Small electric vehicle

Abstract

The present invention provides a small electric vehicle that can prevent water entering through an opening in the cover from coming into contact with electronic components located inside the cover. [Solution] A small electric vehicle comprising a cover that covers at least a part of the vehicle frame and electronic components disposed inside the cover, wherein the cover has an upper part having an opening through which the vehicle frame passes, and an inner circumferential surface on which ribs are provided, the ribs being provided below the opening and above the electronic components, and the periphery of the ribs being formed so as not to overlap the electronic components when the cover is viewed from above.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a small electric vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an interior material of an automobile in which a pocket for storing items is formed. In order to prevent water from reaching electronic components arranged in the space on the back side of the interior material, ribs are formed above the electronic components on the back side of the interior material. Hereinafter, the interior material is referred to as a cover.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When there is an opening in the cover, there is a risk that water entering through the opening may reach electronic components such as switches arranged inside the cover. Water on the electronic components may cause a failure of the electronic components.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a small electric vehicle capable of preventing water entering through the opening of the cover from reaching the electronic components arranged inside the cover.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A small electric vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a cover that covers at least a portion of the vehicle frame, and electronic components disposed within the cover. The cover has an upper part having an opening through which the vehicle frame passes, and an inner circumferential surface on which ribs protrude. The ribs are provided below the opening and above the electronic components. The periphery of the ribs is formed so as not to overlap the electronic components when the cover is viewed from above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The ribs on the inner surface of the cover prevent water that enters through the opening from coming into contact with electronic components such as switches. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a small electric vehicle according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the rear of the rear cover of the small electric vehicle shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the body frame of a small electric vehicle according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic side view showing the rear configuration of the vehicle frame shown in Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the rear section of the vehicle frame shown in Figure 3. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in Figure 2. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the rear cover shown in Figure 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] A specific example of a small electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. The sizes of the components shown in each figure are represented for the purpose of clarifying the explanation and do not necessarily represent the actual dimensions. In the figures, "FR" indicates the front of the vehicle, "RR" indicates the rear of the vehicle, "LH" indicates the left side of the vehicle, "RH" indicates the right side of the vehicle, "UP" indicates the top of the vehicle, and "LWR" indicates the bottom of the vehicle. The direction of each component in the following description will be described with reference to the direction of the vehicle described above.

[0010] <Small electric vehicles> The small electric vehicle 1 of the embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. The small electric vehicle 1 is a single-seater electric vehicle. The small electric vehicle 1 shown in Figure 1 is a handlebar-type electric wheelchair (mobility scooter). Handlebar-type electric wheelchairs are sometimes called senior cars. Hereafter, "small electric vehicle" will be simply referred to as "vehicle".

[0011] Vehicle 1, as shown in Figure 1, comprises wheels 10, a steering wheel 15, and a seat 16. The wheels 10 include front wheels 10f and rear wheels 10r. The occupant sits on the seat 16 and operates the steering wheel 15. Vehicle 1 is a four-wheeled vehicle having two front wheels 10f and two rear wheels 10r. In contrast to this example, it may also be a three-wheeled vehicle with one front wheel 10f or one rear wheel 10r.

[0012] Vehicle 1 comprises a vehicle frame 2 as shown in Figure 3 and a cover 3 as shown in Figure 1. The cover 3 is attached to the vehicle frame 2 so as to cover the vehicle frame 2. Vehicle 1 has a rear cover 33 that covers the seat post 23 that supports the seat 16. As shown in Figure 2, a recess 33h is formed in the lower rear part of the rear cover 33. A lock release switch 85, which will be described later, is installed in the recess 33h.

[0013] Vehicle 1 is equipped with a motor 6 as shown in Figure 4, and drives the rear wheels 10r using the motor 6. Power is supplied to the motor 6 from a battery (not shown). Vehicle 1 is also equipped with a braking system including an electromagnetic brake 8 as shown in Figure 1. The electromagnetic brake 8 is not only a mechanism for decelerating vehicle 1, but also includes a locking mechanism 80 that locks the rear wheels 10r, which are the drive wheels, when vehicle 1 is stopped, and a lock release switch 85 that releases the locking mechanism 80. The lock release switch 85 is located inside the rear cover 33.

[0014] One of the features of vehicle 1 is the structure of cover 3, which will be described later. Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, ribs 35 are provided at specific positions on the inner circumferential surface of cover 3. The ribs 35 are formed to prevent water droplets W flowing down the inner circumferential surface 33i from the top of cover 3 from coming into contact with electronic components. In this example, cover 3 is the rear cover 33. The electronic component is the lock release switch 85. In the following description, the basic structure of vehicle 1 will be described first, and then cover 3 with ribs 35 will be described in detail.

[0015] ≪Vehicle Frame≫ The vehicle frame 2 forms the skeleton of the vehicle 1. As shown in Figure 3, the vehicle frame 2 includes a steering column 21, a main frame 22, a seat post 23, and a cross member 25.

[0016] [Mainframe] The main frames 22 are configured as a pair on the left and right. The pair of main frames 22 are arranged side by side from the front to the rear of the vehicle 1. The pair of main frames 22 generally extend in the front-rear direction and are arranged in parallel. The right main frame 22 and the left main frame 22 are symmetrical. The main frame 22 in this example is a round pipe material. The front end portion 22a of the main frame 22 is connected to the steering column 21. In this example, the front end portion 22a of the main frame 22 is welded to the steering column 21. In this example, the front end portions 22a of the pair of main frames 22 are inclined obliquely upward toward the front. The pair of main frames 22, excluding the front end portions 22a, extend substantially horizontally from the front to the rear.

[0017] The main frame 22 in this example has a bent portion 22c in the middle. The bent portion 22c is formed between the front portion 22f and the rear portion 22r of the main frame 22. The bent portions 22c of the pair of main frames 22 are formed symmetrically. In this example, the interval between the main frames 22 becomes narrower from the front to the rear across the bent portion 22c. The portion located in front of the bent portion 22c has a wide interval and is arranged substantially in parallel. The portion located behind the bent portion 22c has a narrow interval and is arranged substantially in parallel.

[0018] The front portion 22f is the portion located in front of the bent portion 22c. The front portion 22f includes the front end portion 22a. The front portion 22f extends substantially horizontally excluding the front end portion 22a. In this example, the front portion 22f is located in front of the seat post 23 and is a horizontal portion where the floor cover 32 (FIG. 1) described later is arranged. The rear portion 22r is the portion located behind the bent portion 22c. The rear wheel 10r shown in FIG. 1 is arranged on the rear portion 22r.

[0019] 〔Steering Column〕 The steering column 21 is provided at the front part of the vehicle 1. The steering column 21 supports the steering wheel 15 for steering the front wheels 10f shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the steering column 21 extends generally in the vertical direction so as to intersect the main frame 22. The steering column 21 is inclined such that the lower end is positioned in front of the upper end. A steering shaft (not shown) is rotatably inserted into the steering column 21. The steering wheel 15 is attached to the upper end portion of the steering shaft. The steering shaft transmits the rotational operation of the steering wheel 15 to the front wheels 10f.

[0020] 〔Seat post〕 The seat post 23 is provided at the rear part of the vehicle 1. The seat post 23 supports the seat 16 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the seat post 23 extends upward from the main frame 22. The seat post 23 in this example is inclined such that the lower end is positioned in front of the upper end. The seat 16 is attached to the upper end portion of the seat post 23. In this example, the seat post 23 is fixed on the cross member 25.

[0021] 〔Cross member〕 As shown in Figure 3, the cross member 25 connects a pair of main frames 22. The cross member 25 is provided on the bent portion 22c and connects the bent portions 22c. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cross member 25 is positioned to straddle the front and back of the bent portion 22c. Specifically, the cross member 25 is fixed to the front and back straight portions of the bent portion 22c. The cross member 25 is positioned on the bent portion 22c. In this example, the cross member 25 is a U-shaped plate material having a front piece 25f, a side piece 25u, and a rear piece 25r. The side piece 25u extends horizontally. The front piece 25f extends vertically from the front end of the side piece 25u. The rear piece 25r extends vertically from the rear end of the side piece 25u. Notches corresponding to the outer shape of the main frame 22 are formed in each of the front piece 25f and the rear piece 25r. The notches in this example are semicircular. The front piece 25f and the rear piece 25r each have notches that fit into the main frame 22, thereby fixing the cross member 25 to the main frame 22. The front piece 25f of the cross member 25 is fixed to the straight portion of the front 22f, which is located in front of the bent portion 22c. The rear piece 25r of the cross member 25 is fixed to the straight portion of the rear 22r, which is located behind the bent portion 22c. In this example, the cross member 25 is welded to the straight portions in front of and behind the bent portion 22c. The seat post 23 is fixed to the upper surface of the lateral piece 25u.

[0022] The cross member 25 connects the pair of main frames 22 and is fixed so as to straddle the front and back of the bent portion 22c. This structure effectively increases the rigidity of the bent portion 22c of the main frame 22. Therefore, the main frame 22 is less likely to deform starting from the bent portion 22c. Because the main frame 22 is less likely to deform, the handling stability of the vehicle 1 is improved. In this example, the cross member 25 also functions as a member that supports the seat post 23. Since one cross member 25 can achieve both improved rigidity of the main frame 22 and support for the seat post 23, it is advantageous in terms of cost, weight, and assembly productivity.

[0023] Unlike this example, the cross member 25 may be fixed not only to the straight sections before and after the bent portion 22c, but also to the bent portion 22c itself. In that case, the cross member 25 may be an E-shaped member having an intermediate piece between the front piece 25f and the rear piece 25r, in addition to the front piece 25f, the side piece 25u, and the rear piece 25r. This configuration can further increase the rigidity of the bent portion 22c.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3, the vehicle frame 2 in this example includes a front cross member 26 and a rear cross member 27. The front cross member 26 is provided on the front end 22a of the main frame 22 and connects the front ends 22a of a pair of main frames 22. The front cross member 26 in this example is made of round pipe material. The front cross member 26 is welded to the front end 22a. The rear cross member 27 is provided on the rear end 22r of the main frame 22 and connects the rear ends 22r of a pair of main frames 22. The rear cross member 27 is positioned on the rear end 22r. Specifically, the rear cross member 27 is positioned in the part of the rear end 22r where the distance between the main frames 22 is narrow and they are aligned parallel to each other. The rear cross member 27 in this example includes a front plate portion 27f and a rear plate portion 27r arranged front and rear, and an upper plate portion 27u that connects the upper ends of the front plate portion 27f and the rear plate portion 27r. The front plate section 27f and the rear plate section 27r are C-shaped plates that open downwards. The upper plate section 27u is a rectangular plate that is long in the front-to-back direction. The front plate section 27f and the rear plate section 27r are welded to the rear section 22r.

[0025] In this example, the vehicle frame 2 is equipped with a rear cross member 27, which increases the rigidity of the rear portion 22r of the main frame 22. Unlike this example, the rear ends of a pair of main frames 22 may be connected to form a loop shape for the main frame 22. The rigidity of the rear portion 22r can be increased by providing a rear cross member 27 on the rear portion 22r of the main frame 22 or by forming the rear end of the main frame 22 in a loop shape. By increasing the rigidity of the rear portion 22r, it becomes easier to place heavy objects in the rear portion 22r. As will be described later, the suspension device 5 and motor 6 shown in Figures 4 and 5 are placed in the rear portion 22r.

[0026] [Upper frame] The vehicle frame 2 in this example further includes an upper frame 4 as shown in Figure 3. The upper frame 4 is located above the rear portion 22r of the main frame 22. In this example, the upper frame 4 is positioned on top of the rear cross member 27. The upper frame 4 connects the seat post 23 and the rear cross member 27. The upper frame 4 extends rearward from the middle portion of the seat post 23. As shown in Figure 4, the shape of the upper frame 4 as viewed from the side of the vehicle 1 is generally triangular, tapering towards the rear. The upper surface of the upper frame 4 is inclined diagonally downward toward the rear. The front end of the upper frame 4 is fixed to the rear surface of the seat post 23. The rear part of the upper frame 4 is fixed to the upper surface of the upper plate portion 27u of the rear cross member 27. Even if a rearward stress acts on the seat post 23, the seat post 23 is supported by the upper frame 4 fixed to the rear cross member 27.

[0027] As shown in Figure 3, the upper frame 4 is provided with a base portion 41. The base portion 41 is positioned on top of the upper frame 4. The base portion 41 is a gate-shaped member having a left wall portion 411, a right wall portion 412, and an upper wall portion 413. The upper frame 4 is sandwiched between the left wall portion 411 and the right wall portion 412. The left wall portion 411 is fixed to the left side of the upper frame 4. The right wall portion 412 is fixed to the right side of the upper frame 4.

[0028] A shock absorber mounting bracket 42 is fixed to the base portion 41. Hereinafter, the "shock absorber mounting bracket" will be referred to as the "SA bracket". The SA bracket 42 has a mounting portion 42f to which the shock absorber 55 shown in Figures 4 and 5 is attached. The SA bracket 42 is made of plate material. The mounting portion 42f is provided so as to protrude from both the left and right sides of the base portion 41 in the left-right direction and rearward. The mounting portion 42f is inclined diagonally upward as it moves away from the base portion 41. The upper end 55u of the shock absorber 55 is fixed to the mounting portion 42f.

[0029] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, a switch mounting bracket 43 is attached to the rear of the SA bracket 42. Hereinafter, the "switch mounting bracket" will be referred to as the "SW bracket". In this example, the SW bracket 43 and the SA bracket 42 are independent components. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the SW bracket 43 has a vertical wall portion 43w and a mounting portion 43f. The SW bracket 43 is formed from a plate material. The SW bracket 43 is fixed to the rear end of the mounting portion 42f of the SA bracket 42 by welding or the like. The vertical wall portion 43w is fixed to the rear end of the base portion 41 and the upper surface of the upper frame 4 by welding or the like. The lock release switch 85 is attached to the mounting portion 43f. Unlike this example, the SW bracket 43 and the SA bracket 42 may be a single, seamless piece.

[0030] ≪Suspension≫ Vehicle 1 is equipped with a suspension system 5, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The suspension system 5 supports the rear wheels 10r shown in Figure 1. The rear wheels 10r are located on the rear 22r of the main frame 22. As shown in Figure 5, one suspension system 5 is provided on each side of the rear 22r of the main frame 22. The left and right suspension systems 5 are independent of each other. The left and right suspension systems 5 support the left and right rear wheels 10r, respectively. Each suspension system 5 comprises an arm 50, a coil spring 53, and a shock absorber 55. In Figures 4 and 5, the coil spring 53 is shown in a simplified form.

[0031] The arm 50 is a member that supports the rear wheel 10r so that it can swing up and down. The arm 50 extends in the left-right direction. In this example, the arm 50 is a box-shaped body having a front part 50f, a rear part 50b, an upper part 50u, and a side part 50s, with an open lower part. When viewed from the rear of the vehicle 1, the shape of the arm 50 is an inverted trapezoid shape. The inner end of the arm 50 is supported by the rear cross member 27 by a pivot shaft 51. The inner end is the end closest to the rear part 22r. The pivot shaft 51 extends in the front-rear direction. The pivot shaft 51 is inserted so as to pass through the front part 50f and the rear part 50b. Both ends of the pivot shaft 51 are fixed to the front plate part 27f and the rear plate part 27r of the rear cross member 27, respectively. The outer end of the arm 50 can swing up and down around the pivot shaft 51. The outer end is the end furthest from the rear 22r, in other words, the end closest to the rear wheel 10r. The upper part 50u connects the upper ends of the front part 50f and the rear part 50b. A notch 50n is formed in the upper part 50u. The side part 50s connects the outer ends of the front part 50f and the rear part 50b. A through hole 50h is formed in the side part 50s.

[0032] The coil spring 53 is a component that absorbs vibrations and shocks from the road surface. Known configurations can be used for the coil spring 53. In this example, the coil spring 53 is attached to the outer circumference of the shock absorber 55. That is, the shock absorber 55 is located inside the coil spring 53. Unlike this example, the coil spring 53 may be located at a position away from the shock absorber 55.

[0033] The shock absorber 55 is a component that dampens the expansion and contraction of the coil spring 53. Known configurations can be used for the shock absorber 55. The lower end 55d of the shock absorber 55 is fixed to the upper part 50u of the arm 50. The upper end 55u of the shock absorber 55 is fixed to the mounting portion 42f of the SA bracket 42.

[0034] The SA bracket 42, to which the upper end 55u of the shock absorber 55 is fixed, is located above the upper frame 4. Therefore, the vehicle 1 can employ a shock absorber 55 with a long stroke length. A shock absorber 55 with a long stroke length can quickly dampen the expansion and contraction of the coil spring 53.

[0035] Motor Vehicle 1 is equipped with a motor 6, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The motor 6 drives the rear wheels 10r shown in Figure 1. In this example, one motor 6 is provided for each of the left and right rear wheels 10r, and the left and right rear wheels 10r are driven independently. In this example, the motor 6 is located inside the arm 50 and fixed to the arm 50. The motor 6 has a rotating shaft 60 to which the rear wheels 10r are attached. The rotating shaft 60 passes through a through hole 50h. Unlike this example, the motor 6 may be an in-wheel motor located inside the rear wheel 10r.

[0036] ≪Lock release switch≫ When vehicle 1 is stopped, the locking mechanism 80 (Figure 1) is activated, locking the rear wheels 10r. The locking mechanism 80 is, for example, a non-excitation type electromagnetic brake. A non-excitation type electromagnetic brake locks the rear wheels 10r when not energized and releases the lock on the rear wheels 10r when energized. Because the locking mechanism 80 maintains the stopped state of vehicle 1, it is easy for occupants to get on and off safely. The locking mechanism 80 is automatically released, for example, when an occupant operates the accelerator. In such a vehicle 1, there are situations where it is necessary to move vehicle 1 manually. For example, if vehicle 1 comes off a wheel, there is a need to move vehicle 1 by pushing it back and forth by hand. The lock release switch 85 meets such needs.

[0037] From the viewpoint of ensuring the safety of passengers getting in and out of the vehicle, it is desirable that the unlock switch 85 be installed in a position that is not easily accessible to passengers seated in the seat 16. In this example, the unlock switch 85 is located on the upper surface of a recess 33h formed in the rear cover 33, as shown in Figure 6. In Figure 6, for the sake of explanation, the main frame 22, base portion 41 and SA bracket 42 are omitted from the illustration. The unlock switch 85 has a button portion 85b that can be pressed with a finger. The unlock switch 85 is positioned so that when a user stands to the side of the vehicle 1 and inserts their hand into the recess 33h with their palm facing upward, they can touch the button portion 85b with their finger. In this example, the button portion 85b protrudes forward from the front of the unlock switch 85. By gripping the unlock switch 85 from below, the button portion 85b is pushed backward. The lock mechanism 80 is released only while the button portion 85b of the unlock switch 85 is pressed, and the lock mechanism 80 is activated when the finger is released from the button portion 85b of the unlock switch 85. For example, if vehicle 1 has come off a wheel, the user grips the handle 15 with one hand and grasps the recess 33h with the other hand to push or pull the rear cover 33. At this time, the button portion 85b is easy to press when grasping the recess 33h, so the user can push vehicle 1 by hand while pressing the button portion 85b. In other words, the lock mechanism 80 can be released in the sequence of actions of pushing vehicle 1, so vehicle 1 can be easily moved.

[0038] When heavy components such as the suspension system 5 and motor 6 are located at the rear of the vehicle 1, the rear of the vehicle 1 becomes very heavy. In order to push the rear of the vehicle 1 by hand, the part that is gripped by hand when pushing the vehicle 1 needs to have sufficient rigidity. In this example, the lock release switch 85 is fixed to the SW bracket 43. The SW bracket 43 is fixed to the rigid upper frame 4 via the SA bracket 42 and the base portion 41. Therefore, the SW bracket 43 can share the load when the rear cover 33 is pushed or pulled while gripping the recess 33h and pressing the button portion 85b of the lock release switch 85. As a result, even when the rear cover 33 is pushed, it is less likely to deform or break. Also, even if a large load is applied to the lock release switch 85, it is less likely to rattle or come off.

[0039] ≪Cover≫ Cover 3 covers at least a portion of the vehicle frame 2. In this example, cover 3 includes a front cover 31, a floor cover 32, and a rear cover 33, as shown in Figure 1. The front cover 31 covers the steering column 21 and the front end 22a of the main frame 22, as shown in Figure 3. The floor cover 32 is positioned on the front 22f of the main frame 22, as shown in Figure 3, and covers the front 22f excluding the front end 22a. The feet of an occupant seated in the seat 16 rest on the floor cover 32. The rear cover 33 covers the area around the seat post 23 and the rear 22r of the main frame 22, as shown in Figure 3. Inside the rear cover 33 are the suspension device 5 and the unlock switch 85, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Other components, such as a control unit (not shown) for controlling the motor 6, are also located inside the rear cover 33.

[0040] [Rear cover] The structure of the rear cover 33 in this example will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 6 and 7. The upper part 33u of the rear cover 33 has an opening 33p through which the seat post 23 passes. The rear cover 33 has an inner circumferential surface 33i with a rib 35 protruding from it. The rear surface of the rear cover 33 in this example has a bent portion 33c. As shown in Figure 6, the rear part of the rear cover 33 in this example extends almost vertically downward from the upper part 33u, then bends at the bent portion 33c and extends diagonally downward to the rear. The lower end of the rear surface of the rear cover 33 is connected to the upper surface of the recess 33h.

[0041] The rib 35 is located below the opening 33p and above the unlock switch 85. The peripheral edge 35e of the rib 35 is formed so as not to overlap with the unlock switch 85 when the rear cover 33 is viewed from above. In this example, the rib 35 is located on the rear inner circumferential surface 33i. In this example, the peripheral edge 35e of the rib 35 is located in front of the unlock switch 85. The rib 35 protrudes almost perpendicularly to the inner circumferential surface 33i. The rib 35 is formed in a flat plate shape that extends left and right along the inner circumferential surface 33i. The shape of the rib 35 is rectangular. In this example, the rib 35 is located on the bent portion 33c. Therefore, the rib 35 is inclined diagonally downward toward the front from the inner circumferential surface 33i.

[0042] The presence of ribs 35 on the inner circumferential surface 33i of the rear cover 33 prevents water entering through the opening 33p from reaching the lock release switch 85. As shown in Figure 6, water droplets W entering through the opening 33p flow along the inner circumferential surface 33i. In Figure 6, the entry path of the water droplets W is shown by a dashed line. The water droplets W are blocked by the ribs 35 and fall from the periphery 35e, making it difficult for the water droplets W to reach the lock release switch 85.

[0043] Furthermore, the presence of the rib 35 on the bent portion 33c increases the rigidity of the bent portion 33c. Therefore, when the recess 33h is grasped and the rear cover 33 is pushed or pulled to move the vehicle 1, even if a large load is applied to the rear cover 33, it is less likely that the rear cover 33 will deform or break starting from the bent portion 33c.

[0044] As shown in Figure 7, in this example, bosses 39 are provided on both the left and right sides of the rib 35. The bosses 39 protrude forward from the inner circumferential surface 33i toward the seat post 23. The bosses 39 are fixed to a cover mounting bracket 29 which is fixed to the seat post 23. The rear cover 33 is attached to the seat post 23 by fixing the bosses 39 to the cover mounting bracket 29.

[0045] Furthermore, second ribs 36 are continuously projected from both the left and right sides of the rib 35, with a boss 39 in between. The second ribs 36 are positioned on the left and right inner circumferential surfaces 33i. The second ribs 36 are formed in a curved plate shape that extends along the inner circumferential surface 33i. The shape of the second ribs 36 is arc-shaped. In this example, the second ribs 36 are inclined diagonally downward from the inner circumferential surface 33i toward the rear cover 33, and also extend inclined downward toward the front. The presence of the second ribs 36 in addition to the rib 35 further increases the rigidity of the rear cover 33. As a result, the rear cover 33 is less likely to deform or break. Also, the presence of the second ribs 36 makes it less likely for water to come into contact with the lock release switch 85 even when the vehicle 1 is tilted forward, backward, left, or right.

[0046] The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims as shown by the claims.

[0047] In this example, the case where the electronic component is a lock release switch 85 was used as an example, but the explanation is not limited to this. The electronic component may be a switch that operates a device other than the lock mechanism 80 mounted on the vehicle 1, or it may be an electronic component other than a switch. Examples of electronic components other than switches include various elements, circuit boards, transformers, electromagnets, solenoids, relays, various sensors, lamps, speakers, and connectors.

[0048] In this example, the case in which a recess 33h is formed at the rear of the rear cover 33 was described, but the recess 33h may also be formed at the front or side of the rear cover 33. When a recess 33h is formed at the rear of the rear cover 33, it is easier to insert a hand into the recess 33h and push the vehicle 1 by hand. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 1. Small electric vehicle (vehicle) 10 wheels 10f front wheel, 10r rear wheel 15-inch handlebars, 16-inch seats 2. Vehicle frame 21 Steering column 22 Mainframes 22a front end, 22f front, 22r rear 22c Bend part 23 Seatpost 25 Cross members 25f front piece, 25u side piece, 25r rear piece 26 Front cross member 27 Rear cross member 27f Front panel, 27r Rear panel, 27u Top panel 29 Cover mounting bracket 3 Cover 31 Front cover 32 Floor Covers 33 Rear cover 33h recess, 33i inner circumferential surface 33u top, 33p opening 33c Bend part 35 Rib, 35e Periphery 36. Second Rib 39 Boss 4. Upper frame 41 Base 411 Left wall section, 412 Right wall section, 413 Upper wall section 42 Shock absorber mounting bracket (SA bracket) 42f Mounting section 43 Switch mounting bracket (SW bracket) 43f Mounting section, 43w Vertical wall section 5. Suspension System 50 Arm 50f front, 50b rear, 50u top, 50s side 50h through hole 51 Pivot axis 53 Coil Springs 55 Shock absorbers 55d bottom edge, 55u top edge 6 motors 60 Rotation axis 8. Electromagnetic brake 80 Locking mechanism 85 Unlock switch, 85b Button section W water drop

Claims

[Claim 1] A cover that covers at least a portion of the vehicle frame, The cover includes an electronic component arranged inside the cover, The aforementioned cover is The upper part has an opening through which the aforementioned vehicle frame passes, It has an inner circumferential surface with protruding ribs, The rib is provided below the opening and above the electronic component. The periphery of the rib is formed so as not to overlap with the electronic component when the cover is viewed from above. Small electric vehicle.

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