Cycle Type Patents (Class 280/835)
  • Patent number: 11897569
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a saddle-riding vehicle, preferably an endurance-type vehicle. The vehicle comprises a steering tube to which a steering assembly that controls a front wheel is rotatingly connected. The vehicle comprises a frame comprising a central part (12) to which is hinged a first end (8A) of a fork (8) which also comprises a second end (8B) rotatingly connected to a rear wheel (4). This frame also comprises a front part (15) extending between the steering tube (11) and said central part (12), wherein this front part (15) comprises a first frame side (15A) and a second frame side (15B) separated in the direction of the width of the vehicle and made of a first metallic material. The vehicle according to the invention is characterised in that it comprises at least a pair of connecting plates (16A-16B) wherein a first plate (16A) connects said engine assembly (2) to said first frame side (15A) and a second plate (16B) that connects said engine assembly (2) to said second frame side (15B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Piaggio & C. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Piero Soatti, Damiano Bellan, Massimiliano Piccioli
  • Patent number: 11097787
    Abstract: A lower vehicle-body structure allows miniaturization of an undercover and prevents an increase in minimum ground clearance. In the lower vehicle-body structure, a vehicle body floor includes step-up portions connected to a floor tunnel on opposite sides of the floor tunnel in a vehicle width direction at least in regions where first and second cross members are disposed on the vehicle body floor. The lower vehicle-body structure includes a mount member that faces the floor tunnel and connects the step-up portions on the opposite sides of the floor tunnel, and includes first and second undercovers that cover a lower side of the mount member so as to be continuous with a bottom surface of the vehicle body floor on outer sides of the step-up portions in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Ebisumoto, Hidenori Matsuoka, Hirotaka Natsume, Yuki Ikawa, Naohiko Kasaki, Yosuke Morikawa
  • Patent number: 11021192
    Abstract: A underbody structure includes a tunnel brace (22) laid on a floor tunnel (18) of a vehicle. The tunnel brace (22) has a front convex section (71), a central groove section (72) and a rear convex section (73). The front convex section (71), the central groove section (72) and the rear convex section (73) are formed to have equal width dimensions with each other. The tunnel brace (22) is formed so as to have an M-shaped cross section by the front convex section (71), the central groove section (72) and the rear convex section (73). The tunnel brace (22) is formed such that the width dimension of the tunnel brace in the vehicle body forward/rearward direction has a maximum value at right and left end portions (22a, 22b) and has a minimum value at a central section (22c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takayuki Soma
  • Patent number: 11008048
    Abstract: A lower vehicle-body structure comprises a vehicle floor comprising a bottom face portion and a floor tunnel, a pair of right-and-left first floor cross members extending in a vehicle width direction and provided on both sides of the floor tunnel, a pair of right-and-left second floor cross members extending in the vehicle width direction and provided on both sides of the floor tunnel, the second floor cross members being spaced rearwardly from the first floor cross members, a first connecting member provided to extend in the vehicle width direction at a position overlapping the first floor cross members in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a second connecting member provided to extend in the vehicle width direction at a position overlapping the second floor cross members in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirotaka Natsume, Kazuhiro Kageyama, Keisuke Ebisumoto, Hidenori Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 11008049
    Abstract: A lower vehicle-body structure comprises a vehicle floor comprising a bottom face portion and a floor tunnel which protrudes upwardly and extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a pair of right-and-left floor cross members extending in a vehicle width direction on both sides of the floor tunnel, and a connecting member provided to extend in the vehicle width direction at a position which overlaps the floor cross members in the vehicle longitudinal direction and be fixed to at least one of the vehicle floor and the floor cross members at plural fixation positions. These plural fixation positions are located at plural different levels in a range of a height of the floor cross members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirotaka Natsume, Kazuhiro Kageyama, Hiroaki Suumen, Yuki Kuwano, Tsuyoshi Iwata, Keisuke Ebisumoto, Hidenori Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 10974784
    Abstract: A two-wheeled vehicle includes a frame assembly having a front end and a rear end extending along a longitudinally-extending centerline, a front ground-engaging member operably coupled to the front end of the frame assembly at a front rotational axis, and a rear ground-engaging member operably coupled to the rear end of the frame assembly at a rear rotational axis. A wheel base is defined between the front and rear rotational axes and a vertically-extending centerline of the vehicle extends vertically at the midpoint of the wheel base and is perpendicular to the longitudinally-extending centerline. The vehicle also includes a fuel tank, an airbox assembly, and a battery all positioned relative to the vertically-extending centerline of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Indian Motorcycle International, LLC
    Inventors: David L. Bagnariol, Matthew R. Fronk, Jason A. Warns, Benjamin M. Comana, Matthias Botta, Richard J. Christoph, Philippe Gasdia, Hans-Rudolf Jenni, Urs Wenger, Martin Pelz, Clark D. Davis, Juho Pekka Wuollett, Kory J. Schuhmacher
  • Patent number: 9896131
    Abstract: A vehicle floor portion structure that includes: a pair of rockers extending in a vehicle front-and-rear direction; a tunnel extending in the vehicle front-and-rear direction, and the tunnel including a first upper wall portion, and a pair of first side wall portions; cross-members that link the rockers with the tunnel in the vehicle width direction; a tunnel upper reinforcement provided above the tunnel, the tunnel upper reinforcement partially overlapping with the cross-members in side view and being joined together with the cross-members; and a tunnel lower reinforcement disposed in the tunnel, a closed cross section portion being formed between the tunnel lower reinforcement and the first upper wall portion and the pair of first side wall portions, and the tunnel lower reinforcement overlapping with the cross-members in side view and being joined together with the cross-members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoichiro Onishi
  • Patent number: 9701357
    Abstract: A straddle-type vehicle comprises a pair of vehicle body frames arranged in a vehicle width direction of a vehicle body and extending in a vehicle length direction of the vehicle body, a fuel tank placed between the pair of vehicle body frames, a tank bracket fastened to an upper surface of the fuel tank, and a support member which couples the tank bracket to at least one of the pair of vehicle body frames. The support member includes a frame coupling section detachably coupled to a mounting section provided on at least one of the pair of vehicle body frames, and a tank coupling section placed inward in the vehicle width direction relative to the frame coupling section and detachably coupled to the tank bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishii, Daisuke Saeki, Tomo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9150267
    Abstract: A fuel-tank support structure for a motorcycle includes a left outer extending portion, a right outer extending portion, a left tank support stay, and a right tank support stay. The left outer extending portion is provided in a left main frame to extend outward in a vehicle width direction of the motorcycle. The left main frame extends rearward to diverge from a head pipe to left. The right outer extending portion is provided in a right main frame to extend outward in the vehicle width direction. The right main frame extends rearward to diverge from the head pipe to right. The left tank support stay protrudes from a fuel tank and is supported by the left outer extending portion. The right tank support stay protrudes from the fuel tank and is supported by the right outer extending portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Hagimoto, Masanori Usa, Hideaki Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 8973948
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a saddle-ride type vehicle includes a lower half body and an upper half body. The lower half body has a left lower flange part and a right lower flange part, the upper half body has a left upper flange part and a right upper flange part, and the fuel tank is constituted by welding the left lower flange part and the left upper flange part and welding the right lower flange part and the right upper flange part. Left and right fold parts and as folded downward are provided on the left and right upper flange parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuki Kanai
  • Publication number: 20150059423
    Abstract: A cushion rubber provided independent from a flange of a fuel tank. A fuel tank is arranged above a main frame. A tank front stay, which is mounted on a front lower portion of the fuel tank, is made to overlap with a tank-front-side mounting boss, which is formed on a front end bent portion of the main frame, and is fastened to the tank-front-side mounting boss using a bolt from sideward. The tank front stay is provided independently from a flange, is welded to a bottom surface of the fuel tank, and projects downward from the inside of the flange. A sleeve portion is mounted on a lower end of the tank front stay, and a mount rubber is inserted into the sleeve portion thus providing a rubber mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Yoichi Nishida, Mitsuya Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20150061276
    Abstract: A pump mounting seat surface is formed on a rear lower portion of a fuel tank. An approximately strip-shaped tank rear stay is mounted such that the tank rear stay escapes a pump mounting seat of the pump mounting seat surface. Both ends of the tank rear stay in the longitudinal direction project outward from the rear lower portion as mounting end portions. The mounting end portions are made to overlap with tank rear mounting bosses formed on center frames, and are fastened to the tank rear mounting bosses by bolts from above. A mounting member is not arranged below the pump mounting seat surface and hence, it is possible to ensure a space for a pipe of a fuel pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Yoichi Nishida, Mitsuya Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8919483
    Abstract: A ridden vehicle comprising a seat configured to be ridden and an internal combustion engine a frame configured for supporting the seat and the engine during operation of the ridden vehicle, the frame comprising a front frame portion having a steering head, a rear frame portion configured to support at least the seat and the engine, and a lower frame portion connecting the front frame portion and the rear frame portion to support a leg portion of a rider a fuel tank integrated with the front frame portion below the steering head and configured to store fuel for operation of the engine and a filler tube communicating with the fuel tank disposed in the ridden vehicle to provide an entrance to the fuel tank in front of the steering head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hero Motorcorp, Ltd.
    Inventors: Erik Buell, Anthony Stefanelli, John Fox, Jonathan Bunne, Giancarlo Battaglini, Chad Antczak, Dean Iwinski
  • Publication number: 20140339804
    Abstract: A motorcycle is provided with a vehicle body frame including a pair of left and right main frames and a pair of left and right seat rails disposed on the rear sides of the pair of left and right main frames, and the motorcycle is also provided with a canister for collecting evaporated fuel in a fuel tank supported by the main frames, the canister being arranged in an intermediate area in a width direction of the pair of left and right seat rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki NISHIGUCHI
  • Patent number: 8851523
    Abstract: A frame for a vehicle to accommodate a large-sized accessory, such as a fuel tank, to be mounted downwardly of a rear pipe without having to lower a rear sub-pipe. A large-sized accessory, such as a fuel tank, can be inserted into a space under a rear pipe by removing a second rear sub-pipe from a main frame and the rear pipe. The second rear sub-pipe can be fixed to the main frame and the rear pipe by simply tightening bolts. Similarly, by simply loosening the bolts the second rear sub-pipe can be removed from the main frame and the rear pipe and the large-sized accessory can be removed onto an outside in a vehicle width direction. This facilitates mounting and helps reduce the number of man-hours involved in mounting the accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Shiina, Akihiro Yamashita, Masayuki Hirukawa
  • Patent number: 8844668
    Abstract: A combined heat shield and wire-holding structure for a saddle-type vehicle, where the vehicle includes a pair of right and left frame sections extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and a fuel tank disposed above the vehicle body frame sections. The combined heat shield and wire-holding structure comprises a heat shield, which is disposed below the fuel tank and which extends between the right and left body frame sections. The combined heat shield and wire-holding structure includes a wire-holding portion which extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction outside of the vehicle body frame, and the wire-holding portion holds a wiring harness routed through an inside portion of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Oshima, Masayuki Hojo
  • Patent number: 8726888
    Abstract: An atmosphere-opening structure is provided for a canister of a vehicle which can prevent invasion of dust and water drops from an atmosphere-opening passage by a simple configuration which is easy to produce. A fuel tray is provided around a fuel filler such that fuel leaking from the fuel filler to the outside upon refueling is received by the fuel tray. The fuel tray is covered with a fuel lid which can open and close the fuel filler from above. A drain hole for discharging fuel to the outside is provided in the fuel tray. An opening hose for communicating the canister and the atmosphere with each other is provided. An opening end of the opening hose is communicated with a position higher than the drain hole in the fuel tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Naoki Yoshida, Yukio Hosoya, Kazunori Kawame, Shuhei Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 8727381
    Abstract: A fuel tank assembly includes a hinge assembly, a fuel tank, and at least one hinge bolt. The hinge assembly includes a hinge pin and a hinge stay. The hinge pin pivotally couples the hinge stay to a vehicular frame and defines a hinge axis about which the hinge stay is pivotable with respect to a frame. The at least one hinge bolt releasably couples the hinge stay to the fuel tank such that the fuel tank is pivotable about the hinge axis. The at least one hinge bolt intersects the hinge axis and obstructs the hinge pin from being removed from the hinge stay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hirukawa
  • Publication number: 20140117655
    Abstract: A housing structure for a saddle type vehicle wherein the housing structure is not limited by the size of an opening/closing lid (shelter lid) for a fuel tank. The housing structure can provide a space for storage wherein the shelter lid is easily opened even when a heavy item is stored in the space. A tank shelter is formed by a cover that can be divided into a plurality of covers. A housing pocket is fixed to the inside of the tank shelter. A loading and unloading opening in the housing pocket faces an opening portion of the tank shelter. A dimension in a direction of vehicle width of the housing pocket is larger than a width of the opening portion of the tank shelter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takazumi HAYASHI, Shinobu SAITO, Hiroaki TSUKUI, Takatsugu KIDO
  • Patent number: 8662518
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, can facilitate maintenance of an air cleaner without complicating a peripheral structure of a fuel tank. The vehicle can include a body frame, a rear arm attached to the body frame to support a rear wheel, a rear cushioning member provided between the body frame and the rear arm, and an engine fixed to the body frame. The vehicle can further include a fuel tank supported rotatably at a supporter arranged closer to a rear side of the vehicle than a substantially central position of an axis of the rear cushioning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Munetaka Koike
  • Publication number: 20140035269
    Abstract: A fuel-tank support structure for a motorcycle includes a left outer extending portion, a right outer extending portion, a left tank support stay, and a right tank support stay. The left outer extending portion is provided in a left main frame to extend outward in a vehicle width direction of the motorcycle. The left main frame extends rearward to diverge from a head pipe to left. The right outer extending portion is provided in a right main frame to extend outward in the vehicle width direction. The right main frame extends rearward to diverge from the head pipe to right. The left tank support stay protrudes from a fuel tank and is supported by the left outer extending portion. The right tank support stay protrudes from the fuel tank and is supported by the right outer extending portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi HAGIMOTO, Masanori USA, Hideaki HARAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 8622163
    Abstract: A scooter-type motorcycle is provided with a fuel cell system for driving the motorcycle by an electric power and includes: a vehicle body including a pair of left and right upper frames extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and a pair of left and right lower frames extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and having rear side end portions bent and connected to the respective upper frames; a fuel cell mounted on the vehicle body; a fuel tank connected to the fuel cell, in which the fuel tank is disposed in a center tunnel surrounded by the upper frames and the lower frames. A pair of left and right upper frames and a pair of left and right lower frames constitute a fuel tank supporting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Eguchi, Kazuyuki Hirota
  • Publication number: 20130334804
    Abstract: A fuel tank assembly includes a hinge assembly, a fuel tank, and at least one hinge bolt. The hinge assembly includes a hinge pin and a hinge stay. The hinge pin pivotally couples the hinge stay to a vehicular frame and defines a hinge axis about which the hinge stay is pivotable with respect to a frame. The at least one hinge bolt releasably couples the hinge stay to the fuel tank such that the fuel tank is pivotable about the hinge axis. The at least one hinge bolt intersects the hinge axis and obstructs the hinge pin from being removed from the hinge stay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventor: Masayuki HIRUKAWA
  • Patent number: 8500169
    Abstract: A saddle-ride type vehicle which for preventing the fuel tank from receiving a load imposed on the tank cover and for achieving a weight reduction of the fuel tank. A motorcycle includes a vehicle body frame; a fuel tank, fixed to the vehicle body frame, for storing fuel; a tank cover for covering at least part of the fuel tank; a flange part, provided to the fuel tank, for fastening the fuel tank to the vehicle body frame; and a cover supporting member, fastened to the flange part, for supporting the tank cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Koji Aoki
  • Patent number: 8485299
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes a fuel tank that stores fuel, a fuel filling joint hydraulically connected to the fuel tank, a first pressure reducing valve hydraulically connected to the fuel tank to reduce pressure of the fuel to first pressure, a second pressure reducing valve hydraulically connected to the first pressure reducing valve to reduce the pressure of the fuel to second pressure, a fuel cell unit hydraulically connected to the second pressure reducing valve to generate electric power via reaction of the fuel and an oxidizing agent, a high-pressure side structure that supports the fuel tank, the joint, and the first pressure reducing valve while keeping relative arrangement thereof, a low-pressure side structure that supports the second pressure reducing valve and the fuel cell unit while keeping relative arrangement thereof, and a main structure that detachably fixes the high-pressure side structure and the low-pressure side structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Iida
  • Patent number: 8439145
    Abstract: A scooter-type vehicle can freely set a capacity of a fuel filter without being restricted by swing of a unit-swing type engine. A cross pipe is spanned between a pair of left and right lower frames and a lower end of a down frame is connected to a central portion of the cross pipe. A fuel filter is disposed so that its lower end is higher by distance than the lower end of cross pipe. The fuel filter is disposed between the down frame and the fuel tank. Since the fuel filter is disposed in front of the fuel tank, it is not restricted by the swing of an engine located rearward of the fuel tank. Therefore, a capacity of the fuel filter can freely be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamada, Mitsuru Terada, Tsubasa Ishii
  • Patent number: 8439146
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes a pair of left and right main frames, a fuel tank placed on an upper side of the main frames, an engine suspended on a lower side of the main frames and provided with a cylinder assembly and a crankcase, and a canister that adsorbs an evaporated fuel gas generated in the fuel tank, wherein the canister is arranged inside the main frames in a plan view of the motorcycle and is disposed on a rear side of the cylinder assembly and on an upper side of the crankcase of the engine in a side view of the motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20130015007
    Abstract: An exterior member such as a shroud, for a saddle-type vehicle including a head pipe and a main frame extending rearward from the head pipe, has a hook member formed on an inner side thereof. The hook member is configured for being engaged onto the main frame such that the exterior member is supported by the main frame. The exterior member is locked to the vehicle by engaging the hook member onto the main frame, thereby supporting the exterior member on the main frame. Such arrangement enables the exterior member to be affixed to the frame with a simple structure, without detrimentally affecting the external appearance of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke INOUE, Shiro YAMA
  • Publication number: 20120274057
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a saddle-ride type vehicle includes a lower half body and an upper half body. The lower half body has a left lower flange part and a right lower flange part, the upper half body has a left upper flange part and a right upper flange part, and the fuel tank is constituted by welding the left lower flange part and the left upper flange part and welding the right lower flange part and the right upper flange part. Left and right fold parts and as folded downward are provided on the left and right upper flange parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuki Kanai
  • Patent number: 8297395
    Abstract: A scooter-type vehicle can freely set a capacity of a fuel filter without being restricted by swing of a unit-swing type engine. A fuel supply device includes a fuel tank and a fuel supply passage for supplying fuel to an engine. A pump-anterior filter for purifying the fuel in the fuel tank, a fuel pump, a fuel filter disposed on the downstream side of the fuel pump, and an injector for injecting fuel are arranged on the fuel supply passage in this order. The fuel filter is disposed between the upper surface of the fuel tank and the step floor. The size of the fuel filter can freely be set without being restricted by swing of the engine located rearward of the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamada, Mitsuru Terada, Tsubasa Ishii
  • Patent number: 8292115
    Abstract: An insert ring is mounted on a resin-made fuel tank body, the insert ring has seat surfaces for mounting a fuel pump thereon and boss holes formed in the seat surfaces. An insert molded body is formed by insert molding of the insert ring using a first resin material while leaving the boss holes and the seat surfaces exposed. The insert molded body is inserted into an outer surface of the fuel tank body by insert molding using a second resin material which forms the fuel tank body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihito Kobayashi, Yuki Mizukura, Takahiro Matayoshi, Tomoyuki Matsumura
  • Patent number: 8286744
    Abstract: A fuel pump attachment structure includes a pump support member and a cover member. The pump support member has a fuel pump support surface via which a fuel pump is to be attached to a fuel tank inside the fuel tank made of second resin. The pump support member includes an insert plate and an insert nut. The cover member is made of first resin and provided on the fuel pump support surface of the pump support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Mizukura, Akihito Kobayashi, Takahiro Matayoshi
  • Patent number: 8276944
    Abstract: Shorter charge and purge lines are provided in a compactly built motorcycle having an engine disposed downwardly of a rider seat, a fuel tank disposed forwardly of the engine and storing fuel to be supplied to the engine, and a canister adsorbing fuel vapor evaporated in the fuel tank. A fuel tank integrates a tank main portion with a tube portion that joins to a front side upper portion of the tank main portion so as to protrude upwardly of an upper wall of the tank main portion and that has a fuel filler port disposed at an upper end portion thereof. Further, a canister is disposed at a position that is lower than an upper end of the tube portion, rearward of the tube portion, and upward of the tank main portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Inaoka
  • Publication number: 20120228857
    Abstract: A fuel pump mounting structure of a saddle-ride-type vehicle that can enhance the degree of freedom in the shape of a fuel tank with the construction where a fuel pump is arranged in the inside of the saddle-type fuel tank that straddles a main frame. A first opening portion is formed in a tank bottom plate of a fuel tank, and a mounting arm which closes the first opening portion by one end thereof and supports the fuel pump by the other end thereof is arranged in the inside of the fuel tank, the mounting arm extends along a vehicle widthwise direction toward a gap SA formed between a straddling bottom portion of the fuel tank that straddles a main frame and a tank side wall of the fuel tank, and supports the fuel pump in the inside of the gap SA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Shinichi KARUBE, Shinya KOYAMA, Hiroyuki SUDO
  • Patent number: 8215677
    Abstract: An arrangement structure is provided for a canister of a saddle type vehicle wherein a canister can be arranged closely to a fuel tank to simplify a pipe arrangement structure. A fuel tank disposed forward of an engine is structured such that a tank upper half and a tank lower half of a concave shape formed by pressing are joined together at joining flanges. The joining flanges are disposed on a vehicle body such that a front portion thereof is positioned on the upper side. A rear inclined wall, which is inclined toward a rear upper direction such that it forms a substantially right angle to the joining flange, is provided at a rear portion of the tank lower half. A canister is disposed in a dead space below the rear inclined wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Hosoya, Yuichiro Morikawa
  • Patent number: 8196989
    Abstract: To provide a seat cowl structure of a saddle-riding type vehicle that can reduce weight of a seat cowl support structure, while achieving stiffness to support an occupant load. The seat cowl structure includes a pair of left and right seat rails and a stiffness portion. The pair of left and right seat rails extends rearwardly from a vehicle body frame and is disposed inside a seat cowl. The stiffness portion connects between seat cowl fastening portions of the left and right seat rails in a vehicle width direction and is disposed inside an upper surface portion and side surface portions of the seat cowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeo Yokoyama, Yoshiyuki Kurayoshi, Masashi Hagimoto, Sumio Suzaki
  • Publication number: 20120025510
    Abstract: A fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank disposed substantially along a seat rail in a space surrounded by a lower portion of a seat and the seat rail of a motorcycle, and a fuel pump unit disposed in a lower portion of the fuel tank. A mounting flange for mounting the fuel pump unit to the fuel tank is arranged below the seat rail and forward of a front end of a rear wheel of the motorcycle as viewed in a side view of the motorcycle. The mounting flange of the fuel pump unit is disposed above a side frame of a body frame of the motorcycle. Such fuel tank assembly provides the degree of freedom of seat layout, and does not interfere with a rear wheel of motorcycle, or gravel or the like thrown up by the rear wheel, during operation the motorcycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shin NISHIMURA, Keita KINOSHITA, Takaaki SHOMURA
  • Patent number: 8038172
    Abstract: To provide a compact fuel tank including a fuel pump in accordance with one or more embodiments. For example in an embodiment, a motorcycle includes a tank rail forming an upper part of a body frame, a fuel tank having a pair of tank sections disposed across the tank rail in a vehicle width direction and mounted on and across the tank rail, and a fuel pump disposed in the fuel tank for supplying fuel to an engine, in which a mounting surface for the fuel pump is formed on a bottom of one of the pair of tank sections and the mounting surface is formed to be tilted in an in-and-out direction with respect to the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hisashi Morikawa
  • Patent number: 8016321
    Abstract: A straddle type vehicle with its fuel tank covered with a tank cover, in which misalignment between a filler opening on an upper part of the fuel tank and an orifice for exposing the filler opening out of the tank cover is restrained. The tank cover includes a center cover on which the orifice is formed, and right and left side covers molded separately from the center cover and disposed on right and left sides of the center cover for covering the fuel tank from the side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadashi Shimomura
  • Patent number: 7997622
    Abstract: A saddle-ride type four-wheeled vehicle has a structure that increases a tank capacity of a fuel tank and reduces a moment acting on a fixing position of a fuel pump disposed in the fuel tank. The saddle-ride type four-wheeled vehicle includes a fuel tank located above the head cover of the engine, and a fuel pump disposed in the fuel tank. The lower surface portion of the fuel tank includes, at a more forward position than the head cover, a deep bottom portion situated at a lowest position in the lower surface portion. The upper surface portion of the fuel tank includes, at a more rearward position than the deep bottom portion, an inclined portion arranged to extend rearward and obliquely downward. An upper end of the fuel pump is fixed to the inclined portion, and the fuel pump is arranged to extend forward and obliquely downward from the inclined portion toward the deep bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Yamada
  • Patent number: 7992901
    Abstract: In a straddle type of vehicle having a fuel tank (30) with a built-in fuel pump (42), the fuel pump (42) is placed in the fuel tank (30) with the pump axis (A) directed nearly in the vehicle width direction. The straddling type of vehicle is provided that a nearly horizontal surface portion (31b) is formed on the bottom of the fuel tank (30) and the fuel pump (42) is placed on the nearly horizontal surface portion (31b) with the pump axis (A) directed nearly in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumito Hirano, Satoshi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20110175340
    Abstract: A frame for a vehicle to accommodate a large-sized accessory, such as a fuel tank, to be mounted downwardly of a rear pipe without having to lower a rear sub-pipe. A large-sized accessory, such as a fuel tank, can be inserted into a space under a rear pipe by removing a second rear sub-pipe from a main frame and the rear pipe. The second rear sub-pipe can be fixed to the main frame and the rear pipe by simply tightening bolts. Similarly, by simply loosening the bolts the second rear sub-pipe can be removed from the main frame and the rear pipe and the large-sized accessory can be removed onto an outside in a vehicle width direction. This facilitates mounting and helps reduce the number of man-hours involved in mounting the accessory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu SHIINA, Akihiro YAMASHITA, Masayuki HIRUKAWA
  • Patent number: 7841625
    Abstract: An off-road motorcycle apparatus. There is provided is an off-road competition motorcycle comprising an internal combustion engine (2), having at least one cylinder, and a front wheel (3) as well as a rear wheel (4), a tubular trellis frame (5) and a self-supporting fuel tank configured as a rear tank (11) mounted at the rear end of the off-road competition motorcycle, releasably secured to the tubular trellis frame (5), wherein the rear tank (11) is the sole fuel tank of the off-road competition motorcycle and a lower portion of the rear tank (11) extends by its bottom (16) in the yaw axis direction of the off-road competition motorcycle (1) into the region of one end of the tubular trellis frame (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: KTM Sportmotorcycle AG
    Inventors: Robert Gruber, Johann Trunkenpolz
  • Patent number: 7815221
    Abstract: The GTank-LC & Mini-GTank-LC ‘Gtank’ is a supplemental fuel storage/delivery system that connects to and becomes an integral part of the existing fuel storage/delivery system of the Suzuki Intruder 1500 LC, increasing its capacity by between 2.0 and 2.5 gallons all the while not disrupting the normal fuel flow or intended operation of the ‘motorcycle’. This invention allows the operator to select fuel from either the existing fuel storage tank/cell or the new fuel storage tank/cell from either ‘Gtank’ during normal operation of the ‘motorcycle’ without disruption or adversely affecting its use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor: Gary A. Ford
  • Patent number: 7798529
    Abstract: A seat support structure for restricting the movement of a seat front end and facilitate the mounting of the seat, the seat support structure including a tank cover provided for a fuel tank supported by a body frame, a flange extending to the rear of a vehicle body and provided on the rear portion of the tank cover and a fastening groove which opens upward to fasten the flange thereto, the fastening groove being provided at the front portion of a seat located to the rear of the tank cover and of the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 7766360
    Abstract: A motorcycle that reduces air resistance without a cowling includes a steering handle, a headlight unit disposed in front of a handle base disposed at a substantial center of the steering handle, a meter unit disposed above the handle base, and a fuel tank disposed behind the handle base. In a side view of the motorcycle, the headlight top surface, the meter top surface and the fuel tank top surface are smoothly connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsurou Saitou, Shigeto Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 7748746
    Abstract: A two-wheeled vehicle, a touring motorcycle, is disclosed. The touring motorcycle may include multiple fuel storage tanks arranged in a split side-by-side configuration. The touring motorcycle may include a rear suspension having a linkage which moves in a direction not parallel with a centerline plane of the motorcycle. The touring motorcycle may include a tip-over structure which prevents unwanted tip-over of the motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Jason William Beiber Hoeve, Mark W. Chevalier, Ronald A. Vorndran
  • Patent number: 7740095
    Abstract: A motorcycle includes rear side frame portions disposed rearward of an engine and swing arms that swing relative to the rear side frame portions 11A. An oil damper provides damping force to the swing arm and extends in a vertical direction. The rear side frame portions have damper supporting sections that support lateral sides of the oil damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiji Matsushima
  • Patent number: 7731238
    Abstract: A straddle-type vehicle that reliably leads fuel that overflows from a fuel fill opening away to a safe area without specialist components. A fuel tank includes a recess portion that is formed around a fuel fill opening, and a raised section that is formed to the outer side of the recess portion and that is at a higher position than the recess portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Otsubo, Yasuo Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7717466
    Abstract: A fuel pump mounting structure has an opening in a side surface or a bottom surface of a fuel tank. A fuel pump assembly including a cylindrical pump body and a filter connected to a suction side of the pump body is accommodated in a space located inside of the opening. A flange section of a housing that encloses the pump body engages an outside surrounding area of the opening. A mounting plate covers the outside of the flange section. The fuel pump assembly is fixed to the opening through the flange section and the mounting plate. The axis of the pump body extends generally parallel to a mounting surface of the mounting plate, and the pump body and the filter overlap each other relative to a position in a direction of the axis. The mounting structure reduces the moment against the mounting plate, reliably supports the fuel pump under a stable condition without requiring a large and rigid construction, and improves the seal with the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kinji Asamura, Satoshi Suzuki, Fumito Hirano, Emiko Hirano, legal representative