Framework

Abstract

The present invention provides a frame structure. The frame structure comprises: a head pipe (11); a main frame (12) extending rearward from the head pipe (11); and a seat frame (14) arranged above the main frame (12) and supporting a seat (7), wherein the seat frame (14) comprises a through hole (25a), the through hole (25a) penetrating the area within the front-to-back width and the upper-lower width of the seat frame (14) in the left-right direction when viewed from the side, and a gripping portion (28a) along the upper edge of the through hole (25a) is formed into a flat shape extending in the front-to-back direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a frame structure.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-169191 filed in Japan on September 29, 2023, and the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0003] Conventionally, there is a frame structure including: a main frame extending rearward from a head pipe; and a seat frame disposed above the main frame to support a seat (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-001653). Summary of the invention

[0004] In the case of the bicycle as described above, when the user who gets off the bicycle lifts the bicycle body to carry it, the space formed between the frame members is used, and the frame members are sometimes used as handles. In addition, in the case of a lightweight vehicle such as a road bicycle, a strap made of leather or the like is sometimes laid between the down tube and the seat tube to serve as a handle.

[0005] However, in the above-mentioned measures, in the case of a heavy vehicle such as an electric assist vehicle or a downhill bike, there are problems that a large load is applied to the frame and the straps, and a heavy burden is also imposed on the user's hands.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a frame structure that can be easily carried by a user by lifting a vehicle body.

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the framework structure of the solution of the present invention adopts the following structure.

[0008] (1) A first embodiment of the present invention comprises: a head pipe (11); a main frame (12) extending rearward from the head pipe (11); and a seat frame (14) arranged above the main frame (12) and supporting a seat (7), wherein the seat frame (14) comprises a through hole (25a) which penetrates the front-rear width and the upper-lower width of the seat frame (14) in the left-right direction when viewed from the side, and a gripping portion (28a) along the upper edge of the through hole (25a) is formed into a flat shape extending in the front-rear direction.

[0009] According to the scheme (1) above, a through hole is formed in the seat frame above the main frame, and a gripping portion along the upper edge of the through hole is formed into a flat shape extending in the front-rear direction, thereby forming a handle on the seat frame for gripping by hooking the hand on the gripping portion of the inner peripheral wall of the through hole. As a result, vehicles and other equipment to which the frame structure is applied can be easily lifted and carried. By providing an inner peripheral wall that surrounds the space inside the through hole all around, the space inside the hole can be separated from the structural components around the seat frame, and the hand passing through the through hole will not come into contact with the peripheral components of the frame and hinder the movement, so that the seat frame can be easily gripped and the hand can be prevented from getting dirty. The gripping portion is not only a flat surface, but can also be provided with a concave-convex portion that facilitates gripping. In this case, the seat frame can be gripped more easily.

[0010] (2) In the above-mentioned aspect (1), the gripping portion (28a) may be formed in a planar shape extending in the vehicle width direction.

[0011] According to the above-mentioned aspect (2), by forming the grip portion into a planar shape extending in the vehicle width direction, when the user hooks the fingers passed through the through hole on the grip portion and lifts the seat frame, the burden on the fingers can be reduced.

[0012] (3) In the above-mentioned scheme (2), the frame structure may include an inner circumferential wall (27) surrounding the inner space (25b) of the through hole (25a) all around, and the inner circumferential wall (27) is formed by a circumferential wall rib (27a) extending in the left-right direction all around the periphery of the through hole (25a), and a portion of the circumferential wall rib (27a) forming the holding portion (28a) is formed to be thicker than a portion of the circumferential wall rib (27a) forming other portions.

[0013] According to the above-mentioned solution (3), the portion of the peripheral wall rib that forms the gripping portion is formed thick, thereby increasing the strength rigidity of the gripping portion that is most loaded when the upper portion of the seat frame is gripped to lift the vehicle. By forming the portion other than the gripping portion thin, the seat frame can be made lighter.

[0014] (4) In the above-mentioned aspect (3), an inner peripheral rib (31) extending from the peripheral wall rib (27a) toward the inside of the through hole (25a) may be provided at a location other than the gripping portion (28a) on the periphery of the through hole (25a).

[0015] According to the above aspect (4), the inner peripheral rib is provided at a portion of the through hole other than the grip portion, thereby suppressing the influence of the hand when the hand is hooked on the grip portion to grip the upper part of the seat frame, and improving the strength rigidity around the through hole.

[0016] (5) In the above-mentioned aspect (3) or (4), the frame structure may include connection ribs (32, 33) connecting the peripheral wall ribs (27a) and the frame outer peripheral ribs (23a, 24a).

[0017] According to the above aspect (5), the frame outer peripheral rib along the outer peripheral edge of the seat frame and the peripheral wall rib along the peripheral edge of the through hole are connected by the connecting rib, so that the peripheral wall rib can be reinforced and the strength and rigidity around the through hole can be improved.

[0018] (6) In the above-mentioned scheme (5), the frame peripheral ribs (23a, 24a) may have a plurality of rib connecting portions (32a, 32b, 33a, 33b) connecting the connecting ribs (32, 33), and the connecting ribs (32, 33) connect the plurality of rib connecting portions (32a, 32b, 33a, 33b) of the frame peripheral ribs (23a, 24a) to each other.

[0019] According to the above-mentioned scheme (6), by connecting a pair of the plurality of rib connection parts of the frame peripheral rib with each other using the connecting rib, the frame peripheral rib can be reinforced, the strength and rigidity of the outer peripheral part of the seat frame can be improved, and the strength and rigidity around the through hole can be improved.

[0020] (7) In the above-mentioned aspect (6), the peripheral wall ribs (27a), the frame peripheral ribs (23a, 24a) and the connecting ribs (32, 33) may extend in the left-right direction.

[0021] According to the above-mentioned aspect (7), since the ribs of the seat frame extend in the left-right direction, when the seat frame having the through-hole in the left-right direction is formed by casting or forging, it can be easily formed by splitting the mold in the left-right direction, and the strength and rigidity can be improved.

[0022] (8) In the above-mentioned scheme (1), the main frame (12) may extend through a hollow closed cross-section portion (16), and the seat frame (14) may extend from the main frame (12) through an open cross-section portion (21) open to the outside in the left-right direction.

[0023] According to the above-mentioned scheme (8), the main frame has a hollow closed cross-section portion, and the seat frame has an open cross-section portion that is open to the outside in the left and right directions. As a result, the overall weight of the vehicle body frame is reduced. The main frame ensures strength and rigidity by having a closed cross-section portion, and the seat frame achieves lightweight and easy manufacturing by having an open cross-section portion. The strength and rigidity can be appropriately ensured by the configuration of the ribs.

[0024] (9) In the above-mentioned aspect (1), the frame structure may include a cover member (35a) that covers the seat frame (14) from the outside in the left-right direction.

[0025] According to the above-mentioned aspect (9), by covering the seat frame from the left-right outer side with the cover member, it is possible to protect the seat frame and improve the appearance.

[0026] (10) In the above-mentioned scheme (9), the cover member (35a) may include a cover through-hole forming portion (38), the cover through-hole forming portion (38) is formed with a cover through-hole (38a) overlapping with the through-hole (25a) of the seat frame (14) when viewed from the side, and the cover through-hole forming portion (38) includes an inclined portion (38b), and the inclined portion (38b) is inclined from the through-hole (25a) side of the seat frame (14) toward the outer side surface of the cover member (35a) in the left-right direction outside, so as to become wider relative to the through-hole (25a) as it approaches the left-right direction outside when viewed from the side.

[0027] According to the above-mentioned scheme (10), the cover through-hole forming portion has an inclined portion which is inclined wider relative to the through-hole as it approaches the outside in the left-right direction. Thus, when one wants to hang one's hand on the through-hole from the outside in the left-right direction, the hand is guided by the inclined portion and can easily pass through the through-hole, thereby making it easy to grip the upper part of the seat frame.

[0028] (11) In the above-mentioned scheme (9) or (10), the cover member (35a) may include a cover through-hole forming portion (38), the cover through-hole forming portion (38) may include a cover through-hole (38a) overlapping with the through-hole (25a) of the seat frame (14) when viewed from the side, and the cover through-hole forming portion (38) may include a cover portion (38c) covering the gripping portion (28a) of the seat frame (14).

[0029] According to the above-mentioned scheme (11), the gripping portion of the seat frame is covered by the cover member of the seat frame. When the seat frame is made of metal and the cover member is made of resin, the touch of the gripping portion becomes soft, and the hand can be hung on the gripping portion to easily grip the upper part of the seat frame.

[0030] (12) A second embodiment of the present invention comprises: a head pipe (11); a main frame (12) extending rearward from the head pipe (11); a seat frame (14) arranged above the main frame (12) and supporting the seat (7); and a cover member (35a) covering the seat frame (14) from the outside in the left-right direction, wherein the seat frame (14) comprises a through-hole forming portion (25), the through-hole forming portion (25) being formed with a through-hole (25a), the through-hole (25a) being located at a position adjacent to the seat frame (14). The through hole forming portion (25) extends through the front-to-rear width and the upper-lower width of the seat frame (14) in the left-right direction when viewed from the side. The through hole forming portion (25) includes an inner peripheral wall (27) that surrounds the hole space (25b) of the through hole (25a) over the entire circumference of the through hole (25a). The gripping portion (28a) along the upper edge of the through hole (25a) in the inner peripheral wall (27) is formed into a flat shape extending in the front-to-rear direction by at least one of the seat frame (14) and the cover member (35a).

[0031] According to the scheme (12) above, a through hole is formed in the seat frame above the main frame, and the gripping portion of the inner peripheral wall surrounding the hole space of the through hole along the upper edge of the through hole is formed into a flat shape extending in the front-rear direction, thereby forming a handle on the seat frame for holding by hooking the hand on the gripping portion of the inner peripheral wall of the through hole. As a result, vehicles and other equipment to which the frame structure is applied can be easily lifted and carried. The through hole forming portion has an inner peripheral wall surrounding the hole space of the through hole all around, thereby separating the hole space from the structural components around the seat frame, and the hand passing through the through hole will not come into contact with the frame peripheral components and hinder the movement, so that the seat frame can be easily held and the hand can be prevented from getting dirty. By using at least one of the seat frame and the cover member to form the gripping portion of the inner peripheral wall, it is easy to meet the requirements required when setting the handle (strength rigidity, appearance, touch, ease of manufacturing, etc.).

[0032] According to the aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide a frame structure that allows a user to easily lift a vehicle body for transportation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Figure 1 This is a left side view of a bicycle to which the frame structure according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[0034] Figure 2 It is a left side view of the body frame and frame cover of the above-mentioned bicycle.

[0035] Figure 3 It is a left side view of the above-mentioned vehicle body frame.

[0036] Figure 4 It is a perspective view of the seat frame of the vehicle body frame and the seat frame cover portion of the frame cover as seen from the rear lower side.

[0037] Figure 5 It is a perspective view of the seat frame as viewed from the rear bottom.

[0038] Figure 6 yes Figure 2 AA section view.

[0039] Figure 7 yes Figure 3 BB cross-sectional view.

[0040] Figure 8 yes Figure 3 CC cross-sectional view.

[0041] Fig. 9 yes Figure 3 DD cross-sectional view.

[0042] Fig.10 It is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a user holding the seat frame lifts up the bicycle.

[0043] Fig.11 This is a modification of the above-mentioned embodiment. Figure 6 sectional view of .

[0044] Explanation of symbols

[0045] 1 Bicycle (vehicle)

[0046] 7 Seats

[0047] 7a Seat post

[0048] 10 Body frame

[0049] 11 Head tube

[0050] 12 Main frame

[0051] 13 Pivot Frame

[0052] 14 Seat frame

[0053] 16 Closed section

[0054] 16a Upper wall

[0055] 16a1 Front upper wall

[0056] 16a2 Rear upper wall

[0057] 16b Lower wall

[0058] 16c Left and right side walls

[0059] 17 Open section

[0060] 17a Lower side wall

[0061] 21 Open section

[0062] 22 Central plate

[0063] 23 Upper wall

[0064] 23a Upper edge rib (frame periphery rib)

[0065] 24 Lower wall

[0066] 24a Lower edge rib (frame periphery rib)

[0067] 25 Through hole forming portion

[0068] 25a Through hole

[0069] 25b Hole space

[0070] 26a Upper edge

[0071] 26b Lower edge

[0072] 27 Inner wall

[0073] 27a Peripheral wall rib

[0074] 28a Upper surface (holding part)

[0075] 31 Inner Rib

[0076] 32 front connecting rib (connecting rib)

[0077] 33 Rear connecting rib (connecting rib)

[0078] 32a, 32b, 33a, 33b rib connection part

[0079] 35 Frame cover

[0080] 35a Cover member

[0081] 38 Cover through-hole forming portion

[0082] 38a Cover through hole

[0083] 38b Inclined portion

[0084] 38c The upper mask portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0085] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the directions such as front, back, left, and right in the following description are the same as the directions in the vehicle described below unless otherwise specified. In addition, the arrow FR indicating the front of the vehicle, the arrow LH indicating the left side of the vehicle, the arrow UP indicating the top of the vehicle, and the line CL indicating the left and right centers of the vehicle body are shown at appropriate positions in the drawings used in the following description. The "middle" used in the embodiments refers to a range that includes not only the center between the two ends of the object, but also the inner side between the two ends of the object.

[0086] Figure 1 The figure is a left side view of a bicycle 1 as an example of a vehicle to which the frame structure of the embodiment is applied. For example, the bicycle 1 is an electric assisted bicycle in which an electric motor (auxiliary motor) generates auxiliary power according to the pedal force applied to the pedals. The bicycle 1 is equipped with a drive unit 2 at the lower part of the body frame 10, and a battery 3 is mounted along a main frame 12 extending rearward and downward from the head pipe 11 of the body frame 10. It should be noted that the drive unit 2 can be used as a prime mover for moving the bicycle 1 only by the output of the motor. In the figure, symbol 4 represents the front wheel, symbol 5 represents the rear wheel, symbol 6 represents the handle, and symbol 7 represents the seat.

[0087] For example, the bicycle 1 is used in a race against time on an unpaved route. The front wheel 4 of the bicycle 1 can absorb the impact from the road surface through the operation of the front suspension 8. The rear wheel 5 of the bicycle can absorb the impact from the road surface through the operation of the rear suspension 9. The front suspension 8 includes, for example, a pair of left and right front forks 8a. The rear suspension 9 includes, for example, a single damping unit 9b and a swing arm 9a. The bicycle has front and rear disc brakes 4a and 5a on the front wheel 4 and the rear wheel 5, respectively.

[0088] Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a left side view of the body frame 10 and the frame cover 35 of the bicycle 1. Figure 3 It is a left side view of the vehicle body frame 10 .

[0089] like Figure 1 to Figure 3 As shown, the body frame 10 of the bicycle 1 supports a large load by increasing rigidity, and improves maneuverability by partially imparting flexibility. The body frame 10 is made of, for example, aluminum alloy, and is covered from both left and right sides by a frame cover 35 made of synthetic resin. The frame cover 35 constitutes a part of the frame structure of the embodiment.

[0090] The vehicle body frame 10 is formed by integrating various frame members by welding and fastening. The vehicle body frame 10 includes: a head pipe 11 located at the front end; a main frame 12 extending obliquely from the rear side of the head pipe 11 to the rear and lower end; a pivot frame 13 connected to the rear lower end of the main frame 12; and a seat frame 14 extending from the upper side of the front and rear middle part of the main frame 12 to the rear and slightly lower in the front and higher in the rear.

[0091] A stem tube (not shown) is inserted and supported rotatably on the head tube 11. The lower end of the stem tube protrudes below the head tube 11, and a lower bracket 8b is mounted on the lower end so as to be integrally rotatable. The upper ends of the left and right front forks 8a are supported by the lower bracket 8b. The front wheel 4 is supported by the lower ends of the left and right front forks 8a. The upper end of the stem tube protrudes above the head tube 11, and a control handle 6 is mounted on the upper end so as to be integrally rotatable.

[0092] Also refer to Figure 8 , Fig. 9 The main frame 12 has a closed cross-section portion 16 extending obliquely rearward and downward from the head pipe 11. The closed cross-section portion 16 has upper and lower walls and left and right side walls 16c, and the lower wall 16b has a trapezoidal cross-section shape that is wider than the upper wall 16a in the left-right direction. The closed cross-section portion 16 extends in the front-to-back direction, thereby achieving light weight and high rigidity of the main frame 12. In the closed cross-section portion 16, the upper wall 16a (front upper wall 16a1) located at a position higher and forward than the seat frame 14 is narrower in left-right width than the upper wall 16a (rear upper wall 16a2) located at a position lower and rearward than the seat frame 14.

[0093] The main frame 12 includes a pair of left and right lower side walls 17a extending in a continuous manner below the left and right side walls 16c. An open cross-sectional portion 17 opened downward is formed by the lower wall 16b and the left and right lower side walls 17a below the closed cross-sectional portion 16. A portion (upper portion) of the battery 3 is detachably mounted in the open cross-sectional portion 17.

[0094] A front shock absorber support portion 18 that supports the front end portion of the rear shock absorber 9b is provided at a corner portion sandwiched between the rear upper wall 16a2 of the main frame 12 and the lower portion of the seat frame 14 in a side view.

[0095] The pivot frame 13 includes a pivot portion 13a that supports the front end of the swing arm 9a so that it can swing up and down. A cutout portion 13b is formed at the front of the pivot frame 13 along the outer shape of the drive unit 2 when viewed from the side. The pivot frame 13 includes a front extension portion 13c that extends to the upper front side of the cutout portion 13b. Unit fixing portions 13d that fix the drive unit 2 are provided at three locations, namely, the front extension portion 13c and the upper and lower portions of the pivot portion 13a.

[0096] The swing arm 9a is in a V-shape protruding upward when viewed from the side. The front end of the swing arm 9a is connected to the pivot portion 13a via a pivot 9c extending in the left-right direction. The rear end of the swing arm 9a supports the rear wheel 5. A rear shock absorber support portion 9d is provided at a bent portion protruding upward of the swing arm 9a for supporting the rear end of the rear shock absorber 9b.

[0097] The drive unit 2 has an elliptical appearance when viewed from the side, and the major axis of the elliptical shape is arranged along the inclination of the main frame 12. The drive unit 2 is supported from the upper end to the rear end by the pivot frame 13. The left and right ends of the pedal crankshaft 2a protrude to the left and right sides of the lower part of the drive unit 2. A pair of left and right pedal cranks 2b are respectively mounted on the left and right ends of the pedal crankshaft 2a.

[0098] Although omitted in the figure, a driving sprocket capable of integral rotation is provided on the right pedal crank 2b. A driven sprocket with a variable speed is provided on the right side of the hub portion of the rear wheel 5. A driving chain is wound around the driving sprocket and any of the driven sprockets. A transmission for changing the winding position of the driving chain is provided on the right side of the rear wheel 5.

[0099] like Fig.10 As shown, in the case of the bicycle 1, the user U who gets off the bicycle may lift the bicycle body to carry it.

[0100] In the embodiment, the following frame structure is adopted to facilitate the carrying of the vehicle by lifting the vehicle body when the user U gets off the vehicle.

[0101] That is, the frame structure of the embodiment forms a through hole 25a for the user U to hang his hands on the seat frame 14 above the main frame 12, so that a part of the metal body frame 10 (seat frame 14) can be used as a handle. Thus, a high-strength and high-grip handle can be formed on the upper part of the seat frame 14.

[0102] Reference Figure 2 to Figure 7 The seat frame 14 includes an open cross-section portion 21 extending obliquely upward and rearward from the main frame 12. The open cross-section portion 21 includes a flat central plate portion 22 arranged in the center in the left-right direction and upper and lower wall portions 23, 24 provided with a predetermined left-right width along the upper and lower edges of the central plate portion 22. The open cross-section portion 21 is formed on the left and right sides of the central plate portion 22, and has a cross-sectional shape open to the outside in the left-right direction and extends from the upper part of the main frame 12 to the rear and lower direction. The open cross-section portion 21 extends in the front-to-back direction, thereby achieving lightweighting of the seat frame 14. The seat frame 14 is formed with a through hole 25a for the user to hold and is appropriately reinforced with ribs, thereby ensuring appropriate rigidity.

[0103] The upper wall portion 23 is formed by integrating a pair of upper edge ribs 23a extending outward in the left-right direction from the upper edge of the central plate portion 22. The lower wall portion 24 is formed by integrating a pair of lower edge ribs 24a extending outward in the left-right direction from the lower edge of the central plate portion 22. The upper and lower edge ribs 23a, 24a correspond to the frame peripheral ribs along the outer peripheral edge of the seat frame 14 when viewed from the side. The upper wall portion 23 has a left-right width substantially the same as that of the front upper wall 16a1 of the closed cross-section portion 16 of the main frame 12, and is connected to the front upper wall 16a1 via the upper arc portion 23b. The lower wall portion 24 has a left-right width substantially the same as that of the rear upper wall 16a2 of the closed cross-section portion 16 of the main frame 12, and is connected to the rear upper wall 16a2 via the lower arc portion 24b.

[0104] In a side view, the front portion of the upper edge (upper wall portion 23) of the seat frame 14 is bent toward the front and upward to form an upper arc portion 23b, and merges with the front portion (front upper wall 16a1) of the upper edge of the main frame 12 through the upper arc portion 23b. In a side view, the front portion of the lower edge (lower wall portion 24) of the seat frame 14 is bent toward the front and downward to form a lower arc portion 24b, and merges with the rear portion (rear upper wall 16a2) of the upper edge of the main frame 12 through the lower arc portion 24b.

[0105] The upper and lower edges (upper and lower wall portions 23, 24) of the seat frame 14 are formed substantially parallel to each other in a side view. The rear portion of the upper wall portion 23 forms a rear upper inclined wall portion 23c inclined in a direction of high front and low rear via a bent portion. The rear ends of the upper and lower wall portions 23, 24 are connected to the upper and lower ends of the clamp tube 14a, respectively. The clamp tube 14a is cylindrical and extends in the vertical direction, and the central axis C1 is tilted backward relative to the vertical direction.

[0106] Reference Figure 1 The cylindrical seat post 7a is inserted into the clamp tube 14a. The clamp tube 14a fixes and holds the seat post 7a by tightening a pair of clamp bolts 14b. The seat 7 (saddle) is supported at the upper end of the seat post 7a.

[0107] Reference Figure 3, in side view, the through hole 25a is formed with: an upper edge 26a substantially parallel to the upper edge (upper wall portion 23) of the seat frame 14, which is lower in front and higher in rear; a lower edge 26b substantially parallel to the lower edge (lower wall portion 24) of the seat frame 14, which is lower in front and higher in rear; a front edge 26c extending between the front ends of the upper and lower edges 26a and 26b; and a rear edge 26d extending between the rear ends of the upper and lower edges 26a and 26b. The upper edge 26a is longer in the front-to-rear direction than the lower edge 26b. The front edge 26c is inclined so as to be located more rearward as it is closer to the lower side, and the rear edge 26d is inclined so as to be located more forward as it is closer to the lower side. In side view, the through hole 25a is in a trapezoidal shape narrower on the side of the lower edge 26b. At the four corners of the side view shape of the through hole 25a, arc shapes are formed so as to make the adjacent edges continuous with each other.

[0108] The vertical width of the seat frame 14 is the width between the upper and lower edges 26a and 26b when viewed from the side, and the front-to-back width of the seat frame 14 is the width between the rear upper edge of the main frame 12 and the front edge of the clamp tube 14a. The seat frame 14 is formed with a through hole 25a that penetrates the area within the front-to-back width and the vertical width of the seat frame 14 in the left-right direction. The portion of the seat frame 14 where the through hole 25a is formed is referred to as a through hole forming portion 25. When viewed from the side, the through hole 25a forms a hole space 25b surrounded by the upper and lower edges 26a and 26b and the front and rear edges 26c and 26d.

[0109] The hole space 25 b is a space formed within the left-right width of the seat frame 14 .

[0110] Reference Figure 5 to Figure 7 The through hole forming portion 25 includes an inner peripheral wall 27 that extends over the entire circumference of the through hole 25a and surrounds the hole space 25b of the through hole 25a. The inner peripheral wall 27 is formed by integrating a pair of left and right peripheral wall ribs 27a extending outward in the left-right direction from the periphery of the through hole 25a. The inner peripheral wall 27 functions as a partition wall that separates the hole space 25b from various vehicle components (rear shock absorber 9b, seat column 7a, etc.) around the seat frame 14. As a result, when a user who gets off the vehicle passes his fingers through the through hole 25a, the fingers will not come into contact with surrounding components.

[0111] Hereinafter, the portion of the inner peripheral wall 27 along the upper edge of the through hole 25a in a side view is referred to as the upper portion (gripping portion) 28a, the portion along the lower edge is referred to as the lower portion 28b, the portion along the front edge is referred to as the front portion 28c, and the portion along the rear edge is referred to as the rear portion 28d. Furthermore, the arc-shaped portions of the inner peripheral wall 27 along the four corners of the through hole 25a in a side view are referred to as the front upper arc portion 29a, the rear upper arc portion 29b, the front lower arc portion 29c, and the rear lower arc portion 29d.

[0112] The upper surface 28a, the lower surface 28b, the front surface 28c and the rear surface 28d are formed in a flat shape extending in the left-right direction. The flat shape of the embodiment may have a slight curvature in side view or cross-sectional view (see the drawings) in addition to a planar shape.

[0113] The seat frame 14 is formed to have a wider width from the upper edge side toward the lower edge side. Therefore, the upper surface 28a is formed to have a narrower width than the lower surface 28b, and the front surface 28c and the rear surface 28d are formed to have a narrower width toward the upper side.

[0114] Furthermore, the upper surface portion 28a is formed in a flat shape having a substantially constant left-right width and extending in the front-rear direction.

[0115] In this way, the upper surface 28a along the upper edge of the through hole 25a in the seat frame 14 is formed into a flat shape extending in the left-right direction and the front-back direction. Therefore, when the user hangs the fingers passing through the through hole 25a on the upper surface 28a and lifts the vehicle body frame 10 or even the vehicle using the upper part of the seat frame 14 as a handle, the burden on the fingers can be reduced, and the vehicle can be easily lifted. The through hole forming portion 25 includes the inner peripheral wall 27 surrounding the hole inner space 25b throughout the entire circumference of the through hole 25a. Therefore, the fingers passing through the through hole 25a do not contact the surrounding parts, and the situation that the movement of the fingers is hindered or the fingers are soiled can be suppressed.

[0116] The upper surface 28a is formed thicker than other parts of the peripheral wall rib 27a. That is, the thickness of the upper surface 28a in the vertical direction is formed thicker than other parts, and the strength rigidity for the load when lifting the vehicle can be ensured. The through-hole forming portion 25 has an inner peripheral rib 31 protruding from a part other than the upper surface of the inner peripheral wall 27 toward the inside of the through-hole 25a. The inner peripheral rib 31 is provided at a part other than the upper surface of the through-hole 25a, thereby suppressing the influence of the hand when the hand is hung on the upper surface 28a to lift the vehicle, and improving the strength rigidity around the through-hole 25a.

[0117] Here, at least the seat frame 14 of the vehicle body frame 10 is formed by casting or forging based on a split mold in the left-right direction. In the embodiment, the entire vehicle body frame 10 is formed integrally from the same material, but it may also be a structure in which, for example, the seat frame 14 is formed separately from other parts and is integrated with other parts by welding or fastening. The upper and lower edge ribs of the seat frame 14, the peripheral wall rib 27a, and the connecting ribs described later extend in the left-right direction (split mold direction).

[0118] The seat frame 14 includes a connection rib extending between a plurality of rib connection portions 32a, 32b, 33a, and 33b provided at the frame outer peripheral rib. The connection rib includes a front connection rib 32 and a rear connection rib 33.

[0119] The front connecting rib 32 extends between the rib connecting portion 32a near the upper arc portion 23b of the upper edge rib 23a and the rib connecting portion 32b near the lower arc portion 24b of the lower edge rib 24a, and is inclined and extends linearly in a manner that the lower side is located more rearward. The front connecting rib 32 is arranged and integrated in a manner that it is connected to the portion of the peripheral wall rib 27a that forms the front portion 28c. The front connecting rib 32 is also a rib that connects the upper edge rib 23a and the lower edge rib 24a to the peripheral wall rib 27a.

[0120] The rear connecting rib 33 extends linearly between the rib connecting portion 33a at the rear end (the rear end of the rear upper inclined edge) of the upper edge rib 23a and the rib connecting portion 33b at the front-rear middle portion of the lower edge rib 24a, and is inclined so as to be located forward as it approaches the lower side. The rear connecting rib 33 is arranged to be integrated with the rear lower arc portion 29d of the peripheral wall rib 27a. The rear connecting rib 33 is also a rib that connects the upper edge rib 23a and the lower edge rib 24a to the peripheral wall rib 27a. For example, a second through hole 34 is formed between the rear connecting rib 33 and the lower edge rib 24a. The seat frame 14 has a cross-sectional structure that is open to the outside in the left-right direction, and is reinforced by appropriately having ribs. The seat frame 14 can easily adjust the strength and rigidity by changing the number and arrangement of the ribs. The seat frame 14 is covered by a frame cover 35, thereby providing the ribs with priority in function and suppressing the influence on the appearance.

[0121] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 4 , Figure 6 The frame cover 35 includes a pair of left and right cover members 35 a that cover the vehicle body frame 10 from the outside in the left-right direction.

[0122] The cover member 35 a integrally includes a main frame cover portion 36 that covers the main frame 12 from the left-right outer side and a seat frame cover portion 37 that covers the seat frame 14 from the left-right outer side.

[0123] The seat frame cover portion 37 includes a cover through-hole forming portion 38 having a cover through-hole 38a formed therein overlapping the through-hole 25a of the seat frame 14 in a side view. By integrating the cover member, the appearance design can be improved even when the vehicle body frame and the seat frame are formed separately.

[0124] The cover through-hole forming portion 38 includes an inclined portion 38b which is inclined from the through-hole 25a side of the seat frame 14 toward the outer side surface of the cover member 35a in the left-right direction, so that the wider the through-hole 25a is, the wider the cover member 35a is. Thus, when the hand is hooked on the through-hole 25a from the left-right direction outside, the hand is guided by the inclined portion 38b and can easily pass through the through-hole 25a. Moreover, the same configuration as the case where the left-right direction outside of the upper surface portion 28a of the seat frame 14 is chamfered, makes it easier to hold the seat frame 14.

[0125] In the embodiment, the upper surface portion 28 a is formed by the seat frame 14 and is exposed to the inner hole space 25 b , but the present invention is not limited to this structure.

[0126] For example, you can Fig.11 As shown, the cover through-hole forming portion 38 includes an upper surface cover portion 38c covering the upper surface portion 28a of the seat frame 14. By covering the metal upper surface portion 28a with the resin upper surface cover portion 38c, the hand feeling when gripping the seat frame 14 can be made smooth.

[0127] In addition, you can Fig.11 As shown, the upper surface 28a is formed only by the frame cover 35 (upper cover portion 38c). That is, the upper surface 28a only needs to be formed by at least one of the seat frame 14 and the frame cover 35. The shape of the upper surface 28a can be appropriately set according to the requirements of the frame handle.

[0128] As described above, the frame structure in the above embodiment includes a head pipe 11, a main frame 12 extending rearward from the head pipe 11, and a seat frame 14 arranged above the main frame 12 and supporting the seat 7. The seat frame 14 includes a through-hole forming portion 25, and the through-hole forming portion 25 is formed with a through-hole 25a that penetrates the area within the front-to-rear width and the upper-lower width of the seat frame 14 in the left-right direction when viewed from the side. The through-hole forming portion 25 includes an inner peripheral wall 27, which extends over the entire circumference of the through-hole 25a and surrounds the hole space 25b of the through-hole 25a. The upper portion 28a of the inner peripheral wall 27 along the upper edge of the through-hole 25a is formed into a flat shape extending in the front-to-rear direction.

[0129] According to this structure, the through hole 25a is formed in the seat frame 14 above the main frame, and the upper surface 28a along the upper edge of the through hole 25a in the inner peripheral wall 27 surrounding the hole space 25b of the through hole 25a is formed into a flat shape extending in the front-rear direction, thereby forming a handle that can be held by hooking the hand on the upper surface 28a of the inner peripheral wall 27 of the through hole 25a. As a result, it is possible to easily lift and carry equipment such as a vehicle to which this frame structure is applied. The through hole forming portion 25 includes the inner peripheral wall 27 surrounding the hole space 25b of the through hole 25a over the entire circumference, thereby separating the hole space 25b from the structural components around the seat frame, and the situation in which the hand passing through the through hole 25a contacts the frame peripheral components and hinders the movement occurs, and the seat frame 14 can be easily held and the hand is prevented from getting dirty.

[0130] In the above-described frame structure, the inner peripheral wall 27 is formed by a peripheral wall rib 27 a extending in the left-right direction at the peripheral edge of the through hole 25 a .

[0131] According to this structure, the inner peripheral wall 27 is formed by the peripheral wall rib 27a extending in the left-right direction at the peripheral edge of the through hole 25a, thereby achieving a structure in which the thickness in the left-right direction is suppressed at a position closer to the outer peripheral side than the peripheral wall rib 27a. Compared with the case where the seat frame 14 as a whole has the same thickness as the inner peripheral wall 27, the seat frame 14 can be made lighter.

[0132] In the above-described frame structure, a portion of the peripheral wall rib 27 a that forms the upper surface portion 28 a is formed thicker than a portion of the peripheral wall rib 27 a that forms other portions.

[0133] According to this structure, the portion of the peripheral wall rib 27a that forms the upper surface portion 28a is formed thick, thereby increasing the strength rigidity of the upper surface portion 28a on which the greatest load acts when the vehicle is lifted by gripping the upper portion of the seat frame 14. The portion other than the upper surface portion 28a is formed thin, thereby achieving a lightweight seat frame 14.

[0134] In the frame structure described above, the through-hole forming portion 25 includes an inner peripheral rib 31 extending from the peripheral wall rib 27a toward the inside of the through-hole 25a at a portion other than the upper surface portion 28a of the peripheral edge of the through-hole 25a.

[0135] According to this configuration, the inner peripheral rib 31 is provided at a portion of the through hole 25a other than the upper surface 28a. This can suppress the influence of the hand when the hand is hooked on the upper surface 28a to grip the upper part of the seat frame 14, and improve the strength rigidity around the through hole 25a.

[0136] In the frame structure, the seat frame 14 includes: frame peripheral ribs (upper and lower edge ribs 23a, 24a) along the outer periphery in side view; and connecting ribs (front connecting ribs 32, rear connecting ribs 33) connecting the peripheral wall ribs 27a and the frame peripheral ribs.

[0137] According to this structure, the frame outer peripheral rib along the outer peripheral edge of the seat frame 14 and the peripheral wall rib 27a along the peripheral edge of the through hole 25a are connected by the connecting ribs 32 and 33, so that the peripheral wall rib 27a can be reinforced to improve the strength and rigidity around the through hole 25a.

[0138] In the above frame structure, the frame peripheral rib includes a plurality of rib connection parts 32a, 32b, 33a, 33b connecting the connection ribs, and the connection ribs connect the plurality of rib connection parts 32a, 32b, 33a, 33b of the frame peripheral ribs.

[0139] According to this structure, by connecting a pair of the plurality of rib connecting portions 32a, 32b, 33a, 33b of the frame peripheral rib with each other using a connecting rib, the frame peripheral rib can be reinforced, the strength and rigidity of the outer peripheral portion of the seat frame 14 can be improved, and the strength and rigidity around the through hole 25a can be improved.

[0140] In the above frame structure, the peripheral wall ribs 27a, the frame outer peripheral ribs and the connecting ribs extend in the left-right direction.

[0141] According to this structure, each rib of the seat frame 14 extends in the left-right direction. Therefore, when the seat frame 14 having the left-right through-hole 25 a is formed by casting or forging, it can be easily formed by splitting the mold in the left-right direction and the strength and rigidity can be improved.

[0142] In the frame structure, the main frame 12 extends with a hollow closed cross-section portion 16 , and the seat frame 14 extends from the main frame 12 with an open cross-section portion 21 that opens outward in the left-right direction.

[0143] According to this structure, the main frame 12 has a hollow closed cross-section portion 16, and the seat frame 14 has an open cross-section portion 21 that is open to the outside in the left-right direction. As a result, the vehicle body frame 10 as a whole can be made lightweight. The main frame 12 ensures strength and rigidity by having the closed cross-section portion 16, and the seat frame 14 achieves lightweight and easy manufacturing by having the open cross-section portion 21, and can appropriately ensure strength and rigidity through the configuration of the ribs.

[0144] The frame structure described above includes a cover member 35 a that covers the seat frame 14 from the outside in the left-right direction.

[0145] According to this configuration, by covering the seat frame 14 from the left-right outer side with the cover member 35 a , it is possible to protect the seat frame 14 and improve the appearance.

[0146] In the above-mentioned frame structure, the cover member 35a includes a cover through-hole forming portion 38, and the cover through-hole forming portion 38 forms a cover through-hole 38a that overlaps with the through-hole 25a of the seat frame 14 when viewed from the side. The cover through-hole forming portion 38 includes an inclined portion 38b, which is inclined from the through-hole 25a side of the seat frame 14 toward the outer side surface of the cover member 35a in the left-right direction outside, in a manner that becomes wider relative to the through-hole 25a as it approaches the left-right direction outside when viewed from the side.

[0147] According to this structure, the cover through-hole forming portion 38 has an inclined portion 38b that is inclined in a manner that becomes wider relative to the through-hole 25a as it approaches the outside in the left-right direction. Therefore, when one wants to hang one's hand on the through-hole 25a from the outside in the left-right direction, the hand is guided by the inclined portion 38b and can easily pass through the through-hole 25a, so that the upper part of the seat frame 14 can be easily grasped.

[0148] As shown in the figure, in the above-mentioned frame structure, the cover component 35a may have a cover through-hole forming portion 38, the cover through-hole forming portion 38 forms a cover through-hole 38a overlapping with the through-hole 25a of the seat frame 14 when viewed from the side, and the cover through-hole forming portion 38 has an upper cover portion 38c covering the upper portion 28a of the seat frame 14.

[0149] According to this structure, the cover member 35a of the seat frame 14 covers the upper surface 28a of the seat frame 14. Therefore, when the seat frame 14 is made of metal and the cover member 35a is made of resin, the touch of the upper surface side becomes soft, and the upper part of the seat frame 14 can be easily grasped by hanging the hand on the upper surface 28a side.

[0150] In the frame structure described above, the upper surface portion 28a of the inner peripheral wall 27 along the upper edge of the through hole 25a may be formed into a flat shape extending in the front-rear direction by at least one of the seat frame 14 and the cover member 35a.

[0151] According to this configuration, by forming the upper surface 28a of the inner peripheral wall 27 by at least one of the seat frame 14 and the cover member 35a, it is possible to easily meet the requirements (strength, rigidity, appearance, tactile feel, ease of manufacturing, etc.) required when providing the handle.

[0152] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, the seat frame 14 of the embodiment is formed integrally with the main frame 12, but it may be a structure that is separate from the main frame 12 and connected by bolts or the like. The upper surface 28a of the through-hole forming portion 25 only needs to extend in the front-back direction as a whole and have no extreme concave-convex or corners. For example, it may have a wave shape (concave-convex portion) smaller than a predetermined height along the shape of a finger. In this case, the seat frame 14 can be held more easily.

[0153] The frame structure of this embodiment is applicable to bicycles as vehicles that can be lifted by users, but can also be applied to straddle-type vehicles such as motorized motorcycles. Straddle-type vehicles include all vehicles that the driver rides on while straddling the vehicle body, including not only motorized motorcycles (including bicycles and pedal-type vehicles with a prime mover), but also three-wheeled (including vehicles with two front wheels and one rear wheel in addition to one front wheel and two rear wheels) or four-wheeled (four-wheeled carts, etc.) vehicles. It can also be applied to vehicles that include an electric motor in the prime mover.

[0154] Furthermore, the configuration in the above-described embodiment is an example of the present invention, and various modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention, such as replacing the components of the embodiment with well-known components.

Claims

1. A frame structure, comprising: Head pipe (11); a main frame (12) extending rearward from the head pipe (11); and A seat frame (14) is arranged above the main frame (12) and supports the seat (7). The frame structure is characterized in that The seat frame (14) has a through hole (25a), and the through hole (25a) penetrates the area within the front-to-rear width and the upper-lower width of the seat frame (14) in the left-right direction when viewed from the side. The gripping portion (28a) along the upper edge of the through hole (25a) is formed in a flat shape extending in the front-rear direction.

2. The frame structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gripping portion (28a) is formed in a planar shape extending in the vehicle width direction.

3. The frame structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The frame structure includes an inner peripheral wall (27) surrounding the hole space (25b) of the through hole (25a) over the entire circumference. The inner peripheral wall (27) is formed by a peripheral wall rib (27a) extending in the left-right direction over the entire periphery of the through hole (25a). A portion of the peripheral wall rib (27a) that forms the gripping portion (28a) is formed to be thicker than a portion of the peripheral wall rib (27a) that forms other portions.

4. The frame structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: An inner peripheral rib (31) extending from the peripheral wall rib (27a) toward the inside of the through hole (25a) is provided at a portion other than the gripping portion (28a) of the peripheral edge of the through hole (25a).

5. The frame structure according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The frame structure includes connection ribs (32, 33) connecting the peripheral wall ribs (27a) and the frame outer peripheral ribs (23a, 24a).

6. The frame structure according to claim 5, characterized in that: The frame peripheral ribs (23a, 24a) include a plurality of rib connection parts (32a, 32b, 33a, 33b) for connecting the connection ribs (32, 33). The connecting ribs (32, 33) connect a plurality of rib connecting portions (32a, 32b, 33a, 33b) of the frame outer peripheral ribs (23a, 24a) to each other.

7. The frame structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: The peripheral wall ribs (27a), the frame peripheral ribs (23a, 24a) and the connecting ribs (32, 33) extend in the left-right direction.

8. The frame structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main frame (12) extends with a hollow closed cross-section portion (16). The seat frame (14) has an open cross-section portion (21) that is open to the outside in the left-right direction and extends from the main frame (12).

9. The frame structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The frame structure includes a cover member (35a) that covers the seat frame (14) from the outside in the left-right direction.

10. The frame structure according to claim 9, characterized in that: The cover member (35a) includes a cover through-hole forming portion (38), wherein the cover through-hole forming portion (38) is formed with a cover through-hole (38a) overlapping with the through-hole (25a) of the seat frame (14) in a side view. The cover through-hole forming portion (38) includes an inclined portion (38b) which is inclined from the through-hole (25a) side of the seat frame (14) toward the outer side surface of the cover member (35a) on the left and right sides in a manner that the wider the cover member is toward the left and right sides in a side view, the wider the cover member is relative to the through-hole (25a).

11. The frame structure according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: The cover member (35a) includes a cover through-hole forming portion (38), wherein the cover through-hole forming portion (38) is formed with a cover through-hole (38a) overlapping with the through-hole (25a) of the seat frame (14) in a side view. The cover through-hole forming portion (38) includes a top cover portion (38c) that covers the grip portion (28a) of the seat frame (14).

12. A frame structure, characterized in that: have: Head pipe (11); A main frame (12) extending rearward from the head pipe (11); A seat frame (14) is arranged above the main frame (12) and supports the seat (7); and a cover member (35a) that covers the seat frame (14) from the outside in the left-right direction, The seat frame (14) includes a through hole forming portion (25), wherein the through hole forming portion (25) is formed with a through hole (25a), wherein the through hole (25a) penetrates the area within the front-rear width and the upper-lower width of the seat frame (14) in the left-right direction when viewed from the side. The through hole forming portion (25) includes an inner peripheral wall (27) surrounding the hole space (25b) of the through hole (25a) over the entire circumference of the through hole (25a). A gripping portion (28a) along the upper edge of the through hole (25a) in the inner peripheral wall (27) is formed into a flat shape extending in the front-rear direction by at least one of the seat frame (14) and the cover member (35a).

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