Title of Invention

FRONT LAMP DEVICE IN MOTORCYCLE

Abstract

A front lamp device in a motorcycle having lamps disposed on the left and right sides of a handle cover constituted by a combination of front and rear cover halves, characterized in that said lamps comprise housings attached to said handle cover removably, bulbs attached to the housings, and lenses attached to said housings while covering the bulbs from a front side, and cover portions contiguous to an outer surface of said handle cover are formed integrally with said housings; wherein said . cover portions are formed integrally with said housings so as to constitute at least portions of both left and right end walls of said handle cover.

Full Text

[Name of Document] Specification [Title of the Invention] Front Lamp Device in Motorcycle [Technical Field] [0001] The present invention relates a front lamp device in a motorcycle wherein lamps are disposed on the right and left sides of a handle cover which is constituted by a combination of front and rear cover halves. [Background Art] [0002] A front lamp device in a motorcycle is known, for example, in Patent Document 1 in which a lamp housing is formed integrally with a front cover half constituting a part of a handle cover. [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-247277 [Disclosure of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention] [0003] If the handle cover and the lamp housing are integral with each other as in the above conventional example, it is required to replace the whole of the handle cover in the event both right and left end portions of the handle cover are scratched for example, with consequent increase of the maintenance cost. [0004] The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-mentioned circumstances and it is an object of the present invention to provide a front lamp device in a motorcycle wherein even when both right and left end portions of a handle cover are scratched for example, it is not necessary to replace the whole of the handle cover, that is, the maintenance cost is reduced. [Means for Solving the Problem] [0005] For achieving the above-mentioned object, according to the invention described in claim 1 there is provided a front lamp device in a motorcycle having lamps disposed on the left and right sides of a handle cover constituted by a combination of front and rear cover halves. The lamps include housings attached to the handle cover removably, bulbs attached to the housings, and lenses attached to the housings while covering the bulbs from a front side, and appearance cover portions contiguous to an outer surface of the handle cover are formed integrally with the housings. [0006] The invention described in claim 2, in addition to the construction of the invention described in claim 1, is characterized in that cutout portions, which are open forward and sideways, are formed in both side portions of the handle cover, and the lamps are attached to the handle cover by being fitted in the cutout portions. [0007] The invention described in claim 3, in addition to the construction of the invention described in claim 1, is characterized in that the appearance cover portions are formed integrally with the housings so as to constitute at least portions of both left and right end walls of the handle cover. [0008] The invention described in claim 4, in addition to the construction of the invention described in claim 1, is characterized in that at least the outer surface of the handle cover is coated and the housings, including the appearance cover portions, are formed using a colored resin [0009] The invention described in claim 5, in addition to the construction of the invention described in claim 1, is characterized in that the lamps are turn signal lamps. [0010] The invention described in claim 6, in addition to the construction of the invention described in claim 1, is characterized in that reflectors for reflecting light emitted from the bulbs are formed integrally with the housings. [Effects of the Invention] [0011] According to the invention described in claim 1, since the lamps are mounted removably on both right and left sides of the handle cover, when both right and left end portions of the handle cover are scratched for example, a mere replacement of the lamps suffices without the need of replacing the whole of the handle cover, whereby it is possible to reduce the maintenance cost. [0012] According to the invention described in claim 2, the operations for mounting and removing the lamps to and from the handle cover can be performed easily. [0013] According to the invention described in claim 3, since at least portions of both right and left end walls of the handle cover are formed by the appearance cover portions of the housings of the lamps, the appearance cover portions can be disposed effectively in positions where scratching or the like is apt to occur. [0014] According to the invention described in claim 4, even if the appearance cover portions are scratched, it is possible to make the scratches less conspicuous to such an extent as does not require replacement of the lamps, whereby the maintenance cost can be further reduced. [0015] According to the invention described in claim 5, the turn signal lamps disposed right and left of the handle cover can be utilized effectively. [0016] According to the invention described in claim 6, it is possible to decrease the number of parts used. [Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention] [0017] The present invention will be described hereinunder by way of an embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings. [0018] Figs. 1 to 8 illustrate an embodiment of the present invention, of which Fig. 1 is a front view of a handle cover, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a rear view as seen in the direction of arrow 3 in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a plan view as seen in the direction of arrow 4 in Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the handle cover, Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 1, Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 7-7 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a right turn signal lamp. [0019] First, in Figs. 1 to 4, a steering handle 11 of a motorcycle is formed in a generally T shape including a bar-like handle portion lla having a downwardly curved central part and a shaft portion lib contiguous at an upper end thereof to the central part of the handle portion lla and extending downward. The shaft portion lib is supported steerably by a head pipe of a body frame (not shown). A grip 12 is provided at the left end of the handle portion lla, while a throttle grip 13 is mounted pivotably at the right end of the handle portion lla. A brake lever 14 is disposed in front of the throttle grip 13 so that it can be operated by the right hand of a rider which grasps the throttle grip 13. The brake lever 14 is supported pivotably by the handle portion lla in the vicinity of the throttle grip 13. [0020] The steering handle 11 is covered with a handle cover 15 exclusive of the left-end grip 12, the right-end throttle grip 13, brake lever 14, and a lower portion of the shaft portion lib. The handle cover 15 includes front and rear cover halves 16, 17 of a synthetic resin, both cover halves 16 and 17 being combined together separably. [0021] Referring also to Fig. 5, the front and rear cover halves 16, 17 are clamped to each other with a pair of screws 18, a screw 19, and a pair of screws 20. The screws 18 are inserted from the front side of the front cover half 16 in two positions close to the center of lower portions of the cover halves 16, 17. The screw 19 is inserted from the rear cover half 17 side in the central upper portions of the cover halves 16, 17. The pair of screws 20 are inserted from the rear cover half 17 side in both-side lower portions of both cover halves 16, 17. A central lower portion of the rear cover half 17 is clamped with a screw 22 to a stay 21 which is fixed to the shaft portion lib of the steering handle 11. [0022] Plural positioning lugs 16a are integrally projected downward from an upper edge portion of the front cover half 16, while plural positioning holes 23 which permit insertion therein of the positioning lugs 16a from above are formed in an upper edge portion of the rear cover half 17. With the positioning lugs 16a inserted into the positioning holes 23, the screws 18, 20, and 22 are tightened, whereby the front and rear cover halves 16, 17 are combined together to constitute the handle cover 15. [0023] A meter aperture 24 is formed centrally of the rear cover half 17. Plural meter mounting boss portions 25 are projectingly provided around the meter aperture 24 and on an inner surface of the rear cover half 17. A speedometer 26, which faces the meter aperture 24, is mounted to the meter mounting boss portions 25. Three switch apertures 27, 28, and 29 are formed in a left side portion of the rear cover half 17 so as to be arranged vertically, and a dimmer switch 30, a turn signal lamp switch 31, and a horn switch 32 are arranged so as to face the switch apertures 27 to 29, respectively. Two vertically arranged switch apertures 3 3 and 34 are formed in a right side portion of the rear cover half 17, and an idle stop switch 35 and a start switch 36 are arranged so as to face the switch apertures 33 and 34, respectively. [0024] A headlight 3 8 is disposed in an aperture 37 which is formed centrally of the front cover half 16. The headlight 38 includes a housing 39, a bulb 40, and a lens 41. The housing 39 is of a synthetic resin and is formed in a bowl shape having an open front side and having an inner surface formed as a reflector. The bulb 40 is attached to the housing 39 removably so as to be positioned within the housing 39. The lens 41 is attached to the housing 39 so as to cover the bulb 40 from the front side and close the opening end of the housing 39. [0025] An upper portion of the housing 3 9 in the headlight 3 8 is supported by the front cover half 16 so as to be swingable back and forth. A leg portion 39a abutted against an inner surface of the lower portion of the front cover half 16 is integral with a lower portion of the housing 39, and a nut 42 is provided in the leg portion 39a On the other hand, a longitudinally elongated hole 43 is formed in the lower portion of the front cover half 16, and a bolt 44 is inserted through the elongated whole 43 into threaded engagement with the nut 42. The bolt 44 has a head portion 44a of a larger diameter which can be abutted and engaged with an outer surface of the lower portion of the cover half 16. An optical axis of the headlight 38 can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the bolt 44 which extends in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole 43 . [0026] Left and right turn signal lamps 45L, 45R are disposed on the left and right sides, respectively, of the headlight 38, while cutout portions 46L and 46R, which are open forward and sideways, are formed in both side portions of the front cover half 16 in the handle cover 15. The left and right turn signal lamps 45L, 45R are fitted in the cutout portions 46L and 46R, respectively, and are thereby secured to the front cover half 16 of the handle cover 15. [0027] Referring also to Figs. 6 and 7, the left turn signal lamp 45L includes a housing 47L of a synthetic resin, which is mounted to the front cover half 16 removably, a bulb 48L attached to the housing 47L, and a lens 49L attached to the housing 47L so as to cover the bulb 48L from the front side. A reflector 50 for reflecting light emitted from the bulb 49L is formed integrally with an inner surface of the housing 47L. [0028] The housing 47L is formed in a bowl shape which can radiate the light reflected by the reflector 50 forward, sideways, and downward. An appearance cover portion 51L contiguous to an outer surface of the handle cover 15 is formed integrally with the housing 47L, [0029] at The appearance cover portion 51L is formed integrally with the housing 47L so as to constitute least a part of a left-end wall of the handle cover 15, i.e., a nearly half of a left-end wall of the handle cover 15 in this embodiment. That is, the appearance cover portion 51L is formed contiguously to a left-end wall portion 17a of the rear cover half 17. Semicircular recesses 53 and 54 for conjointly forming a circular hole 52 are formed in the left-end wall portion 17a and the appearance cover portion 51L, respectively. The circular hole 52 permits insertion therethrough of a part of the handle portion lla of the steering handle 11 located near the grip 12. [0030] The housing 4 7L is integrally provided with a lower mounting plate portion 55 extending backward contiguously to a lower portion of the housing 47L, an upper mounting plate portion 56 projecting upward from an upper portion of the housing 47L, a side mounting plate portion 57 contiguous to a side wall of the housing 47L on the side opposite to the appearance cover portion 51L. A nut 58 is secured to the lower mounting plate portion 55, and a screw 59 is inserted through the lower portion of the cover half 16 into threaded engagement with the nut 58. A mounting boss portion 60 abutted against the upper mounting plate portion 56 is integrally projected from an inner surface of the front cover half 16, and a screw 61 is inserted through the upper mounting plate portion 56 into engagement with the mounting boss portion 60. Further, a mounting boss portion 62 abutted against the side mounting plate portion 57 is integrally projected from the inner surface of the front cover half 16, and a screw 63 is inserted through the side mounting plate portion 57 into engagement with the mounting boss portion 62. [0031] Referring also to Fig. 8, the right turn signal lamp 45R includes a housing 47R, a bulb 48R, and a lens 49R. The housing 47R is of a synthetic resin and is mounted to the front cover half 16 removably. The bulb 4 8R is (see Fig. 1) mounted to the housing 46R. The lens 49R is mounted to the housing 4 7R so as to cover the bulb 4 8R from the front side. The right turn signal lamp 45R is constructed substantially symmetric right and left with respect to the left turn signal lamp 45L and is mounted to the right front cover half 16 with use of a similar mounting structure. [0032] A different point of the right turn signal lamp 45R from the left turn signal lamp 45L lies in that a recess 64 is formed in an appearance cover portion 51R. The appearance cover portion 51R is integral with the housing 47R contiguously to the outer surface of the handle cover 15 and constituting at least a part (a substantially half in this embodiment) of the right end wall of the handle cover 15. The recess 64 is for disposing the brake lever 14 so as to permit operation of the brake lever. A semicircular recess 65 for insertion therein of a substantially rear half of the handle portion lla is formed in a right-end wall portion 17b of the rear cover half 17. [0033] At least the outer surface of the handle cover 15 is coated, while in the left and right turn signal lamps 45L, 45R, the housings 47L and 47R, including the appearance cover portions 51L and 51R, are formed using a colored resin. [0034] A description will now be given about the operation of this embodiment. The housings 47L and 47R of the left and right turn signal lamps 45L, 45R disposed left and right of the handle cover 15 are mounted to the handle cover 15 removably. Besides, the appearance cover portions 51L and 51R contiguous to the outer surface of the handle cover 15 are formed integrally with the housings 47L and 47R, respectively. [0035] Thus, the turn signal lamps 45L and 45R mounted on both left and right sides of the handle cover 15 removably can be utilized effectively. In the event both left and right end portions of the handle cover 15 are scratched for example, a mere replacement of the turn signal lamps 45L and 45R suffices without the need of replacing the whole of the handle cover 15, whereby the maintenance cost can be reduced. [0036] Moreover, the cutout portions 46L and 46R, which are open forward and sideways, are formed in both side portions of the handle cover 15 and the turn signal lamps 45L and 45R are secured to the handle cover 15 by being fitted in the cutout portions 46L and 46R. Therefore, it is possible to facilitate the operation for mounting and removing the turn signal lamps 45L and 45R relative to the handle cover 15. [0037] Since the appearance cover portions 51L and 51R are formed integrally with the housings 47L and 47R so as to constitute at least portions of both left and right end walls of the handle cover 15, at least portions of the both left and right end walls of the handle cover 15 are formed by the appearance cover portions 51L and 51R. Consequently, the appearance cover portions 51L and 51R can be disposed effectively at positions where scratch or the like is apt to occur. [0038] Since at least the outer surface of the handle cover 15 is coated and the housings 47L and 47R including the appearance cover portions 51L and 51R are formed using a colored resin, even if the appearance cover portions 51L and 51R are scratched, it is possible to make the scratched portions less conspicuous. That is, replacement of the turn signals lamps 45L and 45R can be avoided as far as possible even in the event the appearance cover portions 51L and 51R are scratched. Consequently, it is possible to further decrease the maintenance cost. [0039] Further, since the reflectors 50 for reflecting light emitted from the bulbs 48L and 4 8R are formed integrally with the housings 47L and 47R of the turn signal lamps 45L and 45R, it is possible to decrease the number of parts used. [0040] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but various design changes may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention described in the claims. [Brief Description of the Drawings] [0041] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a front view of a handle cover. [Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1. [Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a rear view as seen in the direction of arrow 3 in Fig. 2. [Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a plan view as seen in the direction of arrow 4 in Fig. 2. [Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the handle cover. [Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 1. [Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 7-7 in Fig. 1. [Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a right turn signal lamp. [Description of Reference Characters] [0042] 15 ... Handle cover 16 ... Front cover half 17 ... Rear cover half 45L, 45R ... Turn signal lamp as lamp 46L, 46R ... Cutout portion 47L, 47R ... Housing 48L, 48R ... Bulb 49L, 49R ... Lens 50 ... Reflector 51L, 51R ... Appearance cover portion [Name of Document] Claims [Claim 1] A front lamp device in a motorcycle having lamps (45L, 45R) disposed on the left and right sides of a handle cover (15) constituted by a combination of front and rear cover halves (16, 17), characterized in that said lamps (45L, 45R) include housings (47L, 47R) attached to said handle cover (15) removably, bulbs (48L, 48R) attached to the housings (47L, 47R), and lenses (49L, 49R) attached to said housings (47L, 47R) while covering the bulbs (48L, 48R) from a front side, and appearance cover portions (51L, 51R) contiguous to an outer surface of said handle cover (15) are formed integrally with said housings (47L, 47R) . [Claim 2] The front lamp device in a motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein cutout portions (46L, 46R), which are open forward and sideways, are formed in both side portions of said handle cover (15), and said lamps (45L, 45R) are attached to said handle cover (15) by being fitted in said cutout portions (46L, 46R). [Claim 3] The front lamp device in a motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein said appearance cover portions (51L, 51R) are formed integrally with said housings (47L, 47R) so as to constitute at least portions of both left and right end walls of said handle cover (15). [Claim 4] The front lamp device in a motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein at least the outer surface of said handle cover (15) is coated and said housings (47L, 47R), including said appearance cover portions (51L, 51R), are formed using a colored resin. [Claim 5] The front lamp device in a motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein said lamps (45L, 45R) are turn signal lamps. [Claim 6] The front lamp device in a motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein reflectors (50) for reflecting light emitted from said bulbs (48L, 48R) are formed integrally with said housings (47L, 47R).

Documents:

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0973-che-2005 abstract-duplicate.pdf

0973-che-2005 claims-duplicate.pdf

0973-che-2005 description (complete)-duplicate.pdf

0973-che-2005 drawings-duplicate.pdf

0973-che-2005-abstract image.jpg

0973-che-2005-abstract.pdf

0973-che-2005-claims.pdf

0973-che-2005-correspondence others.pdf

0973-che-2005-description(complete).pdf

0973-che-2005-drawings.pdf

0973-che-2005-form 1.pdf

0973-che-2005-form 3.pdf

0973-che-2005-form 5.pdf

0973-che-2005-others.pdf

973-CHE-2005 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS.pdf

973-CHE-2005 CORRESPONDENCE PO.pdf

973-CHE-2005 FORM 18.pdf

973-CHE-2005 FORM 3.pdf

973-CHE-2005 PETITION.pdf

973-CHE-2005 POWER OF ATTORNEY.pdf