Patent Publication Number: US-9834273-B2

Title: Extended and lowered frame arrangement for motorcycle

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a Continuation application that claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to a non-provisional application, application Ser. No. 14/949,885, filed Nov. 24, 2015, which is a Continuation application that claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to another non-provisional application, application Ser. No. 14/922,116, filed Oct. 24, 2015. 
    
    
     NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a motorcycle, and more particularly to an extended and lowered frame arrangement of a motorcycle, wherein the front and rear wheel assemblies are further extended frontwardly and rearwardly from the extended and lowered frame arrangement and the engine is re-arranged to her lower the center of gravity of the motorcycle. 
     Description of Related Arts 
     A motor scooter is a motorcycle comprising a step-through frame defining a floorboard, a seat supported by the step-through frame, an engine supported behind the floorboard, and two small wheels mounted at front and rear portions of the step-through frame. The scooter is a practical and accessible form of transportation to solve the parking and traffic problems in crowed cities. Therefore, many riders would like to modify the scooter to enhance the riding quality thereof. 
     A modified scooter, such as “Honda Ruckus”, has been successful in form of a good looking, rugged style, practical, and off-road inspired scooter. The design of the modified scooter is to lower the center of gravity thereof in order to enhance the handling of the scooter. However, the modified scooter still has several drawbacks. Firstly, the engine is suspended and dropped down at a position that the bottom side of the engine is below the floorboard. Due to the low center of gravity of the scooter, the bottom side of the engine will be hit by any external object during driving. The suspended structure of the engine requires substantially complicated mounting structure to the frame to secure the engine at the frame. Secondly, the suspension system is directly mounted under the seat to minimize the vibration from the engine. However, the vibration from the wheels may transmit to the seat through the frame to reduce the riding quality of the scooter. In addition, the distance between the front and rear wheels is limited by the frame and the front fork. Accordingly, the entire structure of the scooter is complicated to modify and to enhance the riding quality of the scooter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The invention is advantageous in that it provides an extended and lowered frame arrangement for a motorcycle, wherein the front and rear wheel assemblies are further extended frontwardly and rearwardly from the extended and lowered frame arrangement to further lower the center of gravity of the motorcycle. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide the extended and lowered frame arrangement, wherein the engine is re-arranged to further lower the center of gravity of the motorcycle. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide the extended and lowered frame arrangement, which provides a three-point support for the engine to rigidly support the engine by the extended and lowered frame arrangement. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide the extended and lowered frame arrangement, wherein the widened hub assembly provides multiple functions of serving as a rear wheel supporting axle for supporting the rear wheel away from the rear portion of the extended and lower frame arrangement and serving as an engine transmission output shaft for driving the rear wheel to rotate directly. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide the extended and lowered frame arrangement, wherein the gas tank supported on the floorboard and protected by the gas tank protection frame to allow the rider to step thereon and to prevent the gas tank from being damaged by any external force. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide the extended and lowered frame arrangement, wherein the thermal insulation cover is provided under the seat frame to thermally insulate heat from the engine to the seat frame and to receive a wiring system of the power generator. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide the extended and lowered frame arrangement, wherein the rear wheel is widened as a race inspired tire by outwardly and opposedly extending two slanted decorative surfaces from the flat usable surface. The widen rear wheel is incorporated with the widen hub assembly to enhance the acceleration of the motorcycle while being fuel effective. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide the extended and lowered frame arrangement, wherein the side mirrors are outwardly extended from two outer ends of the handlebars to provide a better side viewing angle for the rider and to minimize the diameter of each of the side mirrors without reducing the viewing area for the rider. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide the extended and lowered frame arrangement, which does not require to alter the original structural design of the motorcycle, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost of the motorcycle components incorporating with the extended and lowered frame arrangement. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide the extended and lowered frame arrangement, wherein no expensive or complicated structure is required to employ in the present invention in order to achieve the above mentioned objects. Therefore, the present invention successfully provides an economic and efficient solution for providing a rigid frame configuration for the motorcycle. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide the extended and lowered frame arrangement, wherein all the components can be easily assembled to the extended and lower frame arrangement so as to simplify the structural configuration of the motorcycle. 
     Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims. 
     According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by a motorcycle, comprising: 
     an extended and lowered frame arrangement which comprises a supporting frame having a front portion, a rear portion, and a floorboard extended between the front portion and the rear portion; 
     a steering assembly operatively mounted at the front portion of the supporting frame; 
     a front wheel assembly which comprises two spaced apart front forks, a front wheel rotatably coupled between the front forks, and a front wheel extension member having a rear portion coupled at a bottom portion of the steering assembly and a front portion coupled at the front forks to frontwardly extend a distance between the front portion of the supporting frame and the front wheel; 
     a power generator which comprises an engine securely supported underneath the rear portion of the supporting frame to lower a center of gravity of the supporting frame; and 
     a rear wheel assembly which comprises a rear wheel supported away from the rear portion of the supporting frame and driven to rotate by the engine, wherein the front wheel and the rear wheel are shifted far from the supporting frame to lengthen a distance between the front wheel and the rear wheel so as to further lower a center of gravity of the extended and lowered frame arrangement. 
     Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. 
     These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a motorcycle according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of an extended and lowered frame arrangement of the motorcycle according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a front wheel extension member of the motorcycle according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an engine mounting frame of the motorcycle according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a gas tank assembly of the motorcycle according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a motorcycle according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the motorcycle according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a rear view of an engine mounting frame of the motorcycle according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a rear view of the motorcycle according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a gas tank assembly of the motorcycle according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following description is disclosed to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. Preferred embodiments are provided in the following description only as examples and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined in the following description would be applied to other embodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a motorcycle, especially for a scooter, according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the motorcycle comprises an extended and lowered frame arrangement  10 , a steering assembly  20 , a power generator  30 , a front wheel assembly  40 , and a rear wheel assembly  50 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the extended and lowered frame arrangement  10  comprises a supporting frame  11  having a front portion  111 , a rear portion  112 , and a floorboard  113  extended between the front portion  111  and the rear portion  112 . Accordingly, the orientation of the floorboard  113  is lower than that of the front portion  111  and the rear portion  112 . 
     The steering assembly  20  is operatively mounted at the front portion  111  of the supporting frame  11 , wherein the steering assembly  20  comprises a steering shaft  21  rotatably coupled at the front portion  111  of the supporting frame  11  and two handlebars  22  extended from the steering shaft  21  for controllably steering the front wheel assembly  40 . In addition, the steering assembly  20  further comprises two side mirrors  23  outwardly extended from two outer ends of the handlebars  22 . Accordingly, the conventional side mirrors are upwardly extended along the handlebars, the viewing angle of each of the conventional side mirrors may be blocked by the rider&#39;s body. Therefore, the diameter size of the conventional side mirror must be enlarged to increase the viewing area for the rider. Since the two side mirrors  23  of the present invention can be further extended sidewardly with respect to a centerline of the extended and lowered frame arrangement  10 , the side mirrors  23  provide a better side viewing angle for the rider. Furthermore, the diameter of each of the side mirrors  23  can be minimized without reducing the viewing area for the rider. 
     The power generator  30  comprises an engine  31  securely supported underneath the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11  to lower a center of gravity of the supporting frame  11 . 
     In order to rigidly support the engine  31  underneath the supporting frame  11 , the extended and lower frame arrangement  10  further comprises an engine mounting frame  12  rearwardly extended from the floorboard to support the engine  31 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , such that the engine  31  is securely on the engine mounting frame  12  at a position below the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11 . 
     In particular, the engine mounting frame  12  comprises an engine platform  121  rearwardly extended from the floorboard  113  to support the engine  31  on the engine platform  121  and an engine reinforcing arm  122  downwardly and rearwardly extended from the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11  to the engine platform  121  to enable a weight of the engine  31  to be evenly distributed to the supporting frame  11 . Accordingly, when the engine  31  is mounted on the engine platform  121 , the weight of the engine  31  will be distributed to the floorboard  113  of the supporting frame  11 . The engine reinforcing arm  122  will then distribute the weight of the engine  31  to the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the extended and lowered frame arrangement  10  further comprises a seat frame  13  mounted above the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11 , wherein the seat frame  13  comprises a seat support  131  upwardly extended from the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11  and a seat pad  132  mounted on the seat support  131 . Accordingly, the seat support  131  has a generally U-shaped configuration mounted on the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11 . Since the seat frame  13  is located above the engine  31 , the heat from the engine  31  will transmit to the seat frame  13 . Therefore, the extended and lowered frame arrangement  10  further comprises a thermal insulation cover  14  provided under the seat frame  13  to thermally insulate the heat from the engine  31  to the seat frame  13 . Furthermore, the thermal insulation cover  14 , having an insulated cavity  141 , mounted at the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11  at a position above the engine  31 , such that a wiring system of the power generator  30  can be received in the insulated cavity  141  of the thermal insulation cover  14 . The wiring system can be the electrical cables, braking wires, and/or other electronic components of the power generator  30 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the front wheel assembly  40  comprises two spaced apart front forks  41 , a front wheel  42  rotatably coupled between the front forks  41 , and a front wheel extension member  43  having a rear portion coupled at a bottom portion of the steering assembly  20  and a front portion coupled at the front forks  41  to frontwardly extend a distance between the front portion of the supporting frame  11  and the front wheel  42 . According to the preferred embodiment, the front wheel extension member  43  has a V-shaped configuration defining a rear end portion  431  to couple with a bottom end portion of the steering shaft  21  of the steering assembly  20  and two front end portions  432  couple with the upper end portions of the front forks  41  respectively. Therefore, through the length of the front wheel extension member  43 , the front wheel  42  can be further shifted forward to lengthen the distance between the front portion  111  of the supporting frame  11  and the front wheel  42 , so as to enhance the handling of the motorcycle. 
     The front wheel  42  comprises a front wheel rim  421  operatively coupled between the front forks  41  and a front wheel tire  422  encircling around the front wheel rim  421 . Accordingly, the bottom ends of the front forks  41  are operatively coupled at the center of front wheel rim  421  at two sides thereof. 
     The rear wheel assembly  50  comprises a rear wheel  51  supported away from the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11  and driven to rotate by the engine  31 , wherein the rear wheel  51  is further shifted rearward to lengthen the distance between the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11  and the rear wheel  51 . Therefore, the front wheel  42  and the rear wheel  51  are shifted far from the supporting frame  11  to lengthen a distance between the front wheel  42  and the rear wheel  51  so as to further lower a center of gravity of the extended and lowered frame arrangement  10 . Preferably, a center of the rear wheel  51  is located behind the rear end of the supporting frame  11  to lengthen the distance between the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11  and the rear wheel  51 . Accordingly, the rear wheel  51  comprises a rear wheel rim  511  operatively linked to the power generator  30  and a rear wheel tire  512  encircling around the rear wheel rim  511 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 9 , the power generator  30  further comprises a widened hub assembly  32  operatively linked to the engine  31  for generating a rotational power, wherein the widened hub assembly  32  is operatively coupled to the rear wheel  51  to serve as a rear wheel supporting axle for supporting the rear wheel  51  away from the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11  and to serve as an engine transmission output shaft for driving the rear wheel  51  to rotate directly. 
     According to the preferred embodiment, the widened hub assembly  32  comprises a hub member  321  integrally and sidewardly extended from the center of the rear wheel rim  511  and a rear wheel driving shaft  322  extended from the hub member  321 , wherein when the engine  31  generates the rotational power, the rotational power will transmit to the rear wheel driving shaft  322  of the widened huh assembly  32  to directly drive the rear wheel  51  to rotate. It is worth mentioning that since the hub member  321  is integrated with the rear wheel rim  511  to increase the dimensional size of the hub member  321 , the rear wheel  51  can be rigidly supported by the widened hub assembly  32 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the rear wheel tire  512  has a flat usable surface  513  and two slanted decorative surfaces  514  outwardly and opposedly extended from the flat usable surface  513  to widen the rear wheel tire  512  as a race inspired tire. In other words, the rear wheel tire  512  is widened to give a rugged and sporty outlook and appearance. In addition, since the rear wheel tire  512  is widened, the width of the rear wheel rim  511  must be increased to fit the rear wheel tire  512 . Therefore, the rear wheel assembly  50  provides enough space for the hub member  321  of the widened hub assembly  32  extending therefrom. In other words, the width of the hub member  321  can be maximized to provide enough strength to support the rear wheel  51 . It is worth mentioning that a width of the front wheel tire  422  approximately equals to a width of the flat usable surface  513  of the rear wheel tire  51 . Even though the rear wheel tire  51  is widened, only the flat usable surface  513  of the rear wheel tire  51  will contact with the road surface, so as to enhance the acceleration of the motorcycle while being fuel effective. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the motorcycle further comprises a suspension assembly  60  which comprises at least a suspension arm  61  directly extended from the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11  to the rear wheel assembly  50  for absorbing vibration from the rear wheel  51  and the engine  31 . According to the preferred embodiment, two spaced apart suspension arms  61  are coupled between the supporting frame  11  and the rear wheel assembly  50 . In particular, an upper end of each of the suspension arms  61  is coupled at the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11  and a lower end of each of the suspension arms  61  is coupled at the widened hub assembly  32 . Therefore, the vibration from the rear wheel  51  will be directly absorbed by the suspension arms  61 . In addition, the vibration of the engine  31  through the widened hub assembly  32  will also be absorbed by the suspension arm  61 . 
     It is worth mentioning that the engine  31  is substantially supported by the engine mounting frame  12 , the widened hub assembly  32 , and the suspension arms  61 , such that the present invention provides a three-point support for the engine  31 . 
     According to the preferred embodiment, the motorcycle further comprises a gas tank assembly  70  supported on the floorboard  113  of the supporting frame  11 . In particular, the gas tank assembly  70  comprises a gas tank  72  supported on the floorboard  113  of the supporting frame  11  and operatively linked to the engine  31  as a fuel supply, and a gas tank protection frame  71  upwardly extended from the floorboard  113  to form a protection cavity to receive the gas tank  72  therein so as to protect the gas tank  72  from direct impact thereto. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the gas tank protection frame  71 , which forms a grid-like configuration, has an upper grid cover  711  cover on top of the gas tank  72 , wherein a space is formed between the top side of the gas tank  72  and a bottom side of the grid cover  711 , such that the rider is able to step on the grid cover  711  of the gas tank protection frame  71  without damaging the gas tank  72 . 
     Preferably, the gas tank assembly  70  further comprises a gas tank protection casing  73  to receive the gas tank  72  therein, wherein the gas tank protection casing  73  comprises an upper casing  731  and a lower casing  732  coupled with each other to receive the gas tank  72  and a mounting rim  733  outwardly extended from the gas tank protection casing  73  to mount on the floorboard  113  of the supporting frame  11 . Therefore, the gas tank  72  can be securely mounted on the floorboard  113  of the supporting frame  11  and can be protected by the gas tank protection frame  71  and the gas tank protection casing  73 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a motorcycle according to a second embodiment of the present invention illustrates an alternative mode of the first embodiment, wherein the motorcycle of the second embodiment has the same structural configuration of the first embodiment, except the engine mounting frame  12 A. 
     The engine mounting frame  12 A is rearwardly extended from the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11  to support the engine  31  thereunder in a suspended manner, such that the engine  31  is secured by the engine mounting frame  12 A at a position close to the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11 . Accordingly, the engine mounting frame  12 A comprises an engine platform  121 A downwardly extended from the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11  and an engine reinforcing arm  122 A downwardly and rearwardly extended from the engine platform  121 A to couple the engine  31  at a center of gravity thereof to enable the engine  31  to be stably suspended under the supporting frame  11 . In other words, the engine  31  is upwardly lifted by the engine reinforcing arm  122 A to suspendedly support under the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11 . As a result, the extended and lowered frame arrangement  10  can be further lowered its center of gravity due to the uplifted engine  31 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the engine reinforcing arm  122 A has an arm connecting portion  123 A formed in an Omega shape “Ω” and two elongated arm suspending portions  124 A spacedly and downwardly extended from the arm connecting portion  123 A to couple with the engine  31 . In particular, the arm connecting portion  123 A has a mid-curving configuration, wherein an exhaust pipe of the engine  31  passes through the mid curving configuration arm connecting portion  123 A when the engine  31  is suspendedly supported by the arm suspending portions  124 A. 
     According to the second embodiment, the suspension assembly  60 A comprises one suspension arm  61 A directly extended from the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11  to the rear wheel assembly  50  for absorbing vibration from the rear wheel  51  and the engine  31 . In particular, an upper end of the suspension arm  61 A is coupled at the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11  and a lower end of the suspension arm  61 A is coupled at the widened hub assembly  32 . Therefore, the vibration from the rear wheel  51  will be directly absorbed by the suspension arm  61 A. In addition, the vibration of the engine  31  through the widened hub assembly  32  will also be absorbed by the suspension arm  61 A. It is worth mentioning that the engine  31  is substantially supported by the engine mounting frame  12 A, the widened hub assembly  32 , and the suspension arms  61 , such that the present invention provides a three-point support for the engine  31 . 
     The extended and lowered frame arrangement  10  further comprises two foldable footsteps  14 A foldably coupled at two sides of the floorboard  113  of the supporting frame  11 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . Preferably the foldable footsteps  14 A are pivotally coupled at the sides of the floorboard  113  of the supporting frame  11 . It is worth mentioning that the gas tank protection frame  71  can be omitted in the second embodiment since the rider can step on the foldable footsteps  14 A instead of the gas tank protection frame  71 . 
     According to the present invention, the center of gravity of the motorcycle can be further lowered by increasing the distance between the front wheel  42  and the rear wheel  51 , and by keeping the engine  31  close to the rear portion  112  of the supporting frame  11 . In addition, the engine  31  is rigidly supported by the supporting frame  11  via the three-point support and is easy to detach from the supporting frame  11 . 
     One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.