Abstract:
A support structure for headlamps of a vehicle is provided which simplifies the required number of components while simultaneously providing adequate support strength for the headlamps. A vehicle body frame is covered with a front cover. The front cover covers left and right front wheels with left and right fender portions integrally provided with the front cover. A cargo carrier capable of holding luggage or other cargo is positioned above the front cover and is supported by a carrier stay. The headlamps are arranged next to the carrier stay and fender portions, and are directly supported by the fender portions and the carrier stay.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No. 2003-339740 filed in Japan on Sep. 30, 2003, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a structure for supporting headlamps for a vehicle, and more particularly to a structure capable of providing adequate support strength while simultaneously simplifying the structure. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART 
   In the support structure for vehicle headlamps of the background art, the headlamp typically faces the front side of a fender and is supported by a structural body such as the fender, a carrier or a carrier stay (carrier pipe) for supporting the carrier. 
   In the structure for supporting headlamps for a vehicle, a front grille has been provided in front of the fender. The front grille is then provided with an opening and the headlamp has been caused to face outwardly toward this opening. In this type of structure for supporting headlamps, one example of the background art incorporates a headlamp that has been arranged in front of the fender, e.g., Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-115844 (see P. 1, FIG. 1 of this reference), the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     FIG. 6  is a partial, perspective view of a vehicle showing the basic structure of a support structure for a headlamp of the background art. The structure  200  for supporting headlamps for the vehicle described in the Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-115844 is arranged such that headlamps  202 ,  202  are arranged in front of the left and right fender portions  201 ,  201 , and these headlamps  202 ,  202  are protected by guard portions  204 ,  204  extending from the carrier  203 . 
   However, in the structure  200  for supporting headlamps for the vehicle described hereinabove, since the left and right fender portions  201 ,  201  support the headlamps  202 ,  202 , it is necessary to use reinforcement members in portions for supporting the headlamps  202 ,  202 . Also, in the structure  200  for supporting headlamps for the vehicle described hereinabove, if an attempt is made to support the headlamps  202 ,  202  by, for example, the carrier  203  or a carrier stay (not shown) for supporting the carrier  203 , it will be necessary to separately provide members for supporting these headlamps  202 ,  202 . In this case, the number of required parts will be increased and the structure will become more complicated and heavier. 
   The present inventors have determined that it would be advantageous to improve the structure of the background art by maintaining the desired support strength for the headlamp while simplifying the structure by making effective use of existing component members. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention overcomes the shortcomings associated with the background art and achieves other advantages not realized by the background art. 
   An object of the present invention is to solve one or more problems associated with the structure of the background art. 
   An object of the present invention is to improve the structure of the background art by maintaining the desired support strength for a headlamp while simplifying the support structure by making effective use of existing component members. 
   One or more of these and other objects are accomplished by a vehicle comprising a vehicle body frame being covered by a vehicle body cover; left and right wheels operatively connected to the vehicle body frame, wherein the left and right wheels are covered by left and right fender portions; a cargo carrier being positioned above the body cover, wherein the carrier is supported by a carrier stay; and a left headlamp and a right headlamp, wherein the right and left headlamps are positioned in locations adjacent to the carrier stay and the left and right fender portions, respectively, and the carrier stay and the fender portions directly support the respective left and right headlamps. 
   One or more of these and other objects are accomplished by a headlamp support structure for a vehicle, the headlamp support structure comprising a vehicle body frame being covered by a vehicle body cover; left and right fender portions; a cargo carrier being positioned above the body cover, wherein the carrier is supported by a carrier stay; and a left headlamp and a right headlamp, wherein the right and left headlamps are positioned in locations adjacent to the carrier stay and the left and right fender portions, respectively, and the carrier stay and the fender portions directly support the respective left and right headlamps. 
   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 hereinafter 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 showing a vehicle having the structure for supporting headlamps according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view showing a vehicle having the structure for supporting headlamps according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the front part of a vehicle having the structure for supporting headlamps according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing the structure for supporting headlamps for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view taken along the direction of arrow  5  in  FIG. 3 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a partial, perspective view of a vehicle showing the basic structure of a support structure for a headlamp of the background art. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings should be viewed in a direction that permits a normal orientation of the reference numerals.  FIG. 1  is a side view showing a vehicle having the structure for supporting headlamps according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a plan view showing a vehicle having the structure for supporting headlamps according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the front part of a vehicle having the structure for supporting headlamps according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing the structure for supporting headlamps for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  is a side view taken along the direction of arrow  5  in  FIG. 3 . 
   In  FIG. 1 , a vehicle  10 , such as an all-terrain vehicle for operation on uneven land or for off-road applications, is shown which includes a steering shaft  12  installed in front of a body frame  11 . A lower end portion side of this steering shaft  12  is coupled to left and right front wheels  13 ,  14  (only the front wheel  13  on this side is shown). On the upper end side of the steering shaft  12 , a handlebar  15  is installed and in the intermediate part of the body frame  11 , a power unit  18  is installed which includes an engine  16  and a transmission  17 . Rear wheels  21 ,  22  (only the rear wheel  21  on this side is shown) are provided on the rear side of the body frame  11  and are driven by the power unit  18  together with the front wheels  13 ,  14 . 
   In this case, a front grille  24  for covering the front surface of the vehicle body is also provided along with headlamps  25 ,  26  (only the reference numeral  25  on this side is shown). A shock absorber  27 ,  27  (only one reference numeral is shown) is also provided for each of the front wheels  13 ,  14 . A fuel tank  28  is installed on the body frame  11  and an exhaust device  29  is operatively connected to the front part of the engine  16  and bent at a portion for extending rearward. A carburetor  31  is connected to the rear part of the engine  16  and an air cleaner  32  is coupled to the rear part of the carburetor  31 . An air vent device  33  for exerting atmospheric pressure on the fuel fluid surface in a float chamber is also provided within the carburetor  31 . 
   The vehicle  10  is also provided with a front carrier  34 , e.g., a carrier on which luggage or cargo is placed, a front cover  34  serving as a body cover for covering the front part of the vehicle body, and a carrier stay  36  (carrier pipe) is installed on the body frame  11 . Left and right fender  37 ,  38  portions (only the reference numeral  37  on this side is shown) for covering the upper part and the rear part of the front wheels  13 ,  14  are integrally formed on the front cover  35 . A step  39 ,  39  is provided (only the reference numeral  39  on this side is shown) on each side of the vehicle  10  on which the driver puts his feet. A rear cover  41  is provided for covering the rear part of the vehicle body and left and right rear fender portions  43 ,  44  (only the reference numeral  39  on this side is shown) for covering the front part and the upper part of the rear wheels  21 ,  22  are formed on the rear cover  41 . 
   Mud guards  45 ,  45  (only the reference numeral  45  on this side is shown) are installed on the rear fender portions  43 ,  44  respectively and tail lamps  46 ,  46  (only the reference numeral  46  on this side is shown) are installed on the mud guards  45 ,  45  respectively. A rear carrier  47  may be provided above the rear cover and rear fender portions  43 ,  44 . A seat  51  and shock absorbers  52 ,  52  (only the reference numeral  52  on this side is shown) for the rear wheels  21 ,  22  are also provided on the vehicle  10 . 
     FIG. 2  is a plan view showing a vehicle having the structure for supporting the headlamps according to an embodiment of the present invention. Left and right main frames  55 ,  55  for constituting one part of the body frame  11  are arranged in the central part of the vehicle body so as to extend in a longitudinal direction, and between these main frames  55 ,  55 , there are arranged the power unit  18 , the carburetor  40  and a main air cleaner  56  for constituting the air cleaner  32 . The exhaust device  29  is bent in an U-shape from the engine  16  and extends rearward therefrom. 
     FIG. 2  also shows a handlebar supporting member  53  installed on the upper part of the steering shaft  12 . The handlebar  15  is installed on the handlebar supporting member  53  via handlebar sandwiching members  54 ,  54 , and further shows that mud guards  45 ,  45  are arranged at the left and right of the vehicle body with a license plate  58  sandwiched therebetween. 
     FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the front part of a vehicle having the structure for supporting the headlamps according to an embodiment of the present invention. Structure  60  for supporting the headlamps includes the front cover  35  for covering the front part of the vehicle body; the left and right fender portions  37 ,  38  for covering the front wheels  13 ,  14  (see  FIG. 2 ) which are formed integrally with the front cover  35 , and a front carrier  34  for loading the luggage is provided on the upper parts of the front cover  35  and left and right fender portions  37 ,  38 . The carrier stay (carrier pipe)  36  is provided for supporting the front carrier  34  and serves as a front bumper. The front grille  24  covers the front surface of the carrier stay  36 , and the left and right headlamps  25 ,  26  are installed to the front grille  24  and left and right fender portions  37 ,  38  and are supported by the carrier stay  36 . 
     FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing structure for supporting headlamps for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. The front cover  35  is a member in which the body portion  61  has been formed with the left and right fender portions  37 ,  38 . The left fender portion  37  includes the center-side installation boss  62  for installing the left headlamp  25 , the edge-side installation boss  63  for installing the left headlamp  25 , and the left over-fender  64  for covering the outward portion of the left front wheel  13  by extending in a direction of the vehicle width. 
   The right fender portion  38  includes the center-side installation boss  66  for installing the right headlamp  26 , the edge-side installation boss  67  for installing the right headlamp  26 ; and the right over-fender  68  for covering the outward portion of the right front wheel  14  by extending in a direction of the vehicle width. 
   The front carrier  34  is a member which is formed by pipes, and includes a loading portion  71  for loading the luggage, front pipes  72 ,  72  coupled to the carrier stay  36  and extending downward from the front of this loading portion  71 , and rear pipes  73 ,  73  coupled to the body frame  11  (See  FIG. 1 ) side and extending downward from the rear of the loading portion  71 . 
   The carrier stay (carrier pipe)  36  is a member formed with pipes as in the case of the front carrier  34 , and includes a cross pipe  75 , left and right down pipes  76 ,  76  for extending from both ends of this cross pipe  75  obliquely backward, left and right first extending pipes  77 ,  77  for extending from the front ends of these left and right down pipes  76 ,  76  rearward respectively, left and right second extending pipes  78 ,  78  for extending from intermediate parts of the left and right down pipes  76 ,  76  rearward respectively, and left and right stay pipes  79 ,  79  for connecting the left and right down pipes  76 ,  76  to the left and right first extending pipes  77 ,  77  respectively. Left and right headlamp reception portions  81 ,  81  are provided at connected portions between the left and right stay pipes  79 ,  79  and left and right down pipes  76 ,  76  respectively. Elastic members  82 ,  82  are provided at the headlamp reception portions  81 ,  81  respectively, and a rear cross pipe  83  connects the rear portions of the left and right down pipes  76 ,  76  together. 
   The front grille  24  is constructed with a grill body portion  84 , left and right horizontal portions  85 ,  85  extending to the left and right of the grill body portion  84  respectively; and a guard portion  86  for covering the lower part of the carrier stay  36  by extending below the grill body portion  84 . The grille body portion  84  includes left and right installation bosses  87 ,  88  for installing the left and right headlamps  25 ,  26 . 
   The left headlamp  25  includes a left lens portion  91  installed to the left fender portion  37 , a socket portion  92  installed from behind the lens portion  91 , a bulb  93  inserted into the socket portion  92 , a cover  94  for covering the socket portion  92 , and a left harness  95  for extending from this socket portion. The right headlamp  26  is a member having the same structure as the left headlamp  25  and a symmetrical shape thereto. A right lens portion  96 , a socket portion  97 , a bulb  98 , a cover  99 , and a right harness  101  are also provided. The left and right harnesses  95 ,  101  are obtained by tying up the harnesses into a bundle at the rear end for connecting to the connector  102 . 
   In  FIG. 4 , a screw  103  for installing the left lens portion  91  to the center-side installation boss  62 , a bolt  104  for installing the left lens portion  91  to the edge-side installation boss  63 , a bolt  105  for installing the left lens portion  91  to the left installation boss  87  of the grille body portion  84 , a screw  106  for installing the right lens portion  96  to the center-side installation boss  66 , a bolt  107  for installing the right lens portion  96  to the edge-side installation boss  67 , and a bolt  108  for installing the right lens portion  96  to the right installation boss  88  of the grille body portion  84  are provided as shown. 
     FIG. 5  is view taken along the direction of arrow  5  in  FIG. 3 . Structure  60  for supporting headlamps for a vehicle  10  wherein left and right front wheels (wheels)  13 ,  14  shown in  FIG. 2  are installed to the body frame  11  in such a manner as to be freely rotatable. The body frame  11  is covered with the front cover (body cover)  35 , and the left and right front wheels  13 ,  14  are covered by integrally providing the front cover  35  with left and right fender portions  37 ,  38  ( 38  is not shown). A front cargo carrier (carrier)  34  capable of loading luggage is arranged above the front cover  35 . The front carrier  34  is supported by the carrier stay (carrier pipe)  36 , and around these carrier stay  36  and fender portions  37 ,  38 , headlamps  25 ,  26  ( 26  is not shown) are arranged. The headlamps  25 ,  26  are installed to the fender portions  37 ,  38  and are supported by the carrier stay  36 , to be thereby supported by both the fender portions  37 ,  38  and the carrier stay  36 . 
   The present inventors have determined that if the supporting strength of the headlamps could be enhanced by making effective use of the existing component members and the like, the structure for supporting the headlamps can be simplified. Accordingly, by installing the headlamps to the fender portion and supporting the headlamps with the carrier stay, the headlamps can be supported by both the fender portion and the carrier stay. 
   By installing the headlamp  25  to the fender portion  37  and supporting the headlamps with the carrier stay  36 , it is possible to make effective use of the existing component members to secure the required supporting strength for the headlamp  25  without making the structure complicated. The structure  60  for supporting headlamps for the vehicle can include the lower part of the headlamp  25 ,  26  ( 26  is not shown) elastically supported by the carrier stay  36  via elastic members  82 ,  82  (one  82  is not shown). Accordingly, the lower part of the headlamp  25  is elastically supported by the carrier stay  36 , whereby the assembling property of the headlamp  25  can be improved. 
   Although the left and right fender portions  37 ,  38  have been formed integrally with the front cover  35  as shown in  FIG. 3 , the structure is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the left and right fender portions  37 ,  38  may be formed separately and may be installed to the front cover. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the present invention is applicable to many types of vehicles, but the structure for supporting headlamps for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is applied to a vehicle for driving on uneven land, e.g., such as a four-wheeled all terrain vehicle. 
   If the lower part of the headlamp has been elastically supported by the carrier stay as described hereinabove, the lower part of the headlamp is elastically supported by the carrier stay, and the ease of assembly of the headlamp can be improved. If the headlamp has been installed to the fender portion and has also been supported by the carrier stay, it is possible to make effective use of the existing component members of the vehicle to secure adequate support strength for the headlamp without making the structure unduly complicated. As a result, there is an advantage that the required support structure can be simplified. 
   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.