VEHICLE LIGHT UNIT

Abstract

The light unit includes a lamp body and a lens having engagement members. The engagement members engage directly with the body of a vehicle (for example, a motorcycle). The engagement members preferably engage with a vehicle body exterior component such as a side cover. By engaging directly with the body, the alignment accuracy between the light unit and the side cover is improved.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will now be described in connection with preferred embodiments of the invention, in reference to the accompanying drawings. The illustrated embodiments, however, are merely examples and are not intended to limit the invention. The following are brief descriptions of the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a motorcycle equipped with a tail lamp unit or light unit configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partially side view of a rear portion of the motorcycle from FIG. 1 showing the light unit.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the rear portion of the motorcycle from FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the light unit from FIG. 3 removed from the motorcycle.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the light unit from FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the light unit from FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional side view of the light unit taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional side view of the light unit taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional rear view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 2 showing the light unit engaged with the vehicle body via an engagement section.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional plan view taken along line X-X in FIG. 2 showing the light unit engaged with the vehicle body via another engagement section.

FIG. 11 a is a cross sectional rear view taken along line XIa-XIa in FIG. 3 showing the light unit engaged with the vehicle body via side screws.

FIG. 11 b is a cross sectional side view taken along line XIb-XIb in FIG. 3 showing the light unit engaged with the vehicle body via the side screws.

FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view showing an assembled light unit being aligned with the body of the vehicle for installation.

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view showing the side covers being installed on the body of the vehicle.

FIG. 14 a is a rear perspective view showing the lower sides of the covers being aligned with the lower sides of the fixing members of the lamp body.

FIG. 14 b is a rear perspective view showing the lower sides of the covers engaged with the lower sides of the fixing members of the lamp body.

Claims

1. A light unit for a vehicle body comprising: a lens;a reflector; andan engagement member formed on an inner side of the lens for engaging with a portion of the vehicle body.

2. The light unit according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the vehicle body is a side cover.

3. The light unit according to claim 2, wherein the side cover overlaps the engagement member.

4. The light unit according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the vehicle body is an outside portion of the vehicle body.

5. The light unit according to claim 1 additionally comprising a recess, the recess being disposed in a side surface of the lens and in a direction toward an inside of the vehicle body, the portion of the vehicle body being positioned in the recess at least when the light unit is engaged with the vehicle body, the engagement member being formed on an outer surface of the recess.

6. The light unit according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member is configured to control a size of a gap formed between the lens and the portion of the vehicle body.

7. The light unit according to claim 6, wherein the engagement member is configured to control the size of the gap in at least an up-down direction.

8. The light unit according to claim 6, wherein the engagement member is configured to control the size of the gap in at least a left-right direction.

9. The light unit according to claim 1 further comprising a light bulb disposed rearward of the lens.

10. The light unit according to claim 9, wherein the engagement member is disposed within the lens so as to not block light being emitted by the light bulb.

11. The light unit according to claim 9 further comprising a reflector disposed rearward of the light bulb.

12. The light unit according to claim 11, wherein the engagement member is generally aligned with the reflector along an axis of the vehicle that extends in a front-rear direction.

13. The light unit according to claim 1, wherein the lens comprises an inner lens and an outer lens, and the engagement member is formed on an inner side of the outer lens.

14. The light unit according to claim 1, wherein the lens includes one or more additional engagement members which engage with the vehicle.

15. The light unit according to claim 14 further comprising a reflector, wherein a first engagement member is disposed forward of the reflector and a second engagement member is disposed rearward of the reflector.

16. A motorcycle comprising: an exterior body portion; anda light unit having, a bulb that acts as a light source,a lens positioned rearward of the bulb;a reflector that reflects at least some light from the bulb toward the lens; andan engagement member formed with the lens for engaging with the exterior body portion.

17. The motorcycle according to claim 16, wherein the exterior body portion is a side cover.

18. The motorcycle according to claim 17, wherein the side cover overlaps the engagement member.

19. A light unit for a vehicle having at least two outer body covers, the light unit comprising: an outer lens;an inner lens, at least a portion of the inner lens being disposed inside the outer lens; anda plurality of engagement members for engaging with the outer body covers.

20. The light unit according to claim 19, wherein at least two of the plurality of engagement members engages with one of the two outer body covers.

21. The light unit according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of engagement members engages with the two outer body covers.