Footrest assembly structure

Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to "Footrest assembly structure "and more particularly to the rider's footrest assembly structure of motorcycle type vehicle for mounting the rear master cylinder.

Background of the Invention:

In known motorcycles provided with rear disc brake, the master cylinder assembly is mounted thru known means onto the rider footrest holder which is typically aluminum cast structure. Such arrangement can lead to vibration of the rider foot rest holder at certain vehicle speed causing discomfort to the rider. The vibration levels can get aggravated if the weight of the master cylinder assembly increases. This can also lead to breakage of the cast structure itself due to the resonance of the system.. . To overcome the above problem, in the known design the rider's footrest holder and a separate bracket for mounting rear master cylinder is co fastened and mounted to the frame. However this process of assembly needs to be carried out in the assembly line and leads to assembly difficulties resulting in loss of productivity. Further in case of the same motorcycle being adapted for non-disc brake, then there is a need to develop a separate rider foot rest holder cast structure. This leads two separate footrest holder for both disc version and non-disc version which increases the inventory, development cost and productivity.

Hence the present invention has been made to overcome such drawbacks of the existing rider's footrest assembly structure.

Summary of the Invention:

In order to achieve the above objects, a first aspect of the present invention provides a motorcycle type vehicle including a vehicle body frame, a rider's footrest, a brake pedal, a rider's footrest holder having rider's footrest and brake pedal mounted thereon and a master cylinder. The master cylinder is mounted to a secondary bracket separate from the rider's footrest holder. The secondary bracket is mounted to the rider's footrest holder. This particular arrangement enhances the assembly performance and reduces the tooling and material cost. Further in case of non disc version the same rider's foot rest holder can be used.

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

Figure 1 illustrates a conventional motorcycle.

Figure 2 illustrates a rider's footrest assembly mounted to vehicle body frame in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 3 illustrates a rider's footrest assembly in assembled condition in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 4 illustrates an exploded view of a rider's footrest assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 5 illustrates the back side view of a rider's footrest assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.

Detail Description of the Invention:

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with different embodiments. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather those embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and fully, convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. With reference to Figure 1 a motorcycle comprises of a frame (101), front fork (102) attached to a pivot tube (201) of the vehicle frame, a front wheel (103) attached to these front forks (102), a handle bar (104) connected to the front forks (102), a fuel tank (105) attached so as to straddle an upper part of the vehicle frame, a seat (106) attached to the upper rear portion of the vehicle frame, an engine unit (107) attached to the lower front section of the vehicle frame, a swing arm (108) attached to a lower rear section of the vehicle frame, suspended by a rear shock absorber (not shown) from the vehicle frame and a rear wheel attached to a rear end of swing arm (108). The intake system of the engine comprises of a fuel air metering device such as a carburetor (109), intake duct and an air cleaner. The exhaust system of the engine comprises of exhaust pipe and a muffler. The motorcycle is also provided with a side cover for covering a side section of the vehicle frame, a seat cover for covering a rear section of the vehicle frame below the seat, a front fender (110) for covering an upper part of the front wheel (103), and a rear fender (111) for covering an upper part of the rear wheel (112). The drive from the engine (107) is transmitted from the engine to the driven wheel sprocket mounted on the rear wheel hub mounted on the rear wheel assembly.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention and referring to Figure 2, a rider's footrest assembly 200 is mounted to the vehicle body frame 201 at a lower most portion of body frame.

Further Figure 3 represents the rider's footrest assembly 200 structure mounted to a vehicle body frame 201 and comprises a rider's footrest 202, a brake pedal 203, a rider's footrest holder 204 having rider's footrest 202 and brake pedal 203 mounted thereon and a master cylinder 205. The master cylinder 205 is mounted to a secondary bracket 206 separate from the rider's footrest holder 204. The secondary bracket 206 is mounted to the rider's footrest holder 204.

The rider's footrest holder 204 is mounted to the vehicle body frame 201 at one location and it has also the provision of mounting to swing arm at a different location. The said brake pedal 203 is mounted to the rider's footrest holder 204. The said secondary bracket 206 is mounted or fastened to the rider's footrest holder 204 to which a rear master cylinder 205 is mounted.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the rider's footrest assembly and Figure 5 shows the back side view of the rider's footrest assembly, these two figures in conjunction shows the mounting method and details. The method of assembling a rider's footrest assembly 200 comprising the steps of: bolting a rear master cylinder 205 to a secondary bracket 206; fixing the rear master cylinder 205 and secondary bracket 206 assembly on to a rider's footrest holder 204; and mounting the above assembly to the frame 201.

This said rider's footrest assembly 200 structure can be used for a disc brake version or without disc brake version motorcycle.

In one implementation the secondary bracket 206 is formed integral with the rider's footrest holder 204.

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 claims.

We Claim:

1. A rider's footrest assembly structure 200 for a motorcycle mounted to a vehicle body frame 201 comprising:
a rider's footrest 202;

a brake pedal 203;

a rider's footrest holder 204 having rider's footrest 202 and brake pedal 203 mounted thereon and the rider's footrest holder 204 is mounted to the vehicle body frame 201;

a secondary bracket 206 attached separately to the rider's footrest holder 204; and

a rear master cylinder 205 mounted to the secondary bracket 206.

2. The rider's footrest assembly 200 as claimed in claim1, wherein the rider's footrest holder 204 is provided with a boss to support swing arm axle.

3. A method of assembling a rider's footrest assembly 200 comprising the steps of:

bolting a rear master cylinder 205 to a secondary bracket 206;

fixing the rear master cylinder 205 and secondary bracket assembly 206 on to a rider's footrest holder 204; and mounting the above assembly to the frame 201.

4. The rider's footrest assembly 200 as claimed in claim1, wherein the secondary bracket 206 can also formed integral to the rider's footrest holder 204.

5. A rider's footrest assembly structure 200 as substantially shown and described in the specification.