Motor vehicles – Special wheel base – Having only two wheels
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-25
2001-08-21
Mar, Michael (Department: 3611)
Motor vehicles
Special wheel base
Having only two wheels
C180S068100, C296S078100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276482
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motorcycle upper-cowl which covers the handlebars, instruments and the like in the top portion of the front part of a motorcycle to reduce air resistance whilst making the front turn signals easily visible and also providing an efficiency-improved air intake for guiding air for engine supercharging, cooling heat exchanger, etc.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
A motorcycle upper-cowl is mounted to cover the handlebars, instruments, etc., in the portion of the front part of the motorcycle and is configured to smoothly lead air along its exterior surface from its front part to the rear outer sides during driving to reduce its air resistance. Typically, the upper cowl is integrally formed with an air intake that opens forward for guiding air for engine supercharging, heat exchanging and cooling, etc.
Arranged in the front part of a motorcycle are front turn signals. These turn signals are formed separately from, or integrally with, the upper-cowl. In either case, the turn signals are projected from their surroundings in order to secure their visibility.
A conventional upper-cowl for a motorcycle typically has an air-intake of which the opening is directed forward in order to secure improved intake efficiency. Therefore, this shape of the conventional upper-cowl made it difficult to minimize the air resistance thereof.
Illustratively, as shown in
FIG. 1
, the overall external surface of the upper-cowl is formed with a streamlined, basic cross-sectional shape (basic planar sectional shape) C such as an arc, parabola or some analogous section, which curves with its tangent being gradually directed toward the rear, from the forward part (the upper end in
FIG. 1
) to the rear outer sides (to the lower end in FIG.
1
). This shape of the upper-cowl can produce an optimized, smooth airflow along its external surface, thus leading to a sharp reduction in air resistance. However, because most upper-cowls have headlamps
112
and
112
in the center thereof, a streamlined upper-cowl has openings of air intakes
113
and
113
in the outer, slanted portions on the sides of a headlamp cover
111
. That is, the openings are not directed frontward, giving rise to the problem of the intake efficiency of air intakes
113
and
113
being lowered.
Further, in order to secure the visibility of the turn signals, it is necessary to arrange the turn signals so that they are projected from their surroundings in the upper-cowl whatever shape the upper-cowl has. Therefore, these projections degrade the air rectification of the upper-cowl, giving rise to the problem of increase in air resistance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the problems above, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a motorcycle upper-cowl which covers the handlebars, instruments and the like in the top portion of the front part of a motorcycle to reduce air resistance whilst making the front turn signals easily visible and also providing an efficiency-improved air intake for guiding air for engine supercharging, cooling heat exchanger, etc.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows:
In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, a motorcycle upper-cowl for covering the front side of the handlebars, instruments and the like in the top portion of the front part of a motorcycle, includes:
an upper-cowl body which has a streamlined, basic cross-sectional shape, such as arc, parabola or some analogous cross-section, curving with its tangent being gradually directed toward the rear, from the forward part to the rear outer sides;
air intake means for engine supercharging, cooling heat exchanger and the like, provided in the body and opening forward; and
a pair of turn signal lenses covering turn signal lamps provided, on the outer sides of the opening of the air intake means, adjacent thereto or in proximity thereto, so as to be projected forward from the basic cross-sectional shape.
In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, the motorcycle upper-cowl having the above first feature is characterized in that the inner side, adjoining to the air intake means, of the turn signal has a cross-section slanted inward and rearward.
In accordance with the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, the motorcycle upper-cowl having the above first or second feature is characterized in that the air intake means comprises a pair of air intakes arranged, respectively, on the left and right sides of the upper-cowl body.
In accordance with the fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention, the motorcycle upper-cowl having the above first or second feature is characterized in that the air intake means is arranged in the center of the upper-cowl panel.
According to the first feature of the invention, since the projected configuration of the turn signal lenses from the external shape with a basic cross-section assures their visibility while the external shape having a streamlined basic cross-section assures smooth flow of air, it is possible to cancel out the degradation of air rectification due to the projected turn signal lenses, thus making it possible to reduce the air resistance as a whole. Further, since the projections of the turn signal lenses on the outer sides of the openings of the air intakes, guide air flowing along the external surface having the basic section, sidewards and rearwards into the air intakes, it is possible to improve intake efficiency of the air intakes.
According to the second feature of the invention, since air hitting the outer sides of the air intakes can be guided into the air intakes by the turn signal lenses, it is possible to achieve a further improved intake efficiency of the air intakes.
According to the third to sixth features of the invention, the effects of the first and second features can be further enhanced.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4066291 (1978-01-01), Hickman
patent: 4320906 (1982-03-01), Saunders, IV
patent: 4703825 (1987-11-01), Mikami et al.
patent: 4709774 (1987-12-01), Saito et al.
patent: 4830135 (1989-05-01), Yamashita
patent: 4913256 (1990-04-01), Sakuma
patent: 5490573 (1996-02-01), Hagiwara et al.
patent: 5997070 (1999-12-01), Matsuo et al.
patent: Hei 9 No. 86463 (1997-03-01), None
patent: Hei 9 No. 242629 (1997-09-01), None
Moriya Yasunori
Yoshiura Koji
Darby & Darby
Mar Michael
Suzuki Motor Corporation
LandOfFree
Motorcycle upper-cowl does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Motorcycle upper-cowl, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Motorcycle upper-cowl will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2461822