Vehicle body cover

Abstract

To provide a vehicle body cover that ensures rigidity and properly accommodates onboard tools.SOLUTION: A vehicle body cover (50) covers a vehicle body frame (15) from outside in a vehicle width direction below a seat. The vehicle body cover includes a frame cover (51) located outside in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body frame, and a side cover (52) located outside in the vehicle width direction of the frame cover. The frame cover is dented inwardly in the vehicle width direction, whereby storage parts (58 and 59) for onboard tools (65 and 66) are formed. The storage parts are covered from outside in the vehicle width direction by the side cover.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle body cover. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a saddle-type vehicle in which a tool box provided on the vehicle body is covered with a vehicle body cover (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the saddle-type vehicle described in Patent Document 1, a main frame extends rearward from a head pipe, and the rear portion of the main frame bends downward to form a body frame. Seat rails extend rearward from the upper portion of the body frame, and backstays extend from the lower portion of the body frame, with the rear ends of the backstays joined to the rear ends of the seat rails. A tool box is fixed to the backstay, and the tool box is covered from the outside in the vehicle width direction by a vehicle body cover. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 113576 / 1983 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] To withstand deformation caused by the rider's knee grip, the body cover needs to be made thicker and have ribs or other means to ensure rigidity, but increasing the thickness of the plate increases the weight of the body cover. Also, when a tool box is fixed to the backstay, the tool box needs to be hidden by the body cover to improve appearance, but depending on the size of the tool box, the body cover becomes larger and heavier. Also, depending on the installation location of the tool box, it is difficult to provide the body cover with the appropriate rigidity.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle body cover that ensures rigidity and is capable of properly storing on-board tools. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One embodiment of the present invention provides a body cover that covers the body frame from the outside in the vehicle width direction under the seat, and includes a frame cover positioned on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the body frame, and a side cover positioned on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the frame cover, wherein the frame cover is recessed on the inside in the vehicle width direction to form a storage section for on-board tools, and the storage section is covered from the outside in the vehicle width direction by the side cover, thereby solving the above-mentioned problem. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, the frame cover has a storage section for on-board tools, which gives the cover a concave and convex cross section, increasing the rigidity of the frame cover. Furthermore, the storage section of the frame cover is covered by the side cover, making the body cover double-layered and increasing its rigidity. Therefore, the rigidity of the body cover is ensured, and the on-board tools can be properly stored in the body cover. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a left side view of a saddle-ride type vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the rear portion of the vehicle according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the rear part of the vehicle with the rear side cover of the present embodiment removed. [Figure 4] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the rear part of the vehicle in FIG. 2 taken along line AA. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A vehicle body cover according to one aspect of the present invention covers a vehicle body frame below a seat in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle body cover includes a frame cover on the vehicle width outer side of the vehicle body frame and a side cover on the vehicle width outer side of the frame cover. The frame cover is recessed inward in the vehicle width direction to form a storage compartment for onboard tools, and the storage compartment is covered from the vehicle width outer side by the side cover. By forming the storage compartment for onboard tools in the frame cover, the cross section of the cover has an uneven shape, thereby increasing the rigidity of the frame cover. Furthermore, by covering the storage compartment of the frame cover with the side cover, the body cover becomes double-layered, thereby increasing its rigidity. Thus, the rigidity of the body cover is ensured and onboard tools can be properly stored in the body cover. [Example]

[0010] A saddle-riding type vehicle equipped with a body cover of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a left side view of the saddle-riding type vehicle of this embodiment. In the following drawings, arrow Fr indicates the front of the vehicle, arrow Re indicates the rear of the vehicle, arrow L indicates the left side of the vehicle, and arrow R indicates the right side of the vehicle.

[0011] As shown in Fig. 1, a saddle-type vehicle 1 is configured by mounting various parts such as an engine 30 and an electrical system on a body frame 10. A pair of main frames 11 extend diagonally downward and rearward from a head pipe (not shown) of the body frame 10, and the rear portions of the pair of main frames 11 bend downward to form a pair of body frames 12. In addition, down frames 13 extend downward from the head pipe, and under loops 14 bent rearward are connected to the lower portions of the down frames 13. The rear ends of the pair of under loops 14 are connected to the lower portions of the pair of body frames 12, so that the body frame 10 is formed into a cradle shape.

[0012] A front fork 21 is supported on the head pipe via a steering shaft (not shown) so as to be steerable. Handlebars 22 are provided on the upper part of the front fork 21, and a front wheel 23 is rotatably supported on the lower part of the front fork 21. A fuel tank 26 is placed on the upper part of the pair of main frames 11, and the main frames 11 and fuel tank 26 are covered from the sides by front side covers 27. A seat 28 is installed behind the fuel tank 26, and a frame cover 51, a rear side cover 52, and a parts cover 53 are installed below the seat 28.

[0013] A swing arm 24 is swingably supported by the body frame 12. The swing arm 24 extends rearward from the body frame 12, and a rear wheel 25 is rotatably supported at the rear end of the swing arm 24. An engine 30 is connected to the rear wheel 25 via a chain-drive transmission mechanism (not shown), and power from the engine 30 is transmitted to the rear wheel 25 via the transmission mechanism. A rear suspension 37 is also connected to the swing arm 24, and the expansion and contraction of the rear suspension 37 absorbs unevenness in the road surface, suppressing vibrations and improving the contact between the road surface and the rear wheel 25.

[0014] The engine 30 is a four-stroke single-cylinder engine and is suspended inside the body frame 10 via a suspension bracket 17. A cylinder assembly, which is made up of a cylinder 32, a cylinder head 33, and a cylinder head cover 34 stacked together, is attached to the top of a crankcase 31 of the engine 30. An exhaust pipe 35 is connected to the front of the cylinder head 33. The exhaust pipe 35 extends rearward past the right side of the cylinder 32, and an up-type muffler 36 that is tilted obliquely upward and rearward is connected to the downstream end of the exhaust pipe 35. In addition, an intake device such as an air cleaner 41 is installed behind the cylinder head 33.

[0015] Meanwhile, body covers such as rear side covers and frame covers are pressed inward in the vehicle width direction by the rider's knee grip. Therefore, to prevent deformation of the body cover, the rigidity of the body cover is increased by increasing the thickness of the body cover, providing ribs on the back side of the body cover, or folding back the edges of the body cover. In addition, in typical saddle-type vehicles, on-board tools such as box wrenches and screwdrivers are stored under the seat or in a dedicated tool box. The tool box may be attached directly above the rear fender or fixed to the seat frame.

[0016] However, in models where there is insufficient space under the seat, such as off-road vehicles, it is difficult to store on-board tools under the seat. Storing on-board tools in a dedicated tool box not only increases the weight and number of parts required for the tool box, but also increases the weight of the body cover due to the increased thickness of the body cover and the installation of ribs and other features to ensure rigidity. Furthermore, if the tool box is exposed to the outside, the vehicle's appearance is adversely affected. Therefore, in this embodiment, the body cover has a double structure, with the on-board tools stored in a partially recessed inner cover, and the uneven shape of this recess ensures the rigidity of the cover.

[0017] Furthermore, in off-road vehicles, the air cleaner is often mounted on the seat frame due to factors such as the capacity of the fuel tank, and the air cleaner intake port is often located under the seat. Because air is drawn into the air cleaner through the gap between the seat and the body cover, there is a risk that foreign matter such as sand and dust kicked up by the front wheel may enter the intake port. Simply closing the gap between the seat and the body cover would narrow the intake path, resulting in a loss of power output. Therefore, in this embodiment, the outer surface shape of the air cleaner and the recess in the body cover are used to form a labyrinth structure in the intake path, preventing foreign matter from entering the intake port.

[0018] The vehicle body cover will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a left side view of the rear part of the vehicle of this embodiment. Figure 3 is a left side view of the rear part of the vehicle of this embodiment with the rear side cover removed.

[0019] As shown in Figure 2, a seat frame 15 is attached to the rear of the body frame 12 as part of the body frame, and the seat frame 15 supports the seat 28 from below. A body cover 50 is installed below the seat 28, and the seat frame 15 is covered by the body cover 50 from the outside in the vehicle width direction. The body cover 50 is formed by installing a rear side cover (side cover) 52 on the front outer surface of a frame cover 51. In addition, an air cleaner 41 is installed inside the seat frame 15 below the seat 28, and an outlet tube 43 on the front side of the air cleaner 41 protrudes forward from the front edge of the rear side cover 52.

[0020] 2 and 3, a frame cover 51 having a generally triangular shape in a side view is positioned on the outer side of the seat frame 15 in the vehicle width direction. The upper edge of the frame cover 51 extends along the upper rail (not shown) of the seat frame 15, and the lower edge of the frame cover 51 extends along the lower rail 16 of the seat frame 15, so that the seat frame 15 is entirely covered by the frame cover 51. The front side of the frame cover 51 is recessed inward in the vehicle width direction to form a mounting surface 54 for the rear side cover 52. The rear side cover 52 is mounted on this mounting surface 54, so that the seat frame 15 and the rear side cover 52 are designed to have a sense of unity.

[0021] The installation surface 54 is formed in a generally triangular shape in a side view, with the vertical dimension decreasing from the front edge of the frame cover 51 toward the center. Shallow grooves 55 extend along the upper and rear edges of the installation surface 54, and a plurality of fastening holes 56 are provided at predetermined intervals in the shallow grooves 55. The rear side covers 52 are formed in substantially the same shape as the installation surface 54, and fastening pieces 57 (see FIG. 4) on the upper and rear edges of the rear side covers 52 are inserted into the multiple fastening holes 56 in the installation surface 54, thereby fastening the rear side covers 52 to the frame cover 51. In this way, the rear side covers 52 are positioned outboard of the frame cover 51 in the vehicle width direction, so that the front side of the vehicle body cover 50 has a double structure.

[0022] The installation surface 54 of the frame cover 51 is recessed inward in the vehicle width direction, and a plurality of storage compartments 58, 59 for onboard tools are individually formed in the frame cover 51. Storage compartment 58 extends along the front edge of the installation surface 54, and storage compartment 59 extends along the rear edge of the installation surface 54. Storage compartment 58 stores a box wrench 65 as an onboard tool, and storage compartment 59 stores a screwdriver 66 as an onboard tool. In addition, the installation surface 54 is slightly recessed inward in the vehicle width direction between storage compartments 58, 59, and a storage compartment 61 is formed in the frame cover 51 in which thin items such as a vehicle inspection certificate can be stored. The recess of storage compartment 58 is the deepest, the recess of storage compartment 59 is the next deepest, and the recess of storage compartment 61 is the shallowest.

[0023] The installation surface 54 of the frame cover 51 is recessed inward in the vehicle width direction, and a recess 62 for a key cylinder 67 is formed in the frame cover 51. The recess 62 is located below the storage section 58, and is recessed more inward in the vehicle width direction than the storage sections 58, 59, and 61. When the rear side cover 52 is installed on the frame cover 51, the rear side cover 52 covers the storage sections 58, 59, and 61 from the outside in the vehicle width direction. In addition, a key cylinder 67 is attached to the rear side cover 52 in correspondence with the recess 62 of the frame cover 51, and the rear side cover 52 is fixed to the frame cover 51 by the key cylinder 67. The key cylinder 67 is covered by a key cap 68 attached to the outer surface of the rear side cover 52.

[0024] When using knee grip, the grip position where the rider's knees come into contact is positioned near the rear side cover 52. The front side of the frame cover 51 is positioned inside the rear side cover 52, and the rear side cover 52 and frame cover 51 give the body cover 50 a double structure that increases rigidity. In addition, storage sections 58, 59, 61 and a recess 62 are individually formed on the installation surface 54 on the inside of the frame cover 51, and the cross section of the cover has a complex uneven shape that further increases the rigidity of the body cover 50. In other words, the storage sections 58, 59, 61 and the recess 62 function as multiple reinforcing ribs on the back side of the frame cover 51.

[0025] The storage compartments 58, 59 are formed to fit the shapes of the long box spanner 65 and the screwdriver 66. The longitudinal direction of the storage compartment 58 is oriented in the vertical direction, and the longitudinal direction of the storage compartment 59 is tilted backward. Even if the grip position of the knee grip varies in the vertical direction depending on the rider's physique, the uneven shape of the frame cover 51 makes it easy to position it at the grip position, and it can effectively withstand deformation due to knee grip. Furthermore, the storage compartments 58, 59 are formed to fit the shapes of the box spanner 65 and the screwdriver 66, and the individual storage compartments 58, 59, 61 are arranged compactly, which increases the degree of freedom in the shape of the body cover 50.

[0026] The suction path to the suction port inside the body cover will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the rear part of the vehicle in Figure 2 taken along line AA.

[0027] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the air cleaner 41 is covered from the outside in the vehicle width direction by a body cover 50 (frame cover 51). An intake port 44 is formed in the upper rear surface of a cleaner case 42 of the air cleaner 41, and an outlet tube 43 is installed in the front surface of the cleaner case 42. A filter 46 is installed in an intake chamber 45 inside the cleaner case 42, and the intake chamber 45 of the cleaner case 42 is connected to the intake passage of the outlet tube 43 via the filter 46. A side cap 47 is located on the left side of the cleaner case 42, and the filter 46 can be replaced periodically by removing the side cap 47.

[0028] An intake path 69 is formed between the body cover 50 and the air cleaner 41, extending from the front of the body cover 50 toward the intake port 44. The outlet tube 43 curves to the left as it faces forward, and the storage section 58 of the frame cover 51 is positioned between the outlet tube 43 and the side cap 47 of the cleaner case 42. The storage section 58 of the frame cover 51 is located forward of the intake port 44 of the air cleaner 41 and inward in the vehicle width direction from the left side surface of the side cap 47. The left side surface of the outlet tube 43, the storage section 58 of the frame cover 51, and the left side surface of the side cap 47 form a U-shaped curve near the entrance of the intake path 69.

[0029] Furthermore, the storage section 59 of the frame cover 51 faces the front portion of the side cap 47 in the vehicle width direction. The rear portion of the side cap 47 bulges outward in the vehicle width direction further than the storage section 59 of the frame cover 51. The steps of the storage section 59 of the frame cover 51 and the side cap 47 cause the middle portion of the suction passage 69 to curve in a crank shape. In this way, the storage sections 58, 59 of the frame cover 51, the outlet tube 43, and the side cap 47 form a labyrinth structure in the suction passage 69, making it difficult for foreign matter such as sand and dust to pass through the suction passage 69 from the front of the vehicle body toward the suction port 44.

[0030] The recess 62 of the frame cover 51 is positioned lower than the storage portion 58 and the outlet tube 43, and is recessed further inward in the vehicle width direction than the outer surfaces of the storage portion 58 and the outlet tube 43. A labyrinth structure is formed in the suction path 69 by the recess 62 of the frame cover 51, the outlet tube 43, and the cleaner case (side cap) 42, making it difficult for foreign matter to pass from below the vehicle body through the suction path 69 toward the suction port 44. In this way, the uneven shape of the storage portions 58, 59 and the recess 62 of the frame cover 51 ensures rigidity and prevents foreign matter from entering the suction port 44.

[0031] As described above, according to the body cover 50 of this embodiment, the frame cover 51 is formed with the storage sections 58, 59 for on-board tools, which gives the cover a concave and convex cross section and increases the rigidity of the frame cover 51. Furthermore, the storage sections 58, 59 of the frame cover 51 are covered by the rear side cover 52, which makes the body cover 50 double-layered and increases the rigidity. Therefore, the rigidity of the body cover 50 is ensured, and the on-board tools can be stored appropriately in the body cover 50.

[0032] In this embodiment, a plurality of storage sections for on-board tools are formed in the frame cover, but it is sufficient that at least one storage section is formed in the frame cover.

[0033] In the present embodiment, the on-board tool is formed to be elongated, but the shape of the on-board tool is not particularly limited. Also, although the configuration in which the on-board tool is a box wrench and a screwdriver has been described, the on-board tool is not particularly limited.

[0034] In addition, in this embodiment, the body cover is made up of a frame cover and a rear side cover, but it may be made up of three or more members.

[0035] In addition, in this embodiment, the rear side cover is fixed to the frame cover by the key cylinder, but the method of fixing the frame cover and the rear side cover is not particularly limited.

[0036] Furthermore, the vehicle body cover of this embodiment is not limited to the saddle-ride type vehicle described above, and may be used in other types of saddle-ride type vehicles.

[0037] As described above, the first aspect is a body cover (50) that covers the body frame (seat frame 15) from the outside in the vehicle width direction below the seat (28). The body cover (50) includes a frame cover (51) positioned on the outside of the body frame in the vehicle width direction and a side cover (rear side cover 52) positioned on the outside of the frame cover in the vehicle width direction. The frame cover is recessed inward in the vehicle width direction to form storage compartments (58, 59) for onboard tools (box wrench 65, screwdriver 66), and the storage compartments are covered from the outside in the vehicle width direction by the side cover. According to this configuration, the storage compartments for onboard tools are formed in the frame cover, so that the cross section of the cover has an uneven shape, thereby increasing the rigidity of the frame cover. Furthermore, the storage compartments of the frame cover are covered by the side cover, so that the body cover is double-layered, thereby increasing its rigidity. Therefore, the rigidity of the body cover is ensured and onboard tools can be properly stored in the body cover.

[0038] In the second aspect, in the first aspect, the frame cover is individually formed with a plurality of storage compartments for on-board tools. According to this configuration, by individually forming the storage compartments for on-board tools in the frame cover, the cross section of the cover has a complex uneven shape, further increasing the rigidity of the frame cover. In addition, the storage compartments are formed to match the tool shapes of the on-board tools, and the individual storage compartments are compactly installed in the frame cover, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in the shape of the body cover.

[0039] In the third aspect, the storage compartment is formed to fit long on-board tools in the first or second aspect, and the longitudinal direction of the storage compartment is oriented vertically. With this configuration, even if the grip position of the knee grip varies vertically depending on the rider's physique, the uneven shape of the frame cover can be easily positioned at the grip position, and can effectively withstand deformation due to knee grip.

[0040] In a fourth aspect, in any one of the first to third aspects, an air cleaner (41) is installed below the seat, the air cleaner is covered from the outside in the vehicle width direction by a frame cover, and the storage portion is located forward of the air cleaner intake port (44) and inward in the vehicle width direction from the outer surface of the air cleaner. With this configuration, a labyrinth structure is formed in the intake path by the storage portion of the frame cover and the air cleaner, making it difficult for foreign matter such as sand and dust to flow toward the intake port.

[0041] In a fifth aspect, the air cleaner of the fourth aspect has a cleaner case (42) having an intake port formed therein and an outlet tube (43) installed on the front surface of the cleaner case, and the storage section is located between the cleaner case and the outlet tube. With this configuration, a labyrinth structure is formed in the intake path by the storage section of the frame cover, the outlet tube, and the cleaner case, making it difficult for foreign matter such as sand and dust to move from the front of the vehicle body toward the intake port.

[0042] In a sixth aspect, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the frame cover is recessed inward in the vehicle width direction to form a recess (62) for the key cylinder (67), and the recess is located lower than the storage portion and further inward in the vehicle width direction than the storage portion. According to this configuration, by forming the recess for the key cylinder in the frame cover, the cross section of the cover has an uneven shape, further increasing the rigidity of the frame cover. The recess and the storage portion in the frame cover form a labyrinth structure in the intake path, making it difficult for foreign matter such as sand and dust to flow from the front and bottom of the vehicle body toward the intake port.

[0043] In a seventh aspect, in the fifth aspect, the frame cover is recessed inward in the vehicle width direction to form a recess for the key cylinder, and the recess is located below the outlet tube and is located further inward in the vehicle width direction than the outer surface of the outlet tube. With this configuration, the recess for the key cylinder is formed in the frame cover, causing the cross section of the cover to have an uneven shape, further increasing the rigidity of the frame cover. The recess in the frame cover and the outlet tube form a labyrinth structure in the intake path, making it difficult for foreign matter such as sand and dust to flow from below the vehicle body toward the intake port.

[0044] Although the present embodiment has been described, other embodiments may be made by combining the above-described embodiments and modifications in whole or in part.

[0045] Furthermore, the technology of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes, substitutions, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the technical idea. Furthermore, if the technical idea can be realized in a different way due to technological advances or other derived technologies, it may be implemented using that method. Therefore, the claims cover all embodiments that may fall within the scope of the technical idea. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1: Saddle-type vehicle 15: Seat frame (body frame) 28: Sheet 41:Air cleaner 42: Cleaner case 43: Outlet tube 44: Intake port 50: Body cover 51: Frame cover 52: Rear side cover 58: Storage area 59: Storage area 62: Recess 65: Box wrench (automotive tool) 66: Driver (in-car tool) 67: Key cylinder 69: Inhalation route

Claims

1. A body cover that covers the body frame from the outside in the vehicle width direction below the seat, a frame cover located on the outer side of the body frame in the vehicle width direction; a side cover located on the outer side of the frame cover in the vehicle width direction, The frame cover is recessed inward in the vehicle width direction to form a storage section for on-board tools, The vehicle body cover is characterized in that the storage section is covered from the outside in the vehicle width direction by the side cover.

2. 2. The vehicle body cover according to claim 1, wherein the frame cover is formed with a plurality of separate storage compartments for on-board tools.

3. The storage section is formed to fit a long on-board tool, 3. The vehicle body cover according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal direction of the storage section is oriented in the vertical direction.

4. An air cleaner is installed below the seat, The air cleaner is covered from the outside in the vehicle width direction by the frame cover, 3. The vehicle body cover according to claim 1, wherein the storage portion is located forward of an intake port of the air cleaner and inward in the vehicle width direction from an outer surface of the air cleaner.

5. The air cleaner includes a cleaner case in which the intake port is formed, and an outlet tube installed on a front surface of the cleaner case, 5. The vehicle body cover according to claim 4, wherein the storage section is located between the cleaner case and the outlet tube.

6. The frame cover is recessed inward in the vehicle width direction to form a recess for a key cylinder, 3. The vehicle body cover according to claim 1, wherein the recess is positioned lower than the storage portion and is recessed more inward in the vehicle width direction than the storage portion.

7. The frame cover is recessed inward in the vehicle width direction to form a recess for a key cylinder, 6. The vehicle body cover according to claim 5, wherein the recess is located below the outlet tube and is recessed inward in the vehicle width direction relative to an outer surface of the outlet tube.

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