Motorcycle Leg Shield Vent Door Pivot Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing leg shields in automotive vehicles, particularly in touring motorcycles, fail to effectively ventilate the driver's legs due to wind stagnation around the feet, leading to elevated temperatures, and require robust support for stud shafts which can obstruct airflow.
Innovation Solution
A leg shield design with a ventilation opening and a pivotable vent door supported by first and second door support members, positioned to avoid blocking airflow and stabilize the door even under wind pressure, allowing for increased airflow towards the rider's legs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the shutter is opened to allow incoming wind to enter through the windows towards the driver's legs, then ventilation effectiveness is improved, but the stud shafts constitute an obstruction to the incoming wind and require robust support
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful stud shafts are extracted from the window opening area and relocated to the periphery. The shutter is supported by stud shafts positioned at the edges of the shutter, not within the opening, thereby removing the obstruction while maintaining ventilation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is repositioned from a two-dimensional planar arrangement (stud shafts within the window opening) to a three-dimensional configuration where stud shafts are located at the periphery, allowing the shutter to pivot without blocking the airflow path.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the stud shafts are positioned at the corners of the shutter to avoid obstruction, then airflow is improved, but the stud shafts are equally exposed to incoming wind and require high strength support
Solution Approach 1:
The support function and the structural element (shutter) are merged into a unified design where the shutter itself serves as both the closing element and the support structure. The stud shafts are integrated with the shutter's peripheral structure, distributing loads more effectively.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the vent door is supported at its ends aligned with the axis of pivot, then stability under wind pressure is improved, but the support members may block the ventilation opening when fully opened
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is segmented into multiple discrete support members positioned at specific locations (first and second ends) rather than continuous support. This allows the vent door to be stable when closed while enabling full opening without blockage when open.
Data Source
AI summary
A leg shield for covering a rider's leg from front includes a shielding body positioned forwardly of a foot rest and having a ventilation opening defined therein, and a vent door pivotable about an axis of pivot for selectively opening and closing the ventilation opening. The vent door has first and second ends spaced from each other in a direction conforming to the axis of pivot and is rotatably supported at the first and second ends by first and second door support members, respectively. The axis of pivot is positioned spaced from the ventilation opening in a direction towards an inner surface of the shielding body, and the first and second door support members of the shielding body are positioned spaced away from the ventilation opening when viewed from front.