Foldable Fender for a Motor Vehicle

Abstract

A fender for a motor vehicle has at least a first fender section and a second fender section. The second fender section is rotatably connected to the first fender section so as to be able to rotate at least between an operational position and an open position. The rotatable connection between the second fender section and the first fender section is provided by two pin-shaped connecting elements.

Claims

1. A fender for a motor vehicle, comprising: a first fender section and a second fender section; and two pin-shaped connection elements, wherein the second fender section is rotatably connected to the first fender section so as to be able to rotate at least between an operational position and an open position, and the rotatable connection between the second fender section and the first fender section is provided by the two pin-shaped connection elements.

2. The fender as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second fender section is a rear end of the fender and/or is a license plate holder to carry a license plate.

3. The fender as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two pin-shaped connection elements are screws.

4. The fender as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two pin-shaped connection elements are collar screws.

5. The fender as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two pin-shaped connection elements are rivets.

6. The fender as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two pin-shaped connection elements are arranged on two opposite sides of the fender in terms of a vehicle longitudinal axis and are coaxially oriented in prolongation of one another.

7. The fender as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a locking device for locking the second fender section with respect to the first fender section.

8. The fender as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: a locking device for locking the second fender section with respect to the first fender section.

9. The fender as claimed in claim 8, wherein the locking device comprises at least one additional screw, a snap-lock system and/or an interlocking device with at least one locking position.

10. The fender as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fender section and/or the second fender section are made of plastic.

11. The fender as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first fender section and/or the second fender section are injection molded parts.

12. The fender as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second fender section in the operational position constitutes a steady continuation of the first fender section.

13. The fender as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle is a motorcycle.

14. The fender as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle is a scooter, a two-wheel, three-wheel or four-wheel motor scooter, a trike or a quad.

15. The fender as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fender is configured in association with a rear wheel of the motor vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rear of a motorcycle with a fender according to the specification, in an operational position.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the motorcycle rear during a dismounting of a rear wheel.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a detail view of the fender of FIG. 1 in the operational position.

[0026] FIG. 4 is the fender of FIG. 3 in an open position.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross section view of a connection area of the fender of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 shows in perspective view a rear 10 of a motorcycle, shown only partly, where a fender 20 is associated with a rear wheel 11 of the motorcycle. The fender 20 is foldable and has a first fender section 21 and a second fender section 22, The second fender section 22 is joined to the first fender section 21 in a rotationally movable manner in order to rotate between an operational position as represented in FIG. 1 and an open position (see FIGS. 2 and 4). The second fender section 22 is joined to the first fender section 21 in the rotationally movable manner by way of two pin-shaped connection elements 23a, 23b.

[0029] Near the rear wheel 11 of the motorcycle, on both its left and its right side (each time relative to a direction of movement of the motorcycle), there is arranged a saddle bag 12a, 12b, making access to the rear wheel 11 quite difficult.

[0030] FIG. 2 therefore shows in a partial side view of the rear 10 a dismounting of the rear wheel 11. Owing to the rotating ability of the second fender section 22 with respect to the first fender section 21, the second fender section 22 can be rotated or folded into an open position, depicted in FIG. 2, enabling better access to and removal of the rear wheel 11.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows in a detail view the described fender 20 in a ready-to-use operational position. In the embodiment depicted, the second fender section 22 constitutes a rear end of the fender 20 and is additionally designed as a license plate holder to receive a license plate (not shown). For this purpose, the second fender section 22 has a number of recesses 24 for inserting or screwing in the license plate.

[0032] The two pin-shaped connection elements 23a, 23b are arranged on two opposite sides of the fender 20 in terms of a vehicle lengthwise direction and are coaxially oriented in prolongation of one another. Owing to the view, only the connection element 23a visible in this perspective is shown. Of course, however, the other connection element is analogous in design and positioned in mirror symmetry to the vehicle lengthwise axis arranged at the center of the vehicle. Furthermore, the two pin-shaped connection elements 23a, 23b are designed as screws, especially as collar screws, so that a relatively slight surface loading can be achieved in the connection area A of the two fender sections 21, 22, and therefore the strength requirements for the fender sections 21, 22 can be less than would be needed in the case of heavy and continuous rotation axles.

[0033] Optionally, the fender 20 may include a locking device 25 for locking the second fender section 22 with respect to the first fender section 21. The depicted locking device 25 comprises two additional screws, which connect the second fender section 22 in the operational position to the first fender section 21. In the depicted operational position, the second fender section 22 furthermore constitutes a steady or uniform continuation of the first fender section 21.

[0034] Preferably, the first fender section 21 and/or the second fender section 22 are made of plastic, especially as an injection molded part.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows the fender 20 represented in FIG. 3 in the open position. In this position, the second fender section 22 is rotated relative to the first fender section 21 about the connection elements 23a, 23b, acting as a hinge, and enables better access to the wheel 11 (see FIG. 2).

[0036] FIG. 5 shows in a detailed cross section view the connection area A of the fender 10 according to FIG. 3. In particular, a first lateral rotatable connection of the first 21 and the second fender section 22 by way of a connection element 23a, designed as a collar screw, is represented. Of course, the detail view only shows the connection provided on this fender side. Of course, a second lateral connection may be designed analogously on an opposite fender side, in which case the respective rotational axes defined by the two connection elements 23a, 23b are preferably arranged on two opposite sides in terms of the vehicle longitudinal axis and are coaxially oriented in prolongation of one another.

[0037] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.