Meter device for motorcycle

A meter device is disposed on an upper surface of a fuel tank that is disposed between a steering handlebar and a rider's seat. The meter device includes a dial substrate having a scale and a pointer that is rotated by a drive portion and points to the scale corresponding to a measurement output. The pointer includes a ridge that extends in a longitudinal direction and a spine portion having two surfaces that cross each other so as to form the ridge. An angle β, at which the two surfaces forming the ridge cross each other, is formed into an acute angle, so that a side farther from the ridge as viewed from a side of a rider is not visible.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates, in general, to meter or gauge devices for motorcycles and, in particular, to a meter device for a motorcycle disposed on a fuel tank that is disposed forwardly of a rider's seat.

2. Description of Related Art

A motorcycle has a meter device or a gauge set that includes, for example, a speedometer, an engine tachometer, and a fuel gauge. Such a meter device is very often disposed near a center portion of a steering handlebar, while a known motorcycle has a meter device disposed on a fuel tank that is disposed forward of a rider's seat. Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose examples of motorcycles having a meter device disposed on the fuel tank. Patent Document 1 proposes a mounting member that is devised to permit easy removal or installation of a meter device to best suit a particular application or user. Patent Document 2, on the other hand, proposes a structure that disposes a vehicle meter in flush alignment with a surface of a meter cover for enhanced visibility of the meter.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

Patent Document

SUMMARY

Conventional meter devices offer improved visibility for the rider. Assume, however, a requirement in which the meter device is disposed on an upper surface of a fuel tank that is disposed in a substantially horizontal position. If a dial (or a pointer surface) of the meter is to be disposed at right angles with respect to a rider's eyes in this condition, the meter device can significantly protrude from the upper surface of the fuel tank. Such arrangements are difficult to implement and, as a result, the rider's eyes disposed at a large angle relative to a front surface of the meter device. Specifically, the rider views an indicator surface of the meter device from an even more obliquely downward direction than with the meter device disposed near the steering handlebar. There is therefore a need for a novel configuration that prevents indication deviation from occurring, the indication deviation being a condition in which relative positions of a pointer indicating a rotating speed in the meter device and an indicating scale of, for example, speed as viewed from the rider's eyes do not fall into a desired relation.

The reason why the pointer does not seem to read correctly the indicating scale is because the pointer is large in width and height and a distance is great between the pointer and the dial on which the indicating scale is marked.

SUMMARY

To solve the foregoing problem, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a meter device for a motorcycle having a pointer whose shape is defined so as to permit reading of an indicating scale with little indication deviation even with a meter device that is disposed at a position such that rider's eyes are obliquely downward relative to a dial.

To achieve the foregoing object, a meter device for a motorcycle, having a dial substrate with a scale and a pointer that points to the scale corresponding to a measurement output, is characterized in the following points.

The meter device according to an aspect of the present invention can have a pointer which includes a ridge that extends in a longitudinal direction and a spine portion having two surfaces that cross each other so as to form the ridge. The spine portion can be shaped such that, with the pointer pointing to the scale in a crosswise direction of a vehicle body, a surface on a vehicle forward side of the two surfaces forming the spine portion is invisible from a rider of a motorcycle sitting in a rider's seat. In certain embodiments, an angle, at which the two surfaces forming the ridge cross each other, is acute.

The meter device according to embodiments of the invention can also include a drive portion that drives the pointer and a connecting member for connecting the pointer with an output shaft of the drive portion. The pointer can be disposed on a mounting seat of the connecting member and a base portion that is downwardly continuous with the spine portion of the pointer has a lowermost surface extended more on a side of the dial substrate than the mounting seat.

In certain embodiments, the pointer and the scale constitute a speed indicator of the motorcycle.

In certain embodiments, the meter device is disposed on a fuel tank that is disposed between a steering handlebar and a rider's seat.

In certain embodiments, a clearance between a lower surface of the pointer and the dial substrate is set to be equal to, or less than, a vertical dimension of the pointer.

In certain embodiments, the ridge of the pointer has a gradient such that the ridge approaches a side of the dial substrate more toward a leading end of the pointer relative to a center of rotation of the pointer and a vertical drop of the ridge caused by the gradient is set to be greater than a vertical dimension of the leading end of the pointer.

In other embodiments, a ratio between a vertical dimension of the base portion of the pointer and a vertical dimension of the spine portion of the pointer is set such that the vertical dimension of the spine portion is greater than the vertical dimension of the base portion toward the leading end of the pointer.

According to a first characteristic of the aspect of the present invention, the spine portion is shaped such that, of the two surfaces forming the spine portion of the pointer, the surface on the vehicle forward side is invisible from the rider sitting in the rider's seat. Consequently, with the pointer in a horizontal position, specifically, pointing in a crosswise direction relative to the dial surface, the surface on a far side of the ridge of the two surfaces forming the spine portion, specifically, the surface that is farther from a viewer of the pointer can have a smaller visible area (the surface on the forward side of the vehicle body). A reading error due to scale indication deviation can therefore be minimized between when the pointer is viewed from above and from a slant direction.

According to a second characteristic of the aspect of the present invention, the ridge that extends in a longitudinal direction of the pointer forms an acute angle. The pointer is therefore viewed sharply. Further, as compared with a known pointer in which the ridge is angled to be an obtuse angle, with the pointer in a horizontal position, specifically, pointing in a crosswise direction relative to the dial surface, the surface on a far side of the ridge of the two surfaces forming the spine portion, specifically, the surface that is farther from a viewer of the pointer can have a smaller visible area (the surface on the forward side of the vehicle body). A reading error due to scale indication deviation can therefore be minimized between when the pointer is viewed from above and from a slant direction.

According to a third and sixth characteristics of the aspect of the present invention, the lowermost surface of the pointer is even closer to the upper surface of the dial substrate. When the pointer is viewed obliquely, a position of the scale to which a front portion of the lowermost surface of the pointer, specifically, a portion close to the viewer points can be made closer to a position of the pointer as viewed from straight above. A scale reading error can therefore be minimized.

According to a fourth characteristic of the aspect of the present invention, running speed of the motorcycle can be correctly recognized.

According to a fifth characteristic of the aspect of the present invention, the meter device is disposed on the fuel tank, which eliminates the need for angling the meter device. Indication deviation can therefore be minimized without having to protrude the meter device large from an upper surface of the fuel tank. The meter device can therefore be disposed to follow along a profile of the fuel tank, which enhances design performance (specifically, the meter device can be visually attractive).

According to the seventh and eighth characteristics of the aspect of the present invention, the pointer tapers in a vertical direction (specifically, height direction) and a ratio of the spine portion to the base portion is large. When the meter device is viewed from the rider's side, the spine portion on the opposite side is hard to see even more. This minimizes indication deviation.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the greatest effect can be achieved when the pointer points to the scale in a crosswise direction of the vehicle body. Additionally, when the pointer points to the scale in a forward direction of the vehicle body, too, an effect of minimizing a scale reading error can be expected because the pointer does not seem to be broad. In the present invention, an apex portion of the pointer, specifically, the angle at which the two surfaces forming the ridge cross each other or the shape of the spine portion is only changed without narrowing the width of the pointer. Consequently, a scale reading error can be minimized without allowing the entire pointer to be hard to view as a result of narrowing the width.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A specific embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.FIG. 2shows a motorcycle1that can be, for example, a cruiser type (also known as an “American type”). This example of motorcycle1includes an engine having two-cylinders2,3, a transmission unit4, a fuel tank5, and a rider's seat6. Specifically, the two-cylinders2,3are disposed to form a letter V, set at a predetermined angle to each other in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The transmission unit4is disposed downwardly of the engine cylinders2,3. The fuel tank5is disposed upwardly of the engine cylinders2,3. The rider's seat6is disposed rearwardly of the fuel tank5.

The engine cylinders2,3and the transmission unit4are mounted on a lower frame7that forms part of a vehicle body frame. The lower frame7is a pair of left and right pipe members including vertical sections71, horizontal sections72, and rearward sections73. Specifically, the vertical sections71extend downwardly from a head pipe8disposed at a front portion of a vehicle body. The horizontal sections72extend horizontally on a lower portion of the vehicle body from lower portions of the vertical sections71. The rearward sections73extend upwardly toward the rear from rear portions of the horizontal sections72. The fuel tank5is mounted on a main frame (indicated by a dotted line inFIG. 2)9that extends slightly downwardly toward the rear from the head pipe8. The main frame9is joined to the rearward section73of the lower frame7at a rear portion. A rear frame10extends from the joint. The rider's seat is mounted across the main frame9and the rear frame10.

The head pipe8has a steering shaft11that vertically penetrates therethrough. The steering shaft11has an upper portion to which a top bridge12is connected and a lower portion to which a bottom bridge13is connected. The top bridge12and the bottom bridge13together support a pair of left and right front forks14. A steering handlebar15is mounted on the top bridge12. A front wheel17is rotatably supported by a front axle16at a lower portion of the front forks14.

A swing arm19that has a front portion thereof supported by a pivot18is connected to the lower frame7. The swing arm19has a rear portion thereof connected to the rear frame10via a rear suspension20. A rear wheel22as a drive wheel is rotatably supported by a rear axle21at a position in the rear portion of the swing arm19, more rearward of the connection with the rear suspension20, specifically, at a rear end of the swing arm19. A drive sprocket (not shown) disposed on an output shaft of the transmission unit4and a sprocket23of the rear wheel22are connected by a chain24so as to be capable of power transmission.

The front forks14support a front fender25that covers an upper surface of the front wheel17. A rear fender26that covers an upper surface of the rear wheel22is mounted on the rear frame10. A lighting apparatus includes a headlight27, a front flasher28, a tail lamp29, and a rear flasher33.

A meter mounting base30is fixed on an upper surface of the fuel tank5. A meter device31is fitted into the meter mounting base30. The meter device31is disposed in a posture in which an upper surface thereof is raised to an angle of a from the horizontal. This is to ensure that a rider sitting on the rider's seat6views an indicating surface of the meter device31as easily as possible.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a pointer structure incorporates a novel idea in order not only to make the indicating surface easier to view, but also to allow an indicating scale indicated by an indicating pointer included in the meter device31to be read correctly. This will be described in the following.

FIG. 3is a perspective view showing a main section of the motorcycle1having the meter device31. Like reference numerals refer to like parts as inFIG. 2. The meter device31includes at least a speedometer. The meter mounting base30on which the meter device31is mounted is disposed at a central portion in a width direction at a front portion of the fuel tank5. The meter device31, having an indicating surface32that is circular in a top view, is disposed at a front portion of the meter mounting base30. The meter mounting base30can include a lid34of a fuel supply port disposed on a rearward side of the vehicle body relative to the meter device31. The fuel supply port and the lid34thereof may be disposed at, for example, a position on the right of the meter mounting base30, instead of the position shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 4is a perspective view showing the meter device31as viewed from a vehicle body upper rearward direction (specifically, from the rider's side).FIG. 5is a cross-sectional view showing the meter device31. Note thatFIG. 4is a perspective view showing an upper section of the meter device31mounted on the meter mounting base30, to be observed from the outside.

Referring toFIG. 5, an annular member36as a lens holding member is attached to a peripheral edge of an open upper portion of a case35of the meter device31. The annular member36has a groove36aformed in an inner peripheral surface thereof. An outer peripheral edge of a lens37fits into the inner peripheral groove36a, so that the lens37is fixed in the annular member36. The annular member36may be formed of a material that can flex (for example, rubber) when the lens37is fitted into the inner peripheral groove36a. A retaining ring38connects together the annular member36and an upper portion peripheral edge of the case35. The retaining ring38is an externally exposed member and, preferably, is subjected to surface treatment offering high design performance, such as chrome plating. An annular blank plate39is sandwiched between the annular member36and the upper portion peripheral edge of the case35to fix the two parts together.

A substrate40, a stay41, a dial substrate42that forms a pointer surface including a speed scale, a pointer43, and a drive portion (motor)44of the pointer43can be accommodated in a space enclosed by the case35and the lens37. The substrate40is supported on a boss45(provided in plurality on an inner peripheral surface) that protrudes from an inner surface of the case35. The stay41is attached to an upper surface of the substrate40by using, for example, a set screw46and the dial substrate is disposed on an upper surface of the stay41. The drive portion44is mounted on a lower surface at a central portion of the substrate40. The drive portion44has an output shaft44athat penetrates through the substrate40to reach the dial substrate42disposed upwardly thereof. A connecting member47of the pointer43is connected to the output shaft44a. The connecting member47includes a shank47aand a mounting seat47btherearound. A portion of the shank47adownward of the mounting seat47bhas a hole in which the output shaft44afits, while a portion of the shank47aupward of the mounting seat47bprotrudes so as to be engaged with, and thereby correctly position, the pointer43.

In addition, illuminating LEDs48,49are disposed on the substrate40. The stay41includes bulkheads formed to define light guiding paths50,51for the LEDs48,49. An indicating portion52formed from a transmissive material is irradiated with light from the LED48guided through the light guiding path50. On the other hand, an indicating portion53formed from a light-transmissive material is irradiated with light from the LED49guided through the light guiding path51. The indicating portion52is a direction indicating portion, while the indicating portion is an odometer/trip recorder. Different types of indicating portions are disposed as shown inFIG. 4, each being irradiated with light from an LED not shown from a backside (lower side).

A receptacle54is attached on a lower surface of the substrate40. The receptacle54receives a connector (not shown) that is connected to a harness for supplying power or signals to, for example, the drive portion44or LEDs48,49mounted on the substrate40. The receptacle54protrudes downwardly through a hole formed in the case35.

The blank plate39covers a gap between the stay41, the dial substrate42and the case35to thereby hide an internal structure of the meter device31from the outside, thus functioning to enhance design performance.

Referring toFIG. 4, a plurality of indicating portions are disposed on the dial substrate42of the meter device31including, for example, a transmission neutral position indicating portion56and an ABS operation indicating portion57, in addition to the direction indicating portion52and the odometer/trip recorder53. An upper half (a forward side of the connecting member47of the pointer43) area of the dial substrate42is a speedometer scale area indicating speed of the motorcycle1, calibrated for two types of units, miles/hour and kilometers/hour, over a rotating angle of 180 degrees of the pointer43. The drive portion44is driven in accordance with a detected output of a well-known vehicle speed sensor. The pointer43reads a running speed scale corresponding to the detected output of the vehicle speed sensor.

FIG. 1is a side elevational view showing the pointer43.FIG. 6is a front elevational view showing the pointer43, specifically, a view as viewed from the left inFIG. 1. The pointer43includes a base portion43aas a lower portion and a spine portion43bas an upper portion. The base portion43ahas a lower surface43cthereof protruding downwardly from an upper surface of the mounting seat47bso as to be closer to the dial substrate42. By having a small distance d between the lower surface43cof the base portion43aand the dial substrate42, a reading error of the scale position indicated by the pointer43can be minimized between when the pointer43is viewed from above and from a slant direction, as will be described later.

In addition, edges at the spine portion43bof the pointer43cross each other at an angle β to form a so-called triangular roof in a front view (specifically, inFIG. 6). The angle β of the triangular roof is set to be less than 90 degrees. In the conventionally known pointer43, a plane crossing angle (specifically, a ridge angle) β of the spine portion43bis an obtuse angle, specifically, is equal to, or more than, 90 degrees. In the embodiment of the present invention, the angle β is set to be an acute angle (less than 90 degrees) in order to minimize the reading error of the pointer43.

Setting the angle β of the triangular roof of the spine portion43bwill have the following effects.FIG. 7is a transverse cross-sectional view of the pointer of the prior-art meter device, showing a positional relationship relative to the dial substrate42according to the prior-art meter device.FIG. 8is a transverse cross-sectional view of the pointer, showing a positional relationship relative to the dial substrate42according to the embodiment of the present invention.

InFIG. 7, the angle β of the spine portion of a pointer43A is an obtuse angle of 90 degrees or more. InFIG. 8, the angle β of the spine portion of the pointer43is an acute angle of less than 90 degrees.

In the pointer43of the embodiment of the present invention, the base portion43abulges downwardly, so that the distance d between the lower surface43cand the dial substrate42is set to be smaller than a distance D in the pointer43A of the prior-art meter device. Specifically, in the prior-art meter device, the distance D is greater than a vertical dimension (height) e1of the pointer43A. In the embodiment of the present invention, on the other hand, the gap between the pointer43and the dial substrate42, specifically, the distance d is extremely smaller than a height e. This results in the following difference in indication deviation.

When the rider views the meter device31from an arrow E direction, in the pointer43A according to the prior-art embodiment, a speed scale to which the pointer43A points can be read at, for example, a position58athat represents an edge58, at which the base portion crosses the spine portion, projected onto the dial substrate42. Similarly, a speed scale to which the pointer43A points can also be read at a position59athat represents a lower edge59of the pointer43A projected onto the dial substrate42. In the prior-art embodiment, reading positions of the pointer43A as viewed from the front (from a straight upward direction) are reference numerals61,62. Consequently, in the prior-art embodiment, deviation between the reading position61read from the front and the position58aand that between the reading position62read from the front and the position59aare Δ1and Δ2, respectively.

When the meter device31according to an embodiment of the present invention is viewed from the arrow E direction, on the other hand, one of reading positions of the speed scale is a position63athat represents an upper edge (ridge)63of the spine portion43bprojected onto the dial substrate42and a position at which the pointer43points to the speed scale. Another reading position of the speed scale is a position64athat represents a lower edge64of the pointer43projected onto the dial substrate42and a position at which the pointer43points to the speed scale. Consequently, in the embodiment of the present invention, deviation between the reading position61read from the front and the position63aand that between the reading position62read from the front and the position64aare61and62, respectively.

Referring toFIGS. 7 and 8, it is understood that the deviation δ1is smaller than the deviation Δ1and that the deviation δ2is smaller than the deviation Δ2. Specifically, in an embodiment of the present invention, an error in reading values between when the dial substrate42of the meter device31is viewed from the front and when viewed from an oblique direction can be made smaller than in the prior-art embodiment. This effect is achieved by the following two arrangements: one, the angle β at the upper edge, specifically, the ridge of the spine portion43bof the pointer43is an acute angle; and two, the lower surface43cof the base portion43ais brought closer to the dial substrate42.

The arrangement in which the angle β of the ridge is an acute angle results in the following. Specifically, if the pointer43that extends horizontally is viewed from a rearward direction of the vehicle body obliquely at an angle of 45 degrees, either the upper edge63of the spine portion43bof the pointer43overlaps an edge58of the base portion43aor the edge58is invisible. To state it another way, it follows also that the rider who sits in the rider's seat sets the angle β such that the edge58toward the front of the vehicle is not visible. The lower surface43cof the base portion43aof the pointer43is then made as close as possible to the dial substrate42.

FIG. 11shows how the pointer43is viewed when viewed from an arrow X direction inFIG. 8.FIG. 11is a perspective view showing the dial substrate42as viewed from an obliquely upwardly direction. Referring toFIG. 11, of the two surfaces43b,43bthat form the ridge63of the pointer43, one on the upper side, specifically, the side farther from the rider sitting in the rider's seat6is viewed to be smaller in area than one on the side closer to the rider. Consequently, the rider recognizes the pointer more sharply than when the pointer43is otherwise configured for its large transverse area, offering an effect of making indication deviation smaller.

An example of a shape of the pointer43will be described in detail below.FIG. 9is an enlarged side elevational view showing a main section of the pointer43.FIG. 10is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A ofFIG. 9. Referring toFIG. 9, the ridge63of the pointer43has a gradient such that the ridge63approaches the dial substrate42side more toward a leading end of the pointer relative to a center of rotation of the pointer43, specifically, a position of an extension from the output shaft44a. The pointer43is set to taper such that a vertical drop60of the ridge63caused by the gradient is greater than a vertical dimension h of the leading end of the pointer43.

Referring further toFIG. 10, a ratio between a vertical dimension of the base portion43aof the pointer43and a vertical dimension of the spine portion43bis set such that the vertical dimension of the spine portion43bis greater at a position near the leading end of the pointer43than at a trailing end (a portion above the center of rotation) of the pointer43. Specifically, inFIG. 10, the shape of the pointer43is determined so as to satisfy a dimensional ratio of “h1/h2<h1a/h2a.”

It is of interest to note that the shape of the spine portion43bto achieve an acute ridge angle β for the spine portion43bof the pointer43is not limited only to the embodiment described above. The point is that the shape of the spine portion43bhas only to be set such that, with the pointer43pointing to the scale in a crosswise direction of the vehicle body, the surface on the forward side of the two surfaces forming the spine portion43bis invisible from the rider of the motorcycle1sitting in the rider's seat6.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described by using, as an example, a speedometer that indicates vehicle speed with a pointer and a scale. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited only to the speedometer, but may also be other gauges including, but not limited to, an engine tachometer, a fuel level meter, or an engine coolant temperature gauge.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS