FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a drain plug and more particularly to the
drain plug integrated with footrest for a two-wheeler engine.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] In general, in two wheelers wherein the engine drain plug is not exposed,
the drain plug will not undergo any impact load during the vehicle operation. Whereas in case of two wheeler engines, wherein the vehicle and engine layout are changed to package the. engine and to achieve the better ground clearance, the engine^ drain, plug is, found to be exposed and will take the impact load during the full bump condition and hence, may lead to drain plug damage and cause oil leak. Hence, it is desired to have a ■ protecting arrangement for the drain plugs for such an engine wherein the drain plug is exposed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Hence, to obviate the problem associated with the prior art, it is proposed
to protect the engine drain plug with lesser number of parts. The current invention discloses a protector drain plug that guards the drain plug and the same has been attached to the footrest, which has separate mountings and is further supported by the crankcase to avoid bending failure of the guard with the rubber damper in-between to avoid the crank case damage and to dampen the vibration. The protector drain has been designed in such

a way that the guard is completely mounted on the crankcase with two fasteners, one on front and one on rear side of the drain plug.
[0004] Protector/Guard for the drain plug as per the present invention is used to
avoid drain plug/crank case damage, which may result into oil leak. Protector/guard for the drain plug as disclosed in the current invention is mounted on footrest, supported by crankcase with rubber in-between. Protector/guard for the drain plug is mounted completely on crankcase with two fasteners in another embodiment. The Protector/guard for the drain plug as disclosed in the current invention has a relief in the bottom to not to compromise on serviceability.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure lillustrates a typical two-wheeler.
Figure 2illustratesa typical engine of a two-wheeler.
Figure 3 illustrates drain plug protector integrated with rider footrest.
Figure 4 illustrates drain plug protector integrated with rider footrest on the vehicle engine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The current invention discloses a drain plug protector to protect the drain
plug from hitting the hump, avoid crank case damage & oil leak. The protector has been designed such a way that it is mounted completely on the rider footrest and supported by the crankcase. The rubber damper provided between protector plug and engine surface to

avoid crank case damage when the protector hits the hump. Protector can also be completely mounted on the crankcase as explained below in yet another embodiment. Drain plug relief provided in the protector plug to not to compromise on serviceability."
[0006] Rider footrest as disclosed in the current invention is designed with a
view, which facilitates the rider to rest his feet in a comfortable posture at a specified location based on the ergonomics study with minimal transfer of vibrations to the rider body. Plate protector/Guard mounting is welded on the rider footrest rod and has mounting holes to facilitate the servicing of the protector plug.
[0007] The protector/guard drain plug is-mounted oh the footrest to avoid drain
plug hitting the hump, crank case/drain plug damage, which is also, supported by the crank case in front portion with the rubber damper in-between. Rubber damper is provided between protector and the crank case surface to avoid crank case damage when the protector hits the hump and try to bend towards crankcase. Drain plug relief in the protector/guard has been provided to not to compromise on any serviceability issue. Drain plug in the crankcase provided to remove the engine oil. Protector/Guard mounting fasteners have been provided to mount the guard on rider footrest assembly. ■
[0008] In yet another embodiment of the proposal, the protector/guard drain plug
is mounted on the crankcase to avoid drain plug hitting the hump, which may otherwise . damage the crank case/drain plug. Drain plug relief is provided in the protector/guard to not to compromise on any serviceability issue. Protector/Guard is mounted on the crankcase by using fasteners. Fasteners have been provided to mount the guard on rider

footrest assy. Protector/guard plug mounting boss have been provided on the crankcase to mount the protector plug.
[0009] In a two-wheeled vehicle, the protection of drain plug becomes very
challenging due to lesser ground clearance. Figure 1 discloses a two-wheeled vehicle 10 with headlamp 1, fuel tank 3 with a fuel tank cap 2, front wheel 4A and rear wheel 4B, an internal combustion engine 5, side cover 6, floorboard 7, utility box 8, rider seat 9, pivot head pipe 11 and tail lamp 12. The fuel tank 3 contains the fuel required by the engine for combustion and is fed to the fuel tank through the fuel tank cap 2.The fuel from the fuel tank 3 is fed to the engine 5. Engine 5 stretches from the front end of the floorboard with cylinder head being at this end until the utility box beneath which lies the crankcase of the said engine 5.The engine 5 is covered by floor board 7 from the top.
[00010] The first embodiment of the current invention is shown in figure 2. Figure
2 shows an engine 5, crankcase 20; rider foot rest rod 21; drain plug 22, drain plug protector 23, rubber cap 24, and drain plug protector first mounting 25. the drain plug protector 23 is mounted on to the rider foot rest rod 21 by help of mounting mechanisms 25 also called as drain plug protector first mountings 25 at first end and the second end of the drain plug protector 23 is covered with a rubber cap which acts as a dampening material to provide a dampening effect between the said drain plug protector 23 and the crankcase of the engine 5.
[00011] The first embodiment of the current invention as described in Figure 2 is
more clearly illustrated in the Figure 3. Figure 3 illustrates rider foot rest rod 21, drain plug hole 32, drain plug protector 23, resilient mounting 24, rider step rest 31. The

rubber cap is provided on tip of one end of the drain plug protector 23 which is in contact with the crankcase of engine 5. The drain plug hole 32 is used for removing, replacing or servicing the drain plug of the said engine 5.
[00012] In yet another embodiment of the current invention, the second end of the
drain plug protector with the rubber cap 24, is replaced by a mounting arrangement 41 on to the crankcase of the engine 5. Figure 4 shows an engine 5, rider foot rest rod 21, drain plug hole 22, drain plug protector 23, drain plug protector second mounting 41. As in the first embodiment, the drain plug protector 23 in the current invention is also mounted on the rider footrest by using mounting arrangements 25 at first end but in this second embodiment; the second. end of the drain plug protector 23 is mounted on to the crankcase by using separate mounting arrangement 41.

We claim:
1. An engine protecting mechanism for a two wheeled vehicle (10) comprising:
a crankcase (20) which covers an internal combustion engine (5);
a rider foot rest rod (21) with provision for resting rider's foot at its two ends; the rider footrest rod (21) mounted with help of mounting fasteners (25) on the said crankcase (20);
a drain plug protector (23) formed out of a flat sheet with a hole (32) at the centre and two ends namely a first end (26) and a second end (27);
characterized in that:
,..„ ,.-> .- - the Said drain plug protector's (23) first end (26) is detachably fastened to the said rider foot rest rod (21), while the second end (27) of the said drain plug protector (23) resting against the crankcase (20) body with a resilient material (24) in between the said drain plug protector's second end (27) and the said crankcase body (20).
2. An engine protecting mechanism for a two wheeled vehicle (10) comprising:
a crankcase (20) which covers an internal combustion engine (5);
a rider foot rest rod (21) with provision for resting rider's foot at its two ends; the rider, footrest rod (21) mounted with help of mounting fasteners (25) on the said crankcase (20);
a drain plug protector (23) formed out of a flat sheet with a hole (32) at the centre and two ends namely a first end (26) and a second end (27);
characterized in that:
the said drain plug protector's (23) first end (26) is detachably fastened to the said rider foot rest rod (21), while the second end (27) of the said drain

plug protector (23) is fastened to the said crankcase (12) body with a fastening element (41).
3. The engine protecting mechanism for a two-wheeled vehicle (10) as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the said drain plug protector (23) comprises of at least one hole (32) through which the said drain plug (22) is accessible for servicing.