[0001] The present invention relates to a saddle ride-type vehicle and more particularly but not exclusively to an engine guard assembly of the saddle ride-type vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Typically, a vehicle layout design for a saddle ride-type vehicle features plurality of vehicular components that are to be packaged in a compact space provided within the vehicle layout of the vehicle, such vehicular components also. have to be protected from external impacts occurring from the environmental factors. Further, in the vehicle, the stones, mud, and dust particles tend to constantly hit the parts lying behind a front wheel due to continuous rotation of the front wheel. The parts that are likely to get affected due to the stones hitting and mud being splashed constantly under vehicle riding condition includes various vehicular parts such as critical engine assembly parts and various electrical components like a starter motor. The stones hitting and mud being splashed may lead to damaging of the critical engine assembly parts and the nearby electrical components. The damaged vehicular parts will eventually affect the performance of the vehicle
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] 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:
[0004] Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of a two-wheeled vehicle, for example, a
vehicle according to an embodiment. - •
[0005] Fig. 2 illustrates a plan view of an engine guard assembly.
[0006] Fig. 3 illustrates a top perspective view of the engine guard assembly.
[0007] Fig. 4 illustrates a schematic representation of a sectional view of the engine guard assembly enclosing the engine assembly.
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[0008] Fig. 5 illustrates a right side view of the engine guard assembly with the left side cover of the engine guard assembly removed.
[0009] Fig. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the engine assembly with the engine guard assembly in assembled condition.
5 [00010] Fig. 7 illustrates a top view of a secondary bottom cover attached to a vehicle body frame.
[00011] Fig. 8 illustrates a sectional view of the secondary bottom cover attached to the vehicle body frame taken along BB axis as shown in the Fig. 7.
[00012] Fig. 9 illustrates a left side view of the engine guard assembly assembled 10 to the engine assembly.
[00013] Fig. 10 illustrates a sectional view of the engine guard assembly taken along CC axis as shown in the Fig. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00014] Generally, a vehicle comprising of a power unit is mounted to a main 15 frame and a rear sub frame. The vehicle includes a front wheel and a rear wheel. The front wheel is connected with a front suspension and the rear wheel is connected with the rear suspension swingably mounted with a swing arm. A handle bar assembly is provided for steering of the vehicle. Further, the vehicle is provided with a rider seat to sit on a rear side of the vehicle and a pillion seat to sit 20 behind the rider seat. The vehicle further comprises of a headlamp, a tail lamp, and one or more turn signal lamps.
[00015] The power unit in the vehicle includes an engine assembly. The engine assembly in the vehicle being disposed facing towards a vehicle front is subject to hitting of stones, mud, rain water and other sharp objects from the road on which 25 the vehicle is traversing.
[00016] Further, a bottom most portion of the engine assembly is exposed to road endurance, dust, mud, slush arid the like. In addition, a drain plug is located in the bottom most portion of the engine assembly. The drain plug is also exposed to dust and mud deposition. This leads to difficulty in removing drain plug which
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increases the service time. Hence, in order to prevent affecting of the performance of the vehicle, the stones hitting and mud splashing onto the critical engine parts and surrounding electrical components should be prevented. [00017] Furthermore, there is also a need to replace oil filled inside the engine 5 assembly periodically. The periodic replacement of the oil filled inside the engine assembly becomes cumbersome if the engine assembly is covered by an engine guard. Furthermore, if the engine assembly is completely covered by the engine guard assembly, the engine assembly gets heated up during high operating speeds and an exclusive arrangement for cooling of such an heated up engine assembly
10 has to be carried out, which again increases the cost, makes the manufacturing process more complicated and adds up to the number of parts in the assembly. [00018] Generally, in full fairing vehicles, all the body panels are connected to each other and hence the load impact coming on one body panel gets transferred to all other body panels as well. Particularly, the body panels coming in the
15 bottom portion of the vehicle encounter greater impact in running condition. For example, the impacts may be due to road bumps hitting the body panels. The so occurred impact may result in breakage in the body panels and, may also result in poor fit and finish. Any such scratches or damage to the vehicle body panels necessitates replacement of the entire body panel leading to high maintenance cost
20 of the vehicle..
[00019] However, to overcome the above said drawback of breakage of the body panels that are connected with the bottom body panel, the bottom body panel can be eliminated entirely. But by eliminating the bottom body panel itself, the entry of mud, dust and water becomes inevitable.
25 [00020] Further, to overcome the discussed drawbacks with the bottom body panel, it is known in the art wherein, the bottom cover is removed and the pair of side covers is joined from bottom to cover the bottom most portion of the vehicle. But, however, the same could not effectively resolve the problem of impacts from road bumps being transferred to all the body panels that are connected.
30 [00021] Therefore, the present invention proposes an engine guard assembly comprising a pair of side cover, a bottom cover, and an secondary-bottom cover.
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The bottom cover is disposed between the pair of side cover, such that there exists minimum contact surface between the bottom cover and the pair of side covers. [00022] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the bottom cover is connected to the pair of side cover only through a single mounting disposed on an 5 end at a proximity to the pair of side cover. By having only this single mounting point, whatever the shocks or impacts experienced by the bottom cover is not being transferred to the pair of side covers and other associated parts. Therefore, an effective isolation of the other body panels from the bottom cover is achieved. Further, a predetermined clearance is provided between the bottom cover and the
10 pair of side covers to prevent physical contact there between. The predetermined clearance also becomes critical in protecting the body panels other than bottom cover; the other body panels include the pair of side covers in the present embodiment. Furthermore, if the bottom cover undergoes any damage or breakage due to constant experience of impacts from the road traversing on, then the bottom
15 cover alone can be replaced without having to replace the entire engine guard assembly. The replacement cost of the bottom cover is reasonable as compared to the replacement cost of the engine guard assembly. Furthermore, due to presence of single mounting point, just by accessing such single mounting point, the entire bottom cover can be easily replaced or serviced according to the requirement. The
20 time of disassembly of the bottom cover is also negligible due to easier access. Therefore, a more desirable engine guard assembly is provided according to the present invention.
[00023] Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the engine assembly including the pair of side covers and the bottom cover is
25 detachably attachable to each other. Due to detachable attachment, the pair of side cover and the bottom cover are easily replaceable, are easily, attachable and detachable. Therefore, under circumstances including removal of the pair of side cover, for example to replace oil filled inside the engine, one of the right side cover and the left side cover of the pair of side cover being detachable, can be
30 quickly and easily removed, then fill the oil inside the engine and then attach the same back to its normal condition. "KPT—n-i=rF-TT'F~T-FrF"KrForT" •~n-nnnrT'y-rTTTT~pr r~srs"~T3""

[00024] Therefore, by having the engine guard assembly as a detachable structure, the removal of entire engine guard assembly need not be carried out. The replacing of the oil inside, the engine can be done only be detaching any one of the right side cover and the left side cover while still having the engine guard and 5 other body panels in the assembled condition. Therefore, a simpler/easier and a reliable assembling and disassembling of the engine guard assembly are obtained.
[00025] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail in conjunction with the figures in the following description.
10 [00026] Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of a two-wheeled vehicle, for example, a vehicle according to an embodiment. The vehicle 100 according to an embodiment includes a front wheel 104 steered by a handlebar 108 and a rear wheel 105 supported by a swing arm 113. Steering assembly parts including the handlebar 108 and the front wheel 104 are supported for pivotal steering operation
15 on a head pipe at the front end of the vehicle body frame 102. The vehicle body frame 102 also includes a rear body frame 103. A rider seat 109 for a rider and a seat for a pillion rider 110 are placed rearward to a fuel tank 116. An engine assembly 101 is disposed below the fuel tank 116. A front fender 115 is provided above the front wheel 104 to avoid the said vehicle 100 and its occupants from
20 being splashed with mud. Likewise, a rear fender 114 is placed above the rear wheel 105, and to the outer side in the radial direction of rear wheel 105. The rear fender 114 inhibits rainwater or the like from being thrown up by rear wheel 105.
[00027] The vehicle 100 is provided with plurality of body panels including a pair of side cowls comprising a right side cowl and a left side cowl 117. The pair of
25 side cowls protects and covers a frontal portion of the vehicle 100. The other body panels also include an engine guard 118 protecting the engine assembly 101 from lower side and also from the sides, such that during vehicle running condition, the engine assembly 101 is protected from hitting stones, deposition of mud, dust and other foreign particles. In an embodiment, the pair of side cowls
30 and the engine guard assembly 118 are integrated. However, according to another

embodiment, the pair of side cowls and the engine guard assembly 118 can be detachably attached.
[00028] The swing arm 113 along with a rear suspension assembly 107 is supported at a rear portion thereof for pivotal motion and upward and downward 5 rocking motion on the rear side of a lower portion of the vehicle body frame 102. A front suspension assembly 106 including a pair of front forks two-wheeled vehicle 100 for providing better ride comfort to the rider. In general terms, the shock absorbers help cushion vehicles on uneven roads. In the two-wheeled vehicle, shock absorbers reduce the undesirable effect of travelling over rough 10 ground, leading to improved ride quality and vehicle handling. The vehicle 100 further comprises of a headlamp 111, a tail lamp assembly 112 and at least two turn signal lamps.
[00029] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the engine guard assembly 118 includes a secondary bottom cover 118d (not shown) capable of 15 substantially protect the rear suspension assembly 107 from particles being ejected from the rear wheel 105 and road.
[00030] Fig. 2 illustrates a plan view of an engine guard assembly. The engine guard assembly 118 includes a pair of side covers 118a, 118b disposed each on a right side and a left side of the vehicle. The pair of side covers 118a, 118b is
20 configured to attachably support a bottom cover 118c. The bottom cover 118c is disposed between the pair of-side covers 118a, 118b with a predetermined gap there between. Such that, each of the pair of side covers 118a, 118b include a peripheral edge 118pe facing towards said bottom cover 118c are disposed away from said bottom cover 118c to prevent any contact surface therebetween. In the
25 present embodiment, the bottom cover 118c is attached to any one of a right side cover 118a and a left side cover. 118b of the pair of side covers 118a, 118b. However, in a preferred embodiment the bottom cover 118c is attached to the left side cover 118b. The bottom cover 118c is further configured to support a secondary bottom cover 118d. According to an embodiment of the present
30 invention, the secondary bottom cover 118d extends towards a vehicle rear
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direction. Further, at least one of a right side cover 118a and a left side cover 118b of the pair of side covers 118a, 118b include at least one louver 201 for allowing natural flow of atmospheric air towards the vehicular parts disposed underneath.
5 [00031] Fig. 3 illustrates a top perspective view of the engine guard assembly. According to the present embodiment, the pair of side covers 118a, 118b is attached to each other through a first mounting point 203. Further, the bottom cover 118c is attached to the pair of side covers 118a, 118b through a second mounting point 202. In a preferred embodiment, any one of the right side cover
10 118a and the left side cover 118b includes a projection 203a configured to enable attachment with the other side cover of the pair of side covers 118a, 118b. Further, each of the pair of side covers 118a, 118b include at least one bracket receiving member 301a, 301b projecting outwardly from a rear surface 118rs of said pair of side covers 118a, 118b. The,at least one bracket receiving member
15 301a, 301b are configured to enable attachment of the pair of side covers 118a, 118b to the engine assembly (not shown) through an engine mounting bracket member (not shown). The at least one bracket receiving member 301a, 301b are configured to receive each of the ends of the engine mounting bracket member. Furthermore, the pair of side covers 118a, 118b each include at least one locating
20 members 302 configured to abuttingly connect to the bottom cover 118c.
[00032] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle front side of the pair of side covers 118a, 118b are configured to support an air-receiving member 118e capable of receiving natural atmospheric air during vehicle running condition. The air-receiving member is disposed in front of the engine assembly 25 (not shown) to be able to prevent stones and other sharp objects from being thrown towards the engine assembly, but be able to direct the air towards the engine assembly.
[00033] Fig. 4 illustrates a schematic representation of a sectional view of the
engine guard assembly enclosing the engine assembly. The bottom cover 118cris
30 disposed between the pair of side covers 118a, 118b with a predetermined gap
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308 there between. The predetermined gap 308 isolates any contact surface between the pair of side covers 118a, 118b and the bottom cover 118c. The isolation so created prevents any vibrations encountered by the bottom cover 118c from reaching the pair of side covers 118a, 118b. The breakage occurring in the 5 pair of side covers 118a, 118b due to constant rattling of the bottom cover 118c is prevented. Further, the cost to.the user and also call for frequent servicing due to elimination of frequent replacement of the pair of side covers 118a, 118b is achieved. However, even though a predetermined gap 308 is provided between the pair of side covers 118a, 118b and the bottom cover 118c, the engine
10 assembly 101 is still protected from any mud, dust or water from entering into the region of the engine assembly 101 due to appropriately covering the engine side portions and the bottom portion by the pair of side covers 118a, 118b and the bottom cover 118c respectively. The same is achieved by having the pair of side covers 118a, 118b substantially cover at least a right side portion 101R and a left
15 side portion 101L of the engine assembly 101. Furthermore, a bottom portion 101b of the engine assembly 101 is completely covered by at least one bottom cover 118c. Further, the pair of side covers 118a, 118b each includes a first end portion 118aa, 118ba configured to be overlapped with at least a tip portion 118ca of the bottom cover 118c when viewed from a side view. This overlapping
20 does not allow any see through gap when viewed from the side view. Thus, the aesthetic appeal of the vehicle is preserved. Further, however, there exists the predetermined gap 308 between the first end portion 118aa, 118ba and the tip portion 118ca to prevent any contact surface therebetween, but due to the overlapping profile, there is no scope for any mud, dust, water particles and other
25 foreign materials from.entering there through.
[00034] Fig. 5 illustrates a right side view of the engine guard assembly with the left side cover of the engine guard assembly removed. The bottom cover 118c of the engine guard assembly 118 is attached to the vehicle body frame (not shown) through at least one frame mounting bracket 303 capable of attaching a first . 30 mounting 303a of the bottom cover 118c to at least one second mounting 303b disposed on the vehicle body frame. Further, the bottom cover 118c is also
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configured to attachably support a secondary bottom cover. 118d extending rearwardly from a distal end portion 118ce of the bottom cover 118c.
[00035] Fig. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the engine assembly with the engine guard assembly in assembled condition. According to an embodiment of 5 the present invention, The pair of side covers 118a, 118b including a right side cover 118a and a left side cover 118b are is capable of covering at least a right side portion and the left side portion of the engine assembly 101. Further, the bottom cover completely covers a bottom portion of the engine assembly 101 such that in a plan view, the bottom cover is not visible and is completely interposed by 10 the engine assembly 101. Furthermore, the secondary bottom cover 118d substantially extends rearward from the bottom cover (not seen), such that the mud, dust, rain water and other particles being thrown by the rear wheel is encountered by the secondary bottom cover 118d.
[00036] Further, each of the left side cover 118b and the right side cover 118a of 15 the pair of side covers 118a, 118b are attached to the engine assembly 101 through the engine mounting bracket member 304 configured to be received by the bracket receiving members 301a and 301b (not shown).
[00037] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the secondary bottom cover 118d includes at least one drain hole 307 disposed substantially at a 20 close proximity to a mid plane MN of the vehicle, the drain hole 307 is capable of letting out any liquid material dripping out of the engine assembly 101. Furthermore, the drain hole 307 also serves as a relief for draining out of the dust, mud, water and other foreign materials encountered by and collected within the engine guard assembly 118 due to rotation of the front wheel and the rear wheel.
25 [00038] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the drain hole 307 is disposed at an offset to the mid plane MN to avoid the drained liquid material that may come in line with a wheel centre plane, which further can be detrimental to the vehicle performance and the vehicle safety.

[00039] Fig. 7 illustrates a top view of a secondary bottom cover attached to a vehicle body frame. The secondary bottom cover 118d includes at least one frame N mounting portion 118dm disposed on an inner surface there within. The at least one frame mounting portion 118dm enables mounting of the secondary bottom 5 cover 118d with at least a first frame member 306a of the vehicle body frame 102 through at least one first frame mounting bracket member 305a. A more detailed explanation of the various mounting portions of the secondary bottom cover with the corresponding parts is as explained along with the following figures.
[00040] Fig. 8 illustrates a sectional view of the secondary bottom cover attached 10 to the vehicle body frame taken along BB axis as shown in the Fig. 7. A right side portion of the secondary bottom cover 118d is mounted as already explained in the above figure. Further, the secondary bottom cover 118d includes a projection . 118p extending from a bottom cover inner surface 118drs of the secondary bottom cover 118d. The projection 118p forms an integral part of the bottom 15 cover inner surface 118drs of the secondary bottom cover 118d. The projection 118p provides for mounting of the left side portion of the bottom cover 118d through a second frame mounting bracket member 305b attached to at least a second frame member 306b. The at least a second frame member 306b is fixedly attached to the vehicle body frame 102.
20 [00041] Fig. 9 illustrates a left side view of the engine guard assembly assembled to the engine assembly. As depicted in the figure, the left side cover 118b of the engine guard" assembly 118 covers a substantial left side portion of the engine assembly 101. The bottom cover 118c substantially covers a lower left side portion and in addition a bottom portion of the engine assembly 101. Furthermore,
25 . a rear bottom portion of the engine assembly 101 is-protected by the secondary bottom cover 118d.
[00042] Fig. 10 illustrates a sectional view of the engine guard assembly taken
along CC axis as shown in the Fig. 9. The pair of side covers 118a, 118b
including the right side cover 118a and the left side cover 118b each include the
30 bracket receiving members 301b attached to a 'S' shaped bracket 402 including

an extended mounting portion 400m capable of attaching said bracket receiving members 301b to the engine assembly 101. The bracket receiving members 301b are attached to a !S' shaped bracket 402 through at least one bolting member 403.
[00043] Although the subject matter has been described with reference to specific " 5 embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternate embodiments of the subject matter, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the subject matter. It is therefore contemplated that such modifications can be made without departing from the 10 spirit or scope of the present subject matter as defined.

We claim:
1. A saddle-ride type vehicle (100) and a engine guard assembly (118)
thereof, said vehicle (100) comprising:
a vehicle body frame (102);
5 an engine assembly (101) mounted to at least a frame of said
vehicle body frame (102); and
an engine guard assembly (118) to cover at least a portion of said
engine assembly (101),
•wherein,
10 said engine guard assembly (118) includes a pair of
side covers (118a, 118b) and a bottom cover (118c) disposed between said
pair of side covers (118a, 118b), said pair of side covers (118a, 118b)
each include a first end portion (118aa, 118ba) overlapping with at least a
tip portion (118ca) of said bottom cover (118c) when viewed from a side
15 view, said first end portion (118aa, 118ba) of said pair of side covers
(118a, 118b) and said at least a tip portion (118ca) of said bottom cover (118c) include a predetermined gap (308) therebetween.
2. The saddle-ride type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
engine guard assembly (118) includes a secondary bottom cover (118d)
20 extending rearwardly from a distal end portion (118ce) of said bottom
cover (118c), and said secondary bottom cover (118d) is disposed away from said pair of side covers (118a, 118b).
3. The saddle-ride type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pair
of side covers (118a, 118b) includes a right side cover (118a) and a left
25 side cover (118b), said right side cover (118a) and said left side cover
(118b) are each configured to substantially cover at least a portion of a right side portion (101R) and a left side portion (101L) of said engine assembly (101) respectively.

4. The saddle-ride type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim I, wherein said
bottom cover (118c) is configured to substantially cover at least a bottom
portion (101B) of said engine assembly (101).
5. The saddle-ride type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim I, wherein said
5 secondary bottom cover (118d) extends beyond a bottom portion (101B)
of said engine assembly (101) to cover at least a portion of a rear suspension assembly (107).
6. The saddle-ride type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pair
of side covers (118a, 118b) is attached to said engine assembly (101)
10 through at least one bracket receiving member (301b) projecting
outwardly from a rear surface (118rs) of said pair of side covers (118a, 118b).
7. The saddle-ride type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
bottom cover (118c) is attached to the vehicle body frame (102) through at
15 least one frame mounting bracket (303) capable of attaching a first
mounting (303a) of the bottom cover (118c) to at least one second mounting (303b) disposed on the vehicle body frame (102).
8. The saddle-ride type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pair
of side covers (118a, 118b) are attached to the engine assembly (101)
20 through at least one engine mounting bracket member (304) configured to
be received by said at least one bracket receiving member (301b).
9. The saddle-ride type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
secondary bottom cover (118d) includes at least one frame mounting
portion (118dm) configured to enable mounting of the secondary bottom
25 cover (118d) with at least a first frame member (306a) of the vehicle body
frame (102) through at least one first frame mounting bracket member (305a).
10. The saddle-ride type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
secondary bottom cover (118d) includes a projection (118p) extending
30 from a bottom cover inner surface (118drs) of the secondary bottom cover
(118d), the projection (118p) provides for mounting of at least a left side

portion of the bottom cover (118d) through at least one second frame mounting bracket member (305b) attached to at least a second frame member (306b).
11. The saddle-ride type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said secondary bottom cover (118d) includes at least one drain hole (307) disposed substantially at a close proximity to a mid plane (MN) of the saddle-ride type vehicle (100).
12. The saddle-ride type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said secondary bottom cover (118d) includes at least one drain hole (307) disposed at an'offset to a mid plane (MN) of the saddle-ride type vehicle (100).