Side cover structure for scooter type motorcycle

Field of invention

The present invention relates to "Side cover structure for a scooter type motorcycle" and more particularly to a metal side covers for a scooter type motorcycle.

Brief description of the prior art

In the conventional scooter type motorcycle having a swing ably mounted engine, almost all the operating systems such as engine, exhaust, etc. are arranged inside the body of the vehicle. This is covered by a side cover structure that acts both as covering as well as a protecting device. In the known design of side covers, they are typically multi structure parts mounted on the frame wherein the seat is hinged and below which a utility box is present. In such arrangements, side covers L (left) and R (right) sides along with an under cowl is provided which are typically made of plastic materials. Thus if there is any damage on the said side covers, it requires compete replacement of the plastic covers, which is a too costly proposition. In order to overcome this problem, sheet metal covers are used in place of plastic parts in some of the known vehicles. In the event of any damage, minor repair can be done involving less cost. In the nearest prior art, such designs comprises of two metal side covers of U shaped spot welded in the under cowl portion below the seat. In this arrangement, the whole structure is hinged into the bottom part of the frame and acts as a bonnet that has to be lifted for servicing the engine.
However the size of the side covers is too big and heavy and hence the tool cost for manufacturing is more. And, since the two side covers are matched and spot-welded, the spots are visible outside which over a period of time gets corroded resulting in noise and vibration. Further the surface of the side cover structure is large and hence the painting cost also is increased. Also in the event of any damage to the sheet metal body, the total structure needs to be overhauled and repaired, which makes the job considerably difficult. Hence the objective of the invention is to address the above said lacunas in the prior art having single metallic side cover structure. Another objective of the present invention is to provide side covers that can be easily dismantled for servicing the engine.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide metal side cover structure that can be easily mended with plastic parts for better damping against vibration and better aesthetics.

Another objective of the present invention is to reduce the overall weight of the side cover structure.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide design flexibility of having metallic side covers matching with under cowl or with other side panels having different shades to improve overall appearance of the vehicle.

Brief description of the invention

A scooter type motorcycle has a main frame extending along the center of the body before and behind and made of a metallic pipe. A swing type power unit is coupled to the rear end of the main frame. A rear wheel is supported on one side of the rear end of the swing type power unit. The swing type power unit is suspended in the rear of a body frame. The center of the scooter body forms a low floor board for functioning as a part for putting feet and a under cowl is located below the rider's seat and covers at least front part of the engine. A utility box 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(s) can be housed. The utility box opens from the rear end to hinged portion. The side covers both on left (L) and right (R) sides of the scooter, covers the utility box and other parts of the vehicle, thereby providing a good aesthetics to the vehicle. In the proposed embodiment, a side cover structure array is provided with a pair of metal side covers preferably made of steel on either side of the wheel frame, a rear fuel tank flanking cover preferably of plastic and an under cowl preferably of plastic clamped to the said side covers and the foot board. Here the metallic side cover imbibes a variable profiled contour pattern of various depths both laterally as well as longitudinally in the vehicle direction such that sufficient strength and stiffness is obtained. Moreover, a beading structure almost throughout is imbibed in the metallic side cover profile of the side cover structure which provides sufficient strength, stiffness to the said cover as well as operational safety during handling. The said beading structure is further mended in the total structure wherein the profile is optimized to suit the strength requirements for different portions of the structure. Another improvement in the present invention is with respect to congruity of the different embodiments viz. plastic rear fuel tank flanks and the plastic under cowl such that they are severable integrated unit.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 illustrates the side view of a scooter type motorcycle.

Figure 2 illustrates the perspective view of the right side cover mounting.

Figure 3 illustrates the perspective view of the left side cover mounting.

Figure 4 illustrates the perspective view of the real fuel tank cover.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention describes a side cover mounting structure array provided with a pair of metal side covers preferably made of steel on either side of the wheel frame, a rear fuel tank flanking cover and an under cowl clamped to the said side covers and the foot board.
Figure 1 illustrates the side view of a concerned scooter type motorcycle wherein all the embodiments viz. left side cover mounting, right side cover mounting, rear fuel tank cover and an under cowl.

Scooter-type vehicles, or scooters, include a frame assembly, which usually supports the body of a scooter, along with front and rear wheels. A frame assembly for a scooter-type vehicle comprises of at least one front wheel, at least one rear wheel and a vehicle body.

Typically, a frame structure 101 for a scooter type motorcycle comprises a main frame and may also have a sub-frame. The sub-frame is attached to the main frame using appropriate fastening members. All the other components such as the body panels 109, the engine 102, the electrical units are mounted on the main frame and the sub frame either directly or by means of brackets and fastening members.

The frame assembly includes a head tube, which supports a front wheel suspension assembly 103 of the vehicle. An upper frame extends from the head tube to a rearward end of the vehicle body. A swing arm 104 is pivotally supported by the upper frame and supports a rear wheel of the vehicle. The frame assembly may include a lower frame removable coupled to the upper frame and defining a space 107 there between.

The sub-frame preferably supports at least one component of the scooter-type vehicle in the space, such as a fuel tank, for example.

Typically, front 103 and rear 104 suspension assemblies are operatively positioned between the front and rear wheels and the frame assembly. The front suspension assembly commonly is a telescopic fork arrangement, while the rear suspension assembly is a swing type arrangement. In a scooter, the rear suspension swing arm typically supports a power unit 102, which is configured to drive the rear wheel of the scooter.
The power unit 102, is coupled along with a transmission assembly 108, such as a drive shaft, drive belt, or chain and sprocket assembly.

The frame assembly 101 of a scooter-type vehicle is an elongated structure, which typically extends from a forward end to a rearward end of the scooter. A scooter frame assembly generally is convex in shape, as viewed from a side elevational view. A handlebar assembly 105 and a seat assembly 106 are supported at opposing ends of the frame assembly and a generally open area is defined there between.

Accordingly, the open area between the handlebar assembly and the seat assembly allows the scooter to be easily straddled, or mounted, as opposed to a typical motorcycle, wherein a motorcycle fuel tank occupies the space between the handlebar assembly and the seat assembly. Such an arrangement may be referred to as a "step-through" frame assembly.

Generally, a scooter frame assembly is constructed of a welded-up assembly of individual tubular members.

Typically, a central portion of the frame assembly includes a pair of upper tubes, and a pair of lower tubes. The individual pairs of upper and lower rails usually are aligned with one another in a vertical direction and spaced from one another in a lateral direction, with the pair of upper rails being spaced above the pair of lower

Figure 2 illustrates in detail the embodiments involved in right side cover mounting wherein the metal (preferably steel) is transmogrified to give a variable contour pattern 201 of various depths both laterally as well as longitudinally to the vehicle such that necessary stiffness is obtained. Moreover, a beading orientation 202 envelops the boundary of the majority of the structure. However the beading orientation 202 depends on the sectional requirement of the structure. For instance, here the beading orientation may be either single steeped 210 or double stepped 203. The upper portion 208 where in the beading pattern 202 remains constant from rear to front for at least two third of the structure and then makes way for slots 205 for utility box. The slot performs a dual function of holding utility box on one side and also supporting under cowl on the other side. The under cowl is also supported on slots 206. Moreover, the upper side 208 of the cover frame has a set of slots 204 wherein a bracket is fixed on it and subsequently the same bracket is attached to the frame. On the posterior side of the structure, there is a V shaped cut 207 out to house rear combination lamp and turn indicator. Here the beading pattern is essentially double stepped 203 to provide extra strength and stiffness. On the lower side of the side frame 209 a continuous single step beading is provided as shown in the drawing.

The same is mirrored in Figure 3 illustrating the left side cover mounting structure excepting a lock-mounting hole 301 that is provided on the left side of the metal side cover.

Figure 4 illustrates a rear fuel tank mounting cover wherein the slots 402 are mounted on the fuel tank cover and subsequently both are bolted to the frame. Moreover, slot 401 houses the bolt for mounting it on to the tail lamp.

Although the subject matter has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. As such, the spirit and the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiment contained therein.

Claims We claim:

1. A cover mounting structure array for a scooter type motorcycle wherein
it comprises

a pair of metal side covers mounted on either side of the vehicle frame;

a rear cover, flanking the fuel tank, clamped to the said side covers, mounted on the rear frame;

an under cowl, covering the engine and the associated parts, clamped to the said side covers, mounted on the foot board.

2. The metal side cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front bottom of the side cover is mounted on the floorboard and the rear bottom of the side cover is mounted on the frame through a bracket.

3. The metal side covers as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front top of the side cover is connected to the under cowl at a suitable position below the seat, so that the mounting structure as well as the under cowl forms a severable integrated unit.

4. The metal side cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear top of the side cover is connected to the frame at a suitable position near the rear fuel tank through a bracket.

5. The rear cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein it is mounted on the frame and it flanks the fuel tank such that the side covers and the rear fuel tank cover forms a severable integrated unit.

6. The metal side cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metal side cover imbibes a variable contour pattern of various depths both laterally as well as longitudinally to the vehicle such that necessary stiffness is obtained.

7. A metal side cover comprising a beading orientation wherein the said beading orientation envelops the boundary of the entire structure.

8. The metal side cover as claimed in claim 7, wherein the beading at the lower part of the cover progressively increases such that from one end to the other, the breadth ratio is at least 1:4.

9. A metal side cover comprising

an upper portion;

a middle portion;

a lower portion;

wherein a three dimensional contour pattern is engrossed both longitudinally and laterally over the entire structure;

wherein the beading pattern remains constant from rear to front for at least two third of the structure.

10. The upper portion as claimed in claim 9, wherein the beading pattern continues after making way for slot for utility box such that it increases progressively up to the frontal portion for accommodating slots for fixing the under cowl.