Abstract:
A vehicle includes a fuel tank arranged underneath a seat, a fuel pump housed inside the fuel tank and including an attachment portion arranged to attach the fuel pump to an upper wall of the fuel tank, the fuel pump including at least one connector projecting upwards from the attachment portion, and a vehicle cover covering at least a portion of the vehicle. A portion of the vehicle cover extends between the upper wall of the fuel tank and the lower surface of the seat and includes an upright portion extending between an upper wall of the fuel tank and the lower surface of the seat. The vehicle protects the at least one connector of the fuel pump without causing an increase in the number of components and manufacturing steps.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a vehicle, such as a motorcycle, scooter, or an all terrain vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to technology for protecting connectors (power supply connectors, hose connectors, etc.) of a fuel pump housed in the fuel pump.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     In a saddle ridden vehicle such as a motorcycle or all terrain vehicle, the fuel tank is often arranged beneath the seat. A fuel pump is attached to an upper wall of this fuel tank, and the fuel pump is housed internally (refer, for example, to U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,214). This type of fuel pump generally includes a flat attachment portion at an upper portion of the pump, and this attachment portion is fixed to an upper wall of the fuel tank. Also in this type of fuel pump, connectors such as a hose connector for connecting a hose through which fuel flows, or a power supply connector for connecting an electrical wire to supply power to the fuel pump, project upwards from the attachment portion towards the lower surface of the seat.  
         [0005]     In this type of fuel pump, it is necessary to ensure that the connector does not touch the lower surface of the seat arranged above. Therefore, for example, in order to protect the connector, a measure to fix additional protection members to the upper wall has been considered. But with this approach the number of components is increased by the number of protection members, and the number of manufacturing steps is increased due to fixing of the protection members.  
         [0006]     It has also been considered to either lower the position of the upper wall, or to raise the position of the lower surface of the seat in order to make the distance between the lower surface of the seat and the upper wall of the fuel tank sufficiently large. But with this approach, either the capacity of the fuel tank will be reduced or the seat position becomes high and the vehicle is increased in size.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In order to overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a saddle ridden vehicle that can protect a connector of a fuel pump projecting above the fuel tank from an attachment portion without bringing about an increase in components or manufacturing steps, reducing the capacity of the fuel tank, or increasing the vehicle size.  
         [0008]     A saddle ridden vehicle of a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a fuel tank arranged below a seat, a fuel pump housed inside the fuel tank and including an attachment portion for attachment to an upper wall of the fuel tank, at least one connector projecting upwards from the attachment portion, and a vehicle cover for covering at least a portion of the vehicle. A portion of the vehicle cover lies between the upper wall of the fuel tank and the lower surface of the seat and includes an upright portion extending between the upper surface of the fuel tank and the lower surface of the seat.  
         [0009]     According to the present preferred embodiment, since the upright portion of the vehicle cover projects towards at least one of the upper wall of the fuel tank or the lower surface of the seat, there is no increase in the number of components or manufacturing steps, no reduction in the capacity of the fuel tank and no increase in the vehicle size, and the connectors of the fuel pump are protected by the upright portion.  
         [0010]     With another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a lower edge of the upright portion of the vehicle cover is in direct or indirect contact with the upper wall of the fuel tank, and the upright portion extends towards the lower surface of the seat from the upper wall of the fuel tank.  
         [0011]     In this preferred embodiment, since the lower edge of the upright portion of the vehicle cover is in direct or indirect contact with the upper wall of the fuel tank, the at least one connector is more reliably protected.  
         [0012]     With another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upright portion of the vehicle cover encloses the at least one connector of the fuel pump.  
         [0013]     In this preferred embodiment, since the upright portion of the vehicle cover encloses the at least one connector of the fuel pump, the at least one connector is more reliably protected.  
         [0014]     With yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upright portion of the vehicle cover is higher than the connector of the fuel pump.  
         [0015]     In this preferred embodiment, since the upright portion of the vehicle cover is higher than the at least one connector of the fuel pump, the at least one connector is more reliably protected.  
         [0016]     With a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upright portion of the vehicle cover is provided so as to enclose the at least one connector of the fuel pump, and includes an opening. Connection wires or lines for connecting to a power supply connector of the fuel pump extend through the opening of the upright portion.  
         [0017]     In this preferred embodiment, since connection lines connected to the fuel pump are connected to the power supply connector by passing through the opening in the upright portion, the connection lines are also protected by the upright portion.  
         [0018]     Other features, elements, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a left side elevation of an all terrain vehicle as an example of a saddle ridden vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the all terrain vehicle.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation of a fuel tank mounted on the all terrain vehicle, wherein a wire for connecting electrical power to a fuel pump is omitted, and a seat and a vehicle cover are shown by chain two-dotted lines.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a rear portion of the all terrain vehicle showing mainly a fuel tank, wherein the seat and a rear fender are shown by chain two-dotted lines.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the fuel tank.  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view facing a rear portion of a vehicle body frame from behind.  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of a portion of the fuel pump for attachment to the fuel tank.  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view along VIII-VIII in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a rear fender close to the attachment portion of the fuel pump.  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of a fuel pump attachment portion. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]     Examples of preferred embodiments of a saddle ridden vehicle of the present invention will be described in the following with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 1  is a left side elevation of an all terrain vehicle  1 , as an example of a saddle ridden vehicle of this preferred embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a plan view of the all terrain vehicle  1 .  
         [0030]     The all terrain vehicle  1  is provided with a pair of left and right vehicle body frames  2  extending from a front portion of the vehicle towards the rear. An upper portion of the vehicle body frame  2  is provided with upper pipes  21  that extend in a front and rear direction of the vehicle. The upper pipes  21  curve diagonally downwards at a bent portion  21   a provided at the front of the pipes, and a front pipe portion  22  extending diagonally downwards is connected to the bent portions  21   a.  The lower portion of the vehicle body frame  2  is provided with a lower pipe  23  extending in a front and rear direction of the vehicle, and a rear pipe  24  is fastened between the rear end of the lower pipe  23  and a rear end portion of the upper pipe  21 .  
         [0031]     The vehicle body frame  2  is also provided with a pair of substantially L-shaped left and right front suspension arm support pipes  25 ,  25 , and similarly a pair of substantially L-shaped left and right rear suspension arm support pipes  26 ,  26 . A front end portion of the front suspension arm support pipe  25  is connected to a front pipe portion  22 , and a rear end portion of the front suspension arm support pipe  25  is connected to a lower pipe  23 . A front end portion of the rear suspension arm support pipe  26  is connected to a lower pipe  23 , and a rear end portion of the rear suspension arm support pipe  26  is connected to a rear pipe  24 . A front reinforcement pipe  27  is fastened between the front suspension arm support pipe  25  and a portion slightly to the rear of the bent portion  21   a of the upper pipe  21 . A rear reinforcement pipe  28  is also fastened between the rear suspension support portion  26  and the upper pipe  21 . A reinforcement member  29  is fastened between a midway portion of the rear reinforcement pipe  28  and the upper pipe  21 . A plurality of cross members is fastened between the pair of left and right vehicle body frames  2 . These cross members will be described in detail later.  
         [0032]     Front wheels  4 ,  4  are arranged to the left and right of a front lower portion of the vehicle. The left and right front wheels  4 ,  4  are supported by left and right front wheel suspensions  6 ,  6 . The front wheel suspension  6  includes a pair of upper and lower front side lower arms (not shown), and front side upper arms (not shown). The front side lower arms are connected to a front portion of the lower pipes  23  so as to be capable of moving up and down, and the front side upper arms are connected to the front suspension arm support pipes  25  so as to be capable of moving up and down.  
         [0033]     Rear wheels  8 ,  8  are arranged to the left and right of a rear lower portion of the vehicle. The left and right rear wheels  8 ,  8  are supported by left and right rear wheel suspensions  10 ,  10 . The rear wheel suspension  10  includes a pair of upper and lower rear side lower arms (not shown), and rear side upper arms (not shown). The rear lower arms are connected to a rear portion of the lower pipes  23  so as to be capable of moving up and down, and the rear side upper arms are connected to the rear suspension arm support pipes  26  so as to be capable of moving up and down.  
         [0034]     An engine unit  11  is arranged in a central portion of the vehicle. A front end portion of a rear wheel output shaft  12  extending in the front and rear direction is connected to the engine unit  11 . A rear end of the rear wheel output shaft  12  is connected to a rear wheel differential reduction unit  14  arranged at a rear lower portion of the vehicle. Drive force output from the engine unit  11  is conveyed to the rear wheel output shaft  12 , the differential reduction unit  14 , and then to the rear wheels  8  via drive shafts (not shown) that are connected to differential reduction unit  14  and the rear wheels  8 .  
         [0035]     The fuel tank  50  is arranged diagonally above the engine unit  11  and to the rear of the vehicle. A saddle type seat  16  for a passenger to sit on is arranged above the fuel tank  50 . An air cleaner  18  for purifying air supplied to the engine unit  11  is arranged above the engine unit  11  and in front of the fuel tank  50  (in the direction shown by Fr in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ). A steering shaft  31  extending diagonally downward is arranged in front of the air cleaner  18 . A handlebar  33  having grips  33   a  for the rider to steer the vehicle is fixed to an upper end of the steering shaft  31 . A gear shift lever  34  for a rider to change gears is arranged below the handlebar  33 .  
         [0036]     The all terrain vehicle  1  is provided with a front fender  36  arranged above and covering the left and right front wheels  4 ,  4 , a rear fender  37  arranged above and covering the rear wheels  8 ,  8 , and a cowling  38  covering both side front portions of the fuel tank  50 . A vehicle cover provided by the front fender  36 , the rear fender  37 , and the cowling  38  etc. covers the vehicle and functions as a mudguard.  
         [0037]     The fuel tank  50  will now be described in detail.  FIG. 3  is a side elevation of the fuel tank  50 ,  FIG. 4  is a plan view of a rear portion of the all terrain vehicle  1  mainly showing a fuel tank  50 , and  FIG. 5  is a plan view of the fuel tank  50 .  FIG. 6  is a perspective view facing a rear portion of the vehicle body frame  2  from behind.  FIG. 7  is a plan view of a portion of the fuel pump  53  for attachment to the fuel tank  50 ,  FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view along VIII-VIII in  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a rear fender  37  close to the attachment portion of the fuel pump  53 . In  FIG. 3 , the electrical wire  55  for connecting power to a fuel pump  53  is omitted, and a seat  16  and a vehicle body frame  2  are shown by two-dotted chain lines. Also, in  FIG. 4 , the seat  16  and a rear fender  37  are shown by chain two-dotted lines. In  FIG. 9 , a hose connector  53   c  and a power supply connector  53   d  of the fuel pump  53  are omitted.  
         [0038]     The fuel tank  50  is preferably made of plastic, for example. The fuel tank  50  preferably has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in plan (refer to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 ). As shown in  FIG. 3 , when viewed from the side, a rear portion of the fuel tank  50  is mostly flat and a front portion is sloped upwards.  
         [0039]     Specifically, a rear portion  50   a  of the fuel tank  50  includes a rear upper wall portion  51   a  that is provided in a generally flat manner, and a rear lower wall portion  51   b  that slopes downwards from a rear end edge of the fuel tank  50 . The front portion  50   b  includes a front upper wall portion  51   c  inclined diagonally upwards towards the front, and a front lower wall portion  51   d  similarly inclined upwards. The front upper wall portion  51   c  extends from the rear upper wall portion  51   a.  The fuel tank  50  includes a base portion  50   c  at a lower portion in the middle of the tank. The base portion  50   c  includes a bottom wall portion  51   e  that is more deeply indented than the front lower wall portion  51   d  and the rear lower wall portion  51   b.  A small residual amount of fuel accumulates in this base portion  50   c.    
         [0040]     The fuel tank  50  includes a front end portion, a rear end portion, and a central lower portion supported by the vehicle body frame  2 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 4 , left and right support portions  51   p,    51   p  are provided at a front edge of the fuel tank  50 . These support portions  51   p,    51   p  are fixed preferably via a bolt to a front support cross member  61  fastened between the left and right upper pipes  21 ,  21 .  
         [0041]     Rear support members  24   a,    24   a  projecting towards the center in the vehicle width direction are fixed to a mid-portion of the left and right rear pipes  24 ,  24  (refer to  FIG. 6 ). Left and right support portions  51   q,    51   q  are provided at the rear edge of the fuel tank  50 . These support portions  51   q,    51   q  are fixed preferably via bolts to the rear support members  24   a,    24   a.    
         [0042]     A central support cross member  66  is also fastened between the mid-portions of the left and right rear suspension arm support pipes  26  (refer to  FIG. 6 ). Left and right support members  67 ,  67  made of elastic bodies (for example, rubber) for supporting the fuel tank  50  are fixed to this central support cross member  66 . The fuel tank  50  is supported by the central support cross member  66  since the rear lower wall portion  51   b  is supported by the support members  67 ,  67  (refer to  FIG. 3 ). In this way, the fuel tank  50  is supported by the front support cross member  61 , the rear support member  24   a,  and the central support cross member  66 .  
         [0043]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the rear pipe  24  extends vertically from a lower end connected to the lower pipe  23 , then bends slightly at the bent portion  24   c,  and includes inclined portions  24   b,    24   b  inclined outwardly in the vehicle width direction. Cross members  62 ,  63 , and  65  are respectively fastened between end portions of the left and right upper pipes  21 ,  21 , between mid-portions of the left and right rear pipes  24 ,  24 , and between rear end portions of the left and right lower pipes  23 ,  23 . Also, a cross member  64  is fastened between rear end portions of the left and right rear suspension arm support pipes  26 . Brackets  23   a,    26   a  for connecting rear side lower arms (not shown) and rear side upper arms (not shown) of the above described rear wheel suspensions  10  are fixed to rear portions of the lower pipes  23  and the suspension arm support pipes  26 .  
         [0044]     As has been described above, the front upper wall portion  51   c  of the fuel tank  50  is inclined diagonally upward towards the front. A flat foremost wall portion  51   f  is provided in the center, in the vehicle width direction, of the front portion of the front upper wall portion  51   c  (refer to  FIG. 3 ). A cylindrical fuel inlet  52  is provided in this foremost wall portion  51   f.  A tank cap  52   a  for closing off the fuel inlet  52  is fitted to the fuel inlet  52 .  
         [0045]     As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , a bowl shaped filler cover  57  that surrounds the periphery of the fuel inlet  52  is fitted to the fuel inlet  52 . A drain hose, not shown, that stretches as far as underneath the engine unit  11  is connected to a base of the filler cover  57 . Fuel spilling out from the fuel inlet because of excessive supply of fuel into the fuel tank  50  accumulates inside the filler cover  57 , and is discharged below the engine unit  11  through the drain hose.  
         [0046]     Also, one end  58   a  of a pressure regulator hose  58  located at the left side of the fuel inlet  52  is connected to the front upper wall portion  51   c  of the fuel tank  50 . The other end  58   b  of this pressure regulator hose  58  is open to the atmosphere at an inner side of the filler cover  57 . At the time of refueling, air accumulating inside the fuel tank  50  is discharged to the outside of the fuel tank  50  through this pressure regulator hose  58 .  
         [0047]     The fuel tank  50  houses the fuel pump  53 . As shown in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 8 , the fuel pump  53  is provided with a disk-shaped flat attachment portion  53   a  at an upper portion of this pump, a hose connector  53   c  for connecting a fuel hose in order to supply fuel to the engine unit  11 , a power supply connector  53   d  for connecting a wire  55  for supplying electrical power to this pump, and a filter  53   b  for cleaning fuel sucked in by this pump. The filter  53   b  is positioned in the base portion  50   c  of the fuel tank  50 . The power supply connector  53   d  and the hose connector  53   c  project upward (in the direction of the lower surface  16   a  of the seat  16 ) from the attachment portion  53   a.    
         [0048]     An attachment structure for fixing the fuel pump  53  to the fuel tank  50  will now be described in detail. The fuel tank  50  includes a fuel pump attachment portion  51   g  for fixing the fuel pump  53  to the fuel tank  50  on the rear upper wall portion  51   a.    
         [0049]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of the fuel pump attachment portion  51   g.  The fuel pump attachment portion  51   g  includes a hexagonal shape with rounded corners and includes a circular opening in a central portion for insertion of the fuel pump  53 . A plurality of bolts  51   i  for attaching the fuel pump  53  are inserted respectively into holes provided in an annular bolt positioning member  51   h  that is made of metal. The bolts  51   i  and the bolt positioning member  51   h  are molded together preferably using resin  51 L, and these define the fuel pump attachment portion  51   g.    
         [0050]     As shown in  FIG. 8 , an opening  51   m  for insertion of the fuel pump  53  is provided in the rear upper wall portion  51   a  of the fuel tank  50 . A hollow portion  51   o  that is hexagonal viewed in plan and corresponding to the shape of the fuel pump attachment member  51   g  is provided in a peripheral edge of this opening  51   m.  The fuel pump attachment portion  51   g  is attached to this hollow portion  51   o.  A peripheral edge portion of the attachment portion  53   a  is fixed to the peripheral edge portion of the opening provided in the fuel pump attachment portion  51   g.  The fuel pump  53  is housed inside the fuel tank  50 .  
         [0051]     The attachment portion  53   a  is sandwiched between the annular bracket  56  and the peripheral edge portion of the opening provided in the fuel pump attachment portion  51   g,  and is fixed to the fuel tank  50 . Specifically, the bracket  56  includes an outer peripheral portion  56   b  and an inner peripheral portion  56   a  that is higher than the outer peripheral portion  56   b  by the thickness of the attachment portion  53   a.  The outer peripheral portion  56   b  includes holes for insertion of bolts  51   i.  Each of the bolts  51   i  are inserted into these holes and nuts  60  are screwed onto the bolts  51   i  from above the outer peripheral portion  56   b.  Therefore, the outer peripheral portion  56   b  is fixed to the fuel pump attachment portion  51   g.  The attachment portion  53   a  is sandwiched between the upper surface of the fuel pump attachment portion  51   g  and the inner peripheral portion  56   a,  and is thus fixed to the fuel tank  50 .  
         [0052]     Incidentally, the fuel pump attachment portion  51   g  includes an annular seal member  51   k  around an opening provided for insertion of the fuel pump  53 . Projection portions  51   n,    53   e  for positioning the bracket  56  are provided in the fuel pump attachment portion  51   g  and the attachment portion  53   a  (refer to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 10 ). With this preferred embodiment, the outer peripheral portion  56   b  of the bracket  56  is attached to the fuel pump attachment portion  51   g  by screwing in bolts. But it is also possible, for example, for the bracket  56  to be provided in a cover shape having an opening in a central portion. Thus, the outer peripheral portion  56   b  of the bracket  56  can screw directly to the fuel pump attachment portion  51   g,  and the inner peripheral portion  56   a  and the fuel pump attachment portion  51   g  can sandwich the attachment portion  53   a.  And it is also possible for the bracket  56  to be provided in a latch type plate shape. Specifically, it is possible for the outer peripheral portion of the bracket  56  to be engaged with the fuel pump attachment portion  51   g,  and this outer peripheral portion  56   b  to be locked to the fuel pump attachment portion  51   g  by rotating the bracket  56 .  
         [0053]     As has been described above, the hose connector  53   c  and the power supply connector  53   d  project upward from the attachment portion  53   a.  A structure for protecting these connectors using the rear fender  37  will now be described in detail.  
         [0054]     The rear fender  37  extends from the position above the left and right rear wheels  8 ,  8  to a central portion in the vehicle width direction, and lies between a lower surface  16   a  of the seat  16  and the fuel tank  50  (refer to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 7 ). An attachment portion  37   b  of the rear fender  37  is fixed preferably via bolts to the upper pipes  21 . The rear fender  37  includes a wall shaped upright portion  37   a,  and this upright portion  37   a  surrounds and protects the power supply connector  53   d  and the hose connector  53   c  projecting upwards from the attachment portion  53   a.    
         [0055]     Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the rear fender  37  includes a base portion  37   c  and a platform portion  37   e  rising up from the base portion  37   c  in a central portion of the base portion  37   c  in the vehicle width direction. The base portion  37   c  is arranged close to the rear upper wall portion  51   a  of the fuel tank  50 , between the left and right upper pipes  21  (refer to  FIG. 8 ).  
         [0056]     The platform portion  37   e  includes an upper surface portion  37   d  arranged parallel to the lower surface  16   a,  and a side surface portion  37   f  defining a side surface of the platform portion  37   a.  The upper surface portion  37   d  is separated from the rear upper wall portion  51   a  and close to the lower surface  16   a  of the seat  16 . The side surface portion  37   f  rises upwards (in the direction of the lower surface  16   a  of the seat  16 ) from the base portion  37   c.  The upper edge of the side surface portion  37   f  connects to an outer edge of the upper surface portion  37   d.    
         [0057]     The upper surface portion  37   d  includes a circular opening corresponding to the size of the inner peripheral portion  56   a  of the bracket  56  above the attachment portion  53   a  of the fuel pump  53 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the upright portion  37   a  extends from the inner periphery of this opening to the fuel tank  50  side (bracket  56  side), and preferably has a substantially cylindrical shape. A lower edge  37   g  of the upright portion  37   a  contacts the inner peripheral portion  56   a  of the bracket  56 . This upright portion  37   a  is arranged so as to be higher than the power supply connector  53   d  and the hose connector  53   c.  Thus, the upper surface portion  37   d  is also arranged at a position higher than the heads of the power supply connector  53   d  and the hose connection portion  53   c.    
         [0058]     Two openings  37   h  and  37   i  are provided in the wall shaped upright portion  37   a  (refer to  FIG. 7  to  FIG. 9 ). A fuel hose  54  passes through the opening  37   h  and is arranged between the upper surface portion  37   d  and a rear upper wall portion  51   a  of the fuel tank  50 . Also, the wire  55  is passed through the opening  37   i  and is arranged between the upper surface portion  37   d  and a rear upper wall portion  51   a  of the fuel tank  50 . An umbrella portion  37   j  projecting toward a central side of the attachment portion  53   a  is provided in the edge of the opening  37   h.    
         [0059]     Also, two openings  37   k  and  37 L are provided in a portion of the upper surface portion  37   d.  At the time of installing or maintaining the fuel hose  54  or the wire  55 , an operator can view the fuel hose  54  or the wire  55  through the openings  37   k  and  37 L. The base portion  37   c  includes a high base portion  37   c′,  behind the platform portion  37   e,  that is slightly higher than elsewhere, and includes an inclined base portion  37   c ″ inclined upwards towards the front on both sides of platform portion  37   e  (refer to  FIG. 9 ).  
         [0060]     In the all terrain vehicle  1  described above, the rear fender  37  extends between the lower surface  16   a  of the seat  16  and the rear upper wall portion  51   a  of the fuel tank  50 . The rear fender  37  includes an upright portion  37   a  extending around the attachment portion  53   a  of the fuel pump  53 . Therefore, a hose connector  53   c  and a power supply connector  53   d  of the fuel pump  53  are protected by the upright portion  37   a.  Also, since the upright portion  37   a  is unified with the rear fender  37 , there is no need for an additional manufacturing operation to protect these connectors. Also, since the lower edge  37   g  of the upright portion  37   a  contacts the bracket  56 , the hose connector  53   c  and the power supply connector  53   d  are reliably protected by the upright portion  37   a  so as not to touch the lower surface  16   a  of the seat  16 .  
         [0061]     Incidentally, in the all terrain vehicle  1  described above, the upright portion  37   a  of the rear fender  37  extends down from the edge of opening of the upper surface portion  37   d  towards the rear upper wall portion  51   a  of the fuel tank  50 . However, the orientation of the upright portion  37   a  is not limited in this way. For example, it is also possible for the base portion  37   c  to have an opening around the attachment portion  53   a,  and for the upright portion  37   a  to be arranged so as to rise up from the edge of this opening in the direction of the lower surface  16   a  of the seat  16 .  
         [0062]     Also, in the all terrain vehicle  1  described above, the lower edge  37   g  of the upright portion  37   a  is in indirect contact with the rear upper wall portion  51   a  of the fuel tank  50  via the bracket  56 . But it is also possible, for example, to be in direct contact with the rear upper wall portion  51   a  around the bracket  56 . It is also possible for the lower edge  37   g  of the upright portion  37   a  to be in contact with the attachment portion  53   a  at an inner side of the inner peripheral portion  56   a  of the bracket  56 . And it is also possible for the lower edge  37   g  to be in indirect contact with the rear upper wall portion  51   a  via the attachment portion  53   a.    
         [0063]     The present invention is not limited to the above-described preferred embodiments, but can be modified within the scope of the attached claims. Further, the technologies disclosed in above-described preferred embodiments can be used in combination, as desired.  
         [0064]     While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.