# US 8,770,330 B2 · Exterior shroud member for a saddle-type vehicle, and vehicle incorporating the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,330 B2 - Document ID: US8770330B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/542,812 - Filed: 2012-07-06 - Published: 2013-01-17 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-11 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Yusuke Inoue; Shiro Yama - Inventors: Yusuke Inoue; Shiro Yama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770330B2 ## CPC - B62J 35/00: Fuel tanks specially adapted for motorcycles or engine-assisted cycles; Arrangements thereof (fuel tanks forming part of cycle frames B62K11/00; tanks in general B60K {; closure caps for fuel tanks B60K15/0406}) - B62J 23/00: Other protectors specially adapted for cycles - B62K 11/04: characterised by the engine being between front and rear wheels - B60W 2300/36: Cycles; Motorcycles; Scooters - 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 - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT ## Abstract An exterior member such as a shroud, for a saddle-type vehicle including a head pipe and a main frame extending rearward from the head pipe, has a hook member formed on an inner side thereof. The hook member is configured for being engaged onto the main frame such that the exterior member is supported by the main frame. The exterior member is locked to the vehicle by engaging the hook member onto the main frame, thereby supporting the exterior member on the main frame. Such arrangement enables the exterior member to be affixed to the frame with a simple structure, without detrimentally affecting the external appearance of the vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An exterior member for a saddle-type vehicle having a frame comprising a head pipe and additional frame sections extending rearwardly from the head pipe, said exterior member comprising: a main body portion including a front cover section and a rear cover section; and a hook member formed on an inner side of the rear cover section of said main body portion; wherein: the vehicle further comprises a radiator, the front cover section and rear cover section cooperate to form an airflow opening therebetween for guiding airflow induced by traveling of the vehicle towards the radiator, said hook member is configured to hook onto the frame such that the exterior member is supported by the frame, the exterior member is attached to the vehicle by hooking the hook member onto the frame, and the hook is located behind the airflow opening in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The exterior member for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said additional frame sections comprise a pair of left and right main frames attached to the head pipe. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The exterior member for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 2, wherein: said vehicle further comprises a fuel tank; each of the main frames includes a hook-supporting section formed on an upper edge portion thereof; said fuel tank is disposed between the left and right main frames; and said fuel tank is disposed above the hook-supporting section at which the hook member is engaged. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The exterior member for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 3, wherein: said exterior member has a plurality of fastening portions formed thereon; the exterior member is supported by hooking onto the frame at the hook-supporting section and also supported by fastening to the vehicle through said plurality of fastening portions; and the hook-supporting section is disposed substantially at a center of the plurality of fastening portions in an assembled state of the exterior member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The exterior member for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said vehicle further comprises a radiator provided inwardly of the exterior member in a vehicle width direction, and wherein the exterior member is fastened to the radiator and the fuel tank. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The exterior member for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said vehicle further comprises a radiator provided inwardly of the exterior member in a vehicle width direction, and wherein the exterior member is fastened to the radiator and the fuel tank. ### Claim 7 An exterior member for a saddle-type vehicle having a frame comprising a head pipe and additional frame sections extending rearwardly from the head pipe, said exterior member comprising a main body portion and a hook member formed on an inner side of said main body portion; wherein: said vehicle further comprises a fuel tank; said additional frame sections comprise a pair of left and right main frames; each of said main frames includes a hook-supporting section formed on an upper edge portion thereof; said fuel tank is disposed above the hook-supporting section at which the hook member is engaged; said hook member is configured to hook onto the frame such that the exterior member is supported by the frame, and the exterior member is attached to the vehicle by hooking the hook member onto the frame; wherein: said fuel tank has a recess formed on a side surface thereof; and during assembly, the hook member is inserted between one of the main frames and the recess, and is slid along said one main frame. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The exterior member for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 7, wherein in a mounted position thereof, said exterior member overlaps with the recess of said fuel tank when viewed in side view. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The exterior member for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 8, wherein: said exterior member has a plurality of fastening portions formed thereon; the exterior member is supported by hooking onto the frame at the hook-supporting section and also supported by fastening to the vehicle through said plurality of fastening portions; and the hook-supporting section is disposed substantially at a center of the plurality of fastening portions in an assembled state of the exterior member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The exterior member for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said vehicle further comprises a radiator provided inwardly of the exterior member in a vehicle width direction, and wherein the exterior member is fastened to the radiator and the fuel tank. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The exterior member for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 7, wherein: said exterior member has a plurality of fastening portions formed thereon; the exterior member is supported by hooking onto the frame at the hook-supporting section and also supported by fastening to the vehicle through said plurality of fastening portions; and the hook-supporting section is disposed substantially at a center of the plurality of fastening portions in an assembled state of the exterior member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The exterior member for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said vehicle further comprises a radiator provided inwardly of the exterior member in a vehicle width direction, and wherein the exterior member is fastened to the radiator and the fuel tank. ### Claim 13 A saddle-type vehicle comprising: a frame comprising a head pipe and a pair of left and right main frames attached to and extending rearwardly from the head pipe; a fuel tank disposed between and above said main frames and having a recess formed on a side surface thereof; and an exterior member having a hook member formed thereon; wherein during assembly, the hook member is inserted between one of the main frames and the recess, and is slid along said one main frame. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A saddle-type vehicle according to claim 13 wherein: each of the left and right main frames has a hook-supporting section formed on an upper edge portion thereof; and the fuel tank is disposed on an upper side of the hook-supporting section at which the hook member is engaged. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A saddle-type vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the recess of the fuel tank overlaps with the exterior member in mounted position thereof, when viewed in side view.