Motorcycle Headlight and Flasher Mounting for Independent Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motorcycle designs often compromise on the visibility and external appearance of turn indicators due to their integration with the headlight assembly, which can affect the adjustability and visibility of the headlight's irradiation direction.

Innovation Solution

A motorcycle design where the headlight unit is supported by the front suspension, allowing independent upward and downward adjustment of the irradiation direction, while the turn indicators are positioned above and supported separately to maintain their direction and visibility, with a cover structure that enhances the motorcycle's external appearance by concealing the electric wires and stay.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If the headlight and flashers are integrally retained in a headlight case, then the external appearance is improved by covering exposed components, but the visibility of the flashers deteriorates when the headlight irradiation direction is adjusted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexternal appearanceVSAvoidvisibility of flashers
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the headlight assembly into separate components: the headlight unit with its own cover, and the flashers mounted separately on the front suspension. This segmentation allows the headlight to be adjusted independently without affecting the flasher positions, resolving the contradiction between integrated appearance and independent adjustability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flashers are extracted from the headlight case and mounted separately on the front suspension. This extraction allows the flashers to maintain fixed visibility while the headlight can be adjusted independently, while the headlight cover still provides aesthetic coverage for the underlying components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the headlight case retaining both the headlight and flashers is movably supported to adjust irradiation direction, then the headlight adjustability is improved, but the flasher visibility deteriorates due to integrated movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheadlight adjustabilityVSAvoidvisibility of flashers
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The support system is segmented into two independent mounting points: the headlight is supported by the headlight case on the front suspension, while the flashers are supported separately by the front suspension. This allows independent adjustment of the headlight without moving the flashers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flashers are extracted from the movable headlight case and mounted separately on the front suspension structure. This extraction ensures that flasher position remains fixed while the headlight maintains full adjustability for irradiation direction control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Shape

If the cover covers the back surface of the reflector to improve external appearance, then the aesthetics are improved, but the flasher visibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexternal appearanceVSAvoidvisibility of flashers
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The flashers are extracted from behind the reflector cover and mounted on the front suspension above the headlight. This extraction allows the cover to fully enclose the reflector area for aesthetic purposes while the flashers remain exposed and visible in their separate mounting position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2230162B1Motorcycle
Publication Date: 2018.12.12 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2230162B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2230162B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2230162B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a motorcycle having an enhanced visibility of flashers and an improved external appearance of the motorcycle. The motorcycle includes a headlight unit (3) provided with a headlight (30) and a cover (35), right and left flashers (4) arranged above the headlight unit (3), and a meter device (7) arranged above the right and left flashers (4). Each of the right and left flashers (4) includes a supported portion (41a) supported by a front suspension (6), an extending portion (41) extending outward from the supported portion (41a), and a flashing portion (42) housing a bulb (42d). The headlight unit (3) is supported so that the irradiation direction of the headlight (30) is adjustable upward and downward independently of the right and left flashers (4). The cover (35) includes an upper surface portion (37) covering the lower portion of the supported portions (41a) from the front. The front portion (71a) of the meter device (7) is positioned further forward than the supported portions (41a).