Floor Board for a Motorcycle

Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to a "Floor Board for a Motorcycle". In particular this invention relates to floorboard for a scooter type motorcycle.

Background of the Invention:

In general, a scooter type motorcycle is provided with a floorboard on the step thru' space between the handle bar and the rider's seat, on which driver's feet are placed to drive the vehicle in a state of seating. The floorboard includes a floorboard extension extending rearwardly of a foremost position of the seat. The floorboard extension includes a projection projecting outwardly laterally of a vehicle body beyond the outermost positioned portion of the side cover in a vehicle width direction. The floorboard extension is generally formed integral with the floorboard. The floorboard extension generally includes an inclined portion inclined differently from the floorboard. The said floorboard typically is attached to the vehicle body frame, which makes it difficult to open regularly for engine servicing. Since the said floorboard has no kind of connection or attachment or support for the side covers of the scooter, the side covers of the scooter are subject to vibrations. In the known prior art, the floorboard is constructed in such a manner that a upward vertical extension at the middle rear end of the floor end is provided which covers the front part of the engine. In all such cases a large one-piece moulding structure, which increases the mould cost and reduces productivity since the floor board are generally made of plastics. In certain scooter type motorcycles, where the floor board is not constructed in a manner to cover the front side of the engine and a independent cowl is provided to cover the front side of the engine, then the problem lies in fixing the said floor board to the said cowl by self tapping screws, since the self tapping screws loses its elasticity property on frequent opening of engine for servicing, thereby leading to vibration and rattling noise. Further un even gap between the cowl and the floor board leads a poor aesthetics and customer appeal.

Hence the objective of the present invention is to overcome the above problems
associated with the prior arts.

Summary of the invention:

The present invention has been devised in view of the above difficulties and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a structure for the floor board which allows a proper fixing of the under cowl (which is located below the front end tip of the rider's seat and at least covers the front of the engine) to the floor board so that the under cowl does not move.

The above mentioned object can be achieved according to the present invention by providing the scooter type vehicle a floor board comprising a bottom board at the space between the handle bar and the seat. The floor board starts from the lower point of the inner portion of the front cover and extends approximately to the foot rest, whereby the middle portion of the floor board extends only till the under cowl portion. A half square cut depression is provided in the said floor board to accommodate the lower bottom projections of the said under cowl. In the above said depression a second depression lower than the first said depression at the extreme ends is provided. Two threaded enmouldings are provided in the second depression, whereby the under cowl is attached to that point thereby preventing the movement of the under cowl and reducing vibrations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a seat for the side panels so that it can arrest the movement and vibrations of the side panels. This objective is achieved by providing a U shaped groove extending to the left and right sides of the vehicle side panels.

By providing the floorboard structure according to the present invention for scooter type vehicles, enables easy opening of the side panels engine for servicing.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Brief description of the Drawings

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by
way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein

FIG. 1 is a left side view of a two wheeled scooter type vehicle according to a first
embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.2 is the top plan view of the floor board according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.3 is the left side view of the floor board according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Embodiment of the present invention now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "right", "left" and "bottom" represent directions viewed from the perspective of the vehicle rider.

First with reference to FIGS 1 to 3, a description will now be given concerning a floor board according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

First the whole structure of the vehicle will be roughly described. A reference number 1 in Fig.1 denotes a front wheel, 2 denotes a front fork, 3 denotes a front fender, 4 denotes a front cover, 5 denotes a leg shield made of resin or metal, 6 denotes a handle bar cover, 7 denotes a headlight, 8 denotes a handle bar ,17 denotes a rear fender and 18 denotes tail lamp.

The center of the body forms a low floor board 9 for functioning as a part for putting feet and a under cowl 10 which is located below the rider's seat and covers at least a part of the engine, The under cowl is made up of metal or resin. The under cowl is hinged to the seat 11. A utility box 12 opens from the rear end to hinged portion. The utility box 12 is provided under the seat extending longitudinally of a vehicle body and the inside of the utility box has a large capacity so that a large article can be housed. A main frame 14 extended along the center of the body before and behind and made of a metallic pipe and is provided under the floor board 9. A swing type power unit 13 is coupled to the rear end of the main frame 14.

A rear wheel 15 is supported on one side of the rear end of the swing type power unit 13. The swing type power unit 13 is suspended in the rear of a body frame.

The side covers 16 both on left and right sides, covers the utility box 12 and other parts of the vehicle, thereby providing a good appearance to the vehicle.

Next, the floor board 9 of the present invention embodiment will be described. The said floor board of the present invention is fixed to the vehicle body frame 14 and is located in the lower space available between the handle bar 8 and seat 11. The floor board 9 when viewed from the left hand side ( as shown in figure in 3) it looks like substantially a straight plane, where the front end of the floor board 9 towards the front cover 5, is slightly raised upward, thereby forming a L shaped figure.

When the floor board 9 is viewed from the top ( as shown in figure 2), the front side facing the front cover 5 is given a curve cut to exactly accommodate the front cover 5.

The rear end portion of the floor board 9, opening towards the rear side of the vehicle, when view from the top looks like a U shaped configuration, with two extending portions (201,202) on the left and right side respectively of the vehicle body.

The edge of the floor board 9 is if supposedly having a plane 1, then with reference to the said plane 1 of the edge (203), a depression (204) is made throughout the body of the said floor board. At the rear end middle portion of the floor board 9 another depression (205) (hereinafter referred to as depression!) lower than the first depression (204) is made which is substantially of a half square cut shape. The above said depression 1(205) provides seat for the bottom lower portion of the under cowl 10. Adjacent to the above mention depression 1 at its two extreme ends one other depression (206) (hereinafter referred to as depression2) is provided which is again at a lower plane than the depression 1. The said depression 2 (206) is substantially of the rectangular shape with a downward inclination opening at the U shaped configuration side.

The said depression2 is provided with at least two threaded enmouldings (207), whereby the projected legs of the under cowl 10 is fixed therein.

The rear end of the depression2 (206) is provided with a upward vertical projections, which provides a attachment means to the side covers 16.

The rear end portion of the floor board 9, which is a U shaped configuration having two extended portions (201, 202), when viewed from top has a groove running parallel to the edge of the U shaped configuration. The said extended portion with the said grooves acts as locator for the side covers 16. The extended portions extend little more than the foot rest position. The said extended portions on both left and right side of the vehicle is adapted to accommodate the foot rest, which pops outs from a hole made on the said extended portion.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

We Claim:

1. A floor board for a motorcycle, more particularly for a scooter type vehicle, mounted on vehicle frame in the space between the handle bar and seat in which the
floor board is provided with a rear end portion opening towards the rear side of the
vehicle so as to provide a U shaped configuration as viewed in a plan view and extends to positions on the left and right sides of the vehicle side panels under the side panels, characterized in that

a depression(l) and depression (2), in which the front lower portion of the under cowl is accommodated,

a groove running parallel to the said extending portions to locate the side panels, and at least two upward vertical projections (3) at the rear side of the depression (2) to accommodate the side panels.

2. A floor board for a motorcycle, more particularly for a scooter type vehicle, mounted in the vehicle frame in the space between the a handle bar and seat in which the floor board is provided with a rear end portion opening towards the rear side of the vehicle so as to provide a U shaped configuration as viewed in a plan view and extends to positions on the left and right sides of the vehicle side panels under the side panels, characterized in that at least two threaded enmouldings located in depression (2) to provide attachment to the leg of the under cowl.

3. The floor board structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said threaded enmoulding is preferably made up of steel.

4. The floor board structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said depression (1) is preferably in the shape of a half square cut.

5. The floor board structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said depression (2) is preferably of rectangular shape with a down inclination towards the rear side of the said depression(2).