A REAR VIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a front portion of a
vehicle and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a rear view mirror installed in the front portion of a two wheeled saddle type vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A motorcycle is provided with a headlamp unit to enable the rider for better visibility during low light conditions. The headlamp unit is enclosed at its outer contour by a headlamp housing comprising of a front housing portion and a rear housing portion. The front housing portion supports a light source and a reflector which reflects the light from the light source in a predetermined manner so that the luminous intensity of the headlamp unit conforms to the statutory regulations.

[0003] A rear view mirror is provided laterally on each side of the headlamp housing of the vehicle. It is supported on a handlebar through an arm which supports itself on the handlebar through an adapter bolt and an adjustable nut.

The arm of the rear view mirror is generally exposed to the environment and may lose its sheen over a period of time on continued exposure to water and sun.

[0004] During rainy conditions, water enters through the headlamp housing to reach handlebar, related wiring harness and instrument cluster which may lead to rusting or short circuiting of these components located in the front portion of the vehicle. Moreover, where the arm is secured to the handlebar, the adapter bolt and adjustable nut are visible to the vehicle customer. They too are susceptible to the water exposure and eventual rusting, and also spoil the aesthetic potential of the vehicle.

5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to prevent water entry into the headlamp housing and to protect the components of rear view mirror assembly from sun and water exposure. To this end, the present invention discloses a rear view mirror assembly having a rear view mirror, an arm supporting the rear view mirror and an arm cover covering the said arm. The arm passes through an arm receiving opening of the headlamp housing. A lower portion of the arm cover rests on the arm receiving opening and includes a locking member received in a peripheral slit formed along a periphery of said arm receiving opening. Thus, the locking member locks the lower portion of the arm cover with the arm receiving opening and resultantly arrests the rotational movement of the lower portion of the arm cover.

[0006] Therefore, the arm cover covers the arm and also covers the adapter nut and adjustable bolt positioned within the central opening.

Since the arm cover is locked at a lower portion through the locking member, the arm receiving opening is covered even during vehicle operation or during rotatable adjusting of the rear view mirror and hence does not remain open for rain water to enter inside the headlamp housing and disturb the other components.

3

[0007] The foregoing objectives and summary is
provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form, and is not limiting. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present subject matter as well as the subject matter itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the ensuing detailed description of the subject matter and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] The above and other features, aspects and advantages of the subject
matter will be better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where:

[0009] FIG. 1 shows a side elevation view of a saddle type vehicle
exemplified in the form of a two wheeled scooter type motorcycle according to the present invention.

[00010] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the front portion of the vehicle showing the headlamp and surrounding components.

[00011] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the headlamp housing of the
motorcycle.

[00012] FIG. 4 shows an arm cover of the rear view mirror assembly.

[00013] FIG. 5 shows the assembly of the arm cover covering an arm to the
headlamp housing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[00014] FIG. 6 shows the rear view mirror assembly on the front portion of the vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00015] It is to be noted that in the ensuing description, the present invention is usable in a saddle type vehicle exemplified in the form of a two wheeled scooter type motorcycle for illustration. Further "front" and "rear", and "left" and "right" referred to in the ensuing description of the illustrated embodiment refer to front and rear, and left and right directions as seen in a state of being seated on a seat of the scooter type motorcycle.

Furthermore, a longitudinal axis, except otherwise mentioned, refers to a front to rear axis relative to the said motorcycle, while a lateral axis, except otherwise mentioned, refers generally to a side to side, or left to right axis relative to the said motorcycle. Various other features and embodiments of the present subject matter here will be discernible from the following further description thereof, set out hereunder. The detailed explanation of the constitution of parts other than the subject matter which constitutes an essential part has been omitted at suitable places.

[00016] FIG. 1 shows a side elevation view of the scooter type motorcycle hereinafter 'motorcycle'). The motorcycle 1 includes a frame assembly made up of several tubes welded together supporting the body of said motorcycle. A lower half of the front portion of the motorcycle 1 has a steerable front wheel 2 and a driven rear wheel 4 driven by driving force generated by a power unit 11.

The front wheel 2 of the motorcycle 1 is axially supported at a lower end of a front fork 3, and the front fork 3 is pivoted in a steerable manner in a head pipe (not shown) of the motorcycle frame. Meanwhile, the motorcycle frame assembly is covered by a plurality of motorcycle body covers including a front panel 16, a leg shield 18, an under seat cover 13, a left side cover 6, a right side cover and a bottom cover 12. The right side cover is symmetrical to the left side cover and hence not shown.

[00017] The upper half of the front portion of the motorcycle 1 comprises of a handle bar 7 attached to an upper end of the head pipe (not shown). A headlamp 10 is arranged forwardly of the handle bar 7 and is housed in a headlamp housing 9. The handle bar 7 and a seat 5 are supported at opposing ends of the frame assembly and a generally open area is defined there between known as floorboard 15 which functions as a step through space. The seat 5 for a driver and a pillion is placed forward to a fuel tank and rearwardly of the floorboard 15. A utility box (not shown) is provided below the seat 5 for storing useful articles. A side trim member 14 laterally beneath the floorboard 15 is provided to cover the lower frame members from being visible. The side trim member 14 is laterally present on both sides of the motorcycle; however, only one is visible in the side view. A side stand fixed to the left side of the frame supports the motorcycle such that motorcycle can incline to the left side without falling. A rear fender 8 is accommodated at the rearmost end of the motorcycle to partially cover the rear wheel 4. Likewise, the front wheel 2 is covered by a lower member 17 of the front panel 16.

[00018] In the said motorcycle, the power unit 11 is configured to drive, and is swingably supported on, the rear wheel 4. The power unit 11 is integrally formed with a forwardly inclined engine and a transmission system, and the rear wheel 4 is connected to a drive shaft at the rear of the power unit 11. In an
embodiment of the present invention, the engine is a four stroke single cylinder internal combustion engine.

[00019] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the front portion of the vehicle showing the headlamp and surrounding components. The headlamp housing 9 covers the headlamp unit 10 which is mounted in the upper front portion of the motorcycle. In an embodiment, the headlamp unit 10 comprises of a lens member (not shown) enclosing a light source and a reflector housing (not shown) housing a reflector provided rearward of the lens member.

The lens member and the reflector housing are operatively engaged with each other to develop into the complete light emitting headlamp unit.

[00020] A rear view mirror assembly is rotatably connected to and supported on the handlebar 7. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rear view mirror assembly comprises of a rear view mirror 20, an arm 21 supporting the rear view mirror 20 and an arm cover 26 covering said arm 21. The rear view mirror 20 and the arm 21 are supported on the handlebar 7. One end of the arm 21 is connected to the rear view mirror 20 and the other end is connected to a handle bar bracket of the handle bar 7.

[00021] The arm cover 26 covers the arm 21 and is supported on the headlamp housing 9.

According to an embodiment, it forms an enclosure around the arm 21 so that the arm is not visible to an onlooker. The arm cover 26 is supported on the headlamp housing 9. In a preferred embodiment, the arm cover 26 is supported on a lateral portion 9a of the headlamp housing 9. The lateral
portion 9a of the headlamp housing 9 forms a smooth downwardly inclination and is an enmoulded single unit.

[00022] In an embodiment, the arm cover 26 spans the entire length of the arm 21 and includes an upper portion 23 and a lower portion 24.

However, another embodiment is possible where the arm cover 26 covers only a portion of the arm 21. For example, in an embodiment, the lower portion 24 of the arm 21 is covered by the arm cover 26.

[00023] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the headlamp housing of the motorcycle. The headlamp housing 9 comprises of an arm receiving opening 31 to I receive a portion of the arm 21 which passes through the arm receiving opening 31 and is connected to the handlebar bracket. In an embodiment, the arm receiving opening 31 is located in the lateral portion 9a of the headlamp housing 9. According to an embodiment, the arm receiving opening 31 is a circular through opening provided in the headlamp housing. According to a feature of the present invention, a peripheral slit 32 is formed along a periphery of said arm receiving opening 31.

[00024] The arm cover 26 is seated on the arm receiving opening 31. More specifically, the lower portion 24 of the arm cover 26 is seated on the arm receiving opening 31. As seen in FIG.

4, the arm cover 26 further includes a plurality of bellows 28 and a flexible locking member 29. The bellows 28 provide flexibility to the arm cover at the lower portion 24 so that the arm cover 26 can rotate while adjusting the rear view mirror 20 without tearing it off.

[00025] Further, in an embodiment, the locking member 29 protrudes from a bottom surface of the lower portion 24 of the arm cover 26 towards the ground. The locking member 29 is received in the peripheral slit 32 during assembly as shown in FIG. 5. It is possible that the arm cover 26 may move by itself during the motorcycle operation.

It can also move due to extreme wind blowing towards the motorcycle rider. The locking member thus locks the lower portion 24 of the arm cover 26 with the headlamp housing 9 so that when a rider adjusts the rear view mirror 20, the seating portion does not rotates along with the rest of the arm cover 26. The locking member 29 is locked against the peripheral slit 32 and thus arrests the rotational movement of the lower portion 24 of the arm cover 26 during adjustment of the rear view mirror 20. It also ensures simple and quick locking of the arm cover 26 against the arm receiving opening 31 of the headlamp housing 9 without the need for any tools like screw driver or spanner. The lower portion 24 of the arm cover 26 thus closes the arm receiving opening 31 and prevents the see through condition of the arm receiving opening 31. Because the rotational movement of the lower portion 24 is restricted by the locking member 29, it also prevents any chance entry of rain water or external impurities during rear view mirror adjustment.

[00026] According to an embodiment, the locking member 29 is a pip which is locked against the peripheral slit 32 during rear view mirror assembly.

[00027] According to an embodiment, the peripheral slit 32 is
perpendicular to the axis X of the arm receiving opening 31 of the headlamp housing 9. In this way, the arm cover 29 is locked to the headlamp housing 9 properly.

[00028] In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 6, the lateral portion 9a of the headlamp housing 9 forms a smooth downwardly inclination and includes a stepped portion 25 which is upwardly oriented and approximately parallel to the ground plane. The arm receiving opening 31 is formed in the stepped portion 25 for the arm 21 to pass through and defining a periphery around the stepped portion 25. The peripheral slit 32 is formed along the periphery of said arm receiving opening 31. The arm 21 of the rear view mirror 20 passes through the opening 31 and is supported on the handlebar 7. The lower portion 24 of the arm cover 26 is seated on the stepped portion 25 at its periphery and is locked against the headlamp housing 9 through a locking member 29 provided therein.

[00029] According to another feature of the present invention, when the rear view mirror 20 is laterally rotated to adjust the rider's rear visibility, the lower portion 24 of the arm cover 26 remains locked to the headlamp housing 9 (and to the stepped portion 25 in the other embodiment) and hence the arm receiving opening 31 is not exposed to water or sun. The bellows 28 in the lower portion 24 provide enough compression and expansion so that the arm cover 26 remains locked along its locking member 29.

Further, the arm cover 26 is made of any material including plastic resin or rubber whereas the headlamp housing 9 is made of plastic resin. The length of the arm cover 26 is dependent on the arm 21.

[00030] The present subject matter is thus described. The description is not intended to be exhaustive nor is it intended to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be modified in light of the above description. The embodiments described are chosen to provide an illustration of principles of the invention and its practical application to enable thereby one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Therefore the forgoing description is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that described in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A motorcycle having a headlamp housing (9) and a rear view mirror assembly comprising a rear view mirror (20) and an arm (21) supporting
the rear view mirror (20), characterised in that,
the rear view mirror assembly includes an arm cover (26) covering said arm (21) and having a flexible locking member (29), wherein a lower portion (24) of the arm cover (26) rests on an arm receiving opening (31) of the headlamp housing (9), and wherein further said locking member (29) is received in a peripheral slit (32) formed along a periphery of said arm receiving opening (31) arresting the rotational movement of the lower portion of the arm cover (26).

The rear view mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking member (29) protrudes from a bottom surface of the lower portion (24) of the arm cover (26) towards the ground.

The rear view mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking member (29) is a pip.

The rear view mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peripheral slit (32) is perpendicular to the axis (X) of the arm receiving opening (31) of the headlamp housing (9).

The rear view mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm receiving opening (31) is formed on a stepped portion (25) of the headlamp housing (9).

The rear view mirror assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said stepped portion (25) is formed at a lateral portion of the headlamp housing (9).

The rear view mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arm (21) passes through the arm receiving opening (31) and is supported on a handlebar (7).

The rear view mirror assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm cover (26) is made of any material including plastic resin or rubber and wherein the headlamp housing (9) including stepped portion (25) is made of plastic resin.