Ankle support bracket structure and ankle support bracket fitting

Abstract

Ankle guard mounting structure for a semi-trailer vehicle (1), wherein an ankle guard (40L) is attached via a fitting (30L) to a mirror mounting projection (27) of a mirror holder (20L) which can be attached to a handlebar (2), the ankle guard mounting structure comprising: a lower mounting projection (28) for attaching a lower section of the fitting (30L) to a lower section of the mirror holder (20L), while the fitting (30L) is attached to the mirror mounting projection (27) on an upper section of the mirror holder (20L) by being attached to it together with a mirror (26), wherein the mirror mounting projection (27) and the lower mounting projection (28) are arranged such that their mounting center axes (C2 and C3) are offset or inclined from each other.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-215164, filed on December 20, 2023, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an ankle protection bracket structure and an ankle protection bracket fitting. Description of related technology

[0003] In a saddle-riding vehicle such as a motorcycle, a knuckle guard is arranged in front of a grip portion of a handlebar to protect the hands gripping the grip portion from wind and collision with foreign objects. There are various types of knuckle guard mounting structures. For example, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application, First Publication No. S58-93585 discloses a structure in which a knuckle guard is attached to a lever bracket (which is also a mirror bracket) via a bracket. The bracket is fixed, together with a mirror, to a mirror mounting boss formed integrally with an upper portion of the lever bracket. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In the configuration of Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application, First Publication No. S58-93585, the bracket is attached to the mirror holder at a single point on the mirror mounting projection at an upper portion of the mirror portion, making it difficult to ensure the rigidity of the bracket and therefore the ankle guard. Furthermore, when the bracket is attached, the bracket tends to rotate along with the mirror, making it difficult to attach the ankle guard.

[0005] In particular, even for the same vehicle model, the specifications of the drive unit may vary, and therefore there may be cases where a clutch lever is included or not. In this case, a configuration that allows the use of a common fitting regardless of the presence or absence of a clutch lever is desirable.

[0006] An object of one aspect of the present invention is to increase the load-bearing rigidity of an ankle protector and to facilitate the attachment of the ankle protector to a mirror holder in an ankle protector mounting structure and an ankle protector mounting fitting that enable the attachment of the ankle protector to a mirror holder of a handlebar.

[0007] To achieve the above object, the ankle protection support structure according to one aspect of the present invention employs the following configuration.

[0008] (1) A first aspect of the present invention is an ankle protection support structure for a saddle-riding vehicle (1), in which an ankle protector (40L) is attached via a bracket (30L) to a mirror attachment projection (27) of a mirror holder (20L) attachable to a handlebar (2), the ankle protection support structure comprising: a lower attachment projection (28) for attaching a lower portion of the bracket (30L) to a lower portion of the mirror holder (20L), while the bracket (30L) is attached to the mirror attachment projection (27) at an upper portion of the mirror holder (20L) by being attached thereto together with a mirror (26), the mirror attachment projection (27) and the lower attachment projection (28) being arranged such that their attachment center axes (C2 and C3) are offset or inclined from each other.

[0009] According to the above aspect (1), the mirror fixing protrusion and the lower fixing protrusion are arranged offset or inclined from each other, and therefore it is possible to increase the supporting rigidity of the fitting and therefore the supporting rigidity of the ankle protector, and it becomes possible to make co-rotation difficult when the fitting is fixed to the fixing protrusion, compared to a configuration in which the mirror fixing protrusion and the lower fixing protrusion are arranged coaxially with each other.

[0010] (2) According to the above aspect (1), the mirror fixing projection (27) and the lower fixing projection (28) may be offset from each other in the left-right direction, with their fixing center axes (C2 and C3) being offset from each other in the left-right direction.

[0011] According to aspect (2) above, the mirror mounting protrusion and the lower mounting protrusion are offset from each other in the left-right direction, and therefore, the mirror mounting protrusion and the lower mounting protrusion are shifted in the longitudinal direction of the handlebar. This makes it possible to efficiently ensure the offset amount between the two mounting protrusions by limiting the protrusion of the fitting in the front-rear direction.

[0012] (3) The above aspect (1) or (2) may further include: an upper locking portion (27a) formed on the mirror fixing projection (27); and a fitting upper locking portion (31a) formed in the fitting (30L) at an upper fixing portion (31) fixed to the mirror fixing projection (27), engaged with the upper locking portion (27a) in a rotational direction about an axial center (C2) of the mirror fixing projection (27), and restricting rotation of the upper fixing portion (31) about the axial center (C2).

[0013] According to the above aspect (3), the upper locking portion formed on the mirror fixing projection and the upper fitting locking portion formed on the upper fixing portion of the fitting are engaged with each other in the rotational direction around the axis center of the mirror fixing projection, and therefore, it becomes possible to restrict the co-rotation of the upper fixing portion when the upper fixing portion of the fitting is fixed (without rotation prevention), and it becomes possible to facilitate the attachment of the fitting.

[0014] (4) The above aspect (1) or (2) may further include: a lower locking portion (28a) formed on the lower fixing protrusion (28); and a lower fitting locking portion (38a) formed on a lower fixing portion (38) fixed in the fitting (30L) to the lower fixing protrusion (28), engaged with the lower locking portion (38a) in a rotational direction about an axis center (C3) of the lower fixing protrusion (28), and restricting rotation of the lower fixing portion (38) about the axis center (C3).

[0015] According to the above aspect (4), the lower locking portion formed on the lower fixing protrusion and the lower fitting locking portion formed on the lower fixing protrusion of the fitting are engaged with each other in the rotational direction around the axis center of the lower fixing protrusion, and therefore, it becomes possible to restrict the co-rotation of the lower fixing portion when the lower fixing portion of the fitting is fixed (without rotation prevention), and possible to facilitate the attachment of the fitting.

[0016] (5) A second aspect of the present invention is an ankle protection support fitting (30L) attached to a mirror attachment projection (27) of a mirror holder (20L) attachable to a handlebar (2) and supporting an ankle protector (40L), the ankle protection support fitting comprising: an upper attachment portion (31) attached to the mirror attachment projection (27) at an upper portion of the mirror holder (20L) by being attached thereto together with a mirror (26); and a lower attachment portion (38) attached to the lower attachment projection (28) such that its attachment center axis (C3) is offset or inclined with respect to a attachment center axis (C2) of the mirror attachment projection (27) in a lower portion of the mirror holder (20L).

[0017] According to the above aspect (5), by fixing the upper and lower fixing portions to the upper and lower fixing protrusions which are offset or inclined from each other, it is possible to increase the supporting rigidities of the fixing portions themselves and therefore the supporting rigidity of the ankle protector, and it becomes possible to make co-rotation difficult when fixing the upper and lower fixing portions to the fixing protrusions.

[0018] According to aspects of the present invention, it is possible to increase the supporting rigidity of the ankle protector and to facilitate attachment of the ankle protector to a mirror holder in an ankle protector mounting structure and an ankle protector mounting bracket that enable attachment of the ankle protector to a mirror holder of a handlebar. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a side view of a motorcycle in one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a front view showing the vicinity of a handlebar of the above motorcycle. Fig. 3 is a rear view showing the area around the handlebar of the above motorcycle. Fig. 4 is a front view showing a support structure of a left ankle protector in a left lever holder attached to the handlebar. Fig. 5 is a front view of Fig. 4, with the left ankle guard removed. Fig. 6 is a side view of the vicinity of a fitting in the left lever holder from an outer side in the vehicle width direction. Fig. 7 is a front view of the vicinity of the left lever holder fitting. Fig. 8 is a side view of the vicinity of the fitting in the left lever holder from an inner side in the vehicle width direction. Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the upper portion of the fitting in the left lever holder. Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the lower portion of the fitting in the left lever holder. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the front end portion of a front body cover of the motorcycle. Fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing airflow entering the inside of the front body cover from a bottom surface of the front body cover of the motorcycle. DESCRIPTION OF VERSIONS

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the forward, backward, left, and right directions are the same directions in a vehicle described below unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, an arrow FR indicating a forward direction with respect to the vehicle, an arrow LH indicating a left direction with respect to the vehicle, an arrow UP indicating an upward direction with respect to the vehicle, and a line CL indicating a transverse center of a vehicle body are shown at appropriate locations in the drawings used in the following description.

[0020] The term “center” used in the following discussion means not only the center between both ends of an object, but also an inner area between the two ends of the object. <Gesamtes Fahrzeug>

[0021] Fig. 1 is a side view showing a motorcycle 1 as an example of a ride-on semi-trailer vehicle. Fig. 2 is a front view showing the vicinity of a handlebar 2 of the motorcycle 1. Fig. 3 is a rear view showing the vicinity of the handlebar 2 of the motorcycle 1.

[0022] Regarding the Fig. 1 to 3, the motorcycle 1 includes a front wheel (steered wheel) 3, which is steered by the handlebar 2, and a rear wheel (drive wheel) 4, which is driven by a drive unit P, which includes an engine (combustion engine) E.

[0023] Components of a steering system, including the handlebar 2 and the front wheel 3, are steerably mounted on a head tube 12 from the front end portion of a vehicle body frame 5. The components of the steering system include a pair of left and right front fork legs 11, and a lower bridge 11a and an upper bridge 11b that connect upper portions of the left and right front fork legs 11. The handlebar 2 is attached to the upper bridge 11b via a pair of left and right handlebar holders 11c.

[0024] The motorcycle 1 of the embodiment includes the telescopic-type front fork 11 as the front suspension, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the front suspension may also be of another type, such as a pivot type using a swing arm.

[0025] The handlebar 12 is integrally formed across the entire width from left to right with a round tube made of, for example, aluminum alloy. The handlebar 12 includes a pair of left and right straight handlebars 2b on the left and right sides, each of which includes a grip portion 2a gripped by a rider. The handlebars 2b are inclined with respect to the left-right direction such that they are positioned further rearward to the outer sides in the vehicle width direction and extend generally along a horizontal plane. The handlebar 2 may be a separate handlebar in which the left and right handlebars 2b are separated from each other.

[0026] A right switch box (not shown) and a right lever bracket 20R are mounted on the inside of the right handlebar 2b in the vehicle width direction. A right operating lever (e.g., a brake lever) 21R and a right knuckle guard 40R are supported on the right lever bracket 20R. The right operating lever (brake lever) 21R and the right knuckle guard 40R are arranged in front of the right handle portion 2a with a gap therebetween. For example, a brake master cylinder and a reserve tank are integrated into the right lever bracket 20R. The right lever bracket 20R also serves as a right mirror bracket that supports a right rearview mirror 26.

[0027] A left switch box (not shown) and a left lever bracket 20L are mounted on the inside of the left handlebar 2b in the vehicle width direction. A left operating lever (e.g., a clutch lever) 21L and a left knuckle guard 40L are mounted on the left lever bracket 20L. The left operating lever (the clutch lever) 21L and the left knuckle guard 40L are arranged in front of the left handle portion 2a, with a gap therebetween. The left lever bracket 20L also serves as a left mirror bracket that supports a left rearview mirror 26.

[0028] In relation to Fig. 1, the vehicle body frame 5 includes a head pipe 12 disposed at its front end portion, a pair of left and right main frames 13 branching left and right from an upper portion of the head pipe 12 and extending rearward and downward, a pair of left and right sub-frames 14 branching left and right from a lower portion of the head pipe 12 and extending rearward and downward at a steeper incline than the main frames 13, a pair of left and right link frames 15 whose upper end portions are connected to the rear end portions of the left and right main frames 13, and a pair of left and right seat frames 16 extending rearward and upward from upper portions of the left and right link frames 15. The left and right frame members are suitably connected to each other by a cross frame (not shown).The left and right main frames 13 and the left and right subframes 14 are connected by a plurality of inclined frame members in a truss shape. The area surrounding the vehicle body frame 5 is covered with a vehicle body cover 6. Reference numeral 6a in the drawing denotes a front body cover (front cowling) 6a of the vehicle body cover 6, which covers a front portion of the vehicle body.

[0029] A power unit P of the motorcycle 1 is mounted under the left and right main frames 13. The power unit P is a unit in which an engine E, which is a prime mover, is arranged at the front portion thereof and a transmission M is arranged at the rear portion thereof, and these are integrated with each other. A radiator 16 for cooling the engine E is arranged in front of the power unit P and in front of the left and right sub-frames 14. The rear wheel 4, driven by the power of the power unit P, is supported on the rear end portion of a swing arm 7. The front end portion of the swing arm 7 is pivotally supported up and down at a vertically intermediate portion of each of the left and right link frames 15 via a link shaft extending in the left-right direction. A rear damper (not shown) is arranged between the front portion of the swing arm 7 and the vehicle body frame 5.The power of the drive unit P is transmitted from the left side of the transmission to the rear wheel 4 via a chain power transmission mechanism 17.

[0030] A seat 18 for a driver is arranged above the left and right seat frames 16. A fuel tank 18a for the engine E is arranged below the seat 18 and between the left and right seat frames 16. An article storage box 8 is arranged in front of the seat 18 and inside the front fuselage cover 6a. The article storage box 8 can be opened and closed by using the upper portion of the front fuselage cover 6a as a lid. An air cleaner 9 for the engine E is arranged inside the front fuselage cover 6a and in front of the article storage box 8.

[0031] Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the front end portion of the front fuselage cover 6a. Fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the airflow entering the interior of the front fuselage cover 6a from a lower surface 6c of the front fuselage cover 6a.

[0032] The bottom surface 6c of the front body cover 6a, facing a wheel house (a mounting space) 6b of the front wheel 3, is cut out to open the rotational area of ​​the steering system components (in the embodiment, the pair of left and right front fork legs 11 and the lower bridge 11a connecting them). The airflow entering the interior of the front body cover 6a through this opening reaches a space 9b where an intake port 9a opens in the upper portion of the air cleaner 9. When the airflow flows near the intake port 9a, in a case where the flow velocity of the airflow is high, the airflow may interfere with the air intake of the air cleaner 9.

[0033] Therefore, in order to limit the influence of the airflow that has entered the front fuselage cover 6a on the intake air, in the embodiment, a standing wall 6d is formed on the lower surface 6c of the front fuselage cover 6a, projecting downward from the lower surface 6c. The standing wall 6d extends in the vehicle width direction along the front edge of the opening of the lower surface 6c. As a result, the airflow flowing along the lower surface 6c hits the standing wall 6d and detaches from the standing wall 6d, colliding with the airflow flowing directly rearward without hitting the standing wall 6d, thereby reducing the flow velocity. As a result, the airflow is divided to generate a turbulent flow, and the flow W1 enters the interior of the front fuselage cover 6a at a reduced flow velocity.The standing wall 6d is formed integrally with, for example, the lower portion of a cover for a headlight 6c arranged at the front end portion of the vehicle body cover 6a.

[0034] The power unit P includes an engine E as a power source, a constant-mesh type transmission M, and a multi-disk type clutch (not shown) that connects and disconnects the power transmission between the engine E and the transmission M. The clutch is a normally closed clutch that is in the engaged state when not operated. The power unit P of the motorcycle 1 may be equipped with a manual clutch transmission system as described above, or may be equipped with a dual-clutch transmission system that separately controls a first clutch for odd-numbered gears and a second clutch for even-numbered gears. The former type is usually equipped with a clutch lever 21L on the left handlebar 2b so that the rider can operate the clutch to disengage.The latter type does not need to be equipped with an operating element such as a clutch lever 21L, because the clutch operation is performed automatically by a clutch actuator. The configuration equipped with the clutch actuator is not limited to a dual-clutch transmission system, but can also be a combination of a standard M transmission and a single-clutch transmission. Furthermore, a configuration that does not include a clutch operating element can also be a configuration with a centrifugal clutch or a torque converter. <Hebelhalter 20L>

[0035] Fig. 4 is a front view showing a support structure of the left ankle protector 40L in the left lever holder 20L. Fig. 5 is a front view of Fig. 4, in which the left ankle protector 40L is removed. Fig. 6 is a side view of the vicinity of the bracket 30L in the left lever holder 20L from the outside in the vehicle width direction. Fig. 7 is a front view of the vicinity of the fitting 30L in the left lever holder 20L. Fig. 8 is a side view of the vicinity of the bracket 30L in the left lever holder 20L from an inner side in the vehicle width direction.

[0036] Regarding the Fig. 4 to 8, the left ankle guard 40L of the embodiment is attached to the left lever holder (mirror holder 20L) via the bracket 30L. In this embodiment, the bracket 30L is used as the support structure of the left ankle guard 40L in the left lever holder 20L, and therefore, the ankle guard 40L can be attached in the same way regardless of whether the operating lever 21L is present or not. In the support structure of the left ankle guard 40R in the right lever holder 20R, it is not necessary to use the operating lever 21R, and therefore, the ankle guard 40R can be attached directly to the right lever holder 20R without using a bracket.

[0037] In the left lever bracket 20L, a base portion 21A of the clutch lever 21L is rotatably supported on the inner side in the vehicle width direction via a lever support shaft (not shown) extending in the vehicle up-down direction. In the drawing, a line C1 indicates a central axis (axis center) of the lever support shaft. The clutch lever 21L shown in the drawing is in a state in which a lever main body 21b extending outward in the vehicle width direction from the base portion 21a is located at an initial position P1 before operation by the driver. The clutch lever 21L is rotatable from the initial position P1 toward the grip portion 20a. A clutch switch for detecting the operation of the clutch lever 21L when the clutch lever 21L is operated toward the grip portion 20a is attached to the lever bracket 20L.

[0038] The lever holder 20L is divided into front and rear sections in the radial direction of the handlebar 2b. The left lever holder 20L includes a holder main body 23 having a lever support portion 22 that rotatably supports the base portion 21a of the clutch lever 21, and a clamp member 24 that faces the holder main body 23 with the left handlebar 2b interposed therebetween.

[0039] The holder main body 23 includes a handlebar receiving portion 23a having a semicircular inner peripheral surface along the outer peripheral surface of the handlebar 2b, and bolt fastening portions 23b arranged above and below the handlebar receiving portion 23a. Each of the bolt fastening portions 23b has a threaded hole in which a bolt B1 for fastening the lever holder 20L to the handlebar 2b is tightened.

[0040] The clamping member 24 includes a handlebar receiving portion 24a having a semicircular inner peripheral surface along the outer peripheral surface of the handlebar 2b, and bolt fastening portions 24b arranged above and below the handlebar receiving portion 24a with the handlebar receiving portion 24a interposed therebetween. Each bolt fastening portion 24b has an insertion hole through which the head of the bolt B1 passes.

[0041] The holder main body 23 and the clamp member 24, with their handlebar receiving portions 23a and 24a, clamp the handlebar 2b in the front-to-rear direction. In this state, the bolts B1 are inserted through the upper and lower bolt fastening portions 24b of the clamp member 24 from the space behind them, and these bolts B1 are screwed into the upper and lower bolt fastening portions 23b of the holder main body 23 and tightened, thus fixing the lever holder 20L to the handlebar 2b.

[0042] The bolt B1 is attached to and detached from the rear side of the lever holder 20L because the lever support portion 22 and the like are arranged at the front side of the lever holder 20L. For example, if the lever holder 20L does not have a structure such as the lever support portion 22 on its front side, but has a structure such as a parking brake operating portion on its rear side, it may be configured such that the bolts B1 are attached to and detached from the front side of the lever holder (mirror holder) 20L.

[0043] The lever support portion 22 includes a pair of upper and lower support walls 22a and 22b arranged with a gap therebetween such that the base portion 21a of the operating lever 21L is interposed therebetween in the up-down direction. For example, the upper support wall 22a has an insertion hole through which a lever support shaft extending in the up-down direction is inserted. The lever support shaft is in the shape of a shoulder bolt with a threaded shank at its end portion. The lower support wall 22b has a threaded hole into which an end portion of the lever support shaft is tightened. In the drawing, reference numeral 22e denotes a cap nut screwed onto the threaded shank of the lever support shaft.

[0044] The base portion 21a of the operating lever 21L has a shaft insertion hole extending through the base portion 21a in the thickness direction (top-bottom direction) thereof. The operating lever 21L is rotatably supported on the lever support portion 22 about the lever support shaft by inserting the base portion 21a between the upper and lower support walls 22a and 22b of the lever support portion 22, and tightening the lever support shaft inserted into the insertion hole and the shaft insertion hole.

[0045] A mirror fixing protrusion 27 for tightening and fixing a lower end portion (a threaded shaft) of a mirror stay 26a of the rearview mirror 26 is integrally formed with the upper portion of the support main body 23 of the lever holder 20L. In the drawing, a line C2 indicates a fixing center axis (axis center) of the mirror fixing protrusion 27 in the up-down direction.

[0046] A lower fastening protrusion 28 for fastening the lower portion of the bracket 30L is integrally formed with the lower portion of the support main body 23 of the lever holder 20L. In the drawing, a line 3 indicates a fastening center axis (axis center) of the lower fastening protrusion 28 in the up-down direction. <Beschlag 30L>

[0047] The fitting 30L includes an upper attachment portion 31 attached to the mirror attachment projection 27, an upper inclined portion 32 extending obliquely forward and downward from the front edge of the upper attachment portion 31, an upper guard attachment portion 33 extending forward from the lower front edge of the upper inclined portion 32, a front end wall portion 34 extending downward from the front edge of the upper guard attachment portion 33, a lower guard attachment portion 35 extending rearward from the lower edge of the front end wall portion 34, a suspension portion 36 extending downward from the rear edge of the lower guard attachment portion 35, a lower oblique portion 37 extending obliquely rearward and downward from the lower edge of the suspension portion 36, and a lower attachment portion 38.which extends rearwardly from the rear edge of the lower inclined portion 37 and is fixed to the lower fixing projection 28.,

[0048] The center axis C2 of the mirror mounting projection 27 and the center axis C3 of the lower mounting projection 28 are arranged parallel to each other. The center axis C3 of the lower mounting projection 28 is arranged shifted rearward and inward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the center axis C2 of the mirror mounting projection 27.

[0049] By attaching the bracket 30L supporting the ankle protector 40L to the mirror mounting protrusion 27 at the upper portion of the lever holder 20L and the lower mounting protrusion 28 at the lower portion of the lever holder 20L, and by offsetting these upper and lower mounting positions (mounting center axes C2 and C3) in the front-rear direction and in the left-right direction, it is possible to prevent rotation of the bracket 30L around its mounting position center and increase the supporting rigidity compared with a case where its upper and lower mounting positions are arranged coaxially with each other.

[0050] In the embodiment, by offsetting the mirror mounting protrusion 27 and the lower mounting protrusion 28 further in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction, it is possible to ensure an offset amount in the longitudinal direction of the handlebar 2b while avoiding an increase in the front-rear width of the lever holder 20L. The relative arrangement of the mirror mounting protrusion 27 and the lower mounting protrusion 28 is not limited to an arrangement in which the axes C2 and C3 are parallel to each other, but may also be an arrangement in which one is inclined with respect to the other (relative angle arrangement). Even with this configuration, it is possible to avoid the rotation of the bracket 30L around the bracket position center and increase the bracket rigidity.

[0051] The center axis C1 of the lever support shaft of the clutch lever 21L is tilted forward so that the upper side is positioned further forward, while the center axis C2 of the mirror mounting boss 27 is generally oriented in the up-down direction. The clutch lever 21L rotates along a plane (rotation plane) S1 orthogonal to the center axis C1 of the lever support shaft. The upper and lower protective mounting walls of the bracket 30L are formed parallel to the rotation plane S1 of the clutch lever 21L.

[0052] In the bracket 30L, the upper fixing portion 31 is fixed to the mirror fixing protrusion 27 together with the mirror stay 26a, and the lower fixing portion 38 is fixed to the lower fixing protrusion 28 formed on the lower portion of the lever holder 20L by a lower bolt B2. A portion between the upper and lower fixing portions 31 and 38 of the bracket 30L is formed to bypass the lever support portion 22 of the lever holder 20L in front of them, with a gap therebetween. The upper and lower guard fixing portions 33 and 35 for fixing the ankle guard 40L are formed in the bypass portion of the bracket 30L.

[0053] Since the fitting 30L supporting the ankle protector 40L is fixed not only to the mirror fixing projection 27 at the upper portion of the lever holder 20L, but also to the lower fixing projection 28 at the lower portion of the lever holder 20L, it is possible to increase the supporting rigidity of the fitting 30L and hence of the ankle protector 40L.

[0054] If the ankle guard 40L is attached to the left lever holder 20L, if a mounting component such as the bracket 30L differs depending on whether the clutch lever 21L is present or not, the number of component types may increase, resulting in increased costs. In view of this, the upper and lower mounting portions 31 and 38 of the bracket 30L are formed to bypass the lever support portion 22 of the lever holder 20L in front thereof with a gap therebetween, and therefore, it is possible to use a common bracket 30L regardless of whether the clutch lever 31L is present or not.In other words, even in a case where the specifications for the drive unit P are different for the same vehicle model (whether the clutch lever 21L is present or not), by using a common fitting 30L, it is possible to increase the versatility of the bracket component for the ankle protection 40L and reduce costs.

[0055] The upper and lower fixing protrusions 27 and 28 are arranged such that their center axes C1, C2, and C3 are shifted in the front-to-rear direction and the left-to-right direction so that they are not coaxial with each other. Thus, by arranging the upper and lower fixing protrusions 27 and 28 so that they are not coaxial with each other, the bracket 30L is prevented from rotating around the mirror fixing protrusion 27 or the lower fixing protrusion 28.

[0056] Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the upper portion of the bracket 30L in the left lever holder 20L. Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the lower portion of the bracket 30L in the left lever holder 20L.

[0057] Regarding the Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, the upper and lower fastening portions 31 and 38 of the bracket 30L are respectively provided with locking pieces 31a and 38a, which can abut against locking walls 27a and 28a formed adjacent to the corresponding fastening projections 27 and 28 in a tightening direction of the mirror stay 26a or the lower bolt B2 (indicated by arrow F1 in the drawings). When the bracket 30L is tightened, the upper and lower locking pieces 31a and 38a abut against the corresponding locking walls 27a and 28a, respectively, to thereby prevent rotation of the bracket 30L when the bolts or the like are tightened. As a result, it is possible to prevent co-rotation of the bracket 30L when a bolt or the like is tightened and to facilitate attachment of the ankle protector 40L.

[0058] The lever support portion 22 has a notch 22d formed between the upper and lower support pieces, into which the clutch lever 21L is inserted. For example, in a specification without a clutch lever 21L, the notch 22d may be omitted. The notch 22d is concealed by a base portion 45 of the knuckle guard 40L, but a cover may also be provided to block the notch 22d. <Knöchelschutz 40L>

[0059] Regarding the Fig. 4, Fig. 6 and Fig.8, the knuckle protector 40L includes a protector main body 41 that covers the handle portion 2a and the clutch lever 21L from a space in front of it with a gap therebetween, and a base portion 45 for attaching the protector main body 41 to the lever holder 20L. The protector main body 41 of the knuckle protector 40 is formed with a large width in the up-down direction to completely cover the handle portion 2a and the lever in a space in front of it. The base portion 45 of the knuckle protector 40L is formed narrower in width in the up-down direction than the protector main body 41. The knuckle protector 40L is supported in a cantilever manner, with the inner side in the vehicle width direction (the base portion 45 side) being supported by the lever holder 20L, and the outer side in the vehicle width direction being a free end.

[0060] The protective main body 41 includes a front surface portion 42 having a slightly curved shape bulging forward from the vehicle, and outer peripheral wall portions 43 formed beyond the upper and lower edges of the front surface portion 42 and the outer side edge in the vehicle width direction and projecting rearward.

[0061] When viewed from the front-rear direction, a vehicle width direction outer portion of the front surface portion 42 is formed into a trapezoidal shape that tapers outward in the vehicle width direction. When viewed from the front-rear direction, a vehicle width direction inner portion of the front surface portion 42 is formed into a trapezoidal shape that tapers inward in the vehicle width direction.

[0062] Each outer peripheral wall portion 43 extends obliquely so as to be widened outward from the outer peripheral edge of the front surface portion 42 when viewed in the front-rear direction.

[0063] The base portion 45 includes a base portion front surface portion 46 formed to extend the vehicle width direction inner portion of the front surface portion 42 of the protective body 41 inward in the vehicle width direction, and base portion outer peripheral walls formed beyond the upper and lower edges and the vehicle width direction inner edge of the base portion front surface portion 46 and projecting rearward.

[0064] The base portion front surface portion 46 has a rearward displacement portion 46a formed on the inner side in the up-down direction. The rearward displacement portion 46a is displaced rearward via upper and lower step portions 46b that have a rectilinear shape and extend in the vehicle width direction. The inner side of the rearward displacement portion 46a in the vehicle width direction is continuous with a vehicle width direction inner end of the base portion 45. The outer side of the rearward displacement portion 46a in the vehicle width direction gradually disappears at the vehicle width direction inner portion of the front surface portion 42 of the protection main body 41.

[0065] Each of the base portion outer peripheral wall portions 47 extends obliquely so as to be widened outward from the outer peripheral edge of the base portion front surface portion 46 when viewed in the front-rear direction.

[0066] The outer peripheral wall portions 43, which are arranged above and below the vehicle width direction inner portion of the protection main body 41, are formed such that their front-rear direction width (depth) increases toward one side of the base portion 45. This outer peripheral wall portion 43 is referred to as a flared outer peripheral wall portion 43a.

[0067] The base portion outer peripheral wall portions 47, which are arranged above and below the base portion 42, are formed to have a front-rear direction width (depth) equal to that of the vehicle width direction inner end of each of the upper and lower flared outer peripheral wall portions 43a of the protector main body 41. By expanding the upper and lower outer peripheral wall portions 43 and 47 from the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the protector main body 41 at the base portion 45, the rigidity of one side of the base portion 45 of the ankle protector 40L, which protrudes in a cantilever manner from one side of the base portion 45, is increased.

[0068] The upper and lower support walls 48 and 49, which project rearward between the upper and lower base portion outer peripheral wall portions 47, are formed inward (rearward) of the base portion 45. The upper and lower support walls 48 and 49 are formed parallel to each other. The upper and lower support walls 48 and 49 overlap the upper and lower fixing portions 33 and 35 from above or below, which are parallel to each other and formed by the bypass portion of the bracket 30L. The upper support wall 48 is fixed to the upper guard fixing portion 33 by a bolt B3 inserted from above. The lower support wall 49 is fixed to the lower guard fixing portion 35 by a bolt B4 inserted from below.

[0069] As described above, the ankle protection support structure of the above embodiment is one for a saddle-riding vehicle, wherein a lever holder 20L for supporting a clutch lever 21L is provided on a handlebar 2, and an ankle protector 40L is attached to a mirror attachment projection 27 of the lever holder 20L with a bracket 30L, the ankle protection support structure including a lower attachment projection 28 for attaching a lower portion of the bracket 30L to a lower portion of the lever holder 20L, while the bracket 30L is attached to the mirror attachment projection 27 at an upper portion of the lever holder 20L by being attached thereto together with a mirror 26, and the mirror attachment projection 27 and the lower attachment projection 28 are provided such that their axis centers C1 and C3 are offset or inclined from each other.

[0070] According to this configuration, the mirror fixing protrusion 27 and the lower fixing protrusion 28 are arranged such that their axial centers C2 and C3 are offset or inclined from each other, thereby making it possible to increase the supporting rigidity of the bracket 30 and therefore the supporting rigidity of the ankle protector 40L, and making it difficult to co-rotate when the bracket 30L is fixed to the fixing protrusions 27 and 28, compared to a configuration in which the mirror fixing protrusion 27 and the lower fixing protrusion 28 are arranged coaxially with each other.

[0071] In the above ankle protection bracket structure, the mirror fixing protrusion 27 and the lower fixing protrusion 28 are arranged so that their axis centers C2 and C3 are offset from each other in the left-right direction.

[0072] According to this configuration, the mirror mounting protrusion 27 and the lower mounting protrusion 28 are arranged such that their axis centers C2 and C3 are offset from each other in the left-right direction, and therefore, the mirror mounting protrusion 27 and the lower mounting protrusion 28 are shifted in the longitudinal direction of the handle bar 2b. This makes it possible to efficiently ensure the offset amount between the two mounting protrusions 27 and 28 by limiting the protrusion of the bracket 30L in the front-rear direction.

[0073] The above ankle protection bracket structure further includes an upper locking wall 27a formed adjacent to the mirror fixing projection 27, and an upper locking piece 31a formed to protrude from an upper fixing portion 31 fixed in the bracket (30L) to the mirror fixing projection 27, engage with the upper locking wall 27a in the rotational direction about the axis center C2 of the mirror fixing projection 27, and prevent rotation of the upper fixing portion 31 about the axis center C2.

[0074] According to this configuration, the upper locking wall 27a formed on the mirror fixing projection 27 and the upper locking piece 31a formed on the upper fixing portion 31 of the bracket 30L are engaged with each other in the rotational direction around the axis center C2 of the mirror fixing projection 27, whereby it is possible to limit the co-rotation of the upper fixing portion 31 when the upper fixing portion 31 of the bracket 30L is fixed (without rotation prevention), and it is possible to facilitate the attachment of the bracket 30L.

[0075] The above ankle protection bracket structure further includes a lower locking wall 28a formed adjacent to the lower fixing projection 28, and a lower locking piece 38a formed to protrude from a lower fixing portion 38 fixed in the bracket (30L) to the lower fixing projection 28, engage with the lower locking wall 28 in the rotational direction about the axis center C3 of the lower fixing projection 28, and restrict rotation of the lower fixing portion 38 about the axis center C3.

[0076] According to this configuration, the lower locking wall 28a formed on the lower fastening projection 28 and the lower locking piece 38a formed by the lower fastening portion 38 of the bracket 30L are engaged with each other in the rotational direction around the axis center C3 of the lower fastening projection 28, whereby it is possible to prevent the co-rotation of the lower fastening portion 38 when the lower fastening portion 38 of the bracket 30L is fastened (without rotation prevention), and it is possible to facilitate the attachment of the bracket 30L.

[0077] The knuckle guard mounting bracket 30L of the above embodiment is an knuckle guard mounting bracket 30L mounted on a mirror mounting boss 27 of a lever holder 20L supporting a clutch lever 21L and supporting an knuckle guard 40L, the knuckle guard mounting bracket including an upper mounting portion 31 fixed to the mirror mounting boss 27 at an upper portion of the lever holder 20L by being fixed thereto together with a mirror 26, and a lower mounting portion 38 fixed to a lower mounting boss 28 whose axis center C3 is offset or inclined with respect to an axis center C2 of the mirror mounting boss 27 in a lower portion of the lever holder 20L.

[0078] According to this configuration, by fixing the upper and lower fixing portions 31 and 38 to the upper and lower fixing protrusions 27 and 28 whose axial centers C2 and C3 are offset or inclined from each other, it is possible to increase the supporting rigidities of the fixing portions 31 and 38 themselves and therefore the supporting rigidity of the ankle protector 40L, and it is possible to make co-rotation difficult when fixing the upper and lower fixing portions 31 and 38 to the fixing protrusions 27 and 28.

[0079] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and for example, an ankle protection bracket structure and a bracket fitting of the present embodiment can also be applied to saddle-mounted vehicles other than motorcycles. The saddle-mounted vehicle includes all vehicles in which a rider straddles a vehicle body, including a motorcycle (including a bicycle with a primary drive or a scooter-type vehicle), as well as a three-wheeled vehicle (including a vehicle with one front wheel and two rear wheels, as well as a vehicle with two front wheels and one rear wheel), or a four-wheeled vehicle (a four-wheeled buggy or the like). Furthermore, the saddle-mounted vehicle can also be applied to a vehicle that includes an electric motor as a primary drive.

[0080] The configuration of the embodiment described above is an example of the present invention, and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, such as replacing the components of the embodiment with known components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 1 motorcycle (ride-on-seat vehicle) 2 handlebar 20L clutch holder (mirror holder) 26 mirrors 27 Mirror mounting projection 27a upper locking wall (upper locking section) 28 lower mounting projection 28a lower locking wall (lower locking section) 30L fitting (ankle protection bracket fitting) 31 upper fastening section 31a upper locking piece (upper fitting locking section) 38 lower fastening section 38a lower locking piece (lower fitting locking section) 40L ankle protection C2 Axle center (fastener axis) C3 Axle center (fastener axis) QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2023-215164

[0001]

Claims

[1] An ankle protection support structure for a saddle-riding vehicle (1), wherein an ankle protector (40L) is attached via a fitting (30L) to a mirror mounting projection (27) of a mirror holder (20L) attachable to a handlebar (2), the ankle protection support structure comprising: a lower fastening projection (28) for fastening a lower portion of the fitting (30L) to a lower portion of the mirror holder (20L), while the fitting (30L) is fastened to the mirror fastening projection (27) on an upper portion of the mirror holder (20L) by being fastened thereto together with a mirror (26), wherein the mirror fastening projection (27) and the lower fastening projection (28) are arranged such that their fastening center axes (C2 and C3) are offset or inclined from each other. [2] The ankle protection support structure according to claim 1, wherein the mirror fixing projection (27) and the lower fixing projection (28) are arranged offset from each other in the left-right direction, with their fixing center axes (C2 and C3) being offset from each other in the left-right direction. [3] The ankle protection support structure according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: an upper locking portion (27a) formed on the mirror mounting projection (27); and an upper fitting locking portion (31a) formed in the fitting (30L) at an upper fixing portion (31) fixed to the mirror fixing projection (27), engaging with the upper locking portion (27a) in a rotational direction about an axial center (C2) of the mirror fixing projection (27), and restricting rotation of the upper fixing portion (31) about the axial center (C2). [4] The ankle protection support structure according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a lower locking portion (28a) formed on the lower fixing projection (28); and a lower fitting locking portion (38a) formed in the fitting (30L) at a lower fastening portion (38) which is fixed to the lower fastening projection (28), engages with the lower locking portion (38a) in a rotational direction about an axis center (C3) of the lower fastening projection (28), and restricts rotation of the lower fastening portion (38) about the axis center (C3). [5] An ankle protection bracket (30L) mounted on a mirror mounting projection (27) of a mirror holder (20L) attachable to a handlebar (2) and carrying an ankle protector (40L), the ankle protection bracket comprising: an upper fixing portion (31) fixed to the mirror fixing projection (27) at an upper portion of the mirror holder (20L) by being fixed thereto together with a mirror (26); and a lower fastening portion (38) fixed to the lower fastening projection (28) such that its fastening center axis (C3) is offset or inclined with respect to a fastening center axis (C2) of the mirror fastening projection (27) in a lower portion of the mirror holder (20L).

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