JP7595689B2 - Steering wheel cover structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a handle cover structure.

Conventionally, in a scooter-type vehicle, there is a configuration in which an air guide passage is provided at the bottom of the windscreen to guide the wind generated while traveling to the back side of the windscreen fixed to the steering handlebars (see, for example, Patent Document 1). There is also a configuration in which a handlebar cover that covers the steering handlebars and knuckle guards on both sides of the handlebar cover are provided, and the wind generated while traveling is directed in a predetermined direction by inclined surfaces formed on the handlebar cover and the knuckle guards (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-203453 JP 2013-63739 A

However, in the conventional configuration described above, the openings and inclined surfaces for directing the wind while driving are exposed around the handle cover, which can easily affect the appearance of the area around the handle cover.

The present invention aims to improve the appearance of a handle cover structure for a saddle-type vehicle while allowing the flow of airflow around the handle cover to be adjusted.

As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention is a handle cover structure for a saddle-ride type vehicle (1), comprising a steering handle (2) of the saddle-ride type vehicle (1) and a handle cover (30) that covers the periphery of the steering handle (2), the handle cover (30) comprising an outer cover (40) that forms a cover appearance surface (41) and an inner cover (50) at least a portion of which is covered by the outer cover (40), the inner cover (50) being disposed at a position that does not overlap with the outer cover (40) in a front view. The vehicle cover has a front surface forming portion (54) that forms an inner front surface (55) facing the front of the vehicle and a front surface recess (56) that is recessed inwardly of the cover from the inner front surface (55), an inner outer surface (51) that is covered by the outer cover (40), and an inner outer surface forming portion (52) that forms a groove portion (53) that is recessed inwardly of the cover from the inner outer surface (51) and extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle along the inner outer surface (51), and a front end portion (53a) in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle of the groove portion (53) is open to the front surface recess (56).
According to this configuration, the handle cover has a two-layer structure of an outer cover and an inner cover, and the front recess is formed on the front surface of the inner cover at a position where the inner cover does not overlap with the outer cover when viewed from the front (when viewed from the front of the vehicle), so that the front recess acts as an accent and improves the appearance of the handle cover. The wind received by the front recess of the inner cover flows from the front end of the groove through the flow path (air guide path) in the groove and is discharged to the rear of the cover from between the outer cover and the inner cover. At this time, the groove can be oriented in any direction to adjust the direction of the wind flowing through the handle cover. The groove is hidden by the outer cover, so that the impact on the appearance can be reduced.

A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the front recess (56) extends in the vehicle width direction and is formed at an angle so that the outer side in the vehicle width direction is located toward the rear of the vehicle, the width of the groove portion (53) is narrower than the width of the front recess (56) in the vehicle width direction, and a front end portion (53a) of the groove portion (53) is connected to the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the front recess (56).
According to this configuration, the front end of the groove is disposed at the end of the front recess located toward the rear of the vehicle toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, so that the wind received by the front recess flows toward the outside in the vehicle width direction along the inclination of the front recess, and is then naturally guided to the front end (inlet) of the groove. This allows the wind to be well guided along the groove in the handle cover.

A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned second aspect, the vehicle width directional outer portion (56e) of the front recess (56) has a tapered shape that narrows in width in the vehicle vertical direction toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction.
According to this configuration, the flow path of the traveling wind is narrowed toward the outer side of the front recess in the vehicle width direction by making the front recess have a tapered shape, and the flow of the traveling wind flowing toward the outer side of the front recess in the vehicle width direction is stabilized. This makes it possible to effectively guide the traveling wind received by the front recess to the groove.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that in the second or third aspect, the groove portion (53) extends from the front end portion (53a) toward the rear of the vehicle and toward the outside in the vehicle width direction.
According to this configuration, the groove extends from the front end toward the rear of the vehicle so as to be positioned outward in the vehicle width direction, so that the wind guided into the groove is directed outward in the vehicle width direction, thereby reducing the wind hitting the driver positioned behind the handle cover.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the second to fourth aspects, an outer edge (56d) on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the front recess (56) and an outer edge (53d) on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the groove portion (53) are arranged so as to be connected to each other in a straight line.
With this configuration, the outer edge of the front recess and the outer edge of the groove are connected in a straight line, so that the wind flowing along the outer edge of the front recess can be smoothly flowed into the groove, along the outer edge of the groove, and ultimately along the length direction.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the front recesses (56) are provided in a pair on the left and right in the vehicle width direction, and the handle cover (30) is provided with a downward protrusion (37) on the inside in the vehicle width direction, protruding between the pair of front recesses (56) from a position higher than the front recesses (56), the downward protrusion (37) has an outer edge (35c) that is inclined so as to be positioned more outward in the vehicle width direction and toward the rear of the vehicle as it moves higher up the vehicle, and the outer edge (35c) of the downward protrusion (37) and an inner edge (56a) on the inside in the vehicle width direction of the front recess (56) extend in the same direction.
According to this configuration, while the traveling wind is made to flow outward in the vehicle width direction along the outer edge of the downward protruding portion of the handle cover, a part of the traveling wind can be taken in near the inner edge of the front recess and guided in any direction through the front recess and the groove. "Extending in the same direction" means being arranged so as to substantially overlap each other in a front view.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the depth of the groove portion (53) from the inner outer surface (51) is formed shallower than the depth of the front recess (56) from the inner front surface (55).
According to this configuration, by forming the grooves on the outer surface of the inner cover shallowly, the height of the protrusions such as beads that protrude from the inner surface (back surface) of the inner cover to form the grooves can be reduced, and the impact on the component arrangement space inside the handle cover can be reduced. The front end of the grooves is difficult to see when viewed from the front recess side, and the impact on the appearance can be reduced.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the handle cover (30) is provided with an opening (38) through which a mirror stay (3d1) passes, an outer outer edge (42c) extending from the outer side of the outer front edge (42b) of the outer cover (40) toward the rear of the vehicle is positioned outer in the vehicle width direction than the opening (38), and an outer edge (53d) of the groove portion (53) is positioned inner in the vehicle width direction than the opening (38).
With this configuration, the wind guided from the front edge of the outer cover along the outer edge flows outside the opening through which the mirror stay penetrates, while the wind guided along the groove flows inside the opening in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the wind guided along the shapes of the handle cover is less likely to reach the opening, which makes it possible to suppress the generation of unintended wind noise.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to eighth aspects, a rear end portion (53b) of the groove portion (53) in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle is provided with a step portion (53c) that protrudes above the vehicle beyond the bottom surface of the groove portion (53).
With this configuration, it is possible to control the amount of wind that passes through the groove and is discharged from the rear end portion.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to ninth aspects, the front recess (56) is formed so as to be deeper on the inner side in the vehicle width direction and shallower toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction.
According to this configuration, cover members such as handle covers generally have an inclined shape so that the outer side in the vehicle width direction is located toward the rear of the vehicle, so by slanting the front recess relative to this shape, it is possible to create a varied and innovative appearance.

The present invention provides a handle cover structure for a saddle-type vehicle that improves the appearance while allowing the flow of airflow around the handle cover to be adjusted.

FIG. 1 is a left side view of a front portion of a vehicle body of a motorcycle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a left side view of the vicinity of a handle cover of the motorcycle. FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view corresponding to FIG. 3 and showing the handle cover with an outer cover removed. 4 is a perspective view of the periphery of a front end portion of the guide groove portion of the handle cover as viewed obliquely from below. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rear end portion of the guide groove portion from diagonally above. FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the directions of front, rear, left and right are the same as those in the vehicle described below unless otherwise specified. In addition, in the drawings used in the following description, an arrow FR indicating the front of the vehicle, an arrow LH indicating the left side of the vehicle, an arrow UP indicating the top of the vehicle, and a line CL indicating the center of the vehicle body to the left and right are shown at appropriate positions.
The term "middle" used in this embodiment includes not only the center between both ends of an object, but also the inner range between both ends of an object.

<Entire vehicle>
FIG. 1 is a left side view of a front portion of a scooter-type motorcycle (saddle-type vehicle) 1 as an example of a vehicle (mobile body), as viewed from the left side in the left-right direction of the vehicle (vehicle width direction).
The motorcycle 1 includes a front wheel 3, which is a steering wheel, and a rear wheel (not shown), which is a drive wheel. The front wheel 3 is supported by a pair of left and right front forks 3a, and can be steered by a bar handle (steering handle) 2. The rear wheel is supported by a swing-type power unit (not shown), and can be driven by the power unit. Steering system components including the bar handle 2, the front forks 3a, and the front wheel 3 are steerably supported by a head pipe 10a at the front end of a body frame 10. The front part of the power unit is supported at a front-rear intermediate part (not limited to the center) of the body frame 10 so as to be able to swing up and down. The power unit includes at least one of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as a drive source, for example.

The upper parts of the pair of left and right front forks 3a are connected to each other by a bridge member 3b. A stem pipe 3c extending above the bridge member 3b is inserted into the head pipe 10a. The upper part of the stem pipe 3c protrudes above the head pipe 10a and supports the left and right central part of the bar handle 2. The periphery of the bar handle 2 is covered by a handle cover 30. A pair of left and right rearview mirrors 3d and the like are attached to the left and right sides of the bar handle 2. A front fender 3e that covers the upper part of the front wheel 3 is supported by the bridge member 3b.

A floor step 6 on which the driver places his/her feet is provided between the front wheels 3 and the rear wheels. A front body 11 is provided in front of the floor step 6. A rear body (not shown) is provided behind the floor step 6. A seat (not shown) on which an occupant sits is disposed above the rear body. A space K1 above the floor step 6 between the front body 11 and the rear body is used as a straddle space K1 for an occupant to straddle the vehicle body. A bar handle 2 extending in the vehicle width direction is disposed above the front body 11.

The periphery of the body frame 10 of the motorcycle 1 is covered with a body cover 20. The body cover 20 includes a front cover 21 that forms the outer surface of the front body 11, and a floor cover 24 that covers the floor step 6. Lighting devices 14, such as headlights, are arranged on the front side of the front cover 21. The upper surface of the floor cover 24 forms a footrest surface 24a of the floor step 6. The footrest surface 24a is flat across the entire width in the vehicle width direction, for example. The floor step 6 may include a center tunnel that rises upward on the inside in the vehicle width direction.

<Handle cover structure>
Next, the structure of the handle cover 30 will be described.
2 to 4, the handle cover 30 is provided on the motorcycle 1 (see FIG. 1) that travels (moves forward) toward the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction (travel direction), and allows a portion of the traveling wind from the front of the vehicle to flow into the cover, and then blows this traveling wind in any direction behind the cover, thereby making it possible to adjust the flow of the traveling wind behind the cover. Unless otherwise specified, the configuration of the handle cover 30 is symmetrical with respect to the center CL of the vehicle body.

The handle cover 30 includes an outer cover 40 that forms a cover front upper surface (cover exterior surface, outer outer surface) 41 that is inclined downward toward the front in a side view, and an inner cover 50 that forms a second cover front upper surface (inner outer surface) 51 that is covered by the outer cover 40. The handle cover 30 takes in a portion of the traveling wind between the outer cover 40 and the inner cover 50, and directs this traveling wind rearward along a guide groove portion 53 described below, thereby making it possible to adjust the flow of the traveling wind behind the cover.

The handle cover 30 has a front upper surface portion 31 that faces the front and upper side of the vehicle, and a rear upper surface portion 32 that faces the rear and upper side of the vehicle. The lower surface portion 33 is located lower than the front and rear upper surface portions 31, 32 and faces the lower side of the vehicle as a whole. A cylindrical neck portion 34 that extends downward is formed in the center of the lower surface portion 33 in the vehicle width direction. The neck portion 34 covers the periphery of the upper part of the stem pipe 3c.

The front upper surface portion 31 is composed of an outer cover 40 and an inner cover 50. The region on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the front upper surface portion 31 has a shape that protrudes upward and forward, and forms a curved external surface with the inner part in the vehicle width direction of the outer cover 40. The region on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the front upper surface portion 31 extends linearly outward in the vehicle width direction, and forms an external surface with projections and recesses with the outer part in the vehicle width direction of the outer cover 40 and the inner cover 50.
The rear upper surface portion 32 is formed by the rear upper portion of the inner cover 50. A display portion 32a of a meter device including a speedometer and the like is disposed on the rear upper surface portion 32.

The front upper surface portion 31 has a central region 35 that forms a specified region on the inside in the vehicle width direction including the center CL of the vehicle body, and a pair of left and right extended region portions 36 that form specified regions on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the central region portion 35.

The central region 35 has a shape in which the width narrows toward the bottom in a front view from the front of the vehicle. In a front view, the central region 35 has a central upper edge 35a that extends in the vehicle width direction in an upwardly convex arc shape, a pair of left and right central side edges 35b that extend forward and downward and inward in the vehicle width direction from the left and right ends of the central upper edge 35a, and a pair of left and right central second side edges 35c that extend forward and downward and inward in the vehicle width direction from the lower ends of the left and right central side edges 35b, with a stronger inward inclination in the vehicle width direction than the central side edges 35b.

The left and right second center side edges 35c are connected at their lower ends at the center CL of the vehicle body. The left and right second center side edges 35c form a V-shaped center front edge 35d in a front view. The portion of the center region 35 that extends in the vehicle width direction at a specified vertical width along the center upper edge 35a is a visor portion 35e that rises above and in front of the display portion 32a of the meter device.

In a front view, the extension region 36 extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the left and right central side edges 35b and the central second side edges 35c. In a front view, the extension region 36 has a pair of left and right extension upper edges 36a extending outward in the vehicle width direction from the left and right ends of the central upper edge 35a, a pair of left and right extension outer edges 36b extending forward and downward and inward in the vehicle width direction from the outer ends of the left and right extension upper edges 36a, and a pair of left and right extension front edges 36c extending forward and downward and inward in the vehicle width direction from the lower ends of the left and right extension outer edges 36b with a strong inclination toward the vehicle width direction inward. The left and right extension front edges 36c are connected to each other at the left and right center CL of the vehicle body at their respective lower ends. The left and right extension front edges 36c form a V-shaped second front edge 36d that is shallower than the central front edge 35d in a front view. The lower ends (vertices) of the central front edge 35d and the second front edge 36d substantially overlap in a front view.

The outer cover 40 is integrally provided over the area excluding the visor portion 35e in the central area 35 of the front upper surface portion 31 and the area excluding the front lower portion (front surface forming portion 54 described later) in the extension area 36 of the front upper surface portion 31. Hereinafter, the part constituting the central area 35 in the outer cover 40 will be referred to as the outer central portion 40a, and the part constituting the extension area 36 will be referred to as the outer extension portion 40b. In addition, the front edge of the outer central portion 40a will be referred to as the outer central portion front edge 42a, the front edge of the outer extension portion 40b will be referred to as the outer extension portion front edge 42b, and the outer edge of the outer extension portion 40b in the vehicle width direction will be referred to as the outer extension portion outer edge 42c. The outer central portion front edge 42a substantially overlaps with the central portion front edge 35d of the central area portion 35, and the outer extension portion outer edge 42c substantially overlaps with the extension portion outer edge 36b of the extension area portion 36. The outer cover 40 has a body that is an integrally molded synthetic resin product.

In this embodiment, the outer extension 40b on the right side of the vehicle is formed with an upwardly protruding bulge 40c. The bulge 40c forms a space below the outer extension 40b to avoid the reservoir tank 2a of the brake master cylinder supported on the bar handle 2. The outer extension 40b on the left side of the vehicle does not have a bulge 40c.

The inner cover 50 is provided across the front upper surface portion 31, rear upper surface portion 32 and bottom surface portion 33 of the handle cover 30 (across the entire handle cover 30). The inner cover 50 is divided into front and rear divided bodies 50f, 50r in the vehicle longitudinal direction (see Figures 7 and 8), for example, and is attached to the bar handle 2 so as to sandwich the bar handle 2 from the front and rear. The front and rear divided bodies 50f, 50r each have a main body portion that is an integrally molded product made of synthetic resin. The inner cover 50 may also be referred to as the cover body of the handle cover 30. Hereinafter, the area of the inner cover 50 that is covered by the outer cover 40 will be referred to as the inner outer surface forming portion 52.

The inner outer surface forming portion 52 of the inner cover 50 has an inner outer surface 51 that fits along the outer outer surface 41 formed by the outer cover 40, and a pair of left and right guide groove portions (groove portions) 53 that are recessed toward the inside of the cover (effectively downward in this embodiment) relative to the inner outer surface 51. Each guide groove portion 53 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction along the inner outer surface 51, and is inclined so that it is positioned further outward in the vehicle width direction as it approaches the rear.

Here, below the outer extension portion 40b on the right side of the vehicle, an opening 52a for avoiding the reservoir tank 2a is formed in the inner outer surface forming portion 52. The opening 52a cuts out the rear upper portion of the guide groove portion 53 on the right side of the vehicle. The upper portion of the reservoir tank 2a protrudes above the opening 52a.
Hereinafter, the guide groove portion 53 will be described with reference to the guide groove portion 53 on the left side of the vehicle. In the case where the guide groove portion 53 on the right side of the vehicle is not cut out, the guide groove portions 53 may be provided symmetrically on the left and right sides.

The inner cover 50 has a pair of left and right front forming portions 54 in the area of the front upper surface portion 31 of the handle cover 30 that faces the front of the vehicle while avoiding the outer cover 40 (area forward of the front edges 42b of the left and right outer extension portions). Each front forming portion 54 has an inner front surface 55 that faces the front of the vehicle on the inner cover 50, and a front recessed portion 56 that is recessed toward the rear of the vehicle relative to the inner front surface 55.

The left and right inner front faces 55 are inclined so that they are positioned further rearward as they move outward in the vehicle width direction. The left and right front recesses 56 are inclined so as to follow the inner front faces 55 (i.e., they are inclined so that they are positioned further rearward as they move outward in the vehicle width direction) and extend in the vehicle width direction.

The left and right front recesses 56 may be formed so that they become shallower in the front-rear direction from the inside in the vehicle width direction to the outside in the vehicle width direction. Here, the shape of the front side of the handle cover 30 is formed to be inclined so that it is positioned further rearward as it approaches the outside in the vehicle width direction. By making the inclination of the shape of the front recesses 56 different from the inclination of the shape of the handle cover 30 (inclined so that it is positioned further forward as it approaches the outside in the vehicle width direction), it is possible to add variation to the shape of the front side of the handle cover 30.

Each front recess 56 is formed in a shape (roughly diamond-shaped) with the outer side in the vehicle width direction raised in front view. In front view, each front recess 56 has a recess first upper edge 56a extending along the second side edge 35c of the central region 35 so as to be positioned rearward and upward toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction, a recess second upper edge 56b extending from the outer end of the recess first upper edge 56a in the vehicle width direction so as to be positioned upward toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction with a slope closer to the horizontal than the recess first upper edge 56a, a recess first lower edge 56c extending along the extension portion front edge 36c of the extension region 36 so as to be positioned rearward and upward toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and a recess second lower edge 56d extending from the outer end of the recess first lower edge 56c in the vehicle width direction so as to be positioned rearward and upward toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction with a slope closer to the vertical than the recess first lower edge 56c. The recess second upper edge 56b extends along the outer extension portion front edge 42b. The second lower edge 56d of the recess is generally parallel to the outer edge 36b of the extension and extends vertically across the left-right intermediate portion (not limited to the center) of the front forming portion 54.

In front view, the angle between the first upper edge 56a and the first lower edge 56c of the recess, and the angle between the second upper edge 56b and the second lower edge 56d of the recess are acute angles. The shape of the front recess 56 in front view is a rhombus in which the left-right width is larger than the up-down width. The outer portion of the front recess 56 in the vehicle width direction (outer portion 56e of the recess) is tapered in such a way that the width in the up-down direction becomes narrower toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction. For example, the outer portion 56e of the recess is a triangular portion sandwiched between the second upper edge 56b of the recess and the second lower edge 56d of the recess. The front recess 56 is wider in the vehicle width direction than in the up-down direction, and the guide groove portion 53 is narrower in the vehicle width direction than this front recess 56. The front end (inlet) 53a of the guide groove portion 53 is connected to the outer end of the front recess 56 in the vehicle width direction (outer end of the second upper edge 56b of the recess) and opens a flow path to the inside of the front recess 56.

The guide groove portion 53 extends rearward from the front end portion 53a along the inner outer surface 51. The guide groove portion 53 extends at an angle so as to be positioned outward in the vehicle width direction as it approaches the rear side. The guide groove portion 53 has a flat cross-sectional shape with a shallow vertical depth (groove depth) relative to the width (groove width) in the vehicle width direction. The guide groove portion 53 extends in the front-rear direction with a constant cross-sectional shape. The outer edge 53d on the outer side of the vehicle width direction of the guide groove portion 53 is arranged to be connected to the outer edge (recess second lower edge 56d) on the outer side of the vehicle width direction of the front recess 56 in a substantially straight line when viewed from the front. The "substantially straight line" does not necessarily mean that the outer edges 53d, 56d are connected in a completely straight line, but may be connected to each other with a shift or angle within a range of about the groove width of the guide groove portion 53.

5 and 7, the guide groove portion 53 is formed so that the vertical depth is shallower than the front-rear depth of the front recess 56 (particularly the depth of the front recess 56 at the vehicle width outer side). The step portion 56b1 facing the front recess 56 at the second upper edge 56b of the recess of the front recess 56 is cut out to the cross-sectional shape of the guide groove portion 53 at the portion where the front end portion 53a of the guide groove portion 53 is connected. As a result, the front end portion 53a of the guide groove portion 53 opens (communicates) the flow path in the guide groove portion 53 into the front recess 56, making it possible to introduce a part of the running wind received in the front recess 56 into the guide groove portion 53. The running wind introduced into the guide groove portion 53 flows rearward and upward and outward in the vehicle width direction along the guide groove portion 53, and is discharged from the left and right extension portion upper edges 36a of the extension area portion 36 of the front upper surface portion 31.

6 and 8, the rear end 53b of the guide groove portion 53 is provided with a step 53c that protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the guide groove portion 53. The step 53c is formed on the upper edge of the rear divided body 50r of the inner cover 50. Since the step 53c protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the guide groove portion 53, the opening area of the rear end 53b of the guide groove portion 53 is narrowed, and the amount of exhaust air caused by running is reduced.
In this embodiment, the outer extension portion 40b of the outer cover 40 extends rearward and downward beyond the extension portion upper edge 36a of the extension region portion 36 of the front upper surface portion 31 until it overlaps with the upper portion of the rear upper surface portion 32. The running wind discharged from the rear end portion 53b of the guide groove portion 53 is once discharged inside the outer extension portion 40b of the outer cover 40 to weaken its momentum, and is then discharged to the outside of the cover through a gap between the outer cover 40 and the inner cover 50, or through an opening formed in the outer cover 40.

The lower part of the central region 35 of the handle cover 30 is a downward protruding part (tip) 37 that protrudes downward so as to enter from above between the left and right front recesses 56. The downward protruding part 37 is an inverted triangular part sandwiched between the left and right central second side edges 35c in front view, and protrudes downward from the upper part of the central region 35 (the part sandwiched between the left and right central side edges 35b in front view, the part above the front recesses 56).
The left and right second central side edges 35c of the downward protrusions 37 are arranged to overlap with the inner edges (recess first upper edges 56a) of the left and right front recesses 56 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The term "arranged to overlap with each other" is not limited to an arrangement in which they overlap or intersect with each other in front view, but also includes an arrangement in which they extend side by side close to each other in front view.

A vertically extending hanging wall 43 is formed on the edge of the outer cover 40 facing the front of the vehicle. The hanging wall 43 is formed across the left and right outer central portion front edges 42a, the outer extension portion front edges 42b, and the outer extension portion outer edges 42c. The hanging wall 43 extends downward from the edge of the outer outer surface 41 of the outer cover 40, with its lower end close to the inner outer surface 51 of the inner cover 50. This makes it difficult for traveling wind to enter the gap between the outer cover 40 and the inner cover 50 from near the front edge of the outer cover 40.

If a large amount of wind enters the gap between the outer cover 40 and the inner cover 50, it may cause a feeling of restraint in the handle cover 30 and steering system components, and may generate wind noise. In response to this, the hanging wall 43 prevents the occurrence of gaps on the front side of the outer cover 40, thereby suppressing the feeling of restraint and the occurrence of wind noise.

On the other hand, part of the traveling wind is guided through the front recess 56 and the guide groove 53 toward the riding position behind the cover. The traveling wind received by the front recess 56 flows to the outside of the front recess 56 in the vehicle width direction and is guided to the front end (inlet) 53a of the guide groove 53, and is guided in a specified direction along the guide groove 53. In this embodiment, the traveling wind introduced into the guide groove 53 is guided to the outside of the vehicle width direction of the handle cover 30 (outside the front end 53a of the guide groove 53 in the vehicle width direction). This reduces the wind hitting the driver positioned behind the handle cover 30, while providing an appropriate amount of traveling wind to the rear of the handle cover 30, reducing the generation of negative pressure and therefore air resistance behind the handle cover 30.

The rear end (outlet) 53b of the guide groove 53 is provided with a step 53c (see Figures 6 and 8), which reduces the amount of wind discharged from the rear end 53b of the guide groove 53. As a result, the flow speed of the wind passing through the guide groove 53 is reduced. This reduces the feeling of steering restriction caused by the aerodynamic force of the wind flow on the handle cover 30 and, ultimately, on steering system components.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the handle cover 30 is formed with an opening 38 for passing through the mirror stay 3d1 of the rearview mirror 3d fixed to the handlebar 2. The opening 38 is disposed in a position offset toward the outside in the vehicle width direction of the extension area 36 of the front upper surface portion 31. The opening 38 forms a circular opening that passes through the outer cover 40 and the inner cover 50 in the vertical direction. The base 3d2 of the mirror stay 3d1 that is aligned in the vertical direction is inserted into the opening 38.

The outer edge (outer extension outer edge 42c) of the outer cover 40 is located on the outer side of the vehicle width direction of the front edge (outer extension front edge 42b) of the outer cover 40 and extends rearward from the outer side of the vehicle width direction. As a result, the wind flowing outward in the vehicle width direction along the hanging wall 43 on the front side of the outer cover 40 is guided outward in the vehicle width direction from the opening 38 and flows rearward in the vehicle width direction.

An outer edge 53d of the guide groove portion 53 is disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the opening 38. That is, the entire guide groove portion 53 is disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the opening 38. As a result, the traveling wind flowing along the guide groove portion 53 is guided on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the opening 38 and flows toward the rear of the vehicle.
In the embodiment, it is possible to make it difficult for the wind flowing through the handle cover 30 while traveling to reach the opening 38 .

As described above, the handle cover structure in the above embodiment is a handle cover structure for a moving body (motorcycle 1) that travels forward in the traveling direction (vehicle front-rear direction), and includes a bar handle 2 extending in the width direction (vehicle width direction) of the moving body, and a handle cover 30 that covers the periphery of the bar handle 2. The handle cover 30 includes an outer cover 40 that forms a cover appearance surface (outer outer surface 41), and an inner cover 50 at least a part of which is covered by the outer cover 40. The inner cover 50 is a structure for covering the outer cover 40. The outer cover 40 includes a front surface forming portion 54 which forms an inner front surface 55 facing forward in the direction of travel (front of the vehicle) and a front surface recess 56 which is recessed inwardly of the cover (rearwardly in the direction of travel, rearwardly of the vehicle) from the inner front surface 55, an inner outer surface forming portion 52 which forms an inner outer surface 51 which is covered by the outer cover 40, and a guide groove portion 53 which is recessed inwardly of the cover (downwardly in the vertical direction of the vehicle) from the inner outer surface 51 and extends in the direction of travel along the inner outer surface 51, and a front end portion 53a of the guide groove portion 53 in the direction of travel is open to the inside of the front surface recess 56.
According to this configuration, the handle cover 30 has a two-layer structure of the outer cover 40 and the inner cover 50, and the front recess 56 is formed on the inner front surface 55 of the inner cover 50, avoiding the outer cover 40, so that the front recess 56 acts as an accent and improves the appearance of the handle cover 30. The traveling wind received by the front recess 56 of the inner cover 50 flows from the front end 53a of the guide groove portion 53 through a flow path (air guide path) in the guide groove portion 53, and is discharged to the rear of the cover from between the outer cover 40 and the inner cover 50. At this time, the guide groove portion 53 can be directed in any direction to adjust the direction of the traveling wind flowing in the handle cover 30. The guide groove portion 53 is hidden by the outer cover 40, so that the impact on the appearance can be suppressed.

In the above-described handle cover structure, the front recess 56 extends in the width direction (vehicle width direction) and is formed at an angle so that the further outward in the width direction it is positioned rearward in the direction of travel, and the guide groove portion 53 has a width in the width direction that is smaller than the width of the front recess 56, and a front end portion 53a of the guide groove portion 53 is connected to the outer end portion in the width direction of the front recess 56.
According to this configuration, by arranging the front end 53a of the guide groove 53 at the widthwise outer end of the front recess 56 which is located rearward in the traveling direction as it becomes more widthwise outer, the traveling wind received by the front recess 56 flows widthwise outward along the inclination of the front recess 56, and is then naturally guided to the front end (inlet) 53a of the guide groove 53. This makes it possible to effectively guide the traveling wind along the guide groove 53 inside the handle cover 30.

In the above handle cover structure, the outer portion in the width direction of the front recess 56 (recess outer portion 56e) has a tapered shape that narrows the vertical width of the moving body toward the outer side in the width direction.
According to this configuration, by making the widthwise outer side of the front recess 56 have a tapered shape, the flow path of the traveling wind narrows toward the widthwise outer side of the front recess 56, stabilizing the flow of the traveling wind flowing toward the widthwise outer side of the front recess 56. This makes it possible to effectively guide the traveling wind received by the front recess 56 to the guide groove portion 53.

In the above handle cover structure, the guide groove portion 53 extends from the front end portion 53a rearward in the traveling direction and outward in the width direction.
According to this configuration, the guide groove portion 53 extends from the front end portion 53a so as to be positioned outward in the width direction toward the rear in the traveling direction, so that the wind guided by the guide groove portion 53 is directed outward in the width direction. This makes it possible to prevent the driver positioned behind the handle cover 30 from being blown by the wind.

In the above-described handle cover structure, the widthwise outer edge (second lower edge 56d of recess) of the front recess 56 and the widthwise outer edge 53d of the guide groove portion 53 are arranged to be connected to each other in a straight line.
According to this configuration, the outer edge of the front recess 56 (second lower edge 56d of the recess) and the outer edge 53d of the guide groove portion 53 are connected in a straight line, so that the wind flowing along the outer edge of the front recess 56 (second lower edge 56d of the recess) can be smoothly flowed along the outer edge 53d of the guide groove portion 53 and therefore along the length direction.

In the above-described handle cover structure, a pair of front recesses 56 are provided in the width direction, and a downward protrusion 37 is provided on the widthwise inner side of the handle cover 30, which protrudes downward in the vertical direction from a position above the front recesses 56 in the vertical direction of the moving body so as to fit between the pair of front recesses 56, and the widthwise outer side of the downward protrusion 37 has an outer edge (central second side edge 35c) that is inclined so as to be positioned further outward in the width direction and rearward in the direction of travel as it moves upward in the vertical direction, and the outer edge (central second side edge 35c) of the downward protrusion 37 and the inner edge (recess first upper edge 56a) on the widthwise inner side of the front recess 56 are arranged to overlap each other.
With this configuration, the traveling wind is caused to flow widthwise outward along the outer edge (second central side edge 35c) of the downward protrusion 37 of the handle cover 30, while a portion of this traveling wind is taken in near the inner edge (first upper edge 56a of the recess) of the front recess 56 and guided in any direction through the front recess 56 and the guide groove portion 53.

In the above handle cover structure, the depth of the guide groove portion 53 from the inner outer surface 51 is formed to be shallower than the depth of the front surface recess 56 from the inner front surface 55.
According to this configuration, by forming the guide groove portion 53 formed on the inner outer surface 51 shallowly, it is possible to reduce the height of protrusions such as beads that protrude from the inner surface (back surface) of the inner cover 50 to form the guide groove portion 53, thereby reducing the impact on the component arrangement space inside the handle cover 30. The front end portion 53a of the guide groove portion 53 becomes difficult to see when viewed from the front recess 56 side, thereby reducing the impact on the appearance.

In the above-described handle cover structure, the handle cover 30 has an opening 38 through which a mirror stay 3d1 fixed to the bar handle 2 passes, and an outer outer edge (outer extension portion outer edge 42c) extending from the widthwise outer side of the outer front edge (outer extension portion front edge 42b) of the outer cover 40 rearward in the traveling direction is positioned outside the opening 38 in the width direction, and an outer edge 53d of the guide groove portion 53 is positioned inside the opening 38 in the width direction.
According to this configuration, the traveling wind guided from the front edge (outer extension portion front edge 42b) along the outer edge (outer extension portion outer edge 42c) of the outer cover 40 flows outside in the width direction of the opening 38 through which the mirror stay 3d1 passes, and the traveling wind guided along the guide groove portion 53 flows inside in the width direction of the opening 38. For this reason, the traveling wind guided along each shape of the handle cover 30 is less likely to reach the opening 38, and the generation of unintended wind noise can be suppressed.

In the above handle cover structure, the rear end 53 b of the guide groove portion 53 in the traveling direction is provided with a step portion 53 c that protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the guide groove portion 53 .
This configuration makes it possible to control the amount of wind discharged from the rear end 53b through the guide groove portion 53. The rear end 53b of the guide groove portion 53 becomes inconspicuous when viewed from the driver's side, and the impact on the appearance can be reduced.

In the above handle cover structure, the front recess 56 is formed so as to be deeper on the inner side in the width direction and to become shallower toward the outer side in the width direction.
According to this configuration, cover members such as the handle cover 30 generally have an inclined shape with the outer widthwise side positioned rearward, and by slanting the front recess 56 relative to this shape, a novel and varied appearance can be created.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and for example, the guide groove is not limited to a pair on the upper surface side of the handle cover, but may be a single groove or three or more grooves, may be asymmetric, or may be on the lower surface side of the handle cover, etc. Also, the front recess may be a single groove or three or more grooves, or may be asymmetric.
The handle cover structure of this embodiment may be applied to saddle-ride type vehicles other than motorcycles. The saddle-ride type vehicles include all vehicles on which a driver straddles the vehicle body, including not only motorcycles (including motorized bicycles and scooter-type vehicles), but also three-wheeled vehicles (including vehicles with one front wheel and two rear wheels, as well as vehicles with two front wheels and one rear wheel) or four-wheeled vehicles (such as four-wheeled buggies). The handle cover structure of this embodiment may also be applied to vehicles other than saddle-ride type vehicles (such as passenger cars, buses, trucks, etc.).
The handle cover structure of this embodiment is applied to a vehicle, but the present invention is not limited to application to vehicles and may be applied to various vehicles and moving bodies such as various transportation equipment such as aircraft and ships, as well as construction machinery and industrial machinery.

1. Motorcycles (saddle-type vehicles, moving objects)
2. Bar handle (steering handle)
3d1 Mirror stay 30 Handle cover 35c Second center edge (outer edge)
37 Downward protrusion 38 Opening 40 Outer cover 41 Outer outer surface (cover exterior surface)
42b Outer extension front edge (outer front edge)
42c Outer extension outer edge (outer outer edge)
50 Inner cover 51 Inner outer surface 52 Inner outer surface forming portion 53 Guide groove portion (groove portion)
53a Front end 53b Rear end 53c Step 53d Outer edge 54 Front surface forming portion 55 Inner front surface 56 Front surface recess 56a First upper edge of recess (inner edge)
56d Second lower edge of recess (outer edge)
56e: Outer recess portion (outer portion in width direction)

Claims (10)

A handle cover structure for a saddle-ride type vehicle (1),
The vehicle (1) includes a steering handle (2) and a handle cover (30) that covers the periphery of the steering handle (2),
The handle cover (30) is
An outer cover (40) forming a cover exterior surface (41);
and an inner cover (50) at least a portion of which is covered by the outer cover (40),
The inner cover (50) is
a front forming portion (54) that forms an inner front surface (55) that faces the front of the vehicle at a position that does not overlap with the outer cover (40) in a front view, and a front recessed portion (56) that is recessed inwardly of the cover with respect to the inner front surface (55);
an inner outer surface forming portion (52) that forms an inner outer surface (51) that is covered by the outer cover (40) and a groove portion (53) that is recessed inwardly of the cover with respect to the inner outer surface (51) and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction along the inner outer surface (51);
A handle cover structure characterized in that a front end portion (53a) of the groove portion (53) in the vehicle longitudinal direction is open to the front recess portion (56). The front recess (56) extends in the vehicle width direction and is formed inclined so that the outer side in the vehicle width direction is located rearward of the vehicle,
The width of the groove portion (53) is narrower than the width of the front recess portion (56) in the vehicle width direction,
2. The handle cover structure according to claim 1, wherein a front end portion (53a) of the groove portion (53) is connected to an outer side of the front recess portion (56) in the vehicle width direction. The handle cover structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the outer portion (56e) of the front recess (56) in the vehicle width direction is tapered so that the width in the vertical direction of the vehicle narrows toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The handle cover structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the groove portion (53) extends from the front end portion (53a) toward the rear of the vehicle and toward the outside in the vehicle width direction. The handle cover structure according to claim 4, characterized in that the outer edge (56d) of the front recess (56) on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and the outer edge (53d) of the groove portion (53) on the outer side in the vehicle width direction are arranged so as to be connected to each other in a straight line. The front recess (56) is provided in a pair on the left and right in the vehicle width direction,
A lower protruding portion (37) protruding from a portion of the handle cover (30) higher than the front recessed portions (56) on the inner side in the vehicle width direction and between the pair of front recessed portions (56),
The downward protruding portion (37) has an outer edge (35c) that is inclined so as to be located outward in the vehicle width direction and toward the rear of the vehicle as it approaches the upper part of the vehicle,
2. The handle cover structure according to claim 1, wherein the outer edge (35c) of the downward protrusion (37) and the inner edge (56a) on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the front recess (56) extend in the same direction. The handle cover structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the depth of the groove portion (53) from the inner outer surface (51) is shallower than the depth of the front recess (56) from the inner front surface (55). The handle cover (30) has an opening (38) through which the mirror stay (3d1) passes,
an outer outer edge (42c) extending from the outer side of the outer front edge (42b) of the outer cover (40) toward the rear of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction is disposed on the outer side of the opening (38) in the vehicle width direction;
2. The handle cover structure according to claim 1, wherein an outer edge (53d) of the groove (53) is disposed on an inner side in the vehicle width direction than the opening (38). The handle cover structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear end (53b) of the groove (53) in the vehicle front-rear direction has a step (53c) that protrudes above the vehicle beyond the bottom surface of the groove (53). The handle cover structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the front recess (56) is formed so that it is deeper on the inside in the vehicle width direction and shallower toward the outside in the vehicle width direction.

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