Patent Description:
Some straddled vehicles are equipped with a shift pedal. The shift pedal is rotatably attached to the straddled vehicle. A rider changes gears in the transmission by operating the shift pedal with his or her foot. For example, as in <CIT>, the shift pedal includes a pedal tread portion and a cover. The pedal tread portion projects to the side of the vehicle and has a cylindrical shape. The cover is made of rubber and is attached to cover the pedal tread portion. The cover has a cylindrical shape. For example, the rider shifts up a gear by pushing up the shift pedal with his or her foot from below. The rider downshifts the gear by pressing down on the shift pedal with his or her foot from above. Document <CIT>, which is considered being the closest prior art, shows a shift pedal attached to the vehicle body, wherein the shift pedal includes a shaft portion rotatably supported by the vehicle body, an arm portion extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle from the shaft portion, a pedal tread portion projecting laterally from the arm portion, and a cover that is made of an elastic material and covers the pedal tread portion, and the pedal tread portion is made of sheet metal and has an upwardly curved shape.

As described above, when the shift pedal is cylindrical, the rider's foot moves a long distance when operating the shift pedal. In order to improve the operability of the shift pedal, it is desirable that the rider's foot moves a small distance when operating the shift pedal. However, when the diameter of the pedal tread portion is reduced, the rigidity of the shift pedal is reduced. Furthermore, if the cover is made thin, the cushioning properties for the rider's foot will be reduced. An object of the present invention is to improve the operability of the shift pedal while suppressing a decrease in the rigidity of the shift pedal and a decrease in cushioning properties of the cover.

A straddled vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention includes a vehicle body and a shift pedal. The shift pedal is attached to the vehicle body. The shift pedal includes a shaft portion, an arm portion, a pedal tread portion, and a cover. The shaft portion is rotatably supported by the vehicle body. The arm portion extends in a front-rear direction of the vehicle from the shaft portion. The pedal tread portion projects laterally from the arm portion. The cover is made of an elastic material and covers the pedal tread portion. The pedal tread portion is made of sheet metal and has an upwardly convex bent shape.

According to the straddled vehicle according to the present aspect, the pedal tread portion is made of sheet metal and has an upwardly convex bent shape. Therefore, compared to a case where the pedal tread portion is cylindrical, the thickness of the pedal tread portion can be made thinner while suppressing a decrease in rigidity. Further, due to the shape of the pedal tread portion described above, it is possible to provide a large thickness of the portion of the cover located below the pedal tread portion while suppressing an increase in the thickness of the entire cover. This improves shift pedal operability while suppressing deterioration in cushioning properties.

The bottom surface of the pedal tread portion may have an upwardly concave shape. In this case, the thickness of the portion of the cover located below the pedal tread portion can be provided to be large. This improves cushioning properties.

The cover may include a lower cover portion and an upper cover portion. The lower cover portion may be located below the pedal tread portion. The upper cover portion may be located above the pedal tread portion. The thickness of the lower cover portion in the vertical direction may be larger than the thickness of the upper cover portion in the vertical direction. In this case, cushioning properties when operating the shift pedal are improved.

The cover may include an upper curved surface and a lower curved surface. The upper curved surface may be provided on the upper surface of the cover and may be curved convexly upward. The lower curved surface may be provided on the lower surface of the cover and curved convexly downward. In this case, cushioning properties when operating the shift pedal are improved.

The curvature of the lower curved surface may be greater than the curvature of the upper curved surface. In this case, the shift pedal can be made thinner while improving the cushioning properties when operating the shift pedal. This improves the operability of the shift pedal.

The straddled vehicle may further include a foot step. The foot step may be located behind the shift pedal. As seen in the vehicle side view, a point of contact between the cover and a first tangent line that passes through a predetermined position on the foot step and contacts the cover from above is defined as an upper contact point. As seen in the vehicle side view, a point of contact between the cover and a second tangent line that passes through the predetermined position on the foot step and contacts the cover from below is defined as a lower contact point. As seen in the vehicle side view, a direction in which a straight line connecting the upper contact point and the lower contact point extends is defined as an operating direction of the rider's foot. As seen in the vehicle side view, a dimension of the cover in the operating direction may be smaller than a dimension of the cover in a direction perpendicular to the operating direction. In this case, the shift pedal operability is improved by reducing a distance of foot movement.

Hereinafter, a straddled vehicle according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. <FIG> is a side view of a straddled vehicle <NUM> according to an embodiment. The straddled vehicle <NUM> is a so-called off-road type motorcycle. As shown in <FIG>, the straddled vehicle <NUM> includes a vehicle body <NUM>. The vehicle body <NUM> includes a steering device <NUM>, a front wheel <NUM>, a seat <NUM>, a power unit <NUM>, a rear wheel <NUM>, a swing arm <NUM>, and a vehicle body frame <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the front, rear, left, and right directions refer to the front, rear, left, and right directions as viewed from a rider seated on the seat <NUM>.

The vehicle body frame <NUM> includes a head pipe <NUM> and a main frame <NUM>. The head pipe <NUM> extends forward and downward. The main frame <NUM> is connected to the head pipe <NUM>.

The steering device <NUM> is rotatably supported by the head pipe <NUM>. The steering device <NUM> is configured to be steered by a rider. The steering device <NUM> includes a front fork <NUM> and a handle member <NUM>. The front fork <NUM> rotatably supports the front wheel <NUM>. The front fork <NUM> is rotatably supported by the head pipe <NUM>. The handle member <NUM> is connected to the front fork <NUM>. The handle member <NUM> is operable left and right by a rider.

The seat <NUM> is arranged behind the head pipe <NUM>. The seat <NUM> is supported by the vehicle body frame <NUM>. The power unit <NUM> is arranged below the seat <NUM>. The power unit <NUM> is supported by the main frame <NUM>. The power unit <NUM> generates driving force to rotate the rear wheel <NUM>. The power unit <NUM> includes an engine <NUM> and a transmission <NUM>.

The rear wheel <NUM> is arranged behind the power unit <NUM>. The rear wheel <NUM> is connected to the main frame <NUM> via the swing arm <NUM>. The swing arm <NUM> is swingably supported by the main frame <NUM>. The rear wheel <NUM> is rotatably supported by the swing arm <NUM>.

A foot step <NUM> and a shift pedal <NUM> are arranged below the seat <NUM>. The foot step <NUM> is arranged behind the shift pedal <NUM>. A rider's foot is placed on the foot step <NUM>. The foot step <NUM> is connected to the main frame <NUM>. The foot step <NUM> projects laterally from the main frame <NUM>.

The shift pedal <NUM> is rotatably attached to the vehicle body <NUM>. The shift pedal <NUM> is attached to the transmission <NUM>, for example. Note that the shift pedal <NUM> is not limited to be attached to the transmission <NUM>, and may be attached to other parts such as the vehicle body frame <NUM>. The shift pedal <NUM> is operated by a rider's foot. By operating the shift pedal <NUM>, the gear of the transmission <NUM> is changed.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the shift pedal <NUM>. <FIG> is a top view of the shift pedal <NUM>. <FIG> is a side view of the shift pedal <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the shift pedal <NUM> includes a pedal body <NUM> and a cover <NUM>. The pedal body <NUM> is rotatably attached to the vehicle body <NUM>. The pedal body <NUM> is made of metal such as aluminum.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the pedal body <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the pedal body <NUM> includes a shaft portion <NUM>, an arm portion <NUM>, and a pedal tread portion <NUM>. The shaft portion <NUM> is rotatably supported by the vehicle body <NUM>. The shaft portion <NUM> projects laterally from the arm portion <NUM>. The arm portion <NUM> has a plate shape. The arm portion <NUM> extends from the shaft portion <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

<FIG> are enlarged views of the pedal body <NUM> showing the vicinity of the pedal tread portion <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the pedal tread portion <NUM> projects laterally from the arm portion <NUM>. The pedal tread portion <NUM> is made of sheet metal. The pedal tread portion <NUM> is connected to the arm portion <NUM> by, for example, welding. The pedal tread portion <NUM> has a plate shape that is bent convexly upward.

As shown in <FIG>, the pedal tread portion <NUM> includes an inner lateral portion <NUM> and an outer lateral portion <NUM>. The inner lateral portion <NUM> is connected to the arm portion <NUM>. The outer lateral portion <NUM> is arranged further laterally outward than the inner lateral portion <NUM>. The outer lateral portion <NUM> of the pedal tread portion <NUM> includes a pedal end <NUM>. The pedal end <NUM> is located at the outermost lateral side of the pedal tread portion <NUM>. The outer lateral portion <NUM> has the same width as the inner lateral portion <NUM> in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The outer lateral portion <NUM> and the inner lateral portion <NUM> have a maximum width in the pedal tread portion <NUM> in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

The pedal tread portion <NUM> includes an upper surface <NUM>, a bottom surface <NUM>, a first edge <NUM>, and a second edge <NUM>. The upper surface <NUM> has a curved shape convexly upward. The bottom surface <NUM> has a curved shape concave upward. The first edge <NUM> and the second edge <NUM> extend in the left-right direction of the vehicle. The first edge <NUM> and the second edge <NUM> extend linearly. The second edge <NUM> is located opposite the first edge <NUM>. The first edge <NUM> is located on the front side of the pedal tread portion <NUM>, and the second edge <NUM> is located on the rear side of the pedal tread portion <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the corner <NUM> between the first edge <NUM> and the pedal end <NUM> is rounded. The corner <NUM> between the second edge <NUM> and the pedal end <NUM> is rounded.

The pedal tread portion <NUM> includes a first notch <NUM> and a second notch <NUM>. The first notch <NUM> is provided in the first edge <NUM>. The first notch <NUM> has a shape recessed rearward from the first edge <NUM>. The first notch <NUM> is arranged facing forward. The second notch <NUM> is provided in the second edge <NUM>. The second notch <NUM> has a shape recessed forward from the second edge <NUM>. The second notch <NUM> is arranged facing rearward.

The first notch <NUM> and the second notch <NUM> are arranged between the inner lateral portion <NUM> and the outer lateral portion <NUM>. The first notch <NUM> and the second notch <NUM> are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The first notch <NUM> and the second notch <NUM> are arranged on the outer lateral side of the center of the pedal tread portion <NUM> in the left-right direction of the vehicle. The first notch <NUM> and the second notch <NUM> have a smoothly curved shape.

The pedal body <NUM> includes a reinforcing member <NUM>. The reinforcing member <NUM> projects laterally from the arm portion <NUM>. The reinforcing member <NUM> has a cylindrical shape. The reinforcing member <NUM> is connected to the arm portion <NUM> by, for example, welding. The reinforcing member <NUM> is arranged below the pedal tread portion <NUM>. The reinforcing member <NUM> is in contact with the bottom surface <NUM> of the pedal tread portion <NUM>. The reinforcing member <NUM> supports the pedal tread portion <NUM> from below.

The cover <NUM> is separate from the pedal body <NUM>. The cover <NUM> is attached to the pedal body <NUM>. The cover <NUM> is made of an elastic material such as rubber. The cover <NUM> covers the pedal tread portion <NUM>. <FIG> is an enlarged view of the shift pedal <NUM> showing the cover <NUM> and the vicinity of the pedal tread portion <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view of the cover <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the cover <NUM> has a flattened shape that is longer in the front-rear direction than in the vertical direction.

The cover <NUM> includes a cover end <NUM> and a hole <NUM>. The cover end <NUM> is located at the outermost lateral side of the cover <NUM>. The hole <NUM> extends in the left-right direction. The hole <NUM> penetrates the cover <NUM> in the left-right direction. The hole <NUM> is open at the cover end <NUM>. Similar to the pedal tread portion <NUM>, the hole <NUM> has a bent shape convexly upward.

The hole <NUM> includes an upper inner surface <NUM>, a lower inner surface <NUM>, a front inner surface <NUM>, and a rear inner surface <NUM>. The upper inner surface <NUM> is curved convexly upward. The lower inner surface <NUM> is curved convexly upward. The hole <NUM> extends in a curved line from the front inner surface <NUM> toward the rear inner surface <NUM>. The pedal tread portion <NUM> is inserted into the hole <NUM>. The pedal tread portion <NUM> is press-fitted into the hole <NUM>. Thereby, the cover <NUM> is attached to the pedal body <NUM>. The upper surface <NUM> of the pedal tread portion <NUM> contacts the upper inner surface <NUM>. The bottom surface <NUM> of the pedal tread portion <NUM> contacts the lower inner surface <NUM>. The first edge <NUM> of the pedal tread portion <NUM> contacts the front inner surface <NUM>. The second edge <NUM> contacts the rear inner surface <NUM>.

The cover <NUM> includes an upper curved surface <NUM> and a lower curved surface <NUM>. The upper curved surface <NUM> is provided on the upper surface of the cover <NUM>. The upper curved surface <NUM> is curved convexly upward. The lower curved surface <NUM> is provided on the lower surface of the cover <NUM>. The lower curved surface <NUM> is curved convexly downward. The upper curved surface <NUM> and the lower curved surface <NUM> are provided with anti-slip grooves. The curvature of the lower curved surface <NUM> is greater than the curvature of the upper curved surface <NUM>.

The cover <NUM> includes a lower cover portion <NUM> and an upper cover portion <NUM>. The lower cover portion <NUM> is located below the pedal tread portion <NUM>. The lower cover portion <NUM> is arranged facing the bottom surface <NUM> of the pedal tread portion <NUM>. The upper cover portion <NUM> is located above the pedal tread portion <NUM>. The upper cover portion <NUM> is arranged facing the upper surface <NUM> of the pedal tread portion <NUM>. The thickness of the lower cover portion <NUM> in the vertical direction is larger than the thickness of the upper cover portion <NUM> in the vertical direction.

As shown in <FIG>, a contact point between a first tangent line L1 and the cover <NUM> is defined as an upper contact point P1 as seen in the vehicle side view. The first tangent line L1 passes through a predetermined position P3 on the foot step <NUM> and contacts the cover <NUM> from above. The predetermined position P3 is, for example, the front end of the upper surface of the foot step <NUM>. Alternatively, the predetermined position P3 may be any other position on the upper surface of the foot step <NUM>. As seen in the vehicle side view, a contact point between a second tangent line L2 and the cover <NUM> is defined as a lower contact point P2. The second tangent line L2 passes through the predetermined position P3 on the foot step <NUM> and contacts the cover <NUM> from below. As seen in the vehicle side view, a direction in which a straight line L3 connecting the upper contact point P1 and the lower contact point P2 extends is defined as an operating direction A1 of a rider's foot. As shown in <FIG>, as seen in the vehicle side view, a dimension S1 of the cover <NUM> in the operating direction A1 is smaller than a dimension S2 of the cover <NUM> in a direction perpendicular to the operating direction A1.

<FIG> is a sectional view taken along the line XII-XII of the shift pedal <NUM> in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the pedal tread portion <NUM> is arranged within the hole <NUM>. The pedal end <NUM> is arranged further laterally inward than the cover end <NUM>. The cover <NUM> includes a first protrusion <NUM> and a second protrusion <NUM>. The first protrusion <NUM> and the second protrusion <NUM> protrude from the inner surface of the hole <NUM>. The first protrusion <NUM> protrudes from the front inner surface <NUM>. The first protrusion <NUM> is engaged with the first notch <NUM> within the hole <NUM>. The second protrusion <NUM> protrudes from the rear inner surface <NUM>. The second protrusion <NUM> is engaged with the second notch <NUM> within the hole <NUM>. Thereby, the cover <NUM> is prevented from coming off from the pedal tread portion <NUM>.

According to the straddled vehicle <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the pedal tread portion <NUM> is made of sheet metal and has a bent shape convexly upward. Therefore, compared to the case where the pedal tread portion <NUM> is cylindrical, the thickness of the pedal tread portion <NUM> can be made thinner while suppressing a decrease in rigidity. Further, due to the shape of the pedal tread portion <NUM> described above, it is possible to provide a large thickness of the portion of the cover <NUM> located below the pedal tread portion <NUM> while suppressing the overall thickness of the cover <NUM> from increasing. This improves the operability of the shift pedal <NUM> while suppressing deterioration in cushioning properties.

The straddled vehicle <NUM> is not limited to an off-road type, but may be another type of vehicle such as a street type or a moped. The shape of the shift pedal <NUM> is not limited to that of the embodiment described above, and may be changed as long as it stays within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. <FIG> is a sectional view of a shift pedal <NUM> according to a modification. As shown in <FIG>, the pedal end <NUM> may be disposed flush with the cover end <NUM>.

The shape of the pedal tread portion <NUM> is not limited to that of the above embodiment, and may be changed. In the pedal tread portion <NUM>, the first notch <NUM> and the second notch <NUM> may be omitted. The shape of the cover <NUM> is not limited to that of the above embodiment, and may be changed. In the cover <NUM>, the first protrusion <NUM> and the second protrusion <NUM> may be omitted.

Claim 1:
A straddled vehicle (<NUM>) comprising:
a vehicle body (<NUM>); and
a shift pedal (<NUM>) attached to the vehicle body (<NUM>), wherein
the shift pedal (<NUM>) includes
a shaft portion (<NUM>) rotatably supported by the vehicle body (<NUM>),
an arm portion (<NUM>) extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle from the shaft portion (<NUM>),
a pedal tread portion (<NUM>) projecting laterally from the arm portion (<NUM>), and
a cover (<NUM>) that is made of an elastic material and covers the pedal tread portion (<NUM>), and
the pedal tread portion (<NUM>) is made of sheet metal and has an upwardly curved shape;
wherein the cover (<NUM>) includes
an upper curved surface (<NUM>) provided on an upper surface of the cover (<NUM>) and curved convexly upward, and
a lower curved surface (<NUM>) provided on a lower surface of the cover (<NUM>) and curved convexly downward.