Patent Description:
There has been known a type of straddled vehicle including a front cover, a leg shield disposed directly behind the front cover, and a loading hook disposed on the leg shield (<CIT>).

When such a conventional type of straddled vehicle as described above travels with an item hooked on the loading hook, chances are that the item greatly swings in either a back-and-forth direction or a right-and-left direction; namely, instability in position of the item is concerned.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a straddled vehicle that an item is easily made stable in position when hooked on a loading hook disposed on a leg shield. According to the present invention said object is solved by a straddled vehicle having the features of independent claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are laid down in the dependent claims.

Such straddled vehicle includes a head pipe, a front cover, a leg shield, and a loading hook. The front cover is disposed further on a front side than the head pipe. The leg shield is disposed directly behind the front cover. The loading hook is disposed on the leg shield. The leg shield includes a first recess disposed directly below the loading hook. The first recess extends in an up-and-down direction and forms a space in which an item hooked on the loading hook is enabled to be accommodated at least in part.

In the straddled vehicle according to the present preferred embodiment, the first recess is disposed directly below the loading hook and forms the space in which the item, hooked on the loading hook, is enabled to be accommodated at least in part. Accordingly, the item, hooked on the loading hook, is enabled to be accommodated at least in part in the first recess; hence, the item is easily made stable in position.

The loading hook may overlap at a rear end thereof with the first recess in a vehicle plan view. In this case, when hooked on the loading hook, the item is likely to fit into the first recess by the gravity thereof.

The first recess extends further rearward than the loading hook. In this case, when hooked on the loading hook, the item is likely to fit into the first recess by the gravity thereof.

The first recess may extend downward and rearward from the loading hook. In this case, when hooked on the loading hook, the item is more likely to fit into the first recess by the gravity thereof.

The leg shield further includes a panel on which the loading hook is disposed. The first recess may be provided on the panel. In this case, the panel can be enhanced in stiffness; hence, the loading hook is enhanced in load bearing performance.

The panel of the leg shield may include a first rear surface portion extending downward and rearward. The first recess may be provided on the first rear surface portion. In this case, the panel can be enhanced in stiffness; simultaneously, when hooked on the loading hook, the item is likely to fit into the first recess by the gravity thereof.

The panel of the leg shield may further include a second rear surface portion that is disposed directly above the first rear surface portion and extends upward and rearward from the first rear surface portion. The loading hook may be disposed on the second rear surface portion. In this case, the panel can be enhanced in stiffness; simultaneously, the space for enabling accommodation of the item can be made greater in size than the configuration that the loading hook is disposed on the first rear surface portion.

The leg shield may further include a second recess that is disposed directly above and further on a front side than the first recess. The loading hook may be disposed in the second recess. In this case, the loading hook can be inhibited from protruding as much as possible.

The first recess may be shaped to increase in width with proximity to the loading hook. In this case, the first recess makes the leg shield appear to be slim.

The first recess may be shaped to increase in depth with proximity to the loading hook. In this case, when hooked on the loading hook, the item becomes likely to contact with the bottom surface of the first recess; hence, the item is easily made stable in position.

The straddled vehicle may further include an accommodation pocket disposed on a lateral side of the first recess of the leg shield. The leg shield may further include a guide wall that forms part of the accommodation pocket and enables the item hooked on the loading hook to be guided to the first recess. In this case, the item, hooked on the loading hook, is enabled to be guided to the first recess by utilizing part of the accommodation pocket without hindering a required space for the accommodation pocket.

Overall, according to the present invention, it is made possible to provide a straddled vehicle that an item is easily made stable in position when hooked on a loading hook disposed on a leg shield.

A straddled vehicle according to a preferred embodiment will be hereinafter explained with reference to drawings. <FIG> is a side view of a straddled vehicle <NUM> according to the preferred embodiment. It should be noted that in the following explanation, terms indicating such directions as "back and forth", "up and down" and "right and left" are explained based on directions seen from a rider in operation of the straddled vehicle <NUM> and are indicated as vehicle back-and-forth direction, vehicle up-and- down direction and vehicle right-and-left direction.

The straddled vehicle <NUM> includes a vehicle body frame <NUM>, a steering device <NUM>, a seat <NUM>, a power unit <NUM>, a front wheel <NUM>, and a rear wheel <NUM>.

The vehicle body frame <NUM> includes a head pipe <NUM>. The vehicle body frame <NUM> includes a down frame, a lower frame, and a rear frame, all of which are not illustrated in the drawings. The head pipe <NUM> is disposed in the middle of the vehicle in a vehicle width direction.

The steering device <NUM> is supported by the head pipe <NUM> so as to be turnable. The steering device <NUM> includes a handle member <NUM> and a front fork <NUM>. The handle member <NUM> is connected to the front fork <NUM>. The front fork <NUM> is connected to the front wheel <NUM>.

The seat <NUM> is disposed directly behind the head pipe <NUM>. The power unit <NUM> is disposed directly below the seat <NUM>. The power unit <NUM> is supported by the vehicle body frame <NUM>. The front wheel <NUM> is supported by the front fork <NUM> so as to be rotatable. The rear wheel <NUM> is rotated by a driving force generated by the power unit <NUM>.

The straddled vehicle <NUM> includes a front cover <NUM>, a leg shield <NUM>, a lower cover <NUM>, a rear cover <NUM>, and a loading hook <NUM>. The front cover <NUM> covers the head pipe <NUM> from front.

The leg shield <NUM> is disposed directly behind the front cover <NUM>. The leg shield <NUM> is disposed directly in front of the seat <NUM>. The leg shield <NUM> covers the head pipe <NUM> from behind.

The lower cover <NUM> is disposed between the leg shield <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM>. The lower cover <NUM> includes a footboard 23a on which the rider puts the feet. The footboard 23a is provided on the upper surface of the lower cover <NUM>. The footboard 23a has a flat shape. The rear cover <NUM> is disposed directly below the seat <NUM>.

The loading hook <NUM> is disposed on the leg shield <NUM>. The loading hook <NUM> is made in shape of a hook and enables an item B (see <FIG>) such as a carrier-bag or a handbag to be hooked thereon.

Next, with reference to <FIG>, the leg shield <NUM> and the loading hook <NUM> will be explained in detail. As shown in <FIG>, the leg shield <NUM> includes a panel <NUM>, a first rear surface portion <NUM>, a second rear surface portion <NUM>, a first recess <NUM>, a second recess <NUM>, an opening <NUM>, and a guide wall <NUM>.

The panel <NUM> is provided as a single member. In the present preferred embodiment, the panel <NUM> is provided as the leg shield <NUM>. In other words, the panel <NUM> includes the first rear surface portion <NUM>, the second rear surface portion <NUM>, the first recess <NUM>, the second recess <NUM>, the opening <NUM>, and the guide wall <NUM>. It should be noted that the leg shield <NUM> may be composed of a combination of a plurality of members.

The first rear surface portion <NUM> extends downward and rearward from an upper side thereof to a lower side thereof. The lower end of the first rear surface portion <NUM> is disposed further on the lower side than the seat <NUM>.

The second rear surface portion <NUM> is disposed directly above the first rear surface portion <NUM>. The second rear surface portion <NUM> is connected to the first rear surface portion <NUM>. The second rear surface portion <NUM> extends upward and rearward from the upper end of the first rear surface portion <NUM>. The second rear surface portion <NUM> is shaped to protrude rearward at a middle part thereof in the vehicle width direction. The second rear surface portion <NUM> is shaped to avoid contact with the head pipe <NUM>. The second rear surface portion <NUM> is disposed directly behind and on the lateral sides of the head pipe <NUM>.

The first recess <NUM> is provided on the first rear surface portion <NUM>. The first recess <NUM> is provided on the panel <NUM>. The first recess <NUM> is shaped to be recessed forward. The first recess <NUM> is opened rearward. The first recess <NUM> extends in the up-and-down direction and forms a space S in which the item B, hooked on the loading hook <NUM>, is enabled to be accommodated at least in part. The first recess <NUM> is provided in a middle part of the first rear surface portion <NUM> in the vehicle width direction.

The first recess <NUM> is disposed directly below the loading hook <NUM>. The first recess <NUM> extends downward and rearward from the loading hook <NUM>. The first recess <NUM> extends further rearward than the loading hook <NUM>. An upper end 33a of the first recess <NUM> is located further on the lower side than an upper surface 4a of the seat <NUM>. A lower end 33b of the first recess <NUM> is located further on the rear side than the loading hook <NUM>. The lower end 33b of the first recess <NUM> is located further on the lower side than the seat <NUM>.

The first recess <NUM> is shaped to increase in width with proximity to the loading hook <NUM>. The first recess <NUM> is shaped to taper toward the footboard 23a. In the first recess <NUM>, the upper end 33a is greater in width than the lower end 33b. The width of the first recess <NUM> means a dimension of the first recess <NUM> in the vehicle width direction.

The first recess <NUM> is shaped to increase in depth with proximity to the loading hook <NUM>. The first recess <NUM> increases in depth with proximity to the upper end 33a thereof. In the first recess <NUM>, the upper end 33a is greater in depth than the lower end 33b. The depth of the first recess <NUM> means a dimension of the first recess <NUM> in a vehicle back-and-forth direction.

The second recess <NUM> is provided on the second rear surface portion <NUM>. The second recess <NUM> is provided on the panel <NUM>. The second recess <NUM> is shaped to be recessed forward. The second recess <NUM> is opened rearward. The second recess <NUM> is provided in a middle part of the second rear surface portion <NUM> in the vehicle width direction. The second recess <NUM> is disposed directly behind the head pipe <NUM>. The second recess <NUM> is disposed directly above and further on the front side than the first recess <NUM>.

The opening <NUM> is provided for putting an item in an accommodation pocket <NUM> and for taking the item therefrom. The accommodation pocket <NUM> is disposed on a lateral side of the first recess <NUM>. The opening <NUM> is provided in the first rear surface portion <NUM>. The opening <NUM> is disposed on the lateral side of the first recess <NUM>. The opening <NUM> is opened upward. The accommodation pocket <NUM> is not provided with a lid member for closing and opening the opening <NUM>. In other words, the opening <NUM> is constantly opened. A rear end 35a of the opening <NUM> is located further on the lower side and a rear side than the upper end 33a of the first recess <NUM>. The rear end 35a of the opening <NUM> is located further on the rear side than the loading hook <NUM>.

The guide wall <NUM> is provided on the first rear surface portion <NUM>. The guide wall <NUM> is disposed between the opening <NUM> and the first recess <NUM> on the first rear surface portion <NUM>. The guide wall <NUM> extends forward and downward from the rear end 35a of the opening <NUM>. The guide wall <NUM> enables the item B, hooked on the loading hook <NUM>, to be guided to the first recess <NUM>. The guide wall <NUM> is disposed further on the rear side than the first recess <NUM>. The guide wall <NUM> forwardly tilts to approach to the first recess <NUM>. The guide wall <NUM> composes part of the accommodation pocket <NUM>.

The loading hook <NUM> is disposed on the second rear surface portion <NUM>. The loading hook <NUM> is disposed on the panel <NUM>. The loading hook <NUM> is disposed on a member on which the first recess <NUM> is provided. The loading hook <NUM> is disposed in the second recess <NUM>. The loading hook <NUM> is fixed to the second recess <NUM>. For example, the loading hook <NUM> is fixed together with the vehicle body frame <NUM> to the second recess <NUM> by a fastening member (not shown in the drawings). The loading hook <NUM> extends rearward and upward from the second recess <NUM>. The loading hook <NUM> is disposed further on the lower side than the upper surface 4a of the seat <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a front end 25a of the loading hook <NUM> is located further on the front side than the first recess <NUM>. A rear end 25b of the loading hook <NUM> overlaps with the first recess <NUM> in a vehicle plan view. The rear end 25b of the loading hook <NUM> is located further on the front side than the lower end 33b of the first recess <NUM>.

In the straddled vehicle <NUM> according to the present preferred embodiment, the first recess <NUM> is disposed directly below the loading hook <NUM> and forms the space S in which an item, hooked on the loading hook <NUM>, is enabled to be accommodated at least in part. Accordingly, the item, hooked on the loading hook <NUM>, is enabled to be accommodated at least in part in the first recess <NUM>; hence, the item is easily made stable in position.

The first recess <NUM> extends downward and rearward from the loading hook <NUM>; hence, when hooked on the loading hook <NUM>, the item is more likely to fit into the first recess <NUM> by the gravity thereof.

The first recess <NUM> is provided on the panel <NUM> on which the loading hook <NUM> is disposed; hence, the panel <NUM> can be enhanced in stiffness.

Claim 1:
A straddled vehicle (<NUM>) comprising:
a head pipe (<NUM>);
a front cover (<NUM>) disposed further on a front side than the head pipe (<NUM>) with regard to a vehicle back-and-forth direction;
a leg shield (<NUM>) disposed behind the front cover (<NUM>) with regard to the vehicle back-and-forth direction; and
a loading hook (<NUM>) disposed on the leg shield (<NUM>), wherein
the leg shield (<NUM>) includes a first recess (<NUM>) disposed below the loading hook (<NUM>) with regard to a vehicle up-and-down direction, the leg shield (<NUM>) further includes a panel (<NUM>),
the first recess (<NUM>) extends in an up-and-down direction with regard to the vehicle up-and- down direction, the first recess (<NUM>) forming a space (S) in which an item (B) hooked on the loading hook (<NUM>) is enabled to be accommodated at least in part, and the first recess (<NUM>) extends further rearward than the loading hook (<NUM>) with regard to the vehicle back-and-forth direction, characterized in that the loading hook (<NUM>) is disposed on the panel (<NUM>) of the leg shield (<NUM>), and
the first recess (<NUM>) is provided on the panel (<NUM>).