Saddled Vehicle Meter Unit Coupler Support Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional front structures of saddled vehicles have a thick meter unit due to the placement of meter-side and wiring-side couplers, making them visible from the outside and inefficiently utilizing the space under the top bridge.

Innovation Solution

A front structure with a meter unit that includes a coupler support member extending behind the meter display, positioning the meter-side coupler below the top bridge, and placing the wiring-side coupler between the right and left leg portions of the meter stay, which reduces the total thickness and conceals the couplers from view.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the meter-side coupler and wiring-side coupler are disposed on the meter unit in conventional structures, then the couplers can be connected and function properly, but the total thickness of the meter unit increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetotal thickness of meter unitVSAvoidcoupler arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent relocates the couplers from the front surface of the meter unit to the lower surface, utilizing the vertical dimension (thickness direction) to hide the couplers. The meter-side coupler is disposed on the lower surface of the meter unit, and the wiring-side coupler is positioned below the top bridge, effectively using the third dimension to resolve the thickness issue while maintaining functional connectivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a coupler support member as an intermediary structure that extends behind the meter display and supports the meter-side coupler. This support member acts as a mediator between the meter unit and the coupler, allowing the coupler to be positioned in a location that reduces the meter unit's total thickness while maintaining proper connection functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the meter-side coupler and wiring-side coupler are disposed on the meter unit in conventional structures, then the couplers can be connected and function properly, but the couplers become easily visible from the outside

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexternal visibility of couplersVSAvoidcoupler arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the vertical dimension to reposition the couplers from the front surface to the lower surface of the meter unit. By disposing the meter-side coupler on the lower surface and the wiring-side coupler below the top bridge, the couplers are hidden from external view while maintaining their connection functionality, thus eliminating the harmful visual effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Volume of stationary object

If a conventional top bridge structure is used, then the basic structural functions are maintained, but the space under the top bridge cannot be efficiently utilized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilization under top bridgeVSAvoidtop bridge structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the top bridge structure to serve multiple functions: it maintains its original structural support function while also providing a mounting location for the wiring-side coupler below it. The top bridge structure is designed to extend and provide support for the coupler, thereby utilizing the space under the top bridge efficiently and adding functional capacity without significant structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3375701B1Front structure of saddled vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.12.02 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3375701B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3375701B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3375701B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a front structure of a saddled vehicle having a meter unit of a less thickness and rendering meter-side and wiring-side couplers hardly visible from the outside. The front structure includes a stem shaft (13) rotatably mounted through a head pipe (11) disposed in a front portion of a vehicle body frame and steerably supporting a front wheel, a top bridge (20) coupling the stem shaft (13) with a handle (H), a meter unit (30) disposed in front of the top bridge (20) and including a meter display (31) on a top face of the meter unit (30), a meter-side coupler (32) disposed on the meter unit (30), and a wiring-side coupler (42) disposed on a side of wiring connected to the meter-side coupler (32), wherein the meter unit (30) includes a coupler support member (33) extending behind the meter display (31) and supporting the meter-side coupler (32), and the coupler support member (33) is disposed below the top bridge (20).