Flasher Extraction from Handle Cover for Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing straddled vehicle designs face challenges in enhancing the visibility of flashers without compromising rider comfort and handling, as enlarging flashers often requires enlarging the handle cover and can lead to reduced comfort and space for other components.

Innovation Solution

The flashers are positioned outside the handle cover, with the headlamp in the front cover, allowing light to reflect on the front cover and maintaining a compact handle cover design, which enhances visibility without enlarging the flashers and improves the layout of components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the flashers are enlarged to enhance visibility, then the visibility of flashers is improved, but the handle cover and flasher structure are enlarged which degrades rider comfort and handle operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of flashersVSAvoidrider comfort and handle operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the flashers from the handle cover assembly and positions them separately on the front fork. This separation allows the flashers to be enlarged for better visibility without increasing the size of the handle cover, thereby maintaining rider comfort and handle operation quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Illumination intensity

If the flashers are enlarged to enhance visibility, then the visibility of flashers is improved, but the handle cover size is enlarged which reduces space for other components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of flashersVSAvoidspace in handle cover
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The flashers are extracted from the handle cover and repositioned on the front fork. This extraction eliminates the need to enlarge the handle cover, preserving the available space for other components such as the headlamp, brake levers, and wiring harnesses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If the headlamp is disposed in the handle cover, then the handle cover structure is simplified, but the space available for enlarging flashers is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle cover structureVSAvoidvisibility of flashers
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The flashers are extracted from the handle cover and positioned on the front fork, while the headlamp remains in the handle cover. This selective extraction allows the flashers to be enlarged for better visibility without complicating the handle cover structure, as the headlamp's position is maintained.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Volume of moving object

If the flashers are positioned inside the handle cover, then the overall vehicle structure is compact, but the visibility of flashers is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverall vehicle structureVSAvoidvisibility of flashers
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The flashers are extracted from the handle cover and positioned on the front fork, where they can be enlarged and positioned to provide better visibility. This extraction maintains overall vehicle compactness as the flashers are relocated to an adjacent structure rather than increasing overall vehicle dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration enhances the visibility of flashers without enlarging them, maintains rider comfort, and improves the handling of flasher harnesses by providing a larger interval between them and other components, thus optimizing the vehicle's design.

Implementation Method 1

allowing light to reflect on the front cover and maintaining a compact handle cover design, which enhances visibility

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3782886B9Straddled vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.03.02 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3782886B9 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3782886B9 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3782886B9 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a vehicle back-and-forth direction, a left handle cover is not located directly below a region between front and rear ends of a left flasher. The left flasher extends laterally leftward from a left lateral portion of a protruding cover portion. A left flasher harness is connected to the left flasher, while running through the left lateral portion of the protruding cover portion. In the vehicle back-and-forth direction, a right handle cover is not located directly below a region between front and rear ends of a right flasher. The right flasher extends laterally rightward from a right lateral portion of the protruding cover portion. A right flasher harness is connected to the right flasher, while running through the right lateral portion of the protruding cover portion.