TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to a saddle type vehicle. More particularly but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a seat assembly for the saddle type vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Conventionally, vehicle layout design for a saddle type two or three-wheeled vehicle features a step-through frame and a flat surface called as a floorboard assembly used for disposing'legs of a rider during vehicle riding conditions. A seat assembly is disposed rearwardly to the floorboard assembly. Further, the saddle type vehicle features bodywork, including one or more body panels that conceal all or most of the vehicular mechanisms. Since, most of the parts in the vehicle is concealed by the body, the body parts are to be designed such that they fit into the body space achieving optimum utilization of space in the saddle type vehicle. Accordingly, a storage member is also concealed by one or more body panels, the storage member is disposed underneath the seat assembly, the seat assembly conceals the storage member from top side such that one or more articles of the user stored inside the storage member are protected. It is desirable by the user to have a sufficient storage space in the saddle type vehicle for storing his/her articles in the storage member. Therefore, having a storage member without compromising on the storage space is a critical factor.-
BRJQEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] 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.
[0004] Fig. 1 shows a side view of an exemplary two-wheeled vehicle.
[0005] Fig. 2 illustrates a seat assembly and the storage member in assembled condition, and the seat assembly in open condition with respect to the storage member.
[UUU6J^ Fig. 3(a) illustrates~a top view or the" seaf assembly.

[0007] Fig. 3(b) illustrates a sectional view of the seat assembly assembled with the storage member taken along B-B axis as shown in the Fig. 3(a).
[0008] Fig. 4 illustrates a sectional view of the seat assembly assembled with the storage member taken along A-A axis as shown in the Fig. 3(a).
[0009] Fig. 5 illustrates a side perspective view of the seat base member.
[00010] Fig. 6 illustrates a bottom view of a seat assembly.
[00011] Fig. 7 illustrates a top view of a storage member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00012] Generally, the under-seat assembly space is used to package one or more vehicular parts including the storage member for use by the user. The user can store his/her articles like gloves, bags, helmets and the like while riding the vehicle inside the storage member. The seat assembly is used by a rider and a pillion rider to ride a vehicle. The seat assembly and the storage member should be able to take the load exerted on them due to the weight of the rider and the pillion rider. Further, during vehicle riding conditions, while traversing on rough roads, the storage member in close contact with the seat assembly is subject to lot of vibrations and other unwanted effects. During such conditions, the storage member might be subject to unexpected damages. Such unexpected damages may lead to improper supporting of the seat assembly above the storage member. The unevenly laid seat on the damaged storage member may subject the user of the vehicle to undesirable discomfort and may also lead to fatigue or stress to the user(s) of the vehicle, while riding for a long distance and for a long duration of time.
[00013] Further, the phenomenon of bending of the seat assembly occurs due to uneven laid seat on an uneven surface of the storage member occurred due to unexpected damages to various portions of the storage member. In addition, the phenomenon of seat bending occurs due to overloading of the storage member as well. The overloading of the storage member occurs for instance, if the article pused byghe gser,csay,va/helmet, being, bigger, in size is dumped into the storage

member and covered forcibly by the seat assembly by the user. The user seated on the forcibly closed seat assembly is exerting load on the seat assembly. The load so exerted is unevenly distributed all over the seat assembly and the various portions of the storage member. Over the due course of usage of forcibly closed seat assembly with bigger articles, like a bigger helmet in the storage member, the seat assembly undergoes bending gradually, causing undesirable discomfort to the user. Furthermore, the bending of the seat assembly also leads to crack or breakage of the seat assembly. In particular, a seat base member of the seat assembly suffers from breakage. The so bent seat assembly also causes breakage of the storage member, which might cause damage to the surround vehicular parts as well as serious damages to critical vehicular parts like an engine assembly that are disposed underneath the storage member.
[00014] There also occurs a situation over a period of time, wherein closure of the seat assembly above the storage member becomes impossible due to the phenomenon of bending of the seat base of the seat assembly. The rider has to compromise on his necessity of using the vehicle and think of other options to commute under such circumstances.
[00015] Further, another problem associated with the seat assembly is explained as follows. The seat assembly is assembled to the storage member through a seat hinge member. The hinge member is typically provided at a front portion of the seat assembly, like wise a rear portion of the seat assembly includes a locking mechanism for locking the seat assembly with the storage member, so that ' unauthorized access to strangers into utility box is restricted. In this type of seat assembly, the distance between the hinge member and the locking mechanism is considerably high. The articles stored inside the storage member can be sometimes accessible by applying centre load on the seat assembly, in other words, by pulling the center portion of the seat assembly upwards, a well-defined gap is created between the seat assembly and the utility box that is enough for the user to access the storage member. Often, the theft is carried out by using ^additional tools Jo leverage force application just enough to enable access to

stealing of valuables stored. Thereby, any articles belonging to the user, is subject to theft. Such an application of load on to the seat assembly, results in a deformed seat, unexpected damage to the seat assembly and also dissatisfaction to the user.
[00016] Therefore, there exists a need to have an anti-theft seat assembly and also a seat assembly that does not undergo bending or breakage due to loading of the articles into the storage member.
[00017] The present invention provides a seat assembly that is capable of uniformly distributing the load exerted due to the weight of the users of the vehicle on the storage member. The other advantages and a detailed understanding of the invention are provided below with detailed description of the figures.
[00018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the seat assembly includes a seat base member, being a rigid member as compared to a seat cushion member attached to the seat base member. In particular, the seat cushion member is attached to an upper surface of the seat base member. The seat base member is configured to include one or more access restraining members. The one or more access restraining members are extending vertically downwards from the seat base member, so that the one or more access restraining members completely cover the interface between an upper peripheral surface and the seat base member from inside. Any unauthorized member trying to get access into the storage member by applying load onto the seat assembly by pulling it upwards at the center cannot access the inside of the storage member. Instead, the hands of the unauthorized person encounter the one or more access restraining members.
[00019] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the one or more accessing restraining members are reinforcing members being an integral part of the seat base member. The reinforcing members extend vertically from the seat base member and are disposed at a proximity to most of an edge surface of the seat base member. Most of the seat assembly is supported through the one or more access restraining members that provides required strength to the seat base assembly. Therefore, the phenomenon of seat bending, seat breakage does not Ftak£rMace;

[00020] Further, the one or more accessing restraining members being reinforcing members are configured to provide required structure stability to the seat base member, such one or more accessing restraining members also do not undergo flexing easily even if an external load is applied. For example, if an unauthorized person is trying to access the storage member by pulling the seat assembly, the hands of the unauthorized member are blocked by the one or more accessing restraining members that do not undergo deformation easily. Therefore, theft by an unauthorized person in a parking lot for a short duration of time is impeded.
[00021] These and other advantages of the present invention are explained along with the detailed description of the figures as follows.
[00022] Fig. 1 shows a left side perspective view of a saddle type vehicle 100 . The 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. The said 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.
[00023] A handlebar assembly 109 and a seat assembly 110 are supported at opposing ends of the frame assembly and a generally open area is defined there between known as a floorboard assembly 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 assembly 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 fuel tank (not shown) 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.
[00024] Suspensions are provided for comfortable steering of the vehicle on the road. A front suspension assembly is connected to a front-fork 118. The rear suspension assembly comprises of at least one rear suspension 117 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 116 in the front portion of the vehicle and a taillight 113 in the rear portion of the vehicle is also provided.
[00025] Fig. 2 illustrates a seat assembly and the storage member in assembled condition, and the seat assembly in open condition with respect to the storage member. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more access restraining members 202 also referred herein as access blocking members 202, project outwardly from the seat base member 205. The one or more access restraining members 202 extend beyond the seat member 110a of the seat assembly 110, but in a downward direction, this will result in covering of the interface 201b between the seat base member 205 and an upper peripheral surface 201a (shown in Fig.3) of the storage member 201. The one or more access restraining members 202 include a first height Bh to be substantially greater than a second height Sh of the seat member 110a. Further, the one or more access restraining members 202 extend almost throughout most of an edge surface of the . seat base member 205, i.e., the one or more access restraining members 202 extends substantially along the entire circumferential length of the seat base member 205. This provides required stiffness to the seat assembly 110 to withstand the load exerted thereby and also for uniform distribution of the load exerted. As per an embodiment, the second height sh is substantially equal to the vertical height of the seat base 205 shown in Fig 3(b) of the vehicle substantially in the mid portion of the seat assembly 110 when seen in the side view of the vehicle. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more access restraining members 202 are disposed throughout the edge surface of the

seat base member 205 including portions at a close proximity to a hinge member 203 and a locking mechanism 204. This way, even if the length 110b between the hinge member 203 and the locking mechanism 204 is considerably higher, the seat assembly 110 cannot be easily deformed or pulled upwards by the unauthorized user to access the storage member 201. Therefore, a theft-proof seat assembly 110 is provided according to the present invention.
[00026] Fig. 3(a) illustrates a top view of the seat assembly. Fig. 3(b) illustrates a sectional view of the seat assembly assembled with the storage member taken along B-B axis as shown in the Fig. 3(a). According to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage member 201 includes an upper peripheral surface 201a disposed at a proximity to at least an outer peripheral surface 205a of the seat base member 205. The outer peripheral surface 205a is resting upon the upper peripheral surface 201a of the storage member 201 in assembled condition. The interface 201b between the outer peripheral surface 205a of the seat base member 205 and the upper peripheral surface 201a of the storage member 201 is restraining any see-through gap and any unauthorized access to the storage member 201. However, the same can be accessed through authorized opening of the seat assembly 110. According to the present invention, under situations, wherein an unauthorized access of the storage member 201 is attempted, the one or more access restraining members 202 restrains or impedes the access to the storage member 201.
[00027] Further, the seat base member 205 also includes a cross member 301 disposed at a proximity to the locking mechanism 204. The cross member 301 is a curved member configured to accommodate at least a portion of an article, for example, a helmet 302. Generally, helmet(s) 302 are stored inside the storage member 201 whenever the user desires. Such helmets 302 have a curved upper surface that is to be fitted inside the storage member 201 and also be covered by the seat assembly 110 whenever the user is ready to leave the vehicle in a parking lot. However, such helmets 302 may interfere with the cross member 301 disposed between the one or more access restraining members 202. The curved

profile of the cross member 301 is configured to be in conformation with the helmet 302. This conformation in the shape of the cross member 301 and the helmet 302 does not add any additional load to the seat base member 205 and the storage member 201 whenever the storage member 201 is loaded and covered by the seat assembly 110 and further locked. Furthermore, the cross member 302 functions as a reinforcing member to provide additional support to the one or more access restraining members 202. Still furthermore, if an unauthorized person is trying to access the storage member 201 by pushing the one or more access restraining members 202, the further inward flexing of the one or more access restraining members 202 is prevented by the cross member 301. Therefore, a theft proof, stable and a reliable seat assembly and a storage member is achieved according to the present invention. As per an embodiment, additional supporting support members e.g. a rib may be provided along the upper peripheral surface 201a of the storage member 201 on which the outer peripheral surface 205a of the seat base member 205 can be suitably rested to further enhance the structural stability & transfer load onto the side wall of the storage member 201 without passing on to the stored items inside the storage member 201.
[00028] Fig. 4 illustrates a sectional view of the seat assembly assembled with the storage member taken along A-A axis as shown in the Fig. 3(a). The one or more access restraining members 202 includes a predetermined height, the first height Bh to be approximately equal to half of the depth Ds of the storage member 201. This way, it is highly impossible for the unauthorized person to extend his/her hands into the storage member 201 to access the articles stored within. The first height Bh of the one or more access restraining members 202 is greater at a proximity to the hinge member 203. The greater height towards the hinge member 203 provides enough stiffness to the seat base member 205 whenever the seat assembly is operated in open or closed condition to access the storage member 201. The one or more access restraining members 202 include a varying cross section, with tapering towards an end portion as compared to the base portion.

[00029] Fig. 5 iDustrates a side perspective view of the seat base member. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the seat base member 205 includes a tapering portion towards a front end for accommodating the user. The tapering portion is narrower as compared to the accommodating portion configured to accommodate the pillion rider. The one or more access restraining members 202 extends to the tapering portion as well. Further, the one or more access restraining member 202 includes at least one strengthening member 202a to provide additional support and prevent breakage.
[00030] Fig. 6 illustrates a bottom view of a seat assembly. The bottom view of the seat assembly 110 depicts the seat base member 205 including the one or more access restraining members 202 and the cross member 301 disposed there between. The cross member 301 includes two walls 301a, 301b attached to each other by plurality of joining members 301c. The plurality of joining members 301c provide required stiffness and support to the cross member 301, which further effectively supports the one or more access restraining members 202. The one or more access restraining members 202 and the cross member 202 are made of polymer.
[00031] Fig. 7 illustrates a top view of a storage member. The storage member 201 includes at least one cutout 401 to facilitate access to an underlying portion of the vehicle body frame. The cutout 401 is used to mark or provide an identification mark on the vehicle body frame (not shown). The cutout 401 is provided in a substantially front portion of the frontal half of the storage member 201. In particular, the cutout 401 is disposed in line with the hinge member 203 and at a close proximity to the hinge member 203.
[00032] Although the subject matter has been described with reference to specific 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 spirit or scope of the present subject matter as defined.

We claim:
1. A saddle type scooter vehicle (100) comprising:
a handlebar assembly (109) for steering said vehicle (100);
a floorboard assembly (108);
a seat assembly (110) disposed rearwardly to said floorboard assembly (108), said seat assembly (110) includes a seat base member (205); and
a storage member (201) disposed under said seat assembly (110), said storage member (201) is capable of accommodating one or more articles,
said seat base member (205) of said seat assembly (110) is configured with one or more access restraining members (202) extending vertically downward from said seat base member (205), said one or more access restraining members (202) are configured to cover an interface (201b) between the seat assembly (110) and an upper peripheral surface (201a) of said storage member (201) under assembled condition.
2. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more access restraining members (202) include a height greater than height of the seat assembly (110) when seen in the side view of said vehicle (100).
3. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more access restraining members (202) includes a predetermined first height (Bh), the predetermined first height (Bh) to be approximately equal to half of the depth of the storage member (201) when seen in the side view of the vehicle (100).
4. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more access restraining members (202) include a varying cross-section across the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (100).
5. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more access restraining members (202) include a cross-member (301) disposed therebetween, said cross-member (301) is curved to accommodate at least a portion of an article stored in said storage member (201).

6. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper
peripheral surface (201a) of said storage member (201) is configured to
include one or more rib(s), said one or more rib(s) are capable of resting the
outer peripheral surface (205a) of the seat base member (205).
7. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cross-member (301) includes at least one wall (301a, 301b) attached to each other by plurality of joining members (301c).
8. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said plurality of joining members (301c) are configured to provide stiffness and support to the cross member (301), said plurality of joining members (301c) are configured to support said one or more access restraining members (202).
9. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more access restraining members (202) extend substantially along the entire circumferential length of the seat base member (205).
10. The saddle type vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more access restraining members (202) include a first height (Bh) substantially greater than a second height (Sh) of a seat member (110a) of said seat assembly (110), said second height (Sh) is substantially equal to a vertical height of the seat base member (205).