BODY CONSTRUCTION FOR SCOOTER TYPE VEHICLES FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a body construction and more particularly to a floor board construction for a scooter type vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In general a scooter type vehicle is provided with a front cover covering a steering column and a front frame, a cover leg shield, disposed above a front wheel, a floor board for a rider is attached to the lower portion of the cover leg shield to accommodate rider's feet for driving the vehicle in a state of seating. Conventionally, the floor board is secured directly to side panel assembly by means of fasteners. However the construction and size of the floor board is such that, the mounting of the floor board directly on to the side panel assembly leads to design & tooling complexities. Also the above mentioned arrangement reduces the design flexibility in the scooter type vehicle. Moreover this arrangement also affects the aesthetic and appearance of the product because of uneven fitments and gaps. In addition, the above mentioned arrangement also requires extra handling facility, while assembling the vehicle. Moreover, the large size of the floor board increases weight and cost of the same. Also, the said construction reduces the degree of freedom as the floor board is single part.

Therefore the present has been made in an effort to solve the aforesaid problems of the conventional scooter type vehicle.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a body construction for a scooter type vehicle which includes a rigid and a light weight floor board having an aesthetically improved appearance, particularly at the sides thereof.

According to the present invention, the above objects can be accomplished by a body construction for scooter type vehicle comprising a vehicle frame, a cover leg shield, disposed above a front wheel, a floor board for a rider is attached to the lower portion of the cover leg shield, a pair of side panels covering the vehicle body side from a portion of the vehicle body on both left and right side of the vehicle, and a pair of cover front assembly consisting of a pair cover front and a pair of cover rear top such that the cover front is connected to the side panels at one end and is connected to the cover rear top at other end, and the cover rear top is connected to the floor board on both the sides of the vehicle thereby, securing the side panel to the floor board without compromising on size and weight of the floor board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates rear portion of a conventional scooter type vehicle to which present invention is applicable.

Figure 2 illustrates a floor board attached to a pair of side panels according to the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates a cover front assembly according to the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates a cover front according to the present invention.

Figure 5, Figure 6 and Figure 7 illustrates a cover rear top and a floor board according to the present invention.

DEATAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates rear portion of a conventional scooter type vehicle to which present invention is applicable, wherein the scooter 1 includes a body frame 2 (not shown in the figure), a front wheel 3, supported between lower portion of a front fork 5, a power unit 4, provided on rear portion of the vehicle body frame 2, a rear wheel 11 is supported on the rear portion of the power unit 4. Further the scooter type vehicle is provided with a floor board 205 attached to the lower portion of the cover leg shield for a rider to place his legs and a pair of side panels 204 covering the vehicle body side from a portion of the vehicle body on both left and right side of the vehicle. The floor board 205 is directly connected to the pair of side panels 204 on both sides.

Figure 2 illustrates a floor board attached to a pair of side panels according to the present invention, wherein the scooter type vehicle 1 is provided with a cover front assembly 203 extending rearward towards the rear end of the vehicle, on both left and right side. A pair of side panels 204 is connected to one end of the of the cover front assembly 203 on each side and the floor board 205 is connected t to other end of the cover front assembly 203 on both sides of vehicle, thereby mounting the floor board 205 to the pair of side panels without increasing length and weight of the floor board in the scooter type vehicle.

Figure 3 illustrates a cover front assembly according to the present invention, wherein the cover front assembly 203 includes a cover front 202 and a cover rear top 202 on both left and right side of the vehicle. The cover front 202 is provided with a cover front top 202a and a cover front bottom 202b. The cover front bottom 202b is connected to the cover rear top 201 preferably by means of welding or snap fitting or fasteners. Further, the cover front top 202a is connected to the pair of side panels 204 on both sides of the vehicle. The cover rear top 201 is further connected to the floor board 205. Also the cover rear top 205 is provided with provisions to accommodate pillion footrest and to mount the cover rear top to the vehicle body frame which are shown in subsequent drawings.

Figure 4 illustrates a cover front according to the present invention, wherein the cover front 202 is provided with a plurality of projections 10F for securing the cover rear top 201. The projections 10F are engaged and locked into a plurality of corresponding holes 10A provided in the cover rear top 201 on both left and right side of the vehicle, thereby securing the cover front 202 to one end of the cover rear top 201. The projection 10F, provided in the cover front is circular in shape.

Figure 5, Figure 6 and Figure 7 illustrates a cover rear top and a floor board according to the present invention, wherein the cover rear top 201 is provided with the plurality of holes 10A for receiving the corresponding circular projections 10F provided in the cover front 202, for connecting the cover rear top 201 to the cover front 202. Also the front portion cover rear top 201 is provided with a mounting provision 10B, for accommodating a pillion foot rest assembly. In addition the cover rear top 201 is also provided with a boss type mounting detail 10C for mounting the cover front assembly to the vehicle body frame 2. Further the cover rear top 201 is provided with a buckle type snap detail 10D (shown in figure 6) to locate and engage at least two corresponding grooves 101 (shown in figure 7) provided in the floor board 205, thereby mounting the cover front assembly 203 to the floor board 205.

We Claim:

1. A body construction for a scooter type vehicle, comprising:
a cover leg shield, disposed above a front wheel;
a floor board, attached to the lower portion of the cover leg shield;
a pair of laterally spaced side panels covering the vehicle body side from a rear portion of the vehicle body ; and
a pair of cover front assembly, connected to the pair of side panels at left and right side of the vehicle;
wherein said cover front assembly is provided with a pair of cover rear top and a pair of cover front on both left and right side of the vehicle and the cover front includes a cover front top and a cover front bottom such that the cover front top is connected to the side panels and the cover front bottom is connected to the cover rear top on both sides of the vehicle, and the cover rear top is connected to the floor board on both the sides of the vehicle thereby, securing the side panel to the floor board without increasing length of the floor board.

2. The body construction for the scooter type as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pair of cover front is provided with a circular projection for the corresponding holes provided in the cover rear top, thereby securing the cover rear top to the cover front.

3. The body construction for the scooter type as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover rear top is connected to the cover front preferably by means of fastener.

4. The body construction for the scooter type as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover rear top is connected to the cover front preferably by means of welding.

5. The body construction for the scooter type as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover rear top is connected to the cover front preferably by means of snap fitting.

6. The body construction for the scooter type as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floor board is provided with at least two grooves for receiving a buckle type snap fit details provided in the cover rear top for mounting the cover front assembly to said floor board.

7. The body construction for the scooter type as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front portion of the cover rear top is provided a mounting provision to accommodate a pillion foot rest assembly.

8. The body construction for the scooter type as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover rear top is provided with a boss type mounting detail for mounting the cover front assembly to the vehicle body frame.