DESC:Technical Field
[0001] The present subject matter described herein generally relates to a saddle-type vehicle, and particularly but not exclusively relates to a step-through saddle-type vehicle.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Typically, a frame is the main supporting structure of any vehicle, including a saddle-type vehicles. The frame serves to support different parts of the vehicle. Besides acting as the main supporting structure of the vehicle, the construction of the frame also defines the outward shape and appeal of the vehicle. For example, the saddle-type vehicles are majorly classified as the saddle-type vehicles of step over kind, and the saddle-type vehicles of step through kind. These vehicles are classified based on the construction of the frame structure of vehicles.
[0003] The structure and construction of the frame also plays a critical role for the packaging of components of the saddle-type vehicle. Challenges especially lie in designing a reliable and durable frame which can accommodate several parts including protective parts for the safety of a rider within a compact layout space. Such a frame in the present times is covered with a plurality of body panels from all the sides of the vehicle to provide desired shape to the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0004] The detailed description of the present subject matter is described with reference to an embodiment of a straddle type two wheeled vehicle along with the accompanying figures. Same reference signs are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.
[0005] Fig.1 illustrates a left side view of a saddle-type vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0006] Fig.2 illustrates a left side view of a step-through frame structure of the saddle type vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0007] Fig.3 illustrates a rear view of a front portion of a conventional saddle type vehicle in accordance with an existing art.
[0008] Fig.4 illustrates a perspective view of a front portion of the step-through frame structure of the saddle type vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0009] Fig.5 illustrates an exploded view depicting constituent members of the front portion of the step-through frame structure of the saddle type vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[00010] The frame assembly forms the core structure of a saddle-type vehicle. The saddle-type vehicles, including a Scooter, a Skubek, a Babek etc, which are provided with a step through space for a rider to step in and rest feet and / or carry utility items. Typically such vehicle includes a frame assembly which include a front frame assembly, a floor frame assembly and a rear frame assembly. The step through space is defined by the floor frame assembly connected between the front frame assembly and the rear frame assembly. Typically, the frame assembly supports a power unit, a front and rear suspensions, and several other parts of the saddle-type vehicle. Conventionally, the front frame assembly comprises a head tube and a down tube. The head tube connects a handle bar for steering the saddle-type vehicle. The down tube is connected to the front frame assembly and extends rearwardly from the head tube. The down tube connects the floor frame assembly. The floor frame assembly provides a step through space for the convenience of the rider.
[00011] Conventionally, the saddle type vehicle, with the step through frame assembly is provided with a body panel assembly which include a plurality of body panels which provides the vehicle a unique shape. The plurality of body panels covers the vehicle from all sides which includes a front side, a rear side and a left and right side. The plurality of body panels includes a front body panel assembly, a middle body panel assembly, a floor body panel assembly, a side body panel assembly and a rear body panel assembly.
[00012] The front body panel assembly include a first front body panel, a second front body panel and a third front body panel. The first front body panel and the second front body panel covers the front frame assembly from a frontward side of the front frame assembly and the third body panel covers the front frame assembly from a rearward side of the front frame assembly. The front fender covers a front wheel of the saddle type vehicle. Conventionally, such front body panel assembly is provided to give a desired shape and aesthetic look to the vehicle from the front side. However, in case of a crash or an accident, specifically in an accident from the front or side of the saddle type vehicle, the front body panel assembly is subjected external forces resulting in huge impact which even gets transferred to the rider and may cause injuries to the rider. There is a strong possibility that legs of the rider receive direct impact from such collision since unlike an enclosed four wheeler, the straddle type two or three wheeled vehicle is vulnerable to fall in capsize mode and the rider likely to be dislodged from the vehicle or get trapped under the vehicle. Also, such an impact results in breakage and damage to the front body panel assembly which is an expensive and major part of the saddle type vehicle. Also, as a result several other parts such as head lamp, side indicators, day time running lamps and various electrical and electronic parts which are disposed in the front portion of the saddle type vehicle and are directly or indirectly connected to the front body frame assembly also prone to get damaged.
[00013] In an existing art, a thin tubular pipe assembly is provided on the front body panel assembly. This thin tubular pipe assembly is provided in accordance with the shape of the front body panel assembly. The thin tubular pipe assembly is connected to the front body panel assembly through plurality of fastening means. The protection so provided is sufficient to protect the valuable body panel of the vehicle in case of minor accident or impact. In case of a medium to heavy impact, these parts may not able to protect the body panel as well as the rider. Increasing the strength of such a protection structure would add to considerable undesirable weight to the vehicle and render the vehicle with poor dynamic handling characteristics owing to the heavy mass being distributed on the front side of the vehicle in a skewed manner. Additionally, often in case of an accident which involves front or side impact on the front portion of the saddle type vehicle, the thin tubular pipe assembly fails to protect the front body panel assembly and the rider. In fact, the front body panel assembly receives more damage since the tubular pipe assembly is connected to the front body panel assembly through plurality of fastening means. In such situations, any impact received by the thin tubular pipe assembly causes breakage, loosening and dismantling of the front body panel assembly. Since the thin tubular assembly is connected to the body panel assembly, the thin tubular assembly does not provide adequate protection to the rider and the vehicle.
[00014] In another existing art, a crash guard assembly is provided to motorcycles and vehicles with step over frames. The crash guard assembly typically protects the rider from frontward and sideward impacts. However, providing such crash guard assembly in the saddle type vehicle with step through frame assembly is not feasible, especially, when the saddle type vehicle with the step through frame assembly comprises the front body panel assembly. The front body panel assembly in such vehicles covers the front frame assembly entirely from the front side of the saddle type vehicle.
[00015] Therefore, there is need to provide an improved safety structure or an improved guard assembly for the saddle type vehicle with the step through frame assembly to protect the rider from frontward and sideward impacts. Also, there is a need to provide durable guard assembly which can protect the front body panel assembly from being dismantled or loosen during a frontward or sideward impacts. Further, there is a need to protect the electrical and electronic equipment and legs of the rider in case the saddle type vehicle with step through frame assembly meets with a crash or an accident.
[00016] In view of the above, it is an object of the present subject matter to provide a step-through frame structure for a saddle type vehicle, wherein the vehicle is provided an extra safety feature that the protects the rider from front and sideward impacts. Also, another object of the present subject matter is to protect the front body panel assembly from damage during an accident or crash.
[00017] Accordingly, the above and other objects are achieved by providing an improved saddle type vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle comprises of a step through type frame assembly, a front body panel assembly and a guard assembly. The step through frame assembly includes a front frame assembly. The front body panel assembly covers the front frame assembly from a front direction of the front frame assembly and the guard assembly being connected to the front frame assembly from a rear direction of the front body panel assembly. The guard assembly act as a durable protection for the rider as well as the front body panel assembly and frame assembly of the vehicle since it minimizes the impact received from the frontward or sideward collisions. Also, the guard assembly as provided in the present invention being more durable due to a direct connection with the frame assembly of the step through saddle type vehicle. Also, the guard assembly ensures, in case of the collision with huge impact, no impact is transferred from the guard assembly to the body panel assembly. This prevents any dismantling and loosening of the body panel assembly.
[00018] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the guard assembly include a first guard member and a second guard member. The first guard member and the second guard member protect the vehicle damage from crash on either side of the vehicle. Additionally, such a guard assembly provides additional load carrying capability for the vehicle, especially provision for tying or additional mountings on the guard assembly.
[00019] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the front body panel assembly includes a first front body panel, a second body panel covering the front frame assembly from the front direction of the front frame assembly.
[00020] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the front frame assembly includes a head tube and a down tube. The down tube includes a first down tube portion. Also, the down tube includes at least a downtube mounting to mount the guard assembly.
[00021] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the first guard member and the second guard member connect the down tube from a laterally opposite sides of the vehicle. As per another aspect of the present subject matter, the first guard member and the second guard member connect the first down tube portion from the opposite sides.
[00022] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the front frame assembly is covered by a third body panel from the rear direction of the front frame assembly.
[00023] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the third body panel includes a first middle body panel covering the first down tube portion.
[00024] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the middle body panel assembly includes at least a first cut out portion to accommodate the guard assembly.
[00025] As per an aspect of the present subject matter, the first middle body panel includes at least a second cut out portion corresponding to at least the first cut out portion. Also, the first middle body panel being provided with at least a middle body panel slot.
[00026] Summary provided above explains the basic features of the invention and does not limit the scope of the invention. The nature and further characteristic features of the present subject matter will be made clearer from the following descriptions made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[00027] Exemplary embodiments detailing features of the step-through frame structure and its construction, in accordance with the present subject matter will be described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings. Various aspects of different embodiments of the present subject matter will become discernible from the following description set out hereunder. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter. Further, it is to be noted that terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “front”, “forward”, “rearward”, “downward”, “upward”, “top”, “bottom” and like terms are used herein based on the illustrated state or in a standing state of the saddle-type vehicle with a driver sitting thereon unless otherwise elaborated. Furthermore, a vertical axis refers to a top to bottom axis relative to the saddle-type vehicle, defining a vehicle vertical direction; while a lateral axis refers to a side to side, or left to right axis relative to said vehicle, defining a vehicle lateral direction. Further, a longitudinal axis refers to a front to rear axis relative to the saddle-type vehicle, defining the vehicle in a longitudinal direction. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[00028] The present subject matter along with all the accompanying embodiments and their other advantages would be described in greater detail in conjunction with the figures in the following paragraphs.
[00029] With reference to FIG.1, a description is made of an entire schematic structure of a step through saddle type vehicle 100. the step through saddle type vehicle 100 includes a frame assembly 104 (shown in Fig 2), a front portion of which is covered by a front body panel assembly 110. The front body panel assembly 110 includes a first front body panel 110A, a second front body panel 110B,a third front body panel 111 and a front fender 110C. The first front body panel 110A, the second front body panel 110B and the third body panel 111 covers a front side F of the saddle type vehicle along a vertical axis Y-Y’ of the saddle type vehicle 100. The front fender 110C covers a front wheel 150A on the front side F of the saddle type vehicle 100 along a longitudinal axis X-X’ of the saddle type vehicle 100. Further, the saddle type vehicle 100 includes a handle bar 131, a handle bar cover 130, a plurality of rear-view mirrors 125, a plurality of indicator lamps 127, a head light assembly 115 ,and a wind screen 116. The handle bar 131 is employed to steer the saddle type vehicle 100 and the handle bar cover 130 covers the handle bar 131. The head light assembly 115 is provided to the handle bar cover 130 on the front side F of the saddle type vehicle. The saddle type vehicle 100 includes a floor body panel assembly 120 defining a step through portion of the saddle type vehicle 100. The saddle type vehicle 100 includes a seat assembly 135 for seating of a rider and a pillion.
[00030] The saddle type vehicle 100 includes a rear body panel assembly including a first rear body panel 136, a second rear body panel 136A, a third rear body panel 160 and one or more a rear side body panel 140. The rear side body panel 140 covers the rear portion of the saddle type vehicle 100 from left and right sides of the saddle type vehicle 100.
[00031] Fig.2 illustrates a left side perspective view of the step-through frame assembly 104. The frame assembly 104 include a front frame assembly 105, a floor frame assembly 106, and a rear frame assembly 107. The front frame assembly 105 includes a head tube 105A and a down tube 105B. The down tube 105B extends rearward from the head tube 105A connecting the floor frame assembly 106. The floor assembly 106 is connected to the front frame assembly 105 on one side and the rear frame assembly 107 on the other side and extends in a front-rear (F-R) along the longitudinal axis X-X’ of the saddle type vehicle. The floor frame assembly 106 is disposed between the front frame assembly 105 and the rear frame assembly 107 forming the step through portion of the saddle type vehicle (100) to provide the rider a floor board space. .
[00032] Fig.3 illustrates a rear view of a front portion 200 of the saddle type vehicle 100 in an existing art. The front portion 200 of the saddle type vehicle 100 is provided with a thin tubular pipe assembly 210. The thin tubular pipe assembly 210 provided conforms to the outward edge profile of the front body panel assembly 110. The thin tubular pipe assembly 210 is connected to the front body panel assembly 110 through a plurality of fasteners (201).
[00033] Fig.4 illustrates a perspective view of the front portion 200 of the saddle type vehicle 100 in an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. The front portion 200 of the saddle type vehicle includes the front frame assembly 105 being covered by the front body panel assembly 110 from front side F of the saddle type vehicle 100. . The first front body panel 110A and the second front body panel 110B covers the front frame assembly from the front side F and the third body panel 111 covers the front frame assembly from the rear side R, sandwiching the front frame assembly therebetween.
[00034] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a guard assembly 161 is connected to the down tube 105B of the saddle type vehicle 100. The guard assembly 161 includes a first guard member 162 and a second guard member 163. The guard assembly 161 is attached to the down tube 105B of the front frame assembly 105 from the rear side through the third front body panel 111.. The first guard member 162 and the second guard member 163 connects the down tube 105B from opposite sides on a lateral axis Z-Z’.
[00035] In an embodiment, the down tube 105B includes a first down tube portion 105BA to which the first guard member 162 and the second guard member 163 is attached from laterally opposite side of first downtube portion 105BA .
[00036] In an embodiment, the first guard member 162 and the second guard member 163 are integrated with the down tube 105B by means of a permanent joining technique such as welding or hydroforming.
[00037] In another embodiment, the first the first guard member 162 and the second guard member 163 are integrated with the down tube 105B by means of a detachable joining technique such as through fasteners. The first guard member 162 and the second guard member 163 can be removed or connected to the down tube 105B as per the convenience of the rider.
[00038] Fig. 5 illustrates an exploded view of the front portion 200 of an embodiment of the saddle type vehicle 100 of the present subject matter. The front frame assembly 105 comprising the head tube 105A and the down tube 105B. In an embodiment, the down tube 105B is provided with at least one mounting 105C to mount the guard assembly 161.
[00039] In another embodiment, the at least one mounting 105C is provided on the first down tube portion 105BA of the down tube. In an embodiment, the first down tube portion 105BA is vertical. In another embodiment, the first down tube portion 105BA being oriented in a inclined manner.
[00040] In an embodiment, the third body panel 111 includes one or more cut out portions 111B. The one or more cut out portions 111B are laterally opposite side of the first down tube portion 105BA such that the one or more cut out portions 111B provide an access for the attachment of the first guard member 162 and the second guard member 163 to the first down tube portion 105BA. Also, a first middle body panel 111A is provided to cover the first down tube portion 105BA from a rear side of the first down tube 105.
[00041] In an embodiment, the first middle body panel 111A being provided with one or more slots 111C on sideward edge of the first middle body panel 111A. The one or more slots 111C compliments the one or more cut out portions 111B and allows entry of the first guard member 162 and the second guard member 163 to the first down tube portion 105BA. Further, the first middle body panel 111A being provided one or more middle body panel slot 111D for accommodating fasteners to fasten the guard assembly 161 to the downtube mountings 105C.
[00042] The connection between the down tube 105B and the guard assembly 161 on the rear side R of the first body panel assembly 110 enhances durability of the saddle type vehicle 100 such that the saddle type vehicle 100 can withstand higher impact resist impact of frontward and sideward collision and accident.
[00043] Many modifications and variations of the present subject matter are possible in the light of above disclosure. Therefore, within the scope of claims of the present subject matter, the present disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

100: Saddle Type Vehicle
104: Frame Assembly
105: Front Frame Assembly
105A: Head Tube
105B: Down Tube
105BA: First Down Tube Portion
105C: Downtube Mounting
106: Floor Frame Assembly
107: Rear Frame Assembly
110: Front Body Panel Assembly
110A: First Front Body Panel
110B: Second Front Body Panel
110C: Front Fender
111: Third Front Body Panel
111A: First Middle Body Panel
111B: Cut Out Portion
111C: One or more slots
111D: Middle Body Panel Slot
115: Head Light Assembly
116: Wind Screen
120: Floor Body Panel Assembly
125: Rear View Mirrors
126: Number Plater Mounting
127: Indicator Lamps
130: Handle Bar Cover
131: Handle Bar
135: Seat Assembly
136: First Rear Body Panel
136A: Second Read Body Panel
140: Rear Side Body Panel
150A: Front Wheel
155: Muffler
160: Third Rear Body Panel
161: Guard Assembly
162: First Guard Member
163: Second Guard Member
200: Front Portion of Vehicle
210: Thin Tubular Pipe Assembly
,CLAIMS:We Claim:
1. A saddle type vehicle (100) comprising:
a step through frame assembly (104), said step through frame assembly (104) includes: a front frame assembly (105);
a front body panel assembly (110); and
a guard assembly (161);
wherein,
said front body panel assembly (110) covers said front frame assembly (105) from a front direction (F) of said front frame assembly (105), and
said guard assembly being connected to said front frame assembly (105) from a rear direction (R) of said front body panel assembly (110).
2. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guard assembly (161) includes a first guard member (162) and a second guard member (163).
3. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front body panel assembly (110) includes: a first front body panel (110A) and a second body panel (110B) covering said front frame assembly (105) from said front side F of said front frame assembly (105).
4. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front frame assembly (105) includes: a head tube (105A) and a down tube (105B), and said down tube includes a first down tube portion (105BA).
5. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said down tube (105B) includes at least a downtube mounting (105C), said downtube mounting (105c) being configured to mount said guard assembly (161).
6. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 2 or claim 4, wherein said first guard member (162) and said second guard member (163) connects said down tube (105B) from laterally opposite sides of said vehicle (100).
7. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 2 or claim 4, wherein said first guard member (162) and said second guard member (163) connects said first down tube portion (105BA) from laterally opposite sides of said vehicle (100).
8. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front frame assembly (105) being covered by a middle body panel assembly (111) from said rear side (R) of said front frame assembly (105).
9. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein said middle body panel assembly (111) includes one or more cut out portion (111B) for enabling entry of said guard assembly (161).
10. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein said middle body panel assembly (111) includes a first middle body panel (111A), said middle body panel (111A) covering a first down tube portion (105BA) of said down tube (105B).
11. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said first middle body panel (111A) being provided one or more slots (111C) complimenting to said cut out portion (111B).
12. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first middle body panel (111A) being provided at least a middle body panel slot (111D), said body panel slot (111D) being capable of accommodating one or more fastener for fastening said guard assembly (161) to said downtube mountings (105C).