Bike

Abstract

To expand an age range of a user which can ride a balance bike.SOLUTION: A balance bike includes: a head part 6 which holds a front wheel 2 in a steerable manner; a main frame 1 including a front frame 11 which extends rearward while inclining downward from the head part 6, and a rear frame 12 which extends rearward from a rear end of the front frame 11 at an angle closer to a horizontal angle than the front frame 11, the main frame 1 connecting the head part 6 with the rear wheel 3; and a seat support part 8 which is fixed to a folded part 15, a portion where the front frame 11 and the rear frame 12 are connected, and supports a seat 7 in a manner that the seat 7 can slide in a vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a balance bike. (Registered Trademark) and other bikes Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] A balance bike (kids' bike) as shown in Patent Document 1 below is well known. A balance bike is a type of bicycle for children. A balance bike does not have cranks that support the pedals so that the child can ride while kicking the ground. Another type of balance bike is an electric balance bike equipped with a motor and a battery. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0130150 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] By their very nature, balance bikes are desirably suited to a wide range of users of different body sizes.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a balance bike that can be ridden by a wider range of users. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present disclosure relates to Rubathe vehicle includes front and rear wheels, a head portion that holds the front wheels in a steerable manner, a front frame that extends rearward while inclining downward from the head portion, and a rear frame that extends rearward from the rear end of the front frame at an angle closer to horizontal than the front frame, and is equipped with a main frame that connects the head portion and the rear wheels, a seat support portion that is fixed to a bending portion that is a portion that connects the front frame and the rear frame, and that supports a seat so that it can slide in the vertical direction, a motor that drives at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels, and a battery that supplies power to the motor, the rear frame includes a lower pipe extending in the fore-aft direction and an upper pipe extending in the fore-aft direction above the lower pipe, the rear frame is bent so as to be convex downward at a portion where the front frame and the upper pipe are connected, the rear frame is bent so as to be convex downward at a portion where the front frame and the lower pipe are connected, the upper pipe and the lower pipe are arranged such that the vertical spacing increases toward the front, the height of an upper end of the seat support portion is lower than an upper end of the rear wheel, and the seat support portion allows the seat to slide to a level lower than the upper end of the rear wheel, The battery is stored between the head portion and the seat support portion inside the front frame, and pedals and cranks for transmitting the occupant's pedaling force to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels are omitted. Effect of the Invention

[0008] The balance bike of the present disclosure can expand the range of users who can ride it. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a balance bike according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the balance bike as seen from diagonally rear above; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the balance bike as seen diagonally from the bottom rear. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the balance bike as seen diagonally from the front below. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a side view showing the range of seat height adjustment. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an intermediate portion of the main frame in an exploded state. [Figure 7] 4 is a cross-sectional view of a front end portion of a front frame of the main frame. FIG. [Figure 8] 4 is a cross-sectional view of a rear end portion of the front frame. FIG. [Figure 9]FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the surrounding structure of a step in a balance bike according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the step in a protruding state. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the step in a stored state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] (1) First embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] [Overall structure of balance bike] FIG. 1 is a side view of a balance bike according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIGS. 2 to 4 are perspective views of the balance bike. The balance bike shown in this figure is a kids' bike mainly for children. Unlike a bicycle that runs by pedaling (rotating) with the feet, a balance bike does not have a crank that supports the pedals. Balance bikes are sometimes used for practice before riding a bicycle, that is, for practicing to develop a sense of balance and to learn how to shift weight from side to side. A user riding the balance bike, that is, a rider, kicks the ground backwards while seated on the seat (saddle). As a result, a reaction force from the ground acts on the balance bike as a forward propulsive force, and the balance bike runs forward.

[0012] The balance bike includes a main frame 1, a front wheel 2 and a rear wheel 3, a front fork 4, a handlebar 5, a head tube 6, a seat 7, a seat tube 8, a pair of left and right steps 9, and a motor 10. That is, the balance bike of this embodiment can be self-propelled by the rider's kick as described above, and can also be electrically propelled by the motor 10. The head tube 6 corresponds to the "head portion" in this disclosure. The seat tube 8 corresponds to the "seat support portion" in this disclosure.

[0013] The main frame 1 is a frame that constitutes the main part of the body of the balance bike, and includes a front frame 11, a rear frame 12, and a connecting member 13 (see Figs. 2 to 4) that is interposed between the two frames 11, 12. The front frame 11 extends rearward while inclining downward from the head tube 6, and the rear frame 12 extends rearward from the rear end of the front frame 11 at an angle that is closer to horizontal than the front frame 11. The front frame 11 and the rear frame 12 (more specifically, a lower pipe 122 described later) are joined to each other by welding via the connecting member 13. In other words, the main frame 1 has a shape that is bent to form a shallow V-shape in a side view.

[0014] The main frame 1 is bent so as to be convex downward at the portion where the front frame 11 and the rear frame 12 are connected. In other words, the main frame 1 is bent so that its front-to-rear middle portion is located below an imaginary line connecting the head tube 6 and the center of the rear wheel 3 (an axle 31 described later) in a side view. Hereinafter, the portion where the main frame 1 is bent, that is, the portion where the front frame 11 and the rear frame 12 are connected, will be referred to as a bent portion 15. A more detailed structure of the main frame 1 will be described later.

[0015] The front wheel 2 includes an axle 21, a wheel body 22, and a tire 23. The axle 21 is an axis that functions as the center of rotation of the front wheel 2, and is fixed to the lower end of the front fork 4 (leg portion 42, described in detail below). The wheel body 22 is a rigid part that can rotate around the axle 21, and is attached to the axle 21 via a bearing. The tire 23 is a ring-shaped rubber part that is attached to the outer periphery (rim) of the wheel body 22.

[0016] The front fork 4 is a member that connects the handlebars 5 and the front wheel 2, and includes a stem portion 41 and a pair of left and right leg portions 42. The stem portion 41 is a pipe material that extends from the handlebars 5 toward the front wheel 2, and extends vertically at an inclination so that the upper end is located rearward of the lower end. The middle portion of the stem portion 41 is coaxially inserted into the head tube 6. The pair of leg portions 42 extend downward from the lower end of the stem portion 41 while branching out to the left and right. The lower end of each leg portion 42 is a fixing portion 42a to which both ends of the axle 21 of the front wheel 2 are fixed via fastening members or the like. In other words, the front wheel 2 is detachably attached to the front fork 4 by fastening the axle 21 to the fixing portion 42a of the leg portion 42.

[0017] The handlebar 5 includes a handlebar 51, an accelerator grip 52, and a brake lever 53. The handlebar 51 is a bar extending in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) for steering the front wheel 2, and is fixed to the upper end of the stem portion 41 of the front fork 4 via a bracket 55. When the handlebar 51 is steered in the front-rear direction, the front fork 4 rotates about its axis to change the direction of the front wheel 2, and the traveling direction of the balance bike is changed. The accelerator grip 52 is a grip that is twisted by the rider when the balance bike is driven by electricity, and is attached so as to cover the right side of the handlebar 51. The accelerator grip 52 is attached to the right side of the handlebar 51 in a state that allows it to rotate about an axis extending in the left-right direction so that it can be twisted. The brake lever 53 is a lever that is gripped by the rider when decelerating the balance bike, and is attached to the left side of the handlebar 51.

[0018] The head tube 6 is a cylindrical member capable of receiving the stem portion 41 of the front fork 4, and is fixed to the front end portion of the front frame 11. More specifically, the head tube 6 is fixed to the front frame 11 in a state in which it vertically penetrates the front end portion of the front frame 11. The head tube 6 holds the stem portion 41 while allowing rotation of the stem portion 41 around its axis. In other words, the head tube 6 holds the front wheel 2 via the front fork 4 in a steerable manner.

[0019] The seat 7 includes a seat post 71 and a saddle 72. The seat post 71 is a pipe extending in the vertical direction at an angle such that the upper end is located rearward of the lower end. At least the lower part of the seat post 71 is inserted coaxially into the seat tube 8. The saddle 72 is a part that supports the hips of a rider riding the balance bike, and is detachably fixed to the upper end of the seat post 71.

[0020] The seat post 71 supports a front-rear middle portion of the saddle 72. In other words, a front portion of the saddle 72 extends forward of the seat post 71, and a rear portion of the saddle 72 extends rearward of the seat post 71. A rear end portion of the saddle 72 is located rearward of a rear end portion of the front frame 11.

[0021] The seat tube 8 is a cylindrical member capable of receiving the seat post 71, and is fixed to the rear end of the front frame 11. More specifically, the seat tube 8 is fixed to the front frame 11 in a state in which it vertically penetrates the rear end of the front frame 11. As described above, the rear end of the front frame 11 is a portion that is connected non-parallel to the front end of the rear frame 12, and constitutes the bent portion 15 of the main frame 1 in cooperation with the front end of the rear frame 12. In other words, the seat tube 8 is fixed to the bent portion 15 of the main frame 1. The seat tube 8 may be formed to have the same outside dimensions (diameter and height) as the head tube 6. This allows the vehicle width direction dimension of the front frame 11 to be set uniformly from the front end to the rear end.

[0022] The seat tube 8 holds the seat post 71 axially (vertically) slidably so that the height of the seat 7 can be varied. The height of the upper end of the seat tube 8 is lower than the upper end of the rear wheel 3 (height L1 in FIG. 5 described later). A clamp 82 is attached to the upper end of the seat tube 8. The clamp 82 is a locking device for locking the seat 7 at a desired height, and is switchable between a released state and a locked state. That is, the clamp 82 allows the seat post 71 to slide when in the released state, and clamps the seat post 71 to prohibit the seat post 71 from sliding when in the locked state. By using such a clamp 82, the rider can adjust the height of the saddle 72 of the seat 7 to a desired height.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the height adjustment range of the seat 7. In FIG. 5, the seat 7 at the lower limit height is represented by a solid line, and the seat 7 at the upper limit height is represented by a two-dot chain line. Here, the lower limit height of the seat 7 refers to the height of the upper surface of the saddle 72 when the seat post 71 is slid downward to the maximum, and the upper limit height of the seat 7 refers to the height of the upper surface of the saddle 72 when the seat post 71 is slid upward to the maximum. As shown in this figure, when the seat 7 is lowered to the lower limit height (solid line), the upper surface of the saddle 72 is lower than the height L1 corresponding to the upper end of the rear wheel 3. Also, when the seat 7 is raised to the upper limit height (two-dot chain line), the upper surface of the saddle 72 is higher than the height L1 corresponding to the upper end of the rear wheel 3. In other words, the height of the saddle 72 of the seat 7 can be adjusted within a range from a level higher than the upper end of the rear wheel 3 to a level lower than the upper end of the rear wheel 3.

[0024] The rear wheel 3 includes an axle 31, a wheel body 32, and a tire 33. The axle 31 is an axis that functions as the center of rotation of the rear wheel 3, and is fixed to the rear end of the rear frame 12 (an end plate 123 described below). The wheel body 32 is a rigid part that is rotatable around the axle 31, and is attached to the axle 31 via the motor 10. The tire 33 is a ring-shaped rubber part that is attached to the outer periphery (rim) of the wheel body 32.

[0025] The motor 10 is an electric motor that is driven by receiving a supply of electric power. The motor 10 is a so-called in-wheel motor, and is coaxially attached to the center (hub) of the wheel body 32 so as to directly rotate the rear wheel 3. Although detailed illustration is omitted, the motor 10 incorporates a stator that cannot rotate relative to the axle 31, and a rotor that rotates relative to the stator when current is applied. The rotation of the rotor is transmitted to the wheel body 32 via an output shaft that is coaxial with the wheel body 32, thereby driving the rear wheel 3 to rotate. By using an in-wheel motor as the motor 10, the drive system is simplified and made lighter.

[0026] 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the middle part of the main frame 1 in an exploded state. As shown in this figure, the pair of steps 9 include a base 91 and a step body 92. The base 91 is an attachment part to the main frame 1, and is fixed in an inserted state to an end part (a support part 131 described later) of the connecting member 13 of the main frame 1 in the vehicle width direction. The step body 92 is a part on which the feet of a passenger are placed, and is provided so as to protrude outward in the vehicle width direction from the base 91 inserted into the connecting member 13.

[0027] A brake 35 that applies a braking force to the rear wheel 3 is attached to the rear frame 12. The brake 35 is mechanically connected to a brake lever 53 via a cable C1 that is routed so as to pass through the inside of the front frame 11. When a rider grips the brake lever 53, the operating force applied to the brake lever 53 is transmitted to the brake 35 via the cable C1. As a result, a braking force that restricts the rotation of the rear wheel 3 is applied from the brake 35 to the wheel main body 32.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, a battery 101 and a controller 102 are housed inside the front frame 11. The battery 101 is an electricity storage device that stores power to be supplied to the motor 10. The controller 102 is a control device that controls the rotation of the motor 10. The controller 102 is electrically connected to the motor 10 via a cable C2 arranged to pass through the inside of the front frame 11, and is also electrically connected to the accelerator grip 52 via another cable. When the occupant twists the accelerator grip 52, a signal indicating the amount of twisting operation and the like is input to the controller 102. The controller 102 controls the power supply from the battery 101 to the motor 10 so that the motor 10 is driven to rotate at a desired rotation speed based on the input operation signal.

[0029] [Detailed structure of mainframe] Next, a more detailed structure of the main frame 1 will be described. As described above, the main frame 1 includes the front frame 11 and the rear frame 12 that extend in the front-rear direction at different angles in a side view, and the connecting member 13 provided between the two frames 11, 12. Specifically, the front frame 11 is a metal hollow frame that extends along an inclined center line A1 (FIG. 1) that extends rearward and downward from the head tube 6. The rear frame 12 is a metal pipe frame that combines a plurality of pipe members that extend in the front-rear direction at an angle closer to horizontal than the center line A1 of the front frame 11. As shown in FIG. 6 in particular, the connecting member 13 is a metal square pipe member that extends in the left-right direction, and is joined to the lower rear end of the front frame 11 and the front end of the rear frame 12 (more specifically, a lower pipe 122 described later) so as to connect them to each other. The connecting member 13 is disposed immediately behind the lower end of the seat tube 8 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0030] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the front end of the front frame 11 cut along the axis of the head tube 6, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the rear end of the front frame 11 cut along the axis of the seat tube 8. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and the previous FIGS. 1 to 6, the front frame 11 is a long frame in the front-rear direction that extends linearly along its center line A1. The cross section of the front frame 11 perpendicular to the center line A1 is substantially rectangular. The cross-sectional shape of the front frame 11 is formed so that the vertical dimension is larger than the vehicle width dimension. The front frame 11 includes a frame main body 111, a front lower wall 112, a rear lower wall 113, and a rear wall 114.

[0031] The frame body 111 is a metal frame having an inverted U-shape in cross section. That is, the frame body 111 integrally has an upper wall 151 and a pair of left and right side walls 152. The pair of side walls 152 are plate-like bodies facing each other at a fixed interval in the left-right direction. The upper wall 151 is a plate-like body connecting the upper edges of the pair of side walls 152 to each other. Ridges R1 are formed at the boundaries between the upper wall 151 and each side wall 152. In other words, the front frame 11 is a hollow frame having a pair of left and right ridges R1 extending in the front-rear direction.

[0032] 7, the front lower wall 112 is a metal plate member joined to the frame main body 111 so as to close the lower opening at the front end of the frame main body 111. Specifically, the front lower wall 112 is disposed so as to cover only a region of the opening between a pair of side walls 152 of the frame main body 111 that corresponds to the front end of the frame main body 111, and is joined to the lower end of each side wall 152 by welding.

[0033] 8, the rear lower wall 113 is a metal plate member joined to the frame main body 111 so as to close the lower opening at the rear end of the frame main body 111. Specifically, the rear lower wall 113 is disposed so as to cover only a region of the opening between a pair of side walls 152 of the frame main body 111 that corresponds to the rear end of the frame main body 111, and is joined to the lower end of each side wall 152 by welding.

[0034] 6, the rear wall 114 is a metal plate joined to the frame body 111 so as to close an opening at the rear end of the frame body 111. The rear wall 114 is joined by welding to each of the rear ends of the upper wall 151 and the pair of side walls 152 of the frame body 111. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rear wall 114 has holes formed therein for introducing the above-mentioned cables C1 and C2 into the inside of the frame body 111.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 7, the front frame 11 has through holes h1 and h2 for passing the head tube 6 at a position corresponding to the head tube 6, that is, at the front end. The through hole h1 is a hole that penetrates the front end of the upper wall 151 of the frame main body 111, and the through hole h2 is a hole that penetrates the front lower wall 112. The head tube 6 is inserted into each of the through holes h1 and h2 of the upper wall 151 and the front lower wall 112, and is joined to the peripheral portions of each of the through holes h1 and h2 by welding. In other words, the head tube 6 is joined to the front end of the front frame 11 in a state in which it penetrates both the upper wall 151 and the front lower wall 112. The through holes h1 and h2 correspond to the "front through holes" in this disclosure.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 8, the front frame 11 has through holes h3 and h4 for passing the seat tube 8 at a position corresponding to the seat tube 8, that is, at the rear end. The through hole h3 is a hole that penetrates the rear end of the upper wall 151 of the frame main body 111, and the through hole h4 is a hole that penetrates the rear lower wall 113. The seat tube 8 is inserted into each of the through holes h3 and h4 of the upper wall 151 and the rear lower wall 113, and is joined to the peripheral portions of each of the through holes h3 and h4 by welding. In other words, the seat tube 8 is joined to the rear end of the front frame 11 in a state in which it penetrates both the upper wall 151 and the rear lower wall 113. The through holes h3 and h4 correspond to the "rear through holes" in this disclosure.

[0037] A front cover 115 and a lower cover 116 (FIG. 4) are attached to the front frame 11. The front cover 115 is a resin cover attached to the front frame 11 so as to close the front end opening of the front frame 11. The lower cover 116 is a resin cover attached to the front frame 11 so as to close the lower opening of the front frame 11. In detail, the lower cover 116 is attached to the front frame 11 so as to cover the remaining area of ​​the lower opening of the front frame 11 where the front lower wall 112 and the rear lower wall 113 do not exist, that is, most of the lower opening including the center part in the front-rear direction. The front cover 115 and the lower cover 116 are detachably attached to the front frame 11 via screws or the like. An opening formed in the lower surface of the front frame 11 when the lower cover 116 is removed functions as an opening for inserting and removing the battery 101.

[0038] The rear frame 12 includes a pair of left and right upper pipes 121, a pair of left and right lower pipes 122, and a pair of left and right end plates 123. The pair of end plates 123 are fixed portions to which both ends of the axle 31 of the rear wheel 3 are fixed via fastening members or the like. In other words, the rear wheel 3 is detachably attached to the rear frame 12 by fastening the axle 31 to the end plates 123. The pair of upper pipes 121 are pipe members extending forward from the upper portions of the end plates 123. The pair of lower pipes 122 are pipe members extending forward from the lower portions of the end plates 123. The lower pipes 122 correspond to the "extension members" in this disclosure.

[0039] The front end of each upper pipe 121 is joined to the rear end of the frame main body 111 of the front frame 11 by welding. More specifically, the front end of the upper pipe 121 is joined to the rear end of the frame main body 111 at a position corresponding to the left and right ridge lines R1 by butt welding. The front end of the upper pipe 121 passes through both the left and right sides of the seat tube 8 and extends slightly forward of the seat tube 8. In other words, the front end of the upper pipe 121 is joined to the frame main body 111 (front frame 11) near the left and right sides of the seat tube 8. A gusset 125 is attached between the front end of each upper pipe 121 and the top wall 151 of the frame main body 111. Each upper pipe 121 is welded to the frame main body 111 together with the gusset 125.

[0040] The pair of upper pipes 121 are disposed at a distance greater than the vehicle width dimension of the front parts of the rear wheel 3. In this embodiment, since the in-wheel motor 10 is attached to the rear wheel 3, the rear ends of the pair of upper pipes 121 are disposed at a distance greater than the vehicle width dimension of the in-wheel motor 10.

[0041] Similarly, the pair of lower pipes 122 are disposed at a distance greater than the vehicle width dimension of the front parts of the rear wheels 3. In addition, the rear ends of the pair of lower pipes 122 are disposed at a distance greater than the vehicle width dimension of the in-wheel motor 10.

[0042] A front end portion of each lower pipe 122 is joined to the rear end portion of the front frame 11 via a connecting member 13. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 6, the connecting member 13 is joined to a lower part of the rear end of the front frame 11, and a front end portion of each lower pipe 122 is joined to the connecting member 13, thereby joining each lower pipe 122 and the front frame 11 to each other.

[0043] The upper pipe 121 and the lower pipe 122 are disposed so as to extend in the front-rear direction along center lines A2 and A3 shown in FIG. 1 in a side view. The center lines A2 and A3 of the upper pipe 121 and the lower pipe 122 are both closer to horizontal than the inclined center line A1 of the front frame 11. Specifically, the center line A2 of the upper pipe 121 extends approximately parallel to the horizontal plane. The center line A3 of the lower pipe 122 is slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, but the inclination angle is smaller than that of the center line A1 of the front frame 11. In other words, the upper pipe 121 and the lower pipe 122 are disposed so as to extend in the front-rear direction at an angle closer to horizontal than the front frame 11.

[0044] As described above, the center line A2 of the upper pipe 121 is non-parallel to the substantially horizontal center line A3 of the lower pipe 122 and is inclined slightly downward toward the rear. In other words, the upper pipe 121 and the lower pipe 122 are disposed such that the vertical distance between them increases toward the front.

[0045] The end plate 123 is a plate member extending forward and downward from the axle 31 of the rear wheel 3. The rear ends of the upper pipe 121 and the lower pipe 122 are joined to the upper and lower parts of this end plate 123. That is, the rear end of the upper pipe 121 is joined to the upper part of the end plate 123 at substantially the same height as the axle 31. The rear end of the lower pipe 122 is joined to the lower part of the end plate 123 at a height lower than the axle 31. In this way, the upper pipe 121 and the lower pipe 122 are joined to the end plate 123 at different height positions in a non-parallel state.

[0046] The connecting member 13 is joined to the lower rear end of the front frame 11 in a position where the four corners of the square pipe face up and down and front and rear. As shown in FIG. 6, a recess W for receiving the front corners 132 of the connecting member 13 is formed in the lower rear end of the front frame 11. To form this recess W, a pair of side walls 152 in the front frame 11 (frame main body 111) have notches 152a cut into a V-shape at the lower rear end. Then, the rear lower wall 113 and the rear wall 114 are joined to the rear end of the frame main body 111 excluding the notches 152a, thereby forming the recess W open to the rear in the front frame 11. The connecting member 13 is welded to the front frame 11 with its front corners 132 inserted into the recess W. Specifically, the connecting member 13 inserted into the recess W abuts against the notches 152a of each side wall 152, the upper edge of the rear lower wall 113, and the lower edge of the rear wall 114, respectively. Then, the connecting member 13 is joined to the lower rear end of the front frame 11 by welding each of the contact portions.

[0047] A pair of left and right receiving holes h10 are formed in the connecting member 13. The receiving holes h10 are holes that penetrate two locations, left and right, of a rear corner 133 of the connecting member 13 and are open to the rear. Front end portions of a pair of lower pipes 122 of the rear frame 12 are inserted into each receiving hole h10. In this inserted state, the front end portions of the lower pipes 122 are welded to the periphery of each receiving hole h10, thereby joining the connecting member 13 and the lower pipes 122 to each other.

[0048] The connecting member 13 has support parts 131 at both left and right ends thereof that support a pair of steps 9. Each support part 131 is a part that receives each base part 91 of the pair of steps 9, and each support part 131 has an opening Q that is open outward in the vehicle width direction. Each step 9 is fixed to the connecting member 13 by inserting its base part 91 into each support part 131 through the opening Q. In detail, with the base part 91 inserted into the support part 131, a bolt 95 that fastens the base part 91 and the support part 131 is fastened, and the step 9 is fixed to the connecting member 13 via the bolt 95.

[0049] As described above, the connecting member 13 supports the pair of steps 9 at the support portions 131 on both the left and right sides, and is interposed between the front frame 11 and the lower pipe 122 of the rear frame 12 to connect them by welding. In other words, the connecting member 13 is a component that has both the function of supporting the steps 9 and the function of connecting the lower pipe 122 and the front frame 11.

[0050] [Effects] As described above, the balance bike of this embodiment includes a main frame 1 including an inclined front frame 11 and a rear frame 12 that is closer to horizontal than the inclined front frame 11. The seat tube 8 that supports the seat 7 so that it can slide up and down is fixed to the bent portion 15, which is a portion where the front frame 11 and the rear frame 12 of the main frame 1 are connected. With this configuration, the fixed position of the seat tube 8 can be lowered compared to the case where the main frame 1 is a frame that extends linearly at the same inclination angle. For example, assume a linear main frame different from the main frame 1 of this embodiment, that is, a main frame that extends from the head tube 6 toward the axle 31 of the rear wheel 3 at a constant inclination angle. In the case of such a linear main frame, the height of the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction is necessarily higher than the height of the bent portion 15 in the main frame 1 of this embodiment. In other words, in this embodiment, by using a main frame 1 having a bent portion 15 that is convex downward, the height of the bent portion 15 can be relatively lowered. As a result, the height of the seat tube 8 fixed to the bending portion 15 is lowered, so that the lower limit height of the seat 7 slidably supported on the seat tube 8 (position indicated by solid lines in FIG. 5) can be kept low. This means that the lower limit height of the seat 7 can be lowered even if the outer diameter of the wheels (front wheel 2 and rear wheel 3) is relatively large. Therefore, it is possible to realize a balance bike that can be ridden by users of a wide range of physiques (ages) while having a common wheel diameter.

[0051] For example, in a balance bike with a straight main frame, the seat cannot be lowered sufficiently, so it is necessary to line up multiple types of products with different wheel outer diameters according to the physique or age of the user. In contrast, in this embodiment, the lower limit height of the seat 7 is kept low, so the range of users who can ride the bike can be expanded while keeping the wheel diameter common. For example, in the balance bike of this embodiment, a relatively large wheel diameter (e.g., 16 inches) that is considered to be suitable for older children (e.g., 5-8 year olds) can also be applied to younger children (e.g., 3-5 year olds). That is, even if the wheel diameter is relatively large, if the seat 7 is lowered to the lower limit height, a seat height suitable for younger children with a small crotch dimension (the distance from the sole of the foot to the crotch) can be realized. Also, if the seat 7 is raised to the upper limit height, a seat height suitable for older children with a large crotch dimension can be realized. In this way, in this embodiment, a balance bike that can be ridden by users of a wide range of physiques (ages) while having a common wheel diameter can be realized, so there is no need to set different wheel diameters according to differences in physique, and the variety of products can be reduced.

[0052] In particular, in this embodiment, when the seat 7 is slid to the lowest height, the upper surface of the saddle 72 of the seat 7 becomes lower than the height L1 corresponding to the upper end of the rear wheel 3 (see FIG. 5). Therefore, even if the wheel diameter is relatively large, the seat 7 can be lowered to a sufficiently low level suitable for young children, and the range of users who can ride the bicycle can be further expanded.

[0053] Here, even if the main frame is linear, if the fixed position of the seat tube 8 is brought sufficiently close to the rear wheel 3, it is possible to reduce the height of the seat 7 to some extent. However, bringing the seat tube 8 closer to the rear wheel 3 increases the distance in the front-rear direction from the saddle 72 to the handlebars 5. This means that it becomes difficult for a small-sized child user to access the handlebars 5 while seated on the saddle 72. Thus, if the main frame is linear, it is difficult to simultaneously reduce the lower limit height of the seat 7 and ensure operability of the handlebars 5.

[0054] In contrast, in this embodiment, the main frame 1 having the downwardly convex bent portion 15 is used, so the lower limit height of the seat 7 can be kept low without bringing the seat tube 8 too close to the rear wheel 3. That is, in this embodiment, the seat tube 8 can be fixed at a position relatively far forward from the rear wheel 3, so the front-to-rear distance from the saddle 72 to the handlebars 5 can be shortened, and good operability can be provided even for children with small physiques. In other words, in this embodiment, it is possible to achieve both a low lower limit height of the seat 7 and operability of the handlebars 5.

[0055] Moreover, in this embodiment, the seat tube 8 is inclined so that its upper end is located rearward relative to its lower end. Therefore, when the seat 7 slides upward, the saddle 72 moves rearward compared to before the slide, and the distance in the front-rear direction from the saddle 72 to the handlebars 5 increases. This means that good operability can be provided even to users with large children. That is, in this embodiment, the distance from the saddle 72 to the handlebars 5 increases due to the upward sliding of the seat 7, so that even if a large child rides, the posture when operating the handlebars is unlikely to become cramped. In this way, in this embodiment, the front-rear position of the saddle 72 is naturally adjusted according to the up-down sliding of the seat 7, so that good operability can be provided to users with a wide range of physiques.

[0056] As described above, in this embodiment in which the main frame 1 is bent, the distance from the seat tube 8 to the rear wheel 3 in the front-rear direction is easily ensured, and therefore the distance from the rear end of the saddle 72 to the rear wheel 3 is also easily ensured. As a result, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent interference between the saddle 72 and the rear wheel 3 while allowing the seat 7 to be lowered to a sufficiently low lower limit position (position shown by a solid line in FIG. 5). In particular, in this embodiment, the seat tube 8 is inclined so that the saddle 72 moves forward in response to the downward sliding of the seat 7, so that the above-mentioned interference between the saddle 72 and the rear wheel 3 is more unlikely to occur. Also, in this embodiment, the head tube 6 and the seat tube 8 are attached to the front frame 11 in a penetrating state. With this configuration, the rigidity of the front frame 11 can be increased, and deformation of the front frame 11 can be suppressed.

[0057] More specifically, in this embodiment, the head tube 6 is inserted into through-holes h1, h2 at the front end of the front frame 11, and the head tube 6 and the front frame 11 are joined by welding, while the seat tube 8 is inserted into through-holes h3, h4 at the rear end of the front frame 11, and the seat tube 8 and the front frame 11 are joined by welding. With this configuration, both the head tube 6 and the seat tube 8 can be fixed to the front frame 11 by the common method of inserting them into the through-holes of the front frame 11 and joining them, and the joining strength of both tubes 6, 8 can be increased while simplifying the structure.

[0058] In addition, in this embodiment, since the seat tube 8 is supported by the front frame 11 instead of the rear frame 12, there is no need to construct a structure for supporting the seat tube 8 in the rear frame 12, improving the design freedom of the rear frame 12. Furthermore, since the head tube 6 and the seat tube 8, which have similar shapes, are supported at the front end and rear end of the front frame 11, respectively, there is no need to change the cross-sectional shape of the front frame 11 from the front end to the rear end of the front frame 11. This makes it possible to have the front frame 11 support the head tube 6 and the seat tube 8, respectively, while avoiding a complex shape of the front frame 11.

[0059] In this embodiment, the front frame 11 and the rear frame 12 are joined to each other via the connecting member 13. In particular, the rear frame 12 and the connecting member 13 are joined by welding with the front end of the lower pipe 122 of the rear frame 12 inserted into the receiving hole h10 of the connecting member 13. With this configuration, the lower pipe 122 and the connecting member 13 can be joined more firmly than when the front end of the lower pipe 122 is joined to a connecting member that does not have a hole corresponding to the receiving hole h10 (for example, when the front end of the lower pipe is joined to the surface of the connecting member by adhesive or the like), and the joining strength between the front frame 11 and the rear frame 12 via the connecting member 13 can be increased. This makes it possible to sufficiently ensure the rigidity of the main frame 1 and thus the vehicle body rigidity of the balance bike.

[0060] In particular, the balance bike of this embodiment is an electric bike, and relatively heavy parts such as the battery 101 are placed inside the front frame 11. In contrast, according to this embodiment, in which the front frame 11 and the rear frame 12 are firmly joined via the connecting member 13, it is possible to impart sufficient rigidity to the main frame 1 to compensate for the increase in weight that accompanies the addition of the battery 101.

[0061] In this embodiment, a pair of steps 9 are supported by support portions 131 at both left and right ends of the connecting member 13. With this configuration, the connecting member 13 that connects the front frame 11 and the rear frame 12 can also be used as a support member that supports the steps 9. This makes it possible to increase the support rigidity of the steps 9 while reducing the number of parts.

[0062] Moreover, in this embodiment, the battery 101 is disposed between the head tube 6 and the seat tube 8 inside the front frame 11. With this configuration, the battery 101 can be disposed efficiently inside the front frame 11 while preventing interference between the battery 101 and other components.

[0063] In this embodiment, the front end of the upper pipe 121 extends forward of the seat tube 8 and is joined to the front frame 11. With this configuration, the front frame 11 in the vicinity of the seat tube 8 can be reinforced by the upper pipe 121, and the supporting rigidity of the seat tube 8 can be increased.

[0064] In this embodiment, the upper pipes 121 are disposed on both the left and right sides (outside in the vehicle width direction) of the seat tube 8. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the rear end of the seat tube 8 and the front frame 11 that supports it from colliding with an obstacle.

[0065] In this embodiment, the upper pipe 121 and the lower pipe 122 are arranged non-parallel to each other so that the vertical distance between them increases toward the front. This configuration can increase the rigidity of the upper pipe 121 and the lower pipe 122 against compressive and tensile forces.

[0066] In this embodiment, the seat tube 8 extending in the up-down direction and the connecting member 13 extending in the left-right direction are each joined to the rear end of the front frame 11. With this configuration, a reinforcing member extending in the up-down and left-right directions and consisting of the seat tube 8 and the connecting member 13 can be constructed at the rear end of the front frame 11, effectively suppressing deformation of the rear end of the front frame 11 (in other words, the bent portion 15 of the main frame 1). In addition, because the connecting member 13 is disposed rearward of the seat tube 8, the reinforcing member can be constructed while avoiding interference between the two.

[0067] In this embodiment, the rear end of the front frame 11 and the front end of the lower pipe 122 face each other in the front-rear direction with the connecting member 13 in between. With this configuration, compressive and tensile forces input to the lower pipe 122 can be efficiently transmitted to the front frame 11 when the balance bike is accelerating or decelerating.

[0068] (2) Second embodiment In the first embodiment described above, the step 9 is not provided with a function for folding and storing, but for users who mainly want to ride the balance bike by themselves, it may be convenient for the step to have a storing function. This is because the step does not get in the way when kicking the ground with the feet to ride by themselves. Therefore, an example in which the step has a storing function will be described as the second embodiment. Note that the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described here, and the remaining structure is the same as the first embodiment.

[0069] Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the surrounding structure of a step 209 in a balance bike according to the second embodiment, and Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the attached state of the step 209. As shown in this figure, the step 209 comprises a base 211 and a step main body 212. The base 211 is inserted and fixed into the end of a connecting member 213 in the vehicle width direction (left and right direction). The step main body 212 is a part on which the rider's feet are placed, and is provided so as to protrude outward in the vehicle width direction from the base 211 inserted into the end of the connecting member 213.

[0070] The connecting member 213 is a member that connects the front frame 11 and the lower pipe 122 of the rear frame 12, similar to the connecting member 13 of the first embodiment described above (see Figs. 2 to 4 and 6). The connecting member 213 has a shape based on a square pipe extending in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction), and has support parts 231 at both left and right ends that support the base part 211 of the step 209. Each support part 231 is composed of a pair of opposing walls 231a that extend two opposing walls of the connecting member 213 outward in the vehicle width direction. In other words, the connecting member 213 has a notch part X at both left and right ends, where the wall between the pair of opposing walls 231a is notched.

[0071] A bolt 240 is fixed to the support portion 231 across the pair of opposing walls 231a. A base portion 211 of the step 209 is supported by the support portion 231 via the bolt 240. Specifically, a through hole 211a through which the bolt 240 is inserted is formed in the base portion 211. The step 209 is supported by the support portion 231 in a state in which it can rotate about the shaft portion of the bolt 240 inserted into the through hole 211a. This allows the step 209 to be displaced between a protruding state in which it is disposed coaxially with the connecting member 213 so as to protrude outward in the vehicle width direction from the connecting member 213, and a stored state in which it is bent relative to the connecting member 213.

[0072] Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the step 209 in a stored state. As shown in this figure, the step 209 transitions from the protruding state shown in Fig. 10 to the stored state shown in Fig. 11 by rotating rearward (specifically, rearward and upward) around the shaft of the bolt 240. At this time, the base 211 of the step 209 can rotate rearward without hindrance through the notch X on the rear side of the connecting member 213. In other words, since the notch X is provided between the pair of opposing walls 231a of the support part 231, it is possible to prevent the base 211 rotating rearward from interfering with the end of the connecting member 213.

[0073] In the stored state shown in FIG. 11, the step 209 is disposed so that its axis is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the vehicle width direction. In other words, when the step 209 transitions to the stored state, the step 209 is bent backward relative to the connecting member 213. This reduces the amount of protrusion of the step 209 in the vehicle width direction relative to the connecting member 213, so that the step 209 can be prevented from interfering with the legs of a rider who rides the balance bike by himself. For example, when riding the balance bike by himself, the rider, seated on the saddle 72, kicks the ground near the step 209 backward with his / her foot, thereby moving the balance bike forward. At this time, if the step 209 is in the stored state, the step 209 is less likely to interfere with the legs of the rider. That is, in the second embodiment, the step 209 can be displaced between the protruding state and the stored state, so that the riding performance of the balance bike when riding by itself can be improved.

[0074] (3) Variations In each of the above embodiments, the main frame 1 is constructed by joining the front frame 11 and the rear frame 12 by welding, but the main frame 1 may also be constructed by connecting the front frame 11 and the rear frame 12 with fastening members such as bolts.

[0075] In each of the above embodiments, the front end of the lower pipe 122 of the rear frame 12 is joined to the rear end of the front frame 11 via the connecting member 13, but the front end of the lower pipe 122 may be directly joined to the rear end of the front frame 11. In other words, the connecting member 13 is not essential and may be omitted.

[0076] In each of the above embodiments, the main frame 1 is constructed by joining the separate front frame 11 and rear frame 12, but the main frame 1 may have the front frame and the rear frame as an integral unit. In other words, the main frame may be a frame having a downwardly convex bent portion midway in the front-to-rear direction, and may be composed of a single frame part or a joined body of multiple frame parts.

[0077] In the above embodiments, in order to attach each step 9 (209) to both ends of the connecting member 13 (213) made of a square pipe material, the base 91 (211) of each step 9 (209) is inserted into the openings at both ends of the connecting member 13 (213), but it is also possible to insert the connecting member into the step in the opposite manner. That is, the steps may be attached to the connecting member by providing convex portions on both ends of the connecting member and concave portions on the end of each step, and inserting the convex portions of the connecting member into the concave portions of the steps.

[0078] In each of the above-described embodiments, the step 9 (209) is supported by the support parts 131 (231) at both the left and right ends of the connecting member 13 (213), respectively, but the step 9 (209) only needs to be attached to both the left and right sides of the main frame 1, and does not necessarily have to be attached to the connecting member 13 (213). For example, support parts capable of supporting the step may be provided on the left and right side surfaces of the main frame, respectively, and the step may be supported by each support part.

[0079] In the second embodiment, the base 211 of the step 209 is rotatably supported by the support portion 231 of the connecting member 213 so that the step 209 can be displaced between a protruding state protruding outward in the vehicle width direction and a stored state bent backward, but the method of storing the step 209 is not limited to this. For example, a step that is extendable and contractible in the vehicle width direction may be attached to the main frame. In this case, the step is in the protruding state by advancing outward in the vehicle width direction and in the stored state by retreating inward in the vehicle width direction.

[0080] In each of the above embodiments, only the motor 10 that drives the rear wheels 3 is provided as the drive source for electric traveling, but the drive source may be one that drives at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels. In other words, the drive source may be a motor that drives only the front wheels, or a motor that drives both the front wheels and the rear wheels.

[0081] In each of the above-described embodiments, the motor 10 consisting of an in-wheel motor attached coaxially to the wheel is provided as the driving source for electric driving, but the driving source does not have to be an in-wheel motor. For example, a motor interlocked with the axle via a gear or the like may be attached non-coaxially to the wheel.

[0083] In each of the above embodiments, a balance bike having a pair of steps 9 (209) that can be stored (displaced between a protruding state and a stored state) has been exemplified, but the steps do not have to be retractable. Furthermore, the steps are not essential and may be omitted.

[0084] On the other hand, if the balance bike is equipped with retractable steps, the main frame of the balance bike does not have to be a bent frame as shown in the above embodiments, but may be a conventional straight frame.

[0085] (4) Summary The above-described embodiments and their modifications can be summarized as follows.

[0086] A balance bike includes front and rear wheels, a head portion that holds the front wheels in a steerable manner, a front frame that extends rearward while inclining downward from the head portion, and a rear frame that extends rearward from the rear end of the front frame at an angle closer to horizontal than the front frame.The balance bike is equipped with a main frame that connects the head portion and the rear wheels, and a seat support portion that is fixed to a bent portion that connects the front frame and the rear frame and supports the seat so that it can slide up and down.

[0087] In this embodiment, the seat support part that slidably supports the seat is fixed to the bent part where the front frame and rear frame of the main frame are connected, so the fixed position of the seat support part can be lowered compared to a case where the main frame is a frame that extends linearly at the same inclination angle. This makes it possible to reduce the lower limit height of the seat while increasing the outer diameter of the wheels (front and rear wheels), and realize a balance bike that can be ridden by users of a wide range of physiques.

[0088] For example, if the seat is lowered to the lowest height, younger children with smaller inseams (the distance from the sole of the foot to the crotch) can easily ride the balance bike. Conversely, if the seat is raised to the highest height, older children with larger inseams can easily ride the balance bike. In this way, the seat height can be appropriately adjusted according to the user's physique (age), so the range of users can be sufficiently expanded.

[0089] In addition, in this embodiment, where a bent main frame is used, the height of the seat support part can be kept low, unlike when the main frame is straight, even if the seat support part is somewhat far forward from the rear wheel. In other words, in this embodiment, the fixed position of the seat support part can be set as low as possible and far forward from the rear wheel. The seat support part being far forward from the rear wheel means that the distance from the seat to the handlebars is shortened. This makes it easier to access the handlebars while seated on the seat, improving the operability of the balance bike.

[0090] Preferably, the head portion is joined to the front frame while being inserted into a front through hole formed in the front part of the front frame, and the seat support portion is joined to the front frame while being inserted into a rear through hole formed in the rear part of the front frame.

[0091] In this aspect, both the head portion and the seat support portion can be fixed to the front frame using a common method of inserting them into the through holes in the front frame and joining them, thereby simplifying the structure while increasing the joining strength of the head portion and the seat support portion.

[0092] Preferably, the seat support portion allows the seat to slide to a level lower than the upper ends of the rear wheels.

[0093] In this embodiment, even if the wheel diameter is relatively large, the seat can be lowered to a sufficiently low level suitable for young children, thereby making it possible to accommodate a wider age range of users.

[0094] Preferably, the rear frame has an extension member that is separate from the front frame and extends in the front-rear direction. The main frame includes a connecting member that connects a rear end of the front frame to a front end of the extension member. The connecting member and the extension member are connected to each other with a front end of the extension member inserted into a hole provided in the connecting member.

[0095] In this embodiment, the extension material of the rear frame and the connecting member are firmly joined, thereby increasing the joint strength between the front frame and the rear frame via the connecting member, thereby ensuring sufficient rigidity of the main frame and, ultimately, the body rigidity of the balance bike.

[0096] Preferably, the balance bike further includes a pair of left and right steps on which a rider places his or her feet. The connecting member has a pair of support portions at both left and right ends thereof for supporting the steps.

[0097] In this embodiment, the connecting member that connects the front frame and the rear frame can also be used as a support member that supports the step, thereby making it possible to increase the support rigidity of the step while reducing the number of parts.

[0098] Preferably, the step is displaceable between a protruding state in which the step protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the connecting member and a stored state in which the protruding amount in the vehicle width direction is smaller than that in the protruding state. Specifically, the stored state may be a state in which the step is bent with respect to the protruding state.

[0099] This embodiment can improve the riding performance when the rider rides the balance bike by himself / herself. That is, when riding the balance bike by himself / herself, the rider sits on the seat and kicks the ground near the step backward with his / her foot, thereby moving the balance bike forward. If the step is displaced from the extended state to the stored state during such riding, it is possible to prevent the rider's legs from interfering with the step. In other words, the rider does not need to spread both legs widely to avoid interference with the step, and can kick the ground near the center of the vehicle width with his / her foot. In this way, the rider can kick the ground in a natural posture, and can ride the balance bike smoothly by himself / herself.

[0100] Furthermore, the step being displaceable between the extended state and the stored state leads to an expansion of the range of users who can ride the vehicle.

[0101] For example, a user with a small build and small inseam (short legs) tends to kick the ground near the center of the vehicle width with their feet extended in a straight line from the seat (saddle) when riding a balance bike. In such a case, if the footrests are in the retracted state, the footrests are less likely to interfere with the legs, making it easier to kick the ground, and improving the riding performance of the balance bike when kicking.

[0102] On the other hand, users with a large build and large inseams (long legs) tend to kick the ground away from the center of the bike width with their legs slightly apart when riding a balance bike. Therefore, even if the footrests are in a protruding state, they are unlikely to interfere with the legs. On the contrary, if the footrests are in a protruding state, the user can place their feet on the footrests while riding, which reduces fatigue while riding.

[0103] In this manner, in the present embodiment in which the step is retractable, convenience can be provided to users of different physiques, thereby expanding the range of users who can ride the vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0104] 1: Mainframe 2: Front wheel 3: Rear wheel 6: Head tube (head section) 7: Sheet 8: Seat tube (seat support part) 9: Step 11: Previous frame 12: Rear frame 13: Connecting member 15: Bent part 122: Lower pipe (extension material) 131: Support part 209: Step 213: Connecting member 231: Support part h1, h2: Through hole (front through hole) h3,h4: Through hole (rear through hole) h10: Receiving hole (hole)

Claims

1. Front and rear wheels; A head portion that holds the front wheel so as to be steerable; a main frame including a front frame extending rearward from the head portion while inclining downward, and a rear frame extending rearward from a rear end of the front frame at an angle closer to horizontal than the front frame, connecting the head portion and the rear wheel; a seat support portion that is fixed to a bending portion that is a portion where the front frame and the rear frame are connected, and that supports a seat so that the seat can slide in the up and down direction; a motor that drives at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels; a battery for supplying power to the motor; the rear frame includes a lower pipe extending in a front-rear direction and an upper pipe extending in the front-rear direction above the lower pipe, The portion where the front frame and the upper pipe are connected is bent so as to be convex downward, The portion where the front frame and the lower pipe are connected is bent so as to be convex downward, The upper pipe and the lower pipe are disposed such that the vertical distance therebetween increases toward the front, The height of the upper end of the seat support portion is lower than the upper end of the rear wheel. the seat support portion allows the seat to slide to a level lower than the upper ends of the rear wheels; the battery is housed inside the front frame between the head portion and the seat support portion, A motorcycle in which pedals and cranks for transmitting a rider's pedaling force to at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel are omitted.

2. The motorcycle according to claim 1, The motorcycle further includes a gusset between the front end portion of the upper pipe and an upper wall of the front frame, the gusset joining the two together.

3. In the motorcycle according to claim 1, A front end portion of the upper pipe extends forward of the seat support portion and is joined to the front frame.

4. In the motorcycle according to claim 1, The vehicle further includes a pair of left and right steps on which the occupant's feet are placed, the main frame includes a connecting member joined to a rear end portion of the front frame, The connecting member has a pair of left and right support portions at both left and right ends for supporting the step, A front end portion of the lower pipe is joined to the connecting member.

5. Front and rear wheels, A head portion that holds the front wheel so as to be steerable; a main frame including a front frame extending rearward from the head portion while inclining downward, and a rear frame extending rearward from a rear end of the front frame at an angle closer to horizontal than the front frame, connecting the head portion and the rear wheel; a seat support portion that is fixed to a bending portion that is a portion where the front frame and the rear frame are connected, and that supports a seat so that the seat can slide in the up and down direction; a motor that drives at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels; a battery for supplying power to the motor; the rear frame includes a lower pipe extending in a front-rear direction and an upper pipe extending in the front-rear direction above the lower pipe, the main frame further includes a pipe-shaped connecting member that is connected to a rear end of the front frame and a front end of the lower pipe and extends in the left-right direction, A front end portion of the upper pipe extends forward of the seat support portion and is joined to the front frame, the connecting member and the front end of the lower pipe are joined to each other in a state in which the front end of the lower pipe is inserted into a hole provided in the connecting member, The upper pipe and the lower pipe are disposed such that the vertical distance therebetween increases toward the front, the seat support portion allows the seat to slide to a level lower than the upper ends of the rear wheels; the battery is housed inside the front frame between the head portion and the seat support portion, A motorcycle in which pedals and cranks for transmitting a rider's pedaling force to at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel are omitted.

6. A motorcycle according to claim 5, The vehicle further includes a pair of left and right steps on which the occupant's feet are placed, The connecting member has a pair of left and right support parts at both left and right ends for supporting the step.

7. Front and rear wheels, A head portion that holds the front wheel so as to be steerable; a main frame including a front frame extending rearward from the head portion while inclining downward, and a rear frame extending rearward from a rear end of the front frame at an angle closer to horizontal than the front frame, connecting the head portion and the rear wheel; a seat support portion that is fixed to a bending portion that is a portion where the front frame and the rear frame are connected, and that supports a seat so that the seat can slide in the up and down direction; the rear frame includes a lower pipe extending in a front-rear direction and an upper pipe extending in the front-rear direction above the lower pipe, The portion where the front frame and the upper pipe are connected is bent so as to be convex downward, The portion where the front frame and the lower pipe are connected is bent so as to be convex downward, The upper pipe and the lower pipe are disposed such that the vertical distance therebetween increases toward the front, The height of the upper end of the seat support portion is lower than the upper end of the rear wheel. the seat support portion allows the seat to slide to a level lower than the upper ends of the rear wheels; A motorcycle in which pedals and cranks for transmitting a rider's pedaling force to at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel are omitted.

Images