DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to a two-wheeled vehicle. More particularly but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a fender assembly for the two-wheeled vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Generally, in a two-wheeled vehicle, a front fender is provided to prevent stones and other particles from entering into the internal parts of the vehicle. The front fender is disposed above a front wheel and in between a pair of front forks of the two-wheeled vehicle. The front fender mounting may differ from one vehicle to another depending upon the user requirement. The front fender could be disposed just above the front wheel to prevent splashing of mud on to the rider’s feet. The front fender could also be mounted to a lower bracket with a gap maintained between the front fender and the front wheel. In order to maintain a large clearance gap between the front fender and the front wheel in the two-wheeled vehicle, the front fender is mounted to a lower bracket by means of a mounting bracket. The large clearance gap between the front fender and the front wheel facilitates easy serviceability of the front fender.
BRIEF 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 a two-wheeled vehicle in accordance with an embodiment.
[0005] Fig. 2 depicts a top view of a typical front fender.
[0006] Fig. 3(a) illustrates a right perspective view of a front fender assembly along with a pair of front forks.
[0007] Fig. 3(b) illustrates a bottom perspective view of a front fender assembly along with a pair of front forks.
[0008] Fig. 4 illustrates an exploded view of the front fender assembly according to an embodiment.
[0009] Fig. 5 illustrates a typical support structure of the front fender assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00010] In a particular type of motorcycle, for example, a dirt bike, a well defined gap is maintained between a front fender assembly and a lower bracket. The well defined gap is achieved by attaching the front fender assembly to the lower bracket. Such a front fender has a overhanging front portion, the overhanging front portion is defined to cover a substantial portion of the front wheel. The overhanging portion of the front fender becomes a disadvantage over a period of time. During vehicle running condition, the overhanging portion of the front fender undergoes fluttering due to vibrations and running wind hitting the front fender. Over a period of time, the overhanging portion of the front fender may break, in such case the entire front fender assembly has to be replaced, which is not desired.
[00011] The front fender according to the present invention is supported on the lower bracket by a single mounting bracket. In case of the front fender mounted to the lower bracket, a large clearance gap is maintained between the front wheel and the front fender. The large clearance gap facilitates easy removal of dust and other particles accumulated in the front fender and the surrounding areas. Due to easy serviceability of the front fender mounted to the lower bracket, durability of the front fender is increased. Further, during full bump condition, the front wheel is prevented from hitting the front fender and being damaged. However, the same mounting arrangement is not suitable for a front fender including a longer front portion/a longer rear portion. The single mounting bracket holding the entire front fender is not sufficient to hold the front fender stiffly. The longer front portion/ the longer rear portion of the front fender are more prone to vibrations due to air constantly hitting the front fender during vehicle running condition. The areas surrounding the mounting bracket weakens due to continuous fluttering of the front fender due to running air and results in breakage of the front fender. Hence, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a durable front fender having reduced rattling during vehicle running condition.
[00012] Therefore, it is desirable that the overhanging portion of the front fender assembly is supported substantially to prevent the fluttering and undesirable damages to the front fender assembly.
[00013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a front fender assembly is attached to a lower bracket situated above a front wheel. The lower bracket supports a pair of front forks and a steering shaft. A well defined gap is maintained between the front fender assembly and the front wheel.
[00014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the front fender assembly includes a substantial front portion, which is overhanging. The substantial front portion of the front fender assembly is supported by a support structure. In particular, the substantial front portion of the front fender assembly is supported by an extended portion of the support structure. The support structure is capable of attaching the front fender assembly to the lower bracket. One end of the support structure includes provisions to receive the one or more fastening members to attach the front fender assembly to the lower bracket.
[00015] Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the support structure comprises one or more receiving portions capable of receiving the one or more fastening members through one or more mounting provisions disposed on the front fender assembly.
[00016] Furthermore, the one or more mounting provisions on the front fender assembly include a rear mounting provision enabling attachment of the front fender assembly to the lower bracket and a front mounting provision to receive the extended portion of the support structure.
[00017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the substantial front portion of the front fender assembly is lengthier than a rear portion of the front fender assembly.
[00018] The support structure is disposed on an inner surface of the front fender assembly and the support structure is made of a rigid material including known metals.
[00019] Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the support structure to support the front fender assembly includes a first end, a second end, and a body portion connecting said first end and said second end. The first end includes a first receiving portion to receive mounting members that enable mounting of the support structure to the front fender assembly and the second includes a second receiving portion that enables mounting of said second end of the support structure to the lower bracket.
[00020] Furthermore, the body portion of the support structure is in the form of a step, such that the front end and the second end have a vertical offset and are connected by a body portion that includes a central slot. The vertical offset between the front end and the second end of the support structure enables the support structure to match with the profile of the front fender assembly and provide required support and strength to the front fender assembly. Furthermore, the central slot enables removal of any dirt or mud deposited in the region of the support structure.
[00021] Therefore, according to the proposed invention, a more reliable and durable front fender assembly is achieved. Further, sufficient support and required strength is provided to the front fender assembly.
[00022] 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 the vehicle body frame 106.
[00023] The swing arm 104 along with a shock absorber 115 is supported at a rear side of the vehicle 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 112 and the shock absorber 115 is provided in the two-wheeled vehicle 100 for providing better ride comfort to the rider. The pair of front forks and a steering shaft 113 extends upwardly to the handlebar assembly from an upper bracket 114. The vehicle body frame 106 includes the head pipe 105, a pair of left and right main frames (not shown). The head pipe 105 is positioned at a front-end portion of the vehicle body frame 106. The main frames extend in a leftwardly and rightwardly branching state obliquely downwardly rearwardly from a lower portion of the head pipe 105.
[00024] A seat 107 for a driver and a pillion is placed rearward to a fuel tank 108. An engine assembly 109 is disposed below the fuel tank 108. A front fender assembly 110 is provided above the front wheel 101 to avoid the said vehicle and its occupants from being splashed with mud. Likewise, a rear fender 111 is placed above the rear wheel 103, and to the outer side in the radial direction of rear wheel 103. Rear fender 111 inhibits rainwater or the like from being thrown up by rear wheel 103.
[00025] Fig. 2 illustrates a top view of a typical front fender assembly. The front fender assembly 110 is mounted to a lower bracket (not shown) of the two-wheeled motorcycle 100 to maintain a large clearance gap between the front wheel 101 and the front fender assembly 110. The front fender assembly 110 is mounted to the lower bracket through a mounting point 301. It can be observed from the figure that the length of a front portion x1 from the mounting axis aa` of the front fender assembly 110 is high as compared to the length of the rear portion X2 of the front fender assembly 110. The lengthy front portion X1 of the front fender assembly causes overhang of the front fender assembly 110. The overhang of the front fender assembly 110 leads to poor durability. Hence, according to the present invention, the problem of poor durability of the front fender assembly is addressed and is understood in detail by the following description.
[00026] Fig. 3(a) illustrates a right side perspective view of the front fender assembly along with the pair of front forks. The front fender assembly 110 is disposed in between a pair of front forks 112 and is attached to the lower bracket 114. The pair of front forks 112 and a steering shaft 113 extends upwardly from the lower bracket 114 up to the vicinity of the handlebar 102. Fig. 3(b) illustrates a bottom perspective view of the front fender assembly. A support structure 201 is used to hold the front fender assembly 110 to the lower bracket 114. The support structure 201 prevents the front fender assembly 210 from fluttering due to atmospheric air during vehicle running condition.
[00027] However, according to another embodiment, wherein a rear portion of the front fender assembly 110 is lengthy compared to the front portion of the front fender assembly 110, the support structure 201 according to the present invention can be used to support the lengthy rear portion of the front fender assembly 110. Hence, the support structure 201 according to the present invention is used to support a portion of the front fender to prevent overhang.
[00028] According to yet another embodiment, the support structure 201 is used to prevent overhang in the rear fender 111 of the two-wheeled vehicle 1. The mounting arrangement of the support structure 201 is explained below.
[00029] Fig.4 illustrates an exploded view of a front fender assembly according to an embodiment. The front fender assembly 110 is supported by the support structure 201 mounted on an inner surface 403 of the front fender assembly 110. Pluralities of mounting provisions are provided on the inner surface 403 of the front fender assembly 110 for mounting the support structure 201 and to provide stiffness to the front fender assembly 110. The front fender assembly 110 is disposed such that it is sandwiched between the support structure 201 and the lower bracket 114. The support structure 201 through the front mounting provision 401 holds the front fender assembly 110 to the lower bracket 114.
[00030] Additionally, a back mounting provision 402 is provided on the inner surface 403 of the front fender assembly 110 for an extended portion 201b of the support structure 201 to hold the substantial front portion X1 of the front fender assembly 110. Since, the substantial front portion X1 of the front fender assembly 110 is supported by the support structure 201, sufficient stiffness is provided to the front fender assembly 110. Hence, the support structure 201 according to the present invention prevents the overhang of the front fender assembly 110 thereby increasing the durability of the front fender assembly 110. The substantial front portion of the front fender assembly 110 held by the support structure 201 reduces vibrations reaching the front fender assembly 110.
[00031] Fig. 5 illustrates a support structure according to an embodiment. The support structure 201 is used to mount the front fender assembly 110 to the lower bracket 114. The support structure 201 comprises one or more receiving portions to receive one or more fastening members 201aa through the one or more mounting provisions provided on the inner surface 403 of the front fender assembly 110.
[00032] According to an embodiment, the support structure 201 includes a first receiving portion 401a and a second receiving portion 402a. The first receiving portion 401a is disposed on a first end 201a and the second receiving portion 402a is disposed on the second end 201d. The first end 201a and the second end 201d are disposed at a vertical offset with respect to each other. The first end 201a and the second end 201d are connected by the body portion 201c including a central slot 201ca. The central slot 201ca lets out any dirt or mud accumulated around the support structure 201 in the inner surface 403 of the front fender assembly 110.
[00033] Therefore, the extended portion 201b including the body portion 201c and the second end 201d of the support structure 201 holds the substantial front portion X1 of the front fender assembly 110. The extended portion 201b provides required support and stiffness to the front fender assembly 110 resulting in reduced vibration of the front fender assembly 110. Hence, more durability is provided to the front fender assembly 110.
[00034] The support structure according to the invention can be used to prevent overhang of any portion of either the front fender or the rear fender or both of the two-wheeled vehicle.
[00035] 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 appended claims are not necessarily limited to the features described herein. Rather, the features are disclosed as embodiments of the front fender assembly 110 of a two-wheeled motorcycle 100.
,CLAIMS:I/We claim:
1. A saddle type two-wheeled motorcycle (100) comprising:
a front wheel (101);
a pair of front forks (112) disposed on either side of said front wheel (101);
a front fender assembly (110) disposed above said front wheel (101) and in between said pair of front forks (112); and
a lower bracket (114) capable of supporting said pair of front forks (112) and said front fender assembly (110),
characterized in that,
a substantial front portion (X1) of said front fender assembly (110) is supported by an extended portion (201b) of a support structure (201) capable of attaching said front fender assembly (110) to said lower bracket (114).

2. The saddle type two-wheeled motorcycle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support structure (201) comprises one or more receiving portions (401a and 402a) capable of receiving one or more fastening members (201aa) through one or more mounting provisions (401,402) disposed on an inner surface (403) of said front fender assembly (110).

3. The saddle type two-wheeled motorcycle (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said one or more mounting provisions (401, 402) includes a front mounting provision (401) and a back mounting provision (402), said front mounting provision (401) enables mounting of said front fender assembly (110) to said lower bracket (114).
4. The saddle type two-wheeled motorcycle (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said one or more receiving portions (401a and 402a) includes a first receiving portion (401a) and a second receiving portion (402a).

5. The saddle type two-wheeled motorcycle (100) as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said front mounting provision (401) is sandwiched between said first receiving portion (401a) and said lower bracket (114).

6. The saddle type two-wheeled motorcycle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substantial front portion (X1) of said front fender assembly (110) is lengthier than a rear portion (X2) of the front fender assembly (110).

7. The saddle type two-wheeled motorcycle (100) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said support structure (201) is disposed on said inner surface (403) of said front fender assembly (110).

8. The saddle type two-wheeled motorcycle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support structure (201) is made of rigid material including known metals.

9. A support structure (201) to support a front fender assembly (110), said support structure (201) comprising:
a first end (201a), a second end (201d), and a body portion (201c) connecting said first end (201a) and said second end (201d) ; and
a first receiving portion (401a) disposed on said first end (201a), a second receiving portion (402a) disposed on said second end (201d),
wherein,
an extended portion (201b) comprising said body portion (201c) and said second end (201d) is capable of supporting a substantial front portion (X1) of said front fender assembly (110).

10. The support structure (201) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first end (201a) and said second end (201d) are disposed at a vertical offset, and said body portion (201c) includes a central slot (201ca).