Manufacturing method of exterior cover for saddle riding vehicles, exterior cover for saddle riding vehicles, and saddle riding vehicle

Abstract

To provide an exterior cover for saddle riding vehicles and a manufacturing method of the exterior cover characterized in that displacement of a decorative film is inhibited from occurring during molding of a film insert.SOLUTION: A manufacturing method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is a manufacturing method of an exterior cover for saddle riding vehicles which includes a resin substrate layer and a decorative layer laid over the resin substrate layer. The manufacturing method includes (a) a step of preparing a decorative film and setting the decorative film in a mold, and (b) a step of injecting a resin material into the mold subsequently to the step (a), and thus forming a laminate structure including a resin substrate layer and a decorate layer. The resin substrate layer includes an attachment part where a structure for attaching an exterior cover to a vehicle body is formed. An internal surface of the mold has a projection part for use in forming the attachment part of the resin substrate layer. The step (a) is carried out so that the decorative film will be hung by the projection part of the mold when the decorative film is about to move along with flow of the resin material at the step (b).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an exterior cover for a saddle-ride type vehicle and a method for manufacturing the same.The present invention also relates to a saddle-ride type vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Resin molded products are widely used for various applications such as interior and exterior components for vehicles, home appliances, etc. Conventionally, in order to improve the design of resin molded products, their surfaces have been decorated by painting or printing.

[0003] In recent years, in order to further improve design and productivity, resin molded products are also decorated by film insert molding. In film insert molding, a resin material is injected into a mold with a decorative film set in the mold, and injection molding is performed. The obtained resin molded product has a laminated structure including a resin substrate layer and a decorative layer. The decorative film is set on the inner surface of the mold by electrostatic adsorption, for example. The decorative film used in film insert molding is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-125645 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In film insert molding, the decorative film may become misaligned due to the flow of the resin material during injection molding. Misalignment of the decorative film can cause a deterioration in the aesthetic appearance of the resin molded product.

[0006] An embodiment of the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide an exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle and a manufacturing method thereof that suppresses misalignment of a decorative film during film insert molding. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This specification discloses a manufacturing method for an exterior cover for a saddle-ride type vehicle, an exterior cover for a saddle-ride type vehicle, and a saddle-ride type vehicle as described in the following items.

[0008] [Item 1] A method for manufacturing an exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle, comprising: a resin substrate layer; and a decorative layer provided on the resin substrate layer, (a) preparing a decorative film and setting the decorative film in a mold; (b) after the step (a), a step of forming a laminated structure including the resin substrate layer and the decorative layer by injecting a resin material into the mold and performing injection molding; Inclusive of the resin base material layer has an attachment portion having a structure for attaching the exterior cover to a vehicle body, the inner surface of the mold has a protrusion for forming the mounting portion of the resin substrate layer, The manufacturing method, wherein the step (a) is performed so that the decorative film is caught by the protrusion of the mold when it attempts to move in the step (b) in association with the flow of the resin material.

[0009] The manufacturing method of the exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a step (a) of preparing a decorative film and setting the decorative film in a mold, and a step (b) of forming a laminated structure including a resin base material layer and a decorative layer by injecting a resin material into the mold and performing injection molding after the step (a). In the manufacturing method according to the embodiment of the present invention, the inner surface of the mold has a protrusion for forming an attachment portion of the resin base material layer, and the step (a) is performed so that the decorative film is caught by the protrusion of the mold when it tries to move with the flow of the resin material in the step (b). Therefore, the positional deviation of the decorative film in the step (b) is suppressed, so that the decorative film can be accurately positioned at the desired position, and the deterioration of the aesthetic appearance of the exterior cover can be prevented.

[0010] [Item 2] 2. The manufacturing method according to item 1, wherein the decorative film has a shape that partially surrounds the protrusion in a plan view when set in the mold.

[0011] If the decorative film has a shape that partially surrounds the protrusion in a planar view when set in the mold, the decorative film can be hooked onto the protrusion, thereby preventing the decorative film from shifting out of position.

[0012] [Item 3] The decorative film has holes, 2. The manufacturing method according to item 1, wherein in the step (a), the decorative film is set so that the protrusion is inserted into the hole.

[0013] When the decorative film has a hole and the protrusion is inserted into the hole, the inner peripheral surface of the hole is caught by the protrusion, thereby preventing the decorative film from shifting out of position.

[0014] [Item 4] The inner surface of the mold has a plurality of the protrusions, 4. The manufacturing method according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the step (a) is performed so that the decorative film is caught on two or more of the plurality of protrusions when the decorative film attempts to move in the step (b).

[0015] When the inner surface of the mold has a plurality of protrusions, step (a) is preferably performed so that the decorative film is caught by two or more protrusions when it tries to move in step (b). By the decorative film being caught by two or more protrusions, the rotation of the decorative film is suppressed, and thus the positional deviation of the decorative film is more reliably suppressed.

[0016] [Item 5] In the step (a), the decorative film having a protective film attached to one of its main surfaces is set in the mold, (c) After the step (b), the manufacturing method according to any one of items 1 to 4 further includes a step of peeling the protective film from the decorative layer.

[0017] In step (a), the decorative film having a protective film attached to one of its main surfaces may be set in the mold. In this case, in step (c) performed after step (b), the protective film is peeled off from the decorative layer.

[0018] If foreign matter such as dirt is present between the inner surface of the mold and the decorative film, the foreign matter may adhere to the decorative layer of the obtained exterior cover and become difficult to remove, or deformation (scratches) may occur due to the foreign matter, which may result in a deterioration in the appearance of the exterior cover. Therefore, in order to prevent deterioration in the appearance due to the foreign matter, for example, a foreign matter removal operation is performed before step (a).

[0019] In step (a), the decorative film with the protective film attached is set in the space of the mold, and then in step (c), the protective film is peeled off from the decorative layer. Even if foreign matter exists between the inner surface of the mold and the protective film, the foreign matter is peeled off from the decorative layer together with the protective film, so that the foreign matter is prevented from adhering to the decorative layer. In addition, the protective film acts as a cushion, so that the decorative layer is prevented from being deformed (scratched) due to the foreign matter. Therefore, the work of removing foreign matter can be reduced.

[0020] In addition, when the protective film is peeled off from the decorative layer, a step corresponding to the thickness of the protective film is formed between the area where the decorative layer is present and the area where the decorative layer is not present on the surface of the exterior cover. When the exterior cover is in contact with the rider's body, this step can improve grip.

[0021] [Item 6] 6. The manufacturing method according to item 5, which does not include a step of preforming the decorative film after the step (a) and before the step (b).

[0022] When the decorative film with the protective film attached thereto is set in step (a), it is preferable not to carry out a step of preforming the decorative film after step (a) and before step (b). By not carrying out a step of preforming the decorative film, it is possible to prevent the adhesive from adhering and making it difficult to peel off the protective film.

[0023] [Item 7] 7. The method according to item 5 or 6, wherein the protective film comprises a plurality of regions having different thicknesses.

[0024] When the protective film includes a plurality of regions having different thicknesses, a plurality of regions having different step depths can be formed on the surface of the exterior cover, so that the gripping property of the exterior cover can be adjusted for each region.

[0025] [Item 8] 8. The manufacturing method according to any one of items 1 to 7, wherein in the step (a), a plurality of the decorative films are prepared, and the plurality of the decorative films are set apart from each other in the mold.

[0026] In step (a), a plurality of decorative films may be prepared and set in the mold apart from one another, thereby realizing a configuration in which the decorative layer includes a plurality of parts that are spaced apart from one another.

[0027] [Item 9] A resin substrate layer; A decorative layer provided on the resin substrate layer; An exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle, comprising: The resin substrate layer has holes, The decorative layer has a shape that at least partially surrounds the hole in a plan view.

[0028] The exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a resin substrate layer and a decorative layer provided on the resin substrate layer, and can be manufactured by film insert molding using a decorative film. In the exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, the resin substrate layer has a hole, and the decorative layer has a shape that at least partially surrounds the hole of the resin substrate layer in a plan view. With such a structure, the positional deviation of the decorative film during film insert molding is suppressed, so that the decorative film can be accurately positioned at a desired position, and deterioration of the aesthetic appearance can be prevented.

[0029] [Item 10] Item 10. The exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle according to item 9, wherein the decorative layer includes a portion that partially surrounds the hole in a plan view.

[0030] The decorative layer may include a portion that partially surrounds the hole in the resin substrate layer in a plan view.

[0031] [Item 11] Item 10. The exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle according to item 9, wherein the decorative layer includes a portion that surrounds the entire hole in a plan view.

[0032] The decorative layer may include a portion that surrounds the entire hole of the resin substrate layer in a plan view.

[0033] [Item 12] The resin substrate layer has a plurality of the holes, Item 12. The exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle according to any one of items 9 to 11, wherein the decorative layer includes a portion that at least partially surrounds two or more of the plurality of holes in a plan view.

[0034] When the resin substrate layer has a plurality of holes, the decorative layer preferably includes a portion that at least partially surrounds two or more holes in a plan view, which suppresses rotation of the decorative film during film insert molding, thereby more reliably suppressing misalignment of the decorative film.

[0035] [Item 13] the decorative layer is provided on a first region which is a part of a main surface of the resin substrate layer, Item 13. The exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle according to any one of items 9 to 12, wherein there is a step between a second region, which is a region of the main surface of the resin substrate layer other than the first region, and a surface of the decorative layer, and the surface of the decorative layer is lower than the second region.

[0036] If there is a step between a region (second region) of the main surface of the resin substrate layer other than the region (first region) where the decorative layer is provided and the surface of the decorative layer, this step can improve grip when the exterior cover comes into contact with the rider's body.

[0037] [Item 14] Item 14. The exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle according to item 13, having a plurality of regions in which the depth of the step differs from one another.

[0038] When the exterior cover has a plurality of regions with step depths differing from one another, the gripping property of the exterior cover can be adjusted for each region.

[0039] [Item 15] Item 15. The exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle according to any one of items 9 to 14, wherein the decorative layer includes a plurality of portions spaced apart from each other.

[0040] The decorative layer may include a plurality of portions spaced apart from one another.

[0041] [Item 16] A saddle-type vehicle comprising an exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle according to any one of items 9 to 15. Effect of the Invention

[0042] According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide an exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle, in which positional deviation of a decorative film during film insert molding is suppressed, and a manufacturing method thereof. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0043] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing a schematic view of an exterior cover 100 for a saddle-ride type vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a back view that illustrates the exterior cover 100. [Diagram 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view that shows a schematic cross section of the exterior cover 100, taken along line 3A-3A' in FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is an enlarged view of an area Re enclosed by a dotted circle in FIG. 3. FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a laminated structure of a decorative layer 20 provided in the exterior cover 100. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a manufacturing method for the exterior cover 100. [Figure 7] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a decorative film 20' used in manufacturing the exterior cover 100. FIG. [Figure 8]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how a decorative film 20' is set in a mold 1. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a resin material is injected into a mold 1 in a closed state, and a layered structure including a first base material layer 10 and a decorative layer 20 is formed. [Figure 10] 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a protective film 24 is peeled off from a decorative layer 20 of an exterior cover 100. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which a decorative film 20' is set on the inner surface of a mold 1 (molding surface 2a of a fixed mold 2). [Figure 12] 12A is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the mold 1 is in a closed state after the decorative film 20' is set, and shows a cross section taken along line 12A-12A' in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing another example of the decorative film 20'. [Figure 14] 14 is a diagram showing an exterior cover 100 manufactured using the decorative film 20' shown in FIG. 13. FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a protective film 24 including a plurality of regions having different thicknesses. [Figure 16] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an exterior cover 100 having a plurality of regions with different step depths (depths of recesses rp). [Figure 17] 13 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an exterior cover 100 in which there is no step between the second region R2 on the surface of the first base layer 10 and the surface of the decorative layer 20. FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which two decorative films 20A' and 20B' are prepared in step S1, and the two decorative films 20A' and 20B' are set apart from each other in a mold 1. [Figure 19] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration in which a decorative layer 20 includes a plurality of portions 20A and 20B that are spaced apart from each other. [Figure 20] FIG. 1 is a side view that shows a schematic view of a motorcycle 200 equipped with an exterior cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0044] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

[0045] [Exterior cover structure] An exterior cover for a saddle-ride type vehicle (hereinafter simply referred to as "exterior cover") 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. Figs. 1 and 2 are a front view and a back view showing the exterior cover 100. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the exterior cover 100, showing a cross-section taken along line 3A-3A' in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of an area Re surrounded by a dotted circle in Fig. 3.

[0046] The exterior cover 100 illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 is for a motorcycle. Specifically, the exterior cover 100 is a rear side cover disposed on the side of the body frame, and more specifically, a left rear side cover disposed on the left side of the body frame. In the following description, front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom refer to the front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom when the exterior cover 100 is attached to the motorcycle.

[0047] Of the surfaces of the exterior cover 100, the portion that is visible when the exterior cover 100 is attached to a motorcycle is called the "exterior surface." The exterior surface faces leftward. As shown in FIG. 3, the exterior cover 100 has a cover body 101 having an exterior surface, and an edge wall portion 102 extending rightward from the outer edge of the cover body 101. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the edge wall portion 102 is provided corresponding to most of the outer edge of the cover body 101, but the proportion of the outer edge of the cover body 101 where the edge wall portion 102 is provided is not limited to the example shown in the figure.

[0048] Moreover, the exterior cover 100 includes a resin substrate layer 10 and a decorative layer 20 provided on the resin substrate layer 10, as shown in FIGS.

[0049] The resin substrate layer (hereinafter referred to as the “first substrate layer” to distinguish it from the substrate layer of the decorative layer 20 described later) 10 is made of a resin material. The overall shape of the exterior cover 100 is determined mainly by the first substrate layer 10.

[0050] The decorative layer 20 is formed on the surface (main surface on the exterior surface side) of the first base layer 10, and is arranged so as to be located on the exterior surface. In the illustrated example, the decorative layer 20 is provided on a partial region (hereinafter referred to as the "first region") R1 of the surface of the first base layer 10. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, there is a step between a region (hereinafter referred to as the "second region") R2 other than the first region R1 of the surface of the first base layer 10 and the surface of the decorative layer 20, and the second region R2 is lower than the surface of the decorative layer 20. Therefore, the exterior surface of the exterior cover 100 has a recess rp formed at a position corresponding to the decorative layer 20.

[0051] The decorative layer 20 may have a layered structure. Fig. 5 shows an example of the layered structure of the decorative layer 20. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the decorative layer 20 has a layered structure in which a base layer 21, an ink layer 22, and an adhesive layer 23 are arranged in this order from the exterior surface side toward the first base layer 10 side.

[0052] The substrate layer (hereinafter referred to as the "second substrate layer" to distinguish it from the first substrate layer 10) 21 is made of a transparent resin material. Therefore, the ink layer 22 can be seen from the outside through the second substrate layer 21. The ink layer 22 provides the decorativeness of the decorative layer 20. The ink layer 22 is provided on one of the two main surfaces of the second substrate layer 21 (specifically, the main surface on the first substrate layer 10 side). The adhesive layer 23 is located between the ink layer 22 and the first substrate layer 10, and serves to bond the laminate of the second substrate layer 21 and the ink layer 22 to the first substrate layer 10.

[0053] The exterior cover 100 including the first base material layer 10 and the decorative layer 20 can be manufactured by film insert molding using a decorative film, as described below. The decorative film is a film including a second base material layer 21, an ink layer 22, and an adhesive layer 23.

[0054] In the exterior cover 100 of this embodiment, the first base material layer 10 has a plurality of holes 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, 11F and 11G. These holes 11A to 11G are through holes that penetrate the first base material layer 10 in the thickness direction. The holes 11A to 11G are defined by the inner wall surfaces of cylindrical protrusions 103A, 103B, 103C, 103D, 103E, 103F and 103G that protrude rightward from the cover body 101 (see FIG. 2).

[0055] The holes 11A to 11G include first holes 11A and 11B having a relatively large diameter, and second holes 11C, 11D, 11E, 11F and 11G having a relatively small diameter.

[0056] The first holes 11A and 11B are holes for attaching the exterior cover 100 to the vehicle body (for example, to the vehicle frame). Therefore, the first holes 11A and 11B can be said to be a portion where a structure for attaching the exterior cover 100 to the vehicle body is formed (hereinafter, referred to as an "attachment portion"). One of the first holes 11A and 11B, 11A, is located at the front of the exterior cover 100, and the other, 11B, is located at the rear of the exterior cover 100.

[0057] The second holes 11C to 11G are also holes (that is, mounting portions) for mounting the exterior cover 100 to the vehicle body. The second holes 11C to 11G are located in the lower part of the exterior cover 100, and are arranged in a line in the front and rear.

[0058] 1, the decorative layer 20 has a shape in which the vicinity of each of the first holes 11A and 11B is cut out. That is, the decorative layer 20 includes a portion that partially surrounds the first holes 11A and 11B in a plan view. With this structure, as described later, the positional deviation of the decorative film during film insert molding is suppressed, so that the decorative film can be accurately positioned at a desired position, and deterioration of the aesthetic appearance can be prevented.

[0059] [Manufacturing method of exterior cover] A method for manufacturing the exterior cover 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. As already described, the exterior cover 100 can be manufactured by film insert molding using a decorative film. Fig. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of method c.

[0060] First, a decorative film is prepared and set in a mold (step S1). Fig. 7 shows an example of the decorative film 20' prepared in step S1.

[0061] 7, the decorative film 20' has a second base layer 21, an ink layer 22, and an adhesive layer 23. In addition, a protective film 24 is attached to one of the two main surfaces of the decorative film 20'.

[0062] The second substrate layer 21 is transparent and functions as a support for supporting the ink layer 22 and the like. The second substrate layer 21 is formed from a resin material. The resin material for forming the second substrate layer 21 is not particularly limited as long as the second substrate layer 21 functions as a support, and for example, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, acrylic resin, etc. can be used. The thickness of the second substrate layer 21 is, for example, 40 μm or more and 400 μm or less. The second substrate layer 21 may be a single layer or may have a laminated structure. An example of the laminated structure is a two-layer structure of an acrylic resin layer and a polyethylene terephthalate layer.

[0063] The ink layer 22 is provided on one of the two main surfaces of the second base layer 21. The ink layer 22 can impart decorativeness to the decorative film 20'. The ink layer 22 can be of various colors. The ink layer 22 can also be metallic. Furthermore, the ink layer 22 can include a design. Here, the "design" includes letters, numbers, symbols, pictures, patterns, and combinations of these. The ink layer 22 can be formed by a printing method. As the material for the ink layer 22, various known inks can be used. The thickness of the ink layer 22 is, for example, 1 μm or more and 50 μm or less.

[0064] The adhesive layer (binder layer) 23 is provided on the ink layer 22. As the adhesive, which is the material of the adhesive layer 23, various known adhesives can be used. In this specification, the term "adhesive" is used to mean a pressure-sensitive adhesive (also called a pressure-sensitive adhesive). The adhesive layer 23 may be formed by a printing method using an ink-type pressure-sensitive adhesive, or may be formed by applying an adhesive onto the ink layer 22 by a method other than the printing method. The thickness of the adhesive layer 23 is, for example, 5 μm or more and 30 μm or less.

[0065] The overall thickness of the decorative film 20' is, for example, not less than 46 μm and not more than 480 μm.

[0066] The protective film 24 is attached to one of the two main surfaces of the second base layer 21 on which the ink layer 22 is not provided. The protective film 24 is attached, for example, by an adhesive (pressure-sensitive adhesive). The protective film 24 is made of a resin material. The resin material for forming the protective film 24 is not particularly limited, but may be polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polymethylpentene, urethane, polypropylene, or the like. The thickness of the protective film 24 is, for example, 20 μm or more and 150 μm or less. The protective film 24 may be a single layer or may have a laminated structure.

[0067] The decorative film 20' is not limited to the configuration exemplified here. For example, the decorative film 20' may have a metal layer instead of the ink layer 22. The metal layer is formed by, for example, a vapor deposition method. Various metal materials can be used as the material for the metal layer. The thickness of the metal layer is, for example, 5 nm or more and 80 nm or less.

[0068] Fig. 8 shows how the decorative film 20' is set in the mold 1. The mold 1 comprises a fixed mold 2 and a movable mold 3. Fig. 8 shows the mold 1 in an open state. The fixed mold 2 and the movable mold 3 have molding surfaces 2a and 3a, respectively. The molding surfaces 2a and 3a of the fixed mold 2 and the movable mold 3 are surfaces that define a cavity in a closed state, and are the inner surfaces of the mold 1.

[0069] In the mold open state, the decorative film 20' is set on the molding surface 2a of the fixed mold 2. At this time, the decorative film 20' may be adsorbed to the molding surface 2a. The decorative film 20' can be adsorbed to the molding surface 2a by, for example, an electrostatic adsorption method.

[0070] In general film insert molding, the decorative film is set in the mold after the protective film is peeled off. In contrast, in this embodiment, in step S1, the decorative film 20′ is set in the mold 1 with the protective film 24 attached to one of the main surfaces.

[0071] Next, a resin material is injected into the mold 1 to perform injection molding, thereby forming a laminated structure including the first base material layer 10 and the decorative layer 20 (step S2). FIG. 9 shows a state in which the resin material is injected into the mold 1 (more specifically, into the cavity of the mold 1) in a closed state to form the above-mentioned laminated structure. The molding conditions (resin temperature, mold temperature, filling pressure, injection speed, etc.) are appropriately set according to the resin material used and the specifications (size, thickness, etc.) of the exterior cover 100. Note that in this embodiment, after step S1 and before step S2, a step of preforming (shaping) the decorative film 20' by vacuum molding, pressure molding, etc. is not performed.

[0072] Thereafter, the protective film 24 is peeled off from the decorative layer 20 (step S3). Fig. 10 shows how the protective film 24 is peeled off from the decorative layer 20 of the exterior cover 100 removed from the mold 1.

[0073] As already explained, the first base layer 10 of the exterior cover 100 has mounting parts (holes 11A-11G) in which a structure for mounting to a vehicle body is formed. Therefore, the inner surface of the mold 1 has protrusions for forming the mounting parts of the first base layer 10. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a state in which the decorative film 20' is set on the inner surface of the mold 1 (molding surface 2a of the fixed mold 2). FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the mold 1 is in a closed state after the decorative film 20' is set, and shows a cross section taken along line 12A-12A' in FIG. 11.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the inner surface of the mold 1 (here, the molding surface 2a of the fixed mold 2) has a plurality of protrusions 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, and 1g for forming the mounting portion of the first base layer 10. Each of these protrusions 1a to 1g corresponds to each of the holes 11A to 11G. The decorative film 20' has a shape that partially surrounds the protrusions 1a and 1b corresponding to the first holes 11A and 11B in a plan view when set in the mold 1. In step S2, when the resin material is injected into the mold 1, the decorative film 20' may move with the flow of the resin material, but since the decorative film 20' has the shape described above, it is hooked on the protrusions 1a and 1b of the mold 1 when the decorative film 20' tries to move. In other words, in the manufacturing method of this embodiment, step S1 can be said to be performed in such a way that the decorative film 20' is caught by the protrusions 1a and 1b of the mold 1 when it attempts to move in step S2 with the flow of the resin material.

[0075] Thus, in the manufacturing method of this embodiment, step S1 is performed so that the decorative film 20' is caught by the protrusions 1a and 1b of the mold 1 when it tries to move in step S2 with the flow of the resin material. Therefore, the positional deviation of the decorative film 20' in step S2 is suppressed, so that the decorative film 20' can be accurately positioned in the desired position. Therefore, the deterioration of the aesthetic appearance of the exterior cover 100 can be prevented.

[0076] The decorative film 20' is not limited to a shape partially surrounding the protrusions 1a and 1b as illustrated in FIG. 11. The decorative film 20' may have at least one hole 20a as illustrated in FIG. 13. In the example illustrated in FIG. 13, the decorative film 20' has a plurality of holes 20a (more specifically, two holes 20a). In step S1, the decorative film 20' is set so that the protrusions 1a and 1b are inserted into these holes 20a. In step S2, the inner circumferential surface of the hole 20a is caught by the protrusions 1a and 1b, thereby suppressing misalignment of the decorative film 20'.

[0077] Fig. 14 shows an exterior cover 100 manufactured using the decorative film 20' shown in Fig. 13. In the exterior cover 100 shown in Fig. 14, the holes 20a in the decorative film 20' exist as holes 20a in the decorative layer 20, and the decorative layer 20 includes a portion that entirely surrounds the first holes 11A and 11B in the first base layer 10 in a plan view.

[0078] In this way, the decorative film 20' only needs to have a shape that at least partially surrounds (i.e., partially or completely surrounds) the protrusion in plan view when set in the mold 1. When the decorative film 20' has a shape that partially surrounds the protrusion, from the viewpoint of preventing misalignment of the decorative film 20', it is preferable that 50% or more of the entire circumference of the protrusion on which the decorative film 20' is caught is surrounded by the decorative film 20'.

[0079] In the above description, the case where the decorative film 20' is caught by the two protrusions 1a and 1b has been exemplified, but the number of protrusions on which the decorative film 20' is caught is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more. When the inner surface of the mold 1 has a plurality of protrusions, it is preferable that the step S1 is performed so that the decorative film 20' is caught by two or more protrusions when it tries to move in the step S2. By the decorative film 20' being caught by two or more protrusions, the rotation of the decorative film 20' is suppressed, so that the positional deviation of the decorative film 20' is more reliably suppressed. In other words, when the first base layer 10 has a plurality of holes, it is preferable that the decorative layer 20 includes a portion that at least partially surrounds two or more holes in a plan view.

[0080] In the manufacturing method of this embodiment, in step S1, the decorative film 20' with the protective film 24 attached to one of its main surfaces is set in the space of the mold 1, and in step S3 performed after step S2, the protective film 24 is peeled off from the decorative layer 20. This provides the following advantages.

[0081] If foreign matter such as dirt is present between the inner surface of the mold and the decorative film, the foreign matter may adhere to the decorative layer of the obtained exterior cover and become difficult to remove, or deformation (scratches) may occur due to the foreign matter, which may result in a deterioration in the aesthetic appearance of the exterior cover. Therefore, in order to prevent deterioration in aesthetic appearance due to foreign matter, for example, a foreign matter removal operation is performed before the process of setting the decorative film in the mold.

[0082] As in this embodiment, the decorative film 20' with the protective film 24 attached thereto is set in the mold 1 in step S1, and then the protective film 24 is peeled off from the decorative layer 20 in step S3. Even if a foreign object is present between the inner surface of the mold 1 and the protective film 24, the foreign object is peeled off from the decorative layer 20 together with the protective film 24, so that the foreign object is prevented from adhering to the decorative layer 20. In addition, the protective film 24 acts as a cushion, so that the decorative layer 20 is prevented from being deformed (scratched) due to the foreign object. Therefore, the work of removing the foreign object can be reduced.

[0083] Furthermore, when the protective film 24 is peeled off from the decorative layer 20, a step of the thickness of the protective film 24 is formed between an area (first area R1) where the decorative layer 20 is present and an area (second area R2) where the decorative layer 20 is not present on the surface of the exterior cover 100, as shown in Fig. 4. When the exterior cover 100 is in contact with the rider's body, this step can improve gripping properties.

[0084] The depth of the step, that is, the depth d of the recess rp (in other words, the thickness of the protective film 24) is appropriately set according to the desired level of grip. From the viewpoint of improving the grip, the depth d of the recess rp is preferably 20 μm or more, and more preferably 40 μm or more.

[0085] When the decorative film 20' with the protective film 24 attached thereto is set in step S1, it is preferable not to perform a step of preforming the decorative film 20' after step S1 and before step S2. If a step of preforming the decorative film 20' is performed, there is a risk that the adhesive will stick due to the heat generated during preforming, making it difficult to peel off the protective film 24. In contrast, by not performing a step of preforming the decorative film 20', it is possible to prevent the adhesive from sticking and making it difficult to peel off the protective film 24.

[0086] The protective film 24 may include a plurality of regions having different thicknesses. An example of such a protective film 24 is shown in Fig. 15. The protective film 24 shown in Fig. 15 includes a high lamination region RA and a low lamination region RB.

[0087] The high stacking region RA includes a first layer 24a and a second layer 24b provided on the first layer 24a. In contrast, the low stacking region RB includes only the first layer 24a. Therefore, the thickness t2 of the low stacking region RB is smaller than the thickness t1 of the high stacking region RA.

[0088] When the protective film 24 includes a plurality of regions having different thicknesses, a plurality of regions having different step depths (depths of the recesses rp) can be formed on the surface of the exterior cover 100. Therefore, the grip of the exterior cover 100 can be adjusted for each region. FIG. 16 shows an example of such an exterior cover 100. In the example shown in FIG. 16, the recesses rp have different depths between the region rpa formed corresponding to the high lamination region RA of the protective film 24 and the region rpb formed corresponding to the low lamination region RB. Specifically, the depth d1 of the former region rpa is greater than the depth d2 of the latter region rpb.

[0089] The number of layers in each of the high lamination region RA and the low lamination region RB of the protective film 24 is not limited to the example (2 and 1, respectively) shown in Fig. 15. In addition, the configuration in which the protective film 24 has a plurality of regions with different thicknesses is not limited to the embodiment in which the number of layers differs for each region as shown in the example.

[0090] In step S1, the decorative film 20′ from which the protective film 24 has been peeled off may be set in the mold 1. In that case, in the obtained exterior cover 100, as shown in FIG. 17, there is no step between the second region R2 on the surface of the first base material layer 10 and the surface of the decorative layer 20.

[0091] Alternatively, a plurality of decorative films 20' may be prepared in step S1, and the plurality of decorative films 20' may be set apart from each other in the mold 1. FIG. 18 shows an example of such an embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 18, two decorative films 20A' and 20B' are prepared in step S1, and the two decorative films 20A' and 20B' are set apart from each other in the mold 1. This makes it possible to realize a configuration in which the decorative layer 20 includes a plurality of portions 20A and 20B that are spaced apart from each other, as shown in FIG. 19.

[0092] [Saddle-type vehicle] Fig. 20 shows an example of a saddle-type vehicle equipped with an exterior cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 20 shows an off-road motorcycle 200 called a motocrosser as an example of the saddle-type vehicle. However, the saddle-type vehicle is not limited to the off-road motorcycle 200. The saddle-type vehicle is a vehicle on which a rider straddles and rides. The saddle-type vehicle may be other types of motorcycles such as on-road types, scooters, mopeds, etc., or may be vehicles other than motorcycles such as three-wheelers, four-wheel buggies (ATV: All Terrain Vehicles), jet skis, snowmobiles, etc.

[0093] 20, motorcycle 200 includes a body frame 50, a front wheel 61, and a rear wheel 62. Body frame 50 supports an engine 63, a handlebar 64, a seat 65, and a fuel tank 66 directly or indirectly.

[0094] The body frame 50 includes a pair of main frames 51, a down frame 52, a pair of lower frames 53, a head pipe 54, a pair of rear arms 55, and a seat rail 56. The head pipe 54 is disposed at the front of the motorcycle 200. The main frame 51 extends diagonally downward and rearward from the head pipe 54. The down frame 52 is disposed lower than the main frame 51, and extends diagonally downward and rearward from the head pipe 54. The lower frame 53 connects a lower end of the down frame 52 and a lower end of the main frame 51. The seat rail 56 extends rearward from the main frame 51.

[0095] An engine 63 is disposed below the main frame 51 and to the rear of the down frame 52. An air cleaner 67 is disposed behind the head pipe 54. A seat 65 supported by the seat rails 56 is disposed behind the air cleaner 67 and above the main frame 51. A fuel tank 66 is disposed below the front portion of the seat 65.

[0096] A steering shaft (not shown) is inserted into the head pipe 54, and a handlebar 64 is connected to the upper part of the steering shaft. A pair of front forks 68 are arranged alongside the steering shaft. A front wheel 61 is rotatably attached to the lower end of the front forks 68.

[0097] A pivot shaft 51a is provided at the rear of the main frame 51. A front end of a rear arm 55 is supported by the pivot shaft 51a. The rear arm 55 is capable of swinging up and down relative to the main frame 51 by the pivot shaft 51a. A rear wheel 62 is rotatably attached to the rear end of the rear arm 55.

[0098] Various exterior covers that cover parts of the body frame 50 are supported on the body frame 50. The illustrated motorcycle 200 has, as the exterior covers, a pair of front side covers 71, a pair of rear side covers 72, a front fender 73, and a rear fender 74.

[0099] The front side cover 71 is disposed below the front portion of the seat 65, and is supported by the upper portions of the main frame 51 and the down frame 52. The rear side cover 72 is disposed below the rear portion of the seat 65, and is supported by the seat rails 56.

[0100] The front fender 73 is disposed above the front wheel 61 and supported by the front fork 68. The rear fender 74 is disposed above the rear wheel 62 and supported by the seat rails 56.

[0101] The exterior cover according to the embodiment of the present invention may be any one of the above-mentioned front side cover 71, rear side cover 72, front fender 73, and rear fender 74. In Fig. 19, the decorative layer 20 is omitted from illustration.

[0102] As described above, the manufacturing method of the saddle-type vehicle exterior cover 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is a manufacturing method of the saddle-type vehicle exterior cover 100 including a resin substrate layer 10 and a decorative layer 20 provided on the resin substrate layer 10, and includes the steps of (a) preparing a decorative film 20' and setting the decorative film 20' in a mold 1, and (b) forming a laminated structure including the resin substrate layer 10 and the decorative layer 20 by injecting a resin material into the mold 1 and performing injection molding after the step (a). The resin substrate layer 10 has an attachment portion 11A in which a structure for attaching the exterior cover 100 to a vehicle body is formed, and the inner surface of the mold 1 has a protrusion 1a for forming the attachment portion 11A of the resin substrate layer 10. The step (a) is performed so that the decorative film 20' is caught by the protrusion 1a of the mold 1 when it tries to move with the flow of the resin material in the step (b).

[0103] The manufacturing method of the exterior cover 100 for a saddle-type vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a step (a) of preparing a decorative film 20' and setting the decorative film 20' in a mold 1, and a step (b) of forming a laminated structure including a resin base material layer 10 and a decorative layer 20 by injecting a resin material into the mold 1 and performing injection molding after the step (a). In the manufacturing method according to the embodiment of the present invention, the inner surface of the mold 1 has a protrusion 1a for forming the mounting portion 11A of the resin base material layer 10, and the step (a) is performed so that the decorative film 20' is caught by the protrusion 1a of the mold 1 when it tries to move with the flow of the resin material in the step (b). Therefore, the positional deviation of the decorative film 20' in the step (b) is suppressed, so that the decorative film 20' can be accurately positioned at a desired position, and the deterioration of the aesthetic appearance of the exterior cover 100 can be prevented.

[0104] In one embodiment, the decorative film 20' has a shape that partially surrounds the protrusion 1a in a plan view when set in the mold 1.

[0105] When the decorative film 20' has a shape that partially surrounds the protrusion 1a in a planar view when set in the mold 1, the decorative film 20' can be hooked onto the protrusion 1a, thereby preventing the decorative film 20' from shifting out of position.

[0106] In one embodiment, the decorative film 20' has holes 20a, and in the step (a), the decorative film 20' is set so that the protrusions 1a are inserted into the holes 20a.

[0107] The decorative film 20' has a hole 20a. When the decorative film 20' is set so that the protrusion 1a is inserted into the hole 20a, the inner surface of the hole 20a is caught by the protrusion 1a, thereby preventing the decorative film 20' from shifting out of position.

[0108] In one embodiment, the inner surface of the mold 1 has a plurality of protrusions, and the step (a) is carried out such that when the decorative film 20' attempts to move in the step (b), it gets caught on two or more of the plurality of protrusions.

[0109] When the inner surface of the mold 1 has a plurality of protrusions, the step (a) is preferably performed so that the decorative film 20' is caught by two or more protrusions when it attempts to move in the step (b). By the decorative film 20' being caught by two or more protrusions, the rotation of the decorative film 20' is suppressed, and thus the positional deviation of the decorative film 20' is more reliably suppressed.

[0110] In one embodiment, in step (a), the decorative film 20' having a protective film 24 attached to one of its main surfaces is set in the mold 1, and the manufacturing method further includes (c) a step of peeling the protective film 24 from the decorative layer 20 after step (b).

[0111] In step (a), the decorative film 20′ with the protective film 24 attached to one of the main surfaces may be set in the mold 1. In that case, in step (c) performed after step (b), the protective film 24 is peeled off from the decorative layer 20.

[0112] If foreign matter such as dust is present between the inner surface of the mold 1 and the decorative film 20', the foreign matter may adhere to the decorative layer 20 in the obtained exterior cover 100 and become difficult to remove, or deformation (scratches) may occur due to the foreign matter, which may deteriorate the aesthetic appearance of the exterior cover 100. Therefore, in order to prevent deterioration of the aesthetic appearance due to the foreign matter, for example, a foreign matter removal operation is performed before step (a).

[0113] In step (a), the decorative film 20' with the protective film 24 attached thereto is set in the space of the mold 1, and then in step (c), the protective film 24 is peeled off from the decorative layer 20. Even if a foreign object is present between the inner surface of the mold 1 and the protective film 24, the foreign object is peeled off from the decorative layer 20 together with the protective film 24, so that the foreign object is prevented from adhering to the decorative layer 20. In addition, the protective film 24 acts as a cushion, so that the decorative layer 20 is prevented from being deformed (scratched) due to the foreign object. Therefore, the work of removing the foreign object can be reduced.

[0114] In addition, when the protective film 24 is peeled off from the decorative layer 20, a step of the thickness of the protective film 24 is formed between the area where the decorative layer 20 is present and the area where the decorative layer 20 is not present on the surface of the exterior cover 100. When the exterior cover 100 is in contact with the rider's body, this step can improve gripping properties.

[0115] In one embodiment, the manufacturing method does not include a step of preforming the decorative film 20' after the step (a) and before the step (b).

[0116] When the decorative film 20' with the protective film 24 attached thereto is set in step (a), it is preferable not to carry out a step of preforming the decorative film 20' after step (a) and before step (b). By not carrying out a step of preforming the decorative film 20', it is possible to prevent the protective film 24 from becoming difficult to peel off due to the adhesive being fixed.

[0117] In one embodiment, the protective film 24 includes a plurality of regions RA and RB having different thicknesses.

[0118] When the protective film 24 includes a plurality of regions RA and RB having different thicknesses, a plurality of regions having different step depths can be formed on the surface of the exterior cover 100. Therefore, the gripping property of the exterior cover 100 can be adjusted for each region.

[0119] In one embodiment, a plurality of the decorative films 20' are prepared in the step (a), and the plurality of decorative films 20A', 20B' are set in the mold 1 at a distance from each other.

[0120] In step (a), a plurality of decorative films 20' may be prepared, and a plurality of decorative films 20A', 20B' may be set apart from each other in the mold 1. This allows the decorative layer 20 to be configured to include a plurality of portions 20A, 20B that are separated from each other.

[0121] The exterior cover 100 for a saddle-type vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is an exterior cover 100 for a saddle-type vehicle comprising a resin substrate layer 10 and a decorative layer 20 provided on the resin substrate layer 10, wherein the resin substrate layer 10 has a hole 11A, and the decorative layer 20 has a shape that at least partially surrounds the hole 11A in a planar view.

[0122] The saddle-type vehicle exterior cover 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a resin substrate layer 10 and a decorative layer 20 provided on the resin substrate layer 10, and can be manufactured by film insert molding using a decorative film 20'. In the saddle-type vehicle exterior cover 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the resin substrate layer 10 has a hole 11A, and the decorative layer 20 has a shape that at least partially surrounds the hole 11A of the resin substrate layer 10 in a plan view. With this structure, the positional deviation of the decorative film 20' during film insert molding is suppressed, so that the decorative film 20' can be accurately positioned at a desired position, and deterioration of the aesthetic appearance can be prevented.

[0123] In one embodiment, the decorative layer 20 includes a portion that partially surrounds the hole 11A in a plan view.

[0124] The decorative layer 20 may include a portion that partially surrounds the hole 11A of the resin substrate layer 10 in a plan view.

[0125] In one embodiment, the decorative layer 20 includes a portion that surrounds the entire hole 11A in a plan view.

[0126] The decorative layer 20 may include a portion that surrounds the entire hole 11A of the resin substrate layer 10 in a plan view.

[0127] In one embodiment, the resin substrate layer 10 has a plurality of holes, and the decorative layer 20 includes a portion that at least partially surrounds two or more of the plurality of holes in a plan view.

[0128] When the resin substrate layer 10 has a plurality of holes, the decorative layer 20 preferably includes a portion that at least partially surrounds two or more holes in a plan view. This suppresses rotation of the decorative film 20' during film insert molding, and more reliably suppresses misalignment of the decorative film 20'.

[0129] In one embodiment, the decorative layer 20 is provided on a first region R1, which is a portion of the principal surface of the resin substrate layer 10, and there is a step between a second region R2, which is a region of the principal surface of the resin substrate layer 10 other than the first region R1, and the surface of the decorative layer 20, such that the surface of the decorative layer 20 is lower than the second region R2.

[0130] If there is a step between the area (second area R2) of the main surface of the resin substrate layer 10 other than the area (first area R1) where the decorative layer 20 is provided and the surface of the decorative layer 20, this step can improve grip when the exterior cover 100 comes into contact with the rider's body.

[0131] In one embodiment, the saddle-ride type vehicle exterior cover 100 has a plurality of regions in which the step depths are different from one another.

[0132] When the exterior cover 100 has a plurality of regions with step depths that differ from one another, the gripping properties of the exterior cover 100 can be adjusted for each region.

[0133] In one embodiment, the decorative layer 20 includes a plurality of portions 20A, 20B spaced apart from each other.

[0134] The decorative layer 20 may include a plurality of portions 20A, 20B that are spaced apart from each other.

[0135] The saddle-type vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the exterior cover 100 for a saddle-type vehicle having the above-described configuration. [Industrial Applicability]

[0136] According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide an exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle, in which the positional deviation of a decorative film during film insert molding is suppressed, and a manufacturing method thereof. The manufacturing method according to the embodiment of the present invention can be suitably used for manufacturing exterior covers for various saddle-type vehicles, including motorcycles. [Explanation of symbols]

[0137] 1: mold, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1g: protrusions, 2: fixed mold, 2a: molding surface of fixed mold, 3: movable mold, 3a: molding surface of movable mold, 10: resin base material layer (first base material layer), 11A, 11B: first hole, 11C, 11D, 11E, 11F, 11G: second hole, 20: decorative layer, 20', 20A', 20B': decorative film, 21: base material layer (second base material layer), 22: ink layer, 23: adhesive layer, 24: protective film, 24a: first layer, 24b: second layer, 50: vehicle body frame, 51: main frame, 51a: pivot shaft, 52: down frame, 53: lower frame, 54: head pipe, 55: rear arm, 56: seat rail, 61: front wheel, 62: rear wheel, 63: engine, 64: handle, 65: seat, 66: fuel tank, 67: air cleaner, 68: front fork, 71: front side cover, 72: rear side cover, 73: front fender, 74: rear fender, 100: exterior cover, 101: cover body, 102: edge wall, 103A, 103B, 103C, 103D, 103E, 103F, 103G: protrusion, 200: motorcycle, rp: recess, R1: first region of surface of resin base material layer, R2: second region of surface of resin base material layer, RA: high lamination region of protective film, RB: low lamination region of protective film

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle, comprising: a resin substrate layer; and a decorative layer provided on the resin substrate layer, (a) preparing a decorative film and setting the decorative film in a mold; (b) after the step (a), a step of forming a laminated structure including the resin substrate layer and the decorative layer by injecting a resin material into the mold and performing injection molding; Inclusive of the resin base material layer has an attachment portion having a structure for attaching the exterior cover to a vehicle body, the inner surface of the mold has a protrusion for forming the mounting portion of the resin substrate layer, The manufacturing method, wherein the step (a) is performed so that the decorative film is caught by the protrusion of the mold when the decorative film attempts to move in association with the flow of the resin material in the step (b).

2. The manufacturing method according to claim 1 , wherein the decorative film has a shape that partially surrounds the protrusion in a plan view when the decorative film is set in the mold.

3. The decorative film has holes, The manufacturing method according to claim 1 , wherein in the step (a), the decorative film is set so that the protrusion is inserted into the hole.

4. The inner surface of the mold has a plurality of the protrusions, The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the step (a) is performed so that the decorative film is caught on two or more of the plurality of protrusions when it attempts to move in the step (b).

5. In the step (a), the decorative film having a protective film attached to one of its main surfaces is set in the mold, The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step (c) of peeling the protective film from the decorative layer after the step (b).

6. The manufacturing method according to claim 5 , which does not include a step of preforming the decorative film after the step (a) and before the step (b).

7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the protective film includes a plurality of regions having different thicknesses.

8. The manufacturing method according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the decorative films are prepared in the step (a), and the plurality of the decorative films are set apart from each other in the mold.

9. A resin substrate layer; A decorative layer provided on the resin substrate layer; An exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle, comprising: The resin substrate layer has holes, The decorative layer has a shape that at least partially surrounds the hole in a plan view.

10. The exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the decorative layer includes a portion that partially surrounds the hole in a plan view.

11. The exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the decorative layer includes a portion that surrounds the entire hole in a plan view.

12. The resin substrate layer has a plurality of the holes, 12. The exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the decorative layer includes a portion that at least partially surrounds two or more of the plurality of holes in a plan view.

13. the decorative layer is provided on a first region which is a part of a main surface of the resin substrate layer, 12. An exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle as described in any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein there is a step between a second region, which is a region of the main surface of the resin substrate layer other than the first region, and the surface of the decorative layer, and the surface of the decorative layer is lower than the second region.

14. The exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the exterior cover has a plurality of regions in which the depth of the step differs from one another.

15. The exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the decorative layer includes a plurality of portions spaced apart from one another.

16. A saddle-type vehicle comprising the exterior cover for a saddle-type vehicle according to any one of claims 9 to 11.

Images