Arranged In Tandem Patents (Class 180/219)
  • Patent number: 9834274
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes an extended and lower frame arrangement, a front wheel coupled to the extended and lower frame arrangement via a front wheel extension member to frontwardly extend a distance between the extended and lower frame arrangement and the front wheel, a rear wheel coupled to the extended and lower frame arrangement via a widen hub assembly to rearwardly extend a distance between the extended and lower frame arrangement and the rear wheel, such that the front wheel and the rear wheel are shifted far from the extended and lowered frame arrangement to lengthen a distance between the front wheel and the rear wheel so as to further lower a center of gravity of the motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventor: Liang Chang
  • Patent number: 9834273
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes an extended and lower frame arrangement, a front wheel coupled to the extended and lower frame arrangement via a front wheel extension member to frontwardly extend a distance between the extended and lower frame arrangement and the front wheel, a rear wheel coupled to the extended and lower frame arrangement via a widen hub assembly to rearwardly extend a distance between the extended and lower frame arrangement and the rear wheel, such that the front wheel and the rear wheel are shifted far from the extended and lowered frame arrangement to lengthen a distance between the front wheel and the rear wheel so as to further lower a center of gravity of the motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventors: Liang Chang, Xin Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 9828055
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a rear fuel tank provided with a pump opening for mounting therein a fuel pump. The pump opening is formed in a position on an inner side of a front tank part in a vehicle width direction in comparison with lateral walls of lateral tank parts on the inner side in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Mizukura, Takashi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9815514
    Abstract: A vehicle including a body, a first and second swing arm assembly each pivotally mounted to the body, at least one wheel support arm pivotally mounted to the first swing arm assembly, an axle coupled to the wheel support arm, a wheel hub pivotally mounted to the axle, the wheel hub rotatably supporting at least one wheel in use, a support member pivotally mounted to the second swing arm assembly and either the wheel support arm or the first swing arm assembly. At least one steering arm pivotally connected to the support member and coupled to the wheel hub, wherein the steering arm, wheel support arm, and the support member are provided in a substantially triangular arrangement, a steering input pivotally mounted to the body and a steering coupling for connecting the steering arm to the steering input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: MOTOR CYCLE INNOVATION PTY LTD
    Inventor: Raymond Noel Van Steenwyk
  • Patent number: 9809267
    Abstract: A vehicle seat that provides rigidity of the seat while enabling weight reduction of the seat is provided. The vehicle seat has upper ribs projecting from a top surface and lower ribs projecting from a bottom surface in a seating region of a bottom plate. Also provided in the seating region are a center protrusion portion formed at a center portion and an annular protrusion portion formed outside the center protrusion portion to have a space therebetween. The upper ribs are formed at parts different from parts at which the center protrusion portion and the annular protrusion portion are formed, while the lower ribs are formed at the parts at which the center protrusion portion and the annular protrusion portion are formed. The upper ribs and the lower ribs are arranged alternately, while extending radially from the center protrusion portion toward the annular protrusion portion to form a honeycomb shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohisa Chiba, Yoshinori Ueyama
  • Patent number: 9802667
    Abstract: A vehicle includes left and right main frames that may have their front ends connected to a head pipe, and may be disposed such that the distance between the left and right main frames is progressively greater in a rearward direction. The left and right main frames may be connected to each other by an upper plate-like member, and the upper plate-like member may have a front edge spaced rearwardly from the head pipe and have left and right ends welded respectively to the left and right main frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Ishida, Masao Akieda
  • Patent number: 9783256
    Abstract: The heat shielding structure includes a cowling for covering an outer side of at least a front portion of a combustion engine of a motorcycle and an ignition switch is disposed above a combustion engine and in the vicinity of the rear of a head pipe. A first heat shielding member covers at least rear and opposite side faces of the ignition switch to shield the heat raising from the combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Youhei Kunisada
  • Patent number: 9776500
    Abstract: A side covering body for a motorcycle includes an under-the-seat covering for covering a vertical gap between a seat and a vehicle body frame from an outer side and a rear covering disposed rearwardly of the under-the-seat covering. The under-the-seat covering has a front portion formed with a shroud portion that covers an outer side of a radiator and guides the incoming wind towards the radiator. The under-the-seat covering and the rear covering are connected together via a joint portion, while having respective outer side surfaces held substantially in flush with each other. The joint portion has an upper end positioned rearwardly of an intermediate portion of the seat with respect to a forward and rearward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Inagaki, Minoru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9765731
    Abstract: A canister arrangement structure for a saddle-ride type vehicle in which a canister for adsorbing evaporated fuel in a fuel tank is disposed below a step floor on which an occupant's foot is placed, the step floors are configured as a left and right pair and are supported from below by left and right step frames that extend back and forth at a position on the side of the main frame of the vehicle. The canister is supported by the one step frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Okubo, Masanori Nakamura, Masashi Nagayama, Tetsunori Iwamoto, Takasumi Yamanaka, Matake Sugeno
  • Patent number: 9758205
    Abstract: There is provided a two-wheeled vehicle overturn prevention method, wherein maximum allowable lean angles corresponding to vehicle body velocities are preset in relation to lean angles of a vehicle body, and in a case where an actual lean angle of the vehicle body exceeds a maximum allowable lean angle corresponding to an actual vehicle body velocity of the vehicle body or in a case where an estimated lean angle of the vehicle body after a predetermined amount of time exceeds or looks to exceed a maximum allowable lean angle corresponding to an estimated vehicle body velocity, the two-wheeled vehicle overturn prevention method is adapted to accelerate the vehicle body or keep the vehicle body from decelerating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventor: Shunsaku Ono
  • Patent number: 9751583
    Abstract: A saddle ride type vehicle that may include an engine supporting structure and an engine including a crankcase portion and a cylinder portion. The engine may be supported in a lower portion of the vehicle body frame by a front upper hanger portion and a front lower hanger portion. The front upper hanger portion, the front lower hanger portion, and a pivot supporting hole portion may be high-rigidity hangers having high rigidity, and the engine may be supported in the vehicle body frame by a rear lower hanger portion, a rear upper hanger portion, and a cylinder portion hanger portion having low rigidity which portions are provided between the high-rigidity hangers along the frame bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Ishida, Jun Fujii
  • Patent number: 9752628
    Abstract: A self-locking clutch mechanism comprising a base, an output member journalled to the base, a first spring engaged between the base and the output member, the first spring exerting a first spring force in a first direction, a clutch spring engaged with an intermediate member and frictionally engaged with a base cylindrical surface, an input member rotationally engaged with the base, the input member intermittently engagable with the clutch spring through a control member such that the clutch spring is temporarily released from the base cylindrical surface upon a rotary movement of the control member in a first direction, the intermediate member rotates upon release of the clutch spring from the base cylindrical surface, and a second spring engaged between the intermediate member and the output member, the second spring exerting a second spring force opposite the first spring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Gates Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Langhorst, Dean Schneider, Alexander Serkh
  • Patent number: 9745008
    Abstract: A motorcycle anti-theft device, for a motorcycle of the type having a pivotable kickstand; a chassis; and an electrical power source. The device includes a mechanism configured to lock the kickstand after being set to a lowered position; and an actuator unit including an electromechanical device connected to the power source configured to directly drive, when activated, an element to unlock said kickstand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: G.A. KITS DEVELOPMENT LTD
    Inventors: Alon Ben-Yair, Gil Rotschild
  • Patent number: 9738339
    Abstract: A two-wheel vehicle includes a frame and a metallic side stand, rotatable within a bracket attached to the frame. The metallic side stand is rotatable between a first position that supports the two-wheel vehicle when parked and a second position substantially adjacent the frame. The two-wheel vehicle also includes an inductive sensor attached to the two-wheel vehicle and connected to detect at least one position of the metallic side stand and a circuit connected to receive an output from the inductive sensor and to provide a signal that reflects the position of the side stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sanjay Jain, Abhijeet Gopal Godbole
  • Patent number: 9724989
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a storage case. The storage case includes an opening. The storage case is disposed above a cylinder portion, and the opening is disposed farther forward than the front end of the upper surface of the seat. An air cleaner and a fuel tank are disposed below the seat. According to such a vehicle, it is possible to ensure a space for the storage case anterior to the seat. As a result, it is possible to readily increase the capacity of the storage case. In addition, a rider is able to access the opening while sitting on the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichirou Nakamura, Fumihiro Hidaka, Eiichi Ito
  • Patent number: 9725127
    Abstract: A front wheel supporting frame structure of a saddle-ride vehicle includes a main frame, upper and lower arms and a lower frame. The main frame has a front portion and a rear portion. The main frame includes an upper connection portion, a lower connection portion, and an extending portion. The extending portion extends downward. The upper arm has an upper front end portion and an upper rear end portion. The upper rear end portion is movably connected to the upper connection portion. The lower arm has a lower front end portion and a lower rear end portion. The lower rear end portion of is movably connected to the lower connection portion. The lower frame includes a bottom portion and an upright portion. The bottom portion extends in the vehicle front-rear direction. The upright portion has a top portion connected to the extending portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Aoki, Daisuke Kuramochi, Tatsuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9714062
    Abstract: A saddle-ride-type vehicle for allowing a passenger's hand holding a grip to minimally slip. The saddle-ride-type vehicle is provided with grips mounted on a seat frame and formed for a passenger who rides behind an operator to grip. The seat frame is covered by a rear cowl. The rear cowl includes front sidewardly projecting portions arranged at positions which overlap with the grips as viewed in a side view of a vehicle and arranged close to the grip as viewed in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Mizuta, Nobuhiko Nakano, Mizuki Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9701353
    Abstract: A sub-frame and component configuration for mounting on a motorcycle include a body frame structure including a main frame portion; and a sub-frame portion, he sub-frame is fixedly secured to the main frame portion and is configured for receiving and securing thereon a drop seat providing a rider with a seating area that is relatively closer to the ground than the seating area of a conventional motorcycle seat. A method of mounting the sub-frame on a motorcycle includes: fixedly securing a drop seat sub-frame portion onto a main frame portion, wherein the drop seat sub-frame portion is configured for receiving and securing thereon a drop seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventor: Gary D. Chipp
  • Patent number: 9694691
    Abstract: An electric vehicle enables cooling performance for a DC/DC converter to be improved and includes a steering mechanism supporting a front wheel, a head pipe supporting the steering mechanism, a frame member extending from the head pipe backward and downward, a front cowl covering the head pipe, the front cowl hanging and extending to a lower-half of the front wheel, an electric motor rotating and drive the rear wheel, a DC/DC converter disposed in the frame member behind the front wheel in a posture facing a travelling direction to convert voltage, and a heat radiation fin extending in a vehicle vertical direction, the heat radiation fin being provided in a front face of the DC/DC converter, the front face facing the front wheel. The front cowl expands to left and right sides of the DC/DC converter in the vehicle width direction to collect travelling wind to the heat radiation fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuta Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9694644
    Abstract: Pitch of a trailer being towed by a tractor along a roadway is controlled to reduce aerodynamic drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Craig Robert Czlapinski
  • Patent number: 9694857
    Abstract: A fender for a wheeled vehicle has an arcuate fender body and a brace. The fender body has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is adapted to face a wheel of the vehicle. The brace has a first end and a second end. The first end is disposed on and connected to the outer surface of the fender body. The second end is adapted to connect to the vehicle. The second end is spaced from the fender body and is disposed radially inward of the first end. A wheeled vehicle having the fender disposed on a wheel thereof is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Rudwal, Simon Carboneau, Nicolas Deluy, David Laroche
  • Patent number: 9688346
    Abstract: A variable height, infinitely adjustable front fork system that can adapt to various wheel sizes. On traditional front bicycle fork system, to change the tire size require a change in the fork, and to change the height of the fork relative to the frame that hold the front fork would require again a change to the fork. This new fork system addresses these two concerns. With a push of a button, or simple manipulation of a handle, the height of the fork relative to the frame can be made via a telescopic fork blade design. To accommodate different tire sizes, a user simply re-positions a pair of clamp-on wheel dropouts along a lower half of the telescopic blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: FREEDOM CONCEPTS INC.
    Inventors: Colin Bock, Duy Tran
  • Patent number: 9688335
    Abstract: A body cover construction for a motorcycle includes a body cover having a front mudguard which covers an outer circumference of a front wheel, a front cover covering a front portion of a vehicle body from a front to sides of a headstock, floorboards extending from a lower rear portion of the front cover to below a seat so that rider's feet rest thereon, and underside covers covering sides of the vehicle body lying below and forwards of the floorboards. When the vehicle body is seen from a side, a lower edge portion of a front side surface of the front cover extends in a longitudinal direction and is at a similar level as a lower edge portion of a mudguard side surface of the mudguard. A front upper end portion of the underside cover extends upwards to a position which is a predetermined distance from the lower edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akiko Ishikawa, Taro Nishimoto, Kazunori Yoshimura, Ayumu Tsuji
  • Patent number: 9682742
    Abstract: A motorcycle suspension comprising a fork having a steering bar suitable for connecting mechanically to a steering mechanism of a motorcycle, an oscillating bar having a first end at which it forms a junction with said steering bar, and a second end at which it connects to a support which houses a rotation pin of an associable wheel so as to turn, said rotation pin defining a rotation axis for the wheel itself. The suspension comprises a shock absorber unit which extends from an attachment head, at which it is mechanically connected to the steering bar, to an attachment foot, at which it is connected to the support. Advantageously, the shock absorber unit, at the attachment foot, connects to the support by the interposition of mechanical coupling means having a hinge axis which is contained in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: PIAGGIO & C. S.P.A.
    Inventors: Walter Rosellini, Simone Pallini
  • Patent number: 9682741
    Abstract: A motorcycle suspension that includes a fork hinged to a portion of a frame of a motorcycle, a damper unit positioned between the frame and the fork, that damper unit having at least one spring and at least one damper so as to permit a relative rotation of the fork in relation to the frame around at least one hinge pin. The suspension including a load sensor to measure the load weighing on the damper unit, and a control unit operatively connected to the load sensor. The control unit is operatively connected to a regulation means of the damper unit so as to vary the setting of the regulation means depending on the load signal received from the load sensor, so as to adapt a pre-loading of the spring and the damping of the damper to the load effectively weighing on the damper unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: PIAGGIO & C. S.P.A.
    Inventors: Fabio Fioravanzo, Antonio Ingala, Andrea Ricci Iamino
  • Patent number: 9682737
    Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed with a seating assembly which is capable of prompting an occupant to take an appropriate riding posture depending on the behavior of the vehicle body. A motorcycle includes tilting mechanisms for tilting seating surfaces of a front seat (rider seating part) and a rear seat (passenger seating part) and an ECU carries out a control process for tilting the seating surfaces to lift rear portions of the seats upwardly in response to an action to accelerate the motorcycle and a control process for tilting the seating surfaces to lift front portions of the seats upwardly in response to an action to decelerate the motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yotaro Mori, Akira Kashiwagi, Satoru Nojima, Naoto Yamagishi, Jun Tanaka, Yasushi Miyagi, Akito Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 9677516
    Abstract: A combustion engine of a motorcycle has an engine rotary shaft extending in a vehicle widthwise direction. Incoming wind taken in from a front of a steering handle that is positioned in front of the combustion engine, is introduced through an air intake duct to the combustion engine. The air intake duct extends from the front of the steering handle to a rearward of a cylinder block so as to pass above a radiator and pass laterally of one side of the cylinder block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shohei Naruoka, Hisatoyo Arima, Satoaki Ichi, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Kozo Arai, Yoshinobu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9669894
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a suspended assembly that supports a main body and a suspension system for connecting the suspended assembly to the main vehicle body. The suspended assembly assists in providing directional control of the vehicle and stability in a lateral direction relative to a normal straight-ahead direction of travel of the vehicle. The suspension system including first and second suspension arrangements that control movement of the suspended assembly relative to the main vehicle body through a range of motion along first and second paths that are primarily perpendicular to the lateral direction. The second path differs from the first path such that the combination of the range of motion of the first suspension arrangement along the first path and the second path result in an overall range of motion for the suspended assembly relative to the main body that is defined by a surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Amaranti, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Michael
  • Patent number: 9670995
    Abstract: A tensioning and damping element for endless chain drives, especially for roller chain drives, can be used for endless chain drives, which are to be tensioned diametrically. The material is an elastic plastic. All told, the known tensioning and damping elements, in conjunction with the wear of the chain, the load changing phases, as well as the reversing according to the degree of deformation, have the disadvantage of a phased running irregularity, an increased running noise and of wear-intensive areas in the toothed rim. An element with a ring part and a toothed rim of arc-shaped teeth with, in each case, axially opposite bulges in the roller-seating and, between these, roller-seating depressions, grooves, which are disposed peripherally between the ring part and the bulges, an extended pitch and extended roller-seatings with the advantageous profile shape similar to a semielliptical curve lying on the root circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: EBERT Kettenspanntechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Siegfried Ebert, Frank Ebert, Hartmut Meier, Horst Tanzmann
  • Patent number: 9663182
    Abstract: A front fork includes a pair of dampers standing on both sides of a wheel. One of the pair of dampers is a magnetic viscous fluid damper configured to use a magnetic viscous fluid whose viscosity is changed by an action of a magnetic field as a working fluid, while the other of the pair of dampers is a liquid-pressure damper configured to use a liquid such as oil, water, an aqueous solution and the like as the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventors: Takahisa Mochizuki, Naoki Ito, Keiji Saito
  • Patent number: 9630673
    Abstract: There is provided a saddle-type vehicle that can secure a sufficient space below a fuel tank and efficiently arrange a fuel filter in a vehicle space while a fuel tank and the fuel filter are made closer to each other. The saddle-type vehicle has a seat frame 17 for supporting a seat 12, and a suspension bracket 16 extending upwards from the rear end of a main frame 14. The front portion of the seat frame 17 is secured to the upper portion of the suspension bracket 16, the front end portion of the seat frame 17 extends to the rear end portion of the fuel tank 24, and a space 241 is formed in front of the seat frame 17 and below the fuel tank 24 by the main frame 14, the suspension bracket 16 and the fuel tank 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sho Kono
  • Patent number: 9623929
    Abstract: An engine supporting structure for a saddle-ride type vehicle is configured such that an engine is supported from above in substantially a center position between a head pipe and a pivot in a side view, on a pair of right and left main frames that are branched to right and left from the head pipe and that extend rearward. Only inner surfaces in a vehicle width direction of the right and left main frames are formed with a pair of left front mounting portions and a pair of right rear mounting portions, that project inward in the vehicle width direction, respectively, the front mounting portions and the rear mounting portions are mounted with engine hangers that extend downward, and the engine is supported through the engine hangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Hagimoto, Masanori Usa
  • Patent number: 9616959
    Abstract: A bicycle includes a handlebar and a vibration generator supported on the handlebar. A sensor is configured to detect an overcoming vehicle. A controller is configured to activate the vibration generator when the sensor detects an overcoming vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: James Neugebauer, Bruce Southey, James Lloyd, Torsten Gerhardt, Richard Craven, Simon Potticary, Jonathan Mundy
  • Patent number: 9616958
    Abstract: A motorcycle foot anchor includes a foot anchor including a base, a body and an end portion. The base of the foot anchor is coupled to a motorcycle frame. The foot anchor protrudes from the motorcycle frame. A plurality of concentric grooves including pointed edges are disposed on the foot anchor. The pointed edges of the concentric grooves point toward the motorcycle frame. The end portion of the foot anchor has a larger diameter than a diameter of the body of the foot anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventor: Igor Gershteyn
  • Patent number: 9598130
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a fender unit which covers an upper portion of a wheel from above; and a mounting member placed inward in a vehicle width direction relative to the fender unit and including a mounting section by which an accessory component is detachably mounted to a vehicle body, wherein the fender unit includes: a first cover member which has an opening through which the mounting section of the mounting member is exposed, and covers a portion of the mounting member which is other than the mounting section, from outside in the vehicle width direction; and a second cover member which is detachably mounted to the first cover member and covers the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Kawai, Shigeyuki Iwata
  • Patent number: 9598132
    Abstract: There is provided a frame structure for an electric motorcycle. A plurality of electric components are mounted in a chassis framework comprised of a pair of half-frame bodies. One of the half-frame bodies is formed into a module to which electric components are connected via cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Teppei Eguchi
  • Patent number: 9592873
    Abstract: A fuel tank is disposed between a head pipe and a rider's seat of a motorcycle. A combustion engine is disposed below the fuel tank, and a canister is disposed between the head pipe and the fuel tank. A check valve is disposed on a communication pipe unit which connects the canister and an air intake passage. Both ends of the first communication pipe are supported by the combustion engine through a throttle body and the check valve, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tsubone, Norimasa Yamamoto, Hiroshi Kato, Naoto Yoshida, Tomo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9592884
    Abstract: A motorcycle has an engine and an exhaust gas pipe which is connected thereto, as well as a motorcycle rear wheel swingarm. The motorcycle rear wheel swingarm has a closed cavity which is in fluid connection with the exhaust gas pipe by way of a connecting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ralf Aldenhoevel
  • Patent number: 9586641
    Abstract: A step structure of a saddle-ride type vehicle is configured to permit easy adjustment of a position and also of an angle of a step. A pair of opposed clamp pieces, that are formed as part of a step-support bracket provided to a vehicle body of a saddle-ride vehicle, are provided to sandwich an eccentric collar (rotor) from both sides thereof in a radial direction. The clamp pieces are configured to be tightened against the eccentric collar by a bolt, thereby non-rotatably fixing a position of the eccentric collar. The eccentric collar is configured such that when the clamp pieces are loosened, a shaft part of a step is pivotally movable in relation to a shaft insertion hole, and the step, supported by the shaft insertion part, can be adjustably rotated in relation to the step-support bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Yokoyama, Tetsuya Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 9580142
    Abstract: A cooling structure for a saddle-type vehicle includes a main frame; an engine; an exhaust pipe extending rearward from a front portion of the engine; fuel tanks disposed laterally of the engine; and a skid plate covering front portions of the engine and the exhaust pipe. The skid plate includes openings defined in a central upper portion thereof for introducing ram air from a front of the vehicle toward the engine. The openings are covered with a mesh member. The skid plate has first bulging portions bulging forwardly on both sides of the openings. The fuel tanks include bulging tank portions disposed rearward of and along the first bulging portions and covering front portions of the engine. Ram air guided toward a central area in a vehicle widthwise direction by the first bulging portions passes through the mesh member and the openings to cool the exhaust pipe and the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9580135
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension packing apparatus for providing undamped suspension system rebound in a vehicle suspension system includes a ratchet mechanism including a shaft having a longitudinal rack of engageable teeth and a pivoting pawl engageable with one of the rack of engageable teeth, engagement of the pivoting pawl with one of the rack of engageable teeth holding the shaft in an engaged position to thereby hold a coil spring in a compressed configuration, and disengagement of the pivoting pawl from the one of the rack of engageable teeth releasing stored system spring energy to thereby provide undamped suspension system rebound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas Peter Nuzzo
  • Patent number: 9580068
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle drive control system is configured to start an engine irrespective of a motor rotational speed or a driving scene. In the hybrid vehicle drive control system, upon receiving an engine startup request, the engine is started by engaging a first clutch provided between the engine and a motor using the torque of the motor. A second clutch is provided between the motor and the drive wheel. The second clutch is disengaged by a second clutch control operation to reduce the motor rotation speed as a result of the motor rotational speed control by a motor rotation speed-controlling operation. The control system may thus increase the maximum motor output enable torque to ensure the start of the engine by the surplus torque irrespective of a motor rotational speed or driving scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takanobu Mohri
  • Patent number: 9573645
    Abstract: A motorcycle of the present invention comprises a vehicle body; and a protruding section which is mounted to the vehicle body such that the protruding section protrudes from the vehicle body to at least one of right and left, and the protruding section has a structure which causes air to flow from front to back along an upper surface of the protruding section to generate a force for pushing the vehicle body downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishii, Tomo Yamamoto, Daisuke Saeki, Toshiyuki Kimura, Seiichi Sonoda, Akira Yoshida, Manabu Morikawa
  • Patent number: 9567024
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a kickstand assembly having a height-adjusting mechanism. A planetary gear assembly is operatively mounted to the height-adjusting mechanism of the kickstand assembly. The planetary gear assembly is configured to adjust the height-adjusting mechanism in such a way that a vertical height of the kickstand assembly is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Inventor: Timothy Laronde
  • Patent number: 9540062
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes a vehicle-side control unit that determines whether or not identification information from an electronic key conforms to identification information on a side of a vehicle. An ignition switch unit allows at least starting operation of an engine and unlocking operation of a handlebar, in accordance with a situation where the identification information from the electronic key conforms to the identification information on the side of the vehicle. The vehicle-side control unit and the ignition switch unit are disposed on one side of a head pipe of the vehicle. The vehicle-side control unit is disposed in the vicinity of the head pipe, and below the ignition switch unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Kinoshita, Yusuke Takaishi
  • Patent number: 9527544
    Abstract: A vehicle body frame structure of a motorcycle includes: a head frame including right and left frame parts that extend downward and rearward while widening at a rear of a head pipe; right and left tank rails that are joined to rear ends of the frame parts and extend downward and rearward; and a body frame that is joined to rear ends of the right and left tank rails and supports swing arms. The head frame has a hollow closed cross section structure from the rear end of one of the frame parts to the rear end of the other of the frame parts via a coupling part, and has an engine bracket part having an open cross section structure integrally molded at a lower portion of the frame part. Further, the tank rail has a hollow closed cross section structure from its front end to its rear end, and a lower portion of the tank tail has an open cross section structure in a region except the front and rear ends of the tank rail and is also integrally molded with an engine bracket part having an open cross section structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9511813
    Abstract: There are provided: a front frame extending rearward and downward from a head pipe while enlarging a width thereof; and a body frame joined to rear ends of the front frame and supporting a swing arm. The body frame is formed in a manner that right and left body parts joined to the rear ends of the front frame, and bridge parts for upper portions and lower ends of the right and left body parts are integrally molded. Solid structures are provided in the middle of the right and left body parts, a continuous hollow structure formed of the upper portions of the right and left body parts and the upper bridge part and a continuous hollow structure formed of lower portions of the right and left body parts and the lower bridge part are provided at an upper position and a lower position, respectively, with the solid structures sandwiched therebetween. Further, pivot parts being pivot support parts for the swing arm are provided to the solid structures of the body parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Yoshida, Naoto Hori
  • Patent number: 9469379
    Abstract: A chain guide for guiding a chain traveling around a sprocket supported on a frame of a motorcycle is disclosed. Typically, the chain guide includes a U-shaped, plastic body with a channel formed along an inner surface to of the body and a plastic removable chain guide oriented such that a surface of the removable chain guide insert is facing the chain running through the channel. The inner and outer walls of the body configured with a first thickness along the top edge and downward to a bevel to a second, smaller thickness downward to a bottom edge along an outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: T.M. Designworks, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy McGarry
  • Patent number: 9463843
    Abstract: Disclosed is a straddle-type vehicle including a seat cushion, a foot rest lever, and a vehicle shell. The vehicle shell includes a foot pedal and a back shell portion connected to each other. The back shell portion includes a central cover portion, a front side cover portion, a bearing cover portion, and a back side cover portion. The front side cover portion has an upper portion and a lower portion. A front end portion of the upper portion is located further forward than a back end portion of the lower portion. The bearing cover portion has a bearing face for bearing the foot rest lever. An imaginary extension line extending from the bearing face passes through the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuan Tseng
  • Patent number: 9452652
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for adjusting a height of a vehicle, which is installed between an upper end portion of a suspension spring or the suspension spring, which is installed to support a load of a vehicle, and a suspension system supporting unit which is installed to support the suspension spring, and adjusts a height of the vehicle, the device including: a motor; a screw; a gear device which transmits rotational force of the motor to the screw; and a screw guide which is moved upward and downward by rotation of the screw, in which the height of the vehicle is adjusted in accordance with the up and down movement of the screw guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hansoo Kim