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EP-4098529-B1 - STRADDLED VEHICLE

EP4098529B1EP 4098529 B1EP4098529 B1EP 4098529B1EP-4098529-B1

Inventors

  • SAITOU, SUSUMU

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20220530

Claims (10)

  1. A straddled vehicle (50) comprising: a seat (1); a fuel tank (2) arranged forward of the seat (1); and a tank cover (3) arranged forward of the seat (1) and covering at least a portion of the fuel tank (2), wherein: the tank cover (3) includes a center cover (10), a left side cover (20L) arranged leftward of the center cover (10), and a right side cover (20R) arranged rightward of the center cover (10); the left side cover (20L) includes a left-side wall (21L) located leftward of the fuel tank (2); the right side cover (20R) includes a right-side wall (21R) located rightward of the fuel tank (2); the center cover (10) includes a left connecting portion (11L) connected to the left side cover (20L), and a right connecting portion (11R) connected to the right side cover (20R); and the center cover (10) is made of resin, and the left side cover (20L) and the right side cover (20R) are made of metal; wherein: the fuel tank (2) includes a tank upper wall (2U), a tank left-side wall (2L) located leftward of the tank upper wall (2U), and a tank right-side wall (2R) located rightward of the tank upper wall (2U); the center cover (10) includes a center upper wall (12) arranged upward of the tank upper wall (2U); the left side cover (20L) includes an upper left wall (22L) extending rightward from the left-side wall (21L) and arranged upward of the tank upper wall (10U); the right side cover (20R) includes an upper right wall (22R) extending leftward from the right-side wall (21R) and arranged upward of the tank upper wall (2U); the center upper wall (12) includes a first left edge portion (13L) overlapping with the upper left wall (22L) as the vehicle is viewed from above, and a first right edge portion (13R) overlapping with the upper right wall (22R) as the vehicle is viewed from above; the upper left wall (22L) includes a second right edge portion (23L) overlapping with the center upper wall (12) as the vehicle is viewed from above; the upper right wall (22R) includes a second left edge portion (23R) overlapping with the center upper wall (12) as the vehicle is viewed from above; the left connecting portion (11L) of the center cover (10) is provided in the first left edge portion (13L) and connected to the second right edge portion (23L) of the left side cover (20L); and the right connecting portion (11R) of the center cover (10) is provided in the first right edge portion (13R) and connected to the second left edge portion (23R) of the right side cover (20R); wherein: the first left edge portion (13L) of the center cover (10) overlaps with the second right edge portion (23L) of the left side cover (20L) as the vehicle is viewed from above and is arranged upward of the second right edge portion (23L); and the first right edge portion (13R) of the center cover (10) overlaps with the second left edge portion (23R) of the right side cover (20R) as the vehicle is viewed from above and is arranged upward of the second left edge portion (23R); the straddled vehicle (50) further comprising: a stay (4) fixed to the tank upper wall (2U); a second left bolt (32L) extending downward that fastens together the left side cover (20L) and the stay (4); and a second right bolt (32R) extending downward that fastens together the right side cover (20R) and the stay (4); wherein: the second left bolt (32L) includes a bolt head (32Lt) located upward relative to the second right edge portion (23L) of the left side cover (20L); the second right bolt (32R) includes a bolt head (32Rt) located upward relative to the second left edge portion (23R) of the right side cover (20R); the first left edge portion (13L) of the center cover (10) includes a left end portion (13Lb) located leftward relative to the bolt head (32Lt) of the second left bolt (32L) and overlapping with the bolt head (32Lt) of the second left bolt (32L) as the vehicle is viewed from the side; the first right edge portion (13R) of the center cover (10) includes a right end portion (13Rb) located rightward relative to the bolt head (32Rt) of the second right bolt (32R) and overlapping with the bolt head (32Rt) of the second right bolt (32R) as the vehicle is viewed from the side.
  2. The straddled vehicle (50) according to claim 1, comprising: a first left bolt (31L) extending downward that fastens together the left connecting portion (11L) of the center cover (10) and the second right edge portion (23L) of the left side cover (20L); and a first right bolt (31R) extending downward that fastens together the right connecting portion (11R) of the center cover (10) and the second left edge portion (23R) of the right side cover (20R).
  3. The straddled vehicle (50) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: the second right edge portion (23L) of the left side cover (20L) includes a first contact surface (23LS) that is in contact with the first left edge portion (13L) of the center cover (10); the second left edge portion (23R) of the right side cover (20R) includes a second contact surface (23RS) that is in contact with the first right edge portion (13R) of the center cover (10); the first left edge portion (13L) of the center cover (10) includes a left end portion (13La) located leftward relative to the first contact surface (23LS) and overlapping with the first contact surface (23LS) as the vehicle is viewed from the side; and the first right edge portion (13R) of the center cover (10) includes a right end portion (13Ra) located rightward relative to the second contact surface (23RS) and overlapping with the second contact surface (23RS) as the vehicle is viewed from the side.
  4. The straddled vehicle (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: the first left edge portion (13L) of the center cover (10) includes a left end portion (13La) located leftward relative to the left connecting portion (11L) and overlapping with the left connecting portion (11L) as the vehicle is viewed from the side; and the first right edge portion (13R) of the center cover (10) includes a right end portion (13Ra) located rightward relative to the right connecting portion (11R) and overlapping with the right connecting portion (11R) as the vehicle is viewed from the side.
  5. The straddled vehicle (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the left end portion (13La, 13Lb) and/or the right end portion (13Ra, 13Rb) of the center cover (10) are bent downward.
  6. The straddled vehicle (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: the second right edge portion (23L) of the left side cover (20L) includes a first right portion (231L) extending leftward from a right end (23Le) of the second right edge portion (23L), and a second right portion (232L) located leftward and downward of the first right portion (231L) and extending leftward; the second left edge portion (23R) of the right side cover (20R) includes a first left portion (231R) extending rightward from a left end (23Re) of the second left edge portion (23R), and a second left portion (232R) located rightward and downward of the first left portion (231R) and extending rightward; the first left edge portion (13L) of the center cover (10) includes a lower end (13Le) located leftward and downward relative to the first right portion (231L) and upward relative to the second right portion (232L); and the first right edge portion (13R) of the center cover (10) includes a lower end (13Re) located rightward and downward relative to the first left portion (231R) and upward relative to the second left portion (232R).
  7. The straddled vehicle (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: the fuel tank (2) includes a cylindrical portion (2A) extending upward from the tank upper wall (2U); the cylindrical portion (2A) is formed with a fuel filler hole (2a) whose opening faces upward; and the center cover (10) is formed with a hole (10h) into which the cylindrical portion (2A) of the fuel tank (2) is inserted.
  8. The straddled vehicle (50) according to claim 7, wherein a center (2c) of the fuel filler hole (2a) is located rightward or leftward of a vehicle center line (CL).
  9. The straddled vehicle (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the center cover (10) is a single resin-made member.
  10. The straddled vehicle (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: the left side cover (20L) and the right side cover (20R) are each a single metal-made member; and the left side cover (20L) and the right side cover (20R) overlap with an entirety of the fuel tank (2) as the vehicle is viewed from the side.

Description

The present invention relates to a straddled vehicle including a tank cover that covers the fuel tank. Conventional straddled vehicles including a tank cover that covers the fuel tank have been known in the art. Where the tank cover is formed as an integral part by an integral member, it is difficult to form the tank cover in a complicated shape. In contrast, where the tank cover is formed by assembling together a plurality of members, it is possible to relatively easily form a tank cover of a complicated shape. Therefore, tank covers have been known in the art that are assembled from a plurality of members. JP2009-161016A discloses a tank cover composed of a center cover, a left side cover that is arranged leftward of the center cover, and a right side cover that is arranged rightward of the center cover. The center cover is made by molding resin into as an integral part. Where members that form the tank cover are made of resin, it is easy to mold the members. With a straddled vehicle where the tank cover is arranged forward of the seat, the rider seated on the seat squeezes the tank cover with the knees, i.e., knee-gripping. Then, the tank cover is pressed against the knees of the rider. Now, one may consider using metal for members that form the tank cover in order to increase the strength of the tank cover. For example, one may consider using metal for the center cover, the left side cover and the right side cover of the tank cover disclosed in JP2009-161016A. The fuel tank is attached to the frame, and the tank cover is attached to the fuel tank. When the straddled vehicle is running, depending on the speed of the engine, the characteristic vibration generated from the engine is transmitted to the fuel tank through the frame. Thus, the tank cover fastened to the fuel tank may vibrate. The center cover is connected to the left side cover and the right side cover. The center cover includes a connecting portion that is connected to the left side cover and a connecting portion that is connected to the right side cover. Where the center cover, the left side cover and the right side cover are made of metal, when the characteristic vibration generated from the engine is transmitted to the tank cover, resonance may occur in the connecting portions of the center cover, thereby deteriorating the riding comfort. Although the Yamaha model XSR 700 discloses some of the features of the independent claim, it at least does not disclose a stay fixed to the tank upper wall and a second left bolt extending downward that fastens together the left side cover and the stay and a second right bolt extending downward that fastens together the right side cover and the stay. It is an object of the present invention to provide a straddled vehicle including a tank cover that is formed by assembling together a plurality of members, that is relatively rigid against knee-gripping, and that is unlikely to resonate in connecting portions between members. A straddled vehicle disclosed herein includes: a seat; a fuel tank arranged forward of the seat; and a tank cover arranged forward of the seat and covering at least a portion of the fuel tank. The tank cover includes a center cover, a left side cover arranged leftward of the center cover, and a right side cover arranged rightward of the center cover. The left side cover includes a left-side wall located leftward of the fuel tank. The right side cover includes a right-side wall located rightward of the fuel tank. The center cover includes a left connecting portion connected to the left side cover, and a right connecting portion connected to the right side cover. The center cover is made of resin, and the left side cover and the right side cover are made of metal. With the straddled vehicle described above, the tank cover is formed by assembling together at least the center cover, the left side cover and the right side cover. It is possible to relatively easily form the tank cover even if it the tank cover has a complicated shape. Although the left-side wall and the right-side wall are pressed against the knees of the rider when knee-gripping, the left side cover including the left-side wall and the right side cover including the right-side wall are made of metal. Therefore, it is possible to increase the rigidity of the tank cover against knee-gripping. On the other hand, while the left side cover and the right side cover are made of metal, the center cover is made of resin. The vibration characteristic of the center cover is relatively significantly different from the vibration characteristic of the left side cover and the right side cover. Thus, resonance is unlikely to occur between the left connecting portion and the right connecting portion of the center cover. The fuel tank includes according to the invention a tank upper wall, a tank left-side wall located leftward of the tank upper wall, and a tank right-side wall located rightward of the tank upper wall. The center cover includ