Seat Base Structure for a Motorcycle

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a motorcycle, more particularly a modified seat base plate structure that maintains adequate storage capacity of a storage member disposed below the seat.

Background to the invention

A scooter type motorcycle normally has a structure in which a storage box is disposed above an engine unit that is supported by a body frame. The storage box has a size that is sufficient to store a helmet. In addition, a seat that opens and closes the storage box is also disposed above the engine unit. Moreover, a body cover covers the periphery of the body frame.

However, in contemporary usage, a structure is adopted in which the large sized storage box and the seat that opens and closes the storage box are disposed above the engine unit. As a result, the seat height tends to be higher.

In addition, the base plate of the seat is kept flat in the direction of the vehicle; as a result, the space beneath the seat used as storage space is reduced to a corresponding extent.

The invention has been devised in light of the above-described circumstances, and it is an object thereof to provide a motorcycle that easily allows a rider to straddle while maintaining adequate storage capacity of a storage member, providing a low seat height.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a motorcycle comprising: an object storage member disposed above the engine unit; and a seat adapted to open and close the object storage member characterized a seat base plate and a seat cushion disposed above the seat base plate, wherein width of a front section of the seat base plate is less than rear section of the seat base plate.

Further, the said seat base plate is having two portions viz. contour portion and middle portion. The height of the contour portion of the said seat base plate progressively increases from rear portion to the front portion in the vehicle direction.

In another aspect of the present invention, the height of the middle portion of the said seat base plate progressively increases from rear portion to the front portion in the vehicle direction such that the ratio between average height of the contour to the average height of the middle portion of the said seat base plate at the front portion in the vehicle direction is kept at least 2:3. 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 motor vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seat base plate according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the seat base plate according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of Drawings

Embodiments 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 seat base plate structure 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 (or object storage member) 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.

The utility box has a length that is large enough to extend along roughly the entire length of the front-rear direction dimension of the seat. An opening of the utility box is positioned at a location that is higher than the rear frame tubes and the seat rails.

The utility box can be opened and closed by opening and closing seat at the rear side in the vehicle direction.

The seat includes a main seat on which the rider sits, a tandem seat on which a rear passenger sits.

The main seat has a structure including a seat cushion that is disposed on top of a seat base plate, and a surface layer that covers the seat cushion. The tandem seat is formed separately from the main seat, and, in a similar manner to above, has a structure that includes a seat cushion disposed on a seat base plate and a surface layer that covers the seat cushion.

The said seat base plate is formed with a bowl like shape that bulges upwards from the opening of the storage box (as shown in figure 2). As a result, the storage capacity of the storage box is made larger.

The present invention provides a motorcycle comprising: an object storage member disposed above the engine unit; and a seat adapted to open and closes the object storage member characterized a seat base plate and a seat cushion disposed above the seat base plate, wherein width of a front section of the seat base plate is less than rear section of the seat base plate (shown in figure 2).

Further, the said seat base plate is having two portions contour portion and middle portion. The height of the contour portion of the said seat base plate is progressively increasing from rear portion to the front portion in the vehicle direction.

The height of the middle portion of the said seat base plate is progressively increasing from rear portion to the front portion in the vehicle direction such that the ratio between average height of the contour to the average height of the middle portion of the said seat base plate at the front portion in the vehicle direction is kept at least 2:3.

Thus, the invention provides a motorcycle that easily allows a rider to straddle while maintaining adequate storage capacity of a storage member, providing a low seat height.

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 motorcycle comprising:

a object storage member disposed above the engine unit;

a seat adapted to open and close the object storage member; and

a seat base plate having a contour portion and middle portion,

wherein the width of front section of the seat base plate is less than rear section of the seat base plate;

wherein the height of the contour portion of the seat base plate progressively increases from rear portion to the front portion in the vehicle direction; and

wherein the middle portion of the seat base plate progressively increases from rear portion to the front portion in the vehicle direction.

2. The motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ratio between the average height of the said contour portion to the average height of the said middle portion of the said seat base plate at the front portion is preferably two is to three.