Abstract:
A fender for a motor vehicle, such as a motorcycle, having a tank for containing fluids, such as oil. The fender limits the amount of materials thrown by a rear wheel of the motor vehicle onto a rider and provides a reservoir for fluids used by the engine. The fender also increases the amount of free space located under the seat and proximate to an engine of the motor vehicle, thereby enabling engine components to be placed under the seat in a more protected position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/426,688, filed Nov. 15, 2002. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention is directed generally to motor vehicles, and more particularly, to oil tanks usable with motor vehicles.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    A conventional motorcycle includes a frame and is supported by front and rear wheels. A motorcycle also includes a motor that is often positioned in a cavity that is centrally located within the frame of the motorcycle. The cavity is formed by the supports forming the frame and is located beneath a seat for supporting a rider. Components necessary for operation of the motorcycle are typically positioned in the cavity and may be attached to the engine, mounting brackets, or the frame itself proximate to the cavity. In addition, an oil tank is often attached to the frame directly beneath the seat that supports a rider. The cavity in which a motor is mounted often does not include a housing or other structure. Rather, the cavity is open. As a result, the engine and related components are susceptible to being covered with corrosive and destructive elements, such as oil, salt, sand, water and other materials, commonly found on a roadway. Also, by positioning the components of the motorcycle in the cavity adequate areas for storage are not available.  
           [0004]    Thus, a need exists for an alternative configuration for a motorcycle so that components of the motorcycle are protected from elements found on a roadway and adequate storage is provided.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The invention is directed to a fender for a motor vehicle. The fender may be a rear fender configured to be positioned proximate to a rear wheel of a motor vehicle. In other embodiments, the fender may be configured to be placed proximate to other wheels of motor vehicles, such as front wheels. The fender is formed from a body that is configured to be placed in close proximity with a rear wheel of the motor vehicle to limit the amount of material thrown by the rear wheel onto the rider or the motor vehicle, or both. The fender may also include a housing attached to the body and forming a cavity for containing a fluid. The housing may include one or more orifices for receiving or releasing a fluid, or both. The body of the fender may be curved around the axis about which the rear wheel rotates so that a first end of the body of the fender is positioned proximate to an uppermost position of the rear wheel of the motorcycle and a second end of the body is positioned proximate to a rear portion of the rear wheel where the rear wheel contacts a ground surface. The body of the fender may also be curved so that a first edge of the body of the fender is positioned generally parallel to a first side of a rear wheel and a second edge of the body of the fender is positioned generally parallel to a second side of the rear wheel, wherein the first side of the rear wheel is generally opposite to the second side of the rear wheel.  
           [0006]    In one embodiment, the fender is configured to be coupled to a motorcycle proximate to a rear wheel, and the cavity in the fender may contain oil, thereby eliminating the need to couple an oil tank to the motorcycle proximate to the engine. By incorporating the oil tank in the fender, space under the seat of the motorcycle is opened. Engine components that are susceptible to failure from destructive materials typically present on a roadway may be positioned under the seat, thereby at least partially protecting the components from the elements. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the presently disclosed invention(s) and, together with the description, disclose the principles of the invention(s). These several illustrative figures include the following:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a side view of a motorcycle according to the invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the motorcycle of FIG. 1 according to the invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the fender;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a bottom view according to the invention; and  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the fender taken at  5 - 5  in FIG. 4. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    FIGS.  1 - 5  show a fender  10  of this invention. Fender  10  may be configured to be a fender; however, fender  10  is not limited to a rear fender, but may also be a front fender usable with a front wheel or a fender for another type of wheel. Fender  10  generally is formed from a body  12  and a housing  30  that forms a cavity  32  for containing fluids. Fender  10  may be configured to be placed proximate to a rear tire of a motor vehicle  40 . Motor vehicle  40  may be any motor vehicle. In one embodiment, fender  10  may be configured to be placed proximate to a rear tire of a motorcycle. Fender  10  may be formed from a body  12  configured to be placed in close proximity with a rear wheel of a motorcycle  40  to protect a rider and motorcycle  40  from materials kicked up by the rear wheel from a roadway surface. Body  12  may curved, as shown in FIG. 1, to cover a portion rear wheel  14  so that a first end  16  of body  12  is positioned proximate to an uppermost position  18  of a rear wheel  14  of the motorcycle and a second end  20  of body  12  is positioned proximate to a portion of the rear wheel  14  where the rear wheel  14  contacts a ground surface. In this position, body  12  is curved around axis  15 . Body  12  is not limited to this configuration. Rather, body  12  may be longer or shorter than body  12  shown in FIG. 1. In addition, body  12  may be a combination of one or more curved or straight edges.  
         [0014]    Body  12  may also be curved so that a first edge  22  of body  12  is positioned generally parallel to a first side  24  of rear wheel  14  of the motorcycle, and a second edge  26  of body  12  is positioned generally parallel to a second side  28  of rear wheel  14 . First side  24  of rear wheel  14  is generally opposite to second side  28  of rear wheel  14 . In another embodiment, body  12  may have a generally flat cross-section or other configuration.  
         [0015]    Fender  10  may also include a housing  30  attached to body  12  and forming a cavity  32  for containing a fluid, such as, but not limited to oil, water, engine coolant, and other fluids. Cavity  32  may be configured to have various capacities, such as, but not limited to about one cup to about one gallon or more. Housing  30  is not limited to a simple cavity  32 . Instead, housing  30  may form two or more cavities. Housing  30  may be integrally formed together with body  12  or may be formed separately and coupled to body  12 . In one embodiment, housing  30  is positioned on an outside surface  34  of body  12 . However, housing  30  may be positioned on another surface of body  12 . Housing  30  may have any configuration that does not interfere with operation of the motor vehicle to which housing  30  may be attached. Housing  30  may include one or more brackets  36  enabling housing  30  to be attached to a motor vehicle. Bracket  36  may have any configuration.  
         [0016]    Housing  30  also includes a one or more orifices  38  for receiving or releasing a fluid, or both. More specifically, housing  30  may have a single orifice  38  for receiving and releasing a fluid, or housing  30  may have one or more inlets  38  for receiving a fluid into cavity  32  or may have one or more outlets  38  for releasing a fluid from cavity  32 . Housing  30  may also have an orifice  38  used solely for draining oil from cavity  32 . A valve or other device may be coupled to orifice  38  for controlling the release of fluids from cavity  32 . Housing  30  may also include a fill cap  39  for receiving a fluid.  
         [0017]    The components of fender  10  may be formed from any resilient material, such as, but not limited to, aluminum, steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, titanium, composites, plastics, any combination of these materials or other materials. Each component may be formed from the same material. Alternatively, the components may be formed from different materials.  
         [0018]    Fender  10  may be releasably or permanently coupled to a motor vehicle. For instance, fender  10  may be releasably coupled to a motor vehicle using nuts and bolts, quick connect mechanisms, cable, or other such devices. Fender  10  may be permanently coupled to a motor vehicle using any type of weld compatible with the material forming fender  10  or other permanent coupling mechanism. Fender  10  may or may not be painted and may or may not have a finished surface. Fender  10  may be painted using one or more colors and may include decals or other appearance enhancing items.  
         [0019]    In one embodiment, fender  10  is coupled to a motorcycle  40 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and cavity  32  is configured to function as an oil tank. However, cavity  32  may contain other materials as needed. Motorcycle  40  is composed of front and rear wheels,  42  and  14  respectively, that support a frame  44 . Positioning an oil tank in fender  10  increases the amount of open space near the engine of the motorcycle. In most conventional motorcycles, the oil tank  32  is positioned directly beneath the seat. However, incorporating the oil tank  32  in fender  10  allows electronic components to be positioned in the space typically occupied by an oil tank. This configuration allows for these components to be secured under the seat and out of the elements (sun, rain, salt spray, etc.), thereby providing for a more secure and reliable system.  
         [0020]    The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of this invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention.