SEAT-SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR MOUNTING ON A MOTORCYCLE FRAME

Abstract

A seat-supporting structure for mounting on a motorcycle frame having a main skeleton includes: two load-bearing structures that are disposed under a seat of the motorcycle frame and that support a load on the seat of the motorcycle frame. Each of the two load-bearing structures includes: a base portion at a bottom of the load-bearing structure that includes a branch portion that extends upward in a diagonally backward direction and a frame-mounting portion on the main skeleton; a middle portion that extends, from the branch portion of the base portion, upward in a diagonally forward direction; a top portion that extends, from an upper part of the middle portion, upward in a diagonally backward direction and receives the load; and multiple openings and ribs that resist stress from the load and vibration while the motorcycle is in motion.

Claims

1. A seat-supporting structure for mounting on a motorcycle frame having a main skeleton, the seat-supporting structure comprising: two load-bearing structures that are disposed under a seat of the motorcycle frame and that support a load on the seat of the motorcycle frame, wherein each of the two load-bearing structures comprises: a base portion at a bottom of a corresponding load-bearing structure that comprises: a branch portion that extends upward in a diagonally backward direction; and a frame-mounting portion on the main skeleton; a middle portion that extends, from the branch portion of the base portion, upward in a diagonally forward direction; a top portion that extends, from an upper part of the middle portion, upward in a diagonally backward direction and receives the load; and multiple openings and ribs that resist stress from the load and vibration while a motorcycle is in motion.

2. The seat-supporting structure according to claim 1, wherein each of the two load-bearing structures comprises: a first bending portion between the top portion and the middle portion; and a second bending portion between the middle portion and the branch portion of the base portion.

3. The seat-supporting structure according to claim 2, wherein each of the two load-bearing structures comprises: a first unopened portion at a rearward position of the first bending portion; and a second unopened portion at a forward position of the second bending portion.

4. The seat-supporting structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a cover to which one or both of the two load-bearing structures are attached.

5. The seat-supporting structure according to claim 4, wherein the cover is integral to the one or both of the two load-bearing structures.

6. The seat-supporting structure according to claim 1, wherein the frame-mounting portion comprises a clamp that mounts the seat-supporting structure on the main skeleton.

7. The seat-supporting structure according to claim 1, wherein the two load-bearing structures are made of rigid material.

8. The seat-supporting structure according to claim 2, further comprising: a seat support bar that connects the two load-bearing structures.

9. The seat-supporting structure according to claim 8, wherein each of two ends of the seat support bar is connected to the first bending portion of each of the two load-bearing structures.

10. The seat-supporting structure according to claim further comprising: a suspension bar between the two load-bearing structures.

11. The seat-supporting structure according to claim 10, wherein each of two ends of the suspension bar is connected to the middle portion of each of the two load-bearing structures.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The principle of the present invention and its advantages will become apparent in the following description, taking into consideration the accompanying drawings in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric motorcycle in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a motorcycle frame mounted with a seat-supporting structure in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0028] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a motorcycle frame mounted with a seat-supporting structure in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0029] FIG. 4 is an explanation view of a load-bearing structure in accordance with one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric motorcycle 1. The electric motorcycle 1 comprises a handle 2, two prongs 3, a front wheel 4a, a rear wheel 4b, a seat 5, a cover 6, two batteries 7, and a motor 8. While the electric motorcycle 1 is in motion, the handle 2 is manipulated to control the steering via the two prongs 3, thus it changes the direction of the front wheel 4a and the rear wheel 4b. Passengers sit on the seat 5, which is located above the cover 6 and the motor 8 driven by two batteries 7.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a motorcycle frame 10 which belongs to the electric motorcycle 1. The motorcycle frame 10 comprises a main skeleton 200 upon which a seat-supporting structure 100 is mounted to receive vibration while the motorcycle 1 is in motion, The seat-supporting structure 100 is also located under the seat 5 of the motorcycle frame 10 to support the seat 5 and withstand the load.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the seat-supporting structure 100 comprises two load-bearing structures 102, frame mounting portions 104b, a seat support bar 114, a suspension bar 116, and a seat end holder 118.

[0034] Each load-bearing structure 102 is arranged to support the seat 5 and be mounted on the main skeleton 200 using two frame mounting portions 104b. The seat support bar 114 is installed under the seat 5 to maintain the spacing between two load-bearing structures 102. The suspension bar 116 is used to maintain the spacing between two load-bearing structures 102 at the position lower than that of the seat support bar 114. The seat support bar 114 and the suspension bar 116 also provide additional strength to the seat-supporting structure 100. The seat end holder 118 is attached at the end of the seat 5 for a pillion passenger to hold.

[0035] By fabricating each element of the seat-supporting structure 100 part by part and assembling all the elements altogether, it is possible for the seat-supporting structure 100 to provide ease of fabrication.

[0036] As also shown in FIG. 2, the main skeleton 200 is constructed using a vertical tube 202 and two horizontal tubes 204.

[0037] The top of the vertical tube 202 is used for providing the location for the installation of the handle 2, whereas the bottom of the vertical tube 202 is connected to two horizontal tubes 204. The two horizontal tubes 204 provides the location upon which the seat-supporting structures 100 is mounted. In one or more embodiments, each of the horizontal tubes 204 has one end that is bent in a diagonally upward direction so as to connect with the vertical tube 202. In one or more embodiments (not shown), each of the horizontal tubes 204 has one end that is connected to another tube extending in a diagonally upward direction so as to provide a connection between the horizontal tube 204 and the vertical tube 202 because it entails more number of components and locations of adhesion/welding. In one or more embodiments (not shown), the horizontal tube 204 is configured to have a U-shape so that only one horizontal tube is needed to connect with one end of the vertical tube 202 and provide a location upon which the seat-supporting structures 100 is mounted. It is now apparent that a skilled person may exercise their normal skill to modify these minor configurations of and connection between the vertical tube 202 and the horizontal tubes 204 (or variants thereof) to achieve the same effects and results without deviating from the concept of the present invention.

[0038] According to one or more embodiments shown in FIG. 2, the main skeleton 200 is constructed using only few connected tubes having few bent and welded locations, which in turn reduces the number of working steps and chance of defects during the manufacturing process. Such simplified configuration of the main skeleton 200 is enabled by the load-bearing structures 102 which require few locations for mounting upon the main skeleton 200, in particular upon only the horizontal tubes 204.

[0039] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the motorcycle frame 10. By revealing each element from FIG. 2 part by part, it is possible to show how the motorcycle frame 10 is assembled.

[0040] FIG. 4 is an explanation view of the load-bearing structure 102. Each load-bearing structure 102 is fabricated in a single mold, with 15 mm in thickness using a rigid material, such as aluminum alloy, and is formed by three portions; a base portion 104, a middle portion 106, and a top portion 108.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 4, the base portion 104 is located at the bottom of the load-bearing structure 102. The base portion 104 comprises a branch portion 104a and a frame-mounting portion 104b, wherein such branch portion 104a extends upward in a diagonally backward direction to the middle portion 106 and such frame-mounting portion 104b is mounted on the main skeleton 200 (not shown). The middle portion 106 extends, from the branch portion 104a of the base portion 104, upward in a diagonally forward direction. The top portion 108 extends, from an upper part of the middle portion 106, upward in a diagonally backward direction.

[0042] The frame-mounting portion 104b includes at least one clamp 112, to engagingly mount and attach the load-bearing structure 102 on the horizontal tube 204 of the main skeleton 200 (not shown). With these clamps 112, both load-bearing structures 102 are detachable from the main skeleton 200. The number of clamp(s) 112 per base portion 104 may be two. A skilled person may exercise their normal skill to modify, for example, one clamp 112 per base portion 104 having a larger mounting surface, or three clamps 112 per base portion 104, each having a smaller mounting surface, to achieve the effect and results similar o the means of mounting (or variants thereof) that has been previously described, without deviating from the concept of the present invention.

[0043] As a result, the load-bearing structure 102 is configured in a zig-zag shape with two bending portions. A first bending portion 110 is formed between the top portion 108 and the middle portion 106; a second bending portion 111 is formed between the middle portion 106 and the branch portion 104a of the base portion 104.

[0044] At both bending portions 110 and 111, a first unopened portion 110a and a second unopened portion 111a are formed at the rearward position of the first bending portion 110, and at the forward position of the second bending portion 111, respectively.

[0045] Moreover, both load-bearing structures 102 include the same pattern of multiple openings 120 and ribs 130. Openings 120 are the portions where the material is absent, whereas ribs 130 are the portions where the material is present. In one or more embodiments, the shapes and positions of openings 120 and ribs 130 are non-uniform.

[0046] Therefore, by providing such partial absence of rigid material such as aluminum alloy, it is possible to reduce the weight of the load-bearing structures 102 without compromising the strength of the seat-supporting structure 100. Thus, the motorcycle 1 requires lower power to drive.

[0047] In one or more embodiments, the load-bearing structure 102 comprises the cover 6 (shown earlier in FIG. 1; omitted in FIG. 4) to provide additional strength and protect the openings 120 and ribs 130 from erosion caused by weathering and/or unintended engagement with a foreign object. In one or more embodiments, the liquid/molten rigid material is injected into a single mold to form the cover 6 that is integral to the load-bearing structure 102 so as to maximize the seal between the cover 6 and the load-bearing structure 102. Alternatively, the ribs 130 and openings 120 of the load-bearing structure 102 may be formed separately from the cover 6, for example by blanking a plain plate of rigid material having a predetermined shape. The load-bearing structure 102 formed by such alternative method may be fastened to the cover 6 by any known means, including welding, adhesive, and screwing.

[0048] Next, the operation of the load-bearing structure 102 while the motorcycle 1 is in motion with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 will be provided.

[0049] While the motorcycle 1 is in motion, it is expected to encounter unfavorable road conditions such as uneven road surfaces, bumps, or potholes, from time to time.

[0050] In such situations, extra forces will be exerted on the seat-supporting structure 100 from the load, caused by the weight of passengers and vibration or sudden vertical acceleration from passing through such unfavorable road conditions.

[0051] When these forces are exerted on each load-bearing structure 102, which has the zig-zag shape and includes multiple openings 120 and ribs 130, the stress in the structure is distributed along the ribs 130 and transmitted to the first bending portion 110 and the second bending portion 111. These bending portions 110 and 111 act as stress-resilient sections to accumulate and resist the stress at the first unopened portion 110a and the second unopened portion 111a.

[0052] With the unopened portions 110a acting as “reservoirs” of the stress, both load-bearing structures 102 together are capable of withstanding the load of as high as 600 kg (approximately 6,000 N), which is four times the weight of two passengers, each of whom is assumed to weigh 75 kg, simultaneously with vibrations/sudden vertical acceleration caused by uneven road surfaces such as potholes or road bumps up to three times of gravitational pull.

[0053] As a result, the seat-supporting structure 100 for mounting on the motorcycle frame 10 can provide ease of fabrication without compromising the strength of the seat-supporting structure 100 against the force that would cause the deformation of the seat-supporting structure 100 while the motorcycle 1 is in motion and also can reduce the weight of the seat-supporting structure 100.

[0054] Although the disclosure has been described with respect to only a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that various other embodiments may be devised without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.

[0055] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0056] 1 electric motorcycle

[0057] 2 handle

[0058] 3 prong

[0059] 4a front wheel

[0060] 4b rear wheel

[0061] 5 seat

[0062] 6 cover

[0063] 7 battery

[0064] 8 motor

[0065] 10 motorcycle frame

[0066] 100 seat-supporting structure

[0067] 102 load-bearing structure

[0068] 104 base portion

[0069] 104a branch portion

[0070] 104b frame-mounting portion

[0071] 106 middle portion

[0072] 108 top portion

[0073] 110 first bending portion

[0074] 110a first unopened portion

[0075] 111 second bending portion

[0076] 111a second unopened portion

[0077] 112 clamp

[0078] 114 seat support bar

[0079] 116 suspension bar

[0080] 118 seat end holder

[0081] 120 opening

[0082] 130 rib

[0083] 200 main skeleton

[0084] 202 vertical tube

[0085] 204 horizontal tube