Saddle-riding vehicles

Abstract

To provide a saddle riding vehicle capable of facilitating the work of storing an object to be stored in a storage space and the work of retrieving the object from the storage space.SOLUTION: A saddle riding vehicle includes a storage space where an object to be stored is stored, a seat which is disposed behind the storage space in a fore-and-aft direction and on which a rider straddles and is seated, a hinge shaft that is disposed above and ahead of the front end of the seat and extends in a left-and-right direction, and a lid body capable of turning with the hinge shaft as a center between an open position where the lid body opens the storage space upward and a closed position where the lid body closes the storage space from above.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0004] ,

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[0001] The present disclosure relates to a saddle-riding vehicle having a storage space for storing contents.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a saddle-riding vehicle in which a storage space for storing contents is formed. For example, FIG. 2 of Patent Document 1 discloses a saddle-riding vehicle provided with a battery case capable of storing and removing a battery pack as a content. The opening of this battery case is covered by a case cover that is rotatable between a closed position and an open position about an axis at the rear of the case cover. Also, a seat is disposed above the case cover. In order to remove the battery pack, it is necessary to remove the seat, and the workability is low.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is a demand for a saddle-riding vehicle that can facilitate the storage and removal operations of contents such as a battery pack.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a saddle-riding vehicle that can facilitate the storage and removal operations of contents.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A saddle vehicle according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises: a storage space for storing contents; a seat on which a driver straddles and sits, positioned rearward from the storage space in the front-rear direction; a hinge shaft positioned above and forward from the front end of the seat and extending in the left-right direction; and a lid that is rotatable about the hinge shaft between an open position that opens the storage space upward and a closed position that covers the storage space from above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a saddle vehicle that facilitates the loading and unloading of contents. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a side view of a motorcycle according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a top view of the motorcycle shown. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the battery case when the outer cover is in the closed position. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the battery case when the outer cover is in the open position. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the upper part of the battery case. [Figure 6] Figure 1 is a top view of the inner lid. [Figure 7] This is a side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the inner lid, illustrating the operation to release the pressure on the inner lid shown in Figure 1. [Figure 8] This is a side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the inner lid, illustrating the opening operation of the inner lid shown in Figure 1. [Figure 9] This is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the retainer in the pressed state of a motorcycle according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] This is a side cross-sectional view of the retainer in the second embodiment. [Figure 11] This diagram illustrates the second embodiment, showing the inner lid in a slightly open state. [Figure 12]It is a side cross-sectional view that enlarges the vicinity of the upper part of the battery case of the motorcycle according to the third embodiment. [Figure 13] It is a top view of the inner lid in the third embodiment. [Figure 14] It is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of the pressing mechanism in the third embodiment. [Figure 15] It is a side cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the retainer in the pressed state in the third embodiment. [Figure 16] It is a side cross-sectional view that enlarges the vicinity of the upper part of the battery case of the motorcycle according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 17] It is a perspective view that enlarges and shows a part of the accommodation space in the fourth embodiment.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] <First Embodiment> (Overall Configuration) FIG. 1 is a side view of a motorcycle 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a top view of the motorcycle 1 shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, elements such as an outer lid 30, a casing 70, and an inner lid 51, which will be described later, are shown omitted. As shown in FIG. 1, the motorcycle 1 is an example of a saddle-riding vehicle on which a driver straddles. The directions in the following description are based on the direction seen from the driver of the motorcycle 1. The front-rear direction corresponds to the vehicle length direction, and the left-right direction corresponds to the vehicle width direction.

[0011] The motorcycle 1 includes a front wheel 2, a rear wheel 3, a vehicle body frame 4, a front suspension 5 that connects the front wheel 2 to the front part of the vehicle body frame 4, and a rear suspension (not shown) that connects the rear wheel 3 to the rear part of the vehicle body frame 4. In the present embodiment, the front wheel 2 is a driven wheel, and the rear wheel 3 is a driving wheel. The front suspension 5 is connected to brackets 6 that are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. A steering shaft connected to the brackets 6 is supported by a head pipe 4a, which is a part of the vehicle body frame 4, so as to be angularly displaceable.

[0012] A handle 7 that a driver holds by hand is provided on the steering shaft. A seat 9 on which the driver sits is arranged behind the handle 7. The seat 9 is supported by the vehicle body frame 4.

[0013] An electric motor 10 serving as a driving source for traveling and a battery case 20 are arranged between the front wheels 2 and the rear wheels 3. The electric motor 10 and the battery case 20 are respectively supported by the vehicle body frame 4. The electric motor 10 generates a rotational driving force transmitted to the rear wheels 3 which are driving wheels. The electric motor 10 is located below the seat 9. Also, the electric motor 10 is located in front of the front end portion of the central part in the left - right direction of the seat 9 (hereinafter referred to as the "front seat end portion") 9a.

[0014] The electric motor 10 is supplied with power from a battery pack 11 (see FIG. 2), which is an object to be accommodated in a battery case 20 (corresponding to a battery support) that forms an accommodation chamber. An outer lid 30 is connected to the battery case 20, and the battery pack 11 of the motorcycle 1 can be detached and attached by opening and closing the outer lid 30.

[0015] The battery pack 11 is substantially rectangular parallelepiped - shaped. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the battery case 20 can accommodate two battery packs 11 arranged side - by - side in the left - right direction.

[0016] (Battery case) Figure 3 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the battery case 20 when the outer cover 30 is in the closed position. Figure 4 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the battery case 20 when the outer cover 30 is in the open position. The battery case 20 has a storage space S for housing the battery pack 11. The battery case 20 has an opening P1 (see Figure 2) that opens the storage space S, and this opening P1 can be opened or closed by the outer cover 30, which is the lid. The opening P1 is an opening for inserting and removing the battery pack 11. That is, the opening P1 is large enough for the battery pack 11 to pass through. Also, the opening P1 is open upwards. That is, the battery pack 11 is inserted into the battery case 20 or removed from the battery case 20 by passing through the opening P1.

[0017] As shown in Figure 3, the storage space S is enclosed by the battery case 20 and the outer cover 30 in front of the seat 9 in the front-rear direction. The battery case 20 includes a case body 21 that opens upward and a frame-shaped base 22. The base 22 is connected to the case body 21 so as to surround the upper end of the case body 21. The base 22 includes an opening P1 (hereinafter also referred to as "upper opening P1") that is closed by the outer cover 30 and a lower opening P2 located below the upper opening P1. The case body 21 and the base 22 are connected to each other so that the opening of the case body 21 and the lower opening P2 of the base 22 coincide.

[0018] The storage space S is broadly divided into several spaces by the inner lid 51 and casing 70 placed within the storage space S. For example, the inner lid 51 is positioned to close the opening of the case body 21, that is, the lower opening P2 of the base 22. The inner lid 51 also divides the storage space S into a first space S1 surrounded by the case body 21 and the inner lid 51, and the remaining space. The first space S1 is the space occupied by the housed battery pack 11.

[0019] Furthermore, a casing 70 is placed on the upper surface of the inner lid 51. The casing 70 is concave and opens upward. The casing 70 has a bottom wall 71 parallel to the inner lid 51, a first partition wall 72 rising upward from the front edge of the bottom wall 71, and a second partition wall 73 rising upward from the rear edge of the bottom wall 71. The space enclosed by the inner lid 51, the base 22, and the closed outer lid 30 (i.e., the remaining space described above) is divided into three spaces, the second space S2, the third space S3, and the fourth space S4, by the first partition wall 72 and the second partition wall 73.

[0020] The second space S2, the third space S3, and the fourth space S4 are arranged in the front-to-back direction. The second space S2 is the space sandwiched between the first partition wall 72 and the second partition wall 73 in the front-to-back direction. The second space S2 is the interior space of the casing 70 and functions as a luggage storage space for storing luggage as its contents. The third space S3 is the space in front of the second space S2, and the fourth space S4 is the space behind the second space S2. The locking mechanism 40 and engaging member 52, described later, are arranged in the third space S3, and the hinge shaft 32 and retainer 53, described later, are arranged in the fourth space S4. The third space S3 and the fourth space S4 can also be called mechanism element storage spaces, which house various elements of various mechanisms. In particular, the fourth space S4, which houses the hinge shaft 32, can also be called a shaft storage space.

[0021] The casing 70 has a pair of side walls 74. One of the side walls 74 connects the right ends of the first partition wall 72 and the second partition wall 73, and the other connects the left ends of the first partition wall 72 and the second partition wall 73. A flange 75 extending outward in the vehicle width direction is connected to the upper end of each side wall 74. The flange 75 abuts against a part of the lower surface of the outer cover 30 when it is closed and is pressed down from above. This prevents the casing 70 from moving up and down within the housing space S.

[0022] The case body 21 is box-shaped with an upward opening. The case body 21 includes a rectangular bottom wall 21a that supports the lower surface of the battery pack 11, and a peripheral wall 21b that rises from the entire circumference of the bottom wall 21a. The battery case 20 is inclined backward with respect to the vertically upward direction. More specifically, the bottom wall 21a is inclined upward as it moves forward, and the rear portion of the peripheral wall 21b is inclined upward as it moves backward. The rear end of the upper opening P1 of the base 22 is located behind the rear end of the opening edge of the case body 21. In this way, the case body 21 is arranged so that the battery pack 11 can be inserted and removed at an angle.

[0023] The case body 21 has a first space S1 (which may also be referred to as the "battery space"). The case body 21 has a flange 21c around an opening located at the upper end of the peripheral wall 21b. The flange 21c is fixed to the base 22 by fastening means such as bolts.

[0024] A support-side connector 21d is located on the upper surface of the bottom wall 21a. A battery-side connector 11a is located on the lower surface of the battery pack 11. The support-side connector 21d and the battery-side connector 11a are configured to be electrically connected when the battery pack 11 is guided downward toward the bottom wall 21a by the peripheral wall 21b, causing the terminals of the support-side connector 21d and the battery-side connector 11a to come into contact with each other.

[0025] In this way, an electrical connection between the support-side connector 21d and the battery-side connector 11a can be achieved by simply guiding the battery pack 11 downwards with the peripheral wall 21b. In other words, the contact between the terminals of the support-side connector 21d and the battery-side connector 11a can be released simply by the battery pack 11 moving upwards within the battery case 20. However, the pressing mechanism 50, described later, suppresses the vertical movement of the battery pack 11, thus preventing the power supply from the battery pack 11 to the electric motor 10 from being interrupted.

[0026] A harness cover 25 is attached to the bottom wall 21a of the case body 21 from below. The harness cover 25 is concave and is attached to the case body 21 by fastening means such as bolts, thereby forming a harness space that partially covers the harness 26 that extends from the support-side connector 21d through the bottom wall 21a. Components other than the harness, such as a step-down circuit board that reduces the voltage of the power output from the battery pack 11, may be placed in the harness space. The harness cover 25 is separate from the case body 21, but the harness cover 25 and the case body 21 may be molded integrally.

[0027] The frame-shaped base 22 includes an upper base frame 23 that constitutes the upper part of the base 22 and a lower base frame 24 that constitutes the lower part of the base 22. The lower end of the upper base frame 23 and the upper end of the lower base frame 24 are connected to each other. As shown in Figure 2, the upper base frame 23 includes an upper opening P1 that is closed by the outer cover 30, and the lower base frame 24 includes a lower opening P2 located below the upper opening P1. The lower opening P2 is closed by the inner cover 51. The thickness dimension of the outer cover 30 (corresponding to the cover body) is smaller than the thickness dimension of the inner cover 51 (corresponding to the contact member). That is, the outer cover 30 is thinner than the inner cover 51. This makes it easier for the inner cover 51 to receive the pressing reaction force and also reduces the weight of the outer cover 30.

[0028] The upper base frame 23 has an annular shape with a roughly elliptical outer shape when viewed from above on the motorcycle 1 (see also Figure 2). The upper base frame 23 and the outer cover 30 that closes the upper opening P1 form a dome shape that opens downwards. The lower base frame 24 has an annular shape with a roughly elliptical outer shape when viewed from above on the motorcycle 1. The lower base frame 24 and the inner cover 51 that closes the lower opening P2 form a concave shape that opens upwards.

[0029] The base 22 includes an overhang portion 23a that extends diagonally forward and upward from the front end portion 9a of the seat. The overhang portion 23a is located near the center in the left-right direction of the upper base frame 23 and is located behind the upper opening P1. The overhang portion 23a has a shape in which the central part in the vehicle width direction bulges backward. The overhang portion 23a functions as a restricting portion that restricts the front end position of the driver's seating range. The overhang portion 23a plays a role in supporting the driver so that when the driver is subjected to an inertial force moving forward during deceleration of the motorcycle 1, the driver does not deviate forward from the seating range of the seat 9.

[0030] (Opening and closing mechanism) Figure 5 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the upper part of the battery case 20. The motorcycle 1 is equipped with an opening and closing mechanism 31 for opening and closing the outer cover 30. The opening and closing mechanism 31 rotates the outer cover 30 around a hinge shaft 32 between an open position that opens the storage space S upward and a closed position that covers the storage space S from above. As shown in Figure 5, the opening and closing mechanism 31 comprises a hinge shaft 32, a hinge support 33, and an arm 34.

[0031] The hinge shaft 32 is the axis that serves as the pivot point of the outer cover 30. The hinge shaft 32 extends in the left-right direction. The hinge shaft 32 is positioned above and in front of the front end portion 9a of the seat. The hinge shaft 32 is positioned in the left-right center so as to pass through the center plane of the motorcycle 1 in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the hinge shaft 32 is positioned at least one of the following locations: below and behind the left-right central portion of the outer cover 30 in the closed position, i.e., in the closed state. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the rear end portion 30a of the left-right central portion of the outer cover 30 in the closed state is the lowest end of the left-right central portion of the outer cover 30, and the hinge shaft 32 is positioned at a location below the rear end portion 30a. Furthermore, the hinge shaft 32 is positioned at the same location as the rear end portion 30a in the front-rear direction.

[0032] The hinge support 33 is fixed to the base 22. The hinge support 33 connects the base 22 and the hinge shaft 32 to each other and supports the hinge shaft 32. The hinge shaft 32 and the hinge support 33 are located above the vehicle frame 4 and below the left-right central portion of the closed outer cover 30. In other words, the hinge shaft 32 and the hinge support 33 can be positioned closer to the vehicle frame 4 than the outer cover 30, making it easier to increase the support rigidity of the hinge.

[0033] The arm 34 connects the outer cover 30 and the hinge shaft 32, and rotates together with the outer cover 30 around the hinge shaft 32. The arm 34 is located on the center plane of the motorcycle 1 in the left-right direction, that is, in the center in the width direction of the vehicle. As described above, the protruding portion 23a has a shape in which the central part in the width direction of the vehicle bulges rearward. Therefore, by positioning the arm 34 in the center in the width direction of the vehicle, the hinge shaft 32 can be positioned close to the vehicle frame 4, making it easier to increase the support rigidity of the hinge.

[0034] The base end 34a of the arm 34, which becomes the rear end when the outer cover 30 is in the closed position, is connected to the hinge shaft 32, and the tip 34b of the arm 34, which becomes the front end when the outer cover 30 is in the closed position, is connected to the lower surface of the outer cover 30 in the closed position. The outer cover 30 is connected to the battery case 20 by bypassing the pressing mechanism 50 described later. Because the outer cover 30 is angularly displaced around the hinge shaft 32, which is the rear end of the arm 34, the outer cover 30 is configured to be positioned at a location spaced upward from the base 22 when in the open position. The arm 34 is shaped so as not to interfere with the base 22 even when the outer cover 30 is moved between the open and closed positions. The arm 34 has a bent shape such that, when viewed in the left-right direction, the foremost end of the arm 34 when the outer cover 30 is in the open position is located in front of the front end of the protruding portion 23a of the base 22 (see Figure 4).

[0035] The shape of the base 22 and the shape of the arm 34, which is designed not to interfere with the base 22, will be described in more detail. The protruding portion 23a of the base 22 includes a portion 23a1 that is exposed when viewed from the rear or above when the outer cover 30 is in the closed position (hereinafter also referred to as the "exposed portion"), and a portion 23a2 that extends forward from the front end of the exposed portion 23a1 and is covered from above by the outer cover 30 in the closed position (hereinafter also referred to as the "non-exposed portion"). The exposed portion 23a1 is a portion that closes the space between the rear end 30a of the outer cover 30 in the closed position and the front end 9a of the seat, and functions as a restricting portion that restricts the front end position of the driver's seating range. The exposed portion 23a1 (specifically, the front-facing surface of the exposed portion 23a1) and the hinge shaft 32 face each other in the front-rear direction. In other words, the exposed portion 23a1 overlaps with the hinge shaft 32 in the front-to-back direction, so as to cover the entire hinge shaft 32 when viewed from the rear.

[0036] As shown in Figure 5, a seal 27 is attached to the outer cover 30. The seal 27 has an annular shape that extends along the periphery of the outer cover 30. The rear end of the seal 27 adheres tightly to the base 22 when the outer cover 30 is in the closed position, preventing fluid from passing between the outer cover 30 and the base 22. When the outer cover 30 is in the closed position, the seal 27 adheres tightly to the upper surface of the non-exposed portion 23a2. For this reason, the non-exposed portion 23a2 can also be called the seal receiving portion. The area of ​​the non-exposed portion 23a2 where the seal 27 adheres tightly is formed in a concave shape. Specifically, the portion of the non-exposed portion 23a2 to which the seal 27 adheres tightly when the outer cover 30 is in the closed position protrudes downward compared to the portion of the non-exposed portion 23a2 adjacent to that portion further rearward.

[0037] In this example, with the outer cover 30 in the closed position, the arm 34 is formed in a U-shape that protrudes downward. Specifically, the arm 34 extends downward from the base end 34a as it moves forward, reaching a lower end located at an intermediate position in the front-rear direction. From the lower end, it extends upward as it moves further forward, reaching a tip end 34b, which is the front end. By forming the arm 34 in a U-shape in this way, interference between the protruding portion 23a (more specifically, the non-exposed portion 23a2) and the arm 34 is prevented, and the range of rotation of the outer cover 30 can be increased.

[0038] When the outer cover 30 is closed, the tip 34b of the arm 34 (the part that connects to the outer cover 30) is positioned above the base end 34a of the arm 34 (the part that connects to the hinge shaft 32). By positioning the hinge shaft 32 below the lower end of the outer cover 30, when the outer cover 30 is fully opened, the outer cover 30 can be moved away from the upper opening P1, making it less likely for the outer cover 30 to interfere with the battery pack 11 when inserting or removing it.

[0039] The second partition wall 73 of the casing 70 has a notch 73a formed therein for inserting the arm 34 so that the casing 70 does not interfere with the arm 34.

[0040] Furthermore, the opening and closing mechanism 31 is equipped with a stopper structure that limits the range of rotation of the outer cover 30. Specifically, the base end portion 34a of the arm 34 has a projection 35 that protrudes radially around the hinge axis 32. The projection 35 rotates with the arm 34 as the outer cover 30 rotates, and when the outer cover 30 is in the open position, rotated by a predetermined angle from the closed position, it contacts a receiving portion 36 fixed to the base 22. These projections 35 and the receiving portion (stopper) 36 constitute the stopper structure. This limits the range of rotation of the outer cover 30. The position of the projection 35 is adjusted so that when the outer cover 30 is moved to the open position, the range of rotation of the outer cover 30 is limited to a range where the arm 34 does not contact the base 22 and the rear end of the outer cover 30 does not contact the protruding portion 23a. By arranging a stopper structure that limits the rotational range of the outer cover 30 around the hinge shaft 32, the fourth space S4, which is the space covered by the protruding portion 23a, can be effectively utilized.

[0041] Furthermore, the motorcycle 1 is equipped with a locking mechanism 40. The locking mechanism 40 is a mechanism that holds the outer cover 30 in the closed position. The locking mechanism 40 includes an insertion slot 41, a locking movement part 42, and a locking fixing part 43. The insertion slot 41 is provided on the front part of the base 22, more specifically on the front part of the upper base frame 23. The locking movement part 42 is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position when the driver inserts a key into the insertion slot 41 and operates it. The locking fixing part 43 locks the locking movement part 42 in the locked position so that the outer cover 30 does not move from the closed position to the open position. The locking movement part 42 is attached to the upper base frame 23, and the locking fixing part 43 is fixed to the outer cover 30. In this way, the locking mechanism 40 makes it possible to switch between a locked state in which the outer cover 30 is held in the closed position and an unlocked state in which the state in which the outer cover 30 is held in the closed position is released.

[0042] In this embodiment, the base 22, the outer cover 30, the opening / closing mechanism 31, and the locking mechanism 40 are unitized as a cover unit. Furthermore, the cover unit is fixed to the case body 21, that is, the base 22 is fastened to the flange 21c of the case body 21, thereby unitizing it as a battery housing unit. By unitizing the elements related to the attachment and detachment of the battery pack 11 in this way, it becomes easier to design and assemble the motorcycle 1 in a way that facilitates the attachment and detachment of the battery pack 11. For example, it becomes easier to design such that the upper opening P1 is positioned in the direction in which the battery pack 11 is removed from the case body 21, and to design such that it is not necessary to change the direction in which the battery pack 11 is removed midway to avoid elements of the cover unit such as the arm 34 (see the dashed line in Figure 4). For example, it becomes easier to adjust the position of the lower opening P2 and upper opening P1 of the base 22 with respect to the opening edge of the case body 21.

[0043] (Pressing mechanism) The motorcycle 1 is equipped with a pressing mechanism 50. The pressing mechanism 50 is located within a housing space S. The pressing mechanism 50 includes an inner cover 51, an engaging member 52, and a retainer 53.

[0044] The inner lid 51 is a contact member that can abut against the battery pack 11 when it is housed in the housing space S of the battery case 20. In this embodiment, when the battery pack 11 is housed in the battery case 20, the upper part of the battery pack 11 protrudes slightly upward from the opening of the case body 21. Therefore, the inner lid 51 has a concave shape that opens downward so as to cover the portion of the battery pack 11 that protrudes from the case body 21 and close the battery space S1. The concave surface of the downward-facing inner lid 51 abuts against the upper surface of the housed battery pack 11. Hereinafter, the position of the inner lid 51 when it abuts against the battery pack 11 will be referred to as the contact position or closed position.

[0045] In this embodiment, the battery case 20 supports two battery packs 11, which are arranged in the left-right direction, from below such that the heights of their upper surfaces are the same, and the upper surfaces of both battery packs 11 are in contact with one inner lid 51.

[0046] The inner cover 51 is detachable from the battery case 20. Figure 6 is a top view of the inner cover 51. The inner cover 51 includes a cover body 51a, an engaging portion 51b, and a support portion 51c. The cover body 51a closes the opening P2 when the inner cover 151 is in contact position. The engaging portion 51b is fixed to the front end of the cover body 51a. The engaging portion 51b can engage with an engaging member 52 fixed to the battery case 20. The engaging portion 51b is rod-shaped and extends in the left-right direction. Hereinafter, the engaging portion 51b may also be referred to as the engaging shaft 51b.

[0047] The engaging member 52 has an engaging structure that can be attached to and detached from the inner lid 51. The inner lid 51 is rotatable around the axis C1 of the engaged shaft 51b when the engaged shaft 51b is engaged with the engaging member 52. Specifically, the engaging member 52 is positioned in front of the lower opening P2 in the base 22 (more specifically, the lower base frame 24). The engaging member 52 is positioned within the third space S3. The engaging member 52 is fixed to the base 22 and has a hook shape. Hereinafter, the engaging member 52 may also be referred to as the engaging hook 52. By hooking the engaged shaft 51b of the inner lid 51 with the engaging hook 52, the inner lid 51 becomes rotatable around the axis C1 of the engaged shaft 51b. As the inner lid 51 rotates, it can contact the battery pack 11 and close the battery space S1, or move away from the battery pack 11 and open the battery space S1.

[0048] The support portion 51c is fixed to the rear end of the lid body 51a. The support portion 51c supports the compression spring 61, which is a component of the retainer 53 and will be described later.

[0049] As shown in Figure 5, the retainer 53 is located behind the lower opening P2 in the base 22 (more specifically, the lower base frame 24) when the inner lid 51 is in contact with it. In other words, the retainer 53 is located on the side where the upper surface of the battery pack 11 is inclined downwards. The retainer 53 is located on the same side as the hinge shaft 32 relative to the battery pack 11. That is, when the casing 70 is placed in the housing space S, the retainer 53 is housed in the fourth space S4, similar to the hinge shaft 32 of the opening and closing mechanism 31. For this reason, the hinge shaft 32 and the retainer 53 of the pressing mechanism 50 are in a position hidden by the second partition wall 73, that is, in a position that is difficult for the user to see just by opening the outer lid 30.

[0050] The retainer 53 holds the inner lid 51 in contact with the battery pack 11, pressing it toward the battery pack 11. In other words, the retainer 53 has a pressing function that presses the inner lid 51 downward when it is in the contact position. The retainer 53 also has a locking function that locks the inner lid 51 to the battery case 20 when it is in the contact position.

[0051] The retainer 53 includes a compression spring 61, a first spring seat 62, a second spring seat 63, an operating member 64, and a locking portion 68. Of the components of the retainer 53, the compression spring 61, the first spring seat 62, the second spring seat 63, and the operating member 64 are supported by the support portion 51c of the inner lid 51 and are movable integrally with the inner lid 51. The compression spring 61 is a coil spring. The first spring seat 62 and the second spring seat 63 are annular. The operating member 64 is a member operated by the user.

[0052] Of the components of the retainer 53, the locking portion 68 is provided on the battery case 20. Specifically, the locking portion 68 is located on the lower base frame 24 behind the opening P2 of the lower base frame 24. The locking portion 68 is positioned so as to overlap with the upper opening P1 when the motorcycle 1 is viewed from above (see Figure 2). In other words, the retainer 53, including the locking portion 68, is positioned so as to overlap with the upper opening P1 when the motorcycle 1 is viewed from above. Therefore, the retainer 53 is in a position that is easily accessible to the user.

[0053] The locking portion 68 is locked by the locking portion 66b of the operating member 64, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the locking portion 68 is a hole extending in a predetermined direction. For example, the locking portion 68 is elongated or keyhole-shaped. Hereinafter, the locking portion 68 may also be referred to as the locking hole 68. In this example, the locking hole 68 extends in the left-right direction, but it may also extend in the front-back direction, for example.

[0054] As shown in Figure 5, the first spring seat 62 receives the first end 61a of the compression spring 61, and the second spring seat 63 receives the second end 61b of the compression spring 61. As shown in Figure 5, when the inner lid 51 is in contact position, the first end 61a is the lower end of the compression spring 61, and the second end 61b is the upper end of the compression spring 61. That is, when the inner lid 51 is in contact position, the first spring seat 62 is located below the compression spring 61, and the second spring seat 63 is located above the compression spring 61.

[0055] The first spring seat 62 is fixed to the inner lid 51. Specifically, the support portion 51c of the inner lid 51 includes a bottomed cylindrical portion 101 that opens upward, and the first spring seat 62 is positioned at the bottom 102 of the cylindrical portion 101. Furthermore, the compression spring 61 is housed in the cylindrical portion 101 of the support portion 51c such that the first spring seat 62 receives the first end 61a of the compression spring 61. In other words, the inner lid 51 has a housing portion (cylindrical portion 101 in this example) for housing the compression spring 61. The first spring seat 62 may also be formed from a part of the inner lid 51. Note that a through hole 103 is formed in the bottom 102 of the cylindrical portion 101 of the support portion 51c where the first spring seat 62 is located, through which the cam support 66, described later, is inserted.

[0056] The second spring seat 63 is connected to the inner lid 51 so as to be movable relative to the inner lid 51. In this embodiment, the second spring seat 63 is connected to the inner lid 51 via an operating member 64.

[0057] The operating member 64 includes a cam lever 65 and a cam support 66. The cam lever 65 is positioned on the opposite side of the compression spring 61 from the second spring seat 63. The second spring seat 63 is sandwiched between the cam lever 65 and the compression spring 61. The cam lever 65 is supported by the cam support 66 via a support shaft 67 that extends in the left-right direction, so as to be rotatable about the axis C2 of the support shaft 67.

[0058] The cam lever 65 includes a lever portion 65a, which is the part that the user touches with their hand, and a pressing portion 65b that is displaced when the lever portion 65a is operated. The cam lever 65 has a shape that extends radially from the support shaft 67 for ease of operation by the user, and this extended portion is the lever portion 65a. The lever portion 65a corresponds to the operator. The pressing portion 65b is a curved surface portion whose distance from the support shaft 67 changes in accordance with the rotation angle of the cam lever 65 when viewed in the direction of the axis C2 of the support shaft 67.

[0059] The pressing portion 65b presses the second spring seat 63 toward the compression spring 61. By rotating the cam lever 65 around axis C2, the pressing portion 65b can be displaced between a pressing position that presses the inner lid 51 against the battery pack 11 and a release position that releases the pressing force when the pressing portion 65b is in the pressing position. The state of the retainer 83 when the pressing portion 65b is in the pressing position is called the pressing state, and the state of the retainer 83 when the pressing portion 65b is in the release position is called the release state. In this embodiment, the pressing portion 65b in the release position does not generate a pressing force that presses the inner lid 51 against the battery pack 11. However, the pressing portion 65b in the release position may generate a pressing force that is reduced from the pressing force generated when the pressing portion 65b is in the pressing position.

[0060] The cam support 66 is connected to the inner cover 51 and supports the cam lever 65 via a support shaft 67. The cam support 66 has a rod-shaped portion 66a that extends along the axis C3 of the cylindrical portion 101. The support shaft 67 is supported at one end of the rod-shaped portion 66a. The rod-shaped portion 66a passes radially inward through the second spring seat 63, the compression spring 61, and the first spring seat 62. The rod-shaped portion 66a also passes through the through hole 103 in the bottom 102 of the cylindrical portion 101 of the support portion 51c.

[0061] The cam support 66 has a locking portion 66b, which is a projection that protrudes from the other end of the rod-shaped portion 66a in a direction perpendicular to the axis C3. The locking portion 66b is located at the point where it protrudes from the through hole 103 of the rod-shaped portion 66a on the opposite side from the compression spring 61. That is, the locking portion 66b is located below the bottom 102 of the cylindrical portion 101.

[0062] When the locking portion 66b rotates around axis C3 to a predetermined unlocked position, the locking portion 66b becomes insertable into the locked hole 68. In this embodiment, the unlocked position is the position where the extending direction of the locked hole 68 coincides with the protruding direction of the locking portion 66b. In this example, since the locked hole 68 extends in the left-right direction, the locking portion 66b becomes insertable into the locked hole 68 when the protruding direction of the locking portion 66b coincides with the left-right direction. When the locking portion 66b rotates around axis C3 to a locked position other than the unlocked position, the locking portion 66b becomes unable to pass through the locked hole 68. In other words, after operating the operating member 64 to allow the locking portion 66b to pass through the locking hole 68, the locking portion 66b is rotated around axis C3 so that it can no longer be inserted into the locking hole 68, thereby locking the inner lid 51 so that it does not separate from the locking hole 68.

[0063] Furthermore, a guide portion 66c is provided on the portion of the rod-shaped portion 66a that protrudes downward from the through hole 103. The guide portion 66c is flange-shaped and, when locking or unlocking is performed by the locking portion 66b, it abuts against the locking hole 68 and guides the rotation of the operating member 64 about the axis C3. For example, the dimension between the guide portion 66c and the locking portion 66b is approximately the dimension of the locking hole 68 in the through direction.

[0064] The guide portion 66c is sized or shaped in such a way that it cannot be inserted into either the through hole 103 or the locking hole 68. Therefore, when the operating member 64 is lifted upward, the inner lid 51 is also lifted, supported by the guide portion 66c. The operating member 64 is connected to the inner lid 51 in a displaceable manner. For example, the operating member 64 is connected to the support portion 51c of the inner lid 51 so as to be rotatable about the axis C3 of the cam support 66. Alternatively, the operating member 64 is connected to the support portion 51c of the inner lid 51 so as to be displaceable relative to the inner lid 51 in the direction of the axis C3 of the cam support 66.

[0065] This pressing mechanism 50 allows both locking the inner lid 51 to the battery case 20 and pressing the inner lid 51 downward by operating the cam lever 65. With the inner lid 51 in contact position, more specifically with the locking portion 66b passing through the locking hole 68, the cam lever 65 is operated to rotate the locking portion 66b around the axis C3. When the locking portion 66b is displaced from the unlocked position to the locked position, the locking portion 66b can no longer pass through the locking hole 68, and the locking hole 68 is locked by the locking portion 66b. As a result, the position of the support shaft 67 is fixed.

[0066] Subsequently, by rotating the cam lever 65 around the axis C2 of the support shaft 67, the pressing portion 65b is displaced from the release position to the pressing position relative to the axis C2. As a result, the second spring seat 63 moves closer to the first spring seat 62. This compresses the compression spring 61, and the biasing force of the compression spring 61 is generated or increased on the inner lid 51 in the direction away from the support shaft 67 of the cam support 66, i.e., downward. In this way, the retainer 53 is configured to hold the second spring seat 63 in a state where the second spring seat 63 is displaced relative to the first spring seat 62 so that the inner lid 51 is biased toward the battery pack 11 by the compression spring 61.

[0067] In this embodiment, the inner lid 51 or battery pack 11 that is not pressed by the pressing mechanism 50 does not completely close the lower opening P2. That is, when the inner lid 51 is not pressed by the pressing mechanism 50, a small gap is formed between a part of the periphery of the lid body 51a and the base 22. This gap disappears when the inner lid 51 is pressed by the pressing mechanism 50. When the inner lid 51 is not pressed by the pressing mechanism 50, the inner lid 51 does not have to come into contact with the battery pack 11, but it may come into contact with the battery pack 11 when pressed.

[0068] (Instructions for removing the battery pack) The procedure for removing the battery pack 11 from the motorcycle 1 (more specifically, the battery case 20) is described below. First, the lock mechanism 40 on the outer cover 30 is released by key operation, and then the outer cover 30 is rotated from the closed position to the open position as shown in Figure 4.

[0069] Next, the casing 70 is removed from the housing space S to the outside through the upper opening P1.

[0070] Next, as shown in Figure 7, the cam lever 65 is rotated around axis C2 to reduce the pressing force of the compression spring 61. Then, the cam lever 65 is rotated around axis C3 to align the locking portion 66b with the locking hole 68 so that it can be inserted. Then, as shown in Figure 8, the inner cover 51 is rotated around axis C1 of the engaged shaft 51b by lifting the cam lever 65 upward. Next, the inner cover 51 is moved so that the engaged shaft 51b is released from being caught on the engagement hook 52, and then the inner cover 51 is removed from the housing space S to the outside through the upper opening P1. Then, the battery pack 11 inside the case body 21 is pulled upward and removed from the housing space S to the outside through the upper opening P1.

[0071] This completes the removal of the battery pack 11 from the motorcycle 1. The process of installing the battery pack 11 back into the motorcycle 1 can be performed by reversing the steps taken to remove the battery pack 11.

[0072] (Effects and Benefits) As described above, in the motorcycle 1 of this embodiment, the hinge shaft 32 is positioned above and in front of the front end 9a of the seat. Therefore, when moving the outer cover 30 from the closed position to the open position, the seat 9 does not restrict the range of rotation of the outer cover 30. Accordingly, a motorcycle 1 can be provided with a lid opening and closing structure that makes it easy to store the battery pack 11 in and out of the storage space S. In addition, since the seat 9 is positioned behind the battery space S1 in the front-rear direction, it is not necessary to remove the seat 9 from the body of the motorcycle 1 when attaching or detaching the battery pack 11.

[0073] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the hinge shaft 32, which serves as the pivot point of the outer cover 30, is positioned in the space covered by the protruding portion 23a, thus allowing for effective use of the space covered by the protruding portion 23a.

[0074] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the arm 34 has a bent shape such that when the outer cover 30 is in the open position when viewed in the left-right direction, the foremost end of the arm 34 is located in front of the front end of the protruding portion 23a of the base 22. This prevents the protruding portion 23a, which is visible to the user, from interfering with the arm 34.

[0075] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the hinge shaft 32 is located on the central plane of the motorcycle 1 in the left-right direction, the protruding portion 23a of the base 22 and the outer cover 30 can be designed to reduce the dimensions in the left-right direction.

[0076] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the arm 34 is located on the central plane of the motorcycle 1 in the left-right direction, the protruding portion 23a of the base 22 and the outer cover 30 can be designed to reduce the left-right dimension.

[0077] Furthermore, in this embodiment, by making the base 22 frame-shaped, a passage can be formed through which the battery pack 11 passes when housing the battery pack 11 in or removing it from the battery space S1.

[0078] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second partition wall 73 prevents the cargo from hitting the hinge shaft 32 and the member supporting it. For example, even if the vehicle body is tilted diagonally forward, the second partition wall 73 can prevent the cargo from moving into the shaft housing space S4.

[0079] <Second Embodiment> Next, a motorcycle according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 9 to 11. In the second embodiment, components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted. Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the retainer 83 in the pressed state of the pressing mechanism 80 in the second embodiment. Figure 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the retainer 83. Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the state in which the inner cover 51 of the pressing mechanism 80 is slightly opened.

[0080] The structure of the retainer in the pressing mechanism differs between this embodiment and the first embodiment. More specifically, in the pressing mechanism 50 of the first embodiment, the retainer 53 was of the cam lever type, whereas in the pressing mechanism 80 of this embodiment, the retainer 83 is of the cylindrical cam type. Similar to the retainer 53 of the first embodiment, the retainer 83 is positioned behind the lower opening P2 in the base 22 (more specifically, the lower base frame 24) when the inner lid 51 is in the closed position. Similar to the retainer 53, the retainer 83 has both a pressing function to press the inner lid 51 and a locking function to lock the inner lid 51 to the battery case 20.

[0081] The retainer 83 includes a compression spring 61, a first spring seat 62, a second spring seat 63, an operating member 84, and a locking portion 88. The configuration of the compression spring 61, the first spring seat 62, the second spring seat 63, and the support portion 51c of the inner cover 51 that supports them are the same as in the above embodiment, so a description is omitted.

[0082] The operating member 84 is connected to the inner lid 51 so as to be displaceable. For example, the operating member 84 is connected to the support portion 51c of the inner lid 51 so as to be rotatable about axis C3. Alternatively, the operating member 84 is connected to the support portion 51c of the inner lid 51 so as to be displaceable in the direction of axis C3 relative to the inner lid 51.

[0083] The operating member 84 includes a rotary handle 85 that the user touches and operates, and a rotary shaft 86. The rotary handle 85 corresponds to an operating element. The rotary handle 85 is positioned on the opposite side of the compression spring 61 from the second spring seat 63. The rotary handle 85 is a handle for rotating the cylindrical portion 101 about the axis C3. In this embodiment, the rotary handle 85 has a point-symmetric shape about the axis C3.

[0084] The rotating handle 85 is fixed to one end of the rotating shaft 86. The rotating shaft 86 passes radially inward through the second spring seat 63, the compression spring 61, and the first spring seat 62. The rotating shaft 86 also passes through the through hole 103 in the bottom 102 of the cylindrical portion 101 of the support portion 51c.

[0085] The rotating shaft 86 has a pressing portion 86a and a locking portion 86b. The pressing portion 86a is located on the opposite side of the compression spring 61 from the second spring seat 63. The pressing portion 86a presses the second spring seat 63 toward the compression spring 61. The second spring seat 63 is sandwiched between the pressing portion 86a and the compression spring 61.

[0086] The locking portion 86b is a pin-shaped projection that protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the axis C3. Hereinafter, the locking portion 86b may be referred to as the locking pin 86b. The locking pin 86b is located on the opposite side of the compression spring 61 from the through hole 103.

[0087] The locking pin 86b is too large or too shaped to pass through the through hole 103. Therefore, when the operating member 84 is lifted upward, the inner cover 51 is also lifted, supported by the locking pin 86b.

[0088] The locking portion 88 includes a hollow cylindrical cam 89 fixed to the battery case 20. The cylindrical cam 89 is sized to engage with the locking pin 86b. That is, the inner diameter of the cylindrical cam 89 is shorter than the length from the axis C3 to the radially outward end of the locking pin 86b.

[0089] The cylindrical cam 89 has an engagement hole 89a that can engage with a locking pin 86b. The upper end of the engagement hole 89a is located at the upper edge of the cylindrical cam 89, and the locking pin 86b can move in and out of the engagement hole 89a in the vertical direction from the upper end of the engagement hole 89a. The engagement hole 89a has a helical shape that guides the locking pin 86b downward as the operating member 84 rotates around the axis C3 extending in the biasing direction of the compression spring 61. The lower end of the engagement hole 89a has a shape that holds the locking pin 86b. For example, the lower end of the engagement hole 89a may have a shape that extends along a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the cylindrical cam 89.

[0090] In this pressing mechanism 80, by rotating the rotating handle 85 around axis C3 when the inner lid 51 is in contact position, both the locking of the inner lid 51 to the battery case 20 and the holding of the inner lid 51 in a downward-pressed state can be performed at the same time. When the inner lid 51 is in contact position, more specifically, by rotating the rotating handle 85 while pressing it downward, the locking pin 86b is inserted into the engagement hole 89a, guided downward in a spiral manner, and reaches the lower end of the engagement hole 89a. In this way, the biasing force of the compression spring 61 is generated or increased in a direction that presses the inner lid 51 downward. With the locking pin 86b held at the lower end of the engagement hole 89a, the inner lid 51 can be locked to the battery case 20 in a downward-pressed state.

[0091] The procedure for removing the battery pack 11 from the motorcycle 1 (more specifically, the battery case 20) equipped with the pressing mechanism 80 will be described. Rotating the outer cover 30 from the closed position to the open position, and removing the casing 70 from the housing space S to the outside through the upper opening P1, is the same as the procedure for removing the battery pack 11 described in the above embodiment.

[0092] After moving the outer cover 30 to the open position and removing the casing 70, the rotating handle 85 of the retainer 83 in the pressed state shown in Figure 9 is rotated around axis C3, causing the locking pin 86b to spiral upward from the lower end of the engagement hole 89a (i.e., the locked position). As the pressing portion 86a rises along with the locking pin 86b, the biasing force of the compression spring 61 is also gradually reduced. After rotating the rotating handle 85 to a position where the locking pin 86b can escape from the engagement hole 89a (i.e., the unlocked position), the rotating handle 85 is lifted upward. As a result, as shown in Figure 11, the locking pin 86b exits the engagement hole 89a from the upper end of the cylindrical cam 89, and the inner cover 51 rotates around axis C1 of the engaged shaft 51b. The subsequent steps are the same as those described in the first embodiment above, so their description is omitted.

[0093] <Third Embodiment> Next, the motorcycle according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 12 to 15. Note that, for the third embodiment, components similar to those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted. Figure 12 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the upper part of the battery case 120 of the motorcycle according to the third embodiment.

[0094] The pressing mechanism 150 in this embodiment includes an inner lid 151, an engaging member 152, and a retainer 183. Basically, the roles of the inner lid 151, engaging member 152, and retainer 183 in the pressing mechanism 150 are the same as those of the inner lid 51, engaging member 52, and retainers 53, 83 in the pressing mechanisms 50, 80 of the first and second embodiments, respectively. However, the positions and structures of the inner lid 151, engaging member 152, and retainer 183 in the pressing mechanism 150 differ slightly from those of the inner lid 51, engaging member 52, and retainers 53, 83 in the pressing mechanisms 150 of the first and second embodiments, respectively.

[0095] For example, in the pressing mechanism 150 of this embodiment, the positions of the engaging member 152 and the retainer 183 are reversed compared to the positions of the engaging member 52 and the retainers 53 and 83 in the pressing mechanism 80 of the first and second embodiments. As shown in Figure 12, the engaging member 152 is positioned behind the lower opening P2 in the base 22 (more specifically, the lower base frame 24). The retainer 183 is positioned in front of the lower opening P2 in the base 22 (more specifically, the lower base frame 24) when the inner lid 151 is in contact with it.

[0096] Figure 13 is a top view of the inner lid 151 in the third embodiment. Figure 14 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the pressing mechanism 150 in the third embodiment. Note that in Figure 14, the left half of the inner lid 151 is omitted to make the structure of the retainer 183 easier to see.

[0097] In this embodiment as well, the inner lid 151 is detachable from the battery case 120. As shown in Figure 13, the inner lid 151 includes a lid body 151a, an engaging portion 151b, and a support portion 151c. The lid body 151a closes the opening P2 when the inner lid 151 is in a contact position that abuts against the battery pack 11.

[0098] In this embodiment, a partition wall 172 and a pair of side walls 174 are provided on the upper surface of the lid body 151a. The partition wall 172 rises upward from near the rear edge of the lid body 151a. The pair of side walls 174 extend forward from both the left and right ends of the partition wall 172. The space sandwiched in the direction of action by the pair of side walls 174 functions as a luggage storage space for storing luggage as contents. The partition wall 172 prevents the contents placed on the upper surface of the lid body 151a from moving to the rear of the lid body 151a, i.e., into the space where the engaging member 152 is located (see Figure 12). Thus, in this embodiment, the inner lid 151 itself functions as a casing for placing the contents, so there is no need to place a separate casing 70 on the inner lid 151 as in the first and second embodiments.

[0099] The engaged portion 151b is fixed to the rear end of the lid body 151a. The engaged portion 51b can engage with the engaging member 152 fixed to the battery case 20. The engaged portion 151b is rod-shaped and extends in the left-right direction. Hereinafter, the engaged portion 151b may also be referred to as the engaged shaft 151b.

[0100] As shown in Figure 14, the engaging member 152 has an engagement structure that can be attached to and detached from the inner lid 151. The inner lid 151 is rotatable around the axis C1 of the engaged shaft 151b when the engaged shaft 151b is engaged with the engaging member 152. The shape of the engaging member 152 is a hook shape, similar to the engaging member 52. The hook shape of the engaging member 152 is a hook shape that opens towards the lower opening P2, but it may also be a hook shape that opens on the opposite side from where the lower opening P2 is located.

[0101] As shown in Figure 14, the support portion 151c is fixed to the front end of the lid body 151a, on the side opposite to the engaged portion 151b. The support portion 151c supports the compression spring 61, which will be described later, and other components of the retainer 53. The retainer 183 is positioned in front of the lower opening P2 in the base 22 (more specifically the lower base frame 24) when the inner lid 151 is in contact with it.

[0102] The retainer 183 holds the inner lid 151 in contact with the battery pack 11, pressing it toward the battery pack 11. In other words, the retainer 183 has a pressing function that presses the inner lid 151 downward when it is in the contact position. The retainer 183 also has a locking function that locks the inner lid 151 to the battery case 120 when it is in the contact position.

[0103] The retainer 183 includes a compression spring 61, a first spring seat 62, a second spring seat 63, an operating member 184, and a locking portion 188. The configuration of the compression spring 61, the first spring seat 62, the second spring seat 63, and the support portion 151c of the inner cover 151 that supports them in the retainer 183 is the same as in the first and second embodiments, so a description is omitted.

[0104] The retainer 183 in this embodiment is a cylindrical cam type, similar to the retainer 83 in the second embodiment. The operating member 184 includes a rotary handle 185 that the user touches and operates, and a rotary shaft 86. While the rotary handle 85 of the operating member 84 in the second embodiment had a point-symmetric shape around axis C3, the operating member 184 in this embodiment has a shape in which the rotary handle 185 extends in only one direction from axis C3. Since the operating member 184 in the retainer 183 and the operating member 84 in the second embodiment have almost the same configuration as the operating member 184, the description of the rotary shaft 86 of the operating member 184 will be omitted.

[0105] The locking portion 188 includes a cylindrical cam 89, similar to the second embodiment. Since the locking portion 188 in the retainer 183 has the same configuration as the locking portion 88 in the second embodiment, a description of the locking portion 188 is omitted.

[0106] In this embodiment, as in the second embodiment, by rotating the rotating handle 185 around axis C3 when the inner lid 151 is in contact position, both the locking of the inner lid 151 to the battery case 120 and the holding of the inner lid 151 in a downward-pressed state can be performed at the same time. When the inner lid 151 is in contact position, more specifically, by rotating the rotating handle 185 while pressing it downward, the locking pin 86b is inserted into the engagement hole 89a, guided downward in a spiral manner, and reaches the lower end of the engagement hole 89a (i.e., the locking position). At this time, as shown in Figure 13, in this embodiment, the rotating handle 185 is in a state extending to the left from axis C3. With the locking pin 86b held at the lower end of the engagement hole 89a, the inner lid 151 can be locked to the battery case 120 in a downward-pressed state.

[0107] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 12, a protruding member 90 is provided on the outer cover 30, which protrudes downward from the back surface of the outer cover 30, i.e., from the outer cover 30 in the closed position. In this example, the protruding member 90 is a rod-shaped body attached to the outer cover 30, but the shape of the protruding member is not particularly limited. The protruding position and length in the direction of protrusion of the protruding member 90 are adjusted so that it interferes with the retainer 183 in the released state when the outer cover 30 is closed, but does not interfere with the retainer 183 in the pressed state. This will be explained with reference to Figure 15.

[0108] Figure 15 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the retainer 183 in the pressed state in the third embodiment. Figure 15 also shows the lower end of the protruding member 90 when the outer cover 30 is in the closed position. In this embodiment, the protruding member 90 is attached to the outer cover 30 such that when the outer cover 30 is closed, the protruding member 90 is located on the axis C3 of the rotation axis 86 of the operating member 184. Since there is a slight gap G between the retainer 183 in the pressed state and the protruding member 90 protruding from the outer cover 30 in the closed state, the retainer 183 in the pressed state and the protruding member 90 do not interfere with each other.

[0109] Furthermore, in Figure 15, the rotating handle 185 of the retainer 183 in the released state is shown by a dashed line. The position of the operating member 184 of the retainer 183 in the released state is higher than the position of the operating member 184 of the retainer 183 in the pressed state, and the operating member 184 and the protruding member 90 of the retainer 183 in the released state interfere with each other. For this reason, even if the outer cover 30 is rotated from the open position while the retainer 183 is in the released state, the interference between the operating member 184 and the protruding member 90 prevents the outer cover 30 from closing while the retainer 183 is in the released state.

[0110] As shown in Figure 15, in this embodiment, the protruding member 90 was provided on the outer cover 30 so as to interfere with the rotation axis 86 of the retainer 183 in the released state. However, the protruding member 90 may also be provided on the outer cover 30 so as to interfere with other elements of the retainer 183 in the released state, such as the rotation handle 185.

[0111] In this embodiment, the locking mechanism 140 that holds the outer cover 30 in the closed position is also different from the locking mechanism 40 described in the first embodiment. Specifically, the locking mechanism 140 of this embodiment includes an insertion opening 141, a locking movable part 142, and a locking fixing part 143, similar to the locking mechanism 40 of the first embodiment. However, the insertion opening 141 and the locking movable part 142 are provided on the outer cover 30, not on the base 22. Also, the locking fixing part 43 is provided on the base 22, more specifically on the upper base frame 23, rather than on the outer cover 30. By providing the movable locking movable part 142 on the outer cover 30 side in this way, the portion of the upper base frame 23 in front of the outer cover 30 can be made smaller, and as a result, the upper opening P1 can be designed to be larger. This makes it easier to design the upper opening P1 to allow the battery pack 11 and inner cover 151 to pass through.

[0112] <Fourth Embodiment> Next, the motorcycle according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 16 and 17. Note that, for the fourth embodiment, components similar to those in the first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted. Figure 16 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the top of the battery case of the motorcycle according to the fourth embodiment. Figure 17 is an enlarged perspective view showing a portion of the housing space in the fourth embodiment.

[0113] As shown in Figure 16, in this embodiment, a partition plate 91 protrudes downward from the outer cover 30 in the closed position as a protruding member. The length of the protrusion from the outer cover 30 is adjusted so that the partition plate 91 interferes with the retainer 183 in the released state when the outer cover 30 is closed, but does not interfere with the retainer 183 in the pressed state.

[0114] Specifically, as shown in Figure 17, when the retainer 183 is in a pressed state, the rotating handle 185 extends to the left from axis C3 (see also Figure 13). That is, when the retainer 183 is in a pressed state, when the inner lid 151 is viewed from above, the lid body 151a and the rotating handle 185 do not overlap.

[0115] On the other hand, the partition plate 91 is provided on the outer lid 30 so as to be positioned directly above the front end of the lid body 151a, that is, the end on the side where the support portion 51c of the lid body 151a is located, when the outer lid 30 is closed. Therefore, when the outer lid 30 is closed while the retainer 183 is pressed, the partition plate 91 does not interfere with the rotating handle 185.

[0116] Furthermore, in Figures 16 and 17, the rotating handle 185 of the retainer 183 in the released state is shown by a dashed line. When the retainer 183 is in the released state, the rotating handle 185 extends from the axis C3 toward the lid body 151a (see also the dashed line in Figure 13). That is, when the retainer 183 is in the released state, the lid body 151a and the rotating handle 185 overlap when viewed from above. For this reason, when the outer lid 30 is closed while the retainer 183 is in the released state, the partition plate 91 interferes with the rotating handle 185.

[0117] Therefore, even if the outer cover 30 is rotated from the open position while the retainer 183 is in the released position, interference between the operating member 184 and the partition plate 91 as a protruding part prevents the outer cover 30 from closing while the retainer 183 is in the released position.

[0118] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the outer lid 30 is closed while the retainer 183 is pressed, the partition plate 91 divides the storage space S into the space where the retainer 183 is located and the luggage storage space above the lid body 151a. Therefore, the partition plate 91 prevents the contents placed on the upper surface of the lid body 151a from moving to the front of the lid body 151a, that is, into the space where the retainer 183 is located.

[0119] <Other Embodiments> This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and its configuration may be modified, added to, or deleted.

[0120] For example, in the above embodiment, the saddle-riding vehicle was an electric vehicle with an electric motor as its driving source, but it may also be a vehicle equipped with an engine as its driving source. The battery pack may also be a battery pack capable of supplying power to an electric motor that assists engine drive rather than being the driving source itself. The saddle-riding vehicle may also be an electric assist bicycle that uses an electric motor to assist human power.

[0121] The configuration and orientation of the battery case are not limited to those described in the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the battery case was configured such that the case body and the base were connected to each other, but the battery case may be configured such that the case body and the base are integrated. For example, in the above embodiment, the base 22 may consist only of the upper base frame 23, and the lower base frame 24 may be part of the case body 21. In this case, the engaging member 52 and the locking portion 68 may be fixed to the case body 21 instead of the base 22.

[0122] In the above embodiment, the base was configured to include a protruding portion, but the base and the protruding portion may be separate entities.

[0123] The pressing mechanism may be a compression spring or an air spring. Alternatively, if the inner lid is elastic, the pressing mechanism may be fastened with bolts or other fasteners. In other words, if the inner lid is elastic, the contact member itself may have a pressing function.

[0124] The inner lid may have a cushioning material at the point of contact with the battery pack. Also, in the above embodiment, the contact member was the inner lid, but the contact member does not have to be a lid that covers the battery pack from above. For example, it may be a member that contacts the battery pack without closing the opening P2. For example, the contact member may be a rod-shaped member or a mesh-shaped member. The inner lid does not have to be detachable from the battery case.

[0125] The operating element of the pressing mechanism is the part that the user touches with their hand when operating the pressing mechanism. The shape and configuration of the operating element are not limited to those described in the above embodiment. For example, the operating element may be a lever, handle, knob, or button.

[0126] The casing, which served as a luggage case, included a partition wall, but the luggage case and the partition wall could be separate components.

[0127] In the above embodiment, the contents stored in and removed from the storage space S were described as a battery pack 11 stored in the first space S1 and luggage stored in the second space S2, but the contents are not limited to these. For example, the contents do not have to include a battery pack. The case that forms the storage space does not have to be a battery case, and may be a case with a shape that can store only luggage, for example. For example, the battery pack does not have to be detachable from the vehicle body. Also, the saddle vehicle may be a vehicle that can run without a battery pack. The saddle vehicle may be a vehicle that uses a driving power source other than an electric motor, for example, an internal combustion engine as the driving power source. For example, the contents may be equipment worn by the driver when driving, such as a helmet and gloves. They may also be a toolbox, an instruction manual, or a vehicle part that is intended to be attached to and detached from the vehicle body.

[0128] [Disclosure items] Each of the following items is a disclosure of a preferred embodiment.

[0129] [Item 1] A containment space for containing the contents, A seat, positioned behind the aforementioned storage space in the front-to-back direction, on which the driver straddles and sits, A hinge shaft positioned above and forward of the front end of the aforementioned seat, extending in the left-right direction, A saddle vehicle comprising a lid that is rotatable about a hinge axis between an open position that opens the aforementioned storage space upward and a closed position that covers the aforementioned storage space from above. According to the above specifications, the hinge axis is positioned above and forward of the front end of the seat. Therefore, when moving the outer lid from the closed position to the open position, the seat does not restrict the range of rotation of the outer lid. Thus, it is possible to provide a saddle vehicle equipped with a lid opening and closing structure that makes it easy to store and remove contents from the storage space. In addition, since the seat is positioned behind the storage space in the front-rear direction, it is not necessary to remove the seat from the vehicle body when storing or removing contents.

[0130] [Item 2] The seat further includes a protruding portion that extends diagonally forward and upward from the front end of the seat, thereby restricting the front end position of the driver's seating area. The hinge shaft is the saddle vehicle described in item 1, which faces the forward-facing surface of the protruding portion in the front-rear direction. According to the above, the hinge axis that serves as the pivot point of the outer cover is positioned in the space covered by the protruding part, thus allowing for effective use of the space covered by the protruding part.

[0131] [Item 3] The device further comprises an arm that connects the hinge shaft and the lid, and is rotatable together with the lid around the hinge shaft, The saddle vehicle according to item 2, wherein the arm has a bent shape such that, when viewed in the left-right direction, the foremost end of the arm when the lid is in the open position is located in front of the front end of the protruding portion of the base. According to the above points, it is possible to prevent the protruding part visible to the user from interfering with the arm.

[0132] [Item 4] The saddle vehicle according to item 1 or 2, wherein the hinge axis is located on the central plane of the saddle vehicle in the left-right direction. According to the above points, the base protrusion and outer cover can be designed to reduce the dimensions in the left-right direction.

[0133] [Item 5] The arm is located on the central plane of the saddle vehicle in the left-right direction, as described in item 3. According to the above points, the base protrusion and outer cover can be designed to reduce the dimensions in the left-right direction.

[0134] [Item 6] A saddle vehicle according to any one of items 1 to 5, comprising a base having a frame shape and including an upper opening that is closed off by the lid, and a lower opening located below the upper opening. According to the above, by making the base into a frame shape, a passage can be formed for the battery pack to pass through when housing the battery pack in the battery space or when removing the battery pack from the battery space.

[0135] [Item 7] The base includes a frame-shaped upper opening that is closed by the lid in the closed position, and a lower opening located below the upper opening. The saddle vehicle according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the base includes a protruding portion that extends diagonally forward and upward from the front end of the seat, thereby restricting the front end position of the driver's seating area.

[0136] [Item 8] The case comprises a case body that supports the battery pack, which is the contained item, housed in the aforementioned storage space. The saddle vehicle according to item 6 or 7, wherein the base, the hinge shaft, the lid, and the case body are coupled together to form a battery housing unit. According to the above, the base, hinge shaft, outer cover, and case body are unitized as a battery housing unit, making the assembly of the saddle vehicle easier. For example, it becomes easier to adjust the position of the opening in the base relative to the opening edge of the battery case body.

[0137] [Item 9] The aforementioned storage space includes the battery space occupied by the battery pack, which is the stored item, and the remaining space. The remaining space includes an axis housing space in which the hinge shaft is arranged and a luggage storage space for storing luggage. The saddle vehicle according to any one of items 1 to 8, further comprising a partition wall separating the axle housing space and the luggage storage space. According to the above points, the partition wall can prevent cargo from hitting the hinge shaft and the supporting members. For example, even if the vehicle body is tilted diagonally forward, the partition wall can prevent cargo from moving into the axle housing space.

[0138] Furthermore, the saddle-riding vehicles described in items 1 to 9 above may have the following features:

[0139] For example, the above-described saddle vehicle may further include a hinge support that supports the hinge shaft, and the base, the hinge shaft, the outer cover, and the hinge support may be unitized as a cover unit. With the above configuration, the base, hinge shaft, outer cover, and hinge support are unitized as a cover unit, making it easier to assemble the saddle vehicle.

[0140] Furthermore, the cover unit may further include an engaging axis parallel to the hinge axis and an inner lid that can close the lower opening by rotating around the engaging axis. With this configuration, the inner lid can separate the internal space of the battery from the internal space of the frame-shaped base. Also, since the inner lid is part of the cover unit, the assembly of the saddle vehicle becomes easier.

[0141] Furthermore, the engaged shaft may be positioned in front of the lower opening in the front-rear direction. With the above configuration, since the engaged shaft, which is the pivot point of the inner lid, is located in front of the lower opening, an opening and closing structure for the inner lid can be realized that does not interfere with the rotational structure of the outer lid (for example, an arm connecting the outer lid and the hinge shaft) when the inner lid is rotated.

[0142] Furthermore, the engaged shaft may be fixed to one of the inner lid and the base, and the other of the inner lid and the base may have an engagement structure that detachably engages with the engaged shaft. With the above configuration, the battery pack can be stored in and removed with the inner lid removed, making it easy to install and remove the battery pack.

[0143] Furthermore, the battery housing unit may be inclined rearward with respect to the vertically upward direction, and the rear end of the upper opening of the base may be located behind the rear end of the opening edge of the battery case. With the above configuration, since the rear end of the upper opening of the base is located behind the rear end of the opening edge of the battery case, it is easier to house the battery pack in a battery pack case that is inclined rearward with respect to the vertically upward direction.

[0144] Furthermore, the saddle vehicle described above may further include a projection positioned around the hinge axis that rotates with the rotation of the outer cover, and a stopper positioned around the hinge axis that the projection contacts when the outer cover is in the open position to limit the range of rotation of the outer cover. With the above configuration, by positioning the structure that limits the range of rotation of the outer cover around the hinge axis, the space covered by the protruding portion can be effectively utilized. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0145] 1: Motorcycle 7: Handle 9: Sheet 9a: Front end of the seat 10: Electric motor 11: Battery pack 11a: Battery side connector 20: Battery Case 21: Case body 22: Bass 23a: Protruding section 30: Outer lid 31: Opening and closing mechanism 32: Hinge axis 33: Hinge support 34: Arm 50: Pressing mechanism 51: Inner lid 51a: Lid body 51b: Engaged part 51c: Support part 52: Engaging member 53: Retainer 61: Compression spring 62: First Spring Constellation 63: The Second Spring Constellation 64: Operating component 65: Cam lever 65a: Lever part 65b: Pressing part 66: Cam support 67: Support shaft 68:Locked part 70: Casing 72: First partition wall 73: Second partition wall 80: Pressing mechanism 83: Retainer 84: Operating Member 85: Rotating handle 86: Rotation axis 86a: Pressing part 86b: Locking part 88:Locked part 89: Cylindrical cam 89a: Engagement hole 90: Protruding member 91: Partition plate 101:Cylinder part 102: bottom 103: Through hole 120: Battery Case 140: Locking mechanism 141: Outlet 142: Locking mechanism 143: Lock fixing part 150: Pressing mechanism 151: Inner lid 151a: Lid body 151b: Engaged part 151c: Support part 152: Engaging member 172: Partition wall 174: Side wall 183: Retainer 184: Operating Member 185: Rotating handle 188:Locked part

Claims

1. A containment space for containing the contents, A seat, positioned behind the aforementioned storage space in the front-to-back direction, on which the driver straddles and sits, A hinge shaft positioned above and forward of the front end of the aforementioned seat, extending in the left-right direction, A lid that can rotate around the hinge axis between an open position that opens the aforementioned storage space upward and a closed position that covers the aforementioned storage space from above, The seat comprises a protruding portion that extends diagonally forward and upward from the front end of the seat, thereby restricting the front end position of the driver's seating area, The hinge shaft faces the forward-facing surface of the protruding portion in the front-rear direction. A saddle-type vehicle in which the protruding portion extends to a position forward of the hinge axis.

2. The device further comprises an arm that connects the hinge shaft and the lid, and is rotatable together with the lid around the hinge shaft, The saddle vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the arm includes a front end and a rear end located at a distance from each other in the front-rear direction.

3. The device further comprises an arm that connects the hinge shaft and the lid, and is rotatable together with the lid around the hinge shaft, The saddle vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the arm has a bent shape such that, when viewed in the left-right direction, the foremost end of the arm when the lid is in the open position is located in front of the front end of the protruding portion.

4. The protruding portion includes a non-exposed portion that is covered from above by the lid in the closed position. The seal is further provided, positioned between the cover and the non-exposed portion in the vertical direction. The saddle vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the non-exposed portion is concave in shape, with the portion where the seal adheres being recessed downwards.

5. The saddle vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the arm is located on the central plane of the saddle vehicle in the left-right direction.

6. A saddle vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a base having a frame shape and including an upper opening that is closed off by the lid, and a lower opening located below the upper opening.

7. The base includes a frame-shaped upper opening that is closed by the lid in the closed position, and a lower opening located below the upper opening. The saddle vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base includes the protruding portion.

8. A containment space for containing the contents, A seat, positioned behind the aforementioned storage space in the front-to-back direction, on which the driver straddles and sits, A hinge shaft positioned above and forward of the front end of the aforementioned seat, extending in the left-right direction, A lid that can rotate around the hinge axis between an open position that opens the aforementioned storage space upward and a closed position that covers the aforementioned storage space from above, A base having a frame shape, including an upper opening that is closed off by the lid, and a lower opening located below the upper opening, The case comprises a case body that supports the battery pack, which is the contents housed in the aforementioned storage space, A saddle vehicle in which the base, the hinge shaft, the lid, and the case body are connected to each other to form a battery housing unit.

9. A containment space for containing the contents, A seat, positioned behind the aforementioned storage space in the front-to-back direction, on which the driver straddles and sits, A hinge shaft positioned above and forward of the front end of the aforementioned seat, extending in the left-right direction, The device comprises a lid that is rotatable around the hinge axis between an open position that opens the storage space upward and a closed position that covers the storage space from above, The aforementioned storage space includes the battery space occupied by the battery pack, which is the stored item, and the remaining space. The remaining space includes an axis housing space in which the hinge shaft is arranged and a luggage storage space for storing luggage. A saddle-type vehicle further comprising a partition wall separating the axle housing space and the luggage storage space.

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