DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter, in general, relates to a two-wheeled vehicle, and in particular, relates to a pillion handle assembly disposed at a rear side of the scooter type vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Typically, a two-wheeled vehicle comprises plurality of components aiding the rider to easily access the vehicle. The plurality of components includes the handlebar assembly used by the user to steer the vehicle, a pair of pillion footrest assembly aiding the pillion rider to rest his/her feet. Further, a pillion handle assembly (pillion handle) for a scooter type vehicle is disposed at a rear end of the vehicle. The pillion handle provides sufficient support to the rider’s back while seated behind the rider during the vehicle running condition. Further, the pillion handle assembly is used by the pillion rider to take support while riding pillion in the two-wheeled vehicle. The pillion handle is primarily used by a pillion rider to hold while seated on the vehicle. Furthermore, the pillion handle is used by the rider or the user to handle the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.
[0004] Fig. 1 shows a side view of a step through type vehicle.
[0005] Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the pillion handle along with surrounding vehicular parts.
[0006] Fig. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the pillion handle along with surrounding vehicular parts.
[0007] Fig. 4 illustrates a pillion handle assembly according to an embodiment for a step-through type vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] Generally, a pillion handle assembly is also used by the user when a need to manually push the vehicle arises. The need to manually push the vehicle arises under circumstances like parking the vehicle, towing the vehicle or when the vehicle is broke. The pillion handle assembly being a rigid member undergoes deflection during handling of the vehicle. The deflections of the pillion handle assembly accounts to poor aesthetics of the vehicle, which is not desirable by the user. Furthermore, there arises a need to frequently replace the entire pillion handle assembly due to deflection, which has failed to fulfill its requirement. These calls for frequent servicing of the vehicle including the pillion handle assembly.
[0009] Furthermore, generally, the pillion handle assembly comprises of three or more mounting provisions enabling the mounting of the pillion handle assembly on a vehicle frame assembly at the rear end of the vehicle. The pillion handle assembly is attached to the vehicle frame assembly through a number of fasteners. Generally, in a vehicle assembled condition, a LH side panel, a RH side panel, LH side panel bracket, and RH side panel bracket are disposed in between the pillion handle assembly and the frame mounting brackets. During servicing of the vehicle, particularly to service LH side panel and RH side panel calls for a need to removal of the pillion handle assembly. The removal of pillion handle becomes a tedious job as the process of removal involves removing of more number of fasteners. The concerns that follow the tedious process include increase in service and assembly time after carrying out service of the vehicular parts. Further, the tedious process causes fatigue to the service person. Further, a number of fasteners require more storage space on the vehicle layout. Finally, leads to vehicle layout concerns and poor design flexibility.
[00010] The above said problem can be overcome by reducing the number of fasteners used to attach the pillion handle assembly on the vehicle body frame. Further, if the number of fasteners used to mount the pillion handle on the vehicle is reduced, the pillion handle may become unstable and may result in deflection of the pillion handle.
[00011] Hence, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a stable and a reliable pillion handle assembly. Further, since the pillion handle is a structural member of the vehicle, the pillion handle should be a rigid and strong member of the vehicle. Hence, it is further an objective of the present invention to provide a structurally stable pillion handle for the vehicle. Hence, the present invention proposes for a structurally stable pillion handle for use by the pillion rider and to handle the vehicle.
[00012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pillion handle assembly comprises a LH holding arm and a RH holding arm disposed on either side of a seat assembly at a rear end of the vehicle. The LH holding arm and the RH holding arm are connected by a bridge member are the rear end of the vehicle. Further, the LH holding arm and the RH holding arm includes the LH mounting arm and the RH mounting arm respectively. The LH mounting arm and the RH mounting arm each extend inwardly in a vehicle width direction, such that the LH mounting arm and the RH mounting arm are disposed to lie below the seat.
[00013] Further, the LH mounting arm and the RH mounting arm each include at least one connecting end and at least one mounting end. The at least one connecting end is integrated with each of the LH mounting arm and the RH mounting arm. The at least one mounting end is mounted to receiving members on the vehicle frame assembly.
[00014] Furthermore, the at least one mounting end of each of the LH mounting arm and the RH mounting arm is configured with one or more mounting portions that enable mounting with the vehicle frame assembly, one or more projections capable of receiving at least a portion of a fuel tank cover, and at least one substantially flat portion enabling a sufficient contact of the at least one mounting portion with the receiving members of the vehicle frame assembly.
[00015] Since the at least one substantially flat portion provides for sufficient contact with the vehicle frame assembly, the pillion handle assembly does not easily undergo deflection when handled by the user or any other person.
[00016] Furthermore, in order to prevent deflection a more structurally stable pillion handle assembly is required, this is achieved by providing one or more reinforcing members on each of the LH mounting arm and the RH mounting arm. The reinforcing members make the LH mounting arm and the RH mounting arm stiffer and this adds to the structural stability of the pillion handle assembly. Therefore, a more stable and reliable functioning of the pillion handle assembly is achieved according to the present invention.
[00017] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the reinforced members are any one of polygonal shapes.
[00018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the RH holding arm, the LH holding arm, and the bridge member are integrated with the LH mounting arm and the RH mounting arm.
[00019] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more projections and the at least one substantially flat portion are integrated with each of the LH mounting arm and the RH mounting arm.
[00020] According to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the LH mounting arm and the RH mounting arm are connected to one or more receiving members disposed on a pair of rear frames of the vehicle frame assembly.
[00021] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail in conjunction with the figures in the following description.
[00022] The proposed invention can be understood in detail by the following description and the accompanying drawings.
[00023] Fig. 1 shows a side view of the step-through type vehicle. The vehicle 100 has a body frame assembly made up of several tubes welded together, which usually supports the body of the said vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 has a steerable front wheel 101 and a driven rear wheel 102. The body frame assembly of the vehicle 100 is an elongated structure, which typically extends from a forward end to a rearward end of the vehicle 100. The said frame assembly includes a head tube (not shown), a main frame and may have a sub-frame. The sub-frame is attached to the main frame using appropriate joining mechanism. The frame assembly is covered by a plurality of vehicle body covers including a front panel 103, a rear panel 104, and a front panel located at the bottom 106, and a left side panel 107. A storage unit 109 is provided on the rear panel 104 for the user to store small articles.
[00024] A handlebar assembly 112 and a seat assembly 108 are supported at opposing ends of the frame assembly and a generally open area is defined there between known as a floorboard 105, which functions as a step through space. The seat for a driver and a pillion is placed forward to a fuel tank and rear side of floorboard 105. A front fender 110 is provided above the front wheel 101 to avoid the said vehicle 1 and its occupants from being splashed with mud. Likewise, a rear fender 113 is placed between a fuel tank and the rear wheel 102, and to the outer side in the radial direction of the rear wheel 102. The rear fender 113 inhibits rain water or the like from being thrown up by the rear wheel 102. A pillion handle assembly 115 is disposed at the rear end of the vehicle to provide support to a pillion rider seated behind the rider.
[00025] Suspensions are provided for comfortable steering of the vehicle 100 on the road. A front suspension assembly (not shown) is connected to a front fork 111. The rear suspension assembly comprises of at least one rear suspension (not shown) preferably on the left side of the vehicle 100. However, a vehicle with two rear suspensions, namely on the left side and the right side is also possible. For the safety of the user and in conformance with the traffic rules, a headlight in the front portion of the vehicle and a taillight 114 in the rear portion of the vehicle is also provided.
[00026] Fig. 2 represents an exploded view of the rear side of the scooter type vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. It can be depicted from the figure that the pillion handle assembly 115 is disposed in between a bottom surface of the seat assembly 108 and a fuel tank cover 202. According to an embodiment, the rear portion of the seat assembly 108 located at the rear end of the vehicle 100 is resting upon a pair of cushion members 204 disposed in between the seat assembly 108 and the pillion handle assembly 115. The pillion handle assembly 115 is attached to the vehicle body frame 206. The pair of frame mounting brackets 207 are disposed on the vehicle frame assembly 206 are configured to receive the LH holding arm 401 and the RH holding arm 402.
[00027] According to another embodiment, pair of attaching members 205 is used to attach the pillion handle assembly 115 to the vehicle body frame 206. A LH side panel bracket (not shown) attaches the LH side panel 107 to the vehicle frame assembly 206 and a RH side panel bracket (not shown) attaches a RH side panel 201 to the vehicle frame assembly 206. The LH side panel bracket and the RH side panel bracket are disposed in between a pair of frame mounting brackets 207 and the pillion handle assembly 115. During servicing of the vehicle, particularly to access the LH side panel 107 and the RH side panel 201, the pillion handle assembly 115 has to be dismantled. To dismantle the pillion handle assembly 115, only the pair of attaching members 205 is to be removed. Hence, servicing of the vehicle is easier as compared to the conventional vehicle. Therefore, the tedious method of mounting or dismantling the pillion handle assembly 115 is overcome according to the present invention.
[00028] Further, the pillion handle assembly 115 includes one or more reinforced member 203 to provide structural strength to the pillion handle assembly 115. The features of the pillion handle according to the invention can be further understood by the description of the following cross-section.
[00029] Fig. 3 illustrates a cross-section of a rear portion of the scooter type vehicle according to an embodiment. The pillion handle assembly 115 is disposed below the seat assembly 108. Particularly, the pair of the cushion members 204 supports a bottom surface 108a of the seat assembly 108. The pair of cushion members 204 are disposed in between the seat assembly 108 and the pillion handle assembly 115. Further, from the figure it can be depicted that the pair of cushion members 204 disposed below the seat assembly 108 are not directly resting on the pillion handle assembly 115. The pair of cushion members 204 are resting on the fuel tank cover 202 resting on one or more projections 301 provided each on RH mounting arm and LH mounting arm (not shown). The each of the LH mounting arm 401 and the RH mounting arm 402 of the pillion handle assembly 115 is attached to the vehicle body frame 206 through each of the pair of frame mounting brackets 207. Further, it can also be depicted from the figure that the pillion handle assembly 115 is attached to the pair of frame mounting brackets 207 through the pair of attaching members 205.
[00030] Fig. 4 depicts a pillion handle assembly according to an embodiment. The pillion handle assembly 115 according to an embodiment comprises a LH holding arm 401 and a RH holding arm 402 used by the pillion rider to take support while seated on the vehicle 100. The LH holding arm 401 and the RH holding arm 402 is connected at the rear end of the vehicle by a bridge member 403. Further, the pillion handle assembly 115 comprises of a LH mounting arm 406 and a RH mounting arm 405 enabling the mounting of the pillion handle assembly 115 to the pair of frame mounting brackets 207. The LH mounting arm 406 and the RH mounting arm 405 each comprises of at least one connecting end 404 and at least one mounting end 302. The each of the at least one connecting end 404 comprises of one or more mounting provisions 205a. Further, the at least one connecting end 404 includes one or more projections 301 on each of the at least one connecting end 404. The one or more projections provide substantial support to the fuel tank cover 202. Furthermore, each of the at least one connecting end 404 includes at least one substantially flat portion 303 to provide sufficient contact surface for the mounting of the pillion handle assembly 115 to rest upon the pair of frame mounting brackets 207. Furthermore, the strength of the pillion handle assembly 115 is improved by providing one or more reinforcing members 203 each on the LH mounting arm 406 and the RH mounting arm 405.
[00031] The deflection of the pillion handle that may occur due to presence of only the pair of mounting provisions 205a is overcome by providing the one or more reinforcing members 203. The one or more reinforcing members 203 provide strength to each of the LH mounting arm 406 and the RH mounting arm 405. Further, the one or more reinforced members 203 strengthens the RH mounting arm 405 and the LH mounting arm 406 and prevents the pillion handle assembly 115 from undergoing deflection during handling of the vehicle 100.
[00032] Although implementations for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as exemplary implementations of the present invention.
,CLAIMS:I/We claim:
1. A pillion handle assembly (115) for a two-wheeled vehicle (100), said pillion handle assembly (115) comprising:
a LH holding arm (401) and a RH holding arm (402) disposed on either side of a seat assembly (108) at a rear end of said vehicle (100);
a bridge member (403) connecting said LH holding arm (401) and said RH holding arm (402) at said rear end of said vehicle (100); and
a LH mounting arm (406) and a RH mounting arm (405) each extending inwards in a vehicle width direction from at least a portion of each of said LH holding arm (401) and said RH holding arm (402), each of said LH mounting arm (406) and said RH mounting arm (405) includes at least one connecting end (404) and at least one mounting end (302),
wherein,
said at least one mounting end (302) of each of said LH mounting arm (406) and said RH mounting arm (405) is configured to include one or more mounting portions (205a), one or more projections (301) and, at least one substantially flat portion (303) and wherein, each of said LH mounting arm (406) and said RH mounting arm (405) comprises one or more reinforcing members (203) disposed between said at least one connecting end (404) and said at least one mounting end (302).