Flasher and straddle type vehicle equipped with the same

According to some embodiments, a flasher 101 to be mounted on a rear portion of a straddle type vehicle includes a lens 120, a cover 160 mated with the lens 120, and a leg 180 connecting the cover 160 with a vehicle body. A mating face of the cover 160 and the lens 120 is slanted with respect to a direction in which the leg 180 extends. The lens 120 is shorter in a vehicle widthwise direction than in a vehicle lengthwise direction.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Applications No. 2008-009844 filed on Jan. 18, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The preferred embodiments of the present invention relates, inter alia, to a flasher (rear flasher) configured to be installed at a rear portion of a straddle type vehicle, and a straddle type vehicle equipped with the flasher.

2. Description of the Related Art

A flasher (rear flasher) configured to be installed at a rear portion of a straddle type vehicle is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-235622. This publication discloses a flasher installed at a rear portion of a straddle type vehicle. The flasher has a flasher body protruded from a vehicle body cover and a lens attached to the flasher body, and is configured such that the mating face of the body and the lens is slanted relative to the right-and-left direction of the vehicle body.

A flasher (rear flasher) installed at a rear portion of a straddle type vehicle is a particularly easy-to-break portion in the event of falling down of the vehicle.

The description herein of advantages and disadvantages of various features, embodiments, methods, and apparatus disclosed in other publications is in no way intended to limit the present invention. For example, certain features of the preferred embodiments of the invention may be capable of overcoming certain disadvantages and/or providing certain advantages, such as, e.g., disadvantages and/or advantages discussed herein, while retaining some or all of the features, embodiments, methods, and apparatus disclosed therein.

SUMMARY

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been developed in view of the above-mentioned and/or other problems in the related art. The preferred embodiments of the present invention can significantly improve upon existing methods and/or apparatuses.

Among other potential advantages, some embodiments can provide a flasher enhanced in resistance to breakage at the time of falling down of the vehicle and improved in conspicuity.

Among other potential advantages, some embodiments can provide a straddle type vehicle equipped with a flasher enhanced in resistance to breakage at the time of falling down of the vehicle and improved in conspicuity.

According to a first aspect of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a flasher is configured to be mounted on a rear portion of a straddle type vehicle. The flasher includes a lens, a cover mated with the lens, and a leg connecting the cover with a vehicle body. A mating face of the cover and the lens is slanted with respect to a direction in which the leg extends. Furthermore, the lens is shorter in a vehicle widthwise direction than in a vehicle front-and-rear direction.

According to the flasher, as mentioned above, the mating face of the cover and the lens is slanted with respect to a direction in which the leg extends and that the lens is shorter in a vehicle widthwise direction than in a vehicle front-and-rear direction. This improves conspicuity of the flasher and enhances the resistance to breakage in the event of falling down of the vehicle.

In the flasher, it is preferable that a mating face of a peripheral edge of the cover and a peripheral edge of the lens extends along a side surface of the vehicle body.

It is preferable that a mating face of a peripheral edge of the cover and a peripheral edge of the lens is formed by two mating faces including a front side mating face and a rear side mating face formed at a rear side and a front side of the flasher, respectively, and the front side mating face is more oriented toward a rear side of the vehicle than the rear side mating face.

The lens can be formed such that a front side of the lens protrudes more outwardly in a vehicle widthwise direction than a rear side of the lens.

According to a second aspect of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a straddle type vehicle is equipped with any one of the flashers mentioned above.

In the straddle type vehicle having a tandem footrest and a grab bar, it is preferable that, when viewed from a rear side of the vehicle, the flasher is disposed inside of a line connecting vehicle widthwise outermost ends of the tandem footrest and the grab bar.

In the straddle type vehicle having a side cover disposed under a seat, it is preferable that the flasher is disposed inside of a vehicle widthwise outermost position of the side cover.

In the straddle type vehicle having a muffler disposed along a side surface of the vehicle body, it is preferable that the flasher is disposed inside of a vehicle widthwise outermost end of the muffler.

In the straddle type vehicle having a tail lamp provided at a rear portion of the vehicle body, it is preferable that the lens of the flasher is disposed outside of a vehicle widthwise outermost end of the tail lamp.

In the straddle type vehicle, a surface of the vehicle body on which the leg of the flasher is mounted is preferably oriented toward a rear side of the vehicle.

In the straddle type vehicle, it is preferable that a front end portion and a rear end portion of the flasher are gradually tapered toward a front end and a rear end of the vehicle, respectively.

In the straddle type vehicle, it is preferable that the rear end portion of the flasher is more sharply angled than the front end portion of the flasher.

In the straddle type vehicle having a tail lamp provided at a rear portion of the vehicle, it is preferable that the tail lamp has a side portion extending forward along a side surface of the vehicle, and that the lens of the flasher extends at a side surface of the vehicle along the side portion of the tail lamp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following paragraphs, some preferred embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example and not limitation. It should be understood based on this disclosure that various other modifications can be made by those in the art based on these illustrated embodiments.

A straddle type vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same numerals are used to designate a component or portion which performs the same functions. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment below. In this disclosure, the terms “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “upper”, or “lower” are those as viewed from a driver riding on the vehicle in the normal riding position. In some instances, the vehicle front and rear sides are indicated by Fr and Rr, respectively. The drawings are drawn so as to be viewed in such a manner that the numerals are oriented in the proper direction.

In an illustrative embodiment, as shown inFIG. 1, the straddle type vehicle1000is a scooter type motorcycle having a resin vehicle body cover400installed on the body frame (not shown) thereof. As shown inFIG. 2, the straddle type vehicle1000includes a tail lamp103and flashers101installed at the rear portion thereof. The tail lamp103mainly functions as a brake lamp and the flasher101mainly functions as a direction indicator lamp.FIG. 2is a drawing of the straddle type vehicle1000as viewed from the rear thereof, showing in a simplified manner for the sake of convenience. In particular, parts inside the vehicle body cover400are omitted. The external components including the vehicle body cover400, the tail lamp103, and the flashers101are substantially mounted on the body frame (not shown) with brackets, respectively. This prevents these external components from rattling due to air flow and/or vibration resulting from vehicle operations, thereby ensuring required mounting strength.

As shown inFIG. 2, the tail lamp103is installed on the vehicle body cover400at the rear portion of the vehicle. Each of the flashers101, provided separately from the tail lamp103, is disposed on the vehicle widthwise side of the rear portion of the vehicle. In this embodiment, a mudguard component (rear fender)502is disposed behind a rear wheel501. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the flasher101has a leg180and is mounted on a base end503of the mudguard component502with the legs180.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the flasher101includes a lens120, a housing140, a cover160, and the leg180.

The lens120is molded with transparent resin (polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) in this embodiment) and has a transparent lens surface121. The lens120is provided, at the peripheral edge thereof, with a mounting portion124for mounting the cover160and a mounting portion123for mounting the housing140. The mounting portion123for mounting the housing140is provided inside of the mounting portion124for mounting the cover160. The lens120includes an opaque area formed between the mounting portion124for mounting the cover160and the mounting portion123for mounting the housing140.

In this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 6, an outer wall124(mounting portion124) formed at the peripheral edge of the lens120and an inner wall123(mounting portion123) formed inside the outer wall124are formed with the lens120. The aforementioned opaque area is formed by coating the area “a” of the external portion of the outer wall124with an opaque paint. In this embodiment, the external portion of the outer wall124is coated along the entire peripheral edge of the lens120with a black paint.

In the housing140, a bulb250(seeFIG. 6) is provided as a light source. In this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 4, in the housing140, the lens opposed side of the housing (casing) where the bulb250is disposed is formed into a generally recessed shape. The housing140is molded with resin (polycarbonate (PC) in this embodiment), and has a mirror finished surface142formed therein and facing the lens120, the surface142constituting a reflector. The housing140also functions as a reflector. The mirror finish can be made by, for example, metal deposition or the like. The housing140includes a bulb attaching portion143in which a bulb250is attached. In this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 6, the bulb250is so disposed that its light emitting portion252is oriented toward the lens surface121, while a socket251is secured to the bulb attaching portion143. In this embodiment, the outer edge141of the housing140is placed on the mounting portion123(inner wall123) formed inside the peripheral edge of the lens120. More specifically, in this embodiment, the inner wall123of the lens120and the outer edge141of the housing140are placed in such a manner that their edges are in contact with each other. Besides, the outer edge141of the housing140is secured to the mounting portion123of the lens120by welding in a watertight manner.

As shown inFIG. 4, the cover160is a component for covering the outside of the housing140, and is placed on the outer wall124of the lens120. As shown inFIG. 6, the outer edge161of the cover160is placed on the mounting portion124(outer wall124) formed at the periphery of the lens120. More specifically, in this embodiment, the outer wall124of the lens120and the outer edge161of the cover160are in contact with each other. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a contact portion “q” where the inner wall123of the lens120is in contact with the outer edge141of the housing140and a contact portion “r” where the outer wall124of the lens120is in contact with the outer edge161of the cover160are offset in relation to the butted direction thereof.

As shown inFIG. 5, in this embodiment, the cover160is molded with resin (polypropylene (PP) in this embodiment), and includes an opening164for passing electrical wires253(seeFIG. 6) for the bulb250. The cover160is provided, at the outside surface thereof, with a mounting portion166for mounting the leg180around the opening164. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the mounting portion166includes a turn stopper168formed there-around. In this embodiment, the turn stopper168includes engaging portions formed along a sharp curve on the periphery of an ellipse with which the long axis intersects.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the leg180is a component in a cylindrical form, and is secured at one end181thereof to the vehicle body cover400(seeFIG. 2) and at the other end thereof to the mounting portion166of the cover160of the flasher101. In this embodiment, the mounting portion166includes the turn stoppers168formed therein. The cover160of the flasher101is placed on the other end182of the leg180so as to be engaged with the turn stoppers168. This allows the cover160to be mated with the leg180. In this case, the leg180can be molded with an elastic material, for example, a rubber.

In this embodiment, the electrical wires253connected to the bulb250for the flasher101, whose illustration is omitted, are electrically connected with a battery (not shown) in the straddle type vehicle1000through the cover160, the leg180, and the vehicle body cover400from the bulb attaching portion143of the housing140.

In the flasher101, the light emitted by the bulb250directly illuminates or is reflected at the inside of the housing140to illuminate the outside of the lens120through the transparent lens surface121of the lens120. The direction of the light from the flasher101is adjusted by the housing or the like so that the light can be visually recognized from a predetermined region outside the flasher101.

As shown inFIG. 6, in this flasher101, the cover160is placed on the peripheral edge of the lens120, and the housing140is placed on the peripheral edge of the lens120so as to be located at the inner side of the cover160. The lens120has an opaque area “a” formed between the cover160and the housing140. For this, even in the event of water entering the inside of the cover160around the peripheral edge of the lens120, the water is not visible from the outside.

As shown inFIG. 3, in this flasher101, the mating face of the cover160and the lens120is slanted with respect to the direction “s” in which the leg180extends, while the lens120is shorter in the vehicle widthwise direction than in the vehicle front-and-rear direction (i.e., vehicle lengthwise direction). This provides the flasher101with good conspicuity (in particular, a left-hand rear flasher providing good conspicuity as viewed from the left rear side of the vehicle and a right-hand rear flasher providing good conspicuity as viewed from the right rear side of the vehicle). In the event of the vehicle falling down, since the lens120is shorter in the vehicle widthwise direction than in the vehicle front-and-rear direction, an impact resulting from the vehicle falling down can be sustained along the longer front-and-rear direction of the vehicle, thereby protecting the lens120and the cover160against breakage due to the impact. In this embodiment, the leg180functions as a cushion against the impact of the vehicle falling down, preventing breakage of other components of the flasher101. In particular, in this embodiment, the leg180is in a cylindrical form, and is molded with rubber which is more elastic and flexible than other components of the flasher101. This more assuredly prevents breakage of other components in the event of vehicle falling down. The flasher101, which functions as a cushion as mentioned above, prevents the vehicle body cover400from being broken or damaged. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the lens120is shorter in the vehicle widthwise direction than in the vehicle front-and-rear direction, the conspicuity from the side and rear of the vehicle can be secured while restraining the flasher101from being protruded from the vehicle body. The installation of the flasher101on the vehicle body with the leg180results in a slender vehicle body cover design at the rear of the straddle type vehicle1000. The flasher101can easily secure the conspicuity from the side and rear of the vehicle without requiring great projection in the vehicle widthwise direction, and also can enhance the flexibility in designing the vehicle body including the flasher101.

The phrase “the direction “s” in which the leg180extends” refers to the direction in which the leg180extends from the vehicle body. Like this embodiment, if the leg180is formed by a hollow cylindrical member, such a direction can be thought to be the axial direction of the hollow cylindrical member. Alternatively, such a direction can be replaced by the vehicle widthwise direction (vehicle right-and-left direction).

In this embodiment, the vehicle body surface (the surface of the base end503of the mudguard component502in this embodiment) on which the leg180of the flasher101is mounted is oriented toward the rear of the vehicle, as shown inFIG. 2. For this, the lens120of the flasher101can easily be directed toward the rear of the vehicle, thereby ensuring conspicuity of the flasher101as viewed from the rear of the vehicle.

In this embodiment, the flasher101is tapered toward its front end “t” and rear end “u” along the vehicle lengthwise direction, as shown inFIG. 3. The lens120is formed into a configuration longer in the vehicle lengthwise direction, resulting in the lens surface121longer in the vehicle lengthwise direction. This provides a greater lens surface area visible from the side or the rear of the vehicle, leading to enhanced conspicuity of the flasher101. Furthermore, although illustrations are omitted here, if the front end “t” and the rear end “u” are not tapered in the vehicle front-and-rear direction, for example, in the case of a flasher formed into a substantially quadrilateral shape as seen from the vehicle side, the front end “t” and the rear end “u” of the flasher101will largely protrude in the vehicle widthwise direction and/or in the vehicle up-and-down direction. In this embodiment, the flasher101is tapered toward its front end “t” and the rear end “u” along the vehicle lengthwise direction, as shown inFIG. 1. The vicinities of the front end “t” and the rear end “u” of the flasher101can be prevented from largely protruding in the vehicle widthwise direction and in the vehicle up-and-down direction, while ensuring the conspicuity of the flasher101. This makes it difficult for the flasher101to be brought into contact with the ground in the event of falling down of the vehicle, thereby reducing the chance of breakage of the flasher101.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the rear end “u” of the flasher101is more sharply angled than the front end “t” of the flasher101. This enables the flasher101to be extended in the vehicle rearward direction and also enables the lens surface121to be extended in the vehicle rearward direction. As a result, the lens surface area visible from the side and the rear of the vehicle is widely secured, and the conspicuity of the flasher101is improved.

In this embodiment, this straddle type vehicle1000is equipped with a tail lamp103at the rear thereof. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the tail lamp103has a body portion103adisposed at the vehicle rear side, and side portions103band103cextending forward from the body portion103aalong both sides in the vehicle widthwise direction. In this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 3, the lens120of the flasher101is disposed along the side portions103band103cof the tail lamp103. This allows the flasher101and the tail lamp103at the rear of the straddle type vehicle1000to be disposed in a compact manner. Also, this makes it possible to create an integrated impression of the tail lamp103and the flasher101.

In particular, in this embodiment, a ridge line “w,” connecting the flasher front side end “t” and rear side end “u” along the lengthwise direction of the lens120of the flasher101, extends along the side surface of the side portions103band103cof the tail lamp103, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 3. This enables a compact arrangement of the flasher101and the tail lamp103at the rear of the straddle type vehicle1000, and also enables to create an integrated impression of the tail lamp103and the flasher101. When the vehicle is viewed from the top, the outline of the lens120of the flasher101along the vehicle widthwise direction can be formed along the side surface of the side portions103band103cof the tail lamp103. This also enables a compact arrangement of the flasher101and the tail lamp103at the rear of the straddle type vehicle1000, and also enables to create an integrated impression of the tail lamp103and the flasher101.

In this embodiment, the mating face F1of the edge161of the cover160and the edge124of the lens120extends along the side surface of the vehicle body cover400, as shown inFIG. 3. In cases where the mating face F1extends at least at one or more portions thereof along the side surface of the vehicle body cover400, an integrated impression of the flasher101and the vehicle body cover400can be created, and an aesthetically attractive design impression can also be created.

In this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 3, the mating face of the edge161of the cover160and the edge124of the lens120includes two mating faces F1and F2, one at the rear of the flasher101and the other at the front, while the mating face F1at the front is more oriented toward the rear of the vehicle than the mating face F2at the rear. Therefore, in particular, the flasher101can readily be seen from the side and the rear of the vehicle, thereby ensuring conspicuity as viewed from a prescribed range at the side and rear of the vehicle as well as implementing a relatively compact lens120. In this case, as shown inFIG. 3, the mating face of the edge161of the cover160and the edge124of the lens120can be substantially divided into two mating faces F1and F2, one at the rear and the other at the front of the flasher101. The boundary can be smoothly continuous. The two mating faces F1and F2at the rear and the front of the flasher101need not be completely planar.

As shown inFIG. 3, in this embodiment, the mating face of the edge161of the cover160and the edge124of the lens120is slanted with respect to the direction “s” in which the leg180extends from the vehicle body cover400, and the lens120is formed so that the frontal portion thereof is located more outwardly in the vehicle widthwise direction, resulting in enhanced conspicuity as viewed from the rear and the side of the vehicle.

In this embodiment, the straddle type vehicle1000is provided with a tandem footrest411and a grab bar412, as shown inFIG. 2. When viewed from the rear side of the vehicle, the flasher101is disposed inside the lines L1and L2each connecting the widthwise tip end of the tandem footrest411and that of the grab bar412. Therefore, in the event of vehicle falling down, the tandem footrest411and the grab bar412tend to be easily brought into contact with the ground than the flasher101, thereby preventing the flasher101from contacting the ground. This in turn can prevent the breakage of the flasher101at the time of the vehicle falling down. The tandem footrests411are components on which tandem riders rest their feet, and are disposed at both sides of the straddle type vehicle1000, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The grab bar412, disposed at the rear side of the vehicle1000, is a component that tandem riders grasp during vehicle operation.

In this embodiment, the straddle type vehicle1000is provided with side covers421disposed under the seat420, and the flasher101is disposed inside of the vehicle widthwise outermost position421aof the side cover421as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. Therefore, in the event of the vehicle falling down, the side cover421tends to be easily brought into contact with the ground than the flasher101, thereby preventing the flasher101from contacting the ground. This in turn prevents the breakage of the flasher in the event of the falling down.

In this embodiment, the straddle type vehicle1000is provided with a muffler430disposed along the side surface of the vehicle body cover400as shown inFIG. 2. The flasher101is disposed inside of the vehicle widthwise outermost end of the muffler430. Therefore, in the event of the vehicle falling down, the muffler430tends to be easily brought into contact with the ground than the flasher101, thereby preventing the flasher101from contacting the ground. This in turn prevents the breakage of the flasher in the event of the vehicle falling down.

In this embodiment, the straddle type vehicle1000is provided with the tail lamp103at the rear portion of the vehicle as shown inFIG. 1. The lens120of the flasher101is disposed outside of the vehicle widthwise outermost end of the tail lamp103as shown inFIG. 2. The straddle type vehicle1000allows the lens120of the flasher101to be disposed outside of the vehicle widthwise outermost end of the tail lamp103, thereby preventing the light from the tail lamp103from interrupting the light from the flasher101, which in turn can secure the conspicuity of the flasher101.

The flasher and the straddle type vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention are described above. However, the flasher and the straddle type vehicle according to the present invention are not limited to the embodiment mentioned above. The present invention allows various modifications thereof.

For example, the structure of the flasher is not limited to the structure described above as an example in the aforementioned embodiment. For example, although a bulb is exemplified as the light source, the light source is not limited to such a bulb, but can be any appropriate component performing a light emitting function. For example, a light emitting element, such as, e.g., an LED, can be used. Also, the specific structure of the lens, housing, cover, and leg is not limited to the embodiment mentioned above. For straddle type vehicles, the aforementioned embodiment is just one example of the flasher according to the present invention, and therefore can be modified in various manners.

In this application, the language “motorcycle” is to be construed broadly and encompasses various motorized vehicles that are ridden by one or more rider, including, e.g., motorbikes, scooters, mopeds and other similar vehicles, which can include two wheeled vehicles and vehicles having more than two wheels.

In this application, the language “straddle type vehicle” includes, for example, motorcycles, snow mobiles, all terrain vehicles (ATVs), four-wheeled buggies, etc., which often involve vehicles that can be turned, tilted or otherwise affected by the driver's weight position. The terminology straddle type vehicle is not limited to vehicles in which a driver and/or passenger sits with legs straddling on opposite sides of a portion of the vehicle (such as, e.g., straddling a seat), but also includes vehicles in which a driver and/or passenger's legs can extend across a substantial portion of the width of the passenger-supporting portion of the vehicle, such that, by way of example, while a driver may sit with legs forward in a scooter, a scooter is understood to be a straddle type vehicle due to the ability of a driver and/or passenger to extend their legs across a substantial portion of the width of the passenger-supporting portion. In this manner, the driver of a straddle type vehicle is typically able to distribute their weight widthwise across the vehicle and to turn, tilt or otherwise influence the vehicle by the driver's weight position.

BROAD SCOPE OF THE INVENTION