Side Cover Assembly for Motorcycle

Field of the Invention:

The present subject matter in general, relates to "Side Cover for Motorcycle" and more particularly relates to side cover mounting arrangements on to the motorcycle.

Background of the Invention:

One of the most popular designs of conventional motorcycles is composed of a motorcycle frame, a fuel tank disposed on the motorcycle frame, a drivers seat mounted
on the motorcycle frame, and an engine supported on the motorcycle frame below the fuel tank and the driver's seat. In this motorcycle design, a battery, an air cleaner and other motorcycle elements or components are normally positioned in the space below fuel tank and the driver's seat and behind the engine, and are laterally covered with a side cover.

The side covers are provided on both left and right side of the vehicle. In cases where the side cover is a single piece, a part of the side cover is painted and a part of it is textured, which leads to high manufacturing cost and operational time since the textured portion is masked and the remaining part is painted.

To overcome the said above problem, typically it is seen that the side cover is split into two parts. Generally one part of the side cover is painted and the other part is textured. The side cover upper part which is generally painted is mounted to the fuel tank on the front portion of the side cover upper part and is also mounted to the frame with the provisions on its rear portion. The side cover lower part which is textured is also mounted on to the frame of the motorcycle. Both the side cover

upper part and lower part is fixed to each other by fasteners and snap fits. In this kind of arrangement, it puts a limitation on the shape and size of the side cover. Since the side cover upper is mounted on the fuel tank, for every new shape side cover, a new fuel tank accommodating provision is required. Other problems associated with this arrangement are like flexing of the lower side cover, uneven gap between the side cover and fuel tank.

Therefore, there is a need for customization, in which a fairly easy and inexpensive process may be undertaken to customize the side cover upper part, keeping the side cover lower part intact.

Summary of the Invention:

The present invention has been achieved in an effort to solve the aforesaid drawbacks of the conventional side cover for motorcycle.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a side cover structure for use in motorcycle, which can be easily customized as per styling requirements, without involving modification to the side lower part of the side cover.

Another object of the present invention is to maintain proper uniform gap between the side cover upper part and fuel tank.

In another object of the present invention, an edge guide is provided in side cover upper and lower part to maintain uniform gap between the two and thereby avoiding flexing of the parts.

Further object of the invention is to provide a side cover which is cost effective in nature.

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

FIG. 1 is a conventional motorcycle.

FIG. 2 shows side cover assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows back side of side cover assembly according to the present invention.

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.

The subject matter of present invention relates to side cover for two wheelers. Further it is described with the help of a motorcycle.

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 carburettor (109), intake duct and an air cleaner. The exhaust system of the engine comprises of exhaust pipe and a muffler.

The motorcycle is provided with 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 present invention and referring to figure 2, the side cover assembly
is a two piece construction. A depending side cover (202) is mounted to the side
cover mounting panel (201). The said side cover mounting panel (201) acts as a
provision to mount the side cover (202). The side cover (202) is made fixed to the
side cover mounting panel (201) by means of snap fits and fasteners or any other
means known in the art.

Referring to figure 3, the said side cover mounting panel (201) is screwed to the frame of the motorcycle at two different locations (301, 302). The rear portion of the

side cover mounting panel (201) is provided with provisions to mount it to the frame of the motorcycle and a locator (303) is provided towards the front portion of the side cover mounting panel (201) which gets engaged to the fuel tank.

The said side cover assembly is provided on each side of the motorcycle frame in contiguous relation to the fuel tank by inserting locator (303) on the side cover mounting panel (201) to the fuel tank.

An edge guide is provided ir* the side cover (201) with a relief (305) in the side»cover mounting panel for connecting both these part. Further to explain it, the said cover mounting panel (201) is provided with a relief (305) to accommodate the corresponding projection (304) on the side cover, this acts as an edge guide , thereby maintaining a uniform gap between the two.

In this kind of arrangement the side panel assembly, having the side cover mounting panel fixed to the frame of the motorcycle, renders it easy to develop customized side cover for the motorcycle as per styling requirements.

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 side cover assembly for a two wheeler comprising:
a side cover mounting panel fixed to the frame of the vehicle; and
a depending side cover mounted to the side cover mounting panel;
wherein the side cover mounting panel has at least one locator on front
portion of side cover mounting panel to get inserted into fuel tank of the
vehicle;
wherein the side cover mounting panel has provision on the rear portion of the
side cover mounting panel to fix it to frame of the vehicle; and
wherein an edge guide is provided between the side cover mounting panel
and depending side cover.

2. The side cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said side cover assembly is disposed on both side of the vehicle.

3. The side cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said depending side cover is preferably fixed to the side cover mounting panel through snap fits.

4. The side cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said depending side cover is preferably fixed to the side cover mounting panel through fasteners.

5. The side cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said side cover mounting panel is provided with a relief to accommodate a corresponding projection on the depending side cover.