U.S. patent number RE34,072 [Application Number 07/411,305] was granted by the patent office on 1992-09-22 for motorcycle.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Toshimitsu Asakura, Tomoyuki Tagami.
United States Patent |
RE34,072 |
Asakura , et al. |
September 22, 1992 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Motorcycle
Abstract
A motorcycle includes a fuel tank mounted on a frame along a
length thereof, and an elongated seat mounted on the frame above
the fuel tank along the length of said frame, the seat having a
bottom having a portion extending along the length thereof and
disposed in spaced opposed relation to an upper surface of the fuel
tank to form an air intake passageway therebetween. The passageway
has an open front end opening toward the front end of the frame and
having a rear open end. The seat has a front end disposed near a
front end of the fuel tank so that the seat covers generally the
entire upper surface of the fuel tank. An air cleaner is
operatively connected to an engine and is disposed rearwardly of
the fuel tank. The rear open end of the passageway is in
communication with the air cleaner whereby the ambient air can be
fed to the air cleaner through the air intake passageway.
Inventors: |
Asakura; Toshimitsu (Waki,
JP), Tagami; Tomoyuki (Soka, JP) |
Assignee: |
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki
Kaisha (Tokyo, JP)
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Family
ID: |
27530622 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/411,305 |
Filed: |
September 22, 1989 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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158246 |
Feb 19, 1988 |
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Reissue of: |
813254 |
Dec 24, 1985 |
4694924 |
Sep 22, 1987 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Dec 28, 1984 [JP] |
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59-278917 |
Dec 29, 1984 [JP] |
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59-276553 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
180/68.3;
180/229 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62J
1/12 (20130101); B62J 35/00 (20130101); B62K
11/00 (20130101); B62K 11/04 (20130101); F02M
35/162 (20130101); F02B 61/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B62J
1/12 (20060101); B62J 1/00 (20060101); B62K
11/00 (20060101); B62K 11/04 (20060101); B62J
35/00 (20060101); F02M 35/00 (20060101); F02M
35/16 (20060101); F02B 61/00 (20060101); F02B
61/02 (20060101); B62K 005/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;180/219,225,229,68.3
;280/5A,210,212,215,216 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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54-136250 |
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Sep 1979 |
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JP |
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54-34343 |
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Oct 1979 |
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JP |
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56-111090 |
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Aug 1981 |
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JP |
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62-218295 |
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Sep 1987 |
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JP |
|
Primary Examiner: Kashnikow; Andres
Assistant Examiner: Camby; Richard
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Darby & Darby
Parent Case Text
.Iadd.Cross-References to copending reissue applications
This is a continuation of U.S. Reissue Patent application Ser. No.
158,246, filed Feb. 19, 1988, now abandoned which is a reissue of
06/813,254 Dec. 24, 1985 U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,924. .Iaddend.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A .[.motorcycle.]. .Iadd.multiple-wheeled motorized vehicle
.Iaddend.comprising:
(a) an elongated frame having front and rear ends;
(b) an engine mounted on said frame;
(c) a fuel tank mounted on said frame above said engine and having
an upper surface extending along a length of the frame;
(d) an elongated seat mounted on said frame .[.above said fuel
tank.]. .Iadd.to extend .Iaddend.along the length of said frame,
said seat having a bottom having a portion extending along the
length thereof and disposed in spaced opposed relation to said
upper surface of said fuel tank to define an air intake passageway
therebetween, said passageway having an open front end opening
toward the front end of said frame and having a rear open end, said
seat having a front end disposed .[.near to a front end of.].
.Iadd.in overlying relationship to .Iaddend.said fuel tank so that
said seat covers .Iadd.at least a rear end portion of .Iaddend.said
upper surface .[.of.]. .Iadd.positioned above .Iaddend.said fuel
tank .[.generally entirely.].; and
(e) an air cleaner operatively connected to said engine and
disposed rearwardly of said fuel tank, the rear open end of said
passageway being in communication with said air cleaner whereby the
ambient air can be fed to said air cleaner through said air intake
passageway.
2. A .[.motorcycle.]. .Iadd.multiple-wheeled motorized vehicle
.Iaddend.according to claim 1, in which .[.said seat comprises a
bottom plate of a generally inverted U-shaped cross-section and a
cushioning member of a resilient material secured on an upper
surface of said bottom plate,.]. a front end of said bottom plate
.[.terminating slightly.]. .Iadd.terminates .Iaddend.short of a
front end of said cushioning member, so that said front end portion
of said cushioning member can be flexed vertically, said front end
portion of said cushioning member being disposed above a front end
portion of said fuel tank in opposed relation thereto, said fuel
tank having a fuel inlet provided at the front end portion of said
fuel tank in opposed relation to said front end portion of said
cushioning member, and an upper portion of said fuel tank being
received in a lower portion of said bottom plate of an inverted
U-shaped cross-section in contiguous relation thereto to define
said air intake passageway therebetween.
3. A .[.motorcycle.]. .Iadd.multiple-wheeled motorized vehicle
.Iaddend.according to claim 2, in which said fuel tank has a pair
of opposed bulged portions formed on the upper surface thereof
adjacent to lateral edges thereof at the front end portion thereof,
said front end portion of said cushioning member being of a
generally inverted U-shaped cross-section, and said pair of bulged
portions being received in said front end portion of said
cushioning member in contiguous relation thereto.
4. A .[.motorcycle.]. .Iadd.multiple-wheeled motorized vehicle
.Iaddend.according to claim 2, in which said fuel inlet is offset
from a medium plane of said fuel tank.
5. A .[.motorcycle.]. .Iadd.multiple-wheeled motorized vehicle
.Iaddend.according to claim 1, in which .[.said seat comprises a
bottom plate of a generally inverted U-shaped cross-section,.]. a
seal plate .[.being.]. .Iadd.is .Iaddend.interposed between said
fuel tank and said air cleaner and received in a lower portion of
said bottom plate to form a rear portion of said air intake
passageway.
6. A .[.motorcycle.]. .Iadd.multiple-wheeled motorized vehicle
.Iaddend.according to claim 1, in which .[.said seat comprises a
bottom plate of a generally inverted U-shaped cross-section,.].
there .[.being.]. .Iadd.is .Iaddend.provided an elongated cover
plate interposed between said bottom plate and said fuel tank and
secured to said bottom plate, said cover plate being received in a
lower portion of said bottom plate and extending therealong to form
said air-intake passageway.
7. A .[.motorcycle.]. .Iadd.multiple-wheeled motorized vehicle
.Iaddend.according to claim 6, in which said cover plate is secured
at its rear end to said bottom plate to close the rear end of said
air intake passageway, a rear end portion of said cover plate
having an aperture through which said air intake passageway
communicates with said air cleaner.
8. A .[.motorcycle.]. .Iadd.multiple-wheeled motorized vehicle
.Iaddend.according to claim 6, in which said cover plate is of a
generally U-shaped cross-section, the upper surface of said fuel
tank being longitudinally recessed centrally of the width thereof
to provide a longitudinal recess, and said U-shaped cover plate
being snugly received in said recess.
9. A .[.motorocycle.]. .Iadd.multiple-wheeled motorized vehicle
.Iaddend.according to claim 1, in which .[.said seat comprises a
bottom plate of a generally inverted U-shaped cross-section,.].
said bottom plate .[.being.]. .Iadd.is .Iaddend.convex downwardly
intermediate opposite ends thereto to provide a corner portion
defined by a front wall and a rear wall extending rearwardly
therefrom at an angle, said front wall being disposed in contiguous
relation to the rear end of said fuel tank to close the rear end of
said air intake passageway, there being provided a closure plate
secured to the upper surface of said bottom plate to close said
corner portion to form a second passageway, said closure plate
being held in contact with the bottom of said seat, said front wall
having a first aperture formed therethrough through which said air
intake passageway communicates with said second passageway, said
first aperture being disposed at a level above the upper surface of
the rear end of said fuel tank, and said rear wall having a second
aperture through which said second passageway communicates with
said air cleaner.
10. A .[.motorocycle.]. .Iadd.multiple-wheeled motorized vehicle
.Iaddend.according to claim 7, in which said air cleaner comprises
a housing attached to said frame, and an air cleaner element
mounted within said housing and disposed adjacent to said aperture
through the rear end portion of said cover plate to cover it.
11. A .[.motorcycle.]. .Iadd.multiple- wheeled motorized vehicle
.Iaddend.according to claim 2, in which a flexible end member of a
hollow construction is fitted on said front end portion of said
cushioning member and secured to the front end of said bottom
plate, said end member having a central recess at its front end,
said fuel tank being raised at its front end to provide a neck
disposed centrally of the width thereof, and said neck being fitted
in said central recess of said end member. .Iadd.
12. A multiple-wheeled motorized vehicle according to claim 1, in
which said seat comprises a bottom plate of a generally inverted
U-shaped cross-section and a cushioning member of a resilient
material disposed on an upper surface of said bottom plate, said
bottom plate extending along the length of said frame and disposed
above at least said rear end portion of said upper surface
positioned above said fuel tank in spaced opposite relation to said
upper surface of said fuel tank to define said air intake
passageway therebetween, said passageway having a front open end
disposed in overlying relationship to said fuel tank, said
cushioning member being disposed above at least said rear end
portion of said upper surface of said fuel tank so as to cover at
least said rear end portion of said upper surface of said fuel
tank. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. A multiple-wheeled motorized vehicle
according to claim 12, in which said bottom plate extends almost
the entire length of said fuel tank, said passageway having a front
open end disposed near to a front end portion of said fuel tank.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A multiple-wheeled motorized vehicle according
to claim 13, in which said cushioning member covers said upper
surface of said fuel tank generally entirely. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to motorcycles and particularly to
air intake passageway means for feeding the ambient air to air
cleaner.
2. Prior Art
Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 54-136250
discloses a conventional motorcycle in which a fuel tank has a
bottom wall of an inverted U-shaped cross-section and is mounted on
a main pipe of a frame in spaced straddling relation thereto to
provide a passageway therebetween, the main pipe extending
rearwardly from a head pipe of the frame and slanting rearwardly.
This passageway constitutes an air intake passageway and
communicates at its rear end with an inlet of an air cleaner for
feeding the ambient air thereto.
Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 56-111090
discloses another conventional motorcycle which comprises a fuel
tank having a bottom wall of an inverted U-shaped cross-section,
and a plate of an inverted U-shaped cross-section received in the
bottom wall of the fuel tank in spaced relation thereto provide a
passageway therebetween, the plate being disposed astride of a main
pipe of a frame. This passageway defines an air intake passageway
connected to an inlet of an air cleaner.
Each of the above conventional air intake passageways is provided
inside of the fuel tank, so that the fuel tank becomes rather
bulky. In addition, since the above conventional fuel tanks have a
unique configuration, the processing of them is rather cumbersome.
Further, the air intake passageway can not be provided, using
ordinary fuel tanks.
Japanese Utility Model Application .[.Laid-Open (Kokai).].
.Iadd.examined (Kokoku) .Iaddend.No. 54-34343 discloses a
motorcycle in which a seat is extended forwardly to cover a fuel
cap closing an inlet of a fuel tank so as to prevent any damage to
the fuel cap. The seat is hingedly mounted on the frame for angular
movement so that the fuel cap is accessible. However, each time the
fuel tank is to be filled with fuel, the seat must be angularly
moved to gain access to the fuel cap. This operation is
cumbersome.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a motorcycle
in which an air intake passageway can be provided without having to
increase the size of a fuel tank unduly.
Another object is to provide such a motorcycle in which a seat is
so arranged as to cover generally the entire upper surface of the
fuel tank in such a manner that a fuel cap on the upper surface of
the fuel tank is easily accessible.
According to the present invention, there is provided a motorcycle
comprising:
(a) an elongated frame having front and rear ends;
(b) an engine mounted on said frame;
(c) a fuel tank mounted on said frame above said engine and having
an upper surface extending along a length of the frame;
(d) an elongated seat mounted on said frame above said fuel tank
along the length of said frame, said seat having a bottom having a
portion extending along the length thereof and disposed in spaced
opposed relation to said upper surface of said fuel tank to form an
air intake passageway therebetween, said passageway having an open
front end opening toward the front end of said frame and having a
rear open, said seat having a front end disposed near to a front
end of said fuel tank so that said seat covers said upper surface
of said fuel tank generally entirely; and
(e) an air cleaner operatively connected to said engine and
disposed rearwardly of said fuel tank, the rear open end of said
passageway being in communication with said air cleaner whereby the
ambient air can be fed to said air cleaner through said air intake
passageway.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view of a motorcycle provided in
accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the
motorcycle;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III--III of
FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line IV--IV of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V--V of FIG.
2;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI--VI of
FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a modified form of
the invention;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII--VIII of
FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing another modified
form of the invention;
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X--X of FIG.
9;
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI--XI of
FIG. 9;
FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a further modified
form of the invention;
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a further
modified motorcycle;
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a further
modified motorcycle;
FIG. 15 is a partly-broken, perspective view of front protions of
the seat and fuel tank;
FIG. 16 is a view taken along the line XVI--XVI of FIG. 14;
FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the fron portion of the seat;
FIG. 18 is a view of a portion of a further modified motorcycle;
and
FIG. 19 is a view taken along the line XIX--XIX of FIG. 18.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings
in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts in
several views.
A .Iadd.multi-wheeled motorized vehicle is a vehicle that has a
plurality of wheels and is motor driven such as a
.Iaddend.motorcycle 10 shown in FIG. 1 .Iadd.which
.Iaddend.comprises an elongated frame 12, an engine 14 mounted on
the frame 12, and an air cleaner 16 connected to a connecting tube
18 leading to a carburetor 20. The frame 12 includes a generally
vertically-disposed head pipe 12a, a main pipe 12b extending
rearwardly from the head pipe 12a, a pair of parallel seat rails
12c (FIG. 2) extending rearwardly from the main pipe 12b, and a
loop portion 12d for supporting the engine 14. Connected to the
head pipe 12a is a front fork 22 supporting a front wheel 24
through a front axle. A front fender 26 is mounted on the front
fork 22. A steering handle 28 is also mounted on the head pipe 12a.
A fuel tank 30 is mounted on the main pipe 12b, and a seat 32 is
mounted on the seat rails 12c. A swing arms 34 of the cantilever
type, only one which is shown in the drawings, are secured to a
rear end portion of the frame 12 to support a rear wheel 36 through
a rear axle.
As best shown in FIG. 2, the main pipe 12b slants downwardly
rearwardly. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hollow fuel tank 30 is
defined by a pair of parallel spaced major portions 30a and 30a of
a generally triangular shape and an connective portion 30b
extending along the main pipe 12 and interconnecting the major
portions 30a and 30a at their upper ends, so that when viewed from
the front of the fuel tank 30, it has the shape of a generally
inverted U-shape. As best shown in FIG. 2, an upper wall 30c of the
connective portion 30b is disposed generally parallel to the main
pipe 12b except for its front end section 30d which is disposed
generally horizontally, the outer surface of the upper wall 30c
defining an upper surface of the fuel tank 30. As shown in FIG. 4,
the connective portion 30b has a pair of laterally-spaced bulged
sections 30e and 30e formed on and projecting upwardly from the
front end section 30d of the upper wall 30c. The fuel tank 30 is
secured to the frame 12 with a recess 30f, defined by the pair of
opposed major portions 30a and 30a the connective portion 30b,
being fitted on the main pipe 12b. A fuel inlet 40 through which
the fuel tank 30 is charged with fuel is provided in the front end
section 30d of the upper wall 30c, and a fuel cap 42 is removably
fitted in the fuel inlet 40.
The seat 32 is mounted on the frame 12 above the fuel tank 30, and
comprises an elongated cushioning member 43 of a resilient material
having a longitudinal groove 43a of a generally inverted U-shaped
cross-sectional formed in a bottom thereof, and an elongated rigid
bottom plate 44 of a generally inverted channel-shaped
cross-section fitted in the groove 43a and secured thereto, the
bottom plate 44 being made of a synthetic resin and defined by a
base 44a and a pair of opposed arms 44b and 44b interconnected by
the base 44a at their upper edges, as best shown in FIG. 3. The
base 44a of the bottom plate 44 is curved convexly downwardly
intermediate opposite ends thereof and includes a front portion 44c
slanting downwardly rearwardly and disposed above the upper surface
of the fuel tank 30 is spaced opposed relation thereto, and a rear
portion 44d slanting upwardly rearwardly. The front end of the
cushioning member 43 is disposed slightly rearwardly of the front
end of the fuel tank 30, and a front end portion 43b of the
cushioning member 43 is disposed above the front end section 30d of
the connective portion 30b in opposed relation thereto, so that the
upper surface of the fuel tank 30 is generally entirely covered by
the seat 32 .Iadd.in an overlying relationship.Iaddend.. The front
end of the bottom plate 44 terminates slightly short of the front
end of the cushioning member 43, so that the front end portion 43b
of the cushioning member 43 can be flexed or bent vertically. The
front end portion 43b of an inverted U-shaped cross-section and the
bottom plate 44 of an inverted U-shaped cross-section jointly
provide a downwardly-opening continuous recess or groove 47
extending along the length of the seat 32.
A hook 48 is secured to an underside of the base 44a at a corner
portion 44e thereof into which the front and rear portions 44c and
44d merge. A transverse strip 50 extends between the pair of
opposed arms 44b and 44b of the seat bottom plate 44 in spaced
relation to the base 44a and riveted thereto. A hook 52 is secured
to the upper wall 30c of the fuel tank 30 adjacent to the front end
section 30d. The transverse strip 50 engaged with the hook 52, and
the hook 48 is engage with a transverse pipe 54 extending between
and secured to the parallel spaced seat rails 12c and 12c. Further,
the rear end portion of the bottom plate 44 is fastened to the pair
of seat rails 12c and 12c through a pair of brackets 56 only of
which is shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the seat 32 is held against
movement relative to the frame 12.
The air clear 16 is mounted on the frame 12 beneath the corner
portion 44e of the seat 32 and is disposed rearwardly of the fuel
tank 30. A transverse seal plate 60 of a generally triangular
cross-section is interposed between the fuel tank 30 and the air
cleaner 16 and extends between the pair of opposed arms 44b and 44b
of the bottom plate 44 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the seal plate 60
being attached to the seat rails 12c and 12c in spaced relation to
the base 44a.
The connective portion 33b of the fuel tank 30 is received in the
recess 47 of the seat 32 to provide a first passageway 58 between
the bottom of the seat 32 and the upper surface of the fuel tank
30. More specifically, those portions of the opposed arms 44b and
44b lying between the front end of the bottom plate 44 and a point
adjacent to the seal plate 60 flare downwardly at their lower
portions and are curved away from each other. The connective
portion 33b is reduced in width at its upper portion, and the
opposite sides of this reduced upper portion are disposed in
contiguous relation to the curved lower portions of the arms 44b
and 44b, respectively, to provide a labyrinth seal therebetween.
The fuel cap 42 is disposed adjacent to an inlet 58a of the first
passageway 58. The inlet 58a of the first passageway 58 is directed
toward the head pipe 12a. As best shown in FIG. 2, the fuel tank 30
terminates short of the corner portion 44e of the seat 32. The
bottom of the seat 32 and the seal plate 60 define a second
passageway 62 which leading to an inlet 16a of the air cleaner 16.
And, the first and second passageways 58 and 62 jointly provide a
continuous air intake passageway 64.
As best shown in FIG. 4, the fuel inlet 40 is offset from the
median plane or the center line of the fuel tank 30, that is to
say, from the center of the connective portion 30b. If the fuel
inlet 40 is provided at the center of the connective portion 30b,
the fuel inlet 40 is disposed too close to the bottom of the
connective portion 30b, so that the liquid level in the fuel tank
can not be inspected clearly. The pair of opposed bulged portions
30e and 30e are received in the front end portion 43b of the
cushioning member 43 in contiguous relation to the inner surfaces
of opposed arms 43c and 43c thereof to provide a labyrinth seal
therebetween.
With this construction, during the running of the motorcycle 10,
the ambient air is introduced into the inlet 58 of the passageway
58, that is to say, the inlet of the air intake passageway 64, and
is fed through the passageway 64 to the air cleaner 16. Since the
air intake passageway 64 is provided above the fuel tank 30, that
is to say between the seat 32 and the fuel tank 30, the size of the
fuel tank 30 is not unduly increased. In addition, the design of
the seat 32 can be suitably modified without having to modify the
fuel tank 30. This is advantageous since the manufacture or
processing of the seat is much easier than that of the fuel
tank.
The air intake passageway 64 is isolated from the relatively hot
air surrounding the engine 14 and an radiator, and besides the
inlet of the passageway 64 is disposed at a relatively high level
near the handle 23. Therefore, a relatively clean ambient air is
supplied to the air cleaner 16 even during the running on a rough
road or the like.
Since the seat 32 covers generally the entire upper surface of the
fuel tank 30, the seat 32 serves as a protective means for the fuel
tank 30. In addition, the seat 32 is extended forwardly to cover
the upper surface of fuel tank 30 and therefore has an increased
length, so that the riding position of the rider can be suitably
varied in accordance with running conditions. Further, there is
provided no joint between the seat 32 and the fuel tank which joint
is usually stepped, the rider can smoothly move forwardly over the
seat 32.
The front end portion 43b of the cushioning member 43 which covers
the fuel cap 42 for protective purposes is flexible and is allowed
to be flexed upwardly since it is not reinforced by the bottom
plate 44. With this arrangement, when filling the fuel tank 30 with
fuel, the front end portion 43b is flexed upwardly to enable easy
access to the fuel cap 42.
FIGS. 7 and 8 show a modified form of the invention which differs
from the motorcycle 10 of FIGS. 1 to 6 in that an elongated cover
plate 68 is received in the lower portion of the inverted U-shaped
bottom plate 44, and extends laterally between the opposed arms 44b
and 44b in parallel spaced relation to the base 44a of the bottom
plate 44 and also extends longitudinally along the base 44a, the
cover plate 68 being riveted to the opposed arms 44b and 44b. The
front end of the cover plate 68 is engaged with the hook 52 while
the rear end is directed downwardly and engaged with the front edge
of the seal plate 60. In this embodiment, the transverse strip 50
is omitted. The bottom of the seat 32 and the cover plate 68 define
a first passageway 58 which cooperates with the second passageway
62 to provide a continuous air intake passageway 64. By virtue of
the provision of the cover plate 68, the air intake passageway 62
has a better air-tightness.
FIGS. 9 to 11 show another modified form of the invention which
differs from the motorcycle 10 of FIGS. 1 to 6 in that a modified
bottom plate 44 is used to obviate the need for the seal plate 60.
More specifically, the base 44a of the bottom plate 44 is covexed
downwardly intermediate opposite ends thereto to provide a corner
portion 70 defined by a front wall 70a and a rear wall 70b
extending rearwardly therefrom at an angle. The front wall 70a is
disposed in contiguous relation to the rear end of the fuel tank 30
to close the rear end of a first passageway 58, and the rear wall
70b closes the inlet 16a of the air cleaner 16. A closure plate 72
of an inverted U-shaped cross-section is fitted on the base 44a at
its front and rear ends to close the corner portion 70 to form a
second passageway 62 of a generally triangular cross-section, the
closure plate 72 serving to support the central portion of the
cushioning member 43. A first aperture 74 is formed through the
front wall 70a to communicate the first passageway 58 with the
second passageway 62, the first aperture 74 being disposed at a
level above the upper surface of the fuel tank 30. And, a second
aperture 76 is formed through the rear wall 70b to communicate the
second passageway 62 with the air cleaner 16. The provision of the
corner portion 70 enables the seat 32 to be positioned in place
easily when installing the seat 32 on the frame 12. Further, the
front wall 70 having the first aperture 74 disposed at a level
slightly above the upper surface of the fuel tank 30 advantageously
prevents water of the like from intruding into the second
passageway 62.
FIG. 12 shows a further modified form of the invention which
differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 in that a modified
cover plate 68 is provided to obviate the need for the seal plate
60. More specifically, the cover plate 68 extends longitudinally
from the hook 52 to the corner portion 44e, and the rear end of the
cover plate 68 is secured to the bottom plate 44 at the corner
portion 44e. A rear end portion 68a of the cover plate 68 closes
the inlet 16a of the air cleaner 16. The bottom of the seat 32 and
the cover plate 68 define an air intake passageway 64. An aperture
80 is formed through the rear end portion 68a to communicate the
air intake passageway 64 with the air cleaner 16. With this
construction, the air intake passageway 64 has a better
air-tightness.
FIG. 13 shows a further modified form of the invention which
differs from the embodiment of FIG. 12 in that a cover plate 68 of
a U-shaped cross-section is secured to a base 44a of a bottom plate
44 and that an upper wall 30c of the connective portion 30 is
raised longitudinally at lateral edge portions to provide a pair of
parallel spaced ridges 30g and 30g and a longitudinal recess 30h.
The cover plate 68 of a U-shaped cross-section is fitted in the
longitudinal recess 30h. By virtue of the pair of ridges 30g and
30g, the upper wall 30c has an increased strength. In addition, the
seat 32 is positively prevented from lateral movement since the
cover plate 68 is fitted in the recess 30h.
FIGS. 14 to 17 show a further modified form of the invention which
differs from the embodiment of FIG. 12 in that flexible backing or
end member 82 of a synthetic resin is attached to the flexible
front end portion 43b of the cushioning member 43. The end member
82 is of a hollow construction and is generally inverted U-shape
when viewed from the front of the seat 32 as best seen in FIG. 16.
In this embodiment, the connective portion 30b of the fuel tank 30
is raised at its front end to provide a hollow neck 86 which is
disposed centrally of the width of the fuel tank 30. The end member
82 has at its front end a central recess 82a, as shown in FIG. 17.
The end member 82 is snugly fitted over the front end portion 43b
of the cushioning member 43 with the central recess 82a fitted on
the neck 86 and is secured at its rear end to the front end of the
bottom plate 44 by fastening means 84. The neck 86 has an upper
flat wall 86a disposed at a level substantially equal to the upper
edge 82b of the end member 82. The fuel inlet 40 is formed in the
upper wall 86a, and the fuel cap 42 is removably fitted in the fuel
inlet 40, the fuel cap 42 projecting upwardly beyond the upper edge
82b of the end member. The end member 82 serves to prevent the
front end of the seat 32 from being subjected to wear.
Conventionally, the rigid bottom plate is further extended and
turned back at its front end to cover the front end portion of the
cushioning member 43, and although not shown in the drawings, a
covering sheet of artificial leather or the like is attached over
the cushioning member 43. Such a leather covering sheet is
subjected to undue tension or load by the turned-back end of the
bottom plate when the rider sits on the seat 32, so that the
covering sheet is susceptible to damage. Since the end member 82 is
so flexible that it is suitably flexed when the covering sheet is
subjected to tension, thereby preventing damage thereto.
FIGS. 18 and 19 shows a further modified form of the invention
which differs from the embodiment of FIG. 12 in that an air cleaner
16 of a compact size is employed. The air cleaner 16 comprises a
tubular housing 88 having a boss 88a disposed coaxially in the
housing 88 and a plurality of radial 88b extending between the
inner peripheral surface of the housing 88 and the central boss
88a. The housing 88 has a greater diameter portion 88c at one end
portion thereof to provide a shoulder 88d, the greater diameter
portion 88c being received in the lower portion of the bottom plate
44. The greater diameter portion 88c flares at its free end to
provide a flange 88d which is interposed between the bottom plate
44 and the seat rails 12c and 12c. A dish-shaped support plate 90
is received within the greater diameter portion 88c and has a
plurality of radial slots 90a. An air cleaner element 92 is snugly
fitted in the support plate 90. A first seal ring 94 is interposed
between the rear end portion 68a of the cover plate 68 and the
support plate 90, the inner diameter of the seal ring 94 being
slightly greater in size than the aperture 80 formed through the
rear end portion 68a. A second seal ring 96 is interposed between
the air cleaner element 92 and the shoulder 88d, the inner diameter
of the second seal ring 96 being equal to the inner diameter of the
tubular housing 88. A collar 98 extends through the air cleaner
element 92 at its center and is held against the support plate 92
and the boss 88a of the housing 88 at opposite ends thereof. A bolt
100 is passed through the collar 98 and is threaded into the boss
88a to fix the support plate 92, the air cleaner element 92 and the
second seal ring 96 to the housing 88. A connecting tube 102
extends from the lower end of the housing 88 to the carbureter
20.
Thus, the air cleaner elements 92 is disposed adjacent to the
aperture 80 and is disposed in opposed relation thereto via the
support plate 92. Therefore, the air cleaner 16 can be of a compact
size.
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