Radar detector for a motorcycle

• US 20060012509A1
• Filed: 07/14/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group Incorporated (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group Incorporated (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bartosik, Daniel J., Cobb, Nelson J., Richlen, Jeffrey E., Coomer, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 7,271,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/022 Road traffic radar detectors

Abstract

A radar detector for a motorcycle having an electrical power supply and a receiver housing. The radar detector includes a housing adapted to attach to the receiver housing. The housing is divided into a right-hand side and a left-hand side. A plurality of user controls is disposed within the housing. A majority of the controls are disposed on the left-hand side of the housing.

Claims

1. A radar detector for a motorcycle having an electrical power supply and a receiver housing, the radar detector comprising:

a housing including a flexible member adapted to mechanically attach the housing to the receiver housing and a Plurality of external connectors adapted to electrically couple to the electrical power supply, the housing defining a right hand side and a left hand side; and

a plurality of user controls disposed within the housing, a majority of the controls disposed on the left hand side of the housing.

2. The radar detector of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of connectors is a power connector and a second of the plurality of connectors is a ground connector, the power connector and the ground connector defining a portion of a power supply circuit.

3. The radar detector of claim 2 wherein the plurality of connectors includes at least four connectors arranged in a line, and wherein at least one connector is disposed between the power connector and the ground connector.

4. The radar detector of claim 2 wherein the plurality of connectors includes at least one connector that is connected to a speaker.

5. The radar detector of claim 2 wherein the plurality of connectors includes at least eight connectors arranged in a row and the power connector is one of the first connector and the eighth connector and the ground connector is the other of the first connector and the eighth connector.

6. The radar detector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the user controls is illuminated.

7. The radar detector of claim 6, wherein the illumination switches on and off in response to the detection of a signal.

8. The radar detector of claim 1, wherein all the user controls are disposed on the left-hand side.

9. The radar detector of claim 1, wherein the motorcycle defines a longitudinal axis and the housing includes a display panel disposed at a first angle relative to a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and disposed at a second angle relative to the plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the first angle orienting the display panel toward the longitudinal axis, the second angle orienting the display panel in an upward direction.

29. The radar detector of claim 1, wherein the flexible member includes a lip adapted to engage a locking aperture to retain the housing within the receiver housing.

30. The radar detector of claim 29, wherein the flexible member includes a button adapted to facilitate movement of the flexible member to disengage the housing from the receiver housing.

31. The radar detector of claim 1, wherein the housing includes at least one of a key and a key receiver adapted to couple with the other of a key and key receiver of the receiver housing.

10. A radar detector for a motorcycle having an electrical power supply and a receiver housing and defining a longitudinal axis, the radar detector comprising:

a housing adapted to attach to the receiver housing; and

a display panel defining a portion of the housing, the display panel disposed at a first angle relative to a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and disposed at a second angle relative to the plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the first angle orienting the display panel toward the longitudinal axis, the second angle orienting the display panel in an upward direction.

11. The radar detector of claim 10, wherein the housing includes a button disposed within the housing, the button being illuminated.

12. The radar detector of claim 11, wherein the illumination switches on and off in response to the detection of a signal.

13. The radar detector of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of connectors coupled to the housing, wherein one of the plurality of connectors is a power connector and a second of the plurality of connectors is a ground connector, the power connector and the ground connector defining a portion of a power supply circuit.

14. The radar detector of claim 13, wherein the plurality of connectors includes at least four connectors arranged in a line, and wherein at least one connector is disposed between the power connector and the ground connector.

15. The radar detector of claim 13, wherein the plurality of connectors includes at least one connector that is connected to a speaker.

16. The radar detector of claim 13, wherein the plurality of connectors includes at least eight connectors arranged in a row and the power connector is one of the first connector and the eighth connector and the ground connector is the other of the first connector and the eighth connector.

17. The radar detector of claim 10, wherein the first angle is between about 5 and 15 degrees.

18. The radar detector of claim 10, wherein the second angle is between about 5 and 15 degrees.

19. The radar detector of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of user controls disposed within the housing, a majority of the controls disposed on a left-hand side of the housing.

20. A radar detector assembly for a motorcycle having an electrical power supply, the radar detector assembly comprising:

a receiver housing connected to the motorcycle and including a plurality of external connectors coupled to the electrical power supply; and

a radar detector at least partially contained within a housing including a plurality of external connectors, the housing mechanically attaching to the receiver housing to electrically couple the plurality of external connectors of the radar detector with the Plurality of external connectors of the receiver housing to provide electrical power to the radar detector from the motorcycle electrical power supply through the receiver housing.

21. The radar detector assembly of claim 20, further comprising an illuminated button disposed within the housing.

22. The radar detector assembly of claim 21, wherein the illumination switches on and off in response to the detection of a signal.

23. The radar detector assembly of claim 21, wherein the motorcycle defines a longitudinal axis and the housing includes a display panel disposed at a first angle relative to a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and disposed at a second direction relative to the plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the first angle orienting the display panel toward the longitudinal axis, the second angle orienting the display panel in an upward direction.

24. The radar detector assembly of claim 21, wherein the plurality of connectors includes at least four connectors arranged in a line, and wherein at least one connector is disposed between the power connector and the ground connector.

25. The radar detector assembly of claim 24, wherein the plurality of connectors includes at least eight connectors arranged in a row and the power connector is one of the first connector and the eighth connector and the ground connector is the other of the first connector and the eighth connector.

26. The radar detector assembly of claim 21, wherein the receiver housing includes a speaker.

27. The radar detector assembly of claim 21, wherein one of the receiver housing and the housing includes a key and the other of the receiver housing and the housing includes a corresponding key receiver.

28. The radar detector of claim 21, wherein one of the receiver housing and the detector includes a first engagement portion and the other of the receiver housing and the detector includes two second engagement portions, each of the two second engagement portions independently engageable with the first engagement portion to attach the detector to the receiver housing.