# US 7,744,260 B2 · Straddle type vehicle having rear cover and light assembly and method for assembling a light unit

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- Number: US 7,744,260 B2
- Document ID: US7744260B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/280,947
- Filed: 2005-11-16
- Published: 2007-09-20
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2004-11-16
- Assignees: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Yoshiaki Yamamoto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744260B2

## CPC

- B60Q 1/0035: {relative to the vehicle}
- B62J 6/04: Rear lights
- B62K 19/46: Luggage carriers forming part of frame (luggage carriers per se B62J7/00)
- B62J 6/026: characterised by the structure, e.g. casings
- B62K 2202/00: Motorised scooters
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B62J: CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
- B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE

## Abstract

A straddle type vehicle includes a movable cover on a rear trunk space and a light assembly having a first light unit extending in a generally horizontal direction and a second light unit extending in a generally vertical direction. The assembly can also include two vertical light units, one positioned on the left side of the movable cover and the other positioned on the right side of the movable cover, and one horizontal light positioned below the movable cover. Connectors and fastening mechanisms can be utilized to connect the light units and movable cover of the assembly. In addition, the first light unit and the second light unit can both be a light-emitting diode (LED) light source.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A straddle type vehicle comprising:
at least one wheel rotatable about a generally horizontal axis;
a vehicle body having a trunk space, the wheel being coupled to the vehicle body;
a movable cover capable of enclosing at least a portion of the trunk space;
a first light unit having a first lens extending in a direction generally parallel to the horizontal axis, wherein the first lens extends along at least one side of the movable cover; and
a second light unit having a second lens extending in a direction generally normal to the horizontal axis, wherein the second lens extends along at least one side of the movable cover; wherein
the first and second light units are arranged to generally form an L-shape when viewed from a rear of the vehicle; and
a bottom end of the second light unit is positioned higher than a bottom end of the movable cover when the movable cover is closed, the bottom end of the second light unit is positioned above a top end of the first light unit, and the bottom end of the second light unit adjoins the top end of the first light unit along an entire horizontal length of the bottom end of the second light unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first light unit having a first lens comprises a horizontal light unit having a horizontal lens.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second light unit having a second lens comprises a vertical light unit having a vertical lens.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a trunk bracket attached to the vehicle body for supporting the trunk, wherein the first light unit covers at least a portion of the trunk bracket.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first light unit comprises an elongated lens extending entirely below the movable cover.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second light unit is disposed entirely to one side of the movable cover.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first light unit and the second light unit extend around a corner of the movable cover.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a third light unit having a third lens, wherein the third light unit has a similar shape to the second light unit and is disposed such that its longitudinal axis lies generally parallel to the second light unit.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 8, wherein the first lens is positioned below the movable cover, the second lens is positioned on the left side of the movable cover, and the third lens is positioned on the right side of the movable cover.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 1, wherein the width of the movable cover in a direction generally parallel to the horizontal axis is less than the width of the vehicle body in a direction generally parallel to the horizontal axis.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 10, wherein the width of the first light unit in a direction generally parallel to the horizontal axis is greater than the width of the movable cover in a direction generally parallel to the horizontal axis.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 1, wherein the trunk space is positioned at a rear end of the vehicle and is capable of storing an article therein, the first light unit is a taillight unit, and the second light unit is a flasher light unit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 12, wherein an opening to the trunk space slants downward from an upper portion of the trunk space in a direction towards the rear end of the vehicle.

### Claim 14

A straddle type vehicle comprising:
at least one wheel rotatable about a generally horizontal axis;
a vehicle body having a trunk space;
a movable cover capable of enclosing at least a portion of the trunk space;
a first light unit having a first lens extending in a direction generally parallel to the horizontal axis, wherein the first lens extends along a bottom end of the movable cover;
a second light unit having a second lens extending in a direction generally normal to the horizontal axis, wherein the second lens extends along the left side of the movable cover;
a third light unit having a third lens extending in a direction generally normal to the horizontal axis, wherein the third lens extends along the right side of the movable cover;
a first connector arranged to attach the first light unit and the second light unit;
a second connector arranged to attach the first light unit and the third light unit;
a first receiving member located on the second light unit and the trunk space which receives a first fastening member in order to connect the second light unit to the trunk space; and
a second receiving member located on the third light unit and the trunk space which receives a second fastening member in order to connect the third light unit to the trunk space; wherein
the first and second light units are arranged to generally form an L-shape when viewed from a rear of the vehicle; and
a bottom end of the second light unit and a bottom end of the third light unit are positioned higher than the bottom end of the movable cover when the movable cover is closed, the bottom end of the second light unit and the bottom end of third light unit are positioned above a top end of the first light unit, and the bottom end of the second light unit and the bottom end of the third light unit adjoin the top end of the first light unit along an entire horizontal length of the bottom end of the second light unit and the bottom end of the third light unit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 14, wherein the third light unit extends in a direction generally normal to the horizontal axis from at least a portion of a first end of the first light unit.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first light unit comprises a single unit and a first portion of the first light unit is coupled to the second light unit and a second portion of the first light unit is coupled to the third light unit.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first light unit and the second light unit extend around a first corner of the movable cover and the first light and the third light unit extend around a second corner of the movable cover.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first light unit is directly coupled to the second light unit at a first end of the first light unit and the first light unit is directly coupled to the third light unit at a second end of the first light unit.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first and third light units are configured to generally form an L-shape.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 14, wherein the first light unit, the second light unit, and the third light unit are configured to generally form a U-shape.

### Claim 21 (depends on 14)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 14, additionally comprising a first plug hole located on the first connector and a first plug piece extending vertically downward from a bottom portion of the second light unit.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 21, additionally comprising a second plug hole located on the second connector and a second plug piece extending vertically downward from a bottom portion of the third light unit.

### Claim 23

A straddle type vehicle comprising:
at least one wheel rotatable about a generally horizontal axis;
a vehicle body having an opening;
a movable cover capable of covering at least a portion of the opening;
a first light unit extending in a direction generally parallel to the horizontal axis, wherein the first light unit extends along at least one side of the movable cover; and
a second light unit extending in a direction generally normal to the horizontal axis, wherein the second light unit extends along at least one side of the movable cover; wherein
the first and second light units are arranged to generally form an L-shape when viewed from a rear of the vehicle; and
a bottom end of the second light unit is positioned higher than a bottom end of the movable cover when the movable cover is closed, the bottom end of the second light unit is positioned above a top end of the first light unit, and the bottom end of the second light unit adjoins the top end of the first light unit along an entire horizontal length of the bottom end of the second light unit.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 23, wherein the first light unit comprises a first light-emitting diode (LED) and the second light unit comprises a second light-emitting diode (LED).

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 23, further comprising a third light unit having a similar shape to the second light unit and being disposed such that its longitudinal axis lies generally parallel to the second light unit.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 25, wherein the third light unit comprises a third light-emitting diode (LED).

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The straddle type vehicle of claim 26, wherein the first light-emitting diode (LED) is positioned below the movable cover, the second light-emitting diode (LED) is positioned on the left side of the movable cover, and the third light-emitting diode (LED) is positioned on the right side of the movable cover.
