Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A shock absorber mounting assembly (100) for a vehicle (10), comprising:
a casing (40) for receiving an engine of the vehicle (10), the casing (40) having at least a first mounting provision (44) on an outer wall (42); and
a mounting bracket configured (200) to have: at least a first mounting aperture, the first mounting aperture being received by the first mounting provision (44) for mounting the mounting bracket (200) on the casing (40), and a shock absorber mounting aperture for receiving a bottom end (50b) of a rear shock absorber (50) of the vehicle (10) for mounting the rear shock absorber (50) to the casing (40).

2. The shock absorber mounting assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing (40) extends from a front end (40a) to a rear end (40b) in a vehicle front rear direction (F-R) and comprises the first mounting provision (44) on the rear end (40b).

3. The shock absorber mounting assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing (40) comprises a second mounting provision (46) on the rear end (40b), the second mounting provision (46) being disposed in a spaced apart manner from the first mounting provision (44).

4. The shock absorber mounting assembly (100) as claimed in claims 1 or 3, wherein the first mounting provision (44) comprises a first mounting hole (44a) and the second mounting provision (46) comprises a second mounting hole (46a).

5. The shock absorber mounting assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket (200) comprises a semi-tubular body (210) extending from a first end (212) to a second end (214), the semi-tubular body (210) thereby having a pair of opposing side walls (210a, 210b), whereby the first end (212) extends into a pair of emulated ledges (216a, 216b), the ledges (216a, 216b) being substantially perpendicular to the semi-tubular body (210).

6. The shock absorber mounting assembly (100) as claimed in claims 1 or 5, wherein each of the pair of ledges (216a, 216b) comprises the first mounting aperture (218a, 218b) made therethrough.

7. The shock absorber mounting assembly (100) as claimed in claims 1 or 6, wherein the first mounting apertures (218a, 218b) are aligned with the first mounting provision (44) in order to receive a fixating means (300a) for affixing the mounting bracket (200) on the casing (40).

8. The shock absorber mounting assembly (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second end (214) of the mounting bracket (200) comprises a second mounting aperture (220a, 220b) on each of the side walls (210a, 210b).

9. The shock absorber mounting assembly (100) as claimed in claims 3 or 8, wherein the second mounting apertures (220a, 220b) are aligned with the second mounting provision (46) in order to receive a fixating means (300b) for affixing the mounting bracket (200) on the casing (40).

10. The shock absorber mounting assembly (100) as claimed in claims 1 or 5, wherein each of the opposing side walls (210a, 210b) at the first end (212) of the mounting bracket (200) comprises the shock absorber mounting aperture (222a, 222b) made therethrough.

11. The shock absorber mounting assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom end (50b) of the rear shock absorber (50) comprises a bottom mounting hoop (50b’).

12. The shock absorber mounting assembly (100) as claimed in claims 10 or 11, wherein the bottom mounting hoop (50b’) of the rear shock absorber (50) is aligned with the shock absorber mounting apertures (222a, 222b) in order to receive a fixating means (300c) for affixing the rear shock absorber (50) to the mounting bracket (200) and thereby mounting the rear shock absorber (50) to the casing (40).

, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to a shock absorber mounting assembly in a saddle-type vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Conventional scooter type vehicles have an engine cum transmission system in place of a swing arm whereby the transmission system extends rearwards in a vehicle front-rear direction. Accordingly, rear wheel of the vehicle is rotatably mounted on an output shaft of the transmission, thereby propelling the vehicle in a forward direction based on rotation of the output shaft.
[003] Shock absorbers are vital to any vehicle. The shock absorbers dampen deleterious effects of sudden bumps, jerks, unanticipated potholes, and bad road conditions. Thus, vehicles are fitted with a pair of shock absorbers in front of the vehicle and a pair of shock absorbers at rear of the vehicle. The rear shock absorbers are generally mounted on rear swing arms of the vehicle. In the scooter type vehicle, since the engine is in place of the rear swing arms, the rear shock absorber is mounted on the engine. This is done by having a mounting provision on a casing of the engine. Thus, one end of the rear shock absorber is mounted on a rear rail and another end of the shock absorber is directly mounted on the mounting provision of the casing.
[004] It is known that the saddle-type vehicles have different types of engine configurations. Hence, each type of the saddle-type vehicle has a different kind of engine. Each type of the engine requires a unique casing. The casing receives the engine of the vehicle and protects it from external damaging factors.
[005] Further, considering customer needs, vehicle type, target market, aesthetic factors, etc., different saddle-type vehicles have different main frame shapes. Thus, mounting locations of the rear shock absorbers on the different main frames also differs substantially. Depending on the mounting location of the rear shock absorber on the main frame, the mounting location of the shock absorber on the engine casing will differ as well.
[006] Therefore, each type of engine casing requires a unique mold and involves an individual manufacturing process. Thus, manufacturing a different casing for each type of vehicle becomes a highly const intensive, time intensive and an arduous task, based on two major variables – engine type; and location of the mounting provision for mounting the rear shock absorber on the casing.
[007] Thus, there is a need in the art for a shock absorber mounting assembly which addresses at least the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[008] The present invention is directed to a shock absorber mounting assembly for a vehicle. The shock absorber mounting assembly has a casing for receiving an engine of the vehicle, the casing having at least a first mounting provision on an outer wall. The shock absorber mounting assembly further has a mounting bracket configured to have: at least a first mounting aperture, the first mounting aperture being received by the first mounting provision for mounting the mounting bracket on the casing, and a shock absorber mounting aperture for receiving a bottom end of a rear shock absorber of the vehicle for mounting the rear shock absorber to the casing.
[009] In an embodiment of the invention, the casing extends from a front end to a rear end in a vehicle front rear direction and has the first mounting provision on the rear end.
[010] In an embodiment, the casing has a second mounting provision on the rear end, the second mounting provision being disposed in a spaced apart manner from the first mounting provision.
[011] In another embodiment of the invention, the first mounting provision has a first mounting hole, and the second mounting provision has a second mounting hole. In yet another embodiment, the mounting bracket has a semi-tubular body extending from a first end to a second end, the semi-tubular body thereby having a pair of opposing side walls, whereby the first end extends into a pair of emulated ledges, the ledges being substantially perpendicular to the semi-tubular body.
[012] In a further embodiment of the invention, each of the pair of ledges has the first mounting aperture made therethrough.
[013] In yet another embodiment, the first mounting apertures are aligned with the first mounting provision in order to receive a fixating means for affixing the mounting bracket on the casing.
[014] In an embodiment of the invention, the second end of the mounting bracket has a second mounting aperture on each of the side walls.
[015] In another embodiment of the invention, the second mounting apertures are aligned with the second mounting provision in order to receive a fixating means for affixing the mounting bracket on the casing.
[016] In a further embodiment, each of the opposing side walls at the first end of the mounting bracket has the shock absorber mounting aperture made therethrough. In yet another embodiment, the bottom end of the rear shock absorber has a bottom mounting hoop.
[017] In another embodiment of the invention, the bottom mounting hoop of the rear shock absorber is aligned with the shock absorber mounting apertures in order to receive a fixating means for affixing the rear shock absorber to the mounting bracket and thereby mounting the rear shock absorber to the casing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[018] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 shows a left side view of a main frame assembly of a saddle-type motor vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2a shows a left side view of a shock absorber mounting assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2b shows a top perspective view of the shock absorber mounting assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 shows an exploded view of a top perspective view of the shock absorber mounting assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4a shows a side view of a mounting bracket in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4b shows a perspective view of a mounting bracket in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[019] The present invention relates to a shock absorber mounting assembly for a saddle-type vehicle.
[020] Figure 1 shows a right-side view of a vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 is a two-wheeler motorcycle having a main frame assembly. On front side, the main frame assembly has a head tube 20 which receives steering shaft 30. The steering shaft 30 has a steering handle 32 for maneuvering the vehicle. The steering handle 32 has a pair of rear-view mirrors 34 (only one shown). Further, the steering shaft has a pair of front suspensions 36 (only one shown) which are connected to a front wheel 38.
[021] The main frame further has a main tube 22 extending downwards and rearwards from the head tube 20 in a vehicle front rear direction F-R. The main tube 22 travels longitudinally rearwards forming a support for a floorboard 24 before sloping upwards. The main frame further has a pair of seat rails 26 (only one shown) which support a seat for seating two persons. The vehicle 10 has a casing 40 which receives an engine thus enclosing and protecting the engine. The engine is thus swingably disposed and coupled with a rear wheel 28.
[022] Towards rear side, the vehicle 10 has a shock absorber mounting assembly 100. The shock absorber mounting assembly 100 has one or more rear shock absorbers 50. The rear shock absorber 50 extends between a top end 50a and a bottom end 50b (shown in Figures 2a and 2b). In an embodiment, the top end 50a of the shock absorber 50 has a top mounting hoop 50a’ (shown in Figures 2a, and 2b) and the bottom end 50b of the shock absorber 50 has a bottom mounting hoop 50b’. Thus, the top end 50a of the rear shock absorber 50 is mounted to a rear portion of the seat rail 26, whereas the bottom end 50b of the shock absorber 50 is mounted on a rear region of the engine 40.
[023] Referring to Figures 2a and 2b, according to the invention, the casing 40 of the engine has an inner wall 41 an outer wall 42. The inner wall 41 of the casing 40 faces the engine, while the outer wall 42 defines an outer periphery of the casing 40. According to the invention, the casing 40 has at least a first mounting provision 44 on the outer wall 42. In an embodiment of the invention, the casing 40 extends from a front end 40a to a rear end 40b in the vehicle front-rear direction F-R. In the same embodiment, the casing 40 has the first mounting provision 44 on the rear end 40b of the outer wall 42. In another embodiment of the invention, and as shown in Figure 3, the casing 40 has a second mounting provision 46 on the rear end 40b. The first mounting provision 44 is spaced apart from the second mounting provision 46. Referring yet to Figure 3, in an embodiment, the first mounting provision 44 has a first mounting hole 44a and the second mounting provision 46 has a second mounting hole 46a.
[024] Referring now to Figures 4a, and 4b, the shock absorber mounting assembly 100 of the present invention has a mounting bracket 200. The mounting bracket 200 is configured to be mounted on the rear end 40b of the casing 40. In an embodiment of the invention, the mounting bracket 200 has a semi-tubular body 210. The semi-tubular body 210 extends from a first end 212 to a second end 214. Since the body 210 of the mounting bracket 200 is semi-tubular, the body 210 thus has a pair of opposing side walls 210a, 210b (shown in Figure 4b). In the same embodiment, and as seen in the Figures 4a and 4b, the each of the opposing side walls 210, 210b at the first end 212 of the mounting bracket 200 extend into emulated ledges 216a, 216b. In an embodiment, the emulated ledges 216a, 216b extending out of the first end 212 are substantially perpendicular to the semi-tubular body 210 of the mounting bracket 200.
[025] According to the present invention, the mounting bracket 200 has a first mounting aperture. For mounting the mounting bracket 200 on the casing 40, the first mounting aperture on the mounting bracket 200 is received by the first mounting provision 44 of the casing 40. In an embodiment of the invention, and as shown in Figure 4b, each of the emulated ledges 216a, 216b has a first mounting aperture 218a, 218b made therethrough respectively. In the present embodiment, the first mounting apertures 218a, 218b are emulated. Thus, as explained above, and as shown in Figure 3, the first mounting apertures 218a, 218b are aligned with the first mounting hole 44a of the first mounting provision 44 of the casing 40. The first mounting apertures 218a, 218b and the first mounting hole 44a receive fixating means 300a. Thus, the mounting bracket 200 is affixed to the casing 40 at the first end 210. In an embodiment, the fixating means 300a are including but not limited to, screws, nuts, bolts, etc.
[026] In an embodiment of the invention, the mounting bracket 200 is affixed to the casing 40 at the second end 214 as well. Thus, as shown in Figure 4b, each of the opposing side walls 210a, 210b of the semi-tubular body 210 of the mounting bracket 200 has a second mounting aperture 220a, 220b made therethrough respectively. In the present embodiment, the second mounting apertures 220a, 220b are emulated. Thus, as shown in Figure 3, in an embodiment, the second mounting apertures 220a, 220b are aligned with the second mounting hole 46a of the second mounting provision 46 of the casing 40. The second mounting apertures 220a, 220b and the second mounting hole 46a receive fixating means 300b. Thus, the mounting bracket 200 is affixed to the casing 40 at the second end 220 as well and is detachably mounted on the casing 40. In an embodiment, the fixating means 300b are including but not limited to, screws, nuts, bolts, etc.
[027] According to the present invention, the mounting bracket 200 has a shock absorber mounting aperture. The shock absorber mounting aperture receives the bottom end 50b of the rear shock absorber 50 for mounting the rear shock absorber 50 to the casing 40. In an embodiment as shown in Figures 4a and 4b, at the first end 212 of the mounting bracket 200, each of the opposing side walls 210a, 210b of the semi-tubular body 210 has a shock absorber mounting aperture 222a, 222b made therethrough. In the present embodiment, the shock absorber mounting apertures 222a, 222b are emulated.
[028] Thus, as shown in Figure 3, in an embodiment, the shock absorber mounting apertures 222a, 222b are aligned with the bottom mounting hoop 50b’ of the bottom end 50b of the shock absorber 50. Accordingly, the shock absorber mounting apertures 222a, 222b and the bottom mounting hoop 50b’ receive fixating means 300c. Thus, rear shock absorber 50 is mounted on the mounting bracket 200 which is detachably mounted on the casing 40. In an embodiment, the fixating means 300c are including but not limited to, screws, nuts, bolts, etc.
[029] Advantageously, due to the present invention, the rear shock absorber is not directly mounted on the engine casing. In fact, the rear shock absorber is mounted on the shock absorber mounting bracket. Although there is an addition of a part, however, owing to this feature, the casings for all the engines can have a universally configuration, thereby having mounting provisions on the outer wall of the casing for receiving the mounting bracket. This saves all extra costs, time, and labour required in making different engine casings for different types of engines, making the casing of the present invention a candidate of bulk manufacturing. Further, the mounting bracket, more particularly, the shock absorber mounting aperture on the mounting bracket may be oriented and configured as per disposition of the rear shock absorber. Manufacturing separate mounting brackets is manifold cost effective as compared to manufacturing a unique engine casing for each type of engine.
[030] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.