Motorcycle Number Plate Mounting Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

In racing motorcycles, the gap between the front fender and the number plate allows muddy water to ingress, compromising aesthetics and functionality.

Innovation Solution

A motorcycle design featuring a front fender with a longitudinal groove and a number plate with a tapered lower end edge, where the groove guides the number plate into position and a projection on the fender engages with an engagement hole, eliminating the gap and preventing water ingress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If an engagement hole is formed in the upper surface of the front fender to connect with the number plate, then the gap between the fender and number plate is suppressed, but muddy water can ingress through the engagement hole

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegap eliminationVSAvoidmuddy water ingress

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of forming an engagement hole in the front fender (which allows water ingress), the invention inverts the approach by forming a projection on the front fender that engages with an engagement hole in the number plate. This reversal eliminates the hole in the fender while maintaining the connection function, thereby preventing muddy water from entering through the engagement structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the engagement hole from the front fender and relocates it to the number plate. By removing the hole from the fender surface, the source of water ingress is eliminated while the engagement functionality is preserved through the projection-hole interface between the fender and number plate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If the number plate is mounted separately from the front fender, then installation is simplified, but a gap forms between the fender and number plate allowing muddy water to ingress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidmuddy water ingress

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the engagement structures of the front fender and number plate by providing a projection on the fender that directly engages with an engagement hole in the number plate. This integration eliminates the gap between the two components while maintaining their separate installation capability, thereby preventing muddy water from entering through the interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Shape

If the lower end of the number plate is formed with a projection to engage with an engagement hole in the front fender, then the gap is suppressed, but the number plate positioning in leftward and rightward directions becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegap eliminationVSAvoidpositioning ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the engagement function into two distinct components: a projection on the front fender and an engagement hole in the number plate. This segmentation, combined with the longitudinal groove, allows the number plate to be positioned and guided easily in the leftward and rightward directions while maintaining gap elimination through the projection-hole engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8845011B2Number plate mounting structure in motorcycle

Publication Date: 2014.09.30 KAWASAKI MOTORS LTD

AI summary

A motorcycle includes a front fender, which overhangs a front wheel, and a number plate which is disposed forwardly of a handlebar. A center portion of the front fender with respect to a widthwise direction is formed with a longitudinal groove that is recessed downwardly to represent a tapered shape and a lower end edge of the number plate is tapered enough to allow it to be engaged in the longitudinal groove. A projection is provided in an upper surface of the front fender and an engagement hole engageable with the projection is provided in the number plate.