Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention generally relates to a saddle type vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to provision of a wheel well in the saddle type vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] As is generally known, a vehicle is provided with a wheel well in a front portion of the vehicle. The wheel well extends downwardly from a middle portion of a front side of the vehicle. Further, the wheel well extends up to a bottom portion of the vehicle. The wheel well is also provided with broad edges which gets damaged when a vehicle falls sideways during an accident or other collision events. This leads to difficulty in serviceability and replaceability of the damaged wheel well due to removal of adjoining parts as well. The chances of damage of the wheel well increases during any small impact or during a bump condition as well. Further, due to the design and the location of the conventional wheel well, multiple impacts acting on the wheel well reduces rigidity and sturdiness of the wheel well. Accordingly, there is a need for a wheel well that has increased rigidity and experiences less damage due to an accident or other external impact and the ease of serviceability of the wheel well is enhanced.
[003] Hence, the conventionally available wheel well has an increased risk of damage due to the construction and the location of the wheel well in the vehicle. Also, the replacement of the wheel well become difficult as the same requires the adjoining parts to be dismantled as well. Hence, there is a need to provide a vehicle for the disposition of the wheel well that solves the problems related to ease of serviceability, ease of replaceability, ease of accessibility, increased rigidity, and the like.
[004] Thus, there is a need in the art for a saddle type vehicle, which addresses at least the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[005] In one aspect, the present invention is directed towards a saddle type vehicle. The saddle type vehicle has a headlamp assembly. The headlamp assembly is disposed upwardly of a front wheel of the vehicle. The saddle type vehicle further has a bottom cover disposed rearwardly of the front wheel of the vehicle. The bottom cover is disposed below a floorboard of the vehicle. Lastly, the saddle type vehicle has a wheel well configured to be disposed rearwardly of the front wheel of the vehicle. The wheel well has a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion is connected to the headlamp assembly and the bottom portion is configured to overlap with the bottom cover.
[006] In an embodiment of the invention, the wheel well has a main body extending in a vehicle up down direction, wherein the top portion extends upwardly and forwardly from the main body and the bottom portion extends rearwardly and downwardly from the main body.
[007] In a further embodiment of the invention, the saddle type vehicle has a protrusion protruding outwardly from the wheel well, the protrusion is configured to accommodate a portion of a frame member of the vehicle.
[008] In a further embodiment of the invention, the protrusion extends between the main body and the bottom portion of the wheel well.
[009] In a further embodiment of the invention, the top portion and the bottom portion of the wheel well is configured to be integrated with each other.
[010] In a further embodiment of the invention, the top portion has a receiving means configured to receive one of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) strip, a logo plate, or a license plate.
[011] In a further embodiment of the invention, the bottom portion of the wheel well has a rear projection extending rearwardly from the bottom portion thereby overlapping with the bottom cover.
[012] In a further embodiment of the invention, the rear projection has one or more grooved edges configured to overlap with the bottom cover of the vehicle, thereby preventing the entry of the dust particles inside the wheel well.
[013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the wheel well is disposed within a front panel assembly of the vehicle.
[014] In a further embodiment of the invention, the wheel well has a pair of opposing side walls extending between the top portion and the bottom portion of the wheel well, each side wall having a gradually increasing breadth from the bottom portion to the top portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[015] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 illustrates a left side view of a saddle type vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a wheel well in the saddle type vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the wheel well, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the wheel well, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of the wheel well, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of the wheel well, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of the wheel well, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of the wheel well, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of the wheel well, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[016] The present invention generally relates to a saddle type vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to provision of a wheel well in the saddle type vehicle.
[017] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary saddle type vehicle 10, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment, the saddle type vehicle 10 is a scooter type two-wheeler vehicle. The saddle type vehicle 10 includes a front wheel 12, a rear wheel 14, a frame assembly (not shown) and a seat assembly 18. The saddle type vehicle 10 further includes a headlamp assembly 50. The headlamp assembly 50 is disposed upwardly of the front wheel 12 of the saddle type vehicle 10. The saddle type vehicle 10 further has a bottom cover 130 (shown in Figure 2). The bottom cover 130 is disposed rearwardly of the front wheel 12 of the saddle type vehicle 10. Also, the bottom cover 130 is disposed below a floorboard of the vehicle 10. Therefore, the bottom cover 130 provides the overall strength and rigidity to the saddle type vehicle 10.
[018] As further depicted in Figure 1, the saddle type vehicle 10 has a wheel well 100. The wheel well 100 is configured to be disposed rearwardly of the front wheel of the vehicle 10. The wheel well 100 is a recess in the saddle type vehicle 10 in which the wheel of the vehicle 10 is located. Hence, the wheel well 100 acts as a housing for the wheels of the vehicle 10 and provides the strength and rigidity to the saddle type vehicle 10 as well.
[019] Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the wheel well 100 in the saddle type vehicle 10, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The wheel well 100 as disclosed in the present invention has two portions i.e., a top portion 110 and a bottom portion 120. The top portion 110 is connected to the headlamp assembly 50 and the bottom portion 120 is configured to overlap with the bottom cover 130. By providing the two portions in the wheel well 100, the wheel well 100 is able to support the weight of the saddle type vehicle 10.
[020] As further depicted in Figure 3, the wheel well 100 has a main body 102 extending in a vehicle up-down direction. The top portion 110 of the wheel well 100 extends upwardly and forwardly from the main body 102 and the bottom portion 120 extends rearwardly and downwardly from the main body 102. The top portion 110 extends up to a portion of the headlamp assembly 50 to provide the overall strength and rigidity to the structure of the wheel well 100. The bottom portion 120 prevents the entry of mud and dirt from a bottom region of the saddle type vehicle 10. The top portion 110 and the bottom portion 120 of the wheel well 100 are configured to be integrated with each other. As shown in Figure 5, the bottom portion 120 of the wheel well 100 has a rear projection 122 (as shown in Figure 6). The rear projection 122 extends rearwardly from the bottom portion 120 thereby overlapping with the bottom cover 130. This prevents the visibility of flushes and gaps formed in the connection of the wheel well 100 and the bottom cover 130. The rear projection 122 has one or more grooved edges 170 (as shown in Figure 6). The one or more grooved edges 170 are configured to overlap with the bottom cover 130 of the saddle type vehicle 10, thereby preventing the entry of the dust particles inside the wheel well 100. The one or more grooved edges 170 prevents the direct hitting and the impact on the wheel well 100 during an accident or other collision events. Hence, the one or more grooved edges 170 prevents the frequent replaceability of the wheel well 100.
[021] Further, the wheel well 100 is disposed within a front panel assembly 160 (as shown in Figure 2) of the saddle type vehicle 10. In an embodiment of the present invention, the wheel well 100 comprises a pair of opposing side walls 104 (as shown in Figure 6). The pair of opposing side walls 104 extends between the top portion 110 and the bottom portion 120 of the wheel well 100. Each of the pair of opposing side walls 104 has a gradually increasing breadth from the bottom portion 120 to the top portion 110 of the wheel well 100.
[022] The wheel well 100 further has a protrusion 140 (as shown in Figure 4) protruding outwardly from the wheel well 100. As further shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8, the protrusion 140 is configured to accommodate a bent portion of the frame member of the vehicle 10. As shown in Figure 3, the protrusion 140 extends between the main body 102 and the bottom portion 120 of the wheel well 100.
[023] Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of the wheel well 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 9, the top portion 110 has a receiving means 150. The receiving means 150 is configured to receive one of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) strip, a logo plate, or a license plate. Hence, the receiving means 150 helps in the mounting of the logo plate or a licence plate on the saddle type vehicle 10.
[024] Advantageously, the present invention provides for a saddle type vehicle in which a wheel well is provided. The present invention provides the top portion and the bottom portion of the wheel well for preventing the entry of mud and water inside the saddle type vehicle. The present invention further provides for ease of serviceability, ease for mounting the wheel well, and the ease for manufacturing the wheel well for the saddle type vehicle. Therefore, the present invention provides rigidity to the wheel well and is efficient as compared to the conventional wheel well of the saddle type vehicles.
[025] Further, the present invention provides one or more grooved edges which prevents the entry of mud and dust particles inside the saddle type vehicle. The one or more grooved edges also provides the overall rigidity and strength to the wheel well as disclosed in the present invention. The wheel well of the present invention provides ease of accessibility and serviceability of the wheel well and the associated parts. The location of the wheel well allows for better performance and durability of the wheel well, which lowers servicing and replacement costs of the wheel well, leading to better overall vehicle efficiency.
[026] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

List of Reference Numerals
10: Saddle Type Vehicle
12: Front Wheel
14: Rear Wheel
18: Seat Assembly
50: Headlamp Assembly
100: Wheel Well
102: Main Body
104: Pair of Opposing Side Walls
110: Top Portion
120: Bottom Portion
122: Rear Projection
130: Bottom Cover
140: Protrusion
150: Receiving Means
160: Front Panel Assembly
170: Grooved Edges
, Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A saddle type vehicle (10), the saddle type vehicle (10) comprising:
a headlamp assembly (50), the headlamp assembly (50) being disposed upwardly of a front wheel (12) of the vehicle (10);
a bottom cover (130), the bottom cover (130) being disposed rearwardly of the front wheel of the vehicle (10), the bottom cover (130) being disposed below a floorboard of the vehicle (10); and
a wheel well (100), the wheel well (100) being configured to be disposed rearwardly of the front wheel of the vehicle (10), the wheel well (100) having a top portion (110) and a bottom portion (120), the top portion (110) being connected to the headlamp assembly (50), and the bottom portion (120) being configured to overlap with the bottom cover (130).

2. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel well (100) comprises a main body (102) extending in a vehicle up down direction, wherein the top portion (110) extends upwardly and forwardly from the main body (102) and the bottom portion (120) extends rearwardly and downwardly from the main body (102).

3. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 2, comprising a protrusion (140) protruding outwardly from the wheel well (100), the protrusion (140) being configured to accommodate a portion of a frame member of the vehicle (10).

4. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the protrusion (140) extends between the main body (102) and the bottom portion (120) of the wheel well (100).

5. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top portion (110) and the bottom portion (120) of the wheel well (100) being configured to be integrated with each other.

6. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top portion (110) has a receiving means (150), the receiving means (150) being configured to receive one of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) strip, a logo plate, or a license plate.

7. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom portion (120) of the wheel well (100) comprises a rear projection (122), the rear projection (122) extending rearwardly from the bottom portion (120) thereby overlapping with the bottom cover (130).

8. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rear projection (122) comprises one or more grooved edges (170), the one or more grooved edges (170) being configured to overlap with the bottom cover (130) of the vehicle (10), thereby preventing the entry of the dust particles inside the wheel well (100).

9. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel well (100) being disposed within a front panel assembly (160) of the vehicle (10).

10. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel well (100) comprises a pair of opposing side walls (104), the pair of opposing side walls (104) extending between the top portion (110) and the bottom portion (120) of the wheel well (100), each side wall having a gradually increasing breadth from the bottom portion (120) to the top portion (110).

Dated this 26th day of December 2023

TVS MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED
By their Agent & Attorney

(Nikhil Ranjan)
of Khaitan & Co
Reg No IN/PA-1471