Straddled Vehicle Side Cover Hook and Junction Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional straddled vehicles face a trade-off between seat comfort and lock manipulability due to the gap between the vehicle body and seat, which complicates the seat mounting structure and increases costs, while omitting the locking device makes it difficult to securely hold helmets or other objects.

Innovation Solution

A simplified seat mounting structure using a bolt to fix the seat to the vehicle body, with a detachable side cover that includes a hook for hanging objects, and a junction member that prevents the side cover from moving transversely, ensuring secure storage without obstructing the lock operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a locking device is used in the seat mounting structure to improve helmet security, then helmet storage security is improved, but the seat mounting structure becomes complicated and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehelmet storage securityVSAvoidseat mounting structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the locking device from the seat mounting structure, retaining only the simple bolt fixation for the seat. The helmet storage security function is achieved separately through the side cover with integrated hook, which can be locked independently without complicating the seat mounting structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the functions: seat mounting uses simple bolt fixation for ease of assembly and comfort, while helmet storage security is achieved through a separate side cover assembly with its own locking mechanism, avoiding the need for a complex integrated system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a gap between the vehicle body and seat is provided to improve lock manipulability, then locking operation ease is improved, but seat stability deteriorates and riding comfort is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelock manipulabilityVSAvoidseat stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the locking device from the seat mounting structure entirely, replacing it with simple bolt fixation. This eliminates the need for gaps to facilitate locking operations, allowing the seat to be mounted close to the vehicle body for maximum stability and comfort while maintaining ease of assembly and disassembly through the bolt connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If the seat is fixed to the vehicle body with a bolt to simplify the mounting structure, then structure complexity is reduced and cost is decreased, but the ability to securely hold helmets deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat mounting structure complexityVSAvoidhelmet storage security
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the functions: the seat mounting structure uses simple bolt fixation for ease of assembly and maintenance, while the side cover assembly provides a separate, dedicated structure with hook and locking mechanisms specifically for secure helmet storage, ensuring both simplicity and security are achieved through functional separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The side cover acts as an intermediary structure that bridges the simple bolt-fixed seat mounting and the secure helmet storage requirement. It provides the necessary locking mechanisms and hook structure without complicating the primary seat mounting system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If the side cover is made detachable to maintain accessibility to battery and air cleaner, then component accessibility is improved, but the security of held objects may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent accessibilityVSAvoidobject security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by providing a locking mechanism on the side cover that secures the hook and held objects before the side cover is detached. This ensures object security is maintained even when the side cover is removed for battery or air cleaner access, as the locking mechanism can be engaged independently of the side cover's attachment to the vehicle body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3251932B1Straddled vehicle
Publication Date: 2018.11.28 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3251932B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3251932B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3251932B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A straddled vehicle (1) includes a seat (28), a side cover (31), and a hook (91). The seat (28) is fixed to a seat frame (14) by a bolt (48). The side cover (31) is attached to a frame (3) by a lock (63) and a junction member (71). The junction member (71) joins the side cover (31) to the frame (3) to be slidable in a first direction (D) relative to the frame (3). When the junction member (71) joins the side cover (31) to the frame (3), the junction member (71) prohibits the side cover (31) from moving in a transverse direction (Y) relative to the frame (3). An upper end (93) of the hook (91) overlaps the side cover (31) in a side view of the vehicle (1), and a bottom (92) of the hook (91) does not overlap the side cover (31) in the side view of the vehicle (1). The hook (91) is disposed in a position closer to the junction member (71) than to the lock (63) in the side view of the vehicle (1).