IP Library Granted Patent US 9,238,495
Granted Patent B2
US 9,238,495 · App. 14/369,178 · Granted Jan 19, 2016

Straddle electric vehicle

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,238,495
App. No.
14/369,178
Granted
Jan 19, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A straddle electric vehicle includes a battery unit which is an electric power supply for an electric motor; a vehicle body frame including a main frame unitarily joined to a head pipe; and a sub-frame extending rearward from an upper portion of the main frame. The main frame includes a down frame member extending downward from the head pipe and a lower frame member extending rearward from a lower end of the down frame member, and the sub-frame is detachably joined to the vehicle body frame. A bottom portion of the battery unit is supported on the lower frame member of the main frame, and a side portion of the battery unit is covered with the sub-frame.

Claims (56)

1. A straddle electric vehicle which drives by use of driving power generated by an electric motor, the straddle electric vehicle comprising:

a battery unit which is an electric power supply for the electric motor;

a vehicle body frame including a head pipe supporting a steering shaft for steering a front wheel such that the steering shaft is rotatable, and a main frame unitarily joined to the head pipe; and

a sub-frame extending rearward from an upper portion of the main frame;

wherein the main frame includes a down frame member extending downward from the head pipe and a lower frame member extending rearward from a lower end of the down frame member, and the sub-frame is detachably joined to the vehicle body frame by use of a bolt;

wherein a bottom portion of the battery unit is supported on the lower frame member of the main frame, and a side portion of the battery unit is covered with the sub-frame;

wherein at least the lower frame member of the main frame is composed of a pair of right and left lower frame members; and

wherein the bottom portion of the battery unit is supported on the pair of right and left lower frame members.

2. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 1 ,

wherein the down frame member is placed forward relative to the battery unit.

3. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 1 ,

wherein the main frame includes a pair of right and left main frames, and the sub-frame includes a pair of right and left sub-frames; and

wherein the right and left sub-frames are detachably joined to the right and left main frames facing the right and left sub-frames, respectively.

4. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 1 , comprising:

a swing arm supporting a rear wheel such that the rear wheel is rotatable; and

a swing arm bracket coupled to the swing arm such that the swing arm is pivotable;

wherein the lower frame member and the sub-frame are detachably joined to the swing arm bracket.

5. A straddle electric vehicle which drives by use of driving power generated by an electric motor, the straddle electric vehicle comprising:

a battery unit which is an electric power supply for the electric motor;

a vehicle body frame including a head pipe supporting a steering shaft for steering a front wheel such that the steering shaft is rotatable, and a main frame unitarily joined to the head pipe; and

a sub-frame extending rearward from an upper portion of the main frame;

a motor case accommodating the electric motor;

a swing arm supporting a rear wheel such that the rear wheel is rotatable; and

a swing arm bracket coupled to the swing arm such that the swing arm is pivotable;

wherein the main frame includes a down frame member extending downward from the head pipe and a lower frame member extending rearward from a lower end of the down frame member, and the sub-frame is detachably joined to the vehicle body frame;

wherein a bottom portion of the battery unit is supported on the lower frame member of the main frame, and a side portion of the battery unit is covered with the sub-frame;

wherein the swing arm bracket is formed by at least a portion of the motor case; and

wherein a rear end portion of the lower frame member and a rear end portion of the sub-frame are detachably joined to the swing arm bracket formed by the portion of the motor case.

6. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 5 , comprising:

a transmission for changing a speed of a rotation of the electric motor;

wherein the motor case accommodates the transmission and the electric motor; and

wherein the electric motor and the transmission are arranged vertically.

7. A straddle electric vehicle which drives by use of driving power generated by an electric motor, the straddle electric vehicle comprising:

a battery unit which is an electric power supply for the electric motor;

a vehicle body frame including a head pipe supporting a steering shaft for steering a front wheel such that the steering shaft is rotatable, and a main frame unitarily joined to the head pipe; and

a sub-frame extending rearward from an upper portion of the main frame, comprising:

a swing arm supporting a rear wheel such that the rear wheel is rotatable; and

a swing arm bracket coupled to the swing arm such that the swing arm is pivotable;

wherein the main frame includes a down frame member extending downward from the head pipe and a lower frame member extending rearward from a lower end of the down frame member, and the sub-frame is detachably joined to the vehicle body frame by use of a bolt;

wherein a bottom portion of the battery unit is supported on the lower frame member of the main frame, and a side portion of the battery unit is covered with the sub-frame;

wherein the lower frame member and the sub-frame are detachably joined to the swine arm bracket; and

wherein the lower frame member is located below a pivot around which the swing arm is pivoted with respect to the swing arm bracket.

8. A straddle electric vehicle which drives by driving power generated by an electric motor, the straddle electric vehicle comprising:

a battery unit which is an electric power supply for the electric motor;

a vehicle body frame including a head pipe supporting a steering shaft for steering a front wheel such that the steering shaft is rotatable, and a main frame unitarily joined to the head pipe;

a sub-frame which is detachably joined to the vehicle body frame by use of a detachable joining structure and provided between a front side of the vehicle body frame and a rear side of the vehicle body frame to couple the front side and the rear side;

wherein the main frame includes a down frame member extending downward from the head pipe and a lower frame member extending rearward from a lower end of the down frame member,

wherein a bottom portion of the battery unit is supported on the lower frame member of the main frame, and a side portion of the battery unit is covered with the sub-frame; and

wherein the sub-frame includes a left frame member and a right frame member, and only one of the left frame member and the right frame member is detachably joined to the vehicle body frame by use of the joining structure.

9. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 8 , comprising:

a stand device which inclines the vehicle body at one of right and left sides in a stopped state of the vehicle body;

wherein one of the left frame member and the right frame member is located at a side which is opposite to the right side or the left side at which the vehicle body is inclined by the stand device.

10. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 8 ,

wherein the sub-frame includes a left frame member, a right frame member, and a cross member coupling the left frame member to the right frame member.

11. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the joining structure includes a bolt, a pin, or a wedge.

12. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the joining structure is provided at front and rear end portions of the sub-frame.

Assignments (2)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2022
From: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 060300/0504 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2014
From: MATSUDA, YOSHIMOTO
To: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 033192/0084 →