JPH026669B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a two-wheeled motor vehicle.
This invention relates to a two-wheeled motor vehicle in which the user rides on the engine during normal operation and uses his or her hands to steer the front wheels and operate the control device. Occasionally use your feet to operate the clutch, brakes, or change gears. Of course, the automatic 2 actually used or proposed
There are many different designs for wheeled wheels. A typical commercially available two-wheeled motor vehicle has a driver's saddle that places the driver directly on top of the engine, on which he straddles with both feet. Typically,
The driver's torso is generally upright, with most of his body extending upward from the haunches on the motorcycle. The driver can receive support for the lower part of his back due to the seat design extending upwards to provide support.

In the riding position of a typical conventional motorcycle, the femur extends forward and approximately horizontally;
The knees are bent at an acute angle so that both legs are approximately directly beneath the driver's torso during use. If a motorcycle is designed to carry a passenger, the passenger usually sits directly behind and at the same height as the driver, and the passenger's legs are usually larger than the driver's legs. occupying a similar position except that they are restrained;
The main support for passengers is provided by clinging to the driver.

This type of motorcycle has many drawbacks. When the driver is positioned on top of the motorcycle,
That is, when the driver's torso extends above the engine, the center of gravity of the motorcycle and driver combination is relatively high, reducing the maneuverability of the motorcycle and increasing its tendency to lean. Furthermore, when the passenger's torso is fully exposed above the motorcycle, wind drag increases and fuel economy decreases. Furthermore, since the passengers are more exposed, they are more likely to suffer serious injuries in the event of an accident.

The improvements of the present invention increase the safety and fuel economy of motorcycles while lowering the driver into the motorcycle and the major components of the motorcycle. By reorienting the driver's body and improving the body link angle, it enhances its handling characteristics and comfort. "Link angles" means the angles that body parts assume at major joints: hips, knees, and ankles. By improving passenger comfort, support and safety, driver fatigue is reduced and the same two-wheeled vehicle therefore has a wider range of use.

In order to accomplish this improvement, the motorcycle frame has three main parts, including a front part, a rear part, and an intermediate part connecting the front part and the rear part. The forward portion of the frame provides attachment means for the forward wheels, steering mechanism and motor. The rear section provides attachment means for the rear wheels and any dampening structure. The middle frame part is
The front and rear sections have a lower profile and provide seating for the rider.

When the driver is seated, the driver's legs extend forward at an angle of approximately 40 to 50 degrees below the horizontal to straddle the engine housed within the forward frame portion. The link angle at the knee is approximately 110 degrees and the femur is raised at an angle of approximately 20 degrees to the horizontal.

The motorcycle seat is supported by a rear frame portion that extends upwardly to provide a backrest and create a comfortable waist link angle.

At the top of the rear frame part there is a support module that can be fixed to the motorcycle in either a forward or rearward position or can be completely removed and carried by the driver. It is attached in such a way that it serves as a container for personal items.

A support cushion is provided on the front side of the support module. When the support module is in the forward position, the cushion acts as a support for the upper back part of the driver. When the support module is moved to its rear position, it exposes the seat for the passenger and its front cushion acts as a support for the passenger's lower back part (lumbar region). The passenger thus occupies a position above the driver, his lower back supported by the support module and his lower abdomen resting against the region of the torso of the rider.

In a preferred embodiment, the support module is completely removable from the rear frame portion of the motorcycle so that it can be used not only as a container for storing and transporting items, but also as a license plate for the motorcycle. It serves as a mounting means and also accommodates the rear light of a motorcycle. Therefore, if the support module is removed, the motorcycle will no longer have a license plate or a rear light.
Unable to drive legally and attracts the attention of a police officer. Therefore, the removable module serves as a theft deterrent.

Preferred embodiments also include: for providing a decorative effect as well as for creating air streamlining so as to reduce wind drag during movement of the motorcycle;
It has a panel fixed to a frame as described below.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Like reference numbers indicate similar elements in the accompanying drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the reference numeral 10 generally refers to a vehicle in the form of a motorcycle having a front wheel 11, a rear wheel 12 and a frame F. In FIGS.

To better understand the underlying structure, see Part 9.
Please refer to FIGS. In these, the frame F includes a front section 13, a rear section 14 and an intermediate section 15.

The two main functions of the front frame section are to mount the front wheels 11 and to mount and house the engine, designated M in FIG. The front frame part thus includes a neck 16 to which are welded two tubular frame pieces 17, 18, which extend to the rear of the neck 16 and then downwardly. These two frame pieces separate as they extend downwardly, as best seen in FIG. These are referred to as "backbones."

The front frame part also includes two lower tubular members 20, 21 which are welded to the lower part of the neck 16 and extend downwardly and rearwardly, separated from each other, and then 23, 24. It is formed to extend horizontally. Tubular frame member 1
The lower ends of 7, 18 are welded to the tops of runners 23, 24, respectively, to form the engine housing, but the runners 23, 24 extend rearwardly beyond the forward frame section and below the intermediate frame section 15. Spaced apart frame portions 23A and 24A are provided, respectively. These lower tubular members are bent upward as they extend rearward, and are bent upwardly at 23B and 24, respectively.
As shown at B, it forms part of the rear frame section. The front frame portion is suitably braced by inverted T-shaped struts 26 and spacers 27. The engine is mounted within the forward frame section by any conventional means.

The intermediate frame section 15 further includes an upper horizontal frame section 29, 30 which also extends rearward and includes a damping sleeve 33, 34 used for mounting the rear wheel.
connected to.

The primary function of the central frame portion 15 is to provide support for the driver's seat, shown at 36 in FIGS. The driver is lowered into the two-wheeled motor vehicle compared to the position the driver takes inside the two-wheeled vehicle. This aspect of the invention is further explained below.

The rear frame portion 14 includes a pair of tubular members on opposite sides. Each pair is formed in a V-shape, with the 10th
38 in the figure and 39 in FIG. 9, respectively. These members are attached to a flanged support member 40, generally indicated at 40, which includes an upper horizontal rear portion 41 and a forward downwardly sloping backrest support portion 42, the lower end of which It is attached to a horizontal frame member 43 (FIG. 10).

In FIG. 11, the position of the driver is seen in relation to the frame. Specifically, the driver is lowered and the hip, knee, and ankle link angles are "opened" compared to prior art designs. This is preferably about 28 degrees
This is accomplished by tilting the back support backwards at an angle within the range of 25 degrees to 30 degrees. 44 in FIGS. 1 and 2 attached to frame members 20 and 21.
With the feet resting on the pegs as shown, the seat can be tilted forward and upward so that the lower part of the leg straddles the engine housing, lifting the knee slightly. To lower the driver, the central frame section 15 is elongated from front to back, as determined by the lengths of the frame members 29,30. Furthermore, the horizontal frame members 29, 30 define a horizontal plane for supporting the seat, which horizontal plane is well below the top of the front frame part 13 as well as the upper horizontal part 41 of the rear frame part 14.

The relationship of the body position to the frame, as it lowers the center of gravity of the motorcycle and driver combination, allowing for better driving performance.
This is believed to be an important advantage of the present invention. It also makes driving easier compared to motorcycles where the driver is on top, since the driver is at least partially surrounded by the motorcycle itself (see Figure 1). Gives a feeling of psychological safety to the hand. Furthermore, by lowering the driver, the driver can
Actually, from the front frame portion 13 (Fig. 10),
Protection is provided from the steering structure (FIG. 1) and from the upper position of the aft frame portion 14 (FIGS. 1, 11). Seat 36 can best be seen in its entirety from FIGS. 6 and 7. seat 36
includes a recess 47 for supporting the hip, which is rounded outward at the anterior edge portion, such as 49, in the area of the femur just behind the knee (called the hip). Gives greater comfort by reducing bottom pressure and eliminating pressure points, which is especially important for long journeys. The concave portion 47 extends upwardly and rearwardly at the above-mentioned angle and provides a backrest portion 50 for the lower back portion. The seat preferably provides no direct support for the first three inches (7.62 cm) of the lower part of the back (the area below the sacrum), provides support above this area, and provides support for the lower part of the back (the area below the sacrum). Maintain the natural curvature of the depression. The upper portion of the driver's seat then extends rearwardly at 51 to provide a seat or saddle for a passenger (see FIG. 5), as will be described below. This seat comprises horizontal frame parts 29, 30 of the intermediate frame part 15;
Element 4 of the rear frame part as shown in Figure 10.
0 flat parts 41 and 42.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, the support module is
It is generally indicated at 60 and is located at the top of the rear frame section. It includes a shell 61 and a front cushion 62. Preferably, the shell 61 forms a hollow container (see FIG. 4);
The cushion 62 is removable for access into and from the storage container for articles. Furthermore, the module 60 can be placed in a forward position (see FIGS. 1-4), a rearward position (see FIGS. 5-7), or completely removed (see FIG. 8). Module 60 license plate for motorcycles
By attaching the rear light of the motorcycle to the rear of the module 60 as shown at 64 in FIG. 6, when the module is removed, the motorcycle cannot legally be driven and therefore the module 6
Being able to remove zeros provides some protection against theft. A conventional detachment cord is used in this case to connect the rear light to the battery, which is preferably housed within the rectangular intermediate frame section 15.

When the support module 60 is in the forward position, as best seen in FIG.
2 is arranged to support the area of the torso at the level of the driver's shoulder blades. The position of the cushion 62 relative to the recess 47 of the seat 36 is not important for this purpose. Rather, the position of the cushion 62 relative to the upper saddle portion 51 of the seat 36 (see FIG. 6) is more important. The reason is that module 6
0 is moved to the rearward position as seen in FIGS.
This is because it serves as a support for the lower back part of the passenger supported above. It will be observed that the passenger's lower abdomen supports behind the rider's chest area and vice versa. Additionally, as best seen in FIG. 5, the passenger is positioned above the driver and is not obstructed from view by the driver's head.

The passenger is also provided with support by a pair of foot support pegs, one of which is indicated at 67.
The foot support pegs are spring loaded towards the extended position (see Figures 5 and 7). The outer surface of the pegs 67 is provided with a slot for receiving a coin or a screwdriver, so that when the motorcycle is not assembled to provide room for a passenger, the outer surface of the pegs 67 can be inserted into the recessed position. can be held. To place the foot support peg in the stowed position,
It is pushed inward, thereby compressing the spring, and then pivoted to engage a suitable latching mechanism, such as a detent.

With reference to FIG. 8, a structure for fixing the support module 60 in the above-mentioned front position or rear position will be described. The shell 61 is recessed at 72 to receive the passenger saddle 51. The bottom of the shell 61 has similar flanges 73, 74 folded back inward, the flanges 73, 74
It is attached to the upper part of the rear frame part on both sides of the saddle 51. Therefore, in order to fully understand the invention, it is necessary to describe only one of these structures in detail. Next, the flanges 73 are respectively 75A~
It has four through holes indicated by 75D. There are two through holes 76A and 76B in the upper part of the rear frame part.
and three upwardly protruding positioning pins 77A~
77C is provided. An extensible collet 78 is used to secure the flange 73 to the motorcycle frame as follows. When it is desired to place the support module 60 in the forward position, the module is placed so that the pins 77A, 77B, and 77C are aligned with the through holes 75A, 75B, and 75D on the flange 73, respectively, and the collet 78 is , are received through aligned through holes 75C and 76B. By having a similar structure on the other side of the passenger saddle 51, the support module 60
is prevented from moving horizontally by the arrangement of pins and holes, and the collet 78 is prevented from being removed vertically. When it is desired to fix the support module in the rear position, use the through holes 75B and 75D.
are aligned with pins 77A and 77B, respectively, and collector 78 has through hole 7 aligned to receive it.
Penetrates 5C and 76A. By completely removing the collet 78 (as well as those on the other side, not shown), the entire module 60 can be removed and transported as a container.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be observed that many motorcycles include body panels. This provides an aesthetic appearance by covering many of the motorcycle's functional components, and moreover, the panels can be streamlined to reduce wind drag. First body panel 85
serves as a housing for the headlight, shown generally at 86, and also serves as a cover panel for the neck of the frame which receives the front wheel axle. Additionally, the forward panel acts as a series of panels 87, which act as an upper motor shroud as well as a cover panel for the fuel storage tank and as an instrument panel, the instrument being generally visible to the driver. It is conveniently located in the area designated 88. Panels 85 and 87 are frame F
and to each other along the line indicated at 89. Although the actual shape of the panels and their mounting and placement can vary considerably, the aesthetic and functional benefits are desirable.

Another panel is shown at 90 and covers the lower portions of the intermediate frame and the rear frame;
and (at least on the left side) from contact with the drive chain. Similar panel (not shown)
is placed on the other side of the motorcycle. The passenger footrest pegs 67 are recessed in this panel and are flush with its outer surface in the stowed position. Another panel, indicated at 91, extends upwardly from the rear panel 90 and provides a shape that matches the shape of the shell 61 of the container 60.

It will be appreciated that many advantageous results are achieved from the improved motorcycle profile.
By lowering the driver into the motorcycle and reorienting the driver's body relative to the motorcycle, the link angles at the hips, knees, and ankles are opened. , thereby making the ride more comfortable and less tiring. Furthermore, the center of gravity of the motorcycle-driver combination is lowered in order to increase lateral safety and improve driving characteristics. Additionally, a support structure for the driver's back and an elevated front portion of the frame,
Because of the location of the engine, the driver has a psychologically greater sense of safety. This provides real safety compared to types of motorcycles designed to place the driver on top of the entire motorcycle. The combination of lowering the driver and providing a streamlined cover panel reduces friction with the wind and makes the motorcycle more economical to drive.

The dual position container installation supports the upper back part of the driver in the forward position and the lower back part of the passenger in the rear position. Furthermore, the passenger's saddle is placed on top of the backrest of the rider's seat so that the passenger has an unobstructed view in the direction of travel. It should be noted that further protection against possible theft is provided and a convenient carrying case is provided by the module 60 which also provides mounting means for the motorcycle's license plate and rear vehicle light.

Having described the preferred embodiments of the invention in detail, one skilled in the art will be able to implement the principles of the invention
It should be possible to modify some of the structures disclosed herein and to substitute equivalent elements for the elements disclosed herein. It is therefore intended that all such modifications and substitutions be included within the scope of the claims.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a motorcycle constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the driver in a normal driving position. FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 without the driver. FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the rear of the two-wheeled motor vehicle when viewed from the upper right side of the two-wheeled motor vehicle, with the support module in its forward position. FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the front cushion with the support module removed. FIG. 5 is a right side view of the motorcycle similar to FIG. 1, but with the support module in a rearward position and a passenger included. FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with both the driver and passenger removed. Figure 7 shows
A view similar to FIG. 3, with the support module in the aft position and showing the passenger foot support pegs extended.
FIG. 8 is a partially cut away perspective view showing the installation of the support module. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the frame of the two-wheeled motor vehicle, seen from the rear left side of the two-wheeled motor vehicle. Figure 10 shows automatic 2 at a lower angle than Figure 9.
It is a perspective view of a frame seen from the front right side of a wheeled vehicle. FIG. 11 is a right side view of the frame of the two-wheeled motor vehicle, with the idealized position of the driver indicated by a chain line. 11...Front wheel, 12...Rear wheel, M...
Engine, {13...Front frame part, 14...
...Rear frame part, 15...Middle frame part}...F, 16...Neck part, 17, 18, 20, 2
1... Tubular frame member, 29, 30... Horizontal frame member, 36... Seat portion, 42... Backrest portion, 51... Passenger saddle, 60... Support module, 62... Support cushion, 64... License plate, 65... Light, 85, 87,
90, 91...Panel, 67...Petsugu.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A two-wheeled motor vehicle having a front wheel, a rear wheel, and an engine, comprising frame means consisting of a front frame portion, an intermediate frame portion, and a rear frame portion, wherein all of the frame portions are In the two-wheeled motor vehicle comprising a rigid unitary frame for the two-wheeled motor vehicle, the top of the intermediate frame portion defines a horizontal plane substantially below the tops of the other two frame portions. and the aft frame portion has a flat horizontal support member forming a passenger saddle above the top of the intermediate frame portion, the aft frame portion further extending forwardly and downwardly from the horizontal support member. The two-wheeled motor vehicle has a means for mounting a front wheel on the front frame portion, a means for mounting a rear wheel on the rear frame portion, and a motor on the front frame portion. and seat means connected to the inclined flat portion of the rear frame portion and extending forwardly of the passenger saddle and having a seat portion and a backrest portion, the seat portion being connected to the inclined flat portion of the rear frame portion. mounted directly above the intermediate frame portion, said backrest portion extending upwardly and rearwardly and secured to the top of said rear frame portion, thereby being in driving relationship with the motorcycle and in supporting relationship with the seat means; The driver positioned on the seat means has large link angles at the hips, knees, and ankles, and both legs of the driver straddle a front frame portion, and the two-wheeled motor vehicle has a support module having a support cushion on the front side. and means for mounting the support module in a forward or rearward position on an upper portion of the rear frame portion, the support cushion being mounted on the upper back portion of the driver when the support module is secured in the forward position. and the support module covers the passenger saddle so that when the support module is fixed in a rearward position, the passenger saddle is exposed and the lower part of the passenger's torso is connected to the upper back part of the driver and the passenger saddle. A two-wheeled motor vehicle characterized by being supported between a support module and a support cushion. 2. A two-wheeled motor vehicle having a front wheel, a rear wheel, and an engine, comprising a frame means consisting of a front frame portion, an intermediate frame portion, and a rear frame portion, and all of the frame portions of the two-wheeled motor vehicle are a two-wheeled motor vehicle comprising a rigid integral frame for the rear frame portion, wherein the top of the intermediate frame portion defines a horizontal plane substantially below the tops of the other two frame portions; has a flat horizontal support member forming a passenger saddle above the top of the intermediate frame portion, and the aft frame portion further has an angled portion extending forwardly and downwardly from the horizontal support member. The two-wheeled motor vehicle includes means for mounting a front wheel on the front frame portion, means for mounting a rear wheel on the rear frame portion, and means for mounting a motor on the front frame portion. and seat means connected to the inclined flat portion of the rear frame portion and extending forwardly of the passenger saddle and having a seat portion and a backrest portion, the seat portion being directly above the intermediate frame portion. mounted on the seat means, said backrest portion extending upwardly and rearwardly and secured to the top of said rear frame portion, thereby being positioned on said seat means in driving relation to the motorcycle and in supporting relation with said seat means. The driver has large link angles at the hips, knees, and ankles, and both legs of the driver straddle the front frame portion. means for mounting in a forward or rearward position on an upper portion of the rear frame portion, the support cushion supporting the upper back portion of the driver when the support module is fixed in the forward position; The module covers the passenger saddle, and when the support module is fixed in a rearward position, the passenger saddle is exposed and the lower part of the passenger's torso is connected to the upper back part of the rider and the support cushion of the support module. the two-wheeled motor vehicle further includes: a first support member adapted to support the legs of the passenger;
and a second support peg, each support peg being selectively movable between an extended support position and a retracted storage position.