540, 362/368, 362/370, 362/457, 362/459, 362/475, 362/476, 362/483, 362/487, 362/541, 362/546, 362/548, 362/549, 362/497, 362/498, 362/499, 280/152.05, 340/432
• US Class Current: 280/152.05
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2626 Screw-nut fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2642 with provision for adjusting the alignment of the device housing with respect to the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/04 Rear lights

Abstract

The light unit includes a lamp body and a lens having engagement members. The engagement members engage directly with the body of a vehicle (for example, a motorcycle). The engagement members preferably engage with a vehicle body exterior component such as a side cover. By engaging directly with the body, the alignment accuracy between the light unit and the side cover is improved.

Claims

1. A motorcycle comprising:

a body portion including a left side cover and a right side cover;

a frame arranged between the left side cover and the right side cover separated and spaced from the left side cover; and

a tail light lens directly connected to a rear portion of the frame;

wherein

the tail light lens includes a left engagement portion arranged to engage with a rear portion of the left side cover; and

the tail light lens includes a right engagement portion arranged to engage with a rear portion of the right side cover.

2. The motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein the left side cover and the right side cover are arranged to overlap corresponding portions of the left engagement portion and the right engagement portion, respectively.

3. The motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein the left side cover and the right side cover define outer portions of the motorcycle.

4. The motorcycle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a left recess and a right recess;

wherein

the left recess and the right recess are respectively disposed in left and right side surfaces of the tail light lens and recessed in a direction toward an inside of the body portion;

the left side cover and the right side cover are respectively positioned in the left recess and the right recess at least when the tail light lens is engaged with the left side cover and the right side cover; and

the left engagement portion and the right engagement portion are provided in outer surfaces of the left recess and the right recess.

5. The motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein the left engagement portion and the right engagement portion are arranged to control a size of a gap between the tail light lens and the body portion in at least an up-down direction.

6. The motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein the left engagement portion and the right engagement portion are arranged to control a size of a gap between the tail light lens and the body portion in at least a left-right direction.

7. The motorcycle according to claim 1, further comprising a light bulb disposed behind the tail light lens.

8. The motorcycle according to claim 7, wherein the left engagement portion and the right engagement portion are disposed within the tail light lens so as to not block light emitted by the light bulb.

9. The motorcycle according to claim 8, wherein a reflector is disposed behind the light bulb.

10. The motorcycle according to claim 9, wherein the left engagement portion and the right engagement portion are substantially aligned with the reflector along an axis of the motorcycle that extends in a front-rear direction.

11. The motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein the tail light lens includes an inner lens and an outer lens, and the left engagement portion and the right engagement portion are disposed on an inner side of the outer lens.

12. The motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein the tail light lens, the left side cover, and the right side cover are all attached to the frame through a single fastener.

13. The motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein

forward portions of the left side cover and the right side cover are arranged outside of the frame in a left-right direction when viewed in a front-rear direction of the motorcycle;

and

rearward portions of the left side cover and the right side cover are arranged inside of the frame in the left-right direction when viewed in the front-rear direction of the motorcycle.