Abstract:
A saddle type vehicle including at least one trunk provided with a lid, an opening/closing mechanism for permitting and rejecting the opening and closing of the lid, and a radio signal receiving unit which receives a radio signal for remotely operating the opening/closing mechanism, whereby the radio signal receiving unit is disposed on top of the trunk. A rear trunk is mounted on a rear portion of a body of the vehicle, a lid having a projection formed outside on top of the trunk, and a radio signal receiving unit is disposed inside the projection.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a saddle type vehicle provided with a remote control type trunk and particularly to a saddle type vehicle provided with a remote control type trunk capable of being remotely operated by radio. 
     2. Background Art 
     In such saddle type vehicles as two-wheeled motor vehicles, aquatic motorbikes (known as PWC: Personal Water Craft), and snowmobiles, the provision of plural trunks is effective for improving the storage capacity. In Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Hei 3-3114 filed by the applicant in the present case, there is proposed a two-wheeled motor vehicle wherein a rear trunk is mounted behind a seat and a pair of side trunks are mounted on right and left sides of a rear portion of the vehicle. Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 59-38472 there is disclosed a technique for locking and unlocking a trunk of a four-wheeled motor vehicle by remote control. 
     If a remote control system which utilizes radio is to be adopted for locking and unlocking a trunk of a vehicle, it is necessary that a receiver for sensing a radio signal transmitted from a remote controller be mounted on the vehicle. 
     It is desirable that the receiver be disposed in a dead space on the vehicle. But if the receiver is spaced away from the trunk, the length of wiring connected to an actuator in the trunk becomes larger and the wiring is exposed to the exterior of the vehicle, thus resulting in impairment of appearance. 
     Further, in case of using an infrared ray in radio communication, it is necessary so that there is no obstacle between the remote controller and the receiver, no matter which position the remote controller may be operated at. Thus, it is desirable that the receiver be disposed at a high position of good visibility. In case of using a radio wave for radio communication, it is desirable that the receiver be spaced away from an engine in order to eliminate the influence of noise generated from the engine. 
     However, it has so far been difficult to dispose the receiver for a remote controller at an appropriate position on a vehicle so as to satisfy the aforesaid conditions without impairing the design of the vehicle and without formation of any unnecessary projection or the like. 
     It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and provide a saddle type vehicle having a remote control type trunk with a receiver of a remote controller mounted at an appropriate position without impairing the design of the vehicle and without formation of any unnecessary projection or the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, for achieving the above-mentioned object, there is provided a saddle type vehicle including at least one remote control type trunk provided with a lid, an opening/closing permitting/rejecting mechanism for permitting and rejecting opening and closing of the lid, and a radio signal receiving unit which receives a radio signal for remotely operating the opening/closing permitting/rejecting mechanism, characterized in that the radio signal receiving unit is disposed on top of the trunk. 
     According to the above characteristic of the invention, the radio signal receiving unit in a remote control system can be disposed in a dead space on the vehicle and at a position spaced away from an engine which is mounted near the trunk, without impairing the design of the vehicle and without formation of any unnecessary projection or the like. 
     In accordance with the present invention, it is a further object to provide the saddle type vehicle with a radio receiver disposed on top of a trunk, that is, at a high position, thereby the reception sensitivity is improved. 
     It is an additional object to provide a radio receiver disposed on top of a trunk, so that the wiring which connects a trunk locking/unlocking actuator and a sensor to the receiver is not required to be drawn out to the exterior of the vehicle, that is, the vehicle appearance is not impaired. 
     It is still another object to provide a radio receiver disposed on top of a trunk, so that there is no fear that the surface of a vehicle body may become uneven, nor is there any great reduction in trunk volume. 
     It is yet still another object to provide a projection formed on top of a trunk and a receiver disposed inside the projection, so that the reduction in trunk volume resulting from the provision of the receiver is kept to a minimum. 
     It is yet still another object to provide the projection formed on top of a trunk also serving as a back rest of a seat, so that the receiver accommodating portion can be utilized more effectively. 
     Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a two-wheeled motor vehicle with a remote control type vehicular trunk according to the present invention mounted thereon; 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed side view of a rear portion of the vehicle shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the vehicle shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of the rear portion of the vehicle shown in  FIG. 1  as seen from above; 
         FIG. 5  is a functional block diagram of remote control type vehicular trunks; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of a remote controller; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the remote controller; 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing operations of this embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a configuration of a trunk catcher (before pop-up state); 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a configuration of the trunk catcher (pop-up state). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be described in detail hereinunder with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a two-wheeled motor vehicle on which a remote control type vehicular trunk embodying the invention is mounted. 
     A two-wheeled motor vehicle (hereinafter referred to as the “vehicle”)  1  carries a six-cylinder engine  2  horizontally and a frame structure thereof is composed of a twin frame type main frame  4  extending in a bifurcated form backward of the vehicle from a steering head  3  and rear frames  5  connected to and extending backward from the main frame  4 . In the steering head  3  is mounted a front fork  6  so as to be rotatable in steering directions, the front fork  6  comprising two pipes disposed right and left in a vehicular running direction. A bar handle  7  is fixed to the top of the front fork  6 , that is, to a top bridge. A front axle  8  is secured to a lower end of the front fork  6  and a front wheel  9  is supported rotatably on the front axle  8 . 
     A meter unit  10  is provided in front of the bar handle  7  and a lens surface (clear lens)  12  of a lamp device is mounted in front of a front fairing (cowl)  11  which covers a front portion of the vehicle  1 . Inside the front cowl  11  is accommodated a voltage increasing device (ballast)  13  of an electric discharge lamp which is used as a lamp device. A windscreen  14  is mounted above the front cowl  11  and an air inlet  15  is formed near the mounted portion of the windscreen  14 . 
     A fuel tank  16  is mounted on the main frame  4 . Behind the fuel tank  16  and on the rear frames  5  are mounted a driver seat  17  and a fellow passenger seat  18 . The fellow passenger seat  18  is integral with the driver seat  17  and has a back rest  19 . Behind the back rest  19  is provided a rear trunk  20 C which is locked and unlocked by means of a remote controller to be described later. In a rear portion of the rear trunk  20 C are mounted rear stop lamps  21  and winker lamps  22 . 
     Below the rear trunk  20 C and on the left and right sides of a rear wheel  26  are provided side trunks  20 L and  20 R which are locked and unlocked by means of a remote controller as is the case with the rear trunk  20 C. In rear portions of the side trunks  20 L and  20 R are provided another pair of rear stop lamps  24  and another pair of winker lamps  25 . 
     An air cleaner  27  is mounted below and in front of the fuel tank  16  and a throttle body  28  is mounted in front of the air cleaner  27 , with intake manifolds  29  extending from the throttle body  28 . The three engine cylinders are disposed on the right and left sides of the vehicle body, and the three intake manifolds  29  are connected to the three cylinders. Upstream of each of the cylinders is disposed a fuel injector (not shown). Exhaust manifolds  30  are drawn out backward from the engine  2  and are connected to mufflers  31 . 
     Both right and left sides below the driver seat  17  are covered with side covers  32  and a front lower cowl  33  is disposed in front of the engine  2 . A rear cushion  34  is provided below the driver seat  17 . The rear cushion  34  is connected to a hydraulic unit (not shown) which can adjust the spring force electrically and which thereby can adjust an initial suspension load in accordance with the weight of the driver. The vehicle  1  can be allowed to stand up with use of a stand  35 . 
       FIG. 2  is a detailed side view of a rear portion of the vehicle  1  and the vicinity thereof,  FIG. 3  is a rear view of the vehicle  1 , and  FIG. 4  is a view of the vehicle rear portion as seen from above. In these figure, the same reference numerals as in  FIG. 1  represent the same or equivalent portions. 
     In the vehicle  1 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , a lid  44 C of the trunk  20 C can open upward, while lids  44 L and  44 R of the side trunks  20 L and  20 R can open sideways. The trunks  20 C,  20 L, and  20 R are locked and unlocked by inserting an engine key into a key cylinder  40  (see  FIG. 3 ) provided in the trunk  20 C and by turning the engine key. In this embodiment, locking and unlocking of the trunks  20 C,  20 L, and  20 R can also be done by a radio type remote controller. A controller  100  having incorporated therein a radio signal receiving function, as well as an actuator for locking and unlocking and a sensor, are mounted on the vehicle. 
     It is preferable that the controller  100  be received in a dead space on the vehicle. But if the controller  100  is spaced away from the trunks, the length of wiring connected with an actuator of each trunk becomes larger and the wiring is exposed to the exterior of the vehicle, thus resulting in impairment of appearance. 
     In case of utilizing an infrared ray in the above radio communication, it is necessary to take care so that there is no obstacle between a remote controller and the controller  100  no matter which position the remote controller may be operated at. It is preferable that the controller  100  be disposed at a high position of good visibility. In case of utilizing a radio wave in the radio communication, it is desirable to dispose the controller  100  away from the engine in order to prevent the controller from being influenced by noise generated from the engine. 
     Where the rear trunk  20 C mounted behind the fellow passenger seat  18  is relatively large-sized as in the vehicle of this embodiment, the rear trunk is formed high so that its front face serves also as the back rest  19  for a fellow passenger, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     In this case, from the standpoint of aerodynamics and design, a projection  47  having a projected upper surface is formed on top of the rear trunk  20 C, that is, on the lid  44 C. Consequently, a space of a low utility value, i.e., dead space, is formed in the interior of the rear trunk  20 C and inside the projection  47 . This space is located at a high position of good visibility and is spaced away from the engine  2 . 
     In this embodiment, the controller  100  is disposed inside the projection  47  which is formed on top of the rear trunk  20 C, more particularly, on the lid  44 C. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , three opening/closing levers  23 L,  23 C, and  23 R are provided in a lower portion of the rear trunk  20 C. The lids  44 L,  44 C, and  44 R of the side trunk  20 L, rear trunk  20 C, and side trunk  20 R, respectively, are opened by operating the levers  23 L,  23 C, and  23 R after unlocking made by the foregoing key operation or remote control. 
     In this embodiment, particularly as to the rear trunk  20 C, as will be described in detail below, the lid  44 C can be allowed to pop up simultaneously with unlocking even by the key operation or remote control without operating the opening/closing lever  23 C. 
       FIG. 5  is a functional block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a system which locks, unlocks and pops up the lid  44  of each trunk  20  by remote radio operation using a remote controller  80 , in which the same reference numerals as above represent the same or equivalent portions. 
     In the rear trunk  20 C, a switch SC detects whether the lid  44 C is open or closed and outputs the result of the detection to the controller  100 . A lock mechanism KC is actuated by a key actuator  42  to lock or unlock the lid  44 C. A trunk catcher PC is actuated by a pop-up actuator  41  to pop up the lid  44 C simultaneously with unlocking. Further, only at the time of unlocking the trunk catcher PC is actuated by operation of the opening/closing lever  23 C and opens the lid  44 C. A key cylinder  40  locks or unlocks each trunk in response to a key operation and causes the lid  44 C to pop up simultaneously with unlocking. 
     In the left and right side trunks  20 L,  20 R, switches SL and SR detect respectively whether the lids  44 L and  44 R are open or closed, and output the results of the detection to the controller  100 . Lock mechanisms KL and KR are actuated by the key actuator  42  to lock the lids  44 L and  44 R respectively. Trunk catchers PL and PR are actuated by the opening/closing levers  23 L and  23 R to open the lids  44 L and  44 R. 
     The controller  100  detects a radio signal transmitted from the remote controller  80 , and in response to signals transmitted from the switches S it controls the pop-up actuator  41  and the key actuator  42 . 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of the remote controller  80  and  FIG. 7  is a side view thereof. The remote controller  80  used in this embodiment is provided with a locking button  81  for locking all the trunks, an unlocking button  82  for unlocking all the trunks, and a pop-up button  83  for unlocking and popping-up only the rear trunk  20 C selectively. An accessory ring  85  is fitted in a through hole  84  formed in an end portion of the remote controller  80 . 
     When the locking button  81  is pushed, the remote controller  80  transmits a locking signal, while when the unlocking button  82  is pushed, the remote controller transmits an unlocking signal. Further, when the pop-up button  83  is pushed, the remote controller  80  transmits a pop-up signal. 
     Next, the operation of the controller  100  will be described below with reference to a flow chart of  FIG. 8 . 
     In step S 10 , a check is made to see whether a radio signal transmitted from the remote controller  80  has been received or not. If the answer is affirmative, the processing flow advances to step S 11 , in which it is judged whether the received signal is an unlocking signal or not. If the answer is affirmative, the flow advances to step S 12 , in which an unlocking command is issued from the controller  100  to the key actuator  42 . Then, in response to the unlocking command the key actuator  42  unlocks all the lock mechanisms KC, KR, and KL. 
     In step S 13 , it is determined whether any lid  44  of the trunks has been opened or not, in accordance with output signals provided from the switches SC, SR, and SL mounted in the trunks. In step S 14 , a judgment is made as to whether the time during which none of the trunks  44  are opened exceeded a predetermined time or not. If the answer is affirmative, the flow advances to step S 15 , in which a locking command is issued from the controller  100  to the key actuator  42 . In response to the locking command the key actuator  42  locks all the lock mechanisms KC, KR, and KL. 
     Thus, in this embodiment, even if all the trunks are unlocked in response to the unlocking command, if the time during which none of the trunks are opened exceeds a predetermined time, the trunks are locked automatically. Therefore, even in the event the trunks should be unlocked by an erroneous operation of the remote controller made by the driver, there is no fear of the trunks being left unlocked. 
     On the other hand, if it is judged in step S 11  that the received signal is a signal other than unlocking signal, the flow shifts to step S 16 , in which a judgment is made as to whether the received signal is a pop-up signal or not. If the answer is affirmative, the flow advances to step S 17 , in which a pop-up command is issued from the controller  100  to the key actuator  42 . In response to the pop-up command the key actuator  42  causes only the lock mechanism KC to be unlocked selectively. 
     Then, in step S 18 , a pop-up command is issued from the controller  100  to the pop-up actuator  41 , which in turn actuates the pop-up mechanism PC of the trunk  20 C in response to the pop-up command. As a result, the lid  44 C of the trunk  20 C is popped up by the pop-up mechanism PC. 
     Thus, in this embodiment, since unlocking and pop-up of the rear trunk  20 C can be done by a single operation of the remote controller, so even when the driver carries goods in both hands or wears gloves, he or she can perform taking in and out of goods in a simple manner. Besides, since it is only the lid  44 C of the rear trunk  20 C that is popped up, it is not necessary to close again the lids  44 L and  44 R of the side trunks. 
     In this embodiment, moreover, since the above pop-up function is given to only the rear trunk  20 C whose lid opens upward, the entry of rainwater can substantially be prevented even when the lid is opened by remote control in a rainy condition. 
     On the other hand, if it is judged in step S 16  that the received signal is a signal other than pop-up signal, the flow shifts to step S 19 , in which a check is made to see whether the received signal is a locking signal or not. If the answer is affirmative, the flow advances to step S 20 , in which a judgment is made as to whether any lid  44  of the trunks is left open or not. If all the lids  44  are closed, then in step S 21  a locking command is issued from the controller  100  to the key actuator  42 , which in turn locks all the lock mechanisms KC, KR, and KL in response to the locking command. If any lid  44  is left open, the flow shifts to step S 22 , in which, for example a hazard lamp is turned on and off ten times or so to warn the driver. 
     In this embodiment, when the engine key inserted into the key cylinder  40  is turned 90° clockwise, an unlocking command is issued from the key cylinder  40  to the key actuator  42 , which in turn unlocks all the lock mechanisms KC, KR, and KL. 
     When the engine key is turned 90° back from the unlocking position, a locking command is issued from the key cylinder  40  to the key actuator  42 , which in turn locks all the lock mechanisms KC, KR, and KL in response to the locking command. 
     Further, when the engine key is turned counterclockwise from this lock position, a pop-up command is issued from the key cylinder  40  to both key actuator  42  and pop-up actuator  41 . In response to this pop-up command the key actuator  42  unlocks only the lock mechanism KC in the trunk  20 C selectively. 
     The pop-up actuator  41  actuates the pop-up mechanism PC of the trunk  20 C in response to the pop-up command, causing the lid  44 C to pop up. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate a configuration of principal portions of the trunk catcher P mounted in each trunk for realizing the pop-up function, of which  FIG. 9  illustrates a state before pop-up and  FIG. 10  illustrates a pop-up state. Here, with the trunk catcher PC mounted in the rear trunk  20 C as an example, its configuration and operation will be described. 
     Support shafts  51   a ,  51   b , and  51   c  are erected on a base plate  51 , and first, second, and third cam plates  52 ,  53 ,  54  are supported rotatably on the support shafts  51   a ,  51   b , and  51   c , respectively. The second cam plate  53  is constantly urged counterclockwise with the biasing force of a spring  56 . The third cam plate  54  is constantly urged clockwise with the biasing force of a spring  57 . On the basis of a rotational position of the second cam plate  53  the switch SC detects whether the lid  44 C is open or closed. 
     According to such a configuration, in the state before pop-up illustrated in  FIG. 9 , an opening/closing pin  201  for the trunk lid  44 C is positioned within a bifurcated portion  54   c  of the third cam plate  54 . In the third cam plate  54 , with the bifurcated portion  54   c  kept open leftward, a stopper arm  53   a  of the second cam plate  53  is engaged with a step  54   a  formed on an outer periphery of the third cam plate  54  to prevent the clockwise rotation of the third cam plate. Therefore, the opening/closing pin  201  is locked by the bifurcated portion  54   c , whereby the lid  44 C is kept closed. 
     A lock pin  202  as the lock mechanism KC is adapted to shift in the right and left directions in  FIG. 9  in interlock with the key actuator  42 . In a locked state the lock pin  202  assumes the position indicated with a broken line, while in an unlocked state it is moved up to the position indicated with a solid line. A pop-up rod  81  is engaged with a fulcrum portion  52   c  of the first cam plate  52 . The pop-up rod  81  is adapted to shift vertically in the figure in interlock with both pop-up actuator  41  and opening/closing lever  23 C. 
     When the opening/closing lever  23 C is operated by the driver or the pop-up actuator  41  is operated by remote control using the remote controller  80 , the pop-up rod  81  undergoes a downward force in the figure. At this time, if the lock pin  202  is in its unlock position indicated with a solid line, the first cam plate  52  turns counterclockwise about the support shaft  51   a . On the other hand, if the lock pin  202  is in its lock position indicated with a broken line, the rotation of the first cam plate  52  is inhibited by the lock pin  202 . 
     When the first cam plate  52  is turned counterclockwise, the pin  53   b  erected in the pivot point of the second cam plate  53  is pushed and shifted in the direction of an arrow by an operating portion  52   a  of the first cam plate  52 . As a result, the second cam plate  53  turns clockwise about the support shaft  51   b  against the biasing force of the spring  56 . 
     When the second cam plate  53  is turned, a contact lever  70   a  of the switch SC shifts and causes a contact thereof to be opened or closed. Further, the stopper arm  53   a  of the second cam plate  53  and the step  54   a  of the third cam plate  54  are disengaged from each other, so that the third cam plate  54  turns clockwise under the biasing force of the spring  57 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , since the third cam plate  54  is turned until its bifurcated portion  54   c  faces upward, the pin  201  is released from the bifurcated portion  54   c  and the lid  44 C is popped up. 
     In the case of trunk catchers PL and PR mounted in the side trunks  20 L and  20 R, their pop-up rods  81  are merely displaced by the opening/closing levers  23 L and  23 R, respectively, and are not connected to the pop-up actuator  41 . In this embodiment, therefore, lids other than the lid  44 C of the rear trunk  20 C cannot be popped up by remote control using the remote controller  80  or by key operation. 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.