WO2024135792A1 - Saddle-ride vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a saddle-ride vehicle (1) comprising a device connecting portion (41) to which an external electric device can be electrically connected, the saddle-ride vehicle (1) further comprising a steering handle (15) which is disposed forwardly of an occupant and rotates about a handle rotational axis (C2) in conjunction with a steering wheel (2). The steering handle (15) comprises a pair of left and right handlebar portions (15a1) each including a grip portion (15a) to be gripped by the occupant. A master cylinder holder (20) that supports a master cylinder (19) is fixed on the inside in the vehicle width direction of at least one of the pair of left and right handlebar portions (15a1). The device connecting portion (41) is fixed to the master cylinder holder (20) and is disposed behind the master cylinder (19) in a position overlapping the master cylinder (19), which is on the same side for left and right, in a front-rear view of the vehicle.

Description

Saddle type vehicle

The present invention relates to a saddle-ride type vehicle.
This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-205661, filed on December 22, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Conventionally, a charging structure for motorcycles has been provided with a USB charger capable of charging external electrical devices on the rear side (the front side of the vehicle, the side opposite the driver) of the meter unit located in front of the driver (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-154804

In the above conventional technology, the terminal connection port (USB port) for the USB charger is also located on the back side of the meter unit. The USB charger, together with the meter unit, is located forward of the steering wheel and away from the driver, which creates usability issues. In addition, the USB charger is fixed to the back side of the meter unit using a locking claw and fastening boss formed on the back side of the meter unit, but if an electrical component such as a USB charger is to be located closer to the driver, a separate mounting structure may be required, which may result in a complicated structure.

The present invention aims to provide a saddle-type vehicle that allows the device connection section to be placed in a position close to the driver with a simple structure.

As a means for solving the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration.
(1) A saddle-ride type vehicle according to an aspect of the present invention is a saddle-ride type vehicle (1) having an equipment connection portion (41) capable of electrically connecting an external electrical device, and a steering handle (15) that is arranged in front of an occupant and rotates around a handle rotation axis (C2) in conjunction with a steering wheel (2), the steering handle (15) having a pair of left and right handlebar portions (15a1) including a grip portion (15a) that is grasped by the occupant, and a master cylinder holder (20) that supports a master cylinder (19) is fixed to the inside of at least one of the pair of left and right handlebar portions (15a1) in the vehicle width direction, and the equipment connection portion (41) is fixed to the master cylinder holder (20) and is arranged behind the master cylinder (19) in a position that overlaps with the master cylinder (19) on the same left and right side when viewed in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.
According to the saddle-ride type vehicle of the present invention described above in (1), the device connection part capable of electrically connecting an external electric device is fixed to the master cylinder holder located on the inside of the handlebar part of the steering handle in the vehicle width direction and is disposed behind the master cylinder, so that the device connection part can be brought closer to the occupant compared to a case where the device connection part is disposed in front of the steering handle. This makes it easier for the occupant to operate the device connection part, and also makes it possible to provide a simple mounting structure for the device connection part by utilizing the structure of the master cylinder holder.
In addition, by fixing the equipment connection part to the master cylinder holder which is located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction than the grip part, it is easy to position the equipment connection part on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the equipment connection part can be positioned so that it is less likely to interfere with steering operation.
In addition, by positioning the equipment connection part behind the master cylinder and overlapping with the master cylinder when viewed in the front-to-rear direction, foreign objects or raindrops are less likely to hit the equipment connection part from the front, and external disturbances can be prevented from reaching the equipment connection part.
Here, the above "electrical connection" is not limited to a configuration in which terminals are in direct contact with each other, but may also include a non-contact configuration in which, for example, coils are placed close to each other to utilize electromagnetic induction.

(2) In the saddle-ride type vehicle described in (1) above, a right master cylinder holder (20) supporting a brake master cylinder (19) that generates brake fluid pressure is fixed to the inside of the right handlebar portion (15a1) in the vehicle width direction, and the equipment connection portion (41) is fixed to the right master cylinder holder (20) and may be located behind the brake master cylinder (19) in a position that overlaps with the brake master cylinder (19) when viewed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.
According to the saddle-ride type vehicle described in (2) of the present invention, in a saddle-ride type vehicle in which the brake master cylinder is disposed on the right handlebar section, the equipment connection part is fixed to the right master cylinder holder and disposed behind the brake master cylinder, making it easier for the occupant to operate the equipment connection part and providing a simple mounting structure for the equipment connection part.
Furthermore, by fixing the device connection portion to the right master cylinder holder which is located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction than the right grip portion, the device connection portion can be positioned so as not to interfere with steering operation.
Furthermore, by arranging the device connection portion behind the brake master cylinder and at a position overlapping with the brake master cylinder when viewed in the front-to-rear direction, it is possible to prevent external disturbances from reaching the device connection portion.
Here, in the case of a vehicle equipped with a brake master cylinder or a clutch master cylinder on the inside of the left handlebar in the vehicle width direction, the device connection portion may be fixed to a left master cylinder holder fixed to the left handlebar.

(3) In the saddle-type vehicle described in (1) or (2) above, the equipment connection portion (41) may be arranged on the opposite side of the master cylinder (19) on the same left or right side, across the steering handle (15) in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.
According to the saddle-type vehicle described in (3) above of the present invention, the equipment connection part is positioned on the opposite side of the master cylinder across the steering handle in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. Therefore, when the equipment connection part is fixed to the steering handle, the equipment connection part and the master cylinder are allocated to the front and rear, and the weight of the master cylinder and the equipment connection part can be supported in a balanced manner.

(4) In the saddle-type vehicle described in (1) or (2) above, the equipment connection portion (41) has an opening (43) for inserting and removing a connection terminal of the external electrical equipment, and the opening (43) may open facing downward.
According to the saddle-type vehicle described in (4) above of the present invention, the opening in the equipment connection portion, through which the connection terminal (external terminal) of the external electrical equipment is inserted and removed, opens toward the bottom of the vehicle, thereby preventing rainwater and the like from entering the opening and improving the waterproofness of the equipment connection portion.

(5) In the saddle-type vehicle described in (1) or (2) above, the equipment connection portion (41) may be supported by a support bracket (60), and the equipment connection portion (41) may be positioned inward in the vehicle width direction relative to a fastening portion (24) for fixing the support bracket (60) to the steering handle (15).
According to the saddle-type vehicle described in (5) above of the present invention, the equipment connection part is positioned further inward in the vehicle width direction than the fastening part that fixes the support bracket to the steering handlebars, so that the equipment connection part is not positioned further outward in the vehicle width direction than the fastening part of the support bracket, and it is possible to prevent the equipment connection part from interfering with gripping of the grip part or operation of the handlebar switches, etc.

(6) In the saddle-type vehicle described in (5) above, the wiring (49b) extending from the equipment connection portion (41) may be curved outward in the vehicle width direction, extend forward below the fastening portion (24), and may be curved inward in the vehicle width direction in front of the fastening portion (24).
According to the saddle-ride type vehicle of the present invention described above in (6), the wiring extending from the device connection part is curved outward in the vehicle width direction and extends forward of the vehicle below the fastening part, making the wiring less noticeable when the occupant looks down. The wiring is folded back and extends inward in the vehicle width direction in front of the fastening part, making it possible to prevent the wiring from interfering with the operation of the grip or handlebar switch located outside the fastening part in the vehicle width direction.

(7) In the saddle-type vehicle described in (1) or (2) above, the equipment connection portion (41) may be arranged rearward of the steering handle (15), and the equipment connection portion (41) and the steering handle (15) may be arranged so as to overlap each other when viewed from the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.
According to the saddle-type vehicle described above in (7) of the present invention, the equipment connection part is positioned behind the steering handle and overlaps with the steering handle when viewed from the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, thereby protecting the equipment connection part from foreign objects and raindrops from the front of the vehicle.

According to this aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a saddle-type vehicle in which the device connection section can be placed in a position close to the driver with a simple structure.

FIG. 1 is a left side view of a motorcycle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the periphery of a right handlebar portion of the motorcycle. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the fixing structure of the USB charger is disassembled from that shown in FIG. 2 . 4 is a rear view of the periphery of the right handlebar portion of the motorcycle as viewed in the axial direction of a fastening bolt. FIG. FIG. 2 is a top view of the periphery of a right handlebar portion of the motorcycle. FIG. 2 is a front view of the area around a right handlebar of the motorcycle. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the charger assembly. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the charger assembly seen from the thickness direction of the USB charger.

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 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 left and right sides of the vehicle body are shown.

<Entire vehicle>
1 is a left side view of a motorcycle 1, which is an example of a saddle-ride type vehicle. The motorcycle 1 of this embodiment includes a front wheel 2 which is a steering wheel, a rear wheel 3 which is a drive wheel, a front fork 4 which supports the front wheel 2, a swing arm 6 which supports the rear wheel 3, a body frame 5 which supports the front fork 4 and the swing arm 6, a rear cushion 7 which spans between the swing arm 6 and a seat frame (rear frame) 5a at the rear of the body frame 5, and an engine (internal combustion engine, prime mover) 8 which is supported by the body frame 5.

A pair of left and right front forks 4 are provided. The upper parts of the left and right front forks 4 are supported rotatably (steerably) on the head pipe 5b at the front end of the body frame 5 via a steering stem 10. The steering stem 10 includes a top bridge 11 and a bottom bridge 12 that connect the upper parts of the left and right front forks 4 together, and also includes a stem pipe (not shown) that is inserted into the head pipe 5b. The stem pipe is an axial member that is coaxial with the head pipe 5b.

A steering handle (bar handle) 15 extending in the vehicle width direction is attached to the top bridge 11. In the figure, reference numeral 16 indicates a fuel tank disposed behind the steering handle 15 and supported by the body frame 5, and reference numeral 17 indicates a seat disposed behind the fuel tank 16 and supported by the seat frame 5a.

The head pipe 5b has a steering axis (rotation axis, hereafter referred to as the steering axis) C1 that is tilted backward from the vertical direction. The wheel side parts including the front wheel 2 and the left and right front forks 4 rotate around the steering axis C1. In the embodiment, the handle side parts including the steering handle 15 and the handle support members (handle holder 10a and top bridge 11, etc.) rotate around the handle rotation axis (handle rotation axis, hereafter referred to as the handle rotation axis) C2. In the embodiment, the steering axis C1 and the handle rotation axis C2 are coaxial, and the wheel side parts and the handle side parts rotate integrally.

A headlight 30 and a pair of left and right front blinkers 31 are supported on the steering stem 10 via light stays (not shown). For example, a meter unit 33 is also supported on the top bridge 11. The headlight 30, the pair of left and right front blinkers 31, and the meter unit 33 can rotate together with the steering handlebars 15.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5 together, the steering handlebar 15 comprises a pair of left and right handlebar sections 15a1 including a grip section 15a that is gripped by the driver, a pair of left and right hanging sections 15b that extend downward from the inner ends of the left and right handlebar sections 15a1 in the vehicle width direction, and a straight section 15c that spans between the lower ends of the left and right hanging sections 15b. The straight section 15c extends horizontally along the vehicle width direction. The straight section 15c is fixed to the upper surface side of the top bridge 11 via a handlebar holder 10a.

A brake lever 18 operated by the driver is disposed in front of the right grip portion 15a. The base of the brake lever 18 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is rotatably supported by a lever support portion 19a provided on a brake master cylinder 19. The brake master cylinder 19 generates brake fluid pressure in response to the operation of the brake lever 18. The brake master cylinder 19 is disposed with a space in front of the range spanning from the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the right handlebar portion 15a1 to the curved portion 15b1 leading to the upper end of the hanging portion 15b. The brake master cylinder 19 is disposed with its axial direction aligned along the length direction of the right handlebar portion 15a1.

A lever support portion 19a is provided integrally with the front side of the end of the brake master cylinder 19 that is on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. A right master cylinder holder (right lever holder) 20 that fixes the brake master cylinder 19 (and the lever support portion 19a) to the right handlebar portion 15a1 is provided on the rear side of the end of the brake master cylinder 19 that is on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. A reserve tank 19b that stores brake fluid is provided integrally above the brake master cylinder 19. "Inner side in the vehicle width direction" refers to the side closer to the center CL of the vehicle left and right in the vehicle width direction (left and right direction), and "outer side in the vehicle width direction" refers to the side farther from the center CL of the vehicle left and right in the vehicle width direction.

<USB charger>
2 and 3, motorcycle 1 includes a USB charger (charging device) 40 that can charge an external electrical device by integrating a transformer (DC-DC converter, adapter) 45 and a USB socket (device connection section) 41. USB charger 40 is an example of a power supply component that can supply power to an external electrical device such as a smartphone by connecting the external electrical device with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector.

An example of an external electrical device that can be connected to the USB charger 40 is a small, lightweight, and portable mobile terminal. For example, examples of the mobile terminal include a smartphone, a tablet terminal, and a small notebook computer.
The USB charger 40 includes at least one voltage conversion element. The USB charger 40 converts the 12V voltage from the battery into 5V voltage for USB by the transformer 45, and can supply the 5V voltage to an external electric device via the USB connector.

The left and right handlebar sections 15a1 extend linearly outward in the vehicle width direction from the curved sections 15b1 at the upper ends of the hanging parts 15b. The left and right handlebar sections 15a1 in this embodiment are inclined so that the outer sides in the vehicle width direction are positioned further rearward.
An accelerator sleeve 34 is rotatably attached to the grip portion 15a on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the right handlebar portion 15a1. A right switch box 35 and a right master cylinder holder 20 are fixed to the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the right handlebar portion 15a1 (inner in the vehicle width direction than the accelerator sleeve 34, toward the base side) in this order from the accelerator sleeve 34 side. An accelerator pulley (not shown) that rotates integrally with the accelerator sleeve 34 is housed to the right side (outer in the vehicle width direction) of the right switch box 35. In the figure, reference symbol 34a indicates an accelerator cable extending from the front side of the right switch box 35.

The right master cylinder holder 20 is divided into front and rear halves 21a, 21b in the radial direction of the handlebar portion 15a1. The front and rear halves 21a, 21b each have a recess (not shown) that forms a semicircular inner circumferential surface when viewed from the axial direction of the handlebar portion 15a1. The inner circumferential surface of each recess is formed to match the outer circumferential surface of the handlebar portion 15a1 of the steering handle 15, which is made of a circular steel pipe.

The holding position of the handlebar section 15a1 is sandwiched between the recesses of the front and rear halves 21a, 21b, and a pair of upper and lower fastening bolts 25 located above and below the recesses are tightened, thereby clamping and fixing the handlebar section 15a1 between the front and rear halves 21a, 21b.
The fastening bolts 25 are arranged with their axial direction aligned in a direction perpendicular to the handlebar portion 15a1 when viewed in the up-down direction, for example. The front split body 21a is provided at its top and bottom with front fastening portions 23a having nut holes into which the fastening bolts 25 are screwed. The rear split body 21b is provided at its top and bottom with rear fastening portions 23b having insertion holes into which the necks of the fastening bolts 25 are inserted. The holder fastening portion 24 is formed by the front and rear fastening portions 23a, 23b corresponding to each other.

The USB charger 40 is positioned at a distance from the inside of the right handlebar portion 15a1 in the vehicle width direction to the curved portion 15b1 at the upper end of the hanging portion 15b. In other words, the USB charger 40 and the brake master cylinder 19 are positioned at the front and rear, sandwiching part of the steering handle 15. The USB charger 40 is positioned to the right (inner in the vehicle width direction) of the right master cylinder holder 20. The USB charger 40 is fixed to the right master cylinder holder 20 via a support bracket 60. The USB charger 40 is positioned at a position where the driver can look down and forward when seated on the seat 17 facing the front of the vehicle.

Referring to FIG. 3, the support bracket 60 is formed, for example, by bending a flat steel plate. The support bracket 60 has, for example, a substantially vertical plate-like base portion 61. When viewed in the vertical direction, the base portion 61 is inclined so as to follow the axial direction of the handlebar portion 15a1. The right side of the base portion 61 is the base end portion 61a that is fixed to the right master cylinder holder 20. The left side of the base portion 61 is the tip end portion 62a to which the USB charger 40 is fixed. The base end portion 61a is bifurcated, branching upward and downward, and each branch end has a bolt insertion hole 61b corresponding to the upper and lower fastening bolts 25.

The USB charger 40 is connected to the power supply line of the main harness on the vehicle body side via the wiring 49b extending from the transformer 45. The USB charger 40 is connected to a 12V battery (not shown) that is an on-board power source via a main switch or the like. A wiring lead-out section 49 for drawing out the wiring 49b downward is provided on the front right side of the lower part of the transformer 45. The wiring lead-out section 49 has a wiring lead-out port 49a that opens downward. The wiring 49b drawn out from the wiring lead-out port 49a curves to the right (outside in the vehicle width direction) and forward near the lower end of the transformer 45, extends forward below the right master cylinder holder 20, and then curves further below the right master cylinder holder 20 and folds back to the inside in the vehicle width direction. The wiring 49b then extends inward and downward in the vehicle width direction along the steering handle 15, and is connected to the power supply line of the main harness on the vehicle body side. The lower end of the support bracket 60, which is fixed to the right master cylinder holder 20, is formed with a lower end flange 61c that bends and extends forward to prevent edge contact with the wiring 49b.

The USB charger 40 allows the external electrical device to be charged using battery power. The USB socket 41 of the USB charger 40, together with the USB terminal provided at the tip of the charging cord on the external electrical device side, constitutes a USB connector.

The USB socket (device connection section) 41 in the embodiment has at least a power terminal, but does not necessarily have a data communication terminal. When a device that communicates with the control device of the motorcycle 1 is mounted instead of the USB charger 40, the device has a USB socket 41 with a data communication terminal, and is connected to the data communication line on the vehicle body side. The device connection section does not have to be integrated with a functional section such as the transformer 45. The specifications of the device connection section are not limited to a bus standard for connecting USB, and various interface standards can be adopted according to the required specifications.

The USB charger 40 is located to the right of the center CL of the vehicle body, and is located inward in the vehicle width direction from the handlebar switch on the right handlebar portion 15a1. The USB charger 40 is located to the left (inward in the vehicle width direction) from the left end (inner end in the vehicle width direction) of the right master cylinder holder 20.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the USB charger 40 of this embodiment has a charger body that integrates the transformer 45 and USB socket 41, which is covered with a resin cover 50, for example, to form a charger assembly 40A. The charger assembly 40A is attached to the tip end 62a of the support bracket 60, and the base end 61a of the support bracket 60 is attached to the right master cylinder holder 20. The charger assembly 40A is fixed to the right master cylinder holder 20 via the support bracket 60, and is positioned to the left rear of the right master cylinder holder 20.

The USB socket 41 has a flattened rectangular parallelepiped appearance with a reduced width (thickness) in the front-to-rear direction. The transformer 45 is located to the right of the USB socket 41, has a similar flattened rectangular parallelepiped appearance to the USB socket 41, and is formed longer downward than the USB socket 41. The USB socket 41 and the transformer 45 are integrated with each other to form a charger body that is L-shaped when viewed in the front-to-rear direction. The charger body has an overall flattened shape with a reduced width (thickness) in the front-to-rear direction. The charger body (USB charger 40) has its front and rear flat parts in the thickness direction inclined relative to the vehicle width direction to reduce the effects of wind while traveling (see Figure 5).

The bottom end surface of the socket case 42, which forms the exterior of the USB socket 41, is formed with a socket opening (charging port) 43 that opens downward, allowing the USB terminal of an external electrical device to be inserted from below. The inside of the transformer case 46, which forms the exterior of the transformer 45, houses a circuit board (not shown) that includes a voltage conversion element.

Referring to Figures 4, 7, and 8, the front surface of the upper part of the transformer case 46 is provided with a gate-shaped receiving portion 47 into which the locking claw 63 of the support bracket 60 can be inserted in the vertical direction. The locking claw 63 is provided at the front of the tip 62a of the support bracket 60 and is hook-shaped, standing rearward from the tip 62a and then bending downward. By inserting the locking claw 63 into the receiving portion 47, the upper part of the transformer 45 and therefore the charger body is locked to the upper part of the tip 62a of the support bracket 60.

A plate-shaped stay portion 48 that intersects with the front-rear direction is provided at the lower end of the transformer case 46. A through hole 48a is formed in the center of the stay portion 48 in the front-rear direction. The underside of a tapping screw 64b is inserted into the through hole 48a from the rear, and this tapping screw 64b is screwed into and tightened into a clip nut 64a attached to the lower end fixing portion 64 of the support bracket 60. This fastens the rear end of the transformer 45 and therefore the charger body to the lower end of the tip portion 62a of the support bracket 60.

The lower end fixing portion 64 is provided at the lower end of the tip portion 62a of the support bracket 60, and has a crank shape that stands rearward from the tip portion 62a and then bends and extends downward.
Fastening the tapping screw 64b and the clip nut 64a restricts at least vertical movement of the transformer 45 relative to the support bracket 60. This restricts the receiving portion 47 from coming off the locking claw 63 of the support bracket 60, maintaining the transformer 45 and therefore the upper portion of the charger body locked to the support bracket 60, and thus holding (fixing) the entire charger body to the support bracket 60.

2, 3, 7, and 8, the cover 50 that covers the charger body covers the charger body so as to partially expose the charger body. The cover 50 exposes (protrudes) the stay portion 48 to the outside of the cover, for example, at the lower end of the charger body. The cover 50 has an openable and closable lid portion 54 at a portion that covers the socket opening 43, for example, at the left side of the charger body. The lid portion 54 is rotatable about a hinge shaft 53 that extends vertically on the left side in the lateral direction (outside in the vehicle width direction) in front of the socket opening 43, for example.
7, the cover 54 rotates in the direction of arrow R1 about the hinge shaft 53, thereby exposing the socket opening 43 to the outside of the cover. In this state, a USB terminal of an external electrical device can be connected to the socket opening 43. In FIG. 7, the cover 54 in the open state is shown by a solid line, and the cover 54 in the closed state is shown by a two-dot chain line.

<Fixing and positioning the USB charger>
The fixing structure of the USB charger 40 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The USB charger 40 is fixed using the upper and lower holder fastening portions 24 and fastening bolts 25 of the right master cylinder holder 20. That is, the base end portion 61a located on the right side of the support bracket 60 and branching upward and downward is fastened together at the upper and lower holder fastening portions 24 of the right master cylinder holder 20. By forming a bifurcated shape in which the base end portion 61a branches upward and downward, it is possible to avoid the protruding shape between the upper and lower rear fastening portions 23b of the rear divided body 21b and to position the flush upper and lower branched ends of the base end portion 61a on the seat surfaces of the upper and lower rear fastening portions 23b.

Instead of the above-mentioned bifurcated base end 61a, a collar may be placed on the seating surfaces of the upper and lower rear fastening parts 23b, and the rear end (seat) of the collar may be provided at a height that avoids the protruding shape between the upper and lower rear fastening parts 23b. In this case, the base end 61a can be fixed by co-fastening with the upper and lower holder fastening parts 24 without branching into upper and lower parts. In the figure, reference numeral 25a denotes a washer that is placed between the head of the upper and lower fastening bolts 25 and the base end 61a.
For example, when a handle cover or the like is supported in front of the grip portion 15a, the support stay 36 can be fastened to one of the upper and lower holder fastening portions 24. In this case, the seat height can be adjusted by the presence or absence of the upper and lower washers 25a. In the example shown in the figure, one end of the support stay 36 is fastened to the upper portion of the base end portion 61a, and the middle portion of the support stay 36 is fastened to the mirror stay 37.

The arrangement of the USB charger 40 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a rear view seen from the axial direction of the fastening bolt 25, but will be used as a reference when describing the configuration seen from the front-rear direction of the vehicle.
The USB charger 40 is disposed at a position that appropriately overlaps with the range extending from the inside of the right handlebar portion 15a1 in the vehicle width direction to the curved portion 15b1 at the upper end of the hanging portion 15b when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction. The USB charger 40 is located behind the steering wheel 15, and the steering wheel 15 prevents the USB charger 40 from being hit by foreign objects or raindrops from the front of the vehicle. The USB charger 40 is fixed to the right master cylinder holder 20, which is located inside the right grip portion 15a in the vehicle width direction, so that the USB charger 40 does not interfere with the driver's steering operation.

The USB charger 40 is positioned offset inward in the vehicle width direction from the right master cylinder holder 20 to which it is fixed, ensuring that it is positioned away from the right grip portion 15a. The USB charger 40 has the USB socket 41 positioned on its left side (inner in the vehicle width direction), so the wiring 49b of the external electrical device connected to the USB socket 41 is also positioned away from the right grip portion 15a, again minimizing the impact on steering operation.

The USB charger 40 is positioned on the inside in the vehicle width direction within an area that does not exceed the hanging portion 15b of the steering wheel 15, so that it does not interfere with the placement of separate optional parts between the left and right hanging portions 15b, and is unlikely to be in the field of view when viewing the meter unit 33. The USB charger 40, which does not need to be visible while driving, is preferably positioned so that it is not noticeable to the driver.

The insertion and removal direction of the external terminal in the USB socket 41 (insertion and removal direction, arrow F1 direction in the figure) is arranged along the vertical direction. The USB socket 41 has a socket opening 43 facing downward, which prevents rainwater and the like from entering the socket opening 43 from above.

The direction in which the wiring 49b of the USB charger 40 is drawn out is parallel to and in the same direction as the opening direction of the socket opening 43. In this case, the external wiring connected to the USB socket 41 and the wiring 49b of the USB charger 40 are drawn out in the same direction, so that the complexity of the wiring around the USB charger 40 is reduced.
For example, if the wiring 49b is drawn out in the opposite direction to the opening direction of the socket opening 43, the wiring 49b will be drawn out on the side opposite to the external wiring. In particular, if the socket opening 43 faces downward, the wiring 49b will be drawn out upward, making the wiring 49b noticeable and susceptible to disturbance.

In this embodiment, the wiring 49b is pulled out in the same direction as the socket opening 43, and is extended forward from the lower side of the right master cylinder holder 20. The wiring 49b curves outward in the vehicle width direction and passes under the right master cylinder holder 20 to avoid the fastening portion at the lower end of the transformer case 46. The wiring 49b curves inward in the vehicle width direction below the right master cylinder holder 20, and is routed so as to follow the steering handle 15.

Since the wiring 49b is routed on the opposite side to the socket opening 43 in the vehicle width direction, the wiring 49b is not disposed around the socket opening 43, and the wiring 49b is unlikely to interfere with attachment and detachment of the external terminal. In addition, the wiring 49b can be connected to the main harness while preventing the wiring 49b from being conspicuous.
For example, when the socket case 42 and the transformer case 46 are molded integrally, if the die-pulling directions of the wiring outlet 49a and the socket opening 43 are the same, it becomes easy to form the wiring outlet 49a and the socket opening 43 simultaneously.

The fastening portion between the stay portion 48 of the transformer case 46 and the support bracket 60 is located below the transformer case 46, making the fastening members (tapping screw 64b and clip nut 64a) less noticeable and preventing rainwater, etc. from getting in from above.

As described above, the motorcycle 1 in the above embodiment comprises an equipment connection portion (USB socket 41) capable of electrically connecting an external electrical device, and a steering handlebar 15 that is arranged in front of the occupant and rotates around a handlebar rotation axis C2 in conjunction with a steered wheel (front wheel 2), the steering handlebar 15 comprises a pair of left and right handlebar portions 15a1 including a grip portion 15a that is grasped by the occupant, and a right master cylinder holder 20 that supports a brake master cylinder 19 is fixed to the inside in the vehicle width direction of the right handlebar portion 15a1 of the left and right handlebar portions 15a1, and the equipment connection portion is fixed to the right master cylinder holder 20 and is arranged behind the brake master cylinder 19 in a position that overlaps with the brake master cylinder 19 when viewed in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction.
According to this configuration, the device connection part capable of electrically connecting external electric devices is fixed to the right master cylinder holder 20 located on the inside in the vehicle width direction of the right handlebar portion 15a1 of the steering handle 15, and is disposed behind the brake master cylinder 19, so that the device connection part can be brought closer to the occupant compared to a case where the device connection part is disposed in front of the steering handle 15. This makes it easier for the occupant to operate the device connection part, and a simple mounting structure for the device connection part can be provided by utilizing the structure of the right master cylinder holder 20.
In addition, by fixing the equipment connection part to the right master cylinder holder 20 which is located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction than the right grip part 15a, it is easy to position the equipment connection part on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the equipment connection part can be positioned so that it is less likely to interfere with steering operation.
In addition, by positioning the equipment connection part behind the brake master cylinder 19 and overlapping with the brake master cylinder 19 when viewed in the front-to-rear direction, foreign objects or raindrops from the front are less likely to hit the equipment connection part, thereby preventing external disturbances from reaching the equipment connection part.

In the motorcycle 1, the device connection portion is disposed on the opposite side of the brake master cylinder 19 with the steering handle 15 interposed therebetween in the vehicle front-rear direction.
According to this configuration, the equipment connection part is positioned on the opposite side of the brake master cylinder 19 across the steering handle 15 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, so that when the equipment connection part is fixed to the steering handle 15, the equipment connection part and the brake master cylinder 19 are distributed front to rear, allowing the weight of the brake master cylinder 19 and the equipment connection part to be supported in a balanced manner.

In the motorcycle 1, the device connection portion has an opening (socket opening 43) for inserting and removing a connection terminal of the external electric device, and the opening is open and faces downward.
According to this configuration, the opening for inserting and removing the connection terminal (external terminal) of the external electrical device in the equipment connection portion is opened toward the bottom of the vehicle, thereby preventing rainwater and the like from entering the opening and improving the waterproofness of the equipment connection portion.

In the motorcycle 1, the equipment connection portion is supported by a support bracket 60, and is characterized in that the equipment connection portion is positioned inward in the vehicle width direction than a fastening portion (holder fastening portion 24) for fixing the support bracket 60 to the steering handlebars 15.
According to this configuration, the equipment connection portion is positioned further inward in the vehicle width direction than the fastening portion that fixes the support bracket 60 to the steering handle 15, so that the equipment connection portion is not positioned further outward in the vehicle width direction than the fastening portion of the support bracket 60, and this prevents the equipment connection portion from interfering with gripping the grip portion 15a or operating the handle switch, etc.

In the motorcycle 1, the wiring 49b extending from the equipment connection portion is characterized in that it curves outward in the vehicle width direction, extends forward below the fastening portion, and then curves inward in the vehicle width direction in front of the fastening portion.
According to this configuration, the wiring 49b extending from the device connection portion is curved outward in the vehicle width direction and extends forward of the vehicle below the fastening portion, making the wiring 49b less noticeable when the occupant looks down. The wiring 49b is folded back and extends inward in the vehicle width direction in front of the fastening portion, making it possible to prevent the wiring 49b from interfering with the operation of the grip portion 15a or the handlebar switch that are located outside the fastening portion in the vehicle width direction.

In the motorcycle 1, the device connection portion is disposed rearward of the steering handlebar 15, and the device connection portion and the steering handlebar 15 are disposed so as to overlap each other when viewed from the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle.
According to this configuration, the equipment connection part is positioned behind the steering handle 15 and overlaps with the steering handle 15 when viewed from the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, thereby protecting the equipment connection part from foreign objects and raindrops from the front of the vehicle.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the mounting structure of the USB charger 40 of the present embodiment may be applied to saddle-ride type vehicles other than motorcycles.
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 present invention may be applied to vehicles that include an electric motor as a prime mover. The present invention may be applied to vehicles other than saddle-type vehicles (passenger cars, buses, trucks, etc.).
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)
2. Front wheels (steering wheels)
15 Steering handle 15a Grip portion 15a1 Handlebar portion 19 Brake master cylinder (master cylinder)
20 Right master cylinder holder (master cylinder holder)
24 Holder fastening part (fastening part)
40 USB charger (charging device)
41 USB socket (device connection part)
43 Socket opening (opening)
49b Wiring 60 Support bracket C2 Handle rotation shaft

Claims (7)

A saddle-type vehicle (1) including an equipment connection portion (41) capable of electrically connecting an external electric device,
A steering handle (15) is disposed in front of the occupant and rotates around a steering handle rotation shaft (C2) in conjunction with the steering wheel (2).
The steering handle (15) includes a pair of left and right handlebar portions (15a1) including a grip portion (15a) that is gripped by the rider,
A master cylinder holder (20) supporting a master cylinder (19) is fixed to the inside in the vehicle width direction of at least one of the pair of left and right handlebar portions (15a1),
The equipment connection portion (41) is fixed to the master cylinder holder (20) and is arranged rearward of the master cylinder (19) in a position overlapping with the master cylinder (19) on the same left or right side when viewed in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. A right master cylinder holder (20) is fixed to the inside of the right handlebar portion (15a1) in the vehicle width direction, the right master cylinder holder (20) supporting a brake master cylinder (19) that generates brake fluid pressure.
2. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the equipment connection portion (41) is fixed to the right master cylinder holder (20) and is arranged behind the brake master cylinder (19) in a position overlapping with the brake master cylinder (19) when viewed in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device connection part (41) is arranged on the opposite side of the steering handle (15) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with respect to the master cylinder (19) on the same left or right side. The device connection portion (41) has an opening (43) for inserting and removing a connection terminal of the external electrical device,
3. The saddle-ride type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the opening (43) is open and faces downward. The device connection portion (41) is supported by a support bracket (60),
3. The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the equipment connection portion (41) is arranged inward in the vehicle width direction relative to a fastening portion (24) for fixing the support bracket (60) to the steering handle (15). The saddle-type vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the wiring (49b) extending from the device connection portion (41) curves outward in the vehicle width direction, extends forward below the fastening portion (24), and curves inward in the vehicle width direction in front of the fastening portion (24). The equipment connection portion (41) is disposed rearward of the steering handle (15);
3. The saddle-ride type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the device connection portion (41) and the steering handle (15) are arranged so as to overlap each other when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

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