Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to a fender assembly of a vehicle. Particularly, the present invention relates to a rear fender assembly of a two-wheeled scooter type vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] The existing two wheeled vehicles usually have fenders at the front and the rear mainly to protect the rider from dust and/or water splashed by the wheels. Rear fenders are critical in construction because they also protect parts of the frame and other components such as, but not limited to, taillights and turn signal lamps. In existing vehicles for example, but not limited to, Bebek type vehicles, fuel tanks are mounted at the rear portion of the vehicle, under the seat, along with the utility box. In this kind of vehicles, the users have to lift the rear seat every time for filling fuel. This reduces the capacity of the utility box and causes an inconvenience to the rider as well while filling fuel. Moreover, for upgradation in the vehicles, more and more electrical parts are getting added to meet emission requirements and other norms. These parts are to be accommodated in the existing vehicle layout without much modification and affecting storage and floorboard space. Also, the vehicles should include mounting provision for the additional electrical parts and such mounting provision should include a theft proof mechanism. It should also be considered that critical electrical parts are to be mounted in a location which prevents direct water and/or dust entry. Hence, a packaging solution addressing all these problems is required.
[003] In one conventional rear fender assembly, the rear fender is constructed as a single part, or in two parts. Smaller vehicles usually have the rear fender in a single construction. However, the single rear fender requires complex construction process. The rear fender when constructed in two parts usually has a complex assembly process with several mountings. The existing rear fender assembly thus may include one or more limitations, like consuming more time to assemble, non-availability of mounting location for electrical and electronic components and complex constructions.
[004] In yet another conventional rear fender arrangement, it involves a signal device and a vibration switch. The signal device and the vibration switch are arranged in a cavity of a fender of a two-wheeled vehicle. The rear fender arrangement is ineffective without signalling or indicating to a user about an activation of the signal device and the vibration switch.
[005] In yet another kind of a rear fender assembly in a vehicle, the vehicle includes a pair of left and right body covers disposed below a seat on which an occupant sits, and extending in an upper-lower direction and a front-rear direction. A rear fender is connected to lower end portions of both of the pair of left and right body covers and disposed above a rear wheel, and an electronic control unit. The rear fender includes a rearward protruding portion protruding from the lower end portions of the pair of left and right body covers toward a rear side of the vehicle. The electronic control unit is disposed inside the rearward protruding portion of the rear fender. In this kind, the body cover size is big.
[006] In yet another kind of a two wheeled vehicle, the vehicle comprises a frame and a fender coupled to a rear end portion of the frame. The fender has a storage box. The storage box has a storage housing and a storage space defined by the storage housing. The storage box also has a storage lid removably connected to the storage housing. The storage lid further has a rib structure. The storage box comprises an electronic unit. The storage box also comprises a mounting lug disposed within the storage space. The mounting lug receives the electronic unit, and the rib structure holds the electronic unit in position. However, this kind of a fender assembly does not avoid dust, mud, rainwater entry, tampering, and stealing.
[007] Thus, there is a need in the art for providing a rear fender assembly for a two-wheeled vehicle which addresses the aforementioned problems and limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[008] In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a rear fender assembly for a vehicle. The rear fender assembly is attached above a rear wheel to a frame member of the vehicle. The rear fender assembly comprises a front-side rear fender forming a front part of the rear fender assembly. The rear fender assembly further comprises a rear-side rear fender forming a rear part of the rear fender assembly. The rear-side rear fender being connected to a rear portion of the front-side rear fender. The front-side rear fender comprises a central bulge portion disposed above the rear wheel, and a side portion extending from either sides of the central bulge portion in a vehicle-width direction, one of the side portion comprises a mounting provision for mounting one or more electrical and electronic components of the vehicle.
[009] In an embodiment, the front-side rear fender comprises one or more pips at a front region of the front-side rear fender for connecting the front-side rear fender with the frame member of the vehicle.
[010] In a further embodiment, the front-side rear fender comprises a pair of cut-outs at a left side and a right side of the side portion, the pair of cut-outs being configured to allow suspension members of the vehicle to pass through.
[011] In a further embodiment, the rear fender assembly comprises flaps extending vertically downwards from a periphery of the pair of cut-outs, thereby preventing an ingress of water and/or mud particles inside the front-side rear fender.
[012] In a further embodiment, the mounting provisions are configured to mount the one or more electrical and electronic components of the vehicle, the one or more electronic components comprise an immobilizer unit.
[013] In a further embodiment, the rear fender assembly comprises flaps extend vertically upwards from the periphery of the pair of cut-outs such that each side of the central bulge portion forms a wheel well between the flaps and the central bulge portion.
[014] In a further embodiment, a gap is formed between the flaps and the wheel well on either sides of the front-side rear fender. The gap being configured as a channel for an electrical line and the gap being configured for a fuel line of the vehicle.
[015] In a further embodiment, the front-side rear fender is adapted to accommodate a utility box at a front portion of the front-side rear fender and a fuel tank at a rear portion of the front-side rear fender.
[016] In a further embodiment, a front portion of the fuel tank is sandwichingly disposed between the utility box and the front-side rear fender.
[017] In another aspect, the present invention further relates to a vehicle. The vehicle comprises a frame member extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, a rear fender assembly attached above a rear wheel to the frame member. The rear fender assembly comprises a front-side rear fender forming a front part of the rear fender assembly, and a rear-side rear fender forming a rear part of the rear fender assembly, the rear-side rear fender being connected to a rear portion of the front-side rear fender. The front-side rear fender comprises a central bulge portion disposed above the rear wheel, and a side portion extending from either sides of the central bulge portion in a vehicle-width direction, one of the side portion comprises a mounting provision for mounting one or more electrical and electronic components of the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[018] 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 shows a side view of a vehicle having a rear fender assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 2 and 3 show perspective views of a portion of vehicle having an assembly of the rear fender assembly along with a utility box and a fuel tank, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 shows a side view of the portion of vehicle having an assembly of the rear fender assembly along with a utility box and a fuel tank shown in Figure 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 5 and 6 show perspective views of the assembly of the rear fender assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 7 - 9 show various views of the rear fender assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 10 – 12 show various views of an assembly of a front-side rear fender with the utility box and the fuel tank, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 13 – 17 show various views of the front-side rear fender, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[019] Various features and embodiments of the present invention here will be discernible from the following further description thereof, set out hereunder. In the ensuing exemplary embodiments, the vehicle is a two-wheeled scooter type vehicle. However, it is contemplated that the disclosure in the present invention may also be applied to other type of two-wheeled vehicles which may be driven by an Internal Combustion (IC) engine and/or electric batteries capable of accommodating the present subject matter without defeating the scope of the present invention.
[020] Present invention broadly relates a fender assembly of a vehicle. Particularly, the present invention relates to a rear fender assembly of a two-wheeled scooter type vehicle.
[021] As illustrated in Figures 1 – 2, the vehicle 10 is a scooter type two-wheeled vehicle. It may be contemplated that the vehicle 10 can be any other kind of two-wheeled vehicle. Thus, the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the scooter type two-wheeled vehicle should not be meant limiting the scope of the present invention. The terms “two-wheeled vehicle” and “vehicle” are interchangeably used in this disclosure. However, both the terms “two-wheeled vehicle” and “vehicle” are one and the same, and the term “vehicle” is used for brevity.
[022] As illustrated in Figure 1, the scooter type two-wheeled vehicle 10 comprises a frame member 12 extending in a front-rear direction D1 of the vehicle 10. In an exemplary embodiment as shown in the Figure 1, the frame member 12 comprises a head pipe 12A at a front portion of the vehicle 10 for supporting one or more components at the front of the vehicle 10. That is to say, the frame member 12 provides a structural support to different vehicular components of the vehicle 10 and is adapted to mount one or more vehicular components of the vehicle 10. The one or more vehicular components may include, but not limited to, an instrument cluster 28, a handlebar 30, a front structure assembly 26.
[023] Referring further to the Figure 1, the vehicle 10 includes a seat assembly 32 supported by the frame member 12. The vehicle 10 further includes a storage unit or a utility box 22 (shown in Figures 2 – 4, 10 and 11). The utility box 22 is disposed below the seat assembly 32. In some embodiments of the present invention, the rear portion of the vehicle 10 accommodates a fuel tank 24 (shown in Figures 2 – 4, 10 and 11). A rear portion of the vehicle 10 may further include a grab handle 34 for assisting as a support structure for a pillion rider of the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 includes a taillight 36 at the rear portion of the vehicle 10.
[024] In some embodiment, the vehicle 10 includes a front wheel 18 and a rear wheel 14, driven by a power generated by an Internal Combustion (IC) engine (not shown) and/or a battery pack (not shown). The IC engine generates the power by combustion of a fuel inside a combustion chamber (not shown) of the IC engine for movement of the vehicle 10. In some other embodiments, the battery pack of the vehicle 10 may supply electrical energy to a motor assembly (not shown) for driving the rear wheel 14 and the front wheel 18 of the vehicle 10. In some embodiments, power generated by a combination of the IC engine and the battery may be used for driving the front wheel 18 and the rear wheel 14. In the illustrated embodiment in Figure 1, a front fender assembly 20 is disposed above the front wheel 18 of the vehicle 10 and a rear fender assembly 100 is disposed above the rear wheel 14. The front fender assembly 20 and the rear fender assembly 100 prevents the splashing of water or mud towards and inside the vehicle 10.
[025] As illustrated in Figure 1, the rear fender assembly 100 of the vehicle 10 is attached above the rear wheel 14 to the frame member 12. Referring to Figures 2 – 17, the rear fender assembly 100 is a split-type rear fender assembly. That is to say, the rear fender assembly 100 comprises two parts namely a front-side rear fender 102 and a rear-side rear fender 104. The front-side rear fender forms a front part of the rear fender assembly 100 and the rear-side rear fender 104 forms a rear part of the rear fender assembly 100. In the illustrated embodiments, the rear-side rear fender 104 is connected to a rear portion 102A of the front-side rear fender 102, through one or more fasteners (not shown).
[026] Referring to Figures 5, 7 – 9 and 12 – 16, the front-side rear fender 102 comprises a central bulge portion 102B disposed above the rear wheel 14, and a side portion 102C extending from either sides of the central bulge portion 102B in a vehicle-width direction “W1” (shown in Figure 17). In an exemplary embodiment, one of the side portion 102C comprises a mounting provision 102D for mounting one or more electrical and electronic components 16 of the vehicle 10. In the illustrated embodiments as shown in Figures 4, 5, 7, 14, 15 and 16, the side portion 102C at a right hand side of the vehicle 10 comprises the mounting provision 102D. In some embodiments, the mounting provision is a mounting lug onto which the one or more electrical and electronic components 16 can be mounted in an upward direction. In an embodiment, the mounting provisions 102D are configured to mount the one or more electrical and electronic components 16 of the vehicle 10. The one or more electronic components 16 comprise, but not limited to, an immobilizer unit (not shown). In some embodiments, the electrical unit 16 of immobilizer unit can be used as a secondary authentication for the vehicle 10 to start / stop the vehicle 10 through an application that can be installed in a device including, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a tablet or a computer device.
[027] In an embodiment, the front-side rear fender 102 comprises one or more pips 102E at a front region of the front-side rear fender 102. The one or more pips 102E are provided for connecting the front-side rear fender 102 with the frame member 12 of the vehicle 10. In the illustrated embodiments shown in the Figures 3 – 5, 7 – 13, 15, and 16 – 17, the pips 102E are extending members which gets connected or fitted to the frame member 12 during assembling of the front-side rear fender 102. Thus, the pips 102E forms a screwless structure for mounting the rear fender assembly 100 onto the frame member 12. The pips 102E are configured such that they will structurally fit on the frame member 12 at a particular position at a particular angle when assembled, and the rear portion of the front-side rear fender 102A is fixedly attached. They will remain at their position due to structural loads acting on them due to the rear fender assembly 100 being fixed elsewhere, friction, and other forces. In some embodiments, the front-side rear fender 102 may be further secured with one or more straps (not shown) tied between the front-side rear fender 102 and the frame member 12.
[028] As shown in Figures 6, 15 and 17, the front-side rear fender 102 comprises a pair of cut-outs 102F at a left side “L” and a right side “R” of the side portion 102C. The pair of cut-outs 102F are configured to allow suspension members (not shown) of the vehicle 10 to pass through when the suspension members are assembled to the vehicle 10. In an embodiment shown in Figure 6, at the cut-outs 102F of the front-side rear fender 102, flaps 106A are provided. The flaps 106A extend vertically downwards from a periphery “P” of the pair of cut-outs 102F, thereby preventing an ingress of water and/or mud particles inside the front-side rear fender 102.
[029] In some embodiments as shown in Figures 5, 7 and 16, at the cut-outs 102F of the front-side rear fender, flaps 106B extend vertically upwards from the periphery “P” of the pair of cut-outs 102F. The flaps 106B extend such that each side 102B1, 102B2 of the central bulge portion 102B forms a wheel well “V” between the flaps 106B and the central bulge portion 102B.
[030] In an embodiment as shown in Figure 13, a gap “G1”, “G2” is formed between the flaps 106B and the wheel well “V” on either sides of the front-side rear fender 102. In some embodiments of the present invention, the gap “G1” is configured as the channel for an electrical line “EL” and the gap “G2” is configured as the channel for a fuel line “FL” of the vehicle 10.
[031] In an embodiment, the front-side rear fender 102 is adapted to accommodate the utility box 22 at a front portion 102’ of the front-side rear fender 102 and the fuel tank 24 at the rear portion 102A of the front-side rear fender 102. In an exemplary embodiment as shown in Figures 4 and 11 a front portion 24’ of the fuel tank 24 is sandwichingly disposed between the utility box 22 and the front-side rear fender 102. The illustrated embodiments of partial sandwiching of the front portion 24’ of the fuel tank 24 should not meant to be limiting the scope of the present invention. The fuel tank 24 may be fully sandwiched or may be partially sandwiched, which may be dependent on the fuel tank 24 capacity and mounting of other mechanical and/or electrical parts of the vehicle 10.
[032] Advantageously, the rear fender assembly as disclosed in the present disclosure addresses the existing technical problems. Firstly, with regards to assembly problem, where the rear fender assembly is designed with screwless mountings at one or more mounting locations. Secondly, with regard to the mounting problem associated with electrical parts of the vehicle, wherein a holder or a mounting provision is provided on one side of the rear fender assembly to mount one or more electrical parts of the vehicle. Thirdly, with regard to prevention of water and/or mud entry into the rear fender assembly and into the vehicle, wherein the present rear fender assembly comprises separate gaps on either side of the rear fender assembly to accommodate suspension members of the vehicle. The water and/or the mud entry is prevented by providing flaps which extend vertically downwards on either side of the front-side rear fender.
[033] The rear fender assembly as disclosed in the present disclosure provides an advantage of easier accessibility of the interior parts because of less number of mountings. Having less number of mountings further makes the assembly process easy. The electrical unit is disposed on the front-side rear fender without any fasteners like a screw and thus preventing increase of weight of the overall rear fender assembly.
[034] The front-side rear fender is mounted onto the frame member without any screws. Instead, the front-side rear fender is mounted onto the frame member through pips provided at a front portion of the front-side rear fender. Thus, the front portion of the front-side rear fender is designed by screwless mounting mechanism, antitheft and waterproof structure.
[035] The rear fender assembly as disclosed in the present invention provides feasibility for constructing longer vehicle with larger capacity fuel tank and utility box, which would be convenient for a customer. The rear fender assembly as disclosed in the present invention can securely house some of the electrical components essential for the vehicle.
[036] 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 and Characters:
10: Vehicle
12: Frame member
12A: Head pipe
14: Rear wheel
16: One or more electrical and electronic components
18: Front wheel
20: Front fender assembly
22: Utility box
24: Fuel tank
24’: Front portion of the fuel tank
26: Front structure assembly
28: Instrument cluster
30: Handlebar
32: Seat assembly
34: Grab handle
36: Taillight
100: Rear fender assembly
102: Front-side rear fender
102’: Front portion of the front-side rear fender
102A: Rear portion of front-side rear fender
102B: Central bulge portion of the front-side rear fender
102B1, 102B2: Side of the central bulge portion
102C: Side portion of the front-side rear fender
102D: Mounting provision
102E: One or more pips
102F: Pair of cut-outs
104: Rear-side rear fender
106A, 106B: Flaps
D1: Front-rear direction
EL: Electrical line
FL: Fuel line
G1: Gap
G2: Gap
L: Left side of the side portion 102C
P: Periphery of the pair of cut-outs
R. Right side of the side portion 102C
V: Wheel well
W1: Vehicle-width direction
, Claims:1. A rear fender assembly (100) for a vehicle (10), the rear fender assembly (100) attached above a rear wheel (14) to a frame member (12) of the vehicle (10), the rear fender assembly (100) comprising:
a front-side rear fender (102) forming a front part of the rear fender assembly (100), and
a rear-side rear fender (104) forming a rear part of the rear fender assembly (100), the rear-side rear fender (104) being connected to a rear portion (102A) of the front-side rear fender (102);
wherein the front-side rear fender (102) comprises a central bulge portion (102B) disposed above the rear wheel (14), and a side portion (102C) extending from either sides of the central bulge portion (102B) in a vehicle-width direction (W1), one of the side portion (102C) comprises a mounting provision (102D) for mounting one or more electrical and electronic components (16) of the vehicle (10).

2. The rear fender assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front-side rear fender (102) comprises one or more pips (102E) at a front region of the front-side rear fender (102) for connecting the front-side rear fender (102) with the frame member (12) of the vehicle (10).

3. The rear fender assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front-side rear fender (102) comprises a pair of cut-outs (102F) at a left side (L) and a right side (R) of the side portion (102C), the pair of cut-outs (102F) being configured to allow suspension members of the vehicle (10) to pass through.

4. The rear fender assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3 comprising flaps (106A) extending vertically downwards from a periphery (P) of the pair of cut-outs (102F), thereby preventing an ingress of water and/or mud particles inside the front-side rear fender (102).

5. The rear fender assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting provisions (102D) are configured to mount the one or more electrical and electronic components (16) of the vehicle (10), the one or more electronic components (16) comprise an immobilizer unit.

6. The rear fender assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3 comprising flaps (106B) extend vertically upwards from the periphery (P) of the pair of cut-outs (102F) such that each side (102B1, 102B2) of the central bulge portion (102B) forms a wheel well (V) between the flaps (106B) and the central bulge portion (102B).

7. The rear fender assembly (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein a gap (G1, G2) is formed between the flaps (106B) and the wheel well (V) on either sides of the front-side rear fender (102), the gap (G1) being configured as a channel for an electrical line (EL) and the gap (G2) being configured for a fuel line (FL) of the vehicle (10).

8. The rear fender assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front-side rear fender (102) is adapted to accommodate a utility box (22) at a front portion (102’) of the front-side rear fender (102) and a fuel tank (24) at a rear portion (102A) of the front-side rear fender (102).

9. The rear fender assembly (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein a front portion (24’) of the fuel tank (24) is sandwichingly disposed between the utility box (22) and the front-side rear fender (102).

10. A vehicle (10) comprising:
a frame member (12) extending in a front-rear direction (D1) of the vehicle (10);
a rear fender assembly (100) attached above a rear wheel (14) to the frame member (12), the rear fender assembly (100) comprising:
a front-side rear fender (102) forming a front part of the rear fender assembly (100), and
a rear-side rear fender (104) forming a rear part of the rear fender assembly (100), the rear-side rear fender (104) being connected to a rear portion (102A) of the front-side rear fender (102);
wherein the front-side rear fender (102) comprises a central bulge portion (102B) disposed above the rear wheel (14), and a side portion (102C) extending from either sides of the central bulge portion (102B) in a vehicle-width direction (W1), one of the side portion (102C) comprises a mounting provision (102D) for mounting one or more electrical and electronic components (16) of the vehicle (10).