Claims:We claim:
1. A rear fender assembly (116) for a two-wheeled vehicle (100) comprising:
a rear fender (115) mounted on a rear frame structure (107) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100); and
a tail cover (112) formed as an integrally portion of the rear fender (115).
2. The rear fender assembly (116) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tail cover (112) includes a top member (112a) and a bottom member (113), a rear portion of the top member (112a) of the tail cover (112) being integrated with the rear fender (115).
3. The rear fender assembly (116) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a one or more tail lamp (114) being mounted on the rear fender assembly (116) by means of one or more fastening means (118).
4. The rear fender assembly (116) as claimed in claim 2 and 3, wherein the top member (112a) integrated with the rear fender assembly (116) envelopes the one or more tail lamp (114) from above and the bottom member (113) of the tail cover (112) being configured to cover one or more tail lamp (114) from bottom.
5. The rear fender assembly (116) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom member (113) extends in the rearward direction, towards the rear fender (115) so as to cover and protect a seat lock (not shown) mounted on the rear fender assembly (116).
6. The rear fender assembly (116) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom member (113) being configured to have a flat contour (not shown) to reduce the effect of a frame variations in the two-wheeled vehicle (100).
7. The rear fender assembly (116) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear fender assembly (116) being provided with one or more flanges (122) to the outer side of the rear fender assembly (116) to reduce water splash towards a pillion rider of the vehicle (100).
, Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to a two-wheeled vehicle. More particularly but not exclusively the present subject matter relates to a rear fender assembly for the two-wheeled vehicle.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Generally, in a motor vehicle, a body frame extends rearward from a head tube. The body frame acts as a skeleton for the vehicle that supports the vehicle loads. The body frame extends towards a rear portion of the vehicle. A rear wheel is connected to a mainframe assembly through one or more rear suspension(s). The rear wheel is provided with a rear fender which acts as a mudguard. The primary purpose of the mudguard is to prevent sand, mud, rocks, liquids, and the like from being thrown into the air by the rotating rear wheels. Apart from rear fender, a tail lamp is located at the rear portion, above the rear fender of the two-wheeled vehicle. The tail lamp is disposed in a tail lamp cover. The tail lamp cover is attached on the rear fender of the vehicle by means of one or more attachment means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] The details are described with reference to an embodiment of a two-wheeled vehicle along with the accompanying figures. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference similar features and components.
[0004] Figure 1 exemplarily illustrates a side view of a straddle type two-wheeled vehicle.
[0005] Figure 2(a) exemplarily illustrates a side view of the integrated rear fender assembly.
[0006] Figure 2(b) exemplarily illustrates a rear view of the integrated rear fender assembly.
[0007] Figure 3(a) exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the integrated rear fender assembly.
[0008] Figure 3(b) exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the integrated rear fender assembly.
[0009] Figure 3(c) exemplarily illustrates a side view integrated rear fender assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0001] Conventionally, most of the two-wheeled vehicles (hereinafter vehicle) comprises of a frame assembly, a rear fender, a tail cover, and one or more tail lamp. In the two-wheeled vehicle, the rear fender and the tail lamp are located close to each other. The tail lamp is mounted on the tail cover. The rear fender is placed at the rear portion over the rear wheels to protect a pillion rider from the mud splash, water, and other foreign materials. The rear fender being an overhanging part has to be mounted to the frame assembly of the vehicle. To overhang the rear fender, generally the tail cover has a cut-out or a relief on the tail cover to allow the rear fender to pass through it to get attach with the frame assembly. This creates more joints at the interface between the rear fender and the tail cover. The cut-out thus formed weakens the overall strength of the rear fender, which is a suspended long part. In order to increase the strength of the rear fender additional support members are required leading to increase in part count. Also, the cut-out results in a visible gap formation, which is undesirable, leading to more uncontrolled gaps and poor aesthetics at the local zone.
[0002] Further, the rear fender and the tail cover and the other rear neighbouring parts are configured as separate members and are mounted or fixed separately with screws and other attachment means. This results in increase in number of sub parts, number of fastening means, and the like which also makes the assembly troublesome. This increases the time of assembly and increase overall tact time for a vehicle in production line, which is undesirable. Also, the rear fender is composed of a front section and a rear section, the rear section of known art has insufficient strength, which leaves it vulnerable for breakage and thus reduces its functionality. In addition to this, the rear section of the rear fender cannot be easily assembled with the tail cover, resulting in multiple interfaces. The gap formed between the rear fender and the tail cover varies and leads to unstable assembly, also affects the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle. Uneven gaps formed increases the serviceability time and may also allow foreign particles like dust, water, and the like to enter through it. In many two-wheeled vehicles, three sub parts are assembled to eliminate the gaps formed between the rear fender and the tail cover. But this solution leads to increase in number of parts, less precision in assembly, increase in assembly time and serviceability time.
[0003] Therefore, there is a need of an improved rear fender and the tail cover attachment configuration which has a uniform gap, reduced number of parts, is simpler, cost-effective, has higher strength, takes less time during assembly and serviceability. The rear fender assembly should be such that it caters to the various requirements of platform of product variants while overcoming all above problems as well as other related problems of known art.
[0004] An objective of the present subject matter is to provide a rear fender assembly which can eliminate visible joint at the interface of the rear fender and the tail cover and thereby reducing the number of part count, assembly time and increases the stiffness of the part. The present subject matter is described using an exemplary two-wheeled vehicle, whereas the claimed subject matter is applicable to any type of two-wheeled vehicle, with required changes and without deviating from the scope of invention.
[0005] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, a rear fender assembly for a two-wheeled vehicle is disclosed which comprises of a rear fender, and a tail cover. The rear fender being mounted on a rear frame structure of the two-wheeled vehicle. The tail cover being integrally attached to the rear fender.
[0006] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the tail cover includes a top member and a bottom member, a rear portion of the top member of the tail cover is integrated with the rear fender.
[0007] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, a one or more tail lamp is mounted on the rear fender assembly by means of one or more fastening means.
[0008] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the top member, being integrated with the rear fender assembly, envelopes the one or more tail lamp from above whereas the bottom member of the tail cover is configured to cover one or more tail lamp from bottom.
[0009] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the bottom member extends in the rearward direction, towards the rear fender so as to cover and protect a seat lock mounted on the rear fender assembly.
[00010] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the bottom member is configured to have a flat contour to reduce the effect of a frame variations in the two-wheeled vehicle.
[00011] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the rear fender assembly is provided with one or more flanges on the outer side of the rear fender assembly to reduce water splash towards a pillion rider of the vehicle. The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to an embodiment in a two wheeled vehicle along with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the present embodiments. The present subject matter is further described with reference to accompanying figures. It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate principles of the present subject matter. Various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, encompass the principles of the present subject matter. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and examples of the present subject matter, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[00012] Fig.1 exemplarily illustrates a side view of a straddle type two-wheeled vehicle 100. The two-wheeled vehicle 100 have a front portion F and a rear portion R. The front portion F of the vehicle 100 includes a head pipe 101, a front frame structure 102, a front shock absorber 103, a steering assembly 104, a fuel tank 105, and a front wheel 106. The rear portion R of the vehicle 100 includes a rear frame structure 107, a rear wheel 108, a rear shock absorber 109, a seat 110, and a swingarm 111. The front frame structure 102 of the vehicle 100 along with the front shock absorber 103 is connected to the front wheel 106. The rear portion R includes the rear shock absorber 109 connected to the rear frame structure 107 of the vehicle 100. The swingarm 111 is connected to the frame of the vehicle 100 at one end in longitudinal direction of the vehicle 100 and the other end is connected to an axle (not shown) of the rear wheel 108. The rear portion R of the vehicle 100 includes a rear fender 115 mounted on the rear frame structure 107 of the vehicle 100. A tail cover 112 accommodating one or more tail lamp 114 (shown in fig. 3(a)) is mounted on the rear fender 115 of the vehicle 100.
[00013] Fig.2(a) exemplarily illustrates a side view of the integrated rear fender assembly 116. Fig.2(b) exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of the integrated rear fender assembly 116. Fig. 2(a) and Fig. 2(b) shall be discussed together. In the present embodiment, the rear fender 115 is a single part, integrated with the tail cover 112. The rear fender 115 extends inclinedly in downward direction from the rear frame structure 107 (shown in fig.1) to protect the rear wheel 108 (shown in fig.1) of the vehicle 100. The tail cover 112 is disposed on an upper side in the rear side of the rear fender 115. The tail cover 112 and the rear fender 115 are integrated and is made to form one part as an integrated rear fender assembly 116. This integration of the rear fender 115 and the tail cover 112 eliminates the visible gap in the rear fender assembly 116. The tail cover 112 is configured to have one or more slots 117 to accommodate one or more tail lamp 114 (shown in fig.3(a)) which can be used as an indicator or for lightening purposes. The tail cover 112 extends rearwardly in upward direction. The main purpose of the tail cover 112 is to protect the tail lamp 114 (shown in fig.3(a)) from outside environment and to provide a suitable housing for the one or more tail lamp 114.
[00014] Fig.3(a) exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the integrated rear fender assembly 116. Fig.3(b) exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the integrated rear fender assembly 116. Fig.3(c) exemplarily illustrates a side view integrated rear fender assembly 116. Fig. 3(a), Fig. 3(b) and Fig. 3(c) shall be discussed together. In the present embodiment, the tail cover 112 is integrated with the rear fender 115 to form an integrated structure. The tail cover 112 accommodates one or more tail lamp 114. The tail cover 112 protects the tail lamp 114 from all the sides. The tail cover 112 includes a top member 112a and a bottom member 113 (hereinafter referred as tail cover bottom). The tail cover 112 is supported by the tail cover bottom 113 which also provides a protective cover for the one or more tail lamps 114. The tail cover bottom 113 protects the one or more tail lamp 114 from the bottom side of the tail lamp 114. The tail lamp 114 is secured inside the tail cover 112 by means of one or more fastening means 118. Further, the tail cover bottom 113 is attached with a substantially c-shaped bracket 119 by means of one or more screwing means 120. This sub assembly is assembled with the tail cover bottom 113 by means of one or more support brackets 121.
[00015] The integration of the rear fender 115 and the tail cover 112 as a single part improves the strength of the long part i.e. the rear fender 115 as well as the tail lamp 114 housing i.e. tail cover 112, thereby improving the performance of the rear fender 115, the tail cover 112, the tail cover bottom 113, and the tail lamp 114. A rear portion of the tail cover 112 envelopes the tail-lamp 114 when integrated with the rear fender 115, resulting in reduction in the size of the tail cover bottom 113 and avoids any visible split line or gap between the tail cover bottom 113 and the rear fender 115. Now, since the two parts, namely, rear fender 115 and the tail cover 112 are integrated to form one part, the assembly has become easier, also time of assembly has reduced, thus avoiding any manufacturing complexity. This is because the three-part assembly process is now only two-part assembly. This also results in the reduction of part count and overall cost to the vehicle 100. Effectively, the design of rear fender assembly 116 has been augmented to now perform the additional function of tail cover 112 by configuring the tail lamp 114 enclosure as an integral portion of the rear fender 115.
[00016] In addition to this, a seat lock (not shown) mounted on the rear fender 115 is now covered and protected by the tail cover bottom 113, securing the lock (not shown). The tail cover bottom 113 at least partially overlaps and covers the rear fender 115 from the bottom and sides of the rear fender 115. The integrated rear fender assembly 116 facilitates in making the tail portion flat instead of sharp contours which reduces the effect of frame variations on rear fender 115. One or more flanges 122 are added to an outer profile of the rear fender 115 to reduce water splash towards the pillion rider of the vehicle 100. The one or more flanges 122 also contributes in improving the stiffness of the integrated rear fender assembly 116. Many other improvements and modifications may be incorporated herein without deviating from the scope of the invention.

List of Reference numerals
100: Two-wheeled vehicle
F: Front portion of 100
R: Rear portion of 100
101: Head pipe of 100
102: Front frame structure of 100
103: Front shock absorber of 100
104: Steering assembly of 100
105: Fuel tank of 100
106: Front wheel of 100
107: Rear frame structure of 100
108: Rear wheel of 100
109: Rear shock absorber of 100
110: Seat of 100
111: Swingarm of 100
112: Tail cover of 100
112(a): Top member of 112
113: Bottom member of 112
114: Tail lamp of 100
115: Rear fender of 100
116: Rear fender assembly of 100
117: One or more slots in 112
118: One or more fastening means for 114
119: C-shaped bracket of 113
120: One or more screwing means of 113
121: One or more support brackets of 116
122: One or more flanges of 115