Motorcycle Cover Protector for Vibration Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Naked-type motorcycles with divided vehicle body covers face challenges in securing rigidity due to low coupling points, leading to vibration and abrasion issues at the outer edge portions, which existing solutions fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

A saddle-type vehicle design featuring a protector with first and second attachment portions that connect adjacent vehicle body cover parts at their outer edges, forming a recessed shape and being fixed by a fixing portion, thereby enhancing coupling strength and suppressing vibration and noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the vehicle body cover is divided into multiple parts, then the adaptability to different design demands is improved, but the rigidity of each cover part deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign adaptabilityVSAvoidrigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle body cover is divided into multiple parts to meet different design demands and improve adaptability. Each cover part can be independently designed and manufactured, allowing flexibility in configuration while maintaining the ability to form a complete protective structure when assembled together.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protector connects adjacent vehicle body cover parts at their outer edge portions, merging them into a unified structure. This combining action at the boundaries provides additional structural support and rigidity to the individual cover parts without requiring an increase in the number of coupling points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the number of coupling points is increased, then the rigidity of the vehicle body cover parts is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproverigidityVSAvoidcoupling structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protector serves multiple functions simultaneously: it protects the outer edge portions from abrasion, connects adjacent cover parts together, and provides structural reinforcement. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve rigidity without adding complex coupling structures or increasing the number of coupling points.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The protector acts as an intermediary element between adjacent vehicle body cover parts. Rather than directly coupling the cover parts together at multiple points, the protector mediates the connection at the outer edge portions, providing the necessary structural support and rigidity through this intermediate structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the outer edge portions are left uncoupled, then the device complexity is reduced, but vibration and abrasion between parts occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling structure complexityVSAvoidvibration and abrasion
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and addresses the specific problem at the outer edge portions by providing dedicated protection and connection at these locations. Rather than implementing a complex overall coupling structure, the solution focuses on the critical outer edge areas where vibration and abrasion occur, removing the need for additional coupling points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The protector converts the potentially harmful exposure of outer edge portions into a beneficial protective structure. By adding the protector at these locations, the same areas that would otherwise be vulnerable to vibration and abrasion become the points of connection and reinforcement, transforming the problem areas into solution points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

The solution effectively reduces vibration and noise between vehicle body cover parts, increases coupling strength, and prevents the protector from falling off, even with a small number of coupling points, thereby improving the rigidity and durability of the vehicle body cover.

Implementation Method 1

a protector (8) made of a rubber material and having a long shape; a first attachment portion (811) of the protector (8) is attached to an outer edge portion (731) of a vehicle body cover part (73)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

external configurations of the outer edge portions of the adjacent vehicle body cover parts are formed, at a connecting portion of the first and second attachment portions, in such a manner as to be depressed toward a boundary of the adjacent vehicle body cover parts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical interlocking: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP2612806B1Saddle-type vehicle
Publication Date: 2014.11.05 SUZUKI MOTOR CORP
  • EP2612806B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2612806B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2612806B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A motorcycle (1) comprising a vehicle body cover (7) which is composed of a plurality of vehicle body cover parts which are coupled with each other and a protector (8) for absorbing shock which is attached to outer edge portions of adjacent vehicle body cover parts (71, 72, 73) on an outer side of a vehicle body so as to straddle the outer edge portions of the adjacent vehicle body cover parts (71, 72, 73).