Arranged In Tandem Patents (Class 180/219)
  • Patent number: 10247088
    Abstract: There is provided a saddle-ridden type vehicle. A vehicle body frame has a head pipe and a pair of frame members extends rearward from the head pipe with expanding in a vehicle width direction. An engine is supported between the frame members. An air cleaner is configured to purify air for fuel combustion. A supercharger is configured to compress the purified air. An intercooler is configured to cool the compressed air and to supply the compressed air to the engine. The supercharger is disposed in front of the engine. The air cleaner and the intercooler are disposed above the engine and the supercharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryohei Hamaguchi, Shintaro Yagi
  • Patent number: 10227957
    Abstract: In a saddle-ride type vehicle in which a cleaner case of an air cleaner is configured with first and second case half bodies coupled to each other and arranged in a vehicle width direction, and is arranged in a space surrounded by a vehicle body frame, a first case half body is provided with: a cleaner element insertion/removal port opened outward so as to permit insertion and removal of a cleaner element therethrough; a purified air outlet connected with a connecting tube for guiding purified air to an engine body side; and an outside air suction port for introducing air from an outside into the cleaner case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Ozaki
  • Patent number: 10220903
    Abstract: A vehicle has a frame defining a longitudinal centerplane, at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel, an engine operatively connected to at least one of the wheels, a transmission, a brake assembly operatively connected to at least one of the wheels, and a straddle-type seat. Left and right rails disposed vertically lower than the seat extend forwardly and downwardly on a left and right side respectively of the longitudinal centerplane. A left footrest connected to the left rail is selectively disposed in one of at least a first and a second left footrest position. A right footrest connected to the right rail is selectively disposed in one of at least a first and a second right footrest position. A foot-operated actuator is connected to one of the left and right footrests. The actuator is operatively connected to one of: the brake assembly and the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Pierre LaCasse-Jobin, Martin Ferland
  • Patent number: 10196107
    Abstract: A swing arm includes a tubular arm main body and an axle support member configured to support an axle of a rear wheel, wherein a fixing surface for fastening and fixing the axle support member in the arm main body together with the axle is provided at an inner side-surface of the arm main body in a vehicle width direction, and an opening for inserting the axle support member is provided at an outer side-surface of the arm main body in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hiramaru
  • Patent number: 10173743
    Abstract: A steering system of a saddle-ride type vehicle including a front fork that includes a steering shaft at the upper end and supports a front wheel at the lower end, a steering arm that is attached to the steering shaft, a steering force transmit member that is turnably supported by a steering stem that is arranged in a body frame, and a steering system link that joins the steering arm and the steering force transmit member. An assist motor generates a steering assist force that assists a steering force transmitted to the steering shaft, and a steering assist force transmit member is turnably supported by the steering stem. An assist steering system link joins the steering arm and the steering assist force transmit member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yotaro Mori, Hisakazu Yasui, Makoto Araki
  • Patent number: 10173742
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a rear portion structure of a saddle-ride type vehicle. The structure includes: seat frames inclined rearward and upward and supporting a riding seat; and a rear cowl having an upper cowl and a lower cowl. The upper cowl includes: a first cowl; and a second cowl which is connected to the first cowl and forms an opening upper edge portion of an opening for exposing a tail light. The lower cowl includes: a third cowl; and a fourth cowl which is connected to the third cowl and forms an opening lower edge portion of the opening. An approximately-U-shaped recessed portion is opened at a rear end of the third cowl. The fourth cowl forms the opening lower edge portion while covering the U-shaped recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Mizuta, Jun Hirose
  • Patent number: 10167054
    Abstract: The configuration includes: a right and left pair of main frames extending from a head pipe while widening rearward; and pivot frames that are welded to the main frames and extend toward the rear downward direction. Under the main frames, an engine is arranged. The main frame includes a hanging portion for holding and fastening the engine. In the front portion of the main frame, a bulge portion is disposed on the vehicle-widthwise outer side. The hanging portion is settable to the bulge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichiro Kawata
  • Patent number: 10167767
    Abstract: There is provided a motorcycle. A side stand is disposed at a side-lower portion of an engine and configured to be rotatable between a using position at which the side stand can be grounded to a ground surface and a retraction position at which the side stand cannot be grounded to the ground surface. An inflow piping is configured to supply cooling water delivered from a water pump to a supercharger. An outflow piping is disposed above the supercharger and configured to return the cooling water having cooled the supercharger to the water pump. The outflow piping is provided to be horizontal or to have an upward gradient from an upstream side toward a downstream side in a state where the side stand is displaced to the using position to be grounded to the ground surface and the engine is inclined toward the side stand-side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Okita, Takaya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10160512
    Abstract: A bicycle may include a front triangle and a rear suspension system that couples the front triangle to a rear wheel and is dampened by at least one shock absorber. The rear suspension system includes a six-bar linkage having two ternary links separated from each other by one or more binary links, such that the two ternary links do not share a common joint. One of the ternary links may comprise a chain stay. In some examples, the other ternary link may comprise the front triangle. In some examples, the other ternary link may comprise a rocker arm coupling a seat stay link to the shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Level One Engineering LLC
    Inventor: Luther Mac Beale
  • Patent number: 10144479
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle body frame structure which can reduce a burden in assembly of a straddle-type vehicle. The structure comprises a head pipe; and a pair of main frames extending rearward from the head pipe and outward in a vehicle width direction such that the main frames are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction. Rear portions of the pair of main frames are detachably coupled to each other in the vehicle width direction via a coupling member. The pair of main frames include a pair of front frame members including respective first mounts to which a drive unit of the vehicle is mounted, and a pair of respective rear frame members located rearward relative to the front frame members. The pair of rear frame members have a stiffness lower than that of the front frame members in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishii, Tomo Yamamoto, Daisuke Saeki
  • Patent number: 10131394
    Abstract: A left front fender includes a left upper wall portion, a left side wall portion, and a left guide portion. The left upper wall portion defines a left upper inner surface facing a portion of an upper surface of a left front wheel. The left side wall portion extends downward from the left upper inner surface to define a left side inner surface facing a left side surface of the left front wheel. The left guide portion defines a left guide surface extending rightward from the left side inner surface toward the left side surface of the left front wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kaoru Sasaki, Mitsuaki Ohta, Kazuhisa Takano
  • Patent number: 10131401
    Abstract: A vehicle swing arm has longitudinally extending and laterally spaced apart left and right members, with front end portions adapted to be pivotably connected to a vehicle frame. A left and a right axle holder are connected respectively to a rear end portion of the left and right members, and adapted to receive laterally therethrough, a left and right end portion respectively of a laterally extending axle. A left and right axle adjuster, slidably disposed at least in part inside the left and right axle holder respectively, are adapted to hold the corresponding end portion of the axle extending therethrough. At least a portion of each axle adjuster is slidable in an axle adjustment direction perpendicular to the axle. A left and right fender mounting bracket are respectively connected to the left and right axle holder and adapted to be connected to a corresponding side of a fender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Christian Nolin, Emile Maltais-Larouche, Bruce Codere
  • Patent number: 10131395
    Abstract: A tank cover can be easily exchanged in a tank cover structure for a motorcycle. In the tank cover structure for the motorcycle which has a handle 25, a seat 12 on which an occupant sits, a fuel tank arranged behind the handle 25 and in front of the seat 12, and a tank cover 60 covering the fuel tank, the tank cover 60 is divided into a front cover 82 having a wide portion 82B at which the tank cover 60 is widest at the front end of the fuel tank, a rear cover 83A having a narrow knee grip portion 83 which is continued to the seat 12 at the rear portion of the front cover 82, and a lower cover 84 extending in the front-and-rear direction to form the lower portion of the tank cover 60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamazaki, Yoshinori Koyama
  • Patent number: 10124853
    Abstract: A straddle-type vehicle comprises a vehicle body frame; a heavy weight vehicle member mounted on a vehicle body; a support member fastened to the vehicle body frame to support the heavy weight vehicle member; and a vehicle body behavior sensor which detects a behavior of the vehicle body, and the vehicle body behavior sensor is mounted on the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Taro Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 10120391
    Abstract: A self-balancing enclosed motorcycle includes a platform base, a seat, a first wheel and a second wheel, a rear cabin, a door component and a gyroscope system. The gyroscope system includes a housing, a gyroscope sensor, a calculation device, an electrical coding device, a microprocessor, a servomotor, a vertical corrective rod movably extended from the servomotor, a first balancing assembly and a second balancing assembly. The first balancing assembly is mounted in the housing to engage with the vertical corrective rod. The second balancing assembly mounted in the housing at an opposite side of the first balancing assembly to engage with the vertical corrective rod. The vertical corrective rod is normally retained in a substantially vertical orientation with respect to the platform base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Inventor: Dong Li
  • Patent number: 10112677
    Abstract: A straddle-type vehicle comprises a vehicle body frame; an axle which is rotatable integrally with a wheel; a swing arm having a front end portion pivotably mounted to the vehicle body frame, and a rear end portion to which the axle is rotatably mounted; a first coupling member to which rotational driving power from a driving source is transmitted is coaxially, rotatably mounted to the axle via a bearing; and a second coupling member coaxial with the axle and including a joining portion non-rotatably joined to the axle, a fitting portion fitted to the first coupling member via a buffering member, and a coupling portion for coupling the joining portion to the fitting portion, wherein the coupling portion is placed axially outward relative to the first coupling member, and the joining portion extends from axially outside between the first coupling member and the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishii, Tomo Yamamoto, Daisuke Saeki
  • Patent number: 10112673
    Abstract: There is provided a sensor support structure. A bracket is fixed to a vehicle body frame comprised of a plurality of frame members. A sensor is attached to a first attachment surface of the bracket. A component is attached to a second attachment surface of the bracket. The sensor is disposed in a space surrounded by the plurality of frame members of the vehicle body frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Kitagawa, Takayo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10113518
    Abstract: An air intake duct (50) for a motorcycle supplies air taken in through an air inlet (24) in a front portion of a vehicle body to an engine (E) located at a center portion, in a longitudinal direction of the motorcycle, of the vehicle body. The air intake duct (50) includes a duct front (69) having the air inlet (24) formed at a front end thereof, and a duct body (70) removably coupled to a rear end portion of the duct front (69). The duct body (70) extends in the longitudinal direction so as to pass through an outer lateral side of the engine (E) and is removably connected at a rear end portion thereof to an air cleaner (40). In a state in which the duct body (70) is removed from the air cleaner (40), a cleaner element (87) can be attached and removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kozo Arai, Toshiyuki Tsubone
  • Patent number: 10106219
    Abstract: In a cowl stay structure for a vehicle which is mounted on a front end part of a body frame having a pair of main frames extending longitudinally to the left and right, and which supports a cowling, a cowl stay supporting the cowling has a front opening which serves as a duct with a hollow structure designed to guide the air taken in from a front side of a vehicle body to an air cleaner box. The cowl stay is mounted on a front surface of a head pipe arranged on the front end of the body frame for establishing a flow path of the front opening with said head pipe opening. A headlight configured to irradiate an area in front of a vehicle with light is placed inside the cowl stay. Such a cowl stay structure has reduced size and weight, and it supports multiple parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dai Takakuwa, Hirotsugu Ueno
  • Patent number: 10107468
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising: a vehicle body defining a first aperture located in a portion of the vehicle body that faces in a primary motion direction of the vehicle; and a first lighting element extending across the aperture to bisect the first aperture into a first channel and a second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: McLaren Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Emilio Scervo, Arthur Slight, Paul Howse
  • Patent number: 10093385
    Abstract: A straddle-type vehicle includes a steering stem, a top bridge, a first front fork, a second front fork, a front wheel braking unit, an ABS modulator, a supporter, and a brake pipe. The front wheel braking unit is provided at the first front fork. The ABS modulator is disposed rearward with respect to the top bridge. The supporter is provided at the second front fork forward with respect to the top bridge. The brake pipe extends from the ABS modulator to the front wheel braking unit through the supporter. The brake pipe between the ABS modulator and the supporter passes through a space between the head pipe and the second front fork below the top bridge. The brake pipe between the supporter and the front wheel braking unit passes through a position higher than the top bridge to be connected to the front wheel braking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Takatsuka, Yoshihiro Hashimoto, Kosuke Inase
  • Patent number: 10086898
    Abstract: A mounting bracket for a stepless variable speed engine of a light motorcycle includes a frame, a shock absorber, an engine holder, a power connection plate and a hanger. The engine holder includes a beam and two engine fixing rods, and one of the engine fixing rods is fixed to an end of the beam by a bolt, and the other engine fixing rod is integrally coupled to the other end of the beam. The engine fixing rod has plural installation nodes coupled with the engine, and both ends of the shock absorber are hinged with the frame and the middle of the beam. The power connection plate is coupled to the engine fixing rod and has a shaft hole corresponsive with a shaft of the engine. The bolt is provided for fixing and adjusting the structural form of the engine fixing rod to facilitate adjusting the interval of the engine holder to provide a convenient and accurate installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: NINGBO CHARIOT INDUSTRY TRADE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jinjun Yu
  • Patent number: 10086897
    Abstract: In a structure for installing a fuel pump in a fuel tank, in which the fuel pump is attached to the fuel tank by clamping a flange portion of a pump case of the fuel pump between the fuel tank and a retainer fastened to the fuel tank, an interference portion is formed integrally with an inner peripheral edge of the retainer while being overhung inward in a radial direction, the interference portion being capable of interfering with any one of protruding portions when a relative position in a peripheral direction of the retainer with respect to the flange portion is set at a non-normal position, and a non-normal surface of opposite surfaces of the retainer is faced to the flange portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeji Kawazumi, Toshihisa Nagashii
  • Patent number: 10077066
    Abstract: A steering system of a saddle-ride type vehicle includes a front fork that includes a steering shaft at the upper end and supports a front wheel at the lower end. A steering arm is attached to the steering shaft, a steering force transmit member is turnably supported by a steering stem that is arranged in a body frame, and a steering system link that joins the steering arm and the steering force transmit member. Engage sections are arranged between the steering force transmit member and the steering assist force transmit member. The engage sections allow the steering force transmit member and a steering assist force transmit member to be engaged with each other so that the steering assist force transmit member is turned around the steering stem accompanying turning of the steering force transmit member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yotaro Mori, Hisakazu Yasui, Makoto Araki
  • Patent number: 10054087
    Abstract: A saddle vehicle includes an engine that is between a front wheel and a rear wheel and is mounted on a vehicle frame. The saddle vehicle includes: a rear fender at least partially covering the rear wheel from above; and an air cleaner between the rear fender and the engine; wherein the air cleaner is fixed to the rear fender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeki Yamamoto, Shigeyuki Iwata
  • Patent number: 10046827
    Abstract: A reaction force adjustment support device includes: a pressure data storage unit storing pressure data of respective spring chambers; a graphic user interface unit displaying a display screen; a reaction force calculator calculating reaction force data by using the pressure data of the respective spring chambers stored in the pressure data storage unit; a graph generating unit generating a graph of reaction force characteristics by using the reaction force data calculated by the reaction force calculator; and a controller displaying a screen for adjusting a reaction force where the screen has an operation portion for adjusting spring pressures provided for the respective spring chambers and a drawing area of the graph on the display screen, and controlling the reaction force calculator and the graph generating unit by user's operation with respect to the operation portion with the pressure data changed for the respective spring chambers to vary the graph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoya Toda
  • Patent number: 10046636
    Abstract: A saddle type vehicle which can cool a battery efficiently by a simple configuration. The saddle type vehicle includes a battery case accommodating a battery therein and is provided in a space positioned above an engine, which configures part of a power unit, below a seat (occupants' seat) and overlapping with the engine and the seat in an upward and downward direction of a vehicle body. A cooling fan configured to discharge air rearwardly is provided at a rear end of the battery case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuichi Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 10046821
    Abstract: A saddle type vehicle wherein the supporting rigidity of a rear fender frame is enhanced while securing a degree of freedom of a shape of a vehicle body frame main body. A shock absorber bracket wherein an upper end portion of a rear shock absorber for supporting a rear wheel thereon is coupled and attached to a vehicle body frame main body. A rear fender frame includes a plurality of supported portions in a front region thereof. At least part of the plurality of supported portions is co-fastened to the shock absorber bracket together with the upper end portion of the rear shock absorber, and the remaining supported portions are fixed to the vehicle body frame main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuma Koishikawa, Yoshiki Higashijima, Toru Sakai
  • Patent number: 10029751
    Abstract: A top bridge 11 supports upper portions of a pair of left and right front forks 10 that rotatably support a front wheel. A handlebar 14 is fixed above the top bridge 11. A meter 30 and a meter visor 18 that covers the meter 30 are supported via a meter stay 40 at a position anterior to the top bridge 11. The meter stay 40 includes a proximal portion 41 that is fastened to a front surface of the top bridge 11, a first arm portion 42 that extends forwardly from the proximal portion 41, a visor support portion 43 disposed at a front end of the first arm portion 42, and second arm portions 45 that extend obliquely upwardly toward a rear from the visor support portion 43.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hirotsugu Ueno
  • Patent number: 10023133
    Abstract: An ON/OFF switch arrangement is for a display screen pivotably mounted within a motor vehicle. The arrangement includes a mounting bracket retaining the display screen and pivotably attached to the motor vehicle such that the mounting bracket may be pivoted about an axis. A switch assembly includes a rotor attached to the mounting bracket. A contactor is attached to the rotor. A base is attached to the motor vehicle such that the rotor and the contactor rotate about the axis relative to the base when the mounting bracket is pivoted. The base has two spaced apart electrical contacts. The contactor electrically interconnects the two contacts within a first range of rotational positions of the rotor, and the contactor does not interconnect the two contacts within a second range of rotational positions of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Gregory Paul Van Vooren, Michael Moore
  • Patent number: 10014512
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electric power storage device includes a connection step of connecting an exposed portion, which is provided at one end in a direction of width of an electrode and constructed without a composite material layer being provided in a current collector, and a collector terminal provided on an outer side relative to the exposed portion in the direction of width of the electrode to each other. In the connection step, while a metal layer composed of a second metal higher in melting point than a first metal which forms the collector terminal lies between the exposed portion and the collector terminal, at least a portion of contact of the collector terminal with the metal layer is irradiated with energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroya Umeyama, Kiyomi Kozuki
  • Patent number: 10000250
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an up-side-down suspension and a wheel speed sensor and a sensor wire. A left lower restrictor is fixed to a left inner connector or a member that is displaced relatively together with the left inner connector in association with the operation of a left shock absorber above a left wheel speed sensor as seen from the direction of a left wheel axis. At least a portion of the left wheel speed sensor is situated farther inwards than an outer edge of a left front inner tube in relation to a left-and-right direction, is situated below a left lower imaginary line when the left shock absorber extends to its maximum extent, and is provided on the left inner connector between a left front imaginary line and a left rear imaginary line when seen from the direction of the left wheel axis. The left sensor wire extends so as to intersect the left lower imaginary line when seen from the direction of the left wheel axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kohsuke Ohno
  • Patent number: 10000252
    Abstract: A pair of left and right vertical frame pieces 1b, 1b constituting a part of a vehicle body frame FR extend in a vertical direction. A pair of left and right swingarm brackets 9L, 9R are fixed to the left and right vertical frame pieces 1b, 1b, respectively. A pivot 16 is supported by the swingarm brackets 9L, 9R swingably supports a swingarm 12 outward of the swingarm brackets 9L, 9R in a vehicle widthwise direction. Each of the left and right swingarm brackets 9L, 9R includes left and right opposing portions 320, 340 disposed so as to be spaced apart in the vehicle widthwise direction. The pivot 16 is supported by the left and right opposing portions 320, 340 of each of the swingarm brackets 9L, 9R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Takaya
  • Patent number: 10001092
    Abstract: An air cleaner mounted on a motorcycle for purifying an engine intake air includes a lower casing forming a cleaner main body, a covering for covering an upward region of the lower casing, a cleaner element disposed inside the lower casing and positioned below a mating interface between the lower casing and the covering, and a partition wall formed in the lower casing for supporting the cleaner element and forming a part of a wall of a clean chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Soeda, Yota Katsukawa, Yoshitaka Awazu, Satoshi Matsumoto, Kenta Matsubara
  • Patent number: 9994273
    Abstract: A motorcycle lighting system including a plurality of LED light members fixedly embedded within hollow frame members of a motorcycle, a series of wires attached to respective light members and threaded through the interior of the hollow frame members and connected with control members attached to the handle bars of the motorcycle frame such that a rider can control the color and flashing sequences of the light members when in use. The frame can include any known and usual parts including highway bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventor: William J. Keegan
  • Patent number: 9964181
    Abstract: Out of a plurality of speed change gears on one of an input shaft and an output shaft, for example, on the output shaft, two adjacent speed change gears disposed via an axial space therebetween are axially fixed and rotatably fitted around the output shaft. A dog ring for a dog clutch disposed between the speed change gears is fixed around the output shaft and axially slidably fitted thereto. The speed change gears on the output shaft and the dog ring are each provided with an engagement portion for the dog clutch engaged and disengaged by axial shift of the dog ring. The two speed change gears on the input shaft meshing with the two speed change gears on the output shaft are provided integrally with the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hisatoyo Arima
  • Patent number: 9950584
    Abstract: An assembly for supporting a vehicle chassis on a wheel of the vehicle includes a wheel attachment component for attaching the assembly to a wheel, a chassis attachment component for pivotably attaching the assembly to a chassis of the vehicle, and a suspension component operably interposed between the wheel attachment component and the chassis attachment component. A first adjustment element is coupled with the chassis attachment component and coupled with a first portion of the suspension component, and a second adjustment element is coupled with the chassis attachment component and coupled with the first portion of the suspension component. The first and second adjustment elements are configured to shift the first portion of the suspension component between a plurality of operating positions relative to the chassis attachment component. A single strut bar slidingly engages the wheel attachment component and is rigidly coupled with a second portion of the suspension component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: James Slawson
  • Patent number: 9937967
    Abstract: A method for lateral dynamic stabilization of a single-track motor vehicle while negotiating a curve,—in which the presence of an unstable driving state in the vehicle lateral direction is detected and—as a function thereof, for the stabilization of the motor vehicle, at least one nozzle is activated, through which a medium is emitted perpendicularly to the wheel plane of a vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Anja Wahl, Matthias Klews, Markus Lemejda
  • Patent number: 9908582
    Abstract: A bicycle frame structure having a rear frame and a front frame includes a rear frame of which a left stay and a right stay are bonded to each other, and an insert portion is formed at a bonded end portion, and a front frame where a head tube is formed at a front end portion thereof, an insertion hole into which the insert portion is inserted is formed at a rear end portion thereof, and the front frame is bonded to the rear frame along the circumference of the insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jungnam Choi, Sung Dae Lim
  • Patent number: 9908581
    Abstract: A vehicle body frame of a saddle-ride-type vehicle which enables a high-strength joint and a reduction in the weight of the vehicle body frame. The vehicle body frame of a saddle-ride-type vehicle includes a plurality of rear frames arranged to face each other in an opposed manner and a cross frame for connecting the plurality of rear frames to each other. A through hole is formed in the rear frames arranged to face each other in an opposed manner with the cross frame being joined to the rear frames at insertion portions thereof inserted into the through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Tada, Yusuke Inoue
  • Patent number: 9902458
    Abstract: A vehicle body frame structure for a saddled vehicle is provided in which a rear frame supporting a riding seat is formed from a fiber-reinforced resin and is linked to a front frame supporting an engine so as to extend to the rear from the front frame, wherein the rear frame is formed by joining a pair of left and right side walls, an upper cross member linking upper parts of the two side walls, and a lower cross member linking lower parts of the two side walls. This enables a rear frame to be produced with enhanced productivity while avoiding poor yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Matsushima
  • Patent number: 9902456
    Abstract: A storage part structure of a saddle-ride-type vehicle with a key cylinder for opening or closing of a box lid with a simple structure. The storage part structure for a saddle-ride-type vehicle includes a head pipe, a main frame extending rearwardly from the head pipe, a storage box arranged in the vicinity of the main frame wherein the storage box opens upwardly. A box lid covers an opening portion of the upwardly openable storage box in an openable and closable manner, wherein a key cylinder for operating a box-side locking mechanism for locking the box lid is arranged behind a handle holder and in front of the storage box. The box lid includes an arm portion positioned on a side of the key cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Mizuta, Yukitou Fujimoto, Daiki Hamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9889902
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a suspension device including a right cover member that is provided at least partially between a left surface of a right brake disc and a ground contact point of a left tire and in a position located closer to the right brake disc than the ground contact point of the left tire when a body frame is in the upright state and when the body frame leans to the left, and a left cover member that is located between a right surface of a left brake disc and a ground contact point of a right tire and in a position located closer to the left brake disc than a ground contact point of the right tire when the body frame is in the upright state and when the body frame leans to the right.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisuke Asano
  • Patent number: 9884664
    Abstract: A suspension assembly including a core member; and a skin member bonded on said core member. The skin member having a higher strength than the core member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Mario Galasso
  • Patent number: 9873478
    Abstract: There is provided a swing arm configured to be coupled to a vehicle body frame to be vertically swingable via a pivot shaft. A main body has a pivot pipe in which the pivot shaft is to be inserted. A pair of right and left arm parts extend rearward from the main body. The main body is made by casting to have a hollow structure. The main body is provided with a rib configured to vertically partition an internal space thereof. The rib is connected to the pivot pipe at a place spaced from a connection place between the pivot pipe and an outer wall part defining an outer surface shape of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9868486
    Abstract: A saddle-ride type vehicle in which left and right radiators are disposed on the sides of a vehicle body and the peripheries of these left and right radiators are covered by cover members to cause traveling air to pass through the left and right radiators from their inner sides to outer sides, the saddle-ride type vehicle including air introduction paths provided on the outer sides of the cover members and formed by the cover members and cowl members disposed outward of the cover members in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Hagimoto, Atsushi Kusuda, Daisuke Nishiwaki, Takayuki Abe
  • Patent number: 9855937
    Abstract: Provided is a motorcycle which can provide a space inside a main frame to place other members therein, and make it difficult for an outside impact to be transmitted to a hydraulic unit. A motorcycle comprises a head pipe which supports a rotary shaft around which a handle is rotatable with respect to a vehicle body; a pair of right and left main frames extending in a forward and rearward direction from the head pipe; and a hydraulic unit mounted to one of the pair of right and left main frames, wherein the pair of right and left main frames have increased-space portions, which define a space with a dimension increasing in an obliquely rearward direction from the head pipe toward maximum-space portions of the main frames, and wherein the hydraulic unit is mounted to an outer portion of the increased-space portion of one of the main frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishii, Tomo Yamamoto, Daisuke Saeki
  • Patent number: 9849929
    Abstract: A rear frame (2) of a saddle-riding vehicle supports a rider seat (22) and a passenger seat (24). A tail lamp (26) is supported by rear end portions (66L, 66R) of the rear frame (2). The rear end portions (66L, 66R) of the rear frame (2) are open rearwardly. The tail lamp (26) is disposed in the open region and closes the region between the rear end portions (66L, 66R) of the rear frame (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Ito
  • Patent number: 9840239
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a maximum cornering braking threshold for a motorcycle includes determining an absolute lean angle with respect to horizontal and a relative lean angle for the motorcycle relative to a road surface. The maximum cornering braking threshold is determined from at least the absolute lean angle and the relative lean angle. The maximum cornering braking threshold is used to provide stability during motorcycle cornering. A multi-dimensional look-up table stores different maximum cornering braking thresholds that correspond to different combinations of absolute lean angles and relative lean angles. The relative lean angle is determined by processing video data from a video sensor. Values for additional conditions, such as motorcycle speed, wheel slip coefficient, steering angle, mue and type of road way are stored in the multi-dimensional look-up table to assist in determining the maximum cornering braking threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Michael R. Meier
  • Patent number: 9834272
    Abstract: A saddle-ride-type vehicle includes a vehicle body lower portion protective member for increasing the rigidity thereof and for protecting a vehicle body frame. A saddle-ride type vehicle includes a head pipe and a pair of left and right lower frames extending from the head pipe for supporting an engine. An engine guard extends from an area in front of the engine to an area below the engine. The engine guard includes an engine protective portion for covering the engine and a frame protective portion for protecting the lower frame. The engine protective portion and the frame protective portion are disposed with a step formed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyohei Hosoya, Tomoya Matsuo, Munehiro Sugimoto