Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Storm-front shield – apron – or robe
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-27
2001-03-20
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Storm-front shield, apron, or robe
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203093
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to motorcycle fairings. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved construction of such fairings to improve the serviceability of components housed therein.
2. Related Art
Motorcycles are often provided with fairings which reduce wind resistance and improve the overall aesthetic appearance of motorcycles. The fairing is commonly mounted to the frame of the motorcycle and provides a forward facing housing member, which reduces the air resistance of the motorcycle as the motorcycle is driven. Such fairings often accommodate a headlight as well as various gauge members for the motorcycle. For instance, an inner panel of the fairing can include a speedometer, an oil pressure meter, as well as a temperature meter. Additionally, a radio and speakers can be positioned to extend through the inner panel.
An outer panel forms the aerodynamic forward facing covering of the motorcycle. A small portion of this outer panel usually can be removed to service some of the components mounted to the inner panel, as well as to service the headlight and the turning indicators. However, the portion of the outer panel which can be removed typically forms a small, forward-facing portion of the fairing and, consequently, only a small maintenance opening is provided into the fairing.
In addition, due to the mounting arrangement used for the fairing and the outer panel, the fairing and the outer panel tend to be heavy and awkward to install and remove during maintenance. One aspect of this awkwardness involves mounting the headlight within the forward portion of the fairing. During repeated removals of the fairing, the headlight which is mounted within the fairing is often inserted and removed several times. Due to the repetitive nature of such maintenance, the headlight is often skewed relative to the fairing over time.
This results in air gaps as well as unattractive gaps being formed within the forward facing portion of the fairing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an improved motorcycle fairing is desired. The fairing desirably comprises an enlarged forward panel which also covers a portion of the sides of the fairing such that, upon removal, an enlarged maintenance opening results that can expose both the forward and side portions of components mounted within the inner panel of the fairing. In addition, the mounting arrangement for the fairing desirably has a reduced weight as well as an upwardly disposed fastening member that allows the fairing to be temporarily and stably positioned on the motorcycle prior to being secured. Moreover, the headlight is preferably engageable with a portion of the fairing such that the headlight is positively positioned within the fairing in a consistent location each time the fairing or forward panel is replaced after maintenance.
Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention involves a fairing assembly for attaching to a frame of a motorcycle. The fairing assembly comprises at least one mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is capable of being connected to a forward portion of the frame of the motorcycle. A fairing stay is removably connected to the mounting bracket. A forward fairing panel is connected to the fairing stay and a rearward fairing panel is connected to the fairing stay. The forward fairing panel is removable from the fairing stay separate from the rearward fairing panel such that the forward fairing panel may be removed from the fairing stay while the rearward fairing panel remains connected to the fairing stay. A cavity is defined between the forward fairing panel and the rearward fairing panel. The fairing stay supports at least one accessory disposed substantially within the cavity such that the rearward fairing panel, the accessory and the stay may be removed from the mounting bracket as a single component.
Another aspect of the present invention involves a motorcycle comprising a frame assembly, a front fork pivotably connected to the frame assembly, and handlebars attached to the front fork. A fairing stay is removably secured to a forward portion of the frame assembly. At least one accessory is mounted to the fairing stay proximate the handlebars. An outer panel is removably attached to the fairing stay and extends outward and rearward from a forwardmost portion such that the outer panel has a generally concave appearance to an operator. An inner panel also is removably attached to the stay. A windshield extends upward from an upper edge of the outer panel and is interposed between the outer panel and the inner panel at a lower edge of the windshield. The outer panel is removable from the motorcycle without removing the stay, the inner panel or the windshield. The outer panel conceals front and lateral sides of a cavity housing the accessory.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4461508 (1984-07-01), Ogishima
patent: 4515405 (1985-05-01), Ogishima
patent: 4709774 (1987-12-01), Saito et al.
patent: 4822067 (1989-04-01), Matsuo et al.
patent: 4838603 (1989-06-01), Masoero et al.
patent: 5109942 (1992-05-01), Akimori et al.
patent: 5409287 (1995-04-01), Suzuki
patent: 5857727 (1999-01-01), Vetter
Anzai Shinya
Hiratsuka Akira
Suzuki Yasuhito
Dayoan D. Glenn
Gutman Hiliary
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
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