JP7657250B2 - Front body structure of saddle-type vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a front body structure for a saddle-type vehicle.

In recent years, research and development has been conducted into improving aerodynamics to contribute to energy efficiency, to ensure more people have access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and advanced energy.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a front body structure for a saddle-type vehicle in which a leg shield that covers the front of the occupant's legs is divided into upper and lower parts along the upper edge of the opening of the inner rack, and a rib is provided at the joint between the cover of the leg shield and the inner rack to prevent water from entering the inner rack.

JP 2012-116298 A

In the above-mentioned prior art documents, depending on the areas on the leg shield surface that restrict the flow of water, the flow of wind while driving may also be restricted. For this reason, it has been desired to prevent water from entering while facilitating the flow of wind along the ribs.

The present invention provides a front body structure for a saddle-type vehicle that allows the ribs to guide water flowing over the surface of the leg shield while suppressing the aerodynamic effects of the ribs receiving wind while traveling. This, in turn, contributes to improved energy efficiency.

As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle body front structure for a saddle-ride type vehicle, the vehicle body front structure comprising a step portion (6) on which the feet are placed and a leg shield (28) disposed in front of the step portion (6), the leg shield (28) comprising an upper cover (31) forming an upper portion of the leg shield (28), and a lower cover (41) disposed below the upper cover (31) and forming a lower portion of the leg shield (28), ), at a portion above the upper edge portion (43) of the lower cover (41), a rib (60) protrudes forward from the front surface of the leg shield (28) and extends along the upper edge portion (43) of the lower cover (41), and the rib (60) is divided into a plurality of single ribs (61) in the vehicle width direction, and among the plurality of single ribs (61), adjacent single ribs (61) in the vehicle width direction are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction with a gap (S1) therebetween and have an overlapping allowance (L1) in the vehicle width direction.
According to this configuration, the leg shield includes an upper cover and a lower cover, and a rib is disposed on the front side of the leg shield along the upper edge of the lower cover, thereby preventing water flowing down the front side of the upper cover from reaching the upper edge of the lower cover and preventing water from seeping out from the upper edge of the lower cover (the divided part of the leg shield) to the rear side (the passenger side). In addition, the rib is divided into a plurality of single ribs in the vehicle width direction, and among the plurality of single ribs, adjacent single ribs in the vehicle width direction are spaced apart from each other with a gap in the up-down direction and have an overlap in the vehicle width direction, so that even if the traveling wind blows into the area surrounded by the ribs on the front side of the leg shield, the traveling wind can flow outside the area surrounded by the ribs through the gaps between the single ribs. Therefore, the flow of the traveling wind is less likely to be blocked by the rib, and the influence of the traveling wind caused by the provision of the water-stopping rib on the leg shield can be suppressed.

A second aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned first aspect, wherein the lower cover (41) is positioned below the upper cover (31) with a gap therebetween, the leg shield (28) further includes a middle cover (51) covering the gap between the upper cover (31) and the lower cover (41), and the rib (60) is formed on the middle cover (51).
According to this configuration, by forming the water-stopping rib on the middle cover that covers the gap between the upper cover and the lower cover which respectively form the upper and lower parts of the leg shield, the water-stopping rib can be easily formed using the relatively small middle cover without affecting the moldability of the upper cover and lower cover, which tend to be relatively large.

In a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, at least one pair of the single ribs (61) adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction has an overlapping margin (L2) in the up-down direction.
According to this configuration, adjacent single ribs in the vehicle width direction also overlap in the vertical direction, allowing the wind from traveling to flow outward in the vehicle width direction from the area surrounded by the ribs while preventing water on the ribs from flowing outward in the vehicle width direction.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, all pairs of the single ribs (61) adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction have an overlapping margin (L2) in the up-down direction.
With this configuration, all of the single ribs adjacent in the vehicle width direction also overlap in the vertical direction, thereby allowing the single ribs to be compactly arranged close to each other in the vehicle width direction and vertical directions while leaving gaps between them, and further preventing water on the ribs from flowing outward in the vehicle width direction.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the plurality of single ribs (61) are provided with an inclined rib (62) inclined downward from the outer side in the vehicle width direction to the inner side in the vehicle width direction.
According to this configuration, by providing the inclined rib positioned downward toward the inside in the vehicle width direction, water that accumulates on the inclined rib is guided toward the inside in the vehicle width direction and collected at the center in the vehicle width direction and drips downward, thereby preventing water from seeping out from the divided part of the leg shield to the rear side (occupant side).

A sixth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein, among the plurality of single ribs (61), the single rib (61) located in the center of the vehicle width direction is a curved rib (63) that is curved and convex downward when viewed from the fore-and-aft direction.
With this configuration, the single rib in the center of the vehicle width direction is a downwardly convex curved rib, making it easier for water that has accumulated in the center of the vehicle width direction to drip off, and the curved rib gradually inclines from the center of the vehicle width direction to the outside in the vehicle width direction, making it easier for the wind to flow while traveling to the outside in the vehicle width direction.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned fifth aspect, wherein, among the plurality of single ribs (61), the single rib (61) located in the center of the vehicle width direction is a curved rib (63) that is curved and convex downward when viewed from the front-to-rear direction, and the plurality of single ribs (61) are provided with a horizontal rib (64) extending approximately horizontally between the inclined rib (62) and the curved rib (63).
According to this configuration, it becomes easier to arrange the ribs in accordance with the width of the leg shield while ensuring the inclination of the inclined ribs, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in designing the ribs.

The present invention provides a front body structure for a saddle-type vehicle that allows the ribs to guide water flowing over the front of the leg shield while suppressing the aerodynamic effects of the ribs receiving the wind while traveling.

FIG. 1 is a left side view of a motorcycle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a left side view of a front portion of the motorcycle body. FIG. 2 is a front view of the motorcycle with a portion of a front body configuration omitted. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the leg shield of the motorcycle. FIG. 2 is a front view of the leg shield of the motorcycle. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main portion of FIG. 5 . FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 5 . FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 5.

Below, 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, etc., are the same as those in the vehicle described below, unless otherwise specified. In addition, in the appropriate places in the drawings used in the following description, an arrow FR indicating the front of the vehicle, an arrow UP indicating the top of the vehicle, and a line CL indicating the center of the left and right of the vehicle body are shown.

Figure 1 shows a left side view of a scooter-type motorcycle (saddle-type vehicle) 1 as an example of a vehicle, as viewed from the left-right direction (vehicle width direction). The motorcycle 1 has a front wheel 3, which is a steering wheel, and a rear wheel 4, 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 2. The rear wheel 4 is supported by a swing-type power unit 8, and can be driven by the power unit 8.

The steering system components, including the handlebars 2, front forks 3a, and front wheel 3, are supported steerably on a head pipe 10a at the front end of the body frame 10. The front part of the power unit 8 is supported in the middle (not necessarily in the center) of the body frame 10 in the fore-aft direction so that it can swing up and down. The power unit 8 includes a drive source 8a for driving the vehicle, and a transmission device 8b that transmits the driving force generated by the drive source 8a to the rear wheel 4. The drive source 8a includes at least one of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, for example.

The vehicle body frame 10 includes a head pipe 10a, a down frame 10b extending downward and rearward from the head pipe 10a, a lower frame 10c extending rearward from the lower portion of the down frame 10b, and a rear frame 10d extending rearward and upward from the rear of the lower frame 10c. The head pipe 10a and the down frame 10b are provided singly at the center CL of the vehicle body.

Between the front wheel 3 and the rear wheel 4, a floor step 6 on which the driver places his/her feet is provided. A front body 11 is provided in front of the floor step 6, and a rear body 12 is provided behind the floor step 6. A space K1 above the floor step 6 between the front body 11 and the rear body 12 is used as a straddling space K1 when the driver straddles the vehicle body. A handlebar bar 2 is provided above the front body 11. The periphery of the handlebar bar 2 is covered with a handlebar cover 2a. A seat 5 on which a passenger sits is provided above the rear body 12. A collapsible side stand 7 that can support the vehicle body in an upright position tilted to the left is provided on the lower left side of the floor step 6.

The periphery of the body frame 10 of the motorcycle 1 is covered by a body cover 20. The body cover 20 includes a front center cover 21 that covers the front body 11 from the front, front side covers 22 that cover the front body 11 from the left and right sides, and a front inner cover 23 that covers the front body 11 from the rear.

The vehicle body cover 20 also includes a floor cover 24 that covers the floor step 6 from above, floor side covers 25 that cover the floor step 6 from the left and right sides, a rear center cover 26 that covers the rear body 12 from the front, and rear side covers 27 that cover the rear body 12 from the left and right sides.

The front center cover 21 and the front side cover 22 are included in the front body cover 11a which forms the exterior of the front body 11. The rear center cover 26 and the rear side cover 27 are included in the rear body cover 12a which forms the exterior of the rear body 12. The upper surface of the floor cover 24 is used as the footrest surface 24a of the floor step 6. The footrest surface 24a is formed flat across the entire width in the vehicle width direction, for example. The floor step 6 may be provided with a center tunnel which rises upward on the inside in the vehicle width direction. The body cover 20, except for the handle cover 2a, is fixed directly or indirectly to the body frame 10.

The front side cover 22 is divided into an upper front first cover 22a and a lower front second cover 22b by a front dividing line 22c that slopes upward toward the front when viewed from the side of the vehicle. For example, the front first cover 22a forms a continuous exterior surface with the front center cover 21 and is painted in the same way, forming an integrated exterior. For example, the front second cover 22b forms an exterior surface that is offset outward in the vehicle width direction from the front first cover 22a and is painted in a different way, forming a separate exterior.

<Leg Shield>
1, 2 and 4, the front inner cover 23 includes an upper cover 31 forming an upper portion of the front inner cover 23, a lower cover 41 forming a lower portion of the front inner cover 23, and a middle cover 51 attached from the rear side across the lower portion of the upper cover 31 and the upper portion of the lower cover 41. The lower cover 41 is disposed with a gap between it and the upper cover 31 in the up-down direction. The front inner cover 23 forms a leg shield 28 that covers the front of the legs of the driver.

The leg shield 28 comprises a tunnel-shaped central bulge 28a that covers the rear and the left and right sides of the down frame 10b, and a pair of left and right shield body portions 28bL, 28bR that protrude on both the left and right sides of the central bulge 28a. The central bulge 28a has a generally trapezoidal cross-sectional shape that protrudes rearward and extends across the upper and lower ends of the leg shield 28. In the figure, the reference symbol 28c indicates a rear flat portion that extends vertically with a roughly constant left-right width on the rear side of the central bulge 28a.

The leg shield 28 has a shallow V-shape that protrudes forward in side view. For example, the upper and lower parts of each component of the leg shield 28 are separated at a bending position B1 in side view of the leg shield 28. The upper part of the leg shield 28 is formed to follow the slope of the head pipe 10a in side view. The lower part of the leg shield 28 is formed to follow the slope of the down frame 10b in side view.

Referring also to FIG. 3, the upper front part of the leg shield 28 is covered by the front center cover 21. The lower front part of the leg shield 28 is cut out to form a space (tire house) in which the front wheel 3 is placed. A tire house cover 29 that is concave when viewed from the front of the vehicle is attached to the cutout area at the bottom of the front cover. A cover opening 29a is formed at the top of the tire house cover 29 for rotatably inserting the left and right front forks 3a through. The cover opening 29a opens toward the front of the vehicle, and traveling wind is introduced into the front body cover 11a through this cover opening 29a.

Referring to FIG. 4, a main switch unit (not shown) including an ignition switch and various lock lock/unlock switches is disposed on the upper right side of the leg shield 28. For example, the main switch unit is integrated with a handlebar lock device (not shown) inside the front body cover 11a. Inside the front body cover 11a, below the main switch unit, electrical components such as a fuse box (not shown) and various ECUs (Electronic Control Units) are disposed together.

Left and right inner boxes 35, 36 capable of storing items are provided on both the left and right sides of the upper part of the leg shield 28. The left and right inner boxes 35, 36 are formed by combining an upper cover 31 and a middle cover 51. None of the left and right inner boxes 35, 36 overlaps with the vehicle body left and right center CL, and are separated from the vehicle body left and right center CL to the outside in the left and right direction. The box openings 35a, 36a located at the upper ends of the left and right inner boxes 35, 36 do not have lids and are open toward the rear and upper part of the vehicle. A base portion 34 for installing the operation portion of the main switch unit is formed inside the box opening 36a of the right inner box 36. Since many electrical components are arranged on the right inner side of the front body cover 11a, the right inner box 36 has a smaller capacity than the left inner box 35.

A central bulge 28a is disposed between the left and right inner boxes 35, 36. A cargo hook 37 is attached to the rear flat portion 28c of the central bulge 28a at a height that overlaps with the box openings 35a, 36a of the left and right inner boxes 35, 36 in the vertical direction.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5 together, left and right recesses 38L, 38R that are recessed toward the front of the vehicle are formed on the left and right sides of the upper cover 31. The left and right recesses 38L, 38R form the front sides of the left and right inner boxes 35, 36. The rear sides of the left and right recesses 38L, 38R of the upper cover 31 are covered and closed by the left and right side portions 52 of the middle cover 51. This forms the left and right inner boxes 35, 36 in a container shape with an open upper side. A central cutout portion 39a is formed in the left and right central portion of the lower part of the upper cover 31 to avoid the down frame 10b.

The left and right side portions of the lower cover 41 are formed with lower recesses 42 that are displaced toward the front of the vehicle relative to the central bulge 28a. The lower ends of the left and right lower recesses 42 reach the footrest surface 24a of the floor step 6. The lower recesses 42 that are displaced toward the front of the vehicle are formed above the front end of the footrest surface 24a, ensuring that the front end of the footrest surface 24a is wide in the forward direction.

Here, the upper cover 31, the middle cover 51 and the lower cover 41 are each an integrally molded product made of synthetic resin.
For example, the upper cover 31 and the lower cover 41 are unpainted parts made of a colored resin material (original resin). The upper cover 31 forms the inner wall (recesses 38L, 38R) on the front side of the box that is easily visible to the driver through the box openings 35a, 36a, and also forms the position of the main switch and the cargo hook 37 that are easily touched by the driver.

The lower cover 41 is close to the footrest surface 24a, so that the driver's feet can easily touch the lower cover 41. By making the lower cover 41 and the upper cover 31 unpainted parts made of dyed resin, scratches caused by contact with objects or the like are made less noticeable.
On the other hand, the middle cover 51, which is attached from the rear side of the vehicle (passenger side) and is easily visible to the occupant, can be made, for example, a painted part, which improves the appearance and creates an appearance that is unified with painted parts such as the front first cover 22a of the front side cover 22.

<Central cover>
2, 4, and 5, the middle cover 51 includes left and right side portions 52 that are attached to the left and right recesses 38L, 38R of the upper cover 31 from the rear side to form the left and right inner boxes 35, 36, and a left and right central portion 53 that is attached between the left and right side portions 52 so as to overlap the rear flat portion 28c of the central bulge portion 28a. The lower edge portion 39 of the upper cover 31 is disposed near the bottom height (depth) of the left and right inner boxes 35, 36. The lower edge portion 39 of the upper cover 31 and the bottoms of the left and right inner boxes 35, 36 are disposed near the bending position B1 of the leg shield 28 in a side view. The lower portion of the middle cover 51 extends downward beyond the lower edge portion 39 of the upper cover 31.

The portion of the middle cover 51 that extends below the lower edge 39 of the upper cover 31 (and bending position B1) (hereinafter referred to as the downward extension 54) has a substantially constant vertical width in the left and right central portions 53, and is formed so that the vertical width decreases toward the outside in the vehicle width direction in the left and right side portions 52. The downward extension 54 is formed in a crescent shape that convex downward when viewed from the front-to-rear direction. The upper portion of the middle cover 51 (the portion above the lower edge 39 of the upper cover 31) is inclined so that it is positioned further rearward as it approaches the top, and the downward extension 54 that extends below the lower edge 39 of the upper cover 31 is inclined so that it is positioned further rearward as it approaches the bottom.

Referring to FIG. 5, the upper edge 43 of the lower cover 41 is spaced below the lower edge 39 of the upper cover 31. The lower part of the middle cover 51 extends to the upper edge 43 of the lower cover 41. The lower edge 55 of the middle cover 51 is connected to the upper edge 43 of the lower cover 41. The downward extension 54 of the middle cover 51 is a portion that closes the gap between the upper cover 31 and the lower cover 41, and a water-stopping rib assembly 60 (described later) is formed on the front side of this downward extension 54.

8 and 9, the lower edge 55 of the middle cover 51 is formed with a lower edge bent portion 56 that bends downward and forward in the cross-sectional view of FIGS. 8 and 9. The lower edge bent portion 56 is formed over the entire length of the lower edge 55. The upper edge 43 of the lower cover 41 is formed with an upper edge recess 44 that bends forward in a V-shape in the cross-sectional view of FIGS. 8 and 9. The upper edge recess 44 is formed over the entire length of the upper edge 43. By fitting the lower edge bent portion 56 into the upper edge recess 44, water is prevented from entering the leg shield 28 or from flowing out of the leg shield 28 through the joint (split portion 43A) between the middle cover 51 and the lower cover 41.

Referring to Figures 2 and 4, the middle cover 51 forms an appearance that is continuous with the upper part of the front side cover 22 (front first cover 22a). The lower cover 41 forms an appearance with the same texture as, for example, the lower part of the front side cover 22 (front second cover 22b). In other words, the front second cover 22b, like the lower cover 41, may be an unpainted part that uses a colored resin material (original resin).

The upper cover 31 is exposed to the occupant side between the handle cover 2a and the middle cover 51. The upper cover 31 is an inner cover whose lower half is covered from the rear by the middle cover 51. The middle cover 51 is an exterior cover whose entire rear surface (outer surface) is exposed to the driver side.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5, the upper cover 31 has a thickness in a direction perpendicular to the head pipe 10a in a side view in order to form the concave shapes (concave portions 38L, 38R) of the left and right inner boxes 35, 36. In contrast, the lower part of the upper cover 31 terminates near the bending position B1, so an increase in the thickness of the lower part of the upper cover 31 in a side view is suppressed.

To avoid the lower part of the down frame 10b and ensure foot space for the driver, the lower cover 41 forms a central bulge 28a on the inside in the vehicle width direction and forms lower recesses 42 on the left and right side parts that are displaced toward the front of the vehicle. As a result, the lower cover 41 has a thickness in a direction perpendicular to the down frame 10b in a side view. In contrast, the upper part of the lower cover 41 does not extend above the bending position B1, so an increase in the thickness of the upper part of the lower cover 41 in a side view is suppressed.

Referring to Figures 2 and 4, the middle cover 51 extends above and below the bending position B1 in side view. The upper end of the middle cover 51 terminates below the upper end of the upper cover 31, and the lower end of the middle cover 51 terminates above the lower end of the lower cover 41. As a result, the vertical width of the middle cover 51 is smaller than the vertical widths of the upper cover 31 and the lower cover 41, and although the middle cover 51 has a V-shape in side view, an increase in thickness in side view is suppressed.

<Water-stopping rib>
5 to 8, a water-stopping rib assembly 60 is formed on the front side of the middle cover 51 (inside the front body cover 11a) to prevent water running down the front side of the leg shield 28 from reaching the dividing portion 43A of the leg shield 28 (the dividing portion between the middle cover 51 and the lower cover 41, the portion along the upper edge portion 43 of the lower cover 41). The water-stopping rib assembly 60 is configured by arranging a plurality of single ribs 61 in the vehicle width direction. Hereinafter, the water-stopping rib assembly 60 may be simply referred to as the rib 60 or the water-stopping rib 60.

Each single rib 61 protrudes from the front of the middle cover 51 toward the front of the vehicle and catches water that runs down the front of the middle cover 51. Each single rib 61 extends in the vehicle width direction above the upper edge 43 of the lower cover 41 and along this upper edge 43. The ribs 60 are arranged so that they form a roughly V-shape when viewed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and guide the caught water to the center in the vehicle width direction. For example, the rib 60 causes water that has gathered in the center in the vehicle width direction to drip downward within the front body cover 11a.

The multiple single ribs 61 include an inclined rib 62 , a curved rib 63 , and a horizontal rib 64 .
The inclined ribs 62 are provided in the range of the rib 60 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The inclined ribs 62 extend from the outer side in the vehicle width direction to the inner side in the vehicle width direction, inclining downward. The inclined ribs 62 are inclined so as to be located lower toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction. A plurality of inclined ribs 62 are provided on each of both sides in the vehicle width direction. In the embodiment, three inclined ribs 62 are provided on each of both sides in the vehicle width direction. Hereinafter, the plurality of inclined ribs 62 are referred to as a first inclined rib 62a, a second inclined rib 62b, and a third inclined rib 62c, in order from the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The plurality of inclined ribs 62 are formed symmetrically with respect to the vehicle body left-right center CL.

Of the multiple inclined ribs 62, adjacent inclined ribs 62 in the vehicle width direction are arranged with a gap S1 between them in the up-down direction that intersects (e.g., perpendicular to) the inclination with respect to the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front-rear direction. Due to this gap S1, even if the traveling wind blows into the area surrounded by the ribs 60 on the front side of the leg shield 28, as this traveling wind flows outward in the vehicle width direction, it passes through the gap S1 between the inclined ribs 62, making it difficult for the flow of the traveling wind to be blocked by the inclined ribs 62. As a result, even if a water-stopping rib 60 is provided on the front side of the leg shield 28, the water-stopping rib 60 is prevented from receiving the force of the traveling wind and restricting the flow of the traveling wind.

Referring to FIG. 6, adjacent inclined ribs 62 in the vehicle width direction have an overlapping margin L1 in the vehicle width direction. As a result, when water received on the inclined rib 62 flows down toward the inside of the vehicle width direction along the inclination of the inclined rib 62, it does not drip from the gap S1 between adjacent inclined ribs 62, but is guided to the center of the rib 60 in the vehicle width direction. In the embodiment, the water-stopping rib 60 is divided into a plurality of single ribs 61, which prevents water from dripping from the divisions of the water-stopping rib 60 and makes it possible to guide water to the desired location.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, the inclined ribs 62 have a uniform protruding height TF toward the front of the vehicle, but may be formed, for example, so that the protruding height TF toward the front of the vehicle is lower on the inner side in the vehicle width direction than on the outer side in the width direction. That is, the first inclined rib 62a, the second inclined rib 62b, and the third inclined rib 62c may be formed so that the protruding height TF toward the front decreases in that order. Also, each inclined rib 62 may be formed so that the protruding height TF toward the front decreases as it is located closer to the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the curved rib 63 is provided singly in the center in the vehicle width direction. The curved rib 63 is formed in a downwardly convex arc shape when viewed from the front-rear direction. The curved rib 63 has a vertical width that is smaller than the radius of the arc shape. The left and right side portions 63b of the curved rib 63 are inclined upward when viewed from the front-rear direction. The curved rib 63 is formed symmetrically with respect to the center CL of the left and right of the vehicle body.

The horizontal rib 64 is provided between the third inclined rib 62c and the curved rib 63, and extends substantially horizontally when viewed from the front-rear direction. A single horizontal rib 64 is provided on each side of the rib 60 in the vehicle width direction. An outer bent portion 64a that bends upward is formed on the outer side of the horizontal rib 64 in the vehicle width direction. The outer bent portion 64a is inclined substantially parallel to the third inclined rib 62c when viewed from the front-rear direction. The horizontal rib 64 is formed symmetrically with respect to the center CL of the vehicle body.

Referring to Figure 6, among the multiple single ribs 61, adjacent single ribs 61 in the vehicle width direction are arranged with a gap S1 between them in the vertical direction (in the portion that is inclined when viewed from the front-to-rear direction, the vertical direction that intersects (e.g., perpendicular to) the inclination), and have an overlapping allowance L1 in the vehicle width direction.
Specifically, a gap S1 is formed in the up-down direction perpendicular to the inclination between the first inclined rib 62a and the second inclined rib 62b, between the second inclined rib 62b and the third inclined rib 62c, and between the third inclined rib 62c and the outer bent portion 64a of the horizontal rib 64, and an overlapping space L1 in the vehicle width direction is set. A gap S1 is formed in the up-down direction between the inner portion in the vehicle width direction of the horizontal rib 64 and the curved rib 63, and an overlapping space L1 in the vehicle width direction is set.

Furthermore, at least one pair of adjacent single ribs 61 in the vehicle width direction has an overlapping margin L2 in the vertical direction. In the embodiment, each pair of adjacent inclined ribs 62 and horizontal ribs 64 in the vehicle width direction has an overlapping margin L2 in the vertical direction.
The lower end of each of the multiple inclined ribs 62 on the upper side is positioned lower than the upper end of the lower inclined rib 62. Regarding the third inclined rib 62c and the horizontal rib 64, the lower end of the upper third inclined rib 62c is positioned lower than the upper end of the outer bent portion 64a of the lower horizontal rib 64.

The pair of horizontal ribs 64 and curved ribs 63 does not have an overlap L2 in the vertical direction. However, for example, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 6, an inner bend 64b may be formed that bends downward and extends inwardly of the horizontal rib 64 in the vehicle width direction, so that the pair of horizontal ribs 64 and curved ribs 63 has an overlap L2 in the vertical direction. In other words, all pairs of single ribs 61 adjacent in the vehicle width direction may have an overlap L2 in the vertical direction. In this case, the lower end of the inner bend 64b of the upper horizontal rib 64 is located lower than the upper end of the lower curved rib 63.

<Function of ribs>
3, 5, and 6, rainwater or the like that has entered the front body cover 11a from the cover opening 29a of the wheelhouse cover 29 or the like is received by the rib 60 as it drips down the front surface of the leg shield 28. The water on the rib 60 is guided to the center in the vehicle width direction along the rib 60 arranged in a roughly V-shape. The rib 60 is divided into a plurality of single ribs 61, and an overlapping margin L1 is set between the single ribs 61 in the vehicle width direction, so that the water on the rib 60 is guided to the center in the vehicle width direction without dripping between the single ribs 61. The water collected in the center in the vehicle width direction drips downward from the left-right center portion 63a of the curved rib 63 (the center portion of the rib 60 in the vehicle width direction). The water that drips from the center in the vehicle width direction of the rib 60 flows, for example, along the rear surface of the down frame 10b and is drained below the vehicle body.

Here, when the wind from traveling blows into the front body cover 11a and collides with the inside of the water-stopping ribs 60 arranged in a V shape when viewed from the front-to-rear direction, it is thought that the flow of the traveling wind will be restricted, particularly when the inclined ribs 62 on both the left and right sides are strongly subjected to the force of the traveling wind.
In the embodiment, the water-stopping rib 60 is divided into a plurality of single ribs 61, and a gap S1 is provided between adjacent single ribs 61, so that the flow of the running wind is less likely to be blocked by the ribs 60 compared to when the ribs 60 are continuous. This reduces the force that the ribs 60 receive from the running wind, suppressing the effect on aerodynamics.

When the wind flows through the gap S1 between the single ribs 61, an overlap L2 is also set between the single ribs 61 in the vertical direction, which prevents water on the ribs 60 from scattering along with the wind into the area outside the ribs 60. In other words, the overlaps L1, L2 in the vehicle width direction and vertical direction between adjacent single ribs 61 in the vehicle width direction are set so that water is less likely to scatter when the wind flows through the gap S1.

As described above, the front body structure of the motorcycle 1 in the above embodiment includes a leg shield 28 that is disposed in front of the floor step 6 on which the rider places his/her feet, and the leg shield 28 includes an upper cover 31 that forms an upper portion of the leg shield 28, and a lower cover 41 that is disposed below the upper cover 31 and forms the lower portion of the leg shield 28, and a rib 60 that protrudes forward from the front surface of the leg shield 28 and extends along the upper edge portion 43 of the lower cover 41 on the front side of the leg shield 28 at a portion above the upper edge portion 43 of the lower cover 41, and the rib 60 is divided into a plurality of single ribs 61 in the vehicle width direction, and among the plurality of single ribs 61, adjacent single ribs 61 in the vehicle width direction are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction by a gap S1 and have an overlapping allowance L1 in the vehicle width direction.
According to this configuration, leg shield 28 includes upper cover 31 and lower cover 41, and rib 60 is disposed on the front side of leg shield 28 along upper edge 43 of lower cover 41, thereby preventing water flowing down the front side of upper cover 31 from reaching the upper edge of lower cover 41 and preventing water from seeping out from upper edge 43 of lower cover 41 (divided portion 43A of leg shield 28) to the rear side (occupant side). Also, rib 60 is divided into a plurality of single ribs 61 in the vehicle width direction, and among the plurality of single ribs 61, adjacent single ribs 61 in the vehicle width direction are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction with gaps S1 therebetween and have overlapping margins L1 in the vehicle width direction, so that even if traveling wind blows into an area surrounded by ribs 60 on the front side of leg shield 28, the traveling wind can flow from gaps S1 between single ribs 61 to the outside of the area surrounded by ribs 60. Therefore, the flow of wind generated when the vehicle is traveling is less likely to be blocked by the ribs 60, and the effect of the wind generated when the water-stopping ribs 60 are provided on the leg shield 28 can be reduced.

In the front body structure of the motorcycle 1 described above, the lower cover 41 is positioned below the upper cover 31 with a gap therebetween, the leg shield 28 further includes a middle cover 51 that covers the gap between the upper cover 31 and the lower cover 41, and the rib 60 is formed on the middle cover 51.
According to this configuration, by forming the water-stopping rib 60 on the middle cover 51 that covers the gap between the upper cover 31 and the lower cover 41 which respectively form the upper and lower parts of the leg shield 28, the water-stopping rib 60 can be easily formed using the middle cover 51 which is relatively small, without affecting the moldability of the upper cover 31 and the lower cover 41 which tend to be relatively large.

In the vehicle body front structure of the motorcycle 1, at least one pair of the single ribs 61 adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction has an overlapping margin L2 in the up-down direction.
According to this configuration, adjacent single ribs 61 in the vehicle width direction also overlap in the vertical direction, allowing the wind from traveling to flow outward in the vehicle width direction from the area surrounded by the ribs 60 while preventing water on the ribs 60 from flowing outward in the vehicle width direction.

In the vehicle body front structure of the motorcycle 1, all pairs of the single ribs 61 adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction have an overlapping margin L2 in the up-down direction.
According to this configuration, all of the single ribs 61 adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction also overlap in the vertical direction, thereby allowing the single ribs 61 to be compactly arranged close to each other in the vehicle width direction and vertical directions while leaving gaps S1 between the multiple single ribs 61, and further preventing water on the ribs 60 from flowing outward in the vehicle width direction.

In the vehicle body front structure of the motorcycle 1, the upper cover 31 forms the upper part of the front inner cover 23, and the lower cover 41 forms the lower part of the front inner cover 23.
According to this configuration, water can be prevented from seeping out to the rear side (occupant side) at the upper and lower divided portions 43A of the front inner cover 32 that constitutes the leg shield 28.

In the vehicle body front structure of the motorcycle 1, the plurality of single ribs 61 include an inclined rib 62 that inclines downward from the outer side in the vehicle width direction to the inner side in the vehicle width direction.
According to this configuration, by providing the inclined rib 62 positioned downward toward the inside in the vehicle width direction, water that accumulates on the inclined rib 62 is guided toward the inside in the vehicle width direction and is collected at the center in the vehicle width direction and drips downward. This makes it possible to prevent water from seeping out to the rear side (occupant side) from the divided portion 43A of the leg shield 28. Note that when the inclined rib 62 is inclined so as to be positioned downward toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, water that accumulates on the rib 60 flows separately to the left and right, making it more difficult to drain than when the water is collected in the center of the left and right and drips.

In the vehicle body front structure of the motorcycle 1, the inclined rib 62 may be formed so that the protruding height TF toward the front of the vehicle is lower on the inner side in the vehicle width direction than on the outer side in the vehicle width direction.
According to this configuration, by forming the outer side of the inclined rib 62 higher in the vehicle width direction, it becomes easier to catch water on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and by forming the inner side of the inclined rib 62 lower in the vehicle width direction, it becomes easier to drip the collected water.

In the vehicle body front structure of the motorcycle 1, of the plurality of single ribs 61, the single rib 61 located at the center in the vehicle width direction is a curved rib 63 that is curved and convex downward when viewed from the front-rear direction.
According to this configuration, the single rib 61 in the center of the vehicle width direction is a downwardly convex curved rib 63, making it easier for water that has accumulated in the center of the vehicle width direction to drip off, and the curved rib 63 is gradually inclined from the center of the vehicle width direction to the outside in the vehicle width direction, making it easier for the wind to flow outward in the vehicle width direction.

In the vehicle body front structure of the motorcycle 1, the plurality of single ribs 61 include a horizontal rib 64 extending substantially horizontally between the inclined rib 62 and the curved rib 63.
According to this configuration, it becomes easier to arrange the rib 60 in accordance with the width of the leg shield 28 while ensuring the inclination of the inclined rib 62, and the degree of freedom in designing the rib 60 can be increased.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and for example, the step portion on which the rider places his/her feet is not limited to a floor step, and may be a bar-type step. The vehicle body front structure of the present embodiment may be applied to saddle-type vehicles other than motorcycles, so long as the vehicle is equipped with a leg shield.
The saddle-type vehicle includes 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 invention may also be applied to vehicles that include an electric motor as a prime mover.
The configurations in the above-described embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention, such as replacing the components of the embodiments with well-known components.

1. Motorcycles (saddle-type vehicles)
6. Floor step (step section)
28 Leg shield 31 Upper cover 41 Lower cover 43 Upper edge portion 51 Middle cover 60 Water-stopping rib assembly (rib)
61 Single rib 62 Slanted rib 63 Curved rib 64 Horizontal rib L1 Overlap in vehicle width direction L2 Overlap in vertical direction S1 Vertical gap TF Forward protrusion height

Claims (6)

A vehicle body front structure for a saddle-ride type vehicle including a step portion (6) on which a foot is placed and a leg shield (28) disposed in front of the step portion (6),
The leg shield (28) is
an upper cover (31) forming an upper portion of the leg shield (28);
a lower cover (41) disposed below the upper cover (31) with a gap therebetween and forming a lower portion of the leg shield (28);
a middle cover (51) that covers a gap between the upper cover (31) and the lower cover (41) ;
The middle cover (51) is provided with a rib (60) that protrudes forward from the front surface of the leg shield (28) and extends along the upper edge portion (43) of the lower cover (41) at a position on the front surface side of the leg shield (28) and above the upper edge portion (43) of the lower cover (41),
The rib (60) is divided into a plurality of single ribs (61) in the vehicle width direction,
In the front body structure of a saddle-ride type vehicle, among the plurality of single ribs (61), adjacent single ribs (61) in the vehicle width direction are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction with a gap (S1) therebetween and have an overlapping margin (L1) in the vehicle width direction. 2. The front body structure of a saddle-ride type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein at least one pair of the single ribs (61) adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction has an overlapping portion (L2) in the vertical direction. The front body structure of a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein all pairs of adjacent single ribs (61) in the vehicle width direction have an overlap (L2) in the vertical direction. The front body structure of a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of single ribs (61) are provided with an inclined rib (62) that inclines downward from the outer side in the vehicle width direction to the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The front body structure of a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the single rib (61) located in the center of the vehicle width direction among the plurality of single ribs (61) is a curved rib (63) that is curved downwardly and convex when viewed from the front-rear direction. Among the plurality of single ribs (61), the single rib (61) located at the center in the vehicle width direction is a curved rib (63) that is curved downwardly convex when viewed from the front-rear direction,
5. The front body structure of a saddle-ride type vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of single ribs (61) include a horizontal rib (64) extending substantially horizontally between the inclined rib (62) and the curved rib (63).

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