Under Cowl for a Motorcycle

Field of the Invention:

This present invention relates to an "Under Cowl for a Motorcycle". In particular this invention relates to an under cowl for a scooter type motorcycle.
Background of the Invention:

The under cowl for the scooter type motorcycle is generally provided under the front tip of the rider's seat and covers the front portion of the engine. In other words it is sandwiched between the rider's seat and the floorboard of the scooter. Floorboard is the area where the rider puts his feet. Typically, the under cowl is attached to the scooter body frame. The attachment of the under cowl to the scooter body frame is normally done either by using fasteners provided at top and bottom of the under cowl or with the lugs which gets in to the slots of the side panels (covers) of the scooter. Using the above means of attachment a proper fitment is not achieved, due to uneven gaps between the mating parts. This will result in vibration of the parts causing rattling noise during running and the chances of the under cowl coming out in running condition over a period of time is much higher. Since the said under cowl is not fixed or attached with the side panels of the scooter, the problem it will pose is the sliding of the side cover back and forth during running. Further the said under cowl is provided with a cut out or louvers at the front for ventilation purpose. Since this opening is not a separate part and cannot be taken out separately, and hence every time for engine servicing, the whole under cowl needs to be to be removed.

Hence the objective of the present inventions is to overcome the above problems associated with the under cowl of the scooter type motorcycle.

Summary of the Invention:

It is an object of the present invention to facilitate the mounting of the under cowl to the side panels and floorboard. In order to achieve this objective the under cowl is provided with snap fits locators, members or lugs, equispaced two at the top and two at the bottom, located on inside of the under cowl. The said snap fit locators provide attachment of the said under cowl to the side panels. At least two screw mountings on extreme ends of a flange projection which is located at the lower bottom portion of the under cowl are provided, so that the under cowl is secured thereto by screws to the floor board. This arrangement provides an optimum positioning of the under cowl. Since the flange projections at the front bottom lower portion of the under cowl fit snugly on the matching profile provided on floor board, it holds the under cowl in place.

Two projections on the top extreme ends of the said under cowl are screwed to the utility box and side panels thereby not allowing the side panels to slide from its original position.

Another object of the present invention is to facilitate painting of the under cowl. This objective is achieved by providing two hooks at the inside lower portion of the under cowl, so that the under cowl is hanged by the help of these hooks and thereby can be painted efficiently.

Another object of present invention is to provide easy accessibility for servicing of engine by providing lesser number of fasteners to be removed for removing under cowl making the engine servicing faster and easier.

Further object of the present invention is to provide an opening part in the front side of the under cowl with excellent appearance for ventilation. In order to achieve this objective a V shaped depression is provided on the front side near to bottom mounting of the under cowl, whereby a detachable grille is fixed from inside with the help of one screw and two snap fit locator, thereby reducing the number of screw parts.

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 drawing

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 the front view of the under cowl according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.3 is the front side view of the detachable grille according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.4 is the inside view of the under cowl according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the 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 4, a description will now be given concerning a under cowl 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 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.

Next, the under cowl 10 of the present invention embodiment will be described. The said under cowl 10 of the present invention is located below the front end of the rider's seat 11 and covers the at least the front of the engine. The rear sides of the under cowl 10 overlaps the front end flange of the side cover 16.

When the under cowl 10 is viewed from front (as shown in figure 2), it looks substantially of trapezoidal shape. Referring to figure 5 the top rear ends of the said under cowl 10 are provided with two right triangle shaped projections (501), whereby the under cowl 10 is screwed on to the utility box and side panels. The front lower bottom portion of the under cowl 10 is provided with a flange (502) which snugly fits the matching profile provided on the floor board 9. The extreme ends of the flange are carved out in an inverted U shape depression, whereby it is adapted to be screwed to the floor board 9.

At the lower middle portion of the said under cowl, near the bottom mounting, a V shaped depression (201) is carved out, wherein a detachable grille is provided.

When the under cowl 10 is viewed from inside (shown in figure 4), it is adapted with four snap fit locators (401,402,403,404), which are identically placed with respect to the central axis, two in the top and two in the bottom, The snap fit locators are used to attach the under cowl 10 with the side panels 16.
When the detachable grille is viewed ( as shown in figure 3) of the under cowl, it looks substantially of V shaped, and which exactly matches the V shaped depression on the front side of the under cowl. The said detachable grille is fixed with the under cowl 10 by two snap fit locators (301, 302) provided on the top of the said detachable grille and at one screw fit (303) at the bottom of the V shaped grille. Another two rectangular hooks (405, 406) are provided at the lower bottom portion on the under cowl 10, whereby the under cowl can be hanged for painting.

This invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, the front view of the under cowl is in shape of a trapezoidal section, with one side open and substantially of a triangular shape from the side view. The front side of the under cowl has got a depression of V shaped, where in that depression, a detachable grille is provided.

We claim:

1. An under cowl for a motorcycle installed below the front end of the rider's seat
comprises of:
at least four locators for attaching the under cowl from inside to the metal side panels;
a flange, at lower bottom front of the under cowl with provision at extreme ends to screw fit it with floor board;
at least two projections on top extreme rear ends of the under cowl to get attached with both the utility box and side panels;
at least two hooks at the bottom inside of the under cowl for facilitating painting; and
a detachable grille for ventilation,
wherein the under cowl at least covers the front of the engine and overlaps the front end flange of the side cover.

2. The under cowl as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said under cowl is substantially of a trapezoidal shape.

3. The under cowl as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said locators are moulded in snap fit design.

4. The under cowl as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said locators are identically placed with respect to the central axis, two in the top and two in the bottom, inside of the said under cowl.

5. The under cowl as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said flange with screw fit is provided to hold the said under cowl in place on to the floor board.

6. The under cowl as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said detachable grille is provided in the V shaped depression carved out at the front side of the under cowl located near to bottom mounting.

7. The detachable grille as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said grille is attached to the under cowl with two snap fit locators and a screw, thereby reducing the screw parts as well as ensure fitment.

8. The under cowl as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said under cowl is preferably made up of plastic.

9. A under cowl for a motor vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.