DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a straddle type motorcycle and more particularly but not exclusively to a turn signal lamp assembly of the straddle type motorcycle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Generally, a motorcycle is equipped with a number of safety devices for protection of the rider, the pillion rider, and other commuters on the road. The safety devices may include external peripheral devices and the parts of the vehicle itself, which are to be mandatorily incorporated in the motorcycle. The mandatory safety devices which form part of the motorcycle include audio-visual devices. The audio-visual devices include, for example, at least one horn, at least one headlamp, one or more turn signal lamps, at least one tail lamp, and one or more reflecting elements. The one or more turn signal lamps generally show visual indications by wink of light emitted by the bulbs/LEDs inside the turn signal lamp assembly. Further, the indication given by the one or more turn signal lamps will serve as directions to other vehicle users travelling on the road. The one or more turn signal lamps indicate about the expected movement of the vehicle, for example, about left turn or right turn of the motorcycle on the road. By taking indications from the one or more turn signal lamps, the other vehicle users on the road can be cautious regarding their movements on the road.
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 according to an embodiment.
[0005] Fig. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view of a turn signal lamp assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0006] Fig. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the turn signal lamp assembly for the motorcycle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0007] Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a left side turn signal lamp assembly.
[0008] Fig. 5 illustrates a front view of a left side turn signal lamp assembly. According to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] Fig. 6 shows a right side perspective view of a left side turn signal lamp assembly.
[00010] Fig. 7 illustrates a front view of the at least one supporting member.
[00011] Fig. 8 illustrates a rear perspective view of the at least one supporting member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00012] Generally, in a conventional motorcycle, the at least one turn signal lamp is disposed on a structural member holding the headlamp assembly. A circular relief is provided on a rear side of a headlamp housing to allow the at least one turn signal lamp to project outward from the headlamp housing. The problem associated with the above explained construction is that the relief provided amounts to poor aesthetic appearance of the motorcycle. Further, the relief is generally prone to manufacturing variations and includes exposure of welded portion, if any. Further, the relief tends to have undesired gaps with the interfering vehicular parts. The undesired gaps receive a lot of mud, dust, water particles, and other foreign particles. The mud and water particles may get deposited on internal vehicular parts disposed beneath the relief. The water particles may enter the critical electrical components causing damages to the electrical components itself or to other associated parts in the motorcycle.
[00013] Furthermore, the undesired gaps between the at least one turn signal lamp and the relief may lead to rubbing between the at least one turn signal lamp and the inner circumferential surface of the relief. Further, due to constant rubbing, the at least one turn signal lamp undergoes wear and tear, which may also cause breakage of the one or more turn signal lamps. This calls for frequent servicing of the motorcycle.
[00014] Hence, a more reliable and a stable turn signal lamp are desired. The proposed invention provides a reliable and stable operation of the turn signal lamp by addressing the problems as in conventional turn signal lamp as discussed above.
[00015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one turn signal lamp is attached to a stay member holding the headlamp assembly. The stay member is disposed behind the headlamp. The stay member comprises one or more side members that are capable of receiving the at least one turn signal lamp. Therefore, the rear side of the head lamp housing does not require relief to allow the outward projection of the at least one turn signal lamp.
[00016] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the stay member comprises at least two legs connected by one or more cross members. The one or more side members project forwardly from the at least two legs in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The at least one turn signal lamp is mounted to each of the one or more side members through at least one supporting member. The at least one supporting member is detachably attached to each of the one or more side members.
[00017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one supporting member comprises a mounting surface and a receiving surface. The mounting surface is at a close proximity and facing the one or more side members. The mounting surface is configured with one or more protrusions capable of being received by one or more holes disposed on each of the one or more side members. Further, the at least one supporting member includes one or more slots to enable detachable attachment with the one or more side members.
[00018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more turn signal lamps are detachably attachable to the one or more side members. The at least one supporting member is detachably attached to said one or more side members.
[00019] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the one or more turn signal lamps are fixedly attached to the one or more side members. For example, by welding. Further, the at least one supporting member is fixedly attached to said one or more side members.
[00020] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one supporting member is made of polymer.
[00021] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one supporting member is made of a material selected from a group of metals including iron, aluminium, steel and the like.
[00022] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the receiving surface of the at least one supporting member comprises at least one boss capable of receiving the at least one turn signal lamp. The at least one turn signal lamp is attached to the at least one boss through one or more mounting members.
[00023] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more side members are fixedly attached to the at least two legs of the stay member. In particular, the one or more side members are welded to the at least two legs of the stay member. The at least one supporting member is attached to the one or more side members such that, the welded joint, which is a joining junction of the one or more side members and the at least one supporting member is completely covered by the at least one supporting member. Thereby, preventing the visibility of the joining junction to the user and further improving the aesthetic appeal of the motorcycle.
[00024] Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of a two-wheeled vehicle, for example, a motorcycle 100 according to an embodiment. The motorcycle 100 according to an embodiment includes a front wheel 101 steered by a handlebar 102 and a rear wheel 103 supported by a swing arm 104. Steering assembly parts including the handlebar 102 and the front wheel 101 are supported for pivotal steering operation on a head pipe 105 at the front end of a vehicle body frame 106. A seat 110 for a driver and a pillion is placed rearward to a fuel tank 114. An engine assembly 113 is disposed below the fuel tank. A front fender 111 is provided above the front wheel 101 to avoid the said vehicle and its occupants from being splashed with mud. Likewise, a rear fender 112 is placed above the rear wheel 103, and to the outer side in the radial direction of the rear wheel 103. The rear fender 112 inhibits rainwater or the like from being thrown up by the rear wheel 103.
[00025] The swing arm 104 along with a shock absorber 109 is supported at a front portion thereof for pivotal motion and upward and downward rocking motion on the rear side of a lower portion of the vehicle body frame 106. A suspension assembly including a pair of front forks 108 and a shock absorber 109 is provided in the motorcycle 100 for providing better ride comfort to the rider and the pillion rider. In general terms, the shock absorbers help cushion vehicles on uneven roads. In the two-wheeled vehicle, shock absorbers reduce the effect of travelling over rough ground, leading to improved ride quality and vehicle handling. The vehicle body frame 106 includes the head pipe 105, a pair of left and right main frames 107. The head pipe 105 is positioned at a front-end portion of the vehicle body frame 106. The pair of left and right main frames 107 extend in a leftwardly and rightwardly branching state obliquely downwardly rearwardly from a lower portion of the head pipe 105.
[00026] Fig. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view of a turn signal lamp assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. A turn signal lamp assembly comprises a right side turn signal lamp 115a, a left side turn signal lamp 115b, and a stay member 201. The stay member 201 is configured to support the right side turn signal lamp 115a, and the left side turn signal lamp 115b. By mounting the at least one turn signal lamp 115a, 115b on to the one or more side members 203 through the at least one supporting member 204, a relief in the cowl to facilitate the at least one turn signal lamp 115a, 115b can be prevented. Further, the absence of gap does not leave any scope for entry of water particles, dust, and other foreign materials into the rear side of the headlamp assembly 116. Further, the at least one turn signal lamp 115a, 115b is attached to one or more side members being a rigid structure. Therefore, the at least one turn signal lamp 115a, 115b is more stable and reliable. The undesired flexing or bending of the at least one turn signal lamp 115a, 115b is prevented to a greater extent, because of this, the life of the at least one turn signal lamp 115a, 115b is extended for some more years.
[00027] Fig. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the turn signal lamp assembly for the motorcycle according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the stay member 201 includes one or more forwardly projecting side members 203. The one or more side members 203 are welded to the stay member 201. The joining junction 207 between the one or more side members 203 and the stay member 201 is covered by the at least one supporting member 204. The supporting member 204 aids to improve the aesthetic appeal of the motorcycle.
[00028] The at least one turn signal lamp 115a, 115b are disposed on either side of the headlamp assembly 116. The at least one turn signal lamp includes a right side turn signal lamp 115a and a left side turn signal lamp 115b disposed on a right side and a left side of the headlamp assembly 116 accordingly. Each of the right side turn signal lamp and the left side signal lamp is supported by at least one supporting member 204 enabling attachment of the right side turn signal lamp 115a and the left side signal lamp 115b with the one or more side members 203.
[00029] According to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the right side turn signal lamp 115a and the left side turn signal lamp 115b are fixedly attached, for example, are welded to the at least one supporting member 204 disposed on either side of the headlamp assembly 116. The at least one supporting member 204 holding the at least one turn signal lamp 115a, 115b are attached to the one or more side members through one or more mounting members 203a. The mounting members may include, for example, one or more screws, one or more nuts, and one or more bolts.
[00030] According to another embodiment of the present invention, each of the right side turn signal lamp 115a and the left side turn signal lamp 115b are detachably attached to the at least one supporting member 204.
[00031] Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a left side turn signal lamp assembly. The at least one turn signal lamp 115a, 115b are attached to a stay member 201. The stay member comprises at least two legs 201a, 201b each separated and joined by one or more cross members 201c. Further, the at least two legs 201a, 201b include one or more side members 203 projecting forwardly in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The one or more side members 203 include one or more holes 203b and a central provision 203c to enable mounting of the at least one supporting member 204.
[00032] The left side turn signal lamp 115b is supported by the at least one supporting member 204. The at least one supporting member 204 is detachably attachable to the one or more side members 203. The one or more mounting members 203a enable detachable attachment of the at least one supporting member 204 with the one or more side members 203. The at least one supporting member 204 completely covers the joining junction including a welded joint between the at least two legs 201a, 201b and the one or more side members 203.
[00033] Fig. 5 illustrates a front view of a left side turn signal lamp assembly. According to an embodiment of the present invention. The one or more mounting members 203a enables mounting of the at least one supporting member 204 with the one or more side members 203. The one or more mounting members 203a penetrates through the central provision 203c. The one or more protrusions 204b are received by the one or more holes 203b. The one or more protrusions 204b do not penetrate out of the one or more holes 203b. The one or more protrusions 204b are used to maintain an even gap between the right side turn signal lamp 115a, the left side turn signal lamp 115a and the at least one supporting member 204. The even gap facilitates easier and quicker servicing of the at least one supporting member 204.
[00034] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the one or more protrusions 204b penetrate out of the one or more holes 203b.
[00035] Fig. 6 shows a right side perspective view of a left side turn signal lamp assembly. The one or more mounting members 203a penetrate out of the central provision 203c, whereas the one or more protrusions 204b remain in the one or more holes 203b. Further, the left side turn signal lamp 115b is mounted to one end of the at least one supporting member 204 through at least one second mounting member 115ba. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more side members 203 is for example a L shape bracket including at least two surfaces attached at 90 degrees. One surface of the L shaped bracket is fixedly attached to at least one leg 201a, 201b and the other surface at 90 degrees to the one surface is capable of supporting the at least one supporting member 204 capable of receiving the left side turn signal lamp 115b.
[00036] Fig. 7 illustrates a front view of the at least one supporting member. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one supporting member 204 includes at least one opening 205 configured to receive one or more mounting members 203a. Further, the at least one supporting member 204 includes at least one boss 206 configured to receive the at least one turn signal lamp assembly 115a, 115b. The at least one boss 206 further includes at least one provision 206a capable of receiving the at least one turn signal lamp assembly 115a, 115b. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one supporting member 204 is triangular in shape. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one supporting member 204 is polygonal is shape. A front surface 208 of the at least one supporting member 204 includes the at least one boss 206, and the at least one opening 205.
[00037] Fig. 8 illustrates a rear perspective view of the at least one supporting member. A rear surface 209 of the at least one supporting member 204 includes the one or more protrusions 204b. Further, the rear surface 209 includes the at least one opening 205. Furthermore, the at least one boss 206 includes at least one provision 206a. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one boss 206 is protruding outwardly when viewed from a side view.
[00038] 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 motorcycle (100) including a turn signal lamp assembly (115), said motorcycle (100) comprising:
a headlamp (116);
a headlamp housing (202) capable of accommodating said headlamp (116); and
a stay member (201) comprising at least two legs (201a, 201b) and one or more side members (203), said one or more side members (203) are extending forwardly in a vehicle longitudinal direction from each of said at least two legs (201a, 201b),
wherein,
said one or more side members (203) are configured to receive at least one supporting member (204) capable of supporting at least one turn signal lamp (115a, 115b) of said turn signal lamp assembly (115).
2. The motorcycle (100) including a turn signal lamp assembly (115) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one supporting member (204) includes an extension surface (210) configured to be at a close proximity to at least a joining junction (207) between said one or more side members (203) and at least a portion of said at least two legs (201a, 201b) of said stay member (201).
3. The motorcycle (100) including a turn signal lamp assembly (115) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said extension surface (210) is configured to substantially cover at least a portion of said joining junction (207).

4. The motorcycle (100) including a turn signal lamp assembly (115) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one supporting member (204) comprises a mounting surface (209) and a receiving surface (208), said mounting surface (209) is at a close proximity to and facing the one or more side members (203) and said mounting surface (209) is configured to abut against said one or more side members (203) and said receiving surface (208) is capable of receiving said at least one turn signal lamp (115a, 115b).
5. The motorcycle (100) including a turn signal lamp assembly (115) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one supporting member (204) comprises at least one opening (205) enabling attachment with said one or more side members (203).

6. The motorcycle (100) including a turn signal lamp assembly (115) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one supporting member (204) is detachably attached to said one or more side members (203).

7. The motorcycle (100) including a turn signal lamp assembly (115) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one supporting member (204) is fixedly attached to said one or more side members (203).

8. The motorcycle (100) including a turn signal lamp assembly (115) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 3, wherein said mounting surface (209) comprises one or more protrusions (204b) capable of abutting against said one or more side members (203) such that said one or more protrusions (204b) are disposed in between the mounting surface (209) and the one or more side members (203), and said receiving surface (208) includes at least one boss (206) capable of receiving said at least one turn signal lamp (115a, 115b).

9. The motorcycle (100) including a turn signal lamp assembly (115) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said one or more turn signal lamps (115a, 115b) are detachably attached to said at least one boss (206) through at least one second mounting member (115ba).
10. The motorcycle (100) including a turn signal lamp assembly (115) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one supporting member (204) includes one or more protrusions (204b) to maintain an even gap between the right side turn signal lamp (115a), the left side turn signal lamp (115a) and the at least one supporting member (204).