Description:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 OF 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]

TITLE OF INVENTION
Centre Stand Assembly for a Vehicle

APPLICANT
TVS MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED, an Indian company, having its address at “Chaitanya”, No.12 Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 006, Tamil Nadu, India.

PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to saddle type vehicles and more particularly to a centre stand assembly for such vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] In existing saddle-type two-wheeler vehicles such as scooter, stands such as a centre stand and / or a side stand for parking the vehicle is provided. In general, the two-wheeled vehicles are equipped with center stands to provide support to the vehicle in parking condition. Conventional center stands are pivoted either to a frame or an engine crank-case assembly of the two-wheeled vehicle. The center stand is designed to be in one of the two states: a retracted state - where the stand is not in use; and a parking state - where the vehicle is held upright using the stand and the stand takes part of the load of the vehicle.
[003] In a known prior art, for a stand device a structure is arranged on left and right sides of the vehicle body between the front and rear wheels, swingably with a stand support shaft arranged extending in the vehicle body left-right direction as a pivot. A left stand and a right stand are provided to be displaceable in the vertical direction. A left motor for driving the left stand to be displaced in the vertical direction, and a right motor for driving the right stand to be displaced in the vertical direction is also provided. A control unit that drives the left motor and the right motor in response to an operation of turning on a stand switch, and an inclination determination unit that determines whether the inclination angle of the vehicle body is a predetermined angle. And the control unit is configured to drive the left motor and the right motor to maintain the inclination angle of the vehicle body at the predetermined angle. However, such use of a control unit and motors requires extra power and increases the number of parts and complexity of operation of the stand.
[004] Further, it is known in the prior art that center stands are fabricated by welding together the various parts and components of the center stand such as tubes, bushes, sheet metal brackets and the like. This process of fabrication by welding is preferred based upon the cost of manufacturing. However, because of this type of fabrication, the welding is visible to the user while the vehicle is in parked state. This makes the vehicle less appealing, reducing the aesthetics of the whole vehicle.
[005] Further, because of this type of fabrication using permanent welds, one child part or component of the center stand cannot be replaced separately and independently of the other. If any failure or damage happens, the whole center stand needs to be replaced. This increases the cost of serviceability and maintenance.
[006] Further, there is an inherent safety issue with fabrication using welding as welding tends to leave burs and sharp edges and the centre stand needs to be operated by a user using his feet without looking. Such stands are mounted to a frame of the vehicle, either directly or by using some auxiliary (detachably attached) brackets. Structural details of mounting bracket on to the frame are usually heavy and complex. The part count is also high.
[007] In another known prior art, the side stand is mounted over a bracket which is directly welded to the frame of the vehicle. Any damage to the side stand mounting bracket leads to serviceability issue.
[008] In another known art, brackets used to mount a footrest/ side stand/ centre stand are all separately and independently welded / attached to the frame of the vehicle, which leads to increased number of child parts, and hence heavier and complex mounting structure.
[009] Further, the stand and footrest mounting in the prior art are not only bulkier but also require multiple mountings and fasteners for mounting on to the vehicle. This increases the part count and adds to the cost of parts and service and maintenance. The increased parts count and the visible weld joints also lead to poor aesthetics.
[010] Thus, there is a need in the art for a centre stand assembly for a vehicle which addresses at least the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[011] In one aspect, the present invention is directed at a centre stand assembly for a vehicle. The centre stand assembly comprises a plurality of members including a pair of main legs for taking the load of the vehicle during an ON-stand position, a centre bridge bar, and a lever member for operating the centre stand assembly by a user between the ON-stand position and an OFF-stand position. The plurality of members are detachably joined together to form the centre stand assembly. The pair of main legs has a left leg and a right leg. The centre bridge bar connects and joins the left leg to the right leg. The lever member is attached to one of legs of the pair of main leg.
[012] In an embodiment, each of the pair of main leg has a pivot portion at the top. Each of the pivot portions is pivotably connected to a powertrain casing of the vehicle. Each of the pair of main leg has a stopper portion near the corresponding pivot portions. Each of the stopper portions contacts a support portion on the powertrain casing during the ON-stand position of the vehicle. Each of the pair of main legs has a corresponding boot portion at the bottom. The boot portions contact the ground during the ON-stand position of the vehicle. Each of the boot portions has a convex shape at the front with respect to a vehicle direction of the vehicle.
[013] In an embodiment, the centre stand assembly comprises a spring for snapping the centre stand assembly between the ON-stand position and the OFF-stand position of the vehicle. The centre bridge bar has an integral hooking provision for supporting and holding the spring at a first end of the spring. The spring is joined to the power train casing at a second end of the spring.
[014] In an embodiment, both the pair of main legs and the centre bridge bar have a plurality of corresponding receiving portions. The centre bridge bar has the plurality of receiving portions at both the ends of the centre bridge bar. The centre bridge bar is joined to each of the main legs at the receiving portions through fasteners. The right leg has a lever receiving portion for receiving the lever member. The lever member has a first end proximal to the pair of main legs and a second distal end.
[015] The lever member comprises a cut-out section being cut out from the lever member near the first end, a plurality of mounting provisions at the first end of the lever member, and a shoe portion at the second distal end of the lever member. The lever member is joined to the left leg by fastening fastener through the mounting provisions to the lever receiving portion. The shoe portion has multiple serrations for enabling gripping by a foot of a user of the vehicle while snapping the centre stand between the ON and OFF position.
[016] In various embodiments, the plurality of members are made by forging Aluminium metal and are detachably joined together to form the centre stand assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[017] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 illustrates a schematic side view of a saddle type vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a centre stand assembly in an exploded perspective view, and
Figure 3 illustrates the centre stand assembly in an assembled perspective view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 illustrates the centre stand assembly mounted on the vehicle in a perspective view, and
Figure 5 illustrates the centre stand assembly mounted on the vehicle in a front view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 6 illustrates a centre bridge bar of the centre stand assembly in a perspective view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[018] The present invention relates to a saddle type vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a centre stand assembly for the saddle type vehicle.
[019] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic side view of a saddle type vehicle 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In various embodiments, the vehicle 100 is a two-wheeler vehicle. For example, the vehicle 100 is a two-wheeler type vehicle, a step-through scooter type vehicle, a saddle type vehicle, a straddle type vehicle, and the like. The vehicle 100 comprises a prime mover 110 that is adapted to provide motive force for movement of the vehicle 100. In an embodiment, the prime mover 110 is an internal combustion engine, which is preferably a single-cylinder engine. In another embodiment, the prime mover 110 is an electric motor. The vehicle 100 comprises a front wheel 112, a rear wheel 108, a seat assembly and a fuel tank 116. In an embodiment, the seat assembly includes a seat 114 for a rider and a pillion seat 114’ for a pillion.
[020] Further, the upper portion of the front wheel 112 is covered by a front fender 120 mounted to the lower portion of a telescopic suspension unit 118 at the end of the steering shaft. A handlebar 122 is fixed to a upper bracket (not shown) and can rotate about the steering shaft for turning the vehicle 100. A headlight 124, a visor guard (not shown) and instrument cluster 126 is arranged on an upper portion of the head pipe.
[021] The fuel tank 116 is mounted on the main tube. The seat rails (not shown) are joined to the main tube and extends rearward to support the seat assembly. A swingarm tube 102 is connected to the frame member to swing vertically, and the rear wheel 108 is connected to a rear end of the swingarm tube 102. Generally, the swingarm tube 102 is supported by a shock absorber 128 which can be a mono shock absorber (as shown in Figure 1) or through two shock absorbers on either side of the vehicle 100. A taillight unit 130 is disposed at the end of the vehicle 100 and at the rear of the seat assembly. A grab rail 132 is also provided to the seat rails. The rear wheel 108 arranged below the seat 114 rotates by the motive force of the prime mover 110. In an embodiment, the motive force is transmitted through a chain drive (not shown).
[022] Further, a rear fender 134 is disposed above the rear wheel 108. In an embodiment, for prime mover 110 of internal combustion engine type, an exhaust pipe 136 extends vertically downward from the prime mover 110 and then extends below the prime mover 110 longitudinally along the length of the vehicle 100 before terminating in a muffler 138. The muffler 138 is typically disposed adjoining the rear wheel 108.
[023] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the vehicle 100 has a centre stand assembly 200. The centre stand assembly is explained in greater details with reference to Figures 2-6.
[024] Figure 2 illustrates the centre stand assembly 200 in an exploded perspective view and Figure 3 illustrates the centre stand assembly in an assembled perspective view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The centre stand assembly 200 comprises a plurality of members including a pair of main legs (210l, 210r) for taking the load of the vehicle 100 during an ON-stand position, a centre bridge bar 220, and a lever member 230 for operating the centre stand assembly 200 by a user between the ON-stand position and an OFF-stand position. The pair of main legs has a left leg 210l and a right leg 210r. The centre bridge bar 220 connects and joins the left leg 210l to the right leg 210r. The lever member 230 is attached to one of legs of the pair of main legs (210l, 210r).
[025] In an embodiment, each of the left leg 210l and the right leg 210r has pockets on corresponding inner portions. This reduces weight of the centre stand assembly 200 without compromising on the aesthetics.
[026] In an embodiment, each of the pair of main legs (210l, 210r) has a pivot portion (210lP, 210rP) at the top. Each of the pivot portions (210lP, 210rP) is pivotably connected to a powertrain casing 150 of the vehicle 100. For example, the power train casing 150 is a crank case cover of the vehicle 100. Each of the pair of main legs (210l, 210r) has a stopper portion (210lS, 210rS) near the corresponding pivot portions (210lP, 210rP). Each of the stopper portions (210lS, 210rS) contacts a support portion on the powertrain casing 150 during the ON-stand position of the vehicle 100. Each of the pair of main legs (210l, 210r) has a boot portion (210lB, 210rB) at the bottom. The boot portions (210lB, 210rB) contacts the ground during the ON-stand position of the vehicle 100. Each of the boot portions (210lB, 210rB) has a convex shape at the front with respect to a vehicle direction of the vehicle (100).
[027] Figure 4 illustrates the centre stand assembly 200 mounted on the vehicle 100 in a perspective view and Figure 5 illustrates the centre stand assembly 200 mounted on the vehicle 100 in a front view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment, the centre stand assembly 200 comprises a spring 240 for snapping the centre stand assembly 200 between the ON-stand position and the OFF-stand position of the vehicle 100. The spring 240 keeps the movement of the centre stand assembly 200 under tension about a pivot along a longitudinal axis of the centre bridge 220.
[028] Figure 6 illustrates the centre bridge bar 220 in a perspective view, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The centre bridge bar 220 has an integral hooking provision 222 for supporting and holding the spring 240 at a first end 240f of the spring 240. The spring 240 is joined to the power train casing 150 at a second end 240s of the spring 240. The centre bridge bar 220 also includes a snap fit mounting provision formed integrally for assembling a cushion.
[029] In an embodiment, both the pair of main legs (210l, 210r) and the centre bridge bar 220 have a plurality of corresponding receiving portions (210RP, 220RP). The pitch of the various respective receiving portions (210RP, 220RP) is different so as to avoid wrong assembly of the plurality of parts including the centre bridge bar 220. The centre bridge bar 220 has the plurality of receiving portions 220RP respectively at both the ends of the centre bridge bar 220. The centre bridge bar 220 is joined to each of the main legs at the receiving portions (210RP, 220RP) through fasteners 220F. The right leg 210r has a lever receiving portion 210rRP for receiving the lever member 230. The lever member 230 has a first end 230f proximal to the pair of main legs (210l, 210r) and a second distal end 230s. The lever member 230 comprises a cut-out section 230C being cut out from the lever member 230 near the first end 230f, a plurality of mounting provisions 230m at the first end 230f of the lever member 230, and a shoe portion 230SP at the second distal end 230s of the lever member 230. The lever member 230 is joined to the left leg 210l by fastening fasteners 230F through the mounting provisions 230m to the lever receiving portion 210rRP. The shoe portion 230SP comes in contact of a user’s foot and has multiple serrations for enabling gripping by the foot of the user of the vehicle 100 while snapping the centre stand between the ON and OFF position. The cut-out section 230C is provided to help reduce the weight of the lever member 230 and add to the aesthetic of the lever member 230.
[030] In various embodiments, the plurality of members are made by forging Aluminium metal. The plurality of members are detachably joined together to form the centre stand assembly 200.
[031] Advantageously, the centre stand assembly provided by the invention eliminates welding as the plurality of members are detachably joined together to form the centre stand assembly using fasteners. The centre stand assembly of the invention has better aesthetics as the number of visible parts is reduced and there are no visible weld joints. The elimination of welding also removes presence of burs and sharp edges due to welding, thus adding to the aesthetics and safety.
[032] Further, assembly time, assembly cost, service time, service cost are reduced since the number of parts is less. Since the plurality members are forged and made of aluminium, weight reduction and cost reduction are also achieved.
[033] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Reference Numeral List:
100: Vehicle
150: Powertrain Casing
200: Centre Stand Assembly
210l: Left Leg
210r: Right Leg
210lP, 210rP: Pivot Portions
210lS, 210rS: Stopper Portions
210lB, 210rB: Boot Portions
210RP: Receiving Portion
210rRP: Lever Receiving Portion
220: Centre Bridge Bar
220RP: Receiving Portion
220F: Fasteners
222: Hooking Provision
230: Lever Member
230f: First End
230s: Second Distal End
230C: Cut-Out Section
230m: Mounting Provisions
230F: Fasteners
230SP: Shoe Portion
240: Spring
240f: First End
240s: Second End , Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A centre stand assembly (200) for a vehicle (100), the centre stand assembly (200) comprising a plurality of members, the plurality of members comprising:
a pair of main legs (210l, 210r) for taking the load of the vehicle (100) during an ON-stand position of the vehicle (100), the pair of main legs having a left leg (210l) and a right leg (210r);
a centre bridge bar (220), the centre bridge bar (220) connecting and joining the left leg (210l) to the right leg (210r); and
a lever member (230) for operating the centre stand assembly (200) by a user between the ON-stand position and an OFF-stand position, the lever member (230) being attached to one of legs of the pair of main legs (210l, 210r).

2. The centre stand assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the pair of main legs (210l, 210r) has a pivot portion (210lP, 210rP) at the top, each of the pivot portions (210lP, 210rP) being pivotably connected to a powertrain casing (150) of the vehicle (100).

3. The centre stand assembly (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the pair of main legs (210l, 210r) has a stopper portion (210lS, 210rS) near the corresponding pivot portions (210lP, 210rP), each of the stopper portions (210lS, 210rS) contacting a support portion on the powertrain casing (150) during the ON-stand position of the vehicle (100).

4. The centre stand assembly (200) as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the pair of main legs (210l, 210r) has a boot portion (210lB, 210rB) at the bottom, the boot portions (210lB, 210rB) contacting the ground during the ON-stand position of the vehicle (100), each of the boot portions (210lB, 210rB) having a convex shape at the front with respect to a vehicle direction of the vehicle (100).

5. The centre stand assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1 comprises a spring (240) for snapping the centre stand assembly (200) between the ON-stand position and the OFF-stand position of the vehicle (100), wherein the centre bridge bar (220) has a hooking provision (222) for supporting and holding the spring (240) at a first end (240f) of the spring (240), the hooking provision (222) being integral to the centre bridge bar (220), the spring (240) being joined to the power train casing (150) at a second end (240s) of the spring (240).

6. The centre stand assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein both the pair of main legs (210l, 210r) and the centre bridge bar (220) have a plurality of corresponding receiving portions (210RP, 220RP), the centre bridge bar (220) having the plurality of receiving portions (220RP) at both the ends of the centre bridge bar (220), the centre bridge bar (220) being joined to each of the main legs at the receiving portions (210RP, 220RP) through fasteners (220F), the right leg (210r) having a lever receiving portion (210rRP) for receiving the lever member (230).

7. The centre stand assembly (200) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the lever member (230) has a first end (230f) proximal to the pair of main legs (210l, 210r) and a second distal end (230s), the lever member (230) comprising:
a cut-out section (230C) being cut out from the lever member (230) near the first end (230f);
a plurality of mounting provisions (230m) at the first end (230f) of the lever member (230), the lever member (230) being joined to the left leg (210l) by fastening fasteners (230F) through the mounting provisions (230m) to the lever receiving porition (210rRP); and
a shoe portion (230SP) at the second distal end (230s) of the lever member (230), the shoe portion (230SP) having multiple serrations for enabling gripping by a foot of a user of the vehicle (100) while snapping the centre stand between the ON and OFF position.
8. The centre stand assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of members are made by forging Aluminium metal.

9. The centre stand assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of members are detachably joined together to form the centre stand assembly (200).

10. A vehicle (100) comprising a centre stand assembly (200), the centre stand assembly (200) comprising a plurality of members detachably joined together to form the centre stand assembly (200), the plurality of members comprising:
a pair of main legs (210l, 210r) for taking the load of the vehicle (100) during an ON-stand position of the vehicle (100), the pair of main legs having a left leg (210l) and a right leg (210r);
a centre bridge bar (220), the centre bridge bar (220) connecting and joining the left leg (210l) to the right leg (210r); and
a lever member (230) for operating the centre stand assembly (200) by a user between the ON-stand position and an OFF-stand position, the lever member (230) being attached to one of legs of the pair of main legs (210l, 210r).

Dated this 06th day of September 2022

TVS MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED
By their Agent & Attorney

(Nikhil Ranjan)
of Khaitan & Co
Reg No IN/PA-1471