IP Library Granted Patent US 11,548,589
Granted Patent B2
US 11,548,589 · App. 16/378,801 · Granted Jan 10, 2023

Motorcycle

Inventor: Daisuke Saeki (Kobe, JP)
Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
B62M6/50B62J6/01B62J6/05B62J45/41B60Q2300/134B60Q2300/136B60W40/103B60W40/112B60W40/114B60W2300/36B60W2420/42B62J6/022B62J45/4151B62J45/423
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,548,589
App. No.
16/378,801
Granted
Jan 10, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A motorcycle includes a pair of left and right front forks, a headlight, cover members (side cowls and light covers), and camera units. A front wheel is rotatably attached to the pair of left and right front forks. The headlight irradiates a forward side. The cover members each having an internal space are disposed at least laterally outside the pair of left and right front forks in a front view. The camera units detect the forward side by acquiring visible light which is one kind of electromagnetic waves (by acquiring images). In a front view, the camera units are disposed below the headlight and laterally outside the pair of left and right front forks. The camera units are disposed in the internal spaces of the cover members.

Claims (28)

1. A motorcycle, comprising:

a pair of left and right front forks to which a front wheel is rotatably attached;

a headlight irradiating a forward side;

a cover member disposed at least laterally outside the pair of left and right front forks in a front view, the cover member having an internal space; and

at least one forward detector configured to detect sounds or electromagnetic waves forward of the motorcycle,

wherein, in a front view, the at least one forward detector is disposed below the headlight and laterally outside the pair of left and right front forks, and

wherein at least one the forward detector is disposed in the internal space of the cover member.

2. The motorcycle according to claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one lighting equipment provided separately from the headlight,

wherein the at least one lighting equipment includes at least one light emitter and the cover member also covers the at least one light emitter, and

wherein the cover member serves as a light cover.

3. The motorcycle according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a side cowl disposed on a side of a vehicle body,

wherein the light cover includes a transmissive portion that allows light to be transmitted therethrough, and

wherein the at least one lighting equipment is covered with the side cowl such that the transmissive portion is exposed from the side cowl.

4. The motorcycle according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one lighting equipment is a cornering light that turns on when a vehicle body is tilted.

5. The motorcycle according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a controller performing a vehicle body control based on a detection result obtained by the at least one forward detector,

wherein the cornering light is turned on when the vehicle body is tilted about its front-rear direction as a rotation axis, and

wherein while the vehicle body is tilted and the cornering light is on, the controller does not perform the vehicle body control based on a detection result obtained by the at least one forward detector.

6. The motorcycle according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one forward detector is disposed below the light emitter of the cornering light.

7. The motorcycle according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one cornering light comprises a pair of left and right cornering lights that are disposed with the pair of left and right front forks laterally interposed therebetween,

wherein the at least one forward detector comprises of a pair of left and right camera units that are disposed with the pair of left and right front forks laterally interposed therebetween, and

wherein during straight traveling, a distance to an object ahead is measured based on detection results obtained by the pair of left and right camera units.

8. The motorcycle according to claim 2 , wherein a power cable is connected to the light cover, the power cable being configured to supply electric power to both the at least one lighting equipment and the at least one forward detector.

9. The motorcycle according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one lighting equipment is a direction indicator.

10. The motorcycle according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one forward detector comprises a pair of left and right forward detectors that are disposed with the pair of left and right front forks laterally interposed therebetween.

11. The motorcycle according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one forward detector is a camera unit.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2022
From: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 059742/0477 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2019
From: SAEKI, DAISUKE
To: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 048831/0220 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2018-131356 · Jul 11, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200017164A1 · Jan 16, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,280,846