Motorcycle Storage Box Lid Layout to Avoid Handle Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional straddled vehicles with storage boxes have a lid portion that moves upward significantly when opened and closed, potentially interfering with the handle and requiring a large vehicle width due to the hinge being outside the opening, which affects aesthetics and security.

Innovation Solution

The storage box is positioned below the handle's turning trajectory with a shaft portion extending in the vehicle back-and-forth direction, limiting the lid's upward movement and incorporating a lid cover to enhance security and aesthetics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the hinge portion is provided outside the opening in the vehicle width direction, then the lid portion can be pivotally supported, but the lid portion performs a large upward moving action when opened and closed, potentially interfering with the handle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelid portion pivoting capabilityVSAvoidlid interference with handle
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge portion is repositioned from the vehicle width direction to the vehicle up-down direction, changing the dimension of rotation. This allows the lid portion to pivot without performing large upward movements that would interfere with the handle, while still maintaining pivotable access to the storage box

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

2Ease of operation

If the hinge portion is provided outside the opening in the vehicle width direction, then the lid portion can be supported, but the vehicle width must be increased to accommodate the hinge and lid movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelid support structureVSAvoidvehicle width
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By relocating the hinge portion to extend in the vehicle up-down direction rather than the vehicle width direction, the patent eliminates the need for increased vehicle width to accommodate hinge movement. The lid portion pivots within the vertical dimension, preserving the vehicle's compact width while maintaining full lid functionality

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

3Ease of operation

If the shaft portion extends in the vehicle width direction, then the lid can be pivotally supported, but the vehicle width direction is enlarged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelid pivot supportVSAvoidvehicle width
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The shaft portion is reoriented to extend in the vehicle up-down direction instead of the vehicle width direction. This dimensional change allows the shaft to provide pivotal support for the lid while occupying vertical space rather than lateral space, thereby preventing enlargement of the vehicle width

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

Data Source

PatentEP4393800B1Straddled vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4393800B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4393800B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4393800B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A straddled vehicle (1) includes a head pipe (11), a steering device (3), a tank-like member (4), a power unit (6), a wheel (7, 8), a seat (5), and a storage box (30); the steering device (3) includes a handle (15); the steering device (3) is turnably supported by the head pipe (11); the tank-like member (4) is disposed behind the head pipe (11); the power unit (6) is disposed below the tank-like member (4) and generates a drive force; the wheel (7, 8) is driven by the drive force; the seat (5) is disposed behind the tank-like member (4); the storage box (30) is disposed below a turning trajectory of the handle (15); the storage box (30) includes a storage portion (31) including an opening (41), a lid portion (32) for opening and closing the opening (41), and a shaft portion (36) supporting the lid portion (32) such that the lid portion (32) is made pivotable; the shaft portion (36) is disposed below the storage portion (31) and extends in a vehicle back-and-forth direction.