Patent Description:
As a saddle-ridden vehicle such as a motorcycle, a vehicle is known in which a vehicle front portion is covered by a front cowl and a vehicle side portion is covered by a side cowl (for example, see Patent Literature <NUM>). A streamline-shaped front cowl and streamline-shaped side cowls are integrally attached to a saddle-ridden vehicle described in Patent Literature <NUM>, and traveling wind flows from a front side of the vehicle to a rear side of the vehicle along outer surfaces of the front cowl and the side cowls. Because of a windbreak effect of the front cowl and the side cowls, an air resistance received by the vehicle from the traveling wind is reduced so that stable traveling is enabled, and hitting of the traveling wind on an occupant is reduced so that comfortable driving of the saddle-ridden vehicle is implemented.

Patent Literature <NUM>: <CIT>
<CIT> discloses a vehicle comprising a vehicle body frame, a front cowl provided in front of the vehicle body frame, and a headlight unit mounted within the width, in the vehicle's lateral direction, of the front cowl. <CIT> discloses a saddle-riding type vehicle that includes a cowl on both right-left sides of the vehicle and in front of legs of the rider. A rear part of the cowl is provided with right-left warping parts, travel wind introducing parts and travel wind discharging parts Said document discloses a saddle-ridden vehicle according to the preamble of claim <NUM>. <CIT> discloses a vehicle body cover of a saddle-ride type vehicle that includes a top cover section, a side cover section and a front cover section. <CIT> discloses a motorcycle with an attachment to the vehicle body which is so formed as to cover the high-temperature portion of the exhaust system of the engine. <CIT> discloses a cowl structure for a motorcycle that includes a deflection groove having the shape of a substantially V groove formed at the boundary where the front upper cowl and front side cowl of the cowl structure meet as separate members. <CIT> discloses an outer cover component structure for saddled vehicles that includes an opening provided between the center cowl and the under cover of the structure. <CIT> discloses a leg shield for a saddle-ride-type vehicle that includes a coated surface and a colored surface.

Although the front cowl and the side cowls described in Patent Literature <NUM> weaken the hitting of the traveling wind on the occupant, further comfort is required when driving the saddle-ridden vehicle. Particularly, there is a problem that the traveling wind strongly hits a portion of the occupant that protrudes from the side cowl, and comfort when driving the saddle-ridden vehicle is reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a side cowl that can improve comfort during driving while reducing an air resistance due to traveling wind.

According to a side cowl of one aspect of the present invention, a flow of traveling wind along a cowl outer surface is separated by a convex portion. Since the traveling wind is diffused outward in a vehicle width direction at a rear side of the convex portion, hitting of the traveling wind on a portion of an occupant that protrudes from the side cowl is softened. An air resistance is reduced by the side cowl, traveling is stabilized, a strong local wind pressure on the occupant is prevented, and comfort during driving is not impaired.

A side cowl according to one aspect of the present invention covers a vehicle side portion of a saddle-ridden vehicle, and traveling wind flows along a cowl outer surface. A convex portion that elongates in an upper-lower direction and protrudes outward in a vehicle width direction with respect to the cowl outer surface is formed on a downstream side of the traveling wind on the cowl outer surface, and a flow of the traveling wind along the cowl outer surface is separated by the convex portion. Since the traveling wind is diffused outward in the vehicle width direction at the rear side of the convex portion, hitting of the traveling wind on a portion of an occupant that protrudes from the side cowl is softened. An air resistance is reduced by the side cowl, traveling is stabilized, a strong local wind pressure on the occupant is prevented, and comfort during driving is not impaired.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. <FIG> is a left side view of the saddle-ridden vehicle according to the present embodiment. Further, in the following drawings, an arrow FR indicates a vehicle front side, an arrow RE indicates a vehicle rear side, an arrow L indicates a vehicle left side, and an arrow R indicates a vehicle right side.

As shown in <FIG>, a saddle-ridden vehicle <NUM> is configured by mounting various components such as an engine <NUM> and an electric system on a twin-spar vehicle body frame <NUM> formed by aluminum casting. The vehicle body frame <NUM> includes a pair of main frames <NUM> that branch from a head pipe (not shown) to left and right sides and extend to a rear side of the vehicle, and a pair of down frames (not shown) that branch from the head pipe to the left and right sides and extend downward. A rear portion of the engine <NUM> is supported by the pair of main frames <NUM>, and a front portion of the engine <NUM> is supported by the pair of down frames. The engine <NUM> is supported by the vehicle body frame <NUM>, so that rigidity of the entire vehicle is secured.

Front portions of the main frames <NUM> serve as tank rails <NUM> located above the engine <NUM>, and a fuel tank <NUM> is supported by the tank rails <NUM>. Rear portions of the main frames <NUM> serve as body frames <NUM> located behind the engine <NUM>, and swing arms <NUM> are swingably supported at substantially intermediate positions of the body frames <NUM> in an upper-lower direction. A seat rail (not shown) and a back stay (not shown) extend rearward from upper portions of the body frames <NUM>. On the seat rail, a rider seat <NUM> and a pillion seat <NUM> are supported behind the fuel tank <NUM>.

A pair of front forks <NUM> are steerably supported on the head pipe via a steering shaft (not shown). A front wheel <NUM> is rotatably supported by lower portions of the front forks <NUM>, and an upper portion of the front wheel <NUM> is covered by a front fender <NUM>. The swing arms <NUM> extend from the body frames <NUM> toward a rear side of the vehicle. A rear wheel <NUM> is rotatably supported by rear ends of the swing arms <NUM>, and an upper side of the rear wheel <NUM> is covered by a rear fender <NUM>. The engine <NUM> is coupled to the rear wheel <NUM> via a chain-drive transmission mechanism, and power is transmitted from the engine <NUM> to the rear wheel <NUM> via the transmission mechanism.

Various cover members are attached to the vehicle body frame <NUM> of the saddle-ridden vehicle <NUM> as a vehicle body exterior. For example, a front surface side of the vehicle front portion is covered by a front cowl <NUM>, and a screen <NUM> is provided on an upper portion of the front cowl <NUM>. Further, a side surface side of the vehicle front portion is covered by a pair of side cowls <NUM>. The front cowl <NUM>, the screen <NUM>, and the pair of side cowls <NUM> form a streamlined shape that reduces an air resistance received from the traveling wind on the vehicle front portion. Since these cover members cover a front side of the occupant and serve as a wind shield, hitting of the traveling wind on the occupant during traveling of the vehicle is fairly reduced.

However, the front cowl <NUM>, the screen <NUM>, and the pair of side cowls <NUM> do not completely protect the occupant from the traveling wind. For example, the traveling wind hits portions such as elbows, knees, thighs, and shins of the occupant that protrude from the pair of side cowls <NUM>. As a distance from vicinities of outer surfaces of the side cowls <NUM> increases, the traveling wind becomes strong, and the occupant is likely to feel uncomfortable due to a strong local wind pressure. Therefore, in the present embodiment, an upper edge cover <NUM> and a rear edge cover <NUM> are provided on the side cowl <NUM>, and the flow of the traveling wind along the outer surface of the side cowl <NUM> is diffused toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction to soften the hitting of the traveling wind on the occupant.

Hereinafter, the side cowls of the saddle-ridden vehicle will be described with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view of the vehicle front portion according to the present embodiment. <FIG> is a top view of the vehicle front portion according to the present embodiment. <FIG> is a perspective view of the rear edge cover of the present embodiment when viewed from a front surface side. <FIG> is a perspective view of the rear edge cover of the present embodiment when viewed from a back surface side. <FIG> is a perspective view of a vicinity of a rear end of the side cowl according to the present embodiment. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a vicinity of a rear end of the rear edge cover according to the present embodiment.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the screen <NUM> is provided on the upper portion of the front cowl <NUM>, and the pair of side cowls <NUM> that cover sides of the front forks <NUM> are provided on a left edge and a right edge of the front cowl <NUM>. The front cowl <NUM> is formed to cover a base end side of the screen <NUM> and a periphery of a central headlamp <NUM>. Turn signal lamps <NUM> are provided between the front cowl <NUM> and the pair of side cowls <NUM>. A streamlined shape is formed by drawing an upward-gradient curve from a front end of the headlamp <NUM> toward a rear end of the screen <NUM> and drawing a curve that widens a vehicle width from the front end of the headlamp <NUM> toward rear ends of the side cowls <NUM>.

A cowl main body <NUM> of the side cowl <NUM> extends from the front cowl <NUM> to a rear side of the vehicle. An upper edge of the cowl main body <NUM> is located in front of handlebars <NUM>, and is inclined so as to draw a downward gradient toward the rear side of the vehicle when viewed in a vehicle side view. The upper edge cover <NUM> is provided on the upper edge of the cowl main body <NUM> along the upper edge. The upper edge cover <NUM> protrudes from an outer surface (a cowl outer surface) of the cowl main body <NUM>, and directs the flow of the traveling wind along the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM> toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The traveling wind is diffused in front of the handlebars <NUM> to soften the hitting of the traveling wind on the occupant.

A side cover <NUM> is provided on a rear side of the vehicle of the side cowl <NUM>. A rear edge of the cowl main body <NUM> is cut out so as to draw an arc when viewed in the vehicle side view, and an air discharge port is formed between the side cowl <NUM> and the side cover <NUM>. The rear edge of the cowl main body <NUM> defines an opening edge of the air discharge port, and the rear edge cover <NUM> is provided along the rear edge. The rear edge cover <NUM> protrudes from the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM>, and directs the flow of the traveling wind along the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM> toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The traveling wind is diffused in front of the air discharge port to soften the hitting of the traveling wind on the occupant.

When the traveling wind flows from a front side to a rear side along the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM>, the traveling wind is most likely to be separated at a portion where the vehicle width is maximized. Therefore, the upper edge cover <NUM> is provided at an upper edge of an upper portion of the cowl main body <NUM>, the upper edge having a maximum vehicle width in a vehicle front-rear direction, and the rear edge cover <NUM> is provided at a rear edge of a lower portion of the cowl main body <NUM>, the rear edge having the maximum vehicle width in the vehicle front-rear direction. Since the upper edge cover <NUM> and the rear edge cover <NUM> are provided at the portions where the vehicle width is maximized, the traveling wind is effectively diffused, and the hitting of the traveling wind on the occupant is further softened.

The upper edge of the cowl main body <NUM> is reinforced by the upper edge cover <NUM>, and the rear edge of the cowl main body <NUM> is reinforced by the rear edge cover <NUM>. Particularly, since the rear edge cover <NUM> is provided along the opening edge of the air discharge port, rigidity of which is likely to be reduced by exhaust air heat, rigidity of the side cowl <NUM> is increased, and vibration and deflection are effectively prevented. Further, the air discharge port is provided with a louver member <NUM> that rectifies the traveling wind that has passed through an inner side of the side cowl <NUM>. Since the side cowl <NUM> is coupled to the side cover <NUM> via the louver member <NUM>, the rigidity of the side cowl <NUM> is increased.

As shown in <FIG>, the rear edge cover <NUM> is curved so as to draw an arc when viewed in the vehicle side view. The rear edge cover <NUM> includes a flat-plate-shaped attachment portion <NUM> attached to the rear edge of the cowl main body <NUM> (see <FIG>), and an elongated convex portion <NUM> that bulges outward in the vehicle width direction. A shallow groove <NUM> recessed inward in the vehicle width direction is formed at a boundary portion between the attachment portion <NUM> and the convex portion <NUM>. A plurality of locking holes <NUM> and a plurality of positioning holes <NUM> are formed in the rear edge cover <NUM> along the shallow groove <NUM>. Further, a plurality of fixing holes <NUM> are formed near both end positions and a bent position of the rear edge cover <NUM>.

A cross section of the convex portion <NUM> is formed in a V shape by a front side portion <NUM> that faces the front side of the vehicle and a rear side portion <NUM> that faces the rear side of the vehicle. The front side portion <NUM> of the convex portion <NUM> is inclined so as to widen the vehicle width toward the rear side of the vehicle, and the rear side portion <NUM> of the convex portion <NUM> extends inward in the vehicle width direction from a rear end of the front side portion <NUM> (see <FIG>). The front side portion <NUM> is widened from both end positions of the rear edge cover <NUM> in a longitudinal direction toward the bent position, and the rear side portion <NUM> is widened from both ends of the rear edge cover <NUM> in the longitudinal direction toward the bent position. That is, the V-shaped cross section of the rear edge cover <NUM> at the bent position is the largest, and rigidity of the bent position is increased.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the attachment portion <NUM> of the rear edge cover <NUM> is attached to an inner side of the rear edge of the cowl main body <NUM>, and the convex portion <NUM> of the rear edge cover <NUM> is exposed along the rear edge of the cowl main body <NUM>. Since the convex portion <NUM> of the rear edge cover <NUM> is curved when viewed in the vehicle side view, the rigidity of the side cowl <NUM> is increased and deformation is prevented. Further, a width of the front side portion <NUM> of the convex portion <NUM> in an inclination direction is formed to be larger than a width of the rear side portion <NUM> of the convex portion <NUM> in the vehicle width direction (particularly, see <FIG>). Accordingly, a width of the convex portion <NUM> in a front-rear direction is increased when viewed in the vehicle side view, and particularly, rigidity of the side cowl <NUM> against bending in the front-rear direction is increased.

A front edge of the front side portion <NUM> of the convex portion <NUM> enters an inner side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM>, and a rear edge of the front side portion <NUM> of the convex portion <NUM> protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM>. Therefore, a step-shaped concave portion <NUM> recessed inward in the vehicle width direction is formed at a boundary between the convex portion <NUM> and the cowl main body <NUM>. The inner side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM> indicates an inner side in the vehicle width direction with respect to an extension line L1 (see <FIG>) obtained by extending the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM>. The outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM> indicates an outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the extension line L1 obtained by extending the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM>.

The concave portion <NUM> and the convex portion <NUM> are formed in a non-streamlined shape for the flow of the traveling wind along the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM>, and the traveling wind is easily separated from the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM> at the concave portion <NUM> and the convex portion <NUM>. Particularly, since a width of the inclined front side portion <NUM> of the convex portion <NUM> is large, the traveling wind hits the front side portion <NUM> and is repelled outward in the vehicle width direction to be easily separated. Further, since the rear side portion <NUM> is bent at an acute angle with respect to the front side portion <NUM> of the convex portion <NUM>, the traveling wind is easily separated at the bent portion. When viewed in a vehicle top view, the traveling wind is separated so as to extend outward in the vehicle width direction toward the rear side of the vehicle, and the hitting of the traveling wind on the occupant is softened.

Since the concave portion <NUM> is provided at the boundary between the cowl main body <NUM> and the convex portion <NUM>, a height difference between the concave portion <NUM> and the convex portion <NUM> necessary for separating the traveling wind is secured. As compared with a configuration in which a height difference necessary for separating the traveling wind is secured only by the convex portion <NUM> without providing the concave portion <NUM>, a protrusion amount of the convex portion <NUM> from the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM> is reduced. Therefore, even when the rear edge cover <NUM> is provided on the cowl main body <NUM>, an increase in a dimension of the saddle-ridden vehicle <NUM> (see <FIG>) in the vehicle width direction is minimized. Since the protrusion amount of the convex portion <NUM> from the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM> is small and the front side portion <NUM> of the convex portion <NUM> is inclined, an air resistance received by the convex portion <NUM> from the traveling wind is not fairly increased.

When viewed in the vehicle side view, the convex portion <NUM> is curved so as to draw an arc in front of the vehicle, and an intermediate portion of the convex portion <NUM> in a longitudinal direction protrudes toward the front side of the vehicle. An upper half portion of the convex portion <NUM> is inclined at an upward gradient toward the rear side of the vehicle, and a lower half portion of the convex portion <NUM> is inclined at a downward gradient toward the rear side of the vehicle (see <FIG>). The traveling wind easily flows along an extending direction of the convex portion <NUM>, and the traveling wind is diffused in the upper-lower direction, so that the hitting of the traveling wind on the occupant is softened. The traveling wind that hits the convex portion <NUM> escapes obliquely upward and obliquely downward, so that the air resistance received by the convex portion <NUM> from the traveling wind is reduced. When viewed in the vehicle side view, the convex portion <NUM> may be curved in a V shape with a top portion facing the front side of the vehicle.

Although not shown, the upper edge cover <NUM> is formed in the same manner as the rear edge cover <NUM>. That is, the upper edge cover <NUM> includes a flat-plate-shaped attachment portion and a V-shaped convex portion in a cross-sectional view. The upper edge cover <NUM> is attached to the upper edge of the cowl main body <NUM>, and a step-shaped concave portion is formed at a boundary between the cowl main body <NUM> and a convex portion of the upper edge cover <NUM>. The convex portion of the upper edge cover <NUM> is curved at a downward gradient toward the rear side of the vehicle. Accordingly, the upper edge cover <NUM> softens the hitting of the traveling wind on the occupant, and the air resistance of the upper edge cover <NUM> is prevented.

Since the rear edge cover <NUM> and the upper edge cover <NUM> are attached to the cowl main body <NUM> in this way, the traveling wind is diffused in the vehicle width direction and the upper-lower direction by the rear edge cover <NUM> and the convex portion <NUM> of the upper edge cover <NUM>. Since the cowl main body <NUM>, the rear edge cover <NUM>, and the upper edge cover <NUM> are separately formed, a degree of freedom in designing the shape and the protrusion amount of the convex portion <NUM> is improved, and the shape of the cowl main body <NUM> becomes simple and easy to form. Further, since colors of the cowl main body <NUM>, the rear edge cover <NUM>, and the upper edge cover <NUM> are changed, the side cowl <NUM> is accented and an appearance is improved.

The flow of the traveling wind on the outer surface of the side cowl will be described with reference to <FIG> are diagrams showing wind speed distributions of the traveling wind on outer surfaces of side cowls. <FIG> show a wind speed distribution of traveling wind on a side cowl of a comparative example, and <FIG> shows the wind speed distribution of the traveling wind on the side cowl of the present embodiment. Here, a wind speed distribution of the traveling wind in the vicinity of the rear edge cover is shown, but a wind speed distribution of the traveling wind in the vicinity of the upper edge cover is also the same.

As shown in <FIG>, a side cowl <NUM> of the comparative example is not provided with a rear edge cover. When the vehicle travels, traveling wind F flows along an outer surface of the side cowl <NUM>, and the flow of the traveling wind F is separated by a rear edge of the side cowl <NUM>. The traveling wind F is separated from the rear edge of the side cowl <NUM>, but a spreading width W1 of the traveling wind F does not increase. As a distance from the outer surface of the side cowl <NUM> increases, a wind speed rapidly increases, and there is a large difference between a wind speed in the vicinity of the outer surface of the side cowl <NUM> and a wind speed at a position far from the outer surface of the side cowl <NUM>. When the traveling wind F hits an elbow E of the occupant, a difference in a wind pressure received by an inner side and an outer side of the elbow E in the vehicle width direction becomes large, and the occupant is likely to feel uncomfortable.

In this way, the traveling wind F separated from the side cowl <NUM> is not diffused, and the traveling wind F directly hits the elbow E of the occupant. Particularly, as shown in <FIG>, when a boundary of the traveling wind F coincides with a tip end of the elbow E, the traveling wind F concentrates on the tip end of the elbow E, and the tip end of the elbow E receives a strong wind pressure. Therefore, since the elbow E locally receives the strong wind pressure, the traveling wind F hinders a handlebars operation by the occupant during high-speed traveling. Here, an example in which the elbow E of the occupant receives the wind pressure is described, but other portions such as a knee, a thigh, and a shin that protrude from the side cowl <NUM> also strongly receive the wind pressure.

On the contrary, as shown in <FIG>, the side cowl <NUM> of the present embodiment is provided with the rear edge cover <NUM> on the cowl main body <NUM>. When the vehicle travels, the traveling wind F flows along the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM>, and the flow of the traveling wind F is separated by the rear edge cover <NUM>. The traveling wind F is diffused behind the rear edge cover <NUM>, and a spreading width W2 of the traveling wind F increases. Since the wind speed gradually increases as the distance from the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM> increases, there is no large difference between a wind speed in the vicinity of the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM> and a wind speed at a position far from the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM>. When the traveling wind F hits the elbow E of the occupant, the difference in the wind pressure received by the inner side and the outer side of the elbow E in the vehicle width direction becomes small, and the occupant is less likely to feel uncomfortable. That is, the occupant does not locally receive a strong wind pressure, and the traveling wind does not hinder the handlebars operation.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the flow of the traveling wind F along the outer surface of the side cowl <NUM> is separated by the rear edge cover <NUM> and the upper edge cover <NUM>. Since the traveling wind F is diffused outward in the vehicle width direction behind the rear edge cover <NUM> and the upper edge cover <NUM>, the hitting of the traveling wind F on a portion of the occupant that protrudes from the side cowl <NUM> is softened. The air resistance is reduced by the side cowl <NUM>, traveling is stabilized, the strong local wind pressure on the occupant is prevented, and comfort during driving is not impaired.

In the present embodiment, the rear edge cover is provided at a portion of the cowl main body where the vehicle width is maximized in the vehicle front-rear direction, but the rear edge cover may be provided at another portion. For example, as shown in <FIG>, a narrow region <NUM> where a vehicle width narrows toward a rear side of a vehicle may be formed on an outer surface of a cowl main body <NUM>, and a rear edge cover <NUM> may be provided in the narrow region <NUM>. The rear edge cover <NUM> may be provided at the rear side of the narrow region <NUM>. Accordingly, even when a protrusion amount of a convex portion <NUM> of the rear edge cover <NUM> is increased, the vehicle width can be suppressed, and the flow of the traveling wind is more easily separated by the convex portion <NUM> that fairly protrudes from the outer surface of the cowl main body <NUM>. Similarly, an upper edge cover may be provided in the narrow region or at the rear side of the narrow region.

In the present embodiment, the rear edge cover and the upper edge cover are provided on the cowl main body, and the convex portions are formed on the rear edge cover and the upper edge cover, but the convex portion may be formed on the cowl main body. Accordingly, the number of components can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, both the rear edge cover and the upper edge cover are provided on the cowl main body, but any one of the rear edge cover and the upper edge cover may be provided on the cowl main body.

In the present embodiment, the cross sections of the convex portions of the rear edge cover and the upper edge cover are formed in the V shape, but the cross-sectional shapes of the convex portions are not particularly limited. The convex portions may be formed so as to protrude outward in the vehicle width direction from the outer surface of the cowl main body.

In the present embodiment, the convex portion is formed on the rear edge cover of the rear edge of the cowl main body, and the convex portion is formed on the upper edge cover of the upper edge of the cowl main body, but the convex portions may be provided on a downstream side of the traveling wind that flows on the outer surface of the side cowl.

In the present embodiment, the convex portions of the rear edge cover and the upper edge cover are curved so as to draw an arc when viewed in the vehicle side view, but the convex portions may be formed linearly.

In the present embodiment, the concave portion is formed at the boundary between the cowl main body and the rear edge cover, but the concave portion may not be formed at the boundary between the cowl main body and the rear edge cover. Similarly, the concave portion may not be formed at the boundary between the cowl main body and the upper edge cover. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to soften the hitting of the traveling wind on the portion of the occupant that protrudes from the side cowl.

The side cowl of the saddle-ridden vehicle of the present embodiment is not limited to a motorcycle of a tourer type, and may be adopted in a motorcycle of another type. Further, the saddle-ridden vehicle is not limited to all vehicles where the occupant rides in a posture of straddling a seat, and also includes a vehicle of a scooter type where the occupant rides without straddling a seat.

As described above, the side cowl (<NUM>) of the present embodiment is the side cowl that covers the vehicle side portion of the saddle-ridden vehicle (<NUM>), and the convex portion (<NUM>) that elongates in the upper-lower direction and protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the cowl outer surface is formed on the downstream side of the traveling wind that flows on the cowl outer surface. According to this configuration, the flow of the traveling wind along the cowl outer surface is separated by the convex portion. Since the traveling wind is diffused behind the convex portion, the hitting of the traveling wind on the portion of the occupant that protrudes from the side cowl is softened. The air resistance is reduced by the side cowl, traveling is stabilized, the strong local wind pressure on the occupant is prevented, and comfort during driving is not impaired.

In the side cowl of the present embodiment, the convex portion is formed at a portion of the cowl outer surface where the vehicle width is maximized in the vehicle front-rear direction. According to this configuration, the flow of the traveling wind can be separated by the convex portion at the most easily separable portion of the cowl outer surface.

In the side cowl of the present embodiment, the cowl outer surface includes the narrow region (<NUM>) where the vehicle width narrows toward the rear side of the vehicle, and the convex portion is formed in the narrow region or at the rear side of the narrow region. According to this configuration, the vehicle width can be suppressed even when the protrusion amount of the convex portion is increased, and the flow of the traveling wind along the cowl outer surface is more easily separated by the convex portion that fairly protrudes from the cowl outer surface.

In the side cowl of the present embodiment, the concave portion (<NUM>) recessed inward in the vehicle width direction is formed at the boundary between the cowl outer surface and the convex portion. According to this configuration, the flow of the traveling wind along the cowl outer surface is more easily separated by the concave portion and the convex portion.

In the side cowl of the present embodiment, the convex portion is curved when viewed in the vehicle side view. According to this configuration, the rigidity of the side cowl is increased by the curved convex portion, and deformation of the side cowl is prevented.

In the side cowl of the present embodiment, when viewed in the vehicle side view, the intermediate portion of the convex portion in the longitudinal direction is curved so as to protrude toward the front side of the vehicle. According to this configuration, the traveling wind is diffused in the upper-lower direction along the convex portion, and the hitting of the traveling wind on the occupant is softened.

In the side cowl of the present embodiment, the rear edge of the cowl outer surface defines the opening edge of the air discharge port, and the convex portion is formed along the rear edge of the cowl outer surface. According to this configuration, the traveling wind is diffused in front of the air discharge port, and the hitting of the traveling wind on the occupant is softened. Since the convex portion is provided along the opening edge of the air discharge port that is relatively likely to vibrate, the rigidity of the side cowl is increased, and deflection is prevented.

In the side cowl of the present embodiment, an upper edge of the cowl outer surface is located in front of the handlebars (<NUM>), and the convex portion is formed along the upper edge of the cowl outer surface. According to this configuration, the traveling wind is diffused in front of the handlebars, and the hitting of the running wind on the occupant is softened.

In the side cowl of the present embodiment, the cross section of the convex portion is formed in the V shape by the front side portion (<NUM>) facing the front side of the vehicle and the rear side portion (<NUM>) facing the rear side of the vehicle. According to this configuration, the rigidity of the side cowl is increased by the V-shaped cross section of the convex portion, and deformation of the side cowl is prevented.

Claim 1:
A saddle-ridden vehicle (<NUM>) comprising a side cowl (<NUM>) that covers a vehicle side
portion of the vehicle, wherein the side cowl (<NUM>) includes:
a convex portion (<NUM>, <NUM>), elongating in an upper-lower direction, protruding outward in a vehicle width direction with respect to a cowl outer surface, and formed on the cowl outer surface at a downstream side of a traveling wind that flows on the cowl outer surface; and,
a concave portion (<NUM>) recessed inward in the vehicle width direction and formed at a boundary between the cowl outer surface and the convex portion (<NUM>, <NUM>), and
wherein a cross section of the convex portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) is formed in a V shape by a front side portion (<NUM>) facing a front side of the vehicle (<NUM>) and a rear side portion (<NUM>) facing a rear side of the vehicle (<NUM>), and
characterized in that, when viewed in a vehicle side view, the convex portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) is curved so as to draw an arc in front of the vehicle, and an intermediate portion of the convex portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) in a longitudinal direction protrudes toward the front side of the vehicle,
wherein
an upper half portion of the convex portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) is inclined at an upward gradient toward the rear side of the vehicle (<NUM>), and a lower half portion of the convex portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) is inclined at a downward gradient towards the rear side of the vehicle (<NUM>).