DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a scooter type vehicle, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a lower side cover for a scooter type vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A saddle type vehicle is provided with several covering members to cover the vehicle and protect the vehicle components from being affected due to environmental conditions. The covering members are mounted exterior or interior to the vehicle particularly to cover the constituents of the vehicle frame. Further, the covering members are also configured to impart a sportier and elegant look to the vehicle. This is because the visual appearance of the vehicle or its display is a significant factor, and a stimulating visual appearance that sets one vehicle apart from the other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] Fig. 1 shows a side view of the scooter type vehicle.
[0004] Fig. 2 illustrates a vehicle frame assembly of the two-wheeled vehicle.
[0005] Fig.3 illustrates the LH lower side panel assembled to the vehicle frame assembly.
[0006] Fig. 4 illustrates a plurality of grooves formed on the RH lower side cover and LH lower side cover.
[0007] Fig. 5 illustrates plurality of grooves to direct the atmospheric airflow path in a channelized manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] A scooter type motorcycle is a saddle type vehicle having a swingable engine. Due to requirements of more utility space and leg space in the motorcycle, the engine is supported on the vehicle frame at a lower rear portion of the motorcycle. Particularly, the cylinder head of the engine is substantially covered on all sides by several covering members owing to which it generates significant heat during the engine operation.
[0009] Generally, a covering member in the form of a lower side cover is provided at a lower portion of the motorcycle to cover a portion of the motorcycle frame and the cylinder head. The side cover also increases the vehicle aesthetics. At least one such side cover is present laterally on each side of the motorcycle.
[00010] 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.
[00011] The present invention discloses a lower side cover assembly to cover a lower side portion of a two-wheeled vehicle. The lower side cover covers sides of the floorboard disposed in a well-defined gap formed between the handlebar assembly and the seat assembly and the lower side cover is removably attachable to the two-wheeled vehicle. In a conventional two-wheeled vehicle, the lower side cover comprises a relatively even profile from a vehicle front end to a vehicle rear end. The lower side cover prevents see through from the sides of the floorboard and prevents any dust particles or other foreign materials from entering into a vehicle body frame of the two-wheeled vehicle. Further, the lower side cover improves the appearance of the two-wheeled vehicle.
[00012] Due to the even profile of the lower side cover, during vehicle running condition, the atmospheric air suddenly leaves the lower side cover surface and creates air turbulence at the local region of the lower side cover. In addition, the lower side cover shears the atmospheric air when the two-wheeled vehicle is in running condition. The shearing of the atmospheric air occurs due to tapering of the lower side cover at the rear end of the vehicle. The even surface and the tapering at the rear end of the lower side cover acts as a disadvantage with respect to directing the atmospheric air towards rear end of the two-wheeled vehicle.
[00013] The sheared atmospheric air deprives the lower side cover and the surrounding region including pillion footrest, engine region and air filter close to the engine region from availability of atmospheric air. The aerodynamic drag forces increase as atmospheric air is being sheared away from the body panels of the two-wheeled vehicle instead of atmospheric air hugging the two-wheeled vehicle. Further, the side panel of the two-wheeled vehicle encloses the vehicular parts including the engine region and air filter. Hence, the vehicular parts at the rear end of the two-wheeled vehicle enclosed by the side panel are deprived of the availability of the atmospheric air.
[00014] Further, the vehicular parts enclosed by the side cover are subject to rapid increase in temperature. In order to maintain normal working condition of the vehicular parts, cooling of the vehicular parts has to be carried out in regular intervals. The atmospheric air should be available in abundance around the region of the vehicular parts enclosed by the side cover.
[00015] Hence, it is an objective of the present invention to have a lower side cover that aids in directing the atmospheric air towards the rear side of the two-wheeled vehicle. Further, it is an objective of the present invention to prevent shearing of the atmospheric air from the vehicle body during vehicle running condition. Furthermore, it is still an objective of the present invention to maintain aesthetics of the two-wheeled vehicle and additionally to maintain good fit and finish.
[00016] Therefore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the lower side cover of the two-wheeled vehicle is adapted to include at least one air passage to direct the air towards the rear end of the two-wheeled vehicle. The even surface of the lower side cover is made uneven by adapting the lower side cover to include at least one air passage. Hence, the uneven surface of the lower side cover prevents the atmospheric air from being sheared away from the vehicle. Instead, the air passages helps the atmospheric air to remain close to the vehicle body and directs the atmospheric air to pass towards the engine area and the surrounding parts. Hence, the air is available in abundance at the rear side of the vehicle. The abundant atmospheric air is made use by the air filter located near the engine of the two-wheeled vehicle.
[00017] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one air passage is located at an elevation lowermost to the ground. According to yet another embodiment, the at least one air passage is located at an elevation uppermost to the ground. The at least one air passage located in the desired location according to various embodiments of the present invention ensure that the atmospheric air is directed towards the rear end of the vehicle. The abundant availability of atmospheric air at the rear end of the two-wheeled vehicle is made use by the vehicular parts enclosed by the side cover. Therefore, proper functioning of the vehicular parts is ensured by preventing over heating of the vehicular parts. The proposed invention can be understood in detail by the following description of the accompanying figures.
[00018] Fig. 1 shows a side view of the step-through type vehicle. The step- through vehicle 100 has a body frame assembly made up of several tubes welded together which usually supports the body of the said vehicle. The vehicle has a steerable front wheel 101 and a driven rear wheel 102. The body frame assembly of the vehicle is an elongated structure, which typically extends from a forward end to a rearward end of the vehicle. It is generally convex in shape, as viewed from a side elevation view. The said frame assembly includes a head tube (not shown), a main frame and also 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 106, a rear cover 116, a lower side cover 110, and a pair of side panel including a left hand side panel 115.
[00019] A handlebar assembly 108 and a seat assembly 109 are supported at opposing ends of the frame assembly and a generally open area is defined there between known as floorboard 117, which functions as a step through space. The seat assembly 109 for a driver and a pillion is placed above a fuel tank and rear side of the floorboard 117. A front fender 103 is provided above the front wheel 101 to avoid the said vehicle and its occupants from being splashed with mud. Likewise, a rear fender 104 is placed between the fuel tank and the rear wheel 102, and to the outer side in the radial direction of rear wheel 102. Rear fender 104 inhibits rain water or the like from being thrown up by rear wheel 102.
[00020] An engine assembly 112 is provided to drive the vehicle. Suspensions are provided for comfortable steering of the vehicle on the road. A front suspension assembly (not shown) is connected to a front fork 117. The rear suspension assembly comprises of at least one rear suspension. 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 107 in the front portion of the vehicle and a taillight 114 in the rear portion of the vehicle is also provided.
[00021] Fig. 2 illustrates a vehicle frame assembly of the two-wheeled vehicle. It can be observed from the figure that the vehicle frame assembly 118 includes a head tube 205 located at a front end of the vehicle, a main tube 202 extending downwardly from the head tube 202. A downtube 203 extending rearwardly from a rear end of the main tube 202. A pair of left and right side down tubes 203a extending adjacent to the down tube 203 on either side from the rear end of the main tube 202. It can be observed from the figure that the floorboard 117 is situated rearwardly to the main tube 202. The floorboard 117 is located in the well-defined gap formed between the main tube 202 and the seat assembly (not shown). The floorboard 117 is disposed above the down tube 203, such that the floorboard 117 covers the down tube 203 and facilitates to disposing of the rider’s legs while riding the vehicle. The engine assembly 112 is disposed rearwardly to the floorboard 117 with a cylinder head 204 of the engine assembly 112 facing the well-defined gap covered by the floorboard 117. The pair of left and right side down tubes 203a is covered by a pair of left and right lower side covers 110.
[00022] An air filter assembly 201 is situated at a rear end of the engine assembly 112. Most of the vehicular parts including the cylinder head 204 and the air filter assembly 201 are covered by the numerous body panels of the vehicle. The cylinder head 204 is subjected to rapid heating due to operation of a set of valves present in the cylinder head. Further, the air filter assembly 201 is deprived of atmospheric air due to the left hand side panel 115 enclosing the air filter assembly 201.
[00023] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the LH lower side cover 110 and the RH lower side panel are configured to include a plurality of grooves to direct the atmospheric air towards the engine assembly 112.
[00024] Fig.3 illustrates the LH lower side panel assembled to the vehicle frame assembly. The LH lower side cover 110 according to an embodiment is configured to include the plurality of grooves 301 to direct the atmospheric air towards the rear side of the vehicle. The atmospheric air escaping away from the vehicle due to increased aerodynamic drag forces at vehicle higher speeds is channelized towards the air filter assembly 201 and towards the engine assembly 112.
[00020] Fig. 4 illustrates a plurality of grooves formed on the RH lower side cover and LH lower side cover. The plurality of grooves 301 extend from a front end to a rear end of the right lower side cover 110b and the left lower side cover 110a in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The plurality of grooves 301 allows the atmospheric air to channelized in a desired direction, which is towards the air filter assembly. Therefore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the left lower side cover 110a and the right lower side cover 110b of the step-through vehicle 100 is adapted to include at least one air passage called as a plurality of grooves 301 to direct the air towards the rear end of the two-wheeled vehicle.
[00021] Further, the even surface of the right lower side cover 110b and the left lower side cover 110a is made uneven to direct the air through air passages formed by the plurality of grooves 301. Hence, the uneven surface of the left lower side cover 110a and the right lower side cover 110b prevents the atmospheric air from being sheared away from the vehicle 110. Instead, the air passages of the plurality of grooves 301 helps the atmospheric air to remain close to the vehicle body and directs the atmospheric air to pass towards the engine area of the engine assembly 112 disposed rearwardly to the floorboard 117 and the surrounding parts. Hence, the air is available in abundance at the rear side of the vehicle 110. The abundant atmospheric air is made use by the air filter assembly 201 located near the engine assembly 112 of the two-wheeled vehicle.
[00025] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one second groove 301b of the plurality of grooves 301 is located at an elevation lowermost to the ground. According to yet another embodiment, the at least one first groove 301a of the plurality of grooves 301 is located at an elevation uppermost to the ground. The at least one air passage of the plurality of grooves 301 located in the desired location according to various embodiments of the present invention ensure that the atmospheric air is directed towards the rear end of the vehicle. The abundant availability of atmospheric air at the rear end of the two-wheeled vehicle is made use by the vehicular parts enclosed by the RH side cover and the LH side cover 115. Therefore, proper functioning of the vehicular parts is ensured by preventing over heating of the vehicular parts.
[00026] Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of grooves 301 comprises a front end 301aa disposed at a close proximity to the ground and a rear end 301ab disposed away from the ground.
[00027] Fig. 5 illustrates plurality of grooves 301 to direct the atmospheric air in a channelized manner. The arrows indicated in the figure represent the airflow path 302 of the atmospheric air channelized towards the engine assembly 112 and the surrounding vehicular parts including the air filter assembly 201. Due to the plurality of grooves present on the surface of the LH and RH lower side cover, the atmospheric air is not sheared away from the vehicle surface, instead, the atmospheric air is channelized to towards the engine assembly and the air filter assembly. The atmospheric air is now available in abundance for the air filter and rapid cooling of the engine assembly parts is carried out.
[00028] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of grooves 301 comprises at least one third groove 301c disposed between the at least one first groove 301a and the at least one second groove 301b.
[00029] Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one first groove 302a is disposed at a close proximity to a second peripheral edge 302a of each of the right lower side cover 301b and the left lower side cover 301a.
[00030] Furthermore, the plurality of grooves 301 are disposed on an outer surface 302 of each of the right lower side cover 301b and the left lower side cover 301a. The plurality of grooves 301 are detachable attached to the outer surface 302 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[00031] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of grooves 301 is integrated to the outer surface 302.
[00032] Hence, according to an embodiment, the plurality of grooves 110 on the surface of the LH and RH lower side cover makes the surface of the RH and LH lower side cover uneven and aids in directing the atmospheric air as desired by the user towards the rear side of the vehicle.
[00033] 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 step-through vehicle (100) comprising:
a vehicle frame assembly (118) including a main tube (202) extending downwardly rearward from a forward end of the vehicle (100) to a rearward end of the vehicle (100) in a longitudinal direction of the step- through vehicle (100);
a floorboard (117) disposed above a downtube (203) of said vehicle frame assembly (118);
a left lower side cover (110a) disposed at a substantially left side of said floorboard (117);
a right lower side cover (110b) disposed at a substantially right side of said floorboard (117); and
an engine assembly (112) disposed rearwardly to said floorboard (117);
characterized in that,
plurality of grooves (301) are disposed on an outer surface (303) of each of said left lower side cover (110a) and said right lower side cover (110b), said plurality of grooves (301) extend in the longitudinal direction of the step-through vehicle (100) to guide atmospheric air from a vehicle front through said plurality of grooves (301) towards said engine assembly (112) of the step-through vehicle (100).
2. The step-through vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of grooves (301) includes at least one first groove (301a) disposed at an elevation lowermost to the ground.
3. The step-through vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of grooves (301) includes at least one second groove (301b) disposed at an elevation uppermost to the ground.
4. The step-through vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one first groove (301a) and at least one second groove (301b) comprises at least one third groove (301c) disposed therebetween.
5. The step-through vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of grooves (301) is evenly shaped.
6. The step-through vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of grooves (301) is irregular in shape.
7. The step-through vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least one second groove (301b) is disposed at a close proximity to the second peripheral edge (302a) of each of the left lower side cover (110a) and the right lower side cover (110b).
8. The step-through vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of grooves (301) are integrated with each of the right lower side cover (110b) and the left lower side cover (110a).
9. The step-through vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of grooves (301) are detachably attached to said outer surface (303) of each of the left lower side cover (110a) and the right lower side cover (110b).
10. The step-through vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of grooves (301) comprises a front end (301aa) disposed at a close proximity to the ground and a second end (301ab) disposed away from the ground.