FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a mud deflector for a scooter type vehicle and more particularly to a mud deflector for a steering race set of the scooter type vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In existing scooter type vehicles, rear part of front fender is generally smaller than the front part. During wheel rotation mud, water etc. will be splashing in around the wheel assembly and nearby parts.Due to smaller size of rear part of front fender, mud is splashed on upper surface of said rear part. During high speed rotation of wheel, splashed mud reaches to the steering race set mounted above front fender.

Due to entry and deposition of mud, water etc. in race set, concerned area gets rusted or damaged over a period causing stuck up of race set thereby leading to hard steering movement of the front fork. This can lead to unsafe driving. To avoid issues mentioned above size of said rear part of front fender cannot be increased due to vehicle packaging constraints. Some existing solutions for said issues include integrated projection on rear part of front fender to prevent mud entry into race set.Even though mentioned solution is an effective solution to this issue, however it results in complex design or tooling. Further it increases part weight and production time. In order to overcome drawbacks mentioned above, an easy to incorporate and manufacture solution is required for the scooter type vehicles having steering race set in the lower part of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 
Main objective of present invention is to provide a mud deflector for a steering race set of a scooter type vehicle. Said mud deflector is mounted on the top portion of the front fender i.e. joining bracket of the front and rear portion of the front fender. This mud deflector is protecting steering race set of the scooter from the splashed mud and water coming from rear side of the front wheel. This mud deflector is an open structure, which has a primary surface multiple secondary surfaces. Said secondary surfaces are extending away from the vertical edges of the primary surface. One of the secondary surfaces has a relief provided for the brake cable such that damage from vertical to and fro motion of the brake cable can be prevented.

Multiple numbers of mounting hooks are fixed with the lower horizontal edge of the primary surface. Said mounting hooks are linked to the corresponding mounting locations provided on the joining bracket of the front fender.

Summary provided above explains the basic features of the invention and does not limit the scope of the invention. Additional detailed information related to the enablement of the invention will be provided in the detailed description and accompanying claims. Scope of the invention shall be based on the claims provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawing(s). Provided drawings are incorporated in and constitute embodiments of the invention and illustrates several aspects of the invention and together with a description of the embodiments serve to explain the principles of the invention. Drawings given below are provided to support the description of the invention and are not limiting the scope of the present invention. A brief description of the drawing is as follows:
 
Figure 1 is showing a scooter in order to present its different structural embodiments.

Figure 2 is the side view of the front part of the scooter depicting the details of the existing prior art.

Figure 3 to Figure 6 are depicting essential embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 is showing the mounting and constructional details of the claimed invention.

Figure 8 is depicting an essential embodiment and constructional feature of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that best enabling arrangements of the invention can be explained through all possible embodiments and examples of it. The invention may have application to all kind of motor vehicles. Referring to Figure 1 a scooter type vehicle 100 is shown, which can be divided into a front part F and a rear part R. Embodiments of the front F and rear part R of the scooter 100 are mounted over a frame (not shown in figure) structure such that centre part of the frame is defining a step through space 106 of the scooter 100.

Front part F of the scooter 100 has a steering assembly 101 fixed with the front fork assembly 105. Mentioned steering assembly 101 is covered with the front panel 102 and front fork assembly 105 is covered with the front fender 103 of the scooter 100. Said front fender 103 is mounted over the front wheel 104 of the scooter 100 and front fork assembly 105 is mounted at the axle 117 of said front wheel 104.

Further on the rear part R of the scooter 100 rear end of the frame is sidewise covered by side panels 110 of the scooter. Seat 112 is fixed over the rear part R of the frame such that seat 112 is fixed over the space created by the side panel 110 mounting in the scooter 100. A tail lamp assembly 111 is mounted on the rear most side of the scooter 100 such that it is connected with the upper rear part of the side panels 110 of the scooter 100.

An engine (not shown in the figure) is mounted on the rear part R of the scooter 100 which is covered by the side panels 110. Power from said engine is transmitted to the rear wheel 108 through the transmission assembly 109.

Further Figure 2 is showing side view of front part F of the scooter 100 in order to explain the issues related to the existing prior art. As shown in Figure 2 front fork assembly 105 is fixed with the steering tube 113 through connecting bracket 115. Said front fork assembly 105 is fixed with axle 117 of the front wheel 104 at the lower end. Said axle 117 is connecting front fork assembly 105 and front brake assembly 114 with the front wheel 104.

Front fender (front and rear) 103, 103r are joined with each other on its top portion through a joining bracket 103k Mentioned connecting bracket 115 is fixed above the joining bracket 103t and connecting front fork assembly 105 and steering tube 113 through front fender unit 103.

A race set 118 is fixed above the connecting bracket 115 such that it is housed between the steering tube 113 and connecting bracket 115. Due to smaller size of rear part 103r of front fender 103, mud is splashed on upper surface of said rear part 103r. During high speed movement of the vehicle, said splashed mud reaches to the race set 118 mounted above front fender 103. Due to entry and deposition of mud, water etc. in race set, concerned area gets rusted or damaged over a period, causing stuck up of race set thereby leading to hard steering movement of the front fork.

As shown in Figure 3 to Figure 8, in order to improve above mentioned issues a mud deflector 116 is mounted over the top portion of the front fender 103 i.e. joining bracket 103t of the front 103 and rear 103r portion of the front fender 103. As shown, this mud deflector 116 is protecting steering race set 118 of the scooter 100 from the splashed mud and water coming from rear side of the front wheel 108. Claimed mud deflector 116 is an open structure, which has a primary surface 116d and multiple secondary surfaces (116dl, 116d2).Said secondary surfaces (116dl, 116d2) can be classified into a first secondary surface 116dl and a second secondary surface 116d2. Mentioned primary surface 116d is defined by an upper horizontal edge Hu, a lower horizontal edge HI and two vertical side edges V.

As shown, said secondary surfaces (116dl, 116d2) are extending away from the vertical edges V of the primary surface 116d. Mentioned second secondary surface 116d2 has a relief 116a provided for clearance C to the brake cable 118, such that damage from vertical to and fro motion of the brake cable 118 can be prevented.Said clearance relief 116a is extending downwards from the upper horizontal edge Hu and extends along the secondary surface (116dl/116d2) forming atleast one partial arc like structure.

Referring back to Figure 8, mounting arrangement for claimed mud deflector 116 is described. As shown multiple mounting hooks 116b, 116c are fixed with the lower horizontal edge HI of the primary surface 116d. Said mounting hooks 116b, 116c are linked to the corresponding mounting locations 103b, 103c provided on the joining bracket 103t of the front fender 103.

Described arrangement for mud defector 116 prevents entry of mud or water into the race set 118 mounted between steering tube 113 and the connecting bracket 115. This mud deflector 116 is mounted behind the race set 118 and is covering it in a semi-circular form and stops water or mud splashed by centrifugal force generated around front wheel 104. Said mud deflector can also be of arc shapes like 3 or c or it can be of bracket shape like [or can be a partially bent bracket, or any other shape suitable for vehicle manufacturing requirement.

Further, any other modifications regarding mounting arrangement or embodiment designs in the claimed subject matter can be adapted without deviating from the field of the invention.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS

A scooter type vehicle comprising a steering assembly with a front fork assembly through a connecting bracket such that lower end of the front fork assembly is coupled with an axle of a front wheel and a front fender is covering the front wheel wherein a race set is mounted on the front fender, between a steering tube of the steering assembly and the connecting bracket, characterized in that a mud deflector is mounted over the front fender and behind the race set wherein said mud deflector comprises a primary surface and a plurality of secondary surfaces such that primary surface defines a plurality of horizontal edge and a plurality of vertical edges and said plurality of secondary surfaces extends away from the plurality of vertical edges and wherein said plurality of secondary surface atleast a clearance relief for cable routing for the scooter type vehicle.
The scooter type vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front fender defines a front part, a rear part and a joining bracket such that the front part is connected with the rear part through the jointing bracket.

The scooter type vehicle, as claimed in claim 2, wherein mud deflector is mounted over the joining bracket. The scooter type vehicle, as claimed in claim 2, wherein mud deflector is forming a partially bent bracket like structure.

The scooter type vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primary surface defines an upper horizontal edge and a lower horizontal edge such that lower horizontal edge is fixed with the joining bracket.

The scooter type vehicle, as claimed in claim 1 and claim 4, wherein the clearance relief is extending downwards from the upper horizontal edge and extends along the secondary surface forming atleast one partial arc like structure.
 
The scooter type vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mud deflector is mounted on the joining bracket through a plurality of mounting means.

The scooter type vehicle, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the mounting means defines atleast one mounting hook in the mud deflector and atleast one mounting location in the joining bracket such that the mounting hook is coupled with the mounting location.