IMPROVED SEAT ASSEMBLY FOR TWO WHEELERS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a scooter type vehicle and more particularly to an improved structure of seat assembly for a scooter type vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One of the major benefits that a scooter type vehicle offers is that it provides a storage space to accommodate articles such as helmet, documents and the like. Generally, a utility box or a chamber is arranged below the rider's seat, wherein the utility box is coupled to the rider's seat by means of a hinge, such that the rider's seat serves as a cover for the utility box that is open able and close able. However, frequently a problem of lack of sufficient space in the utility box is encountered when a full face helmet is placed in the utility box and more particularly when articles like wallets, books, documents, folders and the like have to be accommodated along with the full faced helmet.

Typically three peripheral flanges are provided in the bottom side of the seat assembly to cover the peripheral edges of the utility box for avoiding theft of articles from the utility box. Besides the provision of flanges in the bottom side of the seat assembly, a major portion of space in the bottom side of the seat assembly goes unutilised. It is therefore desirable to make maximum utilisation of the space available in the bottom side of the seat assembly, so that articles like wallets, books, documents, folders and the like can be easily accommodated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved seat assembly construction, which includes a provision for holding articles like wallet, diary, documents, folders and the like after placing a full face helmet into the utility box.

The present subject matter described herein relates to a seat assembly of a scooter type vehicle, and particularly to an arrangement provided in the seat assembly for accommodating articles like wallet, diary, documents, folders and the like. Pursuant to the present invention, a pouch is fitted to a seat base of said seat assembly, in a space enclosed by peripheral flanges provided therein. The pouch is secured to the seat base of the seat assembly by means of plurality of lock clips. Firstly, the pouch is secured to the plurality of lock clips by inserting a string running through the periphery of the pouch, between the arms of the lock clips and pressing the two arms of the lock clips against each other. Thereafter, the plurality of lock clips holding the pouch are fastened to the seat base of said seat assembly by means of fasteners. Thus, the lock clips secure the pouch to the seat base of said assembly. Thus, the present arrangement of the article holding pouch in the seat base of said seat assembly enables complete utilization of the space beneath the seat assembly and above the utility box of the scooter type vehicle. Moreover, the profile and construction of the pouch is simple and the degree of design flexibility is also very high.

The nature and further characteristic features of the present invention will be made clearer from the following descriptions made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates a side view of typical scooter type vehicle with a utility box.
Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a typical seat assembly of a scooter type vehicle.
Figure 3 illustrates an article holding pouch secured to a press type lock clip according to the present invention.
Figure 4 illustrates a seat assembly provided with an article holding pouch according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of an improved seat assembly, with an arrangement for holding articles in accordance to the present invention will be described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings. Various features of the improved seat assembly in accordance to the present invention will become discernible from the following description set out hereunder. It is to be noted that terms "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "front", "rear, "downward", "upward", "top", "bottom" and like terms are used herein based on the illustrated state or in a standing state of the vehicle with a driver riding thereon. Furthermore, a longitudinal axis refers to a front to rear axis relative to the vehicle, while a lateral axis refers to a side to side, or left to right axis relative to the vehicle. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Figure 1 illustrates a typical scooter type vehicle 10 with a utility box 60, wherein said vehicle 10 comprises of a frame 20 supporting a power unit 30, a front wheel 40 and a rear wheel 70. A seat assembly 50 is adapted to accommodate a rider and a passenger. Further, the seat assembly 50 covers a utility box 60 positioned beneath the seat assembly 50 and wherein further, said utility box 60 has an upwardly facing access opening covered by said seat assembly 50. A lower portion of a periphery of the seat assembly 50 is covered by side cover(s) 80 on both sides thereof. A rear fender 90 is arranged beneath the side cover(s) 80 to cover an upper portion of the rear wheel 70. A foot board 85, on which the driver can place his or her feet, is arranged between the leg shield 75 and the side cover(s) 80.
Referring to Figure 2, a typical seat assembly for a scooter type vehicle' ■ will be explained. Figure 2 illustrates a typical seat assembly 50, wherein said seat assembly accommodates a rider and a single passenger. The seat assembly 50 is a single piece construction and includes a front portion 50a, a rear portion 50b, a top portion 50c and a bottom portion 50d. The seat assembly 50, in its bottom portion 50d, is comprised of a rigid backing piece, namely a seat base 5. A seat lock 8 is provided in the seat base 5 and is used to interlock the seat assembly 50 with an upstanding frame member (not shown in this figure). The utility box 60 provided beneath the seat assembly 50 is configured so as to accept an article such as a helmet 9. The seat base 5 is provided with a peripheral flange 11 extending on three sides of the seat base 5 such that the peripheral flange 11 covers the upper periphery of the utility box 60. Thus, the peripheral flange 11 encloses a space 12 in the seat base 5 from three sides.

Further, referring to Figures 3 and 4, the seat assembly configuration adapted to accommodate articles like wallet, documents, diary, folder etc will be explained.

Figure 3 illustrates an article holding pouch 101 secured by plurality of press type lock clip(s) 103, and the construction of the lock clip 103 respectively according to the present invention. The lock clip 103 having a U- shape and having two arms 108 and 109, is a press type lock clip, whose arms 108 and 109 can be pressed against each other to close the lock clip 103. A string 104 of the pouch 101 running along the periphery of the pouch 101 is held in the portion 110 connecting the two arms 108 and 109 of the lock clip 103. Thereafter, the two arms 108 and 109 of the lock clip 103 are pressed against each other to secure the string 104 of the

pouch 101. Slots 106 and 107 provided on the arms 108 and 109 respectively, of the lock clip 103 receive a fastener to mount the lock clip 103 to the seat assembly 50. The plurality of lock clips 103 securing the pouch 101 are fastened to the bottom portion 50c of the seat assembly 50 as explained in figure 4.
Figure 4 illustrates the seat assembly 50 adapted to accommodate articles such as wallet, documents, diary, folder and the like. The article holding pouch 101, whose string 104 is secured between the arms 108 and 109 of the plurality of lock clips 103 is fitted to the seat base 5 of said seat assembly 50, in the space 12 enclosed by the peripheral flange 11. The pouch 101 is secured to the seat base 5 by fastening the plurality of lock clips 103 to the fastening holes provided in the space 12 of the seat base 5 by means of fasteners. Thus, the article holding pouch 101 is mounted to the seat base 5 of the seat assembly 50. Further, the pouch 101 would be mounted to the seat base 5 of seat assembly 50 in such a way that the opening provided in the pouch 101 for inserting articles into the pouch would be facing the rear portion 50b of the seat assembly.

Further, when the seat assembly 50 is closed, the article holding pouch 101 would be located above the utility box 60 of the scooter type vehicle

Thus, the present invention aids in accommodating articles conveniently even after a full face helmet 9 has been placed in the utility box 60.

Moreover, the lock clips 103 help in securing the pouch 101 firmly to the seat base 5 of said seat assembly 50.

While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiment, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes in form, connection, and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims:

We Claim:

1. A seat assembly (50) for a scooter type vehicle (10) adapted to accommodate articles, said seat assembly (50) comprising: a front portion (50a), a rear portion (50b), a top portion (50c) and a bottom portion (50d), wherein the bottom portion (50d) includes a seat base (5) in the form of a rigid backing piece, characterized in that an article holding pouch (101) is fitted in a space (12) in the seat base (5) at the bottom portion (50d) of the seat assembly (50) of said scooter type vehicle (10).

2. The seat assembly (50) for a scooter type vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the space (12) in the seat base (5) is enclosed by a peripheral flange (11) extending on three sides of said seat base (5) thereof.

3. The seat assembly (50) for a scooter type vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the article holding pouch (101) is secured to the seat base (5) of said seat assembly (50) by means of plurality of lock clips (103).

4. The seat assembly (50) for a scooter type vehicle, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lock clip (103) is a U shaped press type lock clip having two arms (108 and 109) and two slots (106 and 107) provided on the two arms (108 and 109).

5. The seat assembly (50) for a scooter type vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the article holding pouch (101) is composed of a polymer.

6. A scooter type vehicle (10), comprising said seat assembly for scooter type vehicle according to claims 1 -5.