DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a step through type vehicle and more particularly, but not exclusively to a seat assembly for the step through type vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Typically, vehicle layout design for a step-through type scooter type vehicle features a step-through frame and a flat surface called as a floorboard used for disposing legs of a rider when the rider puts his/her feet on the floorboard. Further, the scooter features bodywork, including a front leg shield and body that conceals all or most of the mechanisms. A seat assembly is disposed rearwardly to the front leg shield. A storage box is disposed under the seat assembly. The storage box provides storage space to the rider and the pillion for storing articles like helmets and other articles used by the user. The load exerted by the rider and the pillion rider is transferred from the seat assembly on to the storage box. Therefore, the storage box should be strong enough to bare the load exerted by the rider and pillion rider.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF 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] Figure 1 shows a left side perspective view of the scooter type vehicle.
[0005] Figure 2 illustrates a seat assembly and the storage box in assembled condition.
[0006] Figure 3 illustrates a sectional view of the seat assembly and the storage box in the assembled condition taken along PQ axis in Fig. 2.
[0007] Figure 4 illustrates an exploded view of the seat assembly, the beading member and the storage box.
[0008] Figure 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the seat assembly and the storage box in assembled condition taken along the RS axis in Fig. 2.
[0009] Figure 6a illustrates an underside of the seat assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[00010] Figure 6b illustrates an underside of the seat assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[00011] Figure 7 illustrates a detailed perspective view of a portion of the beading member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[00012] Generally, in a saddle type vehicle, all or most of the vehicular parts are concealed or covered by a number of body panels. The number of body panels includes a front panel, a rear panel, a front cover, and a rear cover. A rear portion of the vehicle is covered by the side panels including the right side panel and the left side panel. A storage box for storage of articles by the user is disposed below a seat assembly. The storage box is covered by the side panels to protect the storage box from external factors occurring in the environment. The storage box is used by the rider to store helmet, hand bag and other heavy and bigger articles. However, smaller and lighter articles are carried by the user himself/herself during riding conditions.
[00013] Generally, storage box in the saddle type vehicles are provided with a rubber beading towards front side of the vehicle. The rubber beading forms a lip like structure. An accommodating member is provided on the seat base structure towards the front side of the seat mounting base and the rubber beading includes a U type groove that is configured to be hugged into the flange only in the front side of the seat base structure. The hugging of the U type groove of the rubber beading on the storage box with the accommodating member on the seat base provides good protection of water entry only on the front side of the vehicle. However, such an arrangement provides only partial protection. There may be possibilities of water entry through other sides of the storage box wherever the hugging of storage box beading with the seat base structure is not provided. Furthermore, since, the rubber beading is provided in the front side of the vehicle only, there are possibilities that imbalance of load transfers on the storage box due to load from the rider seating portion and the pillion seating portion is improperly transferred. Due to which, there are possibilities of the storage box undergoing stress in particular regions only, further leading to breakage of that particular region.
[00014] Furthermore, the uneven placement of the seat assembly above the storage member due to presence of uneven beading. This uneven positioning of the seat assembly creates uneven and undesired gaps when assembled on to the storage member. These uneven gaps become undesirable see through gaps, which affect the aesthetic appeal of the vehicle. Further these see through gaps also serve as an entry for rain water, mud, dust and other undesirable objects into the storage box.
[00015] Therefore, in order to overcome the above mentioned problems of water entry, improper load transfer and poor appearance, a conforming contour rubber beading in the storage box is provided throughout the peripheral surface of the storage box.
[00016] Therefore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the step through type vehicle includes a storage box disposed under the seat assembly. The storage box is provided with a conforming contoured rubber beading structure attached to a peripheral surface of the storage box. The seat assembly is provided with an accommodating member, which is a continuous channel and is configured to receive at least a portion of the rubber beading structure. The accommodating member including a continuous channel evenly accommodates the rubber beading of the storage box there within. Thereby, the seating of the seat base structure above the storage box is ensured to be even. This facilitates the uniform distribution of load on the storage box.
[00017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage box beading member includes a ‘U’ shaped cross-section. The ‘U’ shaped cross-section is suitable to be received by the accommodating member on the seat base structure of the seat assembly.
[00018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the accommodating member, which is a continuous channel, is disposed along all over the surface of the seat base structure. Accordingly, the storage box beading member is also disposed on all over the peripheral surface of the storage box. Thereby ensuring overall protection from entry of water, dust and other particles into the storage box and other articles or sensitive vehicular parts disposed inside the storage box. Furthermore, the uniform distribution of the beading member all over the storage box ensures uniform distribution of load from the rider and the pillion during seated condition. Therefore, breakage of the storage box that may occur due to stress concentration only on a particular region due to uneven distribution of the beading member is prevented. Therefore, a more reliable and durable storage box and the seat assembly is achieved.
[00019] Figure 1 shows a left side perspective view of the scooter type vehicle. The vehicle 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 frame assembly includes a head tube 104, a main frame 111 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 103, a rear cover (not shown), a left front bottom panel 105, and a side panel 106.
[00020] A handlebar assembly 109 and a seat assembly 302 are supported at opposing ends of the frame assembly and a generally open area is defined there between known as floorboard 108 which functions as a step through space. The seat for a driver and a pillion is placed forward to a fuel tank and rear side of floorboard 108. A front fender 107 is provided above the front wheel 101 to avoid the vehicle 100 and its occupants from being splashed with mud. Likewise, a rear fender 112 is placed between the fuel tank and the rear wheel 102, and to the outer side in the radial direction of the rear wheel 102. The rear fender 112 inhibits rain water or the like from being thrown up by the rear wheel 102. A front cover assembly 115 is disposed rearwardly to the floorboard 108.
[00021] Suspensions are provided for comfortable steering of the vehicle on the road. A front suspension assembly (not shown) is connected to a front fork (not shown). The rear suspension assembly comprises of at least one rear suspension (not shown) preferably on the left side of the vehicle. 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 headlamp assembly 110 in the front portion of the vehicle and a taillight assembly 114 in the rear portion of the vehicle is also provided.
[00022] For the utility of the rider, a secondary storage assembly 113 is disposed in front of the front cover assembly 115. In another embodiment, the above conforming contoured beading may be implemented in the secondary storage box.
[00023] Figure 2 illustrates a seat assembly and the storage box in assembled condition. The seat assembly 302 is disposed above the storage box 301. A storage space is provided under the seat assembly 302 for storing of articles inside the storage box 301. Figure 3 illustrates a sectional view of the seat assembly and the storage box in the assembled condition taken along PQ axis in Figure 2. The seat assembly 302 is evenly placed above the storage box 301; this even location of the seat assembly 302 above the storage box 301 is ensured by the uniform continuous beading member 303 disposed on the storage box 301.
[00024] Figure 4 illustrates an exploded view of the seat assembly, the beading member and the storage box. As seen from the figure, the beading member 303 is sandwiched between the seat assembly 302 and the storage box 301 in assembled condition. The beading member 303 includes U shaped cross-section that enables proper alignment with a flange 306 extending outwardly from the peripheral surface 301a of the storage box 301 in assembled condition. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage box 301 is made of resin material. The seat base structure is made of resin material and the beading 303 member is made of material including elasticity like rubber.
[00025] Figure 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the seat assembly and the storage box in assembled condition taken along the RS axis in Figure 2. The seat assembly 302 includes a seat base structure 302a disposed on under side of the seat assembly 302. The seat base structure 302a includes an accommodating member 302b, which is a continuous channel. The accommodating member 302b includes a continuous accommodating member that is configured to firmly hold any material that is assembled into there within. Furthermore, the storage box 301 includes an outer peripheral surface 301a extending like a lip from a top surface of the storage box 301. The beading member 303 is assembled onto the outer peripheral surface 301a of the storage box 301.
[00026] Furthermore, the seat base structure 302a includes an accommodating member 302b that is capable of receiving the beading member 303.
[00027] The accommodating member 302b and the beading member 303 extends to the entire surface of the seat base structure 302a and the storage box outer peripheral surface 301a. This ensures that the entire beading member 303 is evenly and completely received within the accommodating member 302b. Therefore, complete protection of the storage box 301 from entry of water and other dust particles is ensured. Furthermore, the load exerted by the rider and the pillion rider in seated condition is evenly distributed on the storage box 301. Therefore, the storage box 301 is evenly loaded and does not undergo abrupt damage and breakage.
[00028] Figure 6a illustrates an under side of the seat assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. The underside of the seat assembly 302 includes the seat base structure 302a. The seat base structure includes a seat-base outer peripheral surface 305 including a continuous accommodating member 302b. The accommodating member 302b is extending to the entire seat-base outer peripheral surface 305. Figure 6b illustrates an under side of the seat assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention. The seat base structure 302a including the accommodating member 302b is configured to receive the beading member 303. The beading member is assembled into the entirety of the accommodating member 302b.
[00029] The method of assembling the beading member 303 on to a seat base structure 302a of the seat assembly 302 comprises the steps of disposing the beading member 303 of the seat base structure 302a on to one of at least a front portion F, to at least a middle portion M, and at least a rear portion R of an accommodating member 302b of the seat base structure 302a. Further, by pressing the first protrusion 401b into the accommodating member 302b of the seat base structure 302a and disposing the beading member 303 between the seat base structure 302a and a flange 306 (as seen in Fig. 5) of the storage box 301 in assembled condition. The following the above said steps, the assembly time in assembling the beading member 303 on to the accommodating member 302b is saved and an effective and reliable assembling of the beading member 303 is obtained.
[00030] Therefore, the entire seat assembly 302 will be uniformly supported on the storage box 301 with the beading member 303 sandwiched in between.
[00031] Figure 7 illustrates a detailed perspective view of a portion of the beading member. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the beading member 303 includes a flange abutting portion 402, an accommodating member abutting portion 401, and a hollow body portion 403. The flange abutting portion 402 is configured to abut against the flange 306 of said storage box 301 and the accommodating member abutting potion 401 is configured to abut against the accommodating member 302b. The accommodating member abutting potion 401 includes at least one of a first protrusion 401b extending from the hollow body portion 403, and a second protrusion 401a extending upwardly from the first protrusion 401b, said first protrusion 401b and said second protrusion 401a is configured to undergo compression. The hollow body portion 403 is configured to undergo compression. The flange abutting portion 402 includes a shape in conformation with the shape of the flange 306 (as seen in Fig. 5) in assembled condition.
[00032] The flange abutting portion 402, upon exertion of force due to weight of the rider or the pillion, is compressed against the flange 306 (as seen in Fig. 5). This flange abutting portion 402 prevents any direct contact between the seat base structure 302a and the storage box 301. Furthermore, in addition to the flange abutting portion, the beading member 303 includes the first protrusion 401b and the second protrusion 401a that are configured to undergo compression and bare the maximum load exerted due to the weight of the rider and the pillion rider.
[00033] Although the subject matter has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. It is to be understood that the aspects of the embodiments are not necessarily limited to the features described herein.
,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. A step-through vehicle (100) comprising:
a floorboard (108) functioning as a step through space;
a storage box (301) disposed rearwardly to said floorboard (108); and
a seat assembly (302) including a beading member (303), said seat assembly (302) is disposed above the storage box (301), said seat assembly includes a seat base structure (302a),
wherein,
said seat base structure (302a) includes an accommodating portion (302b) configured to receive a beading member (303), said beading member (303) is configured to be abutted against a flange (306) extending upwardly and outwardly to and from an outer peripheral surface (301a) of said storage box (301).
2. The step-through vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said accommodating portion (302b) is configured to extend throughout a seat-base outer peripheral surface (305) of said seat base structure (302a), and said beading member (303) is configured to extend throughout the outer peripheral surface (301a) of the storage box (301).
3. The step-through vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said beading member (303) is sandwiched between the seat assembly (302) and the storage box (301) in assembled condition.
4. The step-through vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said beading member includes a flange abutting portion (402), an accommodating member abutting portion (401), and a hollow body portion (403).
5. The step-through vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seat base structure (302a) is made of resin material and the beading member (303) is made of an elastic material.
6. The step-through vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said flange abutting portion (402) is configured to abut against the flange (306) of said storage box (301), and the accommodating member abutting potion (401) is configured to abut against the accommodating member (302b).
7. The step-through vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said accommodating member abutting potion (401) includes at least one of a first protrusion (401b) extending from the hollow body portion (403), and a second protrusion (401a) extending upwardly from the first protrusion (401b), said first protrusion (401b) and said second protrusion (401a) is configured to undergo compression and said hollow body portion (403) is configured to undergo compression.
8. The step-through vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein said flange abutting portion (402) includes a shape in conformation with the shape of the flange (306) in assembled condition.
9. A beading member (303) for a seat assembly (302), said beading member (303) comprising:
a flange abutting portion (402), an accommodating member abutting portion (401), and a hollow body portion (403), said flange abutting portion (402) is configured to abut against a flange (306) of a storage box (301) and the accommodating member abutting portion (401) is configured to abut against an accommodating member (302b) of a seat base structure (302a), said accommodating member abutting potion (401) includes at least one of a first protrusion (401b) extending from the hollow body portion (403), and a second protrusion (401a) extending upwardly from the first protrusion (401b), said first protrusion (401b), said second protrusion (401a) and said hollow body portion (403) is configured to undergo compression.
10. A method of assembling a beading member (303) on to a seat base structure (302a) of the seat assembly (302), said method of assembling a beading member (303) comprising the steps of:
disposing the beading member (303) of the seat base structure (302a) on to one of at least a front portion (F), to at least a middle portion (M), and at least a rear portion (R) of an accommodating member (302b) of the seat base structure (302a);
pressing the first protrusion (401b) into the accommodating member (302b) of the seat base structure (302a); and
disposing the beading member (303) between the seat base structure (302a) and a flange (306) of the storage box (301) in assembled condition.