Wheeled vehicle with covers

Abstract

A wheeled vehicle includes a seat. A frame supports at least the seat. The frame includes at least a first horizontal section extending substantially horizontally in front of the seat. At least first, second and third covers overlay the frame. The first horizontal section includes a reference position. The first and second covers abut against each other to form a flush surface and overlap with each other to cover the reference position. The first and second covers are attached together to the first horizontal section at the reference position. The third cover is attached to the first cover or the frame at a second location that is spaced apart from the reference position and is determined with less precision than the reference position.

1 . A vehicle comprising: 
 a seat;    a frame arranged to support at least the seat, the frame having at least a first horizontal section extending substantially horizontally in front of the seat; and    at least first, second and third covers arranged to cover the frame; wherein the first horizontal section includes a reference position, the first and second covers abut against each other to define a flush surface and overlap with each other to cover the reference position;    the first and second covers are attached together to the first horizontal section at the reference position; and    the third cover is attached to one of the first cover and the frame at a second location that is spaced apart from the reference position and is determined with less precision than the reference position.    
     
     
         2 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the reference position is a single reference position for all of the first, second and third covers with respect to the frame.  
     
     
         3 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the frame includes a second horizontal section extending below the first horizontal section.  
     
     
         4 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a second horizontal section extending below the first horizontal section.  
     
     
         5 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the reference position is located in an area of a top surface of the first horizontal section.  
     
     
         6 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second covers abut against each other adjacent to the reference position.  
     
     
         7 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first horizontal section includes a bolt hole that has a substantially round cross-sectional shape relative to an axis of the bolt hole, and the first and second covers are attached to the first horizontal section by a bolt that has an outer diameter that is substantially the same as an inner diameter of the bolt hole.  
     
     
         8 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the first horizontal section includes a stay and a female screw member that is internally threaded to define the bolt hole, the female screw member includes a flange, and the bolt is screwed into the female screw member so as to interpose the first and second covers and the stay between a head of the bolt and the flange of the female screw member.  
     
     
         9 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the third cover includes a first engaging portion, one of the first cover and the frame includes a second engaging portion that engages the first engage portion, one of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion is a projection, the other of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion is a slot, and the projection is inserted into the slot.  
     
     
         10 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a stay that extends from the first horizontal section, a female screw member internally threaded to define a bolt hole that has a substantially round cross-sectional shape relative to an axis of the bolt hole, the female screw member including a flange, and a bolt screwed into the female screw member such that the first and second covers and the stay are interposed between a head of the bolt and the flange of the female screw member.  
     
     
         11 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the third cover includes one of a first projection and a first aperture, one of the first cover and the frame includes one of a second aperture corresponding to the first projection and a second projection corresponding to the first aperture, the one of the first aperture and the second aperture is larger than the one of the first projection and the second projection, the one of the first projection and the second projection is inserted into the one of the first aperture and the second aperture to attach the third cover to the one of the first cover and the frame.  
     
     
         12 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the one of the first aperture and the second aperture is a slot, the one of the first projection and the second projection is slidable within the one of the first aperture and the second aperture.  
     
     
         13 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the one of the first projection and the second projection has a hook shape that passes through the one of the first aperture and the second aperture.  
     
     
         14 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein one of the first cover and second cover includes a step that defines a first step portion and a second step portion, a surface of the first step portion is substantially flush with a surface of the other one of the first cover and the second cover, the other one of the first cover and the second cover overlaps the second step portion.  
     
     
         15 . A vehicle comprising: 
 a frame having first, second, third and fourth frame sections, the first frame section extending substantially vertically, the second frame section extending substantially horizontally and forward from a top portion of the first frame section, the third frame section extending substantially vertically from a forward end of the second frame section, the third frame section accommodating a steering shaft, the fourth frame section extending substantially horizontally and rearward from the top portion of the first frame section, and the fourth frame section supporting a seat;    a first cover arranged to cover the second frame section;    a second cover arranged to cover the third frame section; and    a third cover arranged to cover the fourth frame section; wherein    the second frame section has a reference position;    the first and second covers abut against each other to define a flush surface and overlap with each other to cover the reference position;    the first and second covers are attached together to the second frame section at the reference position; and    the third cover is attached to one of the first cover and the frame at a second position that is spaced apart from the reference position and that is determined with less precision than the reference position.    
     
     
         16 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the reference position is located in an area of a top surface of the second frame section.  
     
     
         17 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the frame includes a fifth frame section extending below the second frame section.  
     
     
         18 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the second frame section includes a bolt hole having a substantially round cross-sectional shape relative to an axis of the bolt hole, the first cover and the second cover are attached to the second frame section by a bolt that has an outer diameter that is substantially the same as an inner diameter of the bolt hole.  
     
     
         19 . The vehicle as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the third cover includes one of a first projection and a first aperture, the first cover includes one of a second aperture corresponding to the first projection and a second projection corresponding to the first aperture, the one of the first aperture and the second aperture is larger than the one of the first projection and the second projection, the one of the first and the second projection is inserted into the one of the first aperture and the second aperture to attach the third cover to the first cover.  
     
     
         20 . A vehicle comprising: 
 a seat;    a frame arranged to support at least the seat, the frame including at least a first horizontal section extending substantially horizontally in front of the seat; and    at least first, second and third covers arranged to cover the frame; wherein    the first and second covers abut against each other to define a flush surface and overlapping with each other, the first and second covers are attached together to the first horizontal section at a first location in an overlapping area of the first and second covers; and    the third cover is attached to the first cover or the frame at a second location that is spaced apart from the first location and that is determined with less precision than the first position.    
     
     
         21 . A method for affixing a plurality of covers to a frame of a wheeled vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: 
 making a step at an end of a first cover;    abutting a second cover on the step of the first cover such that the first and second covers form a flush surface and overlap with each other;    affixing first and second covers to a first horizontal section of the frame located in front of a seat of the vehicle at a reference position that is located in an overlapping area of the first and second covers; and    affixing a third cover to the first cover or the frame at a location that is spaced apart from the reference position and that is determined with less precision than the reference position.    
     
     
         22 . The method as set forth in  claim 21 , further comprising the step of sliding a projection of one of the first cover and the third cover within a slot of the other one of the first cover and the third cover to affix the third cover to the first cover or the frame.