Straddled Vehicle Storage Box Mount Bracket Offset

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional straddled vehicles face limitations in enlarging the storage box opening in the vehicle width direction without increasing the overall width, which restricts storage capacity.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a rear frame positioned outward of the storage box, with a rear side cover overlapping the storage box and frame, and a mount portion extending downward from the flange portion, supported by a mount bracket, allowing the upper end of the mount bracket to lower and the storage box to be enlarged in width without direct support from the mount bracket, and utilizing a notch in the rear side cover to house the mount portion, thereby increasing capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the mount bracket directly supports the flange portion at the same height as the storage box opening, then the structural support is simplified, but the opening width in the vehicle width direction is limited and cannot be enlarged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage box capacityVSAvoidopening accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a mount portion that extends downward from the flange portion, creating a vertical dimension offset between the support point and the opening. This allows the opening to be enlarged in the vehicle width direction without the mount bracket interfering with the expanded opening, as the bracket now supports the lower-mounted flange portion while the opening exists at a higher level.

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

2Volume of moving object

If the rear frame and supporting bracket are moved outward in the vehicle width direction to enlarge the storage box opening, then the opening and storage capacity increase, but the overall width of the scooter increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage box capacityVSAvoidvehicle width
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by extending the mount portion downward, allowing the opening to be enlarged horizontally without requiring the supporting structure to move outward. The mount bracket continues to support the flange portion while the opening can be widened because the support mechanism is decoupled from the opening boundaries through the vertical offset.

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

3Volume of moving object

If the flange portion is supported directly by the mount bracket, then the structure is simpler, but moving the side wall outward to increase capacity is prevented by the bracket position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage box capacityVSAvoidmounting structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds a vertical dimension to the mounting structure by extending the mount portion downward from the flange portion. This creates a layered structure where the flange portion remains at its original position for structural attachment, while the opening can be enlarged horizontally without being constrained by the mount bracket position, as the bracket now supports the lower-mounted flange portion.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3636524B1Straddled vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.02.23 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3636524B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3636524B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3636524B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A straddled vehicle includes a storage box 10, a seat 9, a frame 2 including a pair of rear frames 6 and a mount bracket 65, and a rear side cover 32 disposed outward of the pair of rear frames 6. The storage box 10 includes a flange portion 44 that protrudes from an outer circumferential surface 42o of a tubular portion 42 surrounding a storage space S1, and a mount portion 61 that extends downward from the flange portion 44 and that is mounted on the mount bracket 65. The cover 32 includes an upper end portion 71 that overlaps the flange portion 44 in a plan view and a notch 72 that penetrates the upper end portion 71 in an up-down direction and that is recessed outward in a plan view. The mount portion 61 is disposed inside of the notch 72 in a plan view.