Title of Invention

FOOT BRAKE STRUCTURE OF SCOOTER TYPE VEHICLE

Abstract

[Problem] To reduce the size of a foot brake structure and increase the freedom of design and decrease the number of machining man-hours and cost for the foot brake structure. [Solution] In a foot brake structure of a scooter type vehicle in which a pair of left and right step floors 31 supported by a main frame 18 are provided between a handlebar and a tandem seat, a brake pedal 33 for controlling a rear wheel brake device for braking a rear wheel is rotatably attached to the main frame 18 and a tread part 33b of the brake pedal 33 protrudes above the step floors 31, the step floors 31 are supported by a support stay 81 as a constituent of the body frame 11, a spindle 34 for the brake pedal 33 is provided on the support stay 81, and the spindle 34 is located above the main frame 18 and below the step floors 31 as viewed sideways. [Selected Drawing] Fig. 3

Full Text

[Document Name] Specification [Title of the Invention] FOOT BRAKE STRUCTURE OF SCOOTER TYPE VEHICLE [Technical Field] [0001] The present invention relates to improvement in a foot brake structure of a scooter type vehicle. [Background Art] [0002] As a conventional foot brake structure of a scooter type vehicle, a structure which activates a rear wheel brake by operation of a foot brake pedal protruding upward from a foot rest plate has been known (for example, see Patent Document 1). [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No.3447470 [0003] An explanation is given below of Figs. 1, 3 and 4 in Patent Document 1. Below a foot rest plate Ps of a scooter type vehicle, a main pipe 3 is disposed in a way to extend longitudinally, or in the front-rear direction of the vehicle; and a cylindrical shaft guide 8 is attached in a way to penetrate the main pipe 3 in the widthwise direction of the vehicle; a brake shaft 9 is rotatably fitted into the shaft guide 8; a foot brake pedal BP is attached to one end of the brake shaft 9 and an intermediate lever 11 is attached to the other end of the brake shaft 9; and the intermediate lever 11 is connected to a rear wheel brake through a cable. The foot brake pedal BP protrudes upward from the foot rest plate Ps through a hole 30 in the foot rest plate Ps and a tread face f is provided on the top of the foot brake pedal BP. [Disclosure of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention] [0004] If the brake shaft 9 and foot rest plate Ps are at a considerable distance from each other, the distance between the brake shaft 9 and the tread face f is long and as a consequence, the foot brake pedal BP must be large and the structure for supporting the foot brake pedal BP must be large, leading to increase in weight and occupation of a large space. If the shaft guide 8 is to be fitted into a large-diameter thick main pipe 3, considerable machining difficulty is involved, resulting in less freedom of design, a larger number of man-hours for machining, and cost rise. An object of the present invention is to reduce the size of a foot brake structure and increase the freedom of design, decrease the number of man-hours for machining and reduce cost, [Means for Solving the Problem] [0005] The invention according to Claim 1 is characterized in that in a foot brake structure of a scooter type vehicle in which a pair of left and right step floors supported by a body frame are provided between a handlebar and a seat, a brake pedal for controlling a brake device for braking a if whfeel is rotatably attached to the body frame and a tread part of the brake pedal protrudes above the step floors, the step floors are supported by a support stay provided on the body frame, a spindle for the brake pedal is provided on the support stay, and the spindle is located above the body frame and below the step floors as viewed sideways. [0006] Functionally, since the brake pedal spindle is located between the body frame and step floor as viewed sideways, the spindle is nearer to the step floor than in the related art and the brake pedal under the step floor is shorter and the overall brake pedal length can be shorter. Also, the brake pedal can be easily converted into another type by changing the support stay. [0007] The invention according to Claim 2 is characterized in that the support stay has a U-shaped cross section with a downward opening and the bottom of the support stay is mounted on the body frame and the spindle is passed through the support stay transversely and fixed on both lateral sides of the support stay. [0008] Functionally, since the spindle is fixed on both lateral sides of the support stay, the spindle can be firmly supported. Also, the mounting surfaces of the support stay on which the spindle is mounted are flat, the spindle is easily fixed. [0009] / The invention according to Claiin 3 is characterized in that, a joint between the brake pedal and the spindle is located on an outer lateral side of the body frame as viewed from above. Functionally, since the brake pedal is located at the end of the step floor, the step floor provides wide available space. [0010] The invention according to Claim 4 is characterized in that the support stay monolithically extends long along the longitudinal side of the step floor, a lock means for holding the brake pedal in a prescribed depression position upon depression of the brake pedal and a cable for connect ion from a controlling part for control of the lock means to the lock means are supported by brackets mounted on the support stay respectively, and the brackets are located before and after the spindle* [0011] Functionally, since the support stay supports the bracket as a lock means and the bracket of the controlling part for control of the lock means, special support members for supporting these brackets are not needed. [0012] The invention according to Claim 5 is characterized in that the cable includes an outer cable and an inner wire movably inserted into the outer cable, the bracket for supporting the cable has an end portion of the outer cable fixed on it with a fixing means and is L-shaped so as to cover the rear and outer lateral side of the cable end portion as the vehicle is viewed from above, and a hole through which the fixing means is visible is provided in the corner of the L shape. [0013] Functionally, when fitting the outer cable of the cable to the bracket for supporting the cable, fitting work is carried out while the condition of the fixing means is being checked through the hole in the corner of the L shape of the bracket. [Effect of the Invention] [0014] In the invention according to Claim 1, the step floors are supported by the support stay provided on the body frame, the spindle for the brake pedal is provided on the support stay, and the spindle is located above the body frame and below the step floors as viewed sideways, so that the brake pedal spindle can be nearer to the step floor than in the related art, and the brake pedal length can be shorter and the foot brake structure including the brake pedal and brake pedal support members can be smaller. [0015] Furthermore, by a minor change to the support stay only, for example, a scooter type vehicle brake structure having a brake lever and no brake pedal can be easily converted into a foot brake structure, which increases the freedom -of design and permits common use of the main part of the body frame. In the invention according to Claim 2, the support stay has a U-shaped cross section with a downward opening and the bottom of the support stay is mounted on the body frame and the spindle is passed through the support stay transversely and fixed on both lateral sides of the support stay, so that the spindle is fixed on the support stay at two points and thus the spindle is firmly supported, and due to the flat mounting surfaces of the support stay, mountability is improved in mounting the spindle on the support stay by welding, etc. [0017] In the invention according to Claim 3, the joint between the brake pedal and the spindle is located on the outer lateral side of the body frame as viewed from above, so that the brake pedal can be located on the outer lateral side of the body frame and the brake pedal can be located at the end of the step floor. Therefore, the step floor provides wider available space and the user-friendliness of the scooter type vehicle is enhanced. [0018] In the invention according to Claim 4, the support stay monolithically extends long along the longitudinal side of the step floor, the lock means for holding the brake pedal in a prescribed depression position upon depression of the brake pedal and the cable for connection from the controlling part for control of the lock means to the lock means are supported by brackets mounted on the support stay respectively, and the brackets are located before and after the spindle, so that the support arm for supporting the brake pedal supports the bracket for the lock means and the bracket for the cable, it is unnecessary to provide special support members for supporting the bracket for the lock means and the bracket for the cable and thus the number of components is not increased and the cost does not rise. [0019] In the invention according to Claim 5, the cable includes an outer cable and an inner wire movably inserted into the outer cable, the bracket for supporting the cable has an end portion of the outer cable fixed on it with a fixing means and is L-shaped so as to cover the rear and outer lateral side of the cable end portion as the vehicle is viewed from above, and a hole through which the fixing means is visible is provided in the corner of the L shape, so that the L-shaped bracket protects the end portion of the outer cable and the cable can be mounted on the bracket while the condition of the fixing means is visually checked through the hole, leading to improvement in mountability. [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention] [0020] The best mode for carrying out the invention will be described below referring to the accompanying drawings. The drawings should be seen according to the orientation of reference numerals. Fig. 1 is a side view of a scooter type vehicle which adopts a foot brake structure according to the present invention where a motorcycle 10 is a motorcycle in which front forks 13 are steerably attached to a head pipe 12 as the front end portion of a body frame 11, a handlebar 16 is attached to a steering shaft 14 provided on the front forks 13, a front wheel 17 is attached to the lower end of the front fork 13, a power unit 22 is vertically swingably supported through a link 21 on the middle of a main frame 18 as a constituent of the body frame 11, a rear wheel 23 is attached to the rear end of the power unit 22, and a rear cushion unit 24 is attached across the area between the rear end of the power unit 22 and the rear portion of the main frame 18. [0021] The body frame 11 includes a head pipe 12, a down frame 26 extending downward from the head pipe 12, and the main frame 18 extending to the left and right downward from the lower portion of the down frame 26 and extending upward obliquely in the rear portion with the left and right rear ends connected. Here, 27 represents a lower frame which supports a main stand 28. [0022] The front portion of the main frame 18 supports a step floor 31 through a support member (not shown) and a spindle 34 for a brake pedal 33 which activates a rear wheel brake device 32 for braking the rear wheel 23 is provided between the main frame 18 and the step floor 31. [0023] Here, 35 represents a brake cable which connects the, brake pedal 33 and the rear wheel brake device 32; 36 represents a brake lock/unlock mechanism for so-called "parking brake" to hold or cancel the depressed state of the brake pedal 33 to hold or cancel the braked state of the rear wheel 23; 36a represents a controlling part provided in the brake lock/unlock mechanism 36; and 36b represents a brake lock/unlock cable which connects the controlling part 36a and the rear wheel brake device 32. [0024] The power unit 22 includes an engine 38 as its front portion and a continuously variable transmission 39 integral with the rear portion of the engine 38, and the engine 38 is a driving source which is connected with an intake device 41 at its top and with an exhaust device 42 at its bottom. Here, 38a represents the crankcase of the engine 38. [0025] The intake device 41 includes an intake pipe 46 connected with the top of a cylinder head 44 of the engine 38, a throttle body 47 connected with the intake pipe 46, and an air cleaner 51 connected through a connecting tube 4 8 with the throttle body 47; and the air cleaner 51 is located on the rear upper portion of the power unit 22. [0026] The exhaust device 42 includes an exhaust pipe 54 connected with the bottom of the cylinder head 44, and a muffler 55 connected with the rear end of the exhaust pipe 54, and the muffler 55 is connected with a secondary air supply system 57 which supplies air to exhaust gas in the muffler 55 to burn unburned gas. [0027] In the figure, 61 represents a handlebar cover, 62 a front cover, 63 a license plate, 64 a leg shield, 66 a tandem seat, 67 a body cover, 68 a hole in the body cover 67, 71 a tail lamp and 72 a rear fender. [0028] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a key part of the foot brake structure according to the present invention (in this figure and subsequent figures the arrow marked FRONT indicates the vehicle's frontward direction), where a right frame 18R, a constituent of the main frame 18, extends almost longitudinally and a support stay 81 with a U-shaped cross section is located above the right frame 18R. [0029] The support stay 81 is a member to which are attached: a spindle 34 which rotatably supports the brake pedal 33; a brake switch 82 which detects depression of the brake pedal 33 and a front bracket 83 which supports the brake lock/unlock cable 3 6b; and a rear bracket 87 which swingably supports an engaging arm 86, a constituent of the brake lock/unlock mechanism 36. [0030] Fig. 3 is a right side view of a key part of the foot brake structure according to the present invention where the brake lock/unlock cable 36b (see Fig. 2) is omitted here and illustrated in Fig. 4. The brake pedal 33 includes: a main arm 33a extending and curving frontward and upward from the spindle 34; a tread part 33b provided at the tip of the main arm 33a; a cable connecting arm 33c extending downward from the spindle 34 and connected with the brake cable 35; an engaged arm 33d extending rearward and downward obliquely from the spindle 34; and a spring holder 33e with a U-shaped cross section provided between the cable connecting arm 33c and the engaged arm 33d. [0031] The tread part 33b includes a tread plate 33f and a tread rubber 33g covering the tread plate 33f. Although height HI of the tread part 33b from the step floor 31 is the same as in the related art, in the present invention height H2 from the spindle 34 to the step floor 31 is smaller than in the related art and consequently height H3 from the spindle 34 to the tread part 33b can be smaller. Hence, the size of the brake pedal 33 can be reduced. [0032] The brake cable 35 includes an outer cable 88 and an inner wire 91 movabley inserted into the outer cable 88; and an end of the outer cable 88 is supported by a cable stay 93 attached to the side face of the right frame 18R and an end portion of the inner wire 91 is connected through an end member 94 to the cable connecting arm 33c. Here, 96 represents a rubber boot covering the end portion of the inner wire 91 and 97 represents an extension spring put across the area between the spring holder 33e and the cable stay 93. [0033] The engaged arm 33d is a part which is engaged with the engaging arm 86 when the brake pedal 33 is depressed. [0034] The front bracket 83 is a member mounted on the support stay 81 with plural bolts 101 and, a front drooping part 83a and a rear drooping part 83b, each having an L-shaped cross section, are formed integrally with its front and rear portions. [0035] The brake switch 82 includes a switch main body 103, and a sensing part 104 protruding from the tip of the switch main body 103, and the switch main body 103 is mounted on the front drooping part 83a of the front bracket 83 with a nut 106. [0036] The tip of the sensing part 104 is connected with the spring holder 33e of the brake pedal 33 through the extension spring 107 so that a tension is always applied to it. Hence, upon depression of the brake pedal 33, the spring holder 33e swings around the spindle 34 clockwise and consequently the sensing part 104 is pulled through the extension spring 107 and it further protrudes from the switch main body 103 and the brake switch 82 is turned On. The information that it is turned On is transmitted through a wire harness 108 to a control unit (not shown) and a brake lamp in the tail lamp 71 (see Fig. 1) is illuminated. [0037] Fig. 4 is a right side view of a key part of the brake lock/unlock mechanism of the foot brake structure according to the present invention where the brake switch 82 and extension spring 107 shown in Fig. 3 are omitted. The brake lock/unlock mechanism 36 includes a controlling part 36a (see Fig. 1), a brake lock/unlock cable 36b, an engaging arm 86, and an extension spring 111 which pulls the tip of the engaging arm 86 toward the rear of the vehicle body. [0038] Here, 81a represents a spring holder integral with the support stay 81, onto which one end of the extension spring 111 is hooked, and 81b represents a stopper integral with the support stay 81 to restrict clockwise swing of the engaging arm 86. [0039] The brake lock/unlock cable 36b includes an outer cable 114 and an inner wire 115 movably inserted into the outer cable 114. The outer cable 114 is mounted on the rear drooping part 83b of the front bracket 83 with a nut 116. [0040] 83c represents a hole in the corner of the L shape of the rear drooping part 83b; and this hole 83c is provided so that, because the outer lateral side and rear of the nut 116 is covered by the rear drooping part 83b, a worker can easily tighten the nut 116 while looking at it when mounting the outer cable 114 on the rear drooping part 83b. [0041] The inner wire 115 has an end member 117 at its tip and this end member 117 is hooked to the engaging arm 86. Here, 118 represents a rubber boot which covers the end portion of the inner wire 115. [0042] The engaging arm 86 includes a lock plate 121 with its tip 121a bent into an L shape inward of the vehicle body, a spring stay 122 mounted on the vehicle body inner side surface of the lock plate 121, and a cable stay 123 mounted on the vehicle body outer side surface of the end portion of the lock plate 121, and is swingably attached to a lateral side 87a of the rear bracket 87 with a bolt 125. [0043] The tip 121a of the lock plate 121 can be engaged with the engaged arm 33d of the brake pedal 33. The extension spring 111 is. hooked to the tip of the spring stay 122. [0044] The cable stay 123 includes a base plate 127 attached to the lock plate 121, and an L plate 128 with an end face attached to the base plate 127, which is L-shaped as viewed sideways, and the inner wire 115 of the brake lock/unlock cable 36b is connected with the vertical portion 128a of the L plate 128. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a key part of the foot brake structure according to the present invention, where the support stay 81 lies along the right frame 18R and the spindle 34 is welded on both side faces of the support stay 81 in a way to penetrate the support stay 81 in the vehicle's widthwise direction, and the front bracket 83 is attached to a front portion of the support stay 81 with three bolts 101 and the rear bracket 87 is attached to a rear top portion of the support stay 81. [0046] Here, 131 represents bolt holes made on the top of the support stay 81 for attachment of the step floor 31 (see Fig. 1); 132 represents a lateral projection which protrudes integrally with the support stay 81 for attachment of the front bracket 83; and 133 represents a nut fitted to the lateral side 87a of the rear bracket 87 for screwing the tip of the bolt 125 for attachment of the engaging arm 86 to the rear bracket 87. [0047] The brake pedal 33 has a cylindrical bearing 33j on its rear portion; the bearing 33j is rotatably fitted onto an outer lateral projection 34a of the spindle 34 protruding in the outer lateral direction of the vehicle body from the support stay 81; and further a washer 136 is fitted onto the spindle 34; and a retaining pin 137 is fitted to the outer lateral projection 34a on the outer lateral side of the washer 136 in a way to penetrate. The spindle 34 includes an outer projection 34a and a penetrating part 34b which penetrates the support stay 81; and a large-diameter part 34c formed on the outer lateral projection 34a is fixed on a side face of the support stay 81. [0049] The front drooping part 83a and rear drooping part 8 3b of the front bracket 83 are parts whose cross section is L-shaped by bending a flat plate 83e downward and further bending it inward of the vehicle body, and have an inward bend portion 83f and an inward bend portion 83g respectively. [0050] The inward bend portion 83f has a hole 83j for attachment of the brake switch 82 (see Fig. 3) and the inward bend portion 83g has a hole 83k for attachment of the brake lock/unlock cable 36b (see Fig. 4). The spring holder 33e is a member which has a large-diameter hole 33m into which the extension spring 97 (see Fig. 3) is hooked, and a small-diameter hole into which the extension spring 107 (see Fig. 3) is hooked. [0051] Next, how the abovementioned brake pedal 33 functions will be explained. Fig. 6 is a functional view showing how the brake pedal according to the present invention functions. When the tread part 33b of the brake pedal 33 is depressed with a foot on it and moved from point A (indicated by alternate long and two short dashes line) to point B (indicated by alternate long and short dash line) while the vehicle is running, the rear wheel brake device is activated to brake the rear wheel. [0052] When, in order to stop the vehicle, the tread part 33b is depressed and moved from point A to point B and then the knob 3 6d in the controlling part 36a in the vicinity of the handlebar is pulled toward the direction of arrow D, the lock plate 121 of the engaging arm 86 swings from point E (indicated by alternate long and two short dashes line) to point F (indicated by solid line) and the tip 121a of the lock plate 121 moves toward under the engaged arm 33d of the brake pedal 33. [0053] In this condition, when the force to depress the brake pedal 33 is decreased and the tread part 33b is moved to point C (indicated by solid line), the engaged arm 33d is engaged with the tip 121a of the lock plate 121. [0054] At this moment, the engaging arm 86 is pulled by the extension spring 111 (see Fig. 4) and thus a lock in the controlling part 36a restrains the knob 36d from moving back so that the engagement between the engaged arm 33d and the lock plate 121 is maintained. This state is a brake lock state, namely parking brake ON state. When the projection 36e of the controlling part 36a is pushed down toward the knob 36d as indicated by arrow G, the lock in the controlling part 36a is released and it becomes possible for the engaging arm 86 to turn clockwise through the brake lock/unlock cable 36b, and the engaged arm 33d and the lock plate 121 are disengaged. This state is a brake unlock state. [0056] Fig. 7 is a back right side view of the scooter type vehicle according to the present invention where a muffler 55 with a heat shielding cover 141 is located on the right lateral side of the rear wheel 23 and the secondary air supply system 57 is connected with the front portion of the muffler 55. [0057] The secondary air supply system 57 includes: a small air cleaner 143 fitted to the rear portion of the main frame 18 through a bracket 142; a one-way valve 146 connected with the small air cleaner 143 through a hose 144 and attached to a bracket 145 on the main frame 18; and a metal pipe 148 having one end connected with the one-way valve 146 through a hose 147 and the other end connected with the front top of the muffler 55. [0058] In the figure, 151 represents an oil level gauge mounted on the lateral side of a crankcase 38a of an engine 38, and a guard member 152 is provided on the muffler 55 to protect the rider's hand from the metal pipe 148 of the secondary air supply system 57 during attachment or detachment of the oil level gauge 151. Here, 155 represents a fuel tank attached to the rear portion of the main frame 18. [0059] Fig. 8 is a right side view of the exhaust device according to the present invention; and the muffler 55 has, on the left lateral front side of it, a stay 161 for fixation on the right lateral side of the power unit 22 (see Fig. 7) and the wire-like guard member 152 is attached to the front top of the stay 161 on the vehicle body outer side . The guard member 152 is located off and along the bottom face of the metal pipe 148. [0060] Fig. 9 is a plan view illustrating a guard member according to the present invention, and the guard member 152 includes: one end 152a and the other end 152b which are attached to the stay 161; extensions 152c, 152d stretching from the one end 152a and the other end 152b toward the metal pipe 14 8 respectively; and a U-shaped guard body 152e connected with these extensions 152c, 152d and extending under the metal pipe 148 along the metal pipe 148. [0061] Figs. 10(a) and 10(b) are explanatory views illustrating the small air cleaner of the secondary air supply system according to the present invention. (a) shows the small air cleaner 143 as a component in which two half-cases 171, 172 (reference numeral 172 only on the near side is shown here) are joined and a filter (not shown) is installed inside, and the half-case 171 located on the vehicle body inner side integrally has an intake port 173 and the half-case 172 on the vehicle body outer side of the half-case 171 has an exhaust port 174. Here, 176 and 177 represent attachments integral with the half-case 171 for attachment to the bracket 142 (see Fig. 7) . [0062] . (b) is a sectional view taken along the line b-b in (a) where a filter 181 is installed in an opening of the half-case 171 of the small air cleaner 143 and the filter 181 is pushed and fixed by the half-case 172. [0063] Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a one-way valve according to the present invention, and the one-way valve 146 includes: an intake side case 185 with an intake port 185a; a valve assembly 186 located in the opening of the intake side case 185; and an exhaust side case 188 with an exhaust port 188a, which is attached to the intake side case 185 with plural bolts 187 in a way for the valve assembly 18 6 to be sandwiched between it and the intake side case 185. [0064] The intake side case 185 includes a flat U-shaped part 185b and mounting holes 185c, 185c for attachment to the bracket 145 (see Fig. 7). The valve assembly 186 includes: a base portion 191 with a path 191a; a leaf valve 192 like a thin plate to open or close the path 191a; a stopper 194 secured on the base portion 191 with a screw 193 together with the leaf valve 192 to prevent the leaf valve 192 from opening too much; and a seal member 196 provided around the base portion 191 to seal the area between the intake side case 185 and exhaust side case 188 and the base portion 191. [0066] The exhaust side case 188 includes a flat U-shaped part 188b and this flat U-shaped part 188b and the flat U-shaped part 185b of the intake side case 185 constitute a valve chest 197. [0067] As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, firstly the present invention is characterized in that in a foot brake structure of a scooter type vehicle 10 in which a pair of left and right step floors 31, 31 (reference numeral 31 only on the near side is shown here) supported by a body frame 11 are provided between a handlebar 16 and a tandem seat 66 as a seat, a brake pedal 33 for controlling a rear wheel brake device 32 for braking a rear wheel 23 as a vehicle wheel is rotatably attached to the body frame 11 and a tread part 3 3b of the brake pedal 33 protrudes above the step floors 31, the step floors 31 are supported by a support stay 81 as a constituent of the body frame 11, a spindle 34 for supporting the brake pedal 33 rotatably is provided on the support stay 81, and the spindle 34 is located above the body frame 11, specifically a main frame 18 and below the step floors 31 as viewed sideways. [0068] Consequently, the spindle 34 of the brake pedal 33 can be closer to the step floors 31 than in the related art, which means that the brake pedal 33 can be shorter and the foot brake structure including the brake pedal 33 and support members for the brake pedal 33 can be smaller. [0069] Furthermore, by a minor change to the support stay 81 only, for example, a scooter type vehicle brake structure which has only a brake lever and no brake pedal can be easily converted into a foot brake structure, which increase the freedom of design and permits common use of the main part of the body frame 11, namely the main frame 18. [0070] As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, secondly the present invention is characterized in that the support stay 81 has a U-shaped cross section with a downward opening and the bottom of the support stay 81 is mounted on the main frame 18 of the body frame 11 and the spindle 34 is passed through the support stay 81 transversely and fixed on both lateral sides of the support stay 81. [0071] Since the spindle 34 is mounted on the support stay 81 at two points, the spindle 34 is firmly supported, and due to the flat mounting surfaces of the support stay 81, mountability is improved in mounting the spindle 34 on the support stay 81 by welding. [0072] Thirdly the present invention is characterized in that a joint between the brake pedal 33 and the spindle 34 is located on an outer lateral side of the body frame 11 as viewed from above. Consequently, the brake pedal 33 can be located on the outer lateral side of the main frame 18 of the body frame 11, specifically the right frame IBR, and thus the brake pedal 33 can be located at the end of the step floor 31. Therefore, the step floor 31 provides wider available space and the user-friendliness of the scooter type vehicle 10 (see Fig. 1) is enhanced. [0073] As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, fourthly the present invention is characterized in that the support stay 81 monolithically extends long along the longitudinal side of the step floor 31, an engaging arm 86 as a lock means for holding the brake pedal 33 in a prescribed depression position upon depression of the brake pedal 33 and a brake lock/unlock cable 36b as a cable for connection from a controlling part 36a for control of the engaging arm 86 to the engaging arm 86 are supported by a rear bracket 87 and a front bracket 83 as brackets mounted on the support stay 81 respectively, and the front bracket 83 and rear bracket 87 are located before and after the spindle 34. Since the support arm 81 for supporting the brake pedal 33 supports the rear bracket 87 and front bracket 83 for supporting the engaging arm 8 6 and the brake lock/unlock cable 36b respectively, it is unnecessary to provide special support members to support the rear bracket 87 for the engaging arm 86 and the front bracket 83 for the brake lock/unlock cable 3 6b and the number of components is not increased and the cost does not rise. [0075] Fifthly the present invention is characterized in that the brake lock/unlock cable 36b includes an outer cable 114 and an inner wire 115 movably inserted into the outer cable 114, the front bracket 83 for supporting the brake lock/unlock cable 36b has the end portion of the outer cable 114 fixed on it with a nut 116 as a fixing means and is L-shaped so as to cover the rear and outer lateral side of the end portion of the brake lock/unlock cable 36b as the scooter type vehicle 10 (see Fig. 1) is viewed from above, and a hole 83c through which the nut 116 is visible is provided in the corner of the L shape. [0076] Consequently, an L-shaped rear drooping part 83b of the front bracket 83 protects the end portion of the outer cable 114 and the brake lock/unlock cable 36b can be mounted on the front bracket 83 while the condition of the nut 116 is visually checked through the hole 83c, leading to improvement in mountability. As shown in Fig. 5, in this embodiment, a single support stay 81 supports the spindle 34, front bracket 83 and rear bracket 87; however, the invention is not limited thereto and another approach is that the support stay is divided into a front stay and a rear stay and the front bracket 83 is mounted on one stay and the rear bracket 87 is mounted on the other stay and the spindle 34 is mounted on either of them. [Industrial Applicability] [0078] The foot brake structure according to the present invention is suitable for a scooter type vehicle. [Brief Description of the Drawings] [0079] [Fig. 1] is a side view of a scooter type vehicle which adopts a foot brake structure according to the present invention. [Fig. 2] is a perspective view of a key part of the foot brake structure according to the present invention. [Fig. 3] is a right side view of a key part of the foot brake structure according to the present invention. [Fig. 4] is a right side view of a key part of a brake lock/unlock mechanism of the foot brake structure accordina to the present invention. [Fig. 5] is a plan view of a key part of the foot brake structure according to the present invention. [Fig. 6] is a functional view showing how the foot brake structure according to the present invention functions. [Fig. 7] is a rear right side view of the scooter type vehicle according to the present invention. [Fig. 8] is a right side view of an exhaust device according to the present invention. [Fig. 9] is a plan view illustrating a guard member according to the present invention. [Fig. 10] is an explanatory view illustrating a small air cleaner of a secondary air supply system according to the present invention. [Fig. 11] is a sectional view of a one-way valve according to the present invention. [Description of Reference Numerals] [0080] 10. . -Scooter type vehicle 11...Body frame 16...Handlebar 23...Wheel (rear wheel) 24...Rear cushion unit 31. . .Step floor 32...Rear wheel brake device 33...Brake pedal 33b...Tread part 34,..Spindle 36a...Controlling part 36b...Brake lock/unlock cable 66...Seat (tandem seat) 81...Support stay w 83, 87 ... Brackets (front bracket, rear bracket) 83c...Hole 86...Lock mechanisin (engaging arm) 114...Outer cable 115...Inner wire 116.,.Fixing means (nut) 4 [Document Name] Scope of Claims [Claim 1] A foot brake structure of a scooter type vehicle in which a pair of left and right step floors supported by a body frame are provided between a handlebar and a seat, a brake pedal for controlling a brake device for braking a wheel is rotatably attached to the body frame and a tread part of the brake pedal protrudes above the step floors, wherein: the step floors are supported by a support stay provided on the body frame; a spindle for the brake pedal is provided on the support stay; and the spindle is located above the body frame and below the step floors as viewed sideways. [Claim 2] The foot brake structure of a scooter type vehicle according to Claim 1, wherein: the support stay has a U-shaped cross section with a downward opening; the bottom of the support stay is mounted on the body frame; and the spindle is passed through the support stay transversely and fixed on both lateral sides of the suppcri stay. [Claim 3] The foot brake structure of a scooter type vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein a joint between the brake pedal and the spindle is located on an outer lateral side of the body frame as viewed from above. [Claim 4] The foot brake structure of a scooter type vehicle according to any of Claims 1 to 3. wherein: the support stay monolithically extends long along the longitudinal side of the step floor; a lock mechanism for holding the brake pedal in a prescribed depression position upon depression of the brake pedal and a cable for connection from a controlling part for control of the lock mechanism to the lock mechanism are supported by brackets mounted on the support stay respectively; and the brackets are located before and after the spindle. [Claim 5] The foot brake structure of a scooter type vehicle according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein: the cable comprises an outer cable and an inner wire movably inserted into the outer cable; the bracket for supporting the cable has an end portion of the outer cable fixed on it with a fixing means and is L-shaped so as to cover the rear and outer lateral side of the cable end portion as the vehicle is viewed from, above; and a hole through which the fixing means is visible is

Documents:

222-CHE-2008 AMENDED CLAIMS 04-04-2012.pdf

222-CHE-2008 CORRESPONDENCE PO.pdf

222-CHE-2008 EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECEIVED 04-04-2012.pdf

222-CHE-2008 FORM-3 04-04-2012.pdf

222-CHE-2008 OTHER PATENT DOCUMENT 04-04-2012.pdf

222-che-2008-abstract.pdf

222-che-2008-claims.pdf

222-che-2008-correspondnece-others.pdf

222-che-2008-description(complete).pdf

222-che-2008-drawings.pdf

222-che-2008-form 1.pdf

222-che-2008-form 18.pdf

222-che-2008-form 26.pdf

222-che-2008-form 3.pdf

222-che-2008-form 5.pdf

abs-222-che-2008.jpg