FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a utility box for a scooter type vehicle and more particularly to a utility box, which provides a means for mounting vehicle electrical components such as fuse assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Scooter type vehicles generally have a utility box for accommodating articles such as helmet or the like and the same is arranged under the vehicle seat. The user can access the utility box by lifting the vehicle seat.
The electrical system in most vehicles has at least one fuse for short circuit protection. Due to a temporary short circuit condition, the fuse might blow out and might require replacement. Most vehicles have at least one spare fuse provided along with the main fuse and nearby it so that the user can himself/ herself remove and replace the blown-out fuse. The mounting arrangement of a fuse housing holding the fuse assembly must be such that, it is convenient for the user to access the fuse and replace it easily. It must also prevent water and dust from entering into the fuse housing and should avoid the fuse from being damaged due to vehicle vibrations.
Mounting of fuse arrangement in the utility box is known in the art. Japanese Patent No. JP2002008789 discloses a utility box structure for a scooter type motorcycle wherein a detachable maintenance lid covers an opening provided in the storage box through which parts like carburetor and fuse housing can be accessed for

easy serviceability. However, a detachable maintenance lid increases the cost and complexity of the utility box. Further, it is difficult to access the fuse housing when the utility box is filled with the rider's articles.
Japanese Patent No. JP2004115783 discloses a utility box structure for a motorcycle wherein an in-vehicle tool is positioned in the utility box by means of a holder and the fuse housing is stored between the rear end of the tool holder and the rear wall of the utility box. This design also is inherently disadvantageous since the user is prevented from accessing the fuse housing if the utility box is filled with articles.
Therefore, to obviate drawbacks in the prior art, there is required an electrical component mounting arrangement for a scooter type vehicle which allows easy replacement of electrical components such as fuse without removing user items stored in a utility box, and this forms the primary objective of the present invention. It is another objective of the present invention to provide an electrical component mounting arrangement, which ensures that electrical components such as fuse is kept waterproof, dust proof and tamper proof. It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide an electrical component mounting arrangement, which reduces assembly time and is cost effective.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The current invention discloses an apparatus for housing a vehicle fuse inside a provision made on the utility box of a two-wheeled vehicle. The provision is

characterized by being at a location, which is safe for the fuse and offers il. required protection from weather. The location of fuse along with the fuse housing in the current invention is easily approachable hence; the fuse is easily removable and replaceable. The fuse housing disclosed in the invention may use retractable or detachable lid for removing and replacing the vehicle fuse.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] Figure 1 Shows a typical scooter type two-wheeler.
[0009] Figure 2 Shows a vehicle with essential embodiments of the invention.
[00010] Figure 3 Illustrates a utility box and the provision for slot therein.
[00011] Figure 4 Illustrates a utility box of atypical scooter type two-wheeler.
[00012] Figure 5 Illustrates the guide path for fuse housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[00013] The present invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted that like reference numerals designate corresponding or identical elements throughout the various drawings. The terms front and rear, and left and right as used to indicate the front and rear and the left and right directions when viewed by a rider seated on the vehicle seat.

|00014] Referring to Figure 1, a conventional scooter type vehicle has a body frame 11 comprising a head pipe 12 positioned at the front of the body frame 11, and a down tube 67 extending downwardly rearward from a rear lower portion of the head pipe 12. in a substantially horizontal direction. A pair of side tubes 15 arranged side by side extends obliquely upward from the down tube in the rearward direction. A handle bar 13 is attached to the head pipe 12. The lower end of handle bar 20 is attached to a front fork 23, and a front wheel 91 is movably supported by the lower end of the front fork 23. Furthermore, a handle bar cover 61 is attached for covering the handle bar 13, and a headlamp 30 is attached to the handle bar cover 61. A front fender 33 is arranged in such a manner that it covers the upper portion of the front wheel 91. A rear wheel 10 is attached to the rear end of the body frame 11 and a rear fender 36 is attached in a way that it covers the upper portion of the rear wheel 10.
[00015] A utility box 50 for storing articles is mounted between the pair of side lubes 15. Further, a vehicle seat 27 commonly serving as a lid for the utility box 50 is placed above the utility box 50 in a manner to be freely opened and closed, and a fuel tank 28 is arranged towards the rear of the utility box 50. An engine unit 14 is arranged in substantially central lower portion of the side tubes 15. By arranging a suspension 25 between the engine unit 14 and the rear part of the body frame 11, rear suspension is provided for the scooter. A pillion handle 90 is attached to the rear end of side frames 15. Furthermore, a tail lamp 35 is arranged below the pillion handle 90. There is a low step floor 16 provided between the vehicle seat 27 and the head pipe 12. The rider places his/her foot on the low step floor 16 at the time of travel. The step floor 16 also

covers the horizontal portion of the down tube 67 from the above and is fixed to the down tube 67.
[00016] Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4 illustrate a utility box 50 for a scooter type vehicle as per the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, the utility box 50 is mounted between the side tubes 15 of the body frame and comprises a seat hinge 202 at its front end. The utility box 50 is characterized by a slot 200. At least one vehicle electrical component is securely mounted inside the slot 200. The slot 200 is positioned beside the seat hinge 202 and on the upper face of the utility box 50.
[00017] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a fuse housing 201 is mounted in the slot 200. The fuse housing contains a fuse assembly, which further comprises at least one main fuse and at least one spare fuse and electrical termination for fuse. The fuse housing 201 may be provided with a detachable or retractable lid to access the fuse assembly. The fuse housing 201 is mounted beside the vehicle battery 102, which in turn is mounted below the seat hinge 202. Figure 3 shows a top view of the utility box 50 with the slot 200 positioned as described above. Figure 4 shows the utility box 50 with the fuse housing 201 mounted on it.
[00018] Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the front end of the utility box 50, as per the present invention. As shown, the fuse housing 201 is securely mounted in the slot 200 by help of a guide-way 203 formed on the outer surface of the utility box 50. Fuse housing 20! also consists of an electrical termination of the vehicle electrical system at the desired location of fuse in an open circuit condition. When fuse

is placed in this location, then only the electrical circuit is completed and conduction of electricity takes place. Electrical connections between the fuse inside the fuse housing 201 and the vehicle electrical system are provided by means of wires routed along the utility box 50 and more preferably from the bottom side of the said fuse housing.
[00019] The electrical component mounting arrangement as per the present invention enables the user or the service personnel to replace electrical components such as a blown out fuse without removing the items stored in the utility box 50. Depressions (204a & 204b) are formed adjacent to the slot 200 and on its either sides for the finger grip of the user on to the electrical fuse housing in such a way so that the user or service personnel can easily access the fuse assembly and remove it easily. Furthermore, the mounting of electrical components such as the fuse housing 201 near to the vehicle battery 102 helps in reducing assembly time. There is also considerable reduction in costs since wire length used is minimized.
[00020] The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present invention and has been described for the purpose of illustration only. Persons skilled in the art may practice numerous alterations and modifications of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope.

Wc claim:
1. A utility box (50) for a scooter type vehicle comprising:
a seat hinge (202) at its one end; and
characterized in that:
a slot (200) on said utility box (50);
the slot is positioned besides said seat hinge (202) and on the upper face of the said utility box (50), such that a vehicle electrical component along with its housing (201) is securely mounted in said slot (200).
2. The utility box (50) for a scooter type vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vehicle electrical component is securely mounted in the slot (200) by way of guideway (203) formed on the outer surface of the utility box (50).
3. The utility box (50) for a scooter type vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vehicle electrical component is preferably a fuse.
4. The utility box (50) for a scooter type vehicle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the housing (201) comprises:
a fuse assembly which comprises a main fuse and a spare fuse: and a lid which provides access to the fuse assembly wherein the said lid is either retractable lid or detachable lid.
5. The utility box (50) for a scooter type vehicle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fuse housing (201) is mounted besides a vehicle battery (102), which in turn is mounted beneath the seat hinge (202).
6. The utility box (50) for a scooter type vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein a vehicle seat (27) is pivoted to the seat hinge (202).

7. The utility box (50) for a scooter type vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said utility box (50) is mounted between a pair of side tubes (15) of a frame (11) of the scooter type vehicle.
8. The utility box (50) for scooter type vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein depressions (204a & 204b) are formed on the utility box (50) adjacent to the slot (200) on its either sides.