Saddle ride-type vehicle with auxiliary lighting device

Abstract

A saddle-ride type vehicle is described, comprising a front portion equipped with a steering handlebar which controls a front wheel, a central portion equipped with a footrest, and a rear portion which comprises a saddle and a rear wheel. The front portion, the central portion and the rear portion are at least partially covered by a fairing, wherein there is provided at least one compartment obtained in the fairing which is accessible through a door configured to switch between an open configuration and a closed configuration. There is provided at least one auxiliary lighting device arranged on the fairing such as to illuminate at least one of the front portion, the central portion and / or the rear portion when the door is in the closed configuration, and illuminate the inside of the compartment when the door is in the open configuration.

Description

TITLESADDLE RIDE-TYPE VEHICLE WITH AUXILIARY LIGHTING DEVICEDESCRIPTIONTECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention is directed to the field of saddle ride-type vehicles, in particular scooters, and relates in detail to a vehicle equipped with an auxiliary lighting device.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In saddle ride-type vehicles, such as scooters or the like, the application of auxiliary lighting devices for illuminating storage compartments obtained in the vehicle is known. Auxiliary lighting device means a device not included in the mandatory vehicle lighting equipment which comprises, for example, the front headlight, the rear headlight, the turn signal lamps, the license plate light, etc.

[0003] Such auxiliary lighting devices, also known as courtesy lights, are commonly housed inside the compartment to be illuminated and are manually or automatically activated when a door is opened to access the compartment. In known saddle ride-type vehicles, each compartment has a dedicated lighting device. Therefore, for constructional and cost-related reasons, not all compartments of the vehicle are illuminated, rather only the main ones, e.g., the storage compartment or the helmet storage compartment.

[0004] Instead, other accessible compartments, facing for example the engine or vehicle control systems, are not illuminated. This can be a drawback if an inspection is necessary for a check, for example, at night.SUMMARY

[0005] Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a saddle ride-type vehicle implementing an auxiliary lighting device which alternatively allows illuminating several compartments present on the vehicle.

[0006] The aforesaid objects are now achieved by a saddle-ride type vehicle comprising a front portion equipped with a steering handlebar which controls at least one front wheel, a central portion equipped with a footrest, and a rear portion which comprises a saddle and a rear drive wheel, where the front portion, the central portion and the rear portion comprise a respective fairing defining the body of the vehicle, and where there is provided at least one compartmentobtained in the fairing which is accessible through a door configured to switch between an open configuration and a closed configuration, where an auxiliary lighting device arranged on the fairing is provided such as to: illuminate, in particular with a direct light beam, at least one of the front portion, the central portion and / or the rear portion when the door is in the closed configuration, and illuminate, in particular with a reflected light beam, the compartment when the door is in the open configuration.

[0007] Such an auxiliary lighting device thus allows alternatively lighting several parts of the vehicle by means of a shared lighting source.In particular, the auxiliary lighting device is functionally associated and correlated with the door by means of which, in the open configuration, it allows illuminating the inside of the compartment by reflecting the light beam. Alternatively, with the door closed, it allows illuminating another portion of the vehicle, in which there are other accessible compartments where there are components of the engine or of an electric control system thereof.Advantageously, said auxiliary lighting device comprises at least one light source, preferably an LED light source, in particular a pair of light sources spaced apart from each other.

[0008] Advantageously, the light source(s) are integrated in the fairing and comprise an opening through which the diffusion of a respective light beam occurs.Preferably, the front portion comprises a front shield and a respective counter-shield coupled to the front shield and facing the central portion, where the compartment is obtained between shield and counter-shield and accessible through a door obtained on the counter-shield, and where the lighting device is arranged on the counter-shield.

[0009] Preferably, said auxiliary lighting device comprises a first and a second light source arranged on the counter-shield on opposite sides in a symmetrical position with respect to the steering handlebar. The spaced-apart and symmetrical arrangement of the light sources thus allows a homogeneous and complete illumination of the whole surface of the footrest and the front part of the rear portion where further vehicle compartments are arranged.

[0010] In particular, the light source(s) are arranged on the counter-shield at a higher height than the door. The light beam thus originates from a position above the door, allowing for an illumination from the top, and simultaneously the generation of a reflected beam when the door is opened.

[0011] Advantageously, the lighting device is controlled by a control unit on board the vehicle and is activatable by means of a power button arranged on a remote control device, or alternatively arranged on board the vehicle, or a combination thereof.In particular, the auxiliary lighting device turns ON when the vehicle is stationary and a key button of the vehicle is switched to an ON position.

[0012] Advantageously, the control unit turns OFF the auxiliary lighting device when the vehicle engine is turned ON and the engine rpm exceeds a predetermined threshold value, in particular 100 rpm.

[0013] Preferably, the light beam is orientable through adjustment means controlled by the control unit. The adjustment of the light beam thus specifically allows illuminating a given area of the vehicle as needed, for example by focusing the light beams of the individual sources to obtain a brighter lighting.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In the drawings:Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a saddle ride-type vehicle in the form of a scooter, comprising an auxiliary lighting device, according to the present invention, which illuminates a central portion of the vehicle when a door in the counter-shield is in a closed configuration;Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the saddle ride-type vehicle in Figure 1, in which the door on a counter-shield is in the open configuration and the lighting device illuminates the inside of the compartment;Figure 3 shows a front view of the counter-shield with the door in the open configuration and the auxiliary lighting device illuminating the inside of the compartment;Figure 4 shows a section view of the front shield and counter-shield in which the auxiliary lighting device is integrated;Figures 5 and 6 show a perspective view of the saddle ride-type vehicle, respectively, in which the auxiliary lighting device illuminates further compartments obtained on the central and rear portion, when the door in the counter-shield is in the closed configuration.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The following description of one or more embodiments of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings identify identical or similarelements. The subject of the invention is defined by the appended claims. The technical details, structures, or features of the solutions described below can be mutually combined in any manner.

[0016] In particular, Figure 1 shows a saddle-ride type vehicle 100, in the form of a scooter, comprising a front portion 10 equipped with a steering handlebar 11 which controls a front wheel 12, a central portion 20 equipped with a footrest 21, and a rear portion 30 which comprises a saddle 31 and a rear drive wheel 32.

[0017] The front portion 10, the central portion 20 and the rear portion 30 comprise a respective fairing 15, 25, 35 which defines the body of the vehicle. In addition to covering the vehicle giving it the stylistic and functional shape, fairing 15, 25, 35 also defines an inner volume in which the engine is enclosed, e.g., a heat and / or electric engine, and the control systems associated therewith, in addition to all the vehicle instrumentation.

[0018] The saddle ride-type vehicle 100 comprises at least one compartment 16, 26, 36 obtained inside fairing 15, 25, 35 and accessible through a respective door 17, 27, 37 configured to switch between an open configuration A and a closed configuration C. Moreover, it comprises an auxiliary lighting device 50 arranged on fairing 15, 25, 35, such as to:- illuminate at least one of the front portion 10, the central portion 20 and / or the rear portion 30 when the door 17, 27, 37 is in the closed configuration C, and- illuminate the compartment 16, 26, 36 when the door 17, 27, 37 is in the open configuration A. The shape of the vehicle associated with the position of the auxiliary lighting device 50 allows alternatively illuminating several parts of the vehicle by means of a shared lighting source emitted by the device 50. In particular, as better shown in Figures 1 and 2, in a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary lighting device 50 is arranged in the front fairing 15 of the vehicle. When the auxiliary lighting device 50 is turned ON (see the dashed lines diagrammatically depicting the emitted light beam 54, 54'), it allows illuminating the central portion 20 and part of the rear portion 30 when door 17 is in the closed configuration C. In this case, the light beam 54 emitted by the light source is directed without undergoing reflections.

[0019] In particular, once the door 17 switches to the open configuration A, the light beam 54' is reflected onto the innerwall of door 17 by means of the same auxiliary lighting device 50, and allows the light beam 54' to illuminate homogeneously the compartment 16 obtained in the fairing, in this case the front fairing 15, as described in detail below. The inner surface of door 17 is reflective, since it is in particular a shiny surface, obtained in particular by painting, in particular mirror effect painting or the like.

[0020] Such a solution is advantageous when a leg cover is hooked directlyto the steering handlebar 11 of the scooter and extends to cover the driver's legs (in a manner not shown).

[0021] The area under the leg cover would be unlit. With the aid of the auxiliary lighting device 50, homogeneous visibility is instead possible. In particular, it is noted how the compartment 16 is effectively illuminated due to the reflected light beam 54' when the door 17 is in the open configuration A. In other words, the auxiliary lighting allows clearly seeing areas which would be difficult to inspect, such as the lower part of the vehicle or other zones under the cover, or again the inside of compartment 16, using the light reflected by the reflective surface of door 17, that when uniformly distributed ensures complete visibility.

[0022] This means that the same operating principle is applicable at other parts of the vehicle which include a compartment, e.g., in the rear portion 30 at the compartment 36 and the related door 37 (Figures 5 and 6). In this case, when the light beam 54 is ON, it homogeneously illuminates the central portion 20 at the footrest 21, where the compartment 26 (Figure 6) provided with door 27 is present, and in combination also the rear portion 30 facing the footrest 21, where the compartment 36 with door 37 is present, to access the engine compartment (Figure 5).

[0023] The auxiliary lighting device 50 is configured to emit a courtesy light, i.e., a light that, when the vehicle is moving, must be OFF according to legislation. Auxiliary lighting device 50 means a lighting source which is not part of the lighting instrumentation of the vehicle provided according to legislation.

[0024] In detail, the lighting device comprises at least one light source, preferably an LED source. In particular, as shown in Figure 3, a pair of light sources 51 is provided, which are preferably integrated in the fairing 15, 25, 35 (Figure 4). Each source 51 is fed by a wiring 52 and controlled by the control unit of the vehicle (not shown). The light source 51 faces the fairing 14 by means of a corresponding opening 53. The opening 53 is small and is advantageously shielded to make it waterproof.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary lighting device 50 is applied in the front portion 10 of the vehicle (see Figures 3 and 4). The front portion 10 comprises a front shield 13 and a respective counter-shield 14 coupled to the front shield 13 and facing the central portion 20. The compartment 16 is obtained between front shield 13 and counter-shield 14 and accessible through a door 17 obtained on the counter-shield 14. The auxiliary lighting device 50 is integrated in the counter-shield 14. (Figure 4)

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the lighting device comprises a first and a second light source 51 arranged on the counter-shield 14 on opposite sides in a symmetrical position with respect tothe steering handlebar 11. As shown in Figure 3, the light sources 51 are arranged on the countershield 14 at a higher height than the door 17. The light sources 51 thus illuminate the door 17 from the top, allowing the light beam 54' to be reflected inside the compartment 16 when the door 17 is in the open configuration A (Figures 2 and 3).

[0027] In functional aspects, the auxiliary lighting device 50 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) on board the vehicle and is activatable by means of a power button arranged on a remote control, or alternatively arranged on board the vehicle, or a combination thereof.

[0028] In particular, the auxiliary lighting device 50 is turned ON when the vehicle is stationary and a key button 60 is switched to an ON position, allowing the instrument panel to be turned ON and the engine started (Figure 3).

[0029] In detail, the auxiliary lighting device 50 is turned ON when the key button 60 is in OFF position and when a "find my bike" remote control is activated.

[0030] Once the lights 51 of the auxiliary lighting device 50 are turned ON with the key button 60 in OFF position, they remain ON for a determined time period, e.g., 30 seconds. Preferably, the time period is updated by additional 30 seconds each time the key button 60 is pressed again. The auxiliary lighting device 50 thus allows for illumination inside the compartment 16 or the other compartments 26, 36 should the user need it.

[0031] After the key button 60 is switched to the ON position, the auxiliary lighting device 50 turns ON for a time period, e.g., 30 seconds or until the heat and / or electric engine is turned ON.

[0032] When the key button is switched from ON to OFF, the auxiliary lighting device 50 turns ON for a given time period, e.g., a time period between 30 seconds and 50 seconds, after which it turns OFF.

[0033] After the heat and / or electric engine is turned ON, the control unit turns OFF the lighting device 50 when the engine rpm exceeds a predetermined threshold value, in particular 100 rpm.

[0034] According to other constructional aspects, the light beam 54 is orientable through adjustment means, controlled by the control unit. The light beam 54 can thus be oriented in a desired zone of the vehicle, e.g., a footrest zone 21 or the zone of the engine compartment 37, or again, a front zone of saddle 31 where there is a storage hook 36. Adjusting the light cone generated by the individual light sources 51 can preferably be adjusted from the bottom upwards or from right to left, as diagrammatically shown in Figure 5.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Saddle ride-type vehicle (100) comprising a front portion (10) equipped with a steering handlebar (11) which controls at least one front wheel (12), a central portion (20) equipped with a footrest (21), and a rear portion (30) which comprises a saddle (31) and a rear wheel (32), wherein the front portion (10), the central portion (20) and the rear portion (30) are at least partially covered by a fairing (15, 25, 35), wherein there is provided at least one compartment (16, 26, 36) obtained in the fairing (15, 25, 35) which is accessible through a door (17, 27, 37) configured to switch between an open configuration (A) and a closed configuration (C), wherein at least one auxiliary lighting device (50) is provided, arranged on said fairing (15, 25, 35), such as to: illuminate at least one of said front portion (10), said central portion (20) and / or said rear portion (30) when said door (17, 27, 37) is in the closed configuration (C), and illuminate the inside of said compartment (16, 26, 36) when said door (17, 27, 37) is in the open configuration (A); wherein the auxiliary lighting device (50) illuminates, with a direct light beam (54), at least one of the front portion (10), the central portion (20) and / or the rear portion (30) when the door is in the closed configuration (C), and illuminates the compartment (16, 26, 36) with a reflected light beam (54') when the door (17, 27, 37) is in the open configuration (A), and wherein the internal surface of said door (17, 27, 37) is reflective.

2. The saddle ride-type vehicle (100) according to claim 1, wherein the front portion (10) comprises a front shield (13) and a respective counter-shield (14) coupled to the front shield(13) and facing the central portion (20), and wherein said compartment (16) is obtained between front shield (13) and counter-shield(14) and accessible through a door (17) obtained on the counter-shield (14), and wherein the auxiliary lighting device (50) is arranged on said counter-shield (14).

3. The saddle ride-type vehicle (100) according to claims 1-2, wherein the auxiliary lighting device (50) comprises at least one light source (51), preferably an LED light source, in particular a pair of light sources (51).

4. The saddle ride-type vehicle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light source(s) (51) are integrated in the fairing (15, 25, 35) and comprise an opening (53) through which the diffusion of a respective light beam (54) occurs.

5. The saddle ride-type vehicle (100) according to claims 2-4, wherein the auxiliary lighting device (50) comprises a first and a second light source (51) arranged on the counter-shield (14) on opposite sides in a symmetrical position with respect to the steering handlebar (11).

6. The saddle ride-type vehicle (100) according to claims 2-4, wherein the light source(s) (51) are arranged on the counter-shield (14) at a higher height than the door (17).

7. The saddle ride-type vehicle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the auxiliary lighting device (50) is controlled by a control unit on board the vehicle and is activatable by means of a power button arranged on a remote control device, or alternatively arranged on board the vehicle, or a combination thereof.

8. The saddle ride-type vehicle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the auxiliary lighting device (50) is controlled by a control unit, said control unit turns OFF the auxiliary lighting device (50) when the vehicle engine is turned ON and the engine rpm exceeds a predetermined threshold value, in particular 100 rpm.

9. The saddle ride-type vehicle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light beam (54, 54') is orientable through adjustment means.

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