DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to a two-wheeled motor vehicle, and more particularly to a fender assembly for the two-wheeled motor vehicles.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Generally, in a two-wheeled vehicle a frame assembly extends rearward from a head tube. The frame assembly acts as a skeleton and a structural member for the vehicle that supports the vehicle loads. A front portion of the frame assembly connects a front wheel through one or more front suspension(s). The frame assembly extends towards a rear portion of the vehicle. A rear wheel is connected to a frame assembly through one or more rear suspension(s). An engine assembly is mounted to the frame assembly of the vehicle. The engine assembly is functionally connected to the rear wheel, which provides the forward motion to the vehicle. Typically, plurality of panels is mounted to the frame assembly of the vehicle that covers various vehicle parts mounted thereon.
[0003] Generally, a front fender is disposed upwardly of the front wheel and rear fender is disposed upwardly of the rear wheel. The front fender covers at least a portion of the front wheel and is secured to the front forks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The detailed description of the present subject matter is described with reference to the accompanying figures. Same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.
[0005] Fig. 1 illustrates a left side view of an exemplary two-wheeled motor vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0006] Fig. 2 (a) depicts a right side perspective view of a front fender assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0007] Fig. 2 (b) depicts a left side view of the front fender assembly for the embodiment depicted in Fig. 2 (a).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] Typically, the fender assembly in the front protects spillage of dirt, dust and stones/pebbles on the parts that are positioned rearward to the front wheel. Further, the fender assembly prevents the stones and pebbles from entering into the engine area and surrounding parts. However, the front forks that are disposed in the front portion of the vehicle are also subject to dust, dirt, or rainwater. Moreover, in inverted type front forks, an inner tube of the front fork is exposed and dust or dirt may reach the top portion of an outer tube of the front fork(s) through exposed portion of the inner tube. Also, the inner tube slides about the outer tube during damping operation resulting in dust or dirt reaching the outer tube. This would result in corrosion of the exposed parts over a period of time thereby affecting the functioning of the front forks. Importantly, in high speed riding application, front forks play vital role in terms performance of the vehicle.
[0009] The present subject matter is aimed at addressing the aforementioned and other problems in the prior art. Hence, it is an object of the present subject matter is to provide a front fender assembly for a two-wheeled motor vehicle. The front fender assembly comprises a central member, a left hand side member, and a right hand side member. One aspect being, left hand side member, and right hand side member cover major exposed portion of the front forks. The central member covers at least a portion of outer circumferential surface of the front wheel. The left hand side member and second side member are disposed adjacently of the front forks, extending from a bottom portion of the front fork towards a top portion of the front forks, in an axial direction of the forks, thereby covering an outer circumferential surface of the front forks in at least three directions
[00010] Further aspect being, the front fender assembly substantially reduces dirt and dust from reaching the front forks. Another aspect being, the front fender assembly enables ease of assembly and maintenance. According to another aspect, the front fender assembly is secured to the front forks thereby reducing vibrations and providing durability. Additional aspect is, the front fender assembly enables deflection of air thereby enabling reduction of drag.
[00011] The aforesaid and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail in conjunction with the figures in the following description.
[00012] Fig. 1illustrates a left side view of an exemplary two-wheeled motor vehicle 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. Arrows provided in the top right corner of each figure depicts direction with respect to the vehicle, wherein the arrow F denotes front direction, an arrow R indicated rear direction, an arrow Up denotes upward direction, and an arrow Dw denoted downward direction. The vehicle 100 includes a frame assembly that extends from a head tube (not shown), which is disposed in the front portion of the vehicle 100, towards a rear portion of the vehicle 100. The frame assembly 105 includes a mainframe (not shown) comprising a main tube extending rearward from a rear portion of the head tube and a down tube (not shown) that extends rearwardly downward from the head tube. The frame assembly 105 may further comprise a sub-frame formed by a pair of rear tubes (not shown) that extend obliquely rearward from the main frame. An engine assembly 110 is supported by the main frame of the frame assembly 105. The engine assembly 110 acts as the power unit of the vehicle100, wherein the power unit may also include a traction/electrical motor (not shown). A front portion of a swing arm 115 is swingably connected to the main frame of the frame assembly 105 and rear portion of the swing arm 115 rotatably supports a rear wheel 120. The rear wheel 120 is functionally coupled to the engine assembly 110 through a transmission system.
[00013] A rear fender (not shown) disposed upwardly of the rear wheel 120 covers at least a portion of the rear wheel 120. Further, the swing arm 115 is coupled to the frame assembly 105 through one or more rear suspension(s). In the present embodiment, a single mono-shock rear suspension 125 connects the swing arm 115 to the frame assembly. A pair of front forks 130 supports a front wheel 135 and the pair of front 130 forks are steerably supported by the head tube. A handlebar assembly 140 is connected to an upper portion of the pair of front fork 130. Further, a front fender assembly 200 covers at least a portion of the front wheel 135 and the front fender assembly 200 is mounted to the pair of front forks 130.
[00014] A fuel tank 145 is mounted to the main tube of the frame assembly 105 and disposed rearwardly of the handlebar assembly 140. The fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank opening 150. A seat assembly 155 is disposed rearwardly of the fuel tank assembly150 and supported by the pair of rear tubes. A pair of rider foot pegs 160 mounted to the frame assembly 105 of the vehicle enable in supporting the rider foot. Further, the vehicle 100 comprises a front cowl assembly165 that is disposed forwardly of the head tube and extending sidewardly covering at least a portion of the fuel tank 150 and at least a portion of the engine assembly 110. The front cowl assembly 165 is mounted with one or more headlamp(s) (not shown) that are disposed in a front portion of the front cowl assembly 165. Also, the vehicle 100 may include a bottom cowl assembly 170 that covers at least a portion of the engine assembly 110 whereby the engine assembly 110 is protected from dust, dirt, and water splashing.
[00015] Furthermore, the vehicle 100 includes one or more side panel(s) 175 disposed symmetrically or asymmetrically on either sides of the vehicle 100 and is mounted to the main frame covering various vehicle parts including at least a portion of the main frame, an air filter, and one or more electrical / electrical components that are mounted to the frame assembly 105. A tail cover assembly 180 that are disposed rearwardly of the side panel(s) 175 and extend along the pair of rear tubes thereby covering at least a portion of the pair of rear tubes. The tail cover assembly 180 extends towards a rear portion of the frame assembly 105 and the tail cover assembly 105 is adapted to accommodate a tail lamp (not shown).
[00016] Fig. 2 (a) depicts a right side perspective view of a front fender assembly 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The front fender assembly 200 is mounted to the pair of front forks 130 and covers at least a portion of the front wheel 135. A bottom end portion(s) the pair of forks 130 rotatably support the front wheel 135. The pair of front forks 130 includes a right hand (RH) side fork 130A and a left hand (LH) side fork 130B. The front fender assembly 200 comprises of a central member 205, a right hand (RH) side member 210, and a left hand (LH) side member 215. Hereinafter, the term right hand side member 210 is interchangeably used with the term first side member 210. Similarly, the term left hand side member 215 is interchangeably used with the term second side member 215. At least a portion of the central member 205 that is disposed concentrically about the front wheel 135 covers at least a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the front wheel 135. The first side member 210 is disposed to right side, which is laterally adjacent, of the central member 205 and secured to the central member 205 covering the RH side fork 130A. The first side member 210 extends from the bottom end portion of RH side fork 130A in an upward direction extending beyond an upper peripheral portion PP of the central member 205. The second side member 210 is disposed adjacently of the RH side fork 130A. Importantly, the present embodiment is provided with front forks 130 that are inverted type. The second side member 210 extends beyond an outer tube of the RH side fork 130A and covering at least a portion of an inner tube of the RH side fork 130A. Similarly, the first side member 215 is disposed adjacently of the LH side fork 130B covering at least a portion of the LH side fork 130B.
[00017] Furthermore, the first side member 215 and the second side member 215 cover the RH side fork 130A and the LH side fork 130B, respectively, in at least three directions, viz. front direction, rear direction and outward side direction. This enables prevention of dust, dirt, or the like from reaching the pair of front forks 130. Also, the first side member 210 extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 100 and covering a front portion and a rear portion of the RH side fork 130A from an outer lateral side RH. Similarly, the second side member 215 that is disposed adjacently of the LH side fork 130B extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 100 covering the LH side fork 130B from an outer lateral direction LH and also a front portion and a rear portion. Also, the vehicle 100 is provided with a front disc 185A that is mounted to the front wheel 135 and disposed concentrically about a front wheel axle and a front brake calipers 185B is mounted to the RH side fork 130A. The front fender assembly 200 is adapted to accommodate the front disc 185A and the front brake calipers 185B of a front brake assembly 185 thereby eliminating any interference therebetween. Therefore, major portion of the pair of forks 130A, 130B are covered in at least three directions that reduce the dust, dirt or the like from reaching the pair of forks thereby improving the reliability of the functioning of the pair of forks.
[00018] Furthermore, a front cowl assembly 165 (as shown in Fig. 1) of the vehicle 100 is disposed upwardly of the front fender assembly 200 and extending towards the fuel tank 145 (as shown in Fig. 1) of the vehicle 100. The front cowl assembly 165 covers at least a portion of a top portion 215T (shown in Fig. 2 (b)) of the front forks 130. Especially the top portion 215T of the first side member 210 and the second side member 215 that are extending upwards, wherein the top portion(s) of the front fender assembly 200 is covered by a bottom portion of the front cowl assembly 165. This enables covering of the pair of front fork(s) 130 by the front fender assembly 200 and the front cowl assembly165.
[00019] Fig. 2 (b) depicts the left side view of the front fender assembly 200 employed on the pair of front forks 130. The front fender assembly 200 is secured to the pair of front forks 130. The central member 205 is provided with a first mounting portion(s) 205Aoneither side. The front forks 130 are provided with a first holding portion(s) 130BA on either fork 130A, 130B that enable securing of the central member 205 to the pair of forks 130. The central member 205 is secured to the LH side fork 130B at the first holding portion(s) 130BA through one or more fasteners or the like. In other words, the first side member 210 and second side member 220 are secured to an outer tube 130AO, 130BO of the pair of front forks 130A, 130B. Also, the LH side fork 130B is provided with a second holding portion(s) 130BB that is adapted to secure the first side member 215 at a bottom portion of the first side member 215. The second holding portion(s) 130BB may include a metal bracket(s) or the like that is affixed to the pair of front fork. Similarly, the second side member 210 is secured to the RH side fork 130A.
[00020] Further, the central member 205 is provided with a side mounting portion(s) 205B that is adapted to secure the first side member 215 to the central member 205. One or more fasteners secure the first side member 215 to the central member 205. Similarly, the second side member 210 is secured to the central member 205 at the side mounting portion(s) 205B. The front fender assembly 200 of the present subject matter enables in reducing vibrations.
[00021] The first side member 210 (shown in Fig. 2 (a)) and the second side member 215 are circumferentially covering at least a portion of the pair of front forks 130A, 130B. In a preferred embodiment, the first side member 210 and the second side member 215 are disposed on an outer lateral side of the pair of front forks 130A, 130B.
[00022] In one embodiment, the front forks 130A, 130B are telescopic type. The front forks 130A, 130B includes an outer tube 130AO, 130BO and an inner tube 130AI, 130BI slidable therein. The first side member 210 and said second side member 215 extend beyond an interjecting portion IP of the outer tube 130AO, 130BO and the inner tube 130AI, 130BI. The injecting portion IP includes an oil seal. This enables dust or dirt from reaching the oil seal or injecting portion IP of the front forks 130A, 130B.
[00023] In one another embodiment, the first side member 210 and the second side member 215 extend upward beyond an upper peripheral portion PP, which is an upper most portion, of said central member 205.
[00024] The first side member 210 and said second side member 215 are having a width W, which is the extension of the members 210, 215 in longitudinal direction. The width W of the members 210, 215 is maximum in proximity to the central member 205. Thus, the exposed portion(s) like the central member 205 and the forks 130A, 130B are protected by the width W being provided maximum in proximity to the central member 205. The width W is tapering in an upward direction Up and a downward direction Dw moving along the front forks 130A, 130B. In other words, the width W is tapering in a direction Up, Dw away from the central member 205.The width W is the longitudinal length W of the first side member and the second side member 215. A cross-section of the side members 210, 215 taken in a horizontal plane provides a longitudinal length W greater than the lateral length. Thus, the side members 210, 215 are compact and at the same time provide maximum protection to the front wheel 135, central member 205, and the forks 130A, 130B in vehicle width direction RH-LH.
[00025] The front fender assembly 200 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first side member 210 and said second side member 215 includes an arc protrusion 210A accommodating a disc member 185A of a front brake assembly 185 of said two-wheeled vehicle 100.
[00026] However, in another embodiment, the said first side member 210 and said second side member 215 are integrated with said central member 205. The fender assembly is composed of rigid material including a polymer like fiber reinforced plastic, thermo plastic.
[00027] In an embodiment, the front fender assembly may be provided with one or more stiffeners that reduce vibrations and improve reliability.
[00028] Moreover, the present subject matter enables easy serviceability as the first side member or the second side member individually removable.
[00029] Further, the front fender assembly is made of a rigid material, for example plastic or the like. Also, the assembly time is also reduced, as the front fender assembly can directly assembled on to the pair of forks.
[00030] Also, the first side member and second side member of the front fender assembly are extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at a portion(s) adjacent to the central member and diverge towards the pair of front forks at a portion(s) away from the central member. Further, the first side member and second side member are adapted to enable deflection of air. Further, the front fender assembly works in conjunction with the front cowl assembly of the vehicle, thereby reducing drag of the vehicle.
[00031] In another embodiment, at least a portion of the front first side member and at least a portion of the second side member may be integrally formed with the central member.
[00032] It is to be understood that the aspects of the embodiments are not necessarily limited to the features described herein. Many modifications and variations of the present subject matter are possible in the light of above disclosure. Therefore, within the scope of claims of the present subject matter, the present disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described.
,CLAIMS:I/We claim:
1. A front fender assembly (200) for a two-wheeled vehicle (100), said two-wheeled vehicle (100) comprising a front wheel (135) rotatably supported by a pair of front forks (130A, 130B) disposed on either side of said front wheel (135), said pair of front forks (130A, 130B) are rotatably supported by a frame assembly (105);
characterized in that,
said front fender assembly (200) includes a central member (205), a first side member (210), and a second side member (215), said central member (205) being disposed above the front wheel (135) and covering at least a portion of the front wheel (135), and said first side member (210) and said second side member (215) are disposed laterally adjacent to said pair of front forks (130A, 130B) and being secured to said central member (205), said first side member (210) and said second side member (215) extend axially along at least a portion of said pair of front forks (130A, 130B) circumferentially covering at least a portion of said pair of front forks (130A, 130B) from outer lateral side(s) (RH, LH), and said first side member (210) and said second side member (215) having a width (W) maximum in proximity to said central member (205), and said width (W) is tapering in a direction (Up, Dw) away from said central member (205).
2. The front fender assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first side member (210) and said second side member (215) are circumferentially covering at least a portion of said pair of front forks (130A, 130B) from an outer lateral side of the pair of front forks (130A, 130B).
3. The front fender assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pair of front fork(s) (130A, 130B) includes an outer tube (130AO, 130BO) and an inner tube (130AI, 130BI) slidable therein, wherein said first side member (210) and said second side member (215) extend beyond an interjecting portion (IP) of said outer tube (130AO, 130BO) and said inner tube (130AI, 130BI).
4. The front fender assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first side member (210) and said second side member (215) extend upward beyond an upper peripheral portion (PP) of said central member (205).
5. The front fender assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said two-wheeled vehicle (100) includes a front cowl assembly (165) disposed upwardly of said front wheel (135) covering at least a portion of said pair of front forks (130), wherein a top portion (215T) of said first side member (210) and said second side member (220) are enclosed by said front cowling assembly (165).
6. The front fender assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first side member (210) and said second side member (215) are having a cross-section with a longitudinal length (W) greater than the lateral length, thereby providing wider protection to said pair of front forks (130A, 130B).
7. The front fender assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first side member (210) and said second side member (215) includes an arc protrusion (210A) accommodating a disc member (185A) of a front brake assembly (185) of said two-wheeled vehicle (100).
8. The front fender assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said central member (205) is fastened to said pair of front fork (130A, 130B), and said first side member (210) and said second side member (215) are secured to said central member (205).
9. The front fender assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first side member (210) and second side member (220) are secured to an outer tube (130AO, 130BO) of said pair of front forks (130A, 130B).
10. The front fender assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first side member (210) and said second side member (215) are integrated with said central member (205).