TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter described herein generally relates to a
saddle-type vehicle, and particularly but not exclusively relates to a tail lamp assembly for a saddle-type vehicle.
BACKGROUND ;
[0002] Typically, a tail lamp assembly including a tail lamp housing
i i
encompassing a tail lamp, a pair of winker lamps and a registration plate lamp is i
disposed in a rear portion of a saddle-type vehicle. Said tail lamp housing includes ■
a lens to cover the tail lamp, the pair of winker lamps and the registration plate I
lamp. Particularly, the tail lamp assembly is secured to a rear portion of a body
frame of the saddle-type vehicle through a tail lamp mounting bracket. Besides
aiding in securing the tail lamp assembly to the body frame of the saddle-type !
vehicle, said tail lamp mounting bracket also supports a top tail cover disposed
above the tail lamp assembly and accommodates at least a portion of a fuel tank
unit below a top portion of the tail lamp mounting bracket. Said top tail cover
encompasses a substantial portion of a fuel inlet in saddle type vehicles having a
rear fuel inlet for the fuel tank unit. Typically, a pillion handle extends behind the
top rear cover and above the tail lamp assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0003] The detailed description of the present subject matter is described
with reference to the accompanying figures. Same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference Like features and components.
[0004] Fig.l illustrates a left side view of a saddle-type vehicle in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0005] Fig.2a illustrates a detailed view of a rear portion of the saddle-
type vehicle depicting a tail lamp assembly as secured to a tail lamp mounting bracket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0006] Fig.2b illustrates an exploded view depicting mounting of the tail
lamp assembly to the tail lamp mounting bracket in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0007] Fig.3 illustrates a rear perspective view of a tail lamp assembly in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] Fig.4 illustrates an exploded view depicting parts of the tail lamp
housing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] Fig.5a illustrates a front perspective view of a deflector member of
said tail lamp housing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] Fig.5b illustrates a cross sectional view taken along a line B-B
shown in Fig.5a.
[0011] Fig.5c illustrates a cross sectional view taken along a line A-A in
Fig.2a depicting relative position of a deflector member of said tail lamp housing
with respect to a rear fender of the saddle-type vehicle in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] Fig.6 illustrates an isometric bottom view of the tail lamp housing
depicting routing of wires along a portion of the tail lamp housing in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Exemplary embodiments detailing features of said saddle-type
vehicle including a tail lamp housing and its construction, in accordance with the present subject matter will be described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings. Various aspects of different embodiments of the present subject matter will become discernible from the following description set out hereunder. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter. Further, it is to be noted that terms "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "front", "forward", "rearward", "downward", "upward", "top", "bottom" and like terms are used herein based on the illustrated state or in a standing state of the saddle-type vehicle with a driver sitting thereon unless otherwise elaborated. Furthermore, a longitudinal axis refers to a front to rear axis relative to the saddle-type vehicle,

defining a vehicle longitudinal direction; while a lateral axis refers to a side to
side, or left to right axis relative to said vehicle, defining a vehicle lateral
direction. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used
herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0014] Typically, in saddle type vehicles the tail lamp assembly is
disposed in a rear portion thereof. Particularly, the tail lamp assembly is secured
to a rear portion of a body frame of the saddle-type vehicle by means of a tail
lamp mounting bracket. More particularly, in saddle-type vehicles of the scooter
type, the tail lamp assembly as secured to the tail lamp mounting bracket is
disposed in a rear side of a fuel tank unit which is supported between a pair of rear
frames of a body frame of the saddle-type vehicle. More particularly, at least a
portion of the fuel tank unit supported between the pair of rear frames is held
below the tail lamp mounting bracket and at least a portion thereof is covered by a
top tail cover mounted to the tail lamp mounting bracket. Typically, the top tail
covers a portion surrounding a fuel inlet portion of the fuel tank unit of saddle- I
type vehicles having a rear fuel inlet provision. Further, the saddle-type vehicles
also typically have a pillion handle extending above the top tail cover.
[0015] Saddle-type vehicles having a rear fuel inlet provision are typically
faced with the problem of excess fuel flowing out of the rear fuel inlet and
entering the tail lamp assembly through gaps between the top tail cover and a cap
assembly of the rear fuel inlet. Fuel entry also occurs through gap existing
between the top tail cover and the pillion handle. Entry of fuel through said gaps
resulting in fuel spillage over the tail lamp housing damages parts of the tail lamp
assembly including the tail lamp, winker lamps, registration plate lamp, and
cables connecting the tail lamp, the winker lamps and the registration plate lamp
to a wiring harness caused damage to all parts of the tail lamp assembly.
Particularly, parts of the tail lamp assembly especially cables are subjected to
potential damage due to fuel spillage because of accumulation of fuel at a land
formed in the tail lamp housing for routing said cables. Also, parts of the tail lamp
assembly are prone to damage due to water entering through gap existing between

the top tail cover and the pillion handle. Water entry through said gap is common during water wash of the vehicle during servicing.
[0016] Besides damage due to fuel spillage, the cables connecting the tail
lamp, the winker lamps and the registration plate lamp are also prone to damage
due to squeezing force exerted by the tail lamp mounting bracket. Particularly,
said cables which are typically loosely routed in the tail lamp housing get pressed
by the tail lamp mounting bracket which is used for securing the tail lamp
assembly to the body frame; thereby affecting the performance of the tail lamp,
the winker lamps and that of the registration plate lamp. Moreover, in order to
ensure that said cables are not damaged due to squeezing by the tail lamp
mounting bracket, significant time is spent at the assembly line to make sure the
cables are not hanging towards the front, close to the tail lamp mounting bracket
and are tucked backwards towards the tail lamp housing. Thus, overall
productivity is affected during assembly of the tail lamp assembly.
[0017] Therefore, while there is a need to address problems relating to
damage of parts of the tail tamp assembly including the cables of the tail lamp assembly due to fuel spillage, there is also a need to address problems relating to damage of the cables due to squeezing of cables.
[0018] It is therefore desirable to address all the problems stated in the
background and other associated problems.
[0019] The present invention has been made in view of the above
circumstances.
[0020] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
saddle-type vehicle comprising a tail lamp assembly comprising a tail lamp housing designed for protection against fuel spillage.
[0021] It is another object of the present invention to provide a saddle-
type vehicle comprising a tail lamp assembly comprising a tail lamp housing
designed for preventing accumulation/stagnation of excess fuel therein.
[0022] It is another object of the present invention to provide a saddle-
type vehicle comprising a tail lamp assembly comprising a tail lamp housing

which is designed for protecting cables connected to a tail lamp, a pair of winker lamps and a registration plate lamp from damage.
[0023] It is one more object of the present invention to provide a saddle-
type vehicle comprising a tail lamp housing designed to enable ease of assembly of the tail lamp assembly.
[0024] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a saddle-
type vehicle comprising tail lamp housing designed to ease routing of cables emerging from the tail lamp, the pair of winker lamps and the registration plate lamp.
[0025] It is one more object of the present invention to provide a saddle-
type vehicle comprising tail lamp housing designed to ease serviceability of the registration plate lamp of the tail lamp assembly.
[0026] Accordingly, the above and other objects are achieved by
providing a saddle-type vehicle comprising a tail lamp assembly having a tail
lamp housing designed to protect parts of the tail lamp assembly from fuel
spillage while also protecting parts of the tail lamp assembly including cables
from damage due to squeezing by the tail lamp mounting bracket.
[0027] As per an aspect of the present invention, the tail lamp assembly is
provided with a tail lamp housing comprising a core member housing a tail lamp,
a pair of winker lamps and a registration plate lamp. Further, said tail lamp
housing comprises a deflector member designed to be attached to said core
member, covering at least a portion of said core member. Said deflector member
in a substantially central portion thereof is provided with a central step portion
having a sloping profile for deflecting excess fuel/water spilling over said tail
lamp housing. Particularly, said deflector member is designed to drain excess
fuel/water falling thereon to a rear fender of the saddle-type vehicle.
[0028] As per another aspect of the present invention, said deflector
member attached to said core member of the tail lamp housing is designed to hold/support cables emerging from the tail lamp, the pair of winker lamps and the registration plate lamp. Particularly, said deflector member is provided with a pair of flanges for holding/supporting said cables and for routing said cables away

from the core member of the tail lamp housing for connection to a wiring harness. Since the cables are held away from the core member of the tail lamp housing, it is ensured that said cables are not damaged either due to fuel/water spillage or due to squeezing or pressing by a tail lamp mounting bracket.
[0029] As per one more aspect of the present invention, said tail lamp
housing comprises a deflector member having a bottom access slot for accessing a registration plate lamp of the tail lamp assembly.
[0030] Thus, construction of said tail lamp housing as per the present
invention not only aids in ensuring that damage to parts of the tail lamp assembly including said cables due to fuel/water spillage is prevented, but also aids in ensuring said cables can be easily routed/assembled while ensuring that no damage occurs to said cables due to pressing/squeezing by a tail lamp mounting bracket is prevented. Other advantages such as ease of access and serviceability of the registration plate lamp are also achieved.
[0031] Summary provided above explains the basic features of the
invention and does not limit the scope of the invention. The nature and further
characteristic features of the present invention will be made clearer from the
following descriptions made with reference to the accompanying drawings
provided with respect to an embodiment of a two wheeled saddle type scooter.
[0032] The present invention along with all the accompanying
embodiments and their other advantages would be described in greater detail in conjunction with the figures in the following paragraphs
[0033] With reference to Fig.l, description is made of a saddle-type 100
in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. Fig.l is a side view of the saddle-type vehicle 100. As shown in Fig.l, the saddle-type vehicle 100 includes a body frame structure 101 (shown in Fig.2a), for example an underbone body frame structure, made of a metal, alloy or a polymeric material and covered by various body covers. The body frame 101 supports a steering assembly including a steering shaft (not shown), and a handle bar 102 in a front portion thereof. A front suspension assembly 103 is pivotally supported to the steering shaft. The handlebar 102 provided above the front suspension assembly

103 allows steering of a front wheel 104. A headlamp unit 105 housed in a
headlamp housing 105a is disposed in front of the handle bar 102.
[0034] The body frame 101 includes a front panel 110 in its front portion,
to cover a forward facing portion thereof. A front fender 106 is provided to cover
an upper portion of the front wheel 104 to prevent dust and debris splashed by the
rotating front wheel 104 from striking parts lying behind the front wheel 104. A
rear panel 107 is provided to cover a rearward facing side of the body frame 101.
The rear panel 107 acts as a leg shield and protects a rider's legs from a running
wind blowing in a direction opposite to that of motorcycle running direction.
[0035] Left and right side covers 108 are disposed to cover left and right
side surfaces of a rear portion of the body frame 101. A seat 112 is disposed above the left and right side covers 108. A utility box (not shown) is disposed below the seat 112.
[0036] A fuel tank unit 113 (shown in Fig.2a) is arranged in a rear portion
of the body frame 101, and is supported between a pair of rear frames 101a (shown in Fig.2) of the body frame 101, at a rear portion thereof. The fuel tank forms a part of a fuel supply system which also includes a fuel pump (not shown), and a throttle body (not shown). The fuel tank supplies fuel for powering an engine 120. The engine 120 including a cylinder head (not shown) and a cylinder block (not shown) is powered by an air fuel mixture sent in by the throttle body to a combustion chamber of the engine 120.
[0037] Further, combustion gases generated by the engine 120 is let out as
exhaust from a muffler extending along a right hand side of the saddle-type vehicle 100.
[0038] A toggle link member (not shown) supports the engine 120
swingably on a lower side of the left and right side covers 108. A rear wheel 125 is connected to the toggle link member via the engine 120. Power from the engine 120 is transmitted to the rear wheel 125 for driving the saddle-type vehicle 100 by means of a transmission assembly 135.
[0039] Suspensions including front and rear suspension assemblies are
provided for comfortable steering of the vehicle on the road. In the present

embodiment, the rear suspension assembly is provided as a hydraulic damped arrangement and is connected to the body frame 101. In the present embodiment, said rear suspension assembly includes two rear suspension members 140, connected to the rear portion of the body frame 101.
[0040] For the safety of the user and in conformance with the traffic rules,
a tail lamp assembly 200 comprising a tail lamp (not shown) and a pair of winker
lamps (not shown) is provided in the rear portion of the saddle-type vehicle 100.
[0041] Fig.2a illustrates a detailed perspective view of the rear portion of
the saddle-type vehicle depicting a tail lamp assembly 200. As may be seen in
Fig.2a, a rear portion of the saddle-type vehicle comprises a pair of rear frames
(101a) extend rearwardly upwards from a floorboard portion (not shown) of the
body frame. The pair of rear frames 101a serve to support the fuel tank unit 113
and the tail lamp assembly 200. While the fuel tank unit 113 is supported by a
pillion handle mounting bracket (not shown) and below a mounting portion of the
pillion handle 116, the tail lamp assembly 200 is disposed behind the fuel tank
113 and is supported by a tail lamp mounting bracket 150 (see Fig.2b). At least a
portion of the fuel tank unit 113 extends below the tail lamp mounting bracket 150
in a manner such that a fuel inlet portion (not shown) of the fuel tank unit 113 can
be accessed through an inlet cap 114 of the fuel inlet portion. In the present
embodiment, said inlet cap 114 is enclosed from all sides by a top tail cover
member 115 which is supported on a top portion of the tail lamp mounting bracket
150. Thus, fuel inlet in the present embodiment is disposed in a rear portion of the
saddle-type vehicle and the same is accessed through the inlet cap 114 enclosed
by the top tail cover 115. Further, the tail lamp assembly 200 supported by the tail j
lamp mounting bracket 150 is disposed behind the fuel tank unit 113 and below the top tail cover 115. The pair of rear frames 101a thus serve to support a plurality of components of the saddle-type vehicle in the rear portion with the aid of multiple mounting brackets attached to at least a portion thereof. Further, the pair of rear frames 101a are covered by the left and right side covers 108. As may be seen in Fig.2a, the pillion handle 116 is mounted in front of the top tail cover T memberJL15rand extends above the top tail cover member 115. Typically, a gap
FTl 1 Q. -f -"Y . i- .-

117 exists between the top tail cover member 115 and a portion of the pillion
handle 116 secured by the pillion handle mounting bracket (not shown).
[0042] Excess fuel flowing out of the fuel inlet portion of the fuel tank
unit 113 tends to flow over the top tail cover member 115 and enter into the gap 117 between the top tail cover member 115 and said portion of the pillion handle 116. Fuel entry through said gap results in fuel accumulation over a tail lamp housing (not shown) of the tail lamp assembly 200, thereby resulting in damage to parts of the tail lamp assembly 200 including the tail lamp 201, a pair of winker lamps 202, a registration plate lamp (not shown) and cables connecting the tail lamp 201, the pair of winker lamps 202 and the registration plate lamp to a wiring harness (not shown) of the saddle-type vehicle.
[0043] Fig.3 illustrates a rear perspective view of the tail lamp assembly
200. As may be seen in Fig.3, the tail lamp assembly 200 is comprised of the tail
lamp housing 203 which serves to house the tail lamp (not shown), the pair of
winker lamps (not shown) and the registration plate lamp (not shown) on the
outside and covered by a lens member (not shown). Further, the tail lamp housing
203 also serves to secure the tail lamp assembly 200 to the tail lamp mounting
bracket 150 (see Fig.2b) through a pair of mounting bosses 204 provided therein.
The tail lamp housing 203 as per an aspect of the present invention comprises a
core member 203a and a deflector member 203b attached thereto.
[0044] Fig.4 illustrates an exploded view depicting attachment of said
deflector member 203b to the core member 203a of the tail lamp housing 203. As per an embodiment of the present invention, said deflector member is attached to a lower portion 203ac of the core member 203a, covering said lower portion 203ac. As may be seen, said deflector member 203b is provided with a pair of slots 205 for accommodating said pair of mounting bosses 204 extending from the lower portion 203ac of the core member 203a. Further, a mounting lug 206 each is formed in a top portion of said deflector member 203b, above each slot of said pair of slots 205 for attachment to corresponding mounting provisions 207 formed in said core member 203a of the tail lamp housing. Particularly, the deflector member 203b is detachably attached to said core member 203a through said

mounting lugs 206. Thus, the deflector member 203b is designed to cover a
substantial portion of the core member 203a. Particularly, the deflector member
203b serves to cover a landing portion 203ad formed in the core member 203a of
the tail lamp housing 203. Particularly, the deflector member 203b has a top
extending portion 208 which covers said landing portion 203ad of the core
member 203a. Provision of the top extending portion 208 ensures that the landing
portion 203 which previously used to allow stagnation of fuel is sufficiently
covered. Thus, the provision of the deflector member 203b aids in preventing
stagnation of excess fuel in the tail lamp housing. In an embodiment, whereas the
core member 203a of the tail lamp housing 203 is made of material such as
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), whereas said deflector member 203b is
made of polymeric material such as Polypropylene (PP). As the deflector member
203b is made of PP material which is non-reactive with fuel, it does not get
damaged when fuel spillage occurs over the tail lamp housing 203.
[0045] Further, as may be seen in Fig.5b, said deflector member 203b has
a central step portion 209 having a sloping profile 210. As may be seen in Fig.5b, said central step portion 209 extends from the top extending portion 208 of the deflector member 203b up to a central front terminal portion 211 of the deflector member 203b. Further, as may be seen in Fig.5c, said central step portion 209 terminates above a rear fender 118 of the saddle-type vehicle. Especially, said central front terminal portion 211 of said deflector member 203b terminates just above the rear fender 118. In the present embodiment said rear fender 118 is provided with a drain hole (not shown), formed in an upper portion thereof and disposed below the central step portion 209. Provision of the central step portion 209 in the deflector member 203b ensures that excess fuel falling over the tail lamp housing 203 is deflected away from the core member 203a and is carried towards the rear fender 118. Further, since the drain hole in the rear fender 118, it is ensured that the excess fuel directly flows to the outside from the rear fender 118. Thus, since the deflector member 203b extends towards the rear fender 118 and terminates just above the rear fender 118, it facilitates easy passage of excess fuel falling over the tail lamp housing to the outside.

[0046] Thus, the construction of the tail lamp housing 203 aids in ensuring
safety and durability of parts of the tail lamp assembly 200 such as that of the tail lamp, the pair of winker lamps, the registration plate lamp and the cables 215 (shown in Fig.6) connecting the ail lamp, the pair of winker lamps, the registration plate lamp to the wiring harness by preventing stagnation of fuel in the tail lamp housing.
[0047] The construction of the tail lamp housing 203 including the
deflector member 203b especially aids in protecting the cables 215 (shown in Fig.6) connecting the ail lamp, the pair of winker lamps, the registration plate lamp 212 to the wiring harness by ensuring that the cables 215 do not get squeezed by the tail lamp mounting bracket 150 (shown in Fig.2b). Particularly, as per an embodiment of the present subject matter and as may be seen in Fig.6, the deflector member 203b comprises a pair of flanges 216 extending below a front portion thereof and towards a bottom rear portion 220 of the core member 203a. Particularly, said pair of flanges 216 extend towards a registration plate lamp receiving portion 217 in the core member 203a of the tail lamp housing 203 when viewed from a bottom side of the tail lamp housing 203. Presence of said pair of flanges 216 enables in routing of cables 215 emerging from the tail lamp (not shown), the pair of winker lamps (not shown) and the registration plate lamp 212. Thus, as may be seen in Fig.6, the cables 215 are routed above the registration plate registration lamp receiving portion 217 and away from the landing portion 203ad (shown in Fig.4) of the tail lamp housing which used to be used previously for routing the cables 215. Thus, the presence of the pair of flanges 216 enables to tuck away the cables 215 along a bottom portion 218 (shown in Fig.4) of the core member 203a of the tail lamp housing 203 and away from a mid-portion of the core member 203a which is susceptible to pressing from at least a portion of the tail lamp mounting bracket 150 (shown in Fig.2b). Further, said pair of flanges 216 are separated by a bottom access slot 219 formed therebetween, with each flange of said pair of flanges 216 lying on either sides of said bottom access slot 219. Presence of said bottom access slot 219 enables ease

of serviceability of the registration plate lamp 212 as access to said registration
plate lamp 212 is significantly improved through the bottom access slot 219.
[0048] Therefore, the construction of the tail lamp housing comprising the
deflector member in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, not only aids in preventing damage to cables connecting the tail lamp, the pair of winker lamps and the registration plate lamp to the wiring harness due to exposure to fuel or water but also prevent damage to said cables due to squeezing/pressing by the tail lamp mounting bracket.

We Claim:
1. A tail lamp assembly (200) for a saddle-type vehicle (100), said tail lamp
assembly (200) comprising:
a tail lamp housing (203), said tail lamp housing comprising: a core member (203a) housing at least one of a tail lamp (201), a pair of winker lamps (202), and registration plate lamp (212); and a deflector member (203b) attached to said core member (203a) and extending from a portion of said core member (203a) towards a rear fender (118) of said vehicle (100) and terminating just above said rear fender (118).
2. The tail lamp assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deflector member (203b) extends from a lower portion (203ac) of said core member (203a) and covers said lower portion (203ac).
3. The tail lamp assembly (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said lower portion (203ac) includes a landing portion (203ad), said landing portion (203ad) being covered by a top extending portion (208) of said deflector member (203b).
4. The tail lamp assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deflector member (203b) is detachably attached through a pair of mounting lugs (206) to corresponding mounting provisions (207) formed in said core member (203a).
5. The tail lamp assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deflector member (203b) comprises a central step portion (209) having a sloping profile.
6. The tail lamp assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said central step portion (209) extends from a top extending portion (208) of said deflector member (203b) up to a central front terminal portion (211) of said deflector member (203b).
7. The tail lamp assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deflector member (203b) comprises a pair of flanges (216) extending below a front portion thereof towards a bottom rear portion of said core member (203a).

8. The tail lamp assembly (200) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said pair of flanges (216) extend towards a registration plate lamp receiving portion (217) in said core member (203a) when viewed from a bottom side of the tail lamp housing (203).
9. The tail lamp assembly (200) as claimed in 7, wherein each flange of said pair of flanges (216) is separated from the other by a bottom access slot (219) formed therebetween.
10. The tail lamp assembly (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said pair of flanges (216) allows routing of cables (215) along a bottom portion (218) of said core member (203a).
11. The tail lamp assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deflector member (203b) is composed of a material non-reactive to fuel.
12. The tail lamp assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deflector member (203b) is composed of a material different from that used to make said core member (203a).
13. A saddle-type vehicle (100) comprising a tail lamp assembly (200), said tail lamp assembly (200) comprising:
a tail lamp housing (203), said tail lamp housing comprising: a core member (203a) housing at least one of a tail lamp (201), a pair of winker lamps (202), and registration plate lamp (212); and a deflector member (203b) attached to said core member (203a) and extending from a portion of said core member (203a) towards a rear fender (118) of said vehicle (100) and terminating just above said rear fender (118).