Storage box structure

Abstract

To expand a substantial storage space in a storage box structure of a straddled type vehicle.SOLUTION: An inner box 26 includes: a box body 27 having a box opening 27a that is open upward; and a lid 28 that covers the box opening 27a in an openable and closable manner. The lid 28 includes: a lid body 31 that is disposed to face the box opening 27a from above and closes the box opening 27a; and a hinge 32 by which the lid body 31 is supported so as to be turned about a hinge shaft 33 oriented in a vehicle front-rear direction. The hinge 32 includes a hinge arm 34 extending between the lid body 31 and the hinge shaft 33. The hinge arm 34 is entirely disposed further forward than the box opening 27a in a box front-rear direction along an axial direction of the hinge shaft 33.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage box structure.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, efforts have been actively made to provide access to a sustainable transport system that takes into account people in vulnerable positions among traffic participants. In order to achieve this, research and development has focused on further improving traffic safety and convenience through the development of article storage. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a storage box structure of a saddle-type vehicle in which a lid of a storage portion opens outward in the vehicle width direction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the above conventional technology, the hinge that supports the lid is adjacent to the outside in the vehicle width direction of the storage portion, and there is room for improvement in terms of expanding the substantial storage space.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to expand the substantial storage space in the storage box structure of a saddle-type vehicle. And, by extension, it contributes to the development of a sustainable transport system.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] As a means of solving the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention provides a storage box structure for a saddle-type vehicle in which a leg shield (16A) is positioned in front of a step portion (6) on which the driver places their feet, and an article storage section (26) on at least one side in the vehicle width direction of the leg shield (16A) is provided for loading and unloading articles, wherein the article storage section (26) comprises a box body (27) having a box opening (27a) that opens upward, and a lid (28) that can be opened and closed to cover the box opening (27a), and the lid (28) is... The box comprises a lid body (31) positioned to face the box opening (27a) from above and to close the box opening (27a), and a hinge (32) that rotatably supports the lid body (31) around a hinge shaft (33) facing the front-rear direction of the vehicle, wherein the hinge (32) includes a hinge arm (34) that extends between the lid body (31) and the hinge shaft (33), and the entire hinge arm (34) is positioned in front of the box opening (27a) in the front-rear direction of the box along the axial direction of the hinge shaft (33). With this configuration, the hinge arm supporting the lid body that opens and closes the box opening is positioned slightly forward in the axial direction of the hinge axis (the front-to-back direction of the box), avoiding the box opening. As a result, the hinge arm does not protrude into the box opening, allowing for maximum use of the box opening to store items. For example, with the lid open, it becomes possible to store items such as PET bottles that are taller than the depth of the box body. By offsetting the hinge arm to the front side of the leg shield, the box opening and storage space on the side closer to the occupant behind the leg shield can be secured, improving convenience.

[0007] A second aspect of the present invention is, in the first aspect described above, a recess (17) is formed on the rear side of the leg shield (16A) above the box opening (27a), the recess (17) being recessed toward the front of the vehicle, the recess (17) comprising an upper surface portion (18) on which the box opening (27a) is located, and an overhang portion (19) extending upward and rearward above the upper surface portion (18). This configuration makes it easier to access the box opening from the diagonally upper rear (occupant side) of the recess, and the overhang portion is used as a canopy for the box opening, thereby preventing water and foreign objects from entering the storage area.

[0008] A third aspect of the present invention is, in the first or second aspect described above, the hinge shaft (33) is positioned on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the box opening (27a), and the lid body (31) opens outward in the vehicle width direction of the box opening (27a). With this configuration, compared to a configuration where the lid body opens to the front or rear in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, the open lid body does not obstruct access to the box opening through the recess, thus ensuring the convenience of the storage compartment.

[0009] A fourth aspect of the present invention is that, in any one of the first to third aspects described above, the lid body (31) is wider in the front-rear direction on the outside in the vehicle width direction than on the inside in the vehicle width direction, and extends more significantly forward in the front-rear direction on the outside in the vehicle width direction than on the inside in the vehicle width direction, and the hinge arm (34) is attached to the front part of the outside in the vehicle width direction of the lid body (31) (forward of the front-rear center position). With this configuration, by attaching the hinge arm to the front part of the outer portion of the lid body that extends towards the front of the vehicle (the outer and front corner in the vehicle width direction), the hinge arm can be positioned away from the occupant side, thereby securing the occupant's occupant space.

[0010] A fifth aspect of the present invention is that, in any one of the first to fourth aspects described above, the box body (27) has a container shape having depth in the vertical direction, and the box opening (27a) is formed on the upper end surface, and the upper end surface is directed rearward in the normal direction and outward in the vehicle width direction. With this configuration, the upper end surface (box opening) of the box body, which has depth in the vertical direction, faces rearward and outward in the vehicle width direction. This makes it easier to access the box opening with the hand on the same side as the item storage area, thus improving convenience.

[0011] A sixth aspect of the present invention is that, in any one of the first to fifth aspects described above, the edge (27e1) of the box opening (27a) and the edge (34e) of the hinge arm (34) are adjacent to each other and substantially parallel to each other. With this configuration, the edges of the box opening and the hinge arm are brought close to each other, thereby securing the opening area of ​​the box opening while miniaturizing the entire item storage section including the hinge, making it suitable for saddle-type vehicles with limited space for mounting parts. The term "adjacent" above means, for example, that the components in question are close to each other without the need for other parts (they do not need to touch), and the term "approximately parallel" above means, for example, that the virtual extensions of adjacent components do not intersect each other within the total width of the item storage section.

[0012] A seventh aspect of the present invention is that, in any one of the first to sixth aspects described above, the hinge arm (34) is made of metal. With this configuration, even if the hinge arm is offset to the front of the leg shield, it is easier to ensure the rigidity of the hinge arm and stably support the lid. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, the storage box structure of a saddle-type vehicle can be made to effectively increase the storage space. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a right side view of a motorcycle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a rear view of the upper part of the leg shield of the above motorcycle. [Figure 3] This is a left side view of the area around the inner box on the upper left side of the leg shield shown above. [Figure 4] This is a rear view of the area around the inner box shown above. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the area around the opening of the inner box shown above. [Figure 6]It is an explanatory view of the periphery of the box opening as seen from the depth direction of the inner box. [Figure 7] It is an explanatory view of the closed state of the lid as seen from the depth direction of the inner box. [Figure 8] It is a perspective view including a cross-section of the periphery of the hinge of the lid.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the directions such as front, rear, left, and right are the same as those in the vehicle described below unless otherwise specified. In the drawings used in the following description, an arrow FR indicating the front of the vehicle, an arrow LH indicating the left side of the vehicle, an arrow UP indicating the upper side of the vehicle, and a line CL indicating the center of the vehicle left and right are shown at appropriate positions.

[0016] <Vehicle as a Whole> In FIG. 1, as an example of a saddle-riding type vehicle, a scooter type motorcycle 1 is shown. The motorcycle 1 includes a front wheel 3 which is a steering wheel and a rear wheel 4 which is a drive wheel. The front wheel 3 is supported by a front fork 3a and can be rotated (steered) by a bar handle 2. The rear wheel 4 is supported by a swing type power unit 8 and can be driven by the power unit 8. In the figure, reference numeral 2a denotes grip portions on both the left and right sides of the bar handle 2, reference numeral 2b denotes a handle cover covering the periphery of the bar handle 2 except for the left and right grip portions 2a, and reference numeral 4a denotes a rear cushion respectively.

[0017] Steering system components including the bar handle 2, the front fork 3a, and the front wheel 3 are supported by a head pipe 21a at the front end of the vehicle body frame 21 so as to be steerable. The front portion of the power unit 8 is supported by the lower portion of the vehicle body frame 21 so as to be vertically swingable. The vehicle body frame 21 includes a head pipe 21a, a down frame 21b extending downward and rearward from the head pipe 21a, a lower frame 21c extending rearward from the lower portion of the down frame 21b, and a rear frame 21d extending rearward and upward from the rear portion of the lower frame 21c.

[0018] A floor step 6 is provided between the front wheel 3 and the rear wheel 4, where the driver places their feet. A front body 14 is provided in front of the floor step 6. A rear body 15 is provided behind the floor step 6. The space K1 above the floor step 6 between the front body 14 and the rear body 15 is the space K1 that the driver straddles when stepping over the vehicle. A handle 2 is positioned above the front body 14. A seat 5 where the occupant sits is supported above the rear body 15. A foldable side stand (not shown) is provided on the lower left side of the floor step 6, which can support the vehicle in an upright position with the vehicle tilted to the left.

[0019] The power unit 8 includes, for example, an engine 8a, which is an internal combustion engine, and a transmission device (for example, a belt-type continuously variable transmission, not shown) that transmits the driving force generated by the engine 8a to the rear wheels 4. The transmission device is, for example, located on the left side of the vehicle body. The configuration of the power unit 8 can vary, and for example, it may be equipped with an electric motor as the drive source.

[0020] The body frame 21 of the motorcycle 1 is covered by a body cover 11. The body cover 11 includes a front cover 11a that covers the front of the body frame 21 from the front, an inner cover 11b that covers the front of the body frame 21 from the rear, a floor cover 11c that covers the lower part of the body frame 21 from above, and a rear body cover 11d that covers the rear of the body frame 21 from the front and sides. The front cover 11a and the inner cover 11b constitute a front body cover 16 that forms the outer surface of the front body 14. The front body cover 16 constitutes a leg shield 16A that covers the front of the rider's legs. The upper surface of the floor cover 11c constitutes a floor step 6. The floor step 6 forms a flat upper surface (footrest surface) over the entire width in the vehicle width direction, for example. The floor step 6 may include a center tunnel that rises upward on the inside in the vehicle width direction. The rear body cover 11d forms the outer surface of the rear body 15. The body cover 11, with the exception of the steering wheel cover 2b, is fixed directly or indirectly to the body frame 21.

[0021] <Leg shield component layout> Referring to Figures 1 and 2, on the right side of the rear side of the leg shield 16A (occupant side, inner cover 11b side), there is a main switch unit 29 including an ignition switch and lock / unlock switches for various locks, and a terminal socket 29d which has at least one of a power supply function and a communication function and allows for insertion and removal of connection terminals for external devices.

[0022] On the left and right sides of the rear of the leg shield 16A, there are inner boxes 26 and 36, respectively, which can store items. A cargo hook 16c is located in the center of the left and right sides of the rear of the leg shield 16A. The inner box 26 on the left side of the vehicle body does not have a protruding shape like the base portion 19a described later above its upper end opening (hereinafter referred to as the box opening 27a), so the box opening 27a can be opened and closed by the lid 28. The lid 28 in Figure 2 rotates in the vehicle width direction (lateral direction) around a hinge shaft 33 that extends in the front-rear direction on the outside of the box opening 27a in the vehicle width direction to open and close the box opening 27a. The lid 28 in Figure 2 shows the open state with the box opening 27a opened. The line 33a in the figure indicates the central axis of the hinge shaft 33.

[0023] The inner box 36 on the right side of the vehicle body has a base portion 19a that protrudes above the upper end opening (hereinafter referred to as the box opening 37a) because the main switch unit 29 and terminal socket 29d are positioned above the upper end opening (hereinafter referred to as the box opening 37a). For this reason, the inner box 36 on the right side of the vehicle body does not have a lid and is configured to have the box opening 37a open at all times.

[0024] <Recess in the leg shield> Referring to Figures 1 to 3, recesses 17 are formed on both the left and right sides of the rear side (vehicle rear side, occupant side) of the leg shield 16A, forming a V-shape that protrudes forward when viewed from the side of the vehicle. Each recess 17 comprises a flat upper surface portion 18 facing upward and an overhang portion 19 extending upward and rearward above the upper surface portion 18.

[0025] The upper surface portion 18 on the left side of the vehicle is formed flat, including the closed lid 28 of the inner box 26. The upper surface portion 18 on the right side of the vehicle is left as a frame around the normally open box opening 27a of the inner box 36.

[0026] The upper surface portion 18 is positioned to follow a reference plane that slopes downward towards the rear when viewed from the side, and is positioned lower towards the outside in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front or rear. The upper surface portion 18 includes a straight outer edge portion 18a located on the outside in the vehicle width direction of each left and right box opening 27a, 37a and extending with a downward sloping rearward, a straight rear edge portion 18b located behind each left and right box opening 27a, 37a and extending with a downward sloping rearward as it moves further outward in the vehicle width direction, and an arc-shaped edge portion 18c located in front of each left and right box opening 27a, 37a and onward in the vehicle width direction, extending between the front end of the outer edge portion 18a and the inward end of the rear edge portion 18b in the vehicle width direction. The arc-shaped edge portion 18c has a curved shape that is convex inward and forward in the vehicle width direction.

[0027] Each of the left and right overhang portions 19 curves upward and outward in the vehicle width direction from the arc-shaped edge portion 18c of the upper surface portion 18 in a concave (spherical) shape. The overhang portions 19 are provided so as to overlap with the upper surface portion 18 (including the box openings 27a and 37a) when viewed from above. The left-side overhang portion 19 of the vehicle is formed in a concave (spherical) shape that is recessed forward and inward in the vehicle width direction. The right-side overhang portion 19 of the vehicle is formed based on a concave shape that is symmetrical to the left-side overhang portion 19 of the vehicle. Unlike the left-side overhang portion 19 of the vehicle, the right-side overhang portion 19 of the vehicle has a base portion 19a that protrudes inward in the vehicle width direction. The rear end of the base portion 19a is where the operating part of the main switch unit 29 (main switch knob 29a and open operation switch 29b) is located. Below the base portion 19a is where the terminal connection port 29e of the terminal socket 29d is located.

[0028] <Inner box structure> The following describes the inner box 26 on the left side of the vehicle (inner box 26 with lid 28). If the inner box 36 on the right side of the vehicle has a lid, the following configuration can be applied as a symmetrical configuration on both sides of the vehicle.

[0029] Referring to Figures 2 to 5, the inner box 26 comprises a box body 27 through which items can be loaded and unloaded from a box opening 27a that opens upward toward the vehicle, and a lid 28 that covers the box opening 27a in an openable and closable manner. The box body 27 is supported inside the leg shield 16A below the upper surface 18 of the recess 17. The lid 28 is positioned on the upper surface 18 of the recess 17. In Figures 2 to 5, the lid 28 is shown in the open state with the box opening 27a open.

[0030] The box body 27 is provided separately from the front cover 11a and inner cover 11b that constitute the leg shield 16A. The box body 27 forms the storage space K2 of the inner box 26 below the box opening 27a. The box body 27 has the shape of a bottomed container with an open top, and its depth increases linearly toward the bottom. Items can be loaded and unloaded into the storage space K2 from the box opening 27a of the box body 27. In the figure, arrow D indicates the depth direction of the box body 27. The depth direction D is perpendicular to the axial direction of the hinge axis 33.

[0031] The box body 27 includes an outer wall portion 27b extending downward from the vicinity of the outer edge portion 18a, an inner wall portion 27c extending downward from the area in the vehicle width direction inward of the arc-shaped edge portion 18c, a rear wall portion 27d extending downward from the vicinity of the rear edge portion 18b, and a front wall portion 27e spanning between the front ends of the outer wall portion 27b and the inner wall portion 27c.

[0032] The upper edge of the outer wall portion 27b is formed along the outer edge portion 18a of the upper surface portion 18. The upper edge of the inner wall portion 27c is formed along the inward range in the vehicle width direction of the arc-shaped edge portion 18c of the upper surface portion 18. The upper edge of the rear wall portion 27d is formed along the rear edge portion 18b of the upper surface portion 18. The upper edge of the front wall portion 27e is formed along the rear edge of the triangular region R1, which will be described later.

[0033] The box opening 27a is made less susceptible to external disturbances such as water splashing from above because the overhang portion 19 acts as a canopy. The overhang portion 19 is sloped upwards towards the rear, making the box opening 27a easily visible when looking down from the riding position.

[0034] The recess 17 forms an open space K3 above the inner box 26. The recess 17 forms an open space K3 above the box opening 27a that opens to the rear and outward in the vehicle width direction. The open space K3 communicates with the storage space K2 inside the inner box 26 through the box opening 27a. By using the open space K3 as a second storage space above the storage space K2, it is possible to accommodate items taller than the depth of the storage space K2 in the box body 27 (for example, PET bottles P shown in Figure 4).

[0035] In the recess 17 on the right side of the vehicle body, the base portion 19a protrudes downward from the overhang portion 19, limiting the size of items that can be stored using the open space K3. In the recess 17 on the left side of the vehicle body, there is no configuration that protrudes downward from the overhang portion 19, and with the lid 28 open, tall items can be stored in the inner box 26 using the open space K3.

[0036] The lid 28 opens and closes over a larger area than the box opening 27a. The lid 28 is integrally formed including a flat portion 31a that forms most of the upper surface portion 18 excluding the outer circumference, and a hanging portion 31b that extends downward from the rear edge portion 18b of the upper surface portion 18 by a constant width. Below the outer circumference of the lid 28, a displacement portion 18d is formed that is recessed into the inside of the inner cover 11b so as to fit the outer circumference of the lid 28. A flange portion 27f that extends around the box opening 27a of the box body 27 is arranged in the displacement portion 18d. An arm retraction portion 18e is formed in the displacement portion 18d at the outer and forward side in the vehicle width direction of the box opening 27a, for extending and retracting the hinge arm 34, which will be described later. The arm retraction portion 18e is a recess (recess) formed on the upper side of the box body 27, and the hinge arm 34 is located within this arm retraction portion 18e.

[0037] The lid 28 comprises a lid body 31 positioned to face the box opening 27a from above and close the box opening 27a, and a hinge 32 that rotatably supports the lid body 31. The box opening 27a is open upward below the overhang portion 19 of the recess 17 of the leg shield 16A (inner cover 11b). The recess 17 forms an open space K3 below the overhang portion 19 and above the box opening 27a.

[0038] The upper end surface of the box body 27 that forms the box opening 27a is inclined so that its normal direction is towards the rear and outward in the vehicle width direction. The upper end surface of the box body 27 is a surface that is substantially parallel to the upper surface 18 of the recess 17. By forming the box opening 27a on this upper end surface, it is easy for the occupant to put items in and take them out with the hand on the same side as the inner box 26.

[0039] The lid body 31 opens and closes with a hinge 32 located on the outer and forward side in the vehicle width direction of the box opening 27a. The hinge 32 supports the lid body 31 with respect to at least one of the box body 27 and the leg shield 16A. The hinge 32 comprises a pivot shaft (hinge shaft) 33 extending in the front-rear direction and a hinge arm 34 extending between the hinge shaft 33 and the lid body 31.

[0040] Referring to Figure 6, when the box body 27 is viewed from the depth direction D, the hinge arm 34 is positioned forward of the center position CL2 of the box body 27's total width H1 in the front-to-back direction (hinge axis direction). The virtual extension of the central axis 33a of the hinge shaft 33 downward and rearward is approximately parallel to the outer edge 27b1 (upper edge of the outer wall portion 27b) of the box opening 27a. The hinge shaft 33 extends backward from the front edge 27e1 (upper edge of the front wall portion 27e) of the box opening 27a and terminates forward from the rear edge 27d1 (upper edge of the rear wall portion 27d) of the box opening 27a, thereby shortening its axial length. The hinge shaft 33 is positioned below the top surface of the box (upper surface portion 18 of the recess 17) and is located within the arm retraction portion 18e at the connection point with the hinge arm 34.

[0041] The closed lid 28 (lid body 31) has an outer shape that generally overlaps with the box opening 27a. The central position CL2 is also the central position in the hinge axis direction when the closed lid 28 (lid body 31) is viewed from the depth direction D. The lid body 31 extends further forward on the outer side in the vehicle width direction than on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the front-to-rear width is wider on the outer side in the vehicle width direction than on the inner side. For this reason, it is easy to attach the hinge arm 34 to the front side of the lid body 31.

[0042] The rear end edge 27d1 of the box opening 27a extends inclined so that the inner side in the vehicle width direction is located rearward. The inner edge 27c1 (upper end edge of the inner wall portion 27c) of the box opening 27a extends forward from the inner end in the vehicle width direction of the rear end edge 27d1 of the box opening 27a, curves outward in the vehicle width direction, and then extends inclined upward and outward in the vehicle width direction. The outer edge 27b1 of the box opening 27a extends forward from the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the rear end edge 27d1 of the box opening 27a, substantially parallel to the hinge axis 33. A bent portion 27h is provided between the front end edge 27e1 and the inner edge 27c1 of the box opening 27a.

[0043] Referring to Figures 2 to 5, the hinge shaft 33 is in close proximity to the outer wall portion 27b of the box body 27 in the left-right direction. The hinge shaft 33 is positioned at the same vertical height as the box opening 27a (the upper end of the box body 27). When the lid 28 (lid body 31) is positioned along the top surface 18, it completely closes the box opening 27a, resulting in a closed state (fully closed state). The position of the lid body 31 at this time is defined as the closed position.

[0044] The lid 28 (lid body 31) rotates so that the inner side in the vehicle width direction (tip 28a side) in the closed state moves upward and outward in the vehicle width direction, opening the box opening 27a. The lid body 31 rotates around the hinge shaft 33 located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction (base end 28b side) in the closed state. When the box opening 27a is fully opened, the lid 28 (lid body 31) stands approximately vertically outward in the vehicle width direction from the box opening 27a. The position of the lid body 31 at this time is defined as the open position.

[0045] When the lid 28 is open, it is positioned such that, when the box body 27 is viewed from the depth direction D, the entire lid body 31 is located outside the box opening 27a in the vehicle width direction. The open lid 28 (lid body 31) does not obstruct the loading and unloading of items into and out of the box body 27 along the depth direction. By opening the lid 28, it becomes possible to store items such as PET bottles that are taller than the depth of the box body 27.

[0046] Referring to Figures 2 and 4, the open lid 28 (lid body 31) is positioned so as viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle, along the outermost edge 16b of the leg shield 16A in the vehicle width direction. The open lid 28 (lid body 31) is positioned so that the outer surface (upper surface) forming the upper surface portion 18 of the recess 17 is aligned with the outermost edge 16b of the leg shield 16A in the vehicle width direction, as viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The open lid 28 (lid body 31) is positioned so that its upper and lower ends overlap the outermost edge 16b of the leg shield 16A in the vehicle width direction, as viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0047] Referring to Figure 6, when viewing the box body 27 from the depth direction D, a roughly triangular region (triangular area) R1 is formed at the outer and front corner of the displacement portion 18d in the vehicle width direction, sandwiched between two acute-angled outer edges. An arm retraction portion 18e is formed in the triangular area R1, which extends and retracts the hinge arm 34 as the lid 28 opens and closes. Viewed from the depth direction D, a locking mechanism 28g is positioned at the inner and rear corner of the displacement portion 18d in the vehicle width direction, between two sharp-angled outer edges. This mechanism allows the lid 28 to be locked in the closed position by engaging and disengaging a locking pin 31d (see Figure 5) that protrudes from the back surface of the lid body 31.

[0048] Referring to Figures 2 to 5, the hinge 32 has a hinge arm 34 connected to the back side (bottom side in the closed state) of the lid body 31. The hinge arm 34 is provided as a single unit, offset to the front of the central position CL2 (see Figure 6) in the front-rear direction of the lid body 31 and the box body 27. The hinge arm 34 has a bent shape when viewed from the direction along the hinge axis 33 (view in the direction of the hinge axis). When the lid 28 is open, the hinge arm 34 has a bent shape that is convex inward in the vehicle width direction, extending from the hinge axis 33 to the back side of the lid body 31 and supporting the upright lid body 31. When the lid 28 is closed, the hinge arm 34 is housed within the arm retraction portion 18e of the box body 27.

[0049] Referring to Figures 4 to 6, the hinge arm 34 is made of a strip-shaped steel plate with its width direction aligned with the hinge shaft 33, and is integrally connected to the hinge shaft 33, which is made of a round bar-shaped steel material, by welding or the like. The hinge arm 34 may be engaged with the hinge shaft 33 so as to be rotatable relative to it around its axis. In Figure 6, reference numeral 34e indicates the rear lower edge on one side in the width direction of the hinge arm 34, and reference numeral 34f indicates the front upper edge on the other side in the width direction of the hinge arm 34. The rear lower edge 34e of the hinge arm 34 is approximately parallel to the front end edge 27e1 of the box opening 27a and is adjacent to the front end edge 27e1 in the front-rear direction. As the rear lower edge 34e of the hinge arm 34 and the front end edge 27e1 of the box opening 27a approach each other, the opening area of ​​the box opening 27a is increased, and the front-rear length of the entire inner box 26 including the hinge 32 is reduced.

[0050] The hinge arm 34 includes a bent portion 34a that has a bent shape when viewed in the hinge axis direction, and a flat portion (tip portion) 34b that extends from the tip of the bent portion 34a along the lower surface of the lid body 31. The bent portion 34a forms a downwardly convex V shape when the lid 28 is closed. In the figure, reference numeral 34a1 indicates the first bent portion in the middle of the bent portion 34a in the longitudinal direction, reference numeral 34a2 indicates the second bent portion between the bent portion 34a and the flat portion 34b, reference numeral 34a3 indicates the first plate portion between the hinge shaft 33 and the first bent portion 34a1, and reference numeral 34a4 indicates the second plate portion between the first bent portion 34a1 and the second bent portion 34a2. When the lid 28 is open, the first plate portion 34a3 of the hinge arm 34 and the outer edge 18a of the upper surface portion 18 come into contact with each other, thereby positioning the lid 28 in the open position.

[0051] The flat portion 34b is fastened and fixed to a fastening boss 31c that protrudes from the back surface of the lid body 31. The flat portion 34b has a bolt insertion hole 34c through which a fastening bolt B1 is inserted, and an anti-rotation hole 34d that engages with an anti-rotation projection that protrudes from the end face of the fastening boss 31c. The tip side of the flat portion 34b has an inclined portion 34b1 that is cut out at an angle according to the outer shape of the lid body 31 (the part that follows the arc-shaped edge portion 18c).

[0052] As described above, the storage box structure of the motorcycle 1 in the above embodiment is such that a leg shield 16A is positioned in front of the floor step 6 on which the driver places their feet, and an inner box 26 is provided on at least one side in the vehicle width direction of the leg shield 16A, and the inner box 26 comprises a box body 27 having a box opening 27a that opens upward, and a lid 28 that can be opened and closed to cover the box opening 27a, and the lid 28 is The box comprises a lid body 31 positioned to face the box opening 27a from above and to close the box opening 27a, and a hinge 32 that rotatably supports the lid body 31 around a hinge shaft 33 facing the vehicle's front-rear direction, wherein the hinge 32 includes a hinge arm 34 that spans between the lid body 31 and the hinge shaft 33, and the entire hinge arm 34 is positioned forward of the box opening 27a in the front-rear direction of the box along the axial direction of the hinge shaft 33.

[0053] With this configuration, the hinge arm 34 that supports the lid body 31 for opening and closing the box opening 27a is positioned slightly forward in the axial direction of the hinge axis 33 (the front-to-back direction of the box), avoiding the box opening 27a. As a result, the hinge arm 34 does not protrude into the box opening 27a, and items can be stored by making maximum use of the box opening 27a. For example, with the lid 28 open, it becomes possible to store items such as PET bottles P that are taller than the depth of the box body 27. By offsetting the hinge arm 34 to the front side of the leg shield 16A, the box opening 27a and storage space K2 on the side closer to the occupant behind the leg shield 16A can be secured, improving convenience.

[0054] In the storage box structure of the above-described motorcycle 1, a recess 17 is formed on the rear side of the leg shield 16A above the box opening 27a, and the recess 17 is recessed toward the front of the vehicle. The recess 17 comprises an upper surface portion 18 on which the box opening 27a is located, and an overhang portion 19 extending upward and backward above the upper surface portion 18. This configuration makes it easier to access the box opening 27a from the diagonally upper rear (occupant side) of the recess 17, and the overhang portion 19 is used as a canopy for the box opening 27a, thereby suppressing the intrusion of water and foreign matter into the inner box 26.

[0055] In the storage box structure of the motorcycle 1 described above, the hinge shaft 33 is positioned on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the box opening 27a, and the lid body 31 opens toward the outside in the vehicle width direction of the box opening 27a. With this configuration, compared to a configuration in which the lid body 31 opens to the front or rear in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, the open lid body 31 does not obstruct access to the box opening 27a through the recess 17, thus ensuring the convenience of the inner box 26.

[0056] In the storage box structure of the above-described motorcycle 1, the lid body 31 is wider in the front-to-rear direction on the outside in the vehicle width direction than on the inside in the vehicle width direction, and extends further forward in the front-to-rear direction on the outside in the vehicle width direction than on the inside in the vehicle width direction, and the hinge arm 34 is attached to the front part of the outside in the vehicle width direction of the lid body 31 (forward of the front-to-rear center position CL2). With this configuration, by attaching the hinge arm 34 to the front part (the outer and front corner in the vehicle width direction) of the outer part of the lid body 31 that extends toward the front of the vehicle, the hinge arm 34 can be positioned away from the occupant side, thereby securing the occupant's occupant space.

[0057] In the storage box structure of the above-described motorcycle 1, the box body 27 has a container shape with depth in the vertical direction, and the box opening 27a is formed on the upper end surface, and the upper end surface is directed rearward in the normal direction and outward in the vehicle width direction. With this configuration, the upper end surface (box opening 27a) of the box body 27, which has depth in the vertical direction, faces rearward and outward in the vehicle width direction, making it easier to access the box opening 27a with the hand on the same side as the inner box 26, thereby improving convenience.

[0058] In the storage box structure of the above-described motorcycle 1, the front end edge 27e1 of the box opening 27a and the rear lower edge 34e of the hinge arm 34 are adjacent to each other and are arranged substantially parallel to each other. With this configuration, the front edge 27e1 of the box opening 27a and the rear lower edge 34e of the hinge arm 34 are brought closer together, thereby securing the opening area of ​​the box opening 27a while miniaturizing the entire inner box 26 including the hinge 32, making it suitable for saddle-type vehicles where space for mounting parts is limited.

[0059] In the storage box structure of the above-mentioned motorcycle 1, the hinge arm 34 is made of metal. With this configuration, even if the hinge arm 34 is offset to the front side of the leg shield 16A, it is easier to ensure the rigidity of the hinge arm 34 and stably support the lid 28. In this embodiment, the hinge arm 34 is made of steel, but it may also be made of a light metal such as aluminum alloy.

[0060] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, the present invention may be applied to saddle-type vehicles other than motorcycles. The saddle-type vehicles include all vehicles on which the driver straddles the vehicle body, and include not only motorcycles (including motorized bicycles and scooter-type vehicles) but also three-wheeled vehicles (including vehicles with one front wheel and two rear wheels, as well as vehicles with two front wheels and one rear wheel) or four-wheeled vehicles (such as four-wheeled buggies). The invention may also be applied to vehicles that include an electric motor as the power source. Furthermore, the configuration in the above embodiment is just one example of the present invention, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention, such as replacing the components of the embodiment with well-known components. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1. Motorcycle (saddle-type vehicle) 6. Floor step (step section) 16A Leg Shield 17 recess 18 Top part 19 Overhang section 26. Inner box (item storage section) 27 Box Body 27a Box opening 27e1 Front edge (edge) 28 Lid 31 Lid Body 32 hinges 33 Hinge axis 34 Hinge Arm 34e Posterior lower edge (edge)

Claims

1. A leg shield (16A) is positioned in front of the step (6) where the driver places their feet. In a storage box structure for a saddle-type vehicle (1) that includes an article storage section (26) on at least one side in the vehicle width direction of the leg shield (16A) from which articles can be put in and taken out, The article storage section (26) comprises a box body (27) having a box opening (27a) that opens upward, and a lid (28) that can open and close to cover the box opening (27a), The lid (28) comprises a lid body (31) positioned to face the box opening (27a) from above and to close the box opening (27a), and a hinge (32) that rotatably supports the lid body (31) around a hinge axis (33) facing the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The hinge (32) includes a hinge arm (34) that extends between the lid body (31) and the hinge shaft (33), The storage box structure for a saddle-type vehicle, wherein the hinge arm (34) is positioned entirely in front of the box opening (27a) in the front-rear direction of the box along the axial direction of the hinge shaft (33), and is provided as a single unit offset to the front of the central position (CL2) in the front-rear direction of the box body (27).

2. On the rear side of the leg shield (16A), a recess (17) is formed above the box opening (27a) that is recessed toward the front of the vehicle. The storage box structure for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the recess (17) comprises an upper surface portion (18) on which the box opening (27a) is located, and an overhang portion (19) extending upward and backward above the upper surface portion (18).

3. The hinge shaft (33) is positioned on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the box opening (27a). The lid body (31) opens outward in the vehicle width direction of the box opening (27a), as described in claim 2, for a storage box structure for a saddle-type vehicle.

4. The lid body (31) is formed such that the outer side in the vehicle width direction is wider in the longitudinal direction than the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the outer side in the vehicle width direction extends more significantly forward in the longitudinal direction than the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The storage box structure for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the hinge arm (34) is attached to the front part of the lid body (31) on the outside in the vehicle width direction.

5. The box body (27) has a container shape with depth in the vertical direction, and the box opening (27a) is formed on the upper end surface. The storage box structure for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the upper end surface is directed rearward in the normal direction and outward in the vehicle width direction.

6. The storage box structure for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the edge (27e1) of the box opening (27a) and the edge (34e) of the hinge arm (34) are adjacent to each other and substantially parallel to each other.

7. The storage box structure for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the hinge arm (34) is made of metal.

8. A leg shield (16A) is positioned in front of the step (6) where the driver places their feet. In a storage box structure for a saddle-type vehicle (1) that includes an article storage section (26) on at least one side in the vehicle width direction of the leg shield (16A) from which articles can be put in and taken out, The article storage section (26) comprises a box body (27) having a box opening (27a) that opens upward, and a lid (28) that can open and close to cover the box opening (27a), The lid (28) comprises a lid body (31) positioned to face the box opening (27a) from above and to close the box opening (27a), and a hinge (32) that rotatably supports the lid body (31) around a hinge axis (33) facing the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The hinge (32) includes a hinge arm (34) that extends between the lid body (31) and the hinge shaft (33), The hinge arm (34) is positioned in front of the box opening (27a) in the front-to-rear direction of the box along the axial direction of the hinge shaft (33). The lid body (31) is formed such that the outer side in the vehicle width direction is wider in the longitudinal direction than the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the outer side in the vehicle width direction extends more significantly forward in the longitudinal direction than the inner side in the vehicle width direction. A storage box structure for a saddle-type vehicle, wherein the hinge arm (34) is attached to the front outer side in the vehicle width direction of the lid body (31).

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