U.S. patent application number 09/805159 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-18 for article storing structure for scooter type vehicle.
Invention is credited to Kamemizu, Fuminori, Tateishi, Seiichi.
Application Number | 20010030438 09/805159 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18589559 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010030438 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kamemizu, Fuminori ; et
al. |
October 18, 2001 |
Article storing structure for scooter type vehicle
Abstract
A lock for a large-sized lid in a shape of flat plate includes a
one piece lock mechanism. In an article storing compartment for a
scooter type vehicle, an article storing chamber is provided at an
inner cover. An opening of the article storing chamber is covered
with an openable/closable lid. The lid is fastened to the inner
cover by means of a swingable first claw. The first claw is locked
by a lock mechanism and the first claw is capable of being
unlatched by a manually operable swing knob attached to the first
claw. The lock mechanism is provided in a position remote from the
first claw. The lid may be fastened to the inner cover by a second
claw extending from a key cylinder of the lock mechanism.
Inventors: |
Kamemizu, Fuminori;
(Saitama, JP) ; Tateishi, Seiichi; (Saitama,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
18589559 |
Appl. No.: |
09/805159 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/37.1 ;
280/288.4; 292/153; 70/264 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 70/7915 20150401;
F02B 61/02 20130101; Y10T 292/1092 20150401; B62K 2202/00 20130101;
E05B 17/2034 20130101; B62H 5/00 20130101; Y10T 292/1031 20150401;
E05B 13/002 20130101; Y10T 70/5832 20150401; Y10T 70/65 20150401;
Y10S 292/23 20130101; B62K 11/10 20130101; B62K 19/46 20130101;
E05C 3/048 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/37.1 ;
280/288.4; 292/153; 70/264 |
International
Class: |
B60R 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 14, 2000 |
JP |
2000-070894 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An article storing structure for a vehicle comprising: a vehicle
body cover; an article storing chamber provided in the vehicle body
cover; a lid for covering an opening in the article storing
chamber, said lid being an openable/closable lid and being secured
in a closed position relative to the vehicle body cover by a
swingable first claw; a lock mechanism for locking the first claw;
and a manually operable swing knob operatively connected to the
first claw for unlatching the first claw to permit said lid to be
opened; said lock mechanism is positioned displaced relative to
said first claw and said lid is secured to a vehicle body cover by
a second claw extending from a key cylinder of said lock
mechanism.
2. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
1, wherein said first claw includes a first end secured to said
swing knob and a distal end projecting outwardly therefrom, a
locking projection is mounted on the distal end of said first claw
for engaging a locking piece of said vehicle body for securing said
cover in a closed position.
3. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
2, and further including biasing means for biasing the first claw
to a first position wherein said locking projection normally
engages said locking piece of said vehicle body.
4. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
3, wherein said biasing means is a spring.
5. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
1, wherein said locking mechanism includes an interlocking pin
operatively mounted between said locking mechanism and said first
claw, said interlocking pin being movable to a first position for
enabling said first claw to open said lid and being movable to a
second position for locking said first claw to prevent the opening
of said lid.
6. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
5, and further including an interlocking cam including a cam groove
mounted for rotation together with said lock mechanism and wherein
said interlocking pin includes a tip section positioned adjacent to
said cam groove for imparting rotary motion to said interlocking
pin when said lock mechanism rotates said cam groove.
7. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
6, and further including a lock cam mounted on said interlocking
pin, said lock cam being in engagement with said first claw when
said interlocking pin is moved to said second position for locking
said first claw to prevent the opening of said lid.
8. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
7, wherein said second claw is secured to said interlocking cam and
is moved to a locking position to provide a second member for
securing the lid relative to the vehicle body when said lock
mechanism is rotated.
9. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
5, and further including a pin support section for rotatably
mounting said interlocking pin relative to said lid.
10. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
9, wherein said swing knob includes a support pin for rotatably
mounting said swing knob relative to said lid and said pin support
section being displaced a predetermined distance relative to said
support pin.
11. An article storing structure for a vehicle comprising: an
article storing chamber including an opening for access to said
storing chamber; a lid for covering s aid opening in the article
storing chamber, said lid being normally secured in a closed
position relative to the article storing chamber by a swingable
first claw; a lock mechanism for locking the first claw; and a
manually operable swing knob operatively connected to the first
claw for unlatching the first claw to permit said lid to be opened;
said lock mechanism is positioned displaced relative to said first
claw and said lid is secured to said article storing chamber by a
second claw extending from a key cylinder of said lock
mechanism.
12. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
11, wherein said first claw includes a first end secured to said
swing knob and a distal end projecting outwardly therefrom, a
locking projection is mounted on the distal end of said first claw
for engaging a locking piece of said article storing chamber for
securing said cover in a closed position.
13. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
12, and further including biasing means for biasing the first claw
to a first position wherein said locking projection normally
engages said locking piece of said article storing chamber.
14. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
13, wherein said biasing means is a spring.
15. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
11, wherein said locking mechanism includes an interlocking pin
operatively mounted between said locking mechanism and said first
claw, said interlocking pin being movable to a first position for
enabling said first claw to open said lid and being movable to a
second position for locking said first claw to prevent the opening
of said lid.
16. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
15, and further including an interlocking cam including a cam
groove mounted for rotation together with said key cylinder of said
lock mechanism and wherein said interlocking pin includes a tip
section positioned adjacent to said cam groove for imparting rotary
motion to said interlocking pin when said key cylinder of said lock
mechanism rotates said cam groove.
17. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
16, and further including a lock cam mounted on said interlocking
pin, said lock cam being in engagement with said first claw when
said interlocking pin is moved to said second position for locking
said first claw to prevent the opening of said lid.
18. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
17, wherein said second claw is secured to said interlocking cam
and is moved to a locking position to provide a second member for
securing the lid relative to the article storing chamber when said
lock mechanism is rotated.
19. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
15, and further including a pin support section for rotatably
mounting said interlocking pin relative to said lid.
20. The article storing structure for a vehicle according to claim
19, wherein said swing knob includes a support pin for rotatably
mounting said swing knob relative to said lid and said pin support
section being displaced a predetermined distance relative to said
support pin.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an article storing
structure for a scooter type vehicle.
[0003] 2. Description of Background Art
[0004] A scooter type vehicle such as a motorcycle includes a cover
for the vehicle body and an article storing chamber in one section
of the vehicle body cover. The article storing chamber includes an
openable/closable lid that is provided with a key type lock
mechanism to the lid for closing the article storing chamber. The
lid can be locked by swinging a lock claw with a key inserted into
a key hole of the lock mechanism and by fastening the lock claw to
the vehicle body cover.
[0005] Two types of systems are available for locking the lid by
means of the key. A system for opening the lid while holding the
key as well as for locking the lid with the key and a system for
combining the key to lock the lid with a swing knob manually
operated in order to open the lid. Either of the systems provides a
method to lock the lid by swinging one piece of the locking claw
with the key and by fastening the locking claw to a vehicle body
cover.
[0006] An example of the first system is disclosed, for instance,
in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication H 11-208551 entitled
"Article Storing Device for Scooter Type Vehicle."
[0007] In this Japanese publication, according to FIG. 2 and FIG.
6, a second article storing chamber 24 is provided in a leg shield
21 of a vehicle body cover 12, an opening of the second article
storing chamber 24 is constituted so as to be covered with an
openable/closable lid 25. The lid 25 can be locked by means of a
lock device, not illustrated, mounted on a lock device embedding
recessed section 39 of the lid 25.
[0008] By the way, in the above-identified systems, the lid is made
to be large-sized in association with an increase in capacity of
the article storing chamber or the lid is made in a shape of flat
plate in terms of designing a vehicle body cover. Even in these
cases, it is preferable that the lid is capable of being securely
locked without increasing the rigidity of the lid.
[0009] However, in the above-identified systems, the lid is locked
by fastening one piece of lock claw on the lid side to the vehicle
body cover, and there is a limit in locking the lid by securely
utilizing only one piece of a lock claw without increasing the
rigidity of the lid. With regard to these aspects, it is considered
that a plurality of lock mechanisms may be provided in the lid.
However, this is not a wise practice, since a lock operation may
become troublesome and the number of component items is
increased.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a locking
mechanism for a lid having a large size and in a shape of flat
plate by one piece of a locking mechanism in a simple
operation.
[0011] In order to achieve the object described above, a first
aspect of the invention is characterized in an article storing
structure for a scooter type vehicle, wherein an article storing
chamber is provided at a vehicle body cover for a scooter type
vehicle, an opening of the article storing chamber is covered with
an openable/closable lid, the lid is fastened to the vehicle body
cover by a swingable first claw, the first claw is locked by a lock
mechanism, and the first claw is capable of being unlatched by
means of a manually operable swing knob provided with the first
claw, wherein the lock mechanism is provided at a remote position
from the first claw, and the lid is fastened to a vehicle body
cover even by a second claw extending from a key cylinder of the
lock mechanism.
[0012] The lid can simultaneously be locked by two pieces of claws,
having a first claw and a second claw resides in a position remote
from the first claw by a key-operating one piece of a lock
mechanism.
[0013] 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 DRAWINGS
[0014] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a side elevational view illustrating a scooter
type vehicle according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view illustrating an inner cover
according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view illustrating an inner cover,
an article storing chamber, and a lid according to the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal sectional view illustrating
around a lid and a swing knob according to the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal sectional view illustrating
around a lid and a lock mechanism according to the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view illustrating the
relationship of the swing knob, a lock mechanism, and an
interlocking mechanism according to the present invention; and
[0021] FIG. 7 shows a view illustrating an operation of an article
storing structure according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present Invention will be
explained on the basis of the attached drawings. The terms "front,"
"rear," "left," "right," "above," and "below" are followed in the
direction as viewed from the driver, symbol Fr denotes a front
side, symbol Rr denotes a rear side, symbol L denotes a left side,
and symbol R denotes a right side.
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a side elevation view illustrating a scooter
type vehicle according to the present invention.
[0024] A scooter type vehicle 10 includes a vehicle frame 11, a
front fork 13 and a front wheel 14 mounted steerably on a front
section head pipe 12 of the vehicle body frame 11. An open/close
type seat 15 covers an upper section of a luggage box, which is not
illustrated, mounted on the rear section of the vehicle body frame
11. A power unit 16 is arranged downwardly of the seat 15. A rear
wheel 17 is mounted on the rear section of the power unit 16. A
rear shock absorber 18 is provided in which a rear end of the power
unit 16 is suspended from the rear end of the vehicle body frame
11. A vehicle body cover 20 is provided for covering the vehicle
body frame (vehicle body) 11.
[0025] The vehicle body cover 20 includes a front cover 21 for
covering a front section of the head pipe 12 and an upper section
of the front wheel 14, an inner cover 22 for covering a rear
section of the front cover 21, a left/right floor steps 23 for
resting the feet of the driver. In FIG. 1, only one side thereof is
illustrated, a left/right floor skirts 24 extends downward from an
outer edge of the floor step 23, the center cover 25 for covering
the longitudinal center of the vehicle body frame 11 extends
rearward from the inner cover 22. In addition, side covers 26 are
provided for covering both side surfaces of the rear section of the
vehicle body frame 11 and extend rearwardly from the center cover
25.
[0026] In FIG. 1, a handlebar 31, a handlebar cover 32, a wind
screen 33, a head lamp 34, a front fender 35, a main stand 36, a
tail lamp 37, a rear fender 38 and 39 denotes a storing box 39 are
provided.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view illustrating an inner cover
according to the present invention, and illustrating the inner
cover viewed from a back face side.
[0028] An inner cover 22 is a vehicle body cover provided with a
lid 43 for covering an opening of an article storing chamber, which
will be described later. The lid 43 presents substantially in a
flat plate shape conformed to a shape of the inner cover 22 and is
a laterally long, comparatively large in size, and
openable/closable member conformed to the opening of the article
storing chamber. The lid 43 is mounted at the lower section thereof
on the inner cover 22 via left and right hinges 44 and 44 and is
provided with a swing knob 51 in the upper section center of a
vehicle width. A lock mechanism 60 is positioned at a position
remote from the swing knob 51 to the right or left by a prescribed
distance X. A key hole 65 is provided for the lock mechanism
60.
[0029] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view illustrating an inner cover,
an article storing chamber, and a lid according to the present
invention, and illustrating a longitudinally sectional structure in
the center of a vehicle width.
[0030] An article storing chamber 41 includes an opening 42 thereof
to a back face side. A resin made box is integrally provided with
the front cover 21 (refer to FIG. 1) or the inner cover 22 out of
the vehicle body cover 20. The chamber includes the opening 42 that
is covered with the lid 43. The lid 43 includes a hinge 44
extending from a lower end section thereof. The lid 43 is mounted
longitudinally and swingably on a hinge bracket 45 of the inner
cover 22, an inner member 46 overlaps with an inner surface of the
lid so as to be fixed by vis-fastening or the like. The inclusion
of the inner member 46 may be optionally selected.
[0031] FIG. 4 shows a longitudinally sectional view illustrating a
lid and a swing knob according to the present invention. FIG. 4
illustrates that a knob mounting recessed section 47 is formed on
an upper section of the lid 43. The swing knob 51 is longitudinally
and swingably mounted on this knob mounting recessed section 47 by
means of a support pin 52.
[0032] The swing knob 51 includes a finger hooking section 53
extending downwardly from a swing central section. A swingable
first claw 54 extends frontwardly from the swing central section. A
locking projection section 55 is positioned forwardly at a tip
upper section of the first claw 54 and is a manually operable knob.
The locking projection section 55 is capable of fastening to a
locking piece 22a extending frontwardly from the inner cover
22.
[0033] A return spring 56 is interposed between the lid 43 and the
first claw 54 in order to elastically repulse the swing knob 51 in
a direction to fasten the locking projection 55 of the first claw
54 to the locking piece 22a. The return spring 56 is, for example,
"a twist spring" or "a plate spring." More specifically, one end of
the return spring 56 is hooked on one section of the lid 43 and the
other end of the return spring 56 is hooked to a lower surface of
the first claw 54. In FIG. 4 a stopper 57 and an opening section
sealing packing 58 are provided.
[0034] The swing knob 51 is interlocked with the lock mechanism 60
(refer to FIG. 3) via a locking mechanism 70. The locking mechanism
70 is provided with a pin support section 71 integrally formed with
the lid 43. Interlocking pin 72 is rotatably supported to the pin
support section 71. A lock cam 73 is fixed to the interlocking pin
72. The lock cam 73 is a cam for fastening the locking projection
section 55 to the locking piece 22a by pushing upwardly the lower
surface of the first claw 54. To put it in other words, the first
claw 54 can be pushed by the lock cam 73 in a direction to fasten
the first claw 54 to the locking piece 22a.
[0035] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section view illustrating around
a lid and a lock mechanism according to the present invention and
illustrates that a lock mechanism mounting recessed section 48 is
formed on an upper section of the lid 43 and that the lock
mechanism 60 is mounted on this lock mechanism mounting recessed
section 48.
[0036] The lock mechanism 60 is a well-known cylinder lock
conventionally used for locking a lid in an article storing
structure of a scooter type vehicle, the mechanism 60 is provided
with a key cylinder 61 mounted on the lock mechanism mounting
recessed section 48, with a shaft 63 rotated by means of a key 62
inserted into a key hole incorporated in the key cylinder 61, and
with a second claw 64 extending in cylinder diametrical direction
from a tip section of the shaft 63.
[0037] The lock mechanism 60 described above is a mechanism capable
of being locked through setting a plurality of tumblers (not
illustrated) inside the key cylinder 61 by inserting the key 62 in
the key hole, through turning the shaft 63 by turning the inserted
key 62, through turning the second claw 64 together with the shaft
63, and through fastening it to a lock hole 22b of the inner cover
22. Accordingly, the lid 43 can be fastened to the inner cover 22
by means of the second claw 64 extended from the key cylinder 61 of
the lock mechanism 60.
[0038] By the way, the lock mechanism 64 is characterized in that
an interlocking cam 74 of the inter locking mechanism 70 is mounted
on the second claw 64 by means of a vis 75. The interlocking cam 74
is a cam member substantially in a shape of cup provided so as to
surround an end section of the lock mechanism 60, and is formed of
a cam groove 76 on a circumferential surface. A tip section 72a of
an interlocking pin 72 engages the cam groove 76.
[0039] FIGS. 6(a) and (b) show perspective views illustrating a
relationship between the swing knob, the lock mechanism, and an
interlocking mechanism according to the present invention, and
viewed from a forward side of the vehicle body.
[0040] FIG. 6(a) illustrates a locked state by providing the second
claw 64 of the lock mechanism 60 at a position remote to the right
or left from the first claw 54 of the swing knob 51 by the
prescribed distance X, and by hooking the second claw 64 to the
lock hole 22b for fastening. FIG. 6(b) illustrates an unlatched
state by disengaging the second claw 64 from the lock hole 22b.
[0041] The tip section 72a of the inter locking pin 72 is the
section off-centered from the rotary center P supported on a pin
supporting section 71 by a prescribed distance. Accordingly, when
the interlocking cam 74 together with the second claw 64 are
rotated, the cam groove 76 rotates the tip section 72a of the
interlocking pin 72 and thus the interlocking pin 72 is rotated. In
the mean time, the interlocking pin 72 may well be elastically
biased by means of a return spring in a direction pushing a lower
surface of the first claw 54 by means of a lock cam 73 illustrated
in FIG. 6(a).
[0042] Next, an operation of an article storing structure of the
constitution described above will be explained with reference to
FIGS. 6(a), 6(b) and 7(a) to 7(d).
[0043] FIGS. 7(a) to (d) are views illustrating an operation of an
article storing structure according to the present invention.
[0044] FIG. 7(a) and FIG. 7(b) illustrate states pulling a finger
hooking section 53 of the swing knob 51 to this side by a hand H
for positioning the lock mechanism 60 in an unlatched state. At
this moment, the lock cam 73 is tumbled, and the locking projection
section 55 of the first claw 54 is disengaged from the locking
piece 22a. The lid 43 can be opened by pulling the finger hooking
section 53 by the hand H.
[0045] On the other hand, in a state of FIG. 7(b), when the hand H
is disengaged from the finger hooking section 53, the swing knob 51
swings clockwise in FIG. 7(b) due to elastic biasing force of the
return spring 56. As a result, the locking projection section 55 is
fastened to the locking piece 22a.
[0046] Next, as illustrated in FIG. 6(b), the second claw 64 is
rotated clockwise in FIG. 6(b), the interlocking cam 74 is also
rotated in the same direction by rotating the key after inserting
it into the keyhole of the lock mechanism 60. When the interlocking
cam 74 is rotated, an edge section 76a of the cam groove 76 pushes
the tip section 72a of the interlocking pin 72 and is made swing
the pin 72. As a result, the cam 74, the claws 54 and 64 are
positioned in the state as illustrated in FIG. 7(c) and FIG.
7(d).
[0047] FIG. 7(c) and FIG. 7(d) illustrate the lid 43 fastened to
the inner cover 22 by pushing the first claw 54 upwardly and
fastening it to the locking piece 22a by means of the lock cam 73.
The lid 43 is fastened to the inner cover 22 by fastening the
second claw 64 to the lock hole 22b.
[0048] The present invention, as stated above, includes the lid 43
fastened to the inner cover 22 by means of the first claw 54 and
the first claw is locked by means of the lock mechanism 60. The lid
43 is fastened to the inner cover 22 also by means of the second
claw 64 of the lock mechanism 60 and the second claw is also locked
by means of the lock mechanism 60. That is, the lid 43 is locked by
means of two pieces of claws with the first claw 54 and the second
claw 64 positioned remote from the first claw 54 by the prescribed
distance X.
[0049] Accordingly, only one piece of the lock mechanism 60 is key
operated, two positions to the left and right of the lid 43 can
simultaneously be locked or unlatched. Therefore, even if a lid
having large size or a lid in a shape of a flat plate, the lid 43
can surely be locked or unlatched in the simple operation by means
of one piece of a lock mechanism 60.
[0050] Further, since a lid is locked by means of the first claw 54
and the second claw 64 reside in positions remote from each other,
the edge of the lid 43 can be accurately conformed relative to the
edge of the opening 42 in the article storing chamber 41.
Accordingly, the external appearance of a scooter type vehicle is
enhanced. In addition, there is no necessity to increase the
rigidity of the lid 43 such as in a case where the lid 43 having
large size or the lid 43 in a shape of flat plate is locked by only
one piece of a claw, so that the storing chamber is capable of
being accurately locked.
[0051] In the mean time, in the embodiment of the present invention
described above, the article storing chamber 41 may well be the
chamber provided in the vehicle body cover 20, and is not limited
to the constitution being provided in the inner cover 22.
[0052] Further, the distance X from the first claw 54 to the lock
mechanism 60 may well be set appropriately by taking into
consideration a shape, dimension, and the rigidity of the lid
43.
[0053] The present invention exhibits the following effects by the
constitution described above.
[0054] In the first aspect, an opening of an article storing
chamber provided at a vehicle body cover is covered with an
openable/closable lid, the lid is fastened to the vehicle body
cover by means of a swingable first claw, the first claw is locked
by a lock mechanism, and the first claw is capable of being
unlatched by means of a manually operable swing knob provided with
the first claw, wherein the lock mechanism is provided at a
position remote from the first claw, since the lid can be fastened
to the vehicle body cover even by means of the second claw
extending from a key cylinder of the lock mechanism, only through a
key operation of one piece of lock mechanism. Thus, two locations
of the lid are capable of simultaneously being locked or unlatched.
Thereby, even if the lid having large size or the lid in a shape of
flat plate, the lid can be surely locked or unlatched by a simple
operation by means of one piece of the lock mechanism.
[0055] In addition, since the lid is locked by the first claw and
the second claw reside at positions remote from each other, an edge
of the lid can be accurately conformed to an edge of the opening in
the article storing chamber. Accordingly, an external appearance
property of a scooter type vehicle is greatly enhanced. Besides,
the constitution enables the lid to be accurately locked without
increasing the rigidity of the lid as in a case where the lid
having a large size or the lid in a shape of flat shape is locked
by means of only one piece of claw.
[0056] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are intended to be included within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *