Switch arrangement for motorcycles

• US 4,455,463 A
• Filed: 08/17/1982
• Issued: 06/19/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Rohl, Ekkehard
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Jr., George H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ginsburg, Morris
• Application Number:
  US06/408,947
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.85, 200/157, 200/52 R, 200/61.54, 340/134, 180/219, 180/333, 74/551.8, 74/551.9
• US Class Current: 200/61.85
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/14 Handlebar constructions, or arrangements of controls thereon, specially adapted thereto hand controls per se B62K23/02
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/02 hand actuated arrangements of controls on handle-bars of engine-driven cycles B62K11/14
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/068 with switches mounted on a handlebar, e.g. for motorcycles, fork lift trucks, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20822 Attachments and accessories

Abstract

A switch arrangement for motorcycles includes a first rocker type switch which is located on a handlebar near a handlebar grip and has an actuating rocker which is adjustable in several working positions in a plane which is normal to the handlebar, as well as two single action switches, each of which has a single working position and also has a rocker type switch part. To significantly improve ergonomy, the single-action switches are arranged at least approximately in an adjustment plane of the first rocker type switch the are also adjustable in this plane. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the three switches are located within a 90° sector.

Claims

1. A switch arrangement of motorcycles, comprising a rocker-type switch which is located on a handlebar near a handlebar grip and includes an actuating rocker, said actuating rocker being adjustable into several operating positions within an adjustment plane substantially normal to the handlebar, and two single-action switches, each of said single-action switches having a switching member and one operating position, and said single-action switches being located at least approximately in the adjustment plane of said rocker-type switch and being adjustable also substantially in said adjustment plane.

2. A switch arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the single working position switches as well as the rocker-type switch are located relative to the handlebar within a sector of approximately 90°

, the single-action switches and the rocker-type switch being located one behind the other in a circumferential direction, the distance between any two directly adjacent switches being substantially equal.

3. A switch arrangement in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein the single-action switches are disposed adjacent to one another.

4. A switch arrangement in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein the single-action switches are also rocker-type switches.

5. A switch arrangement in accordance with claim 3, wherein the single-action switches are also rocker-type switches.

6. A switch arrangement in accordance with claim 5, wherein the single-action switches constructed as rocker-type switches have actuating rockers whose actuating surfaces subtend an angle of approximately 90°

.

7. A switch arrangement in accordance with claim 6, wherein said first-mentioned rocker-type switch includes an actuating rocker having two actuating surfaces, and wherein the actuating surfaces of said two single-action switches are substantially parallel to a respective actuating surface of the first-mentioned rocker-type switch.

8. A switch arrangement in accordance with claim 7, wherein one of said single-action switches is a pushbutton rocker-type switch operable to turn on turn indicator lights when pressed once and to turn off said turn indicator lights when pressed a second time.

9. A switch arrangement in accordance with claim 6, wherein one of said single-action switches is a pushbutton rocker-type switch operable to turn on turn indicator lights when pressed once and to turn off said turn indicator lights when pressed a second time.

10. A switch arrangement in accordance with claim 5, wherein one of said single-action switches is a pushbutton rocker-type switch operable to turn on turn indicator lights when pressed once and to turn off said turn indicator lights when pressed a second time.

11. A switch arrangement in accordance with claim 1 or 2, the one of the single-action switches which is positioned between the other single-action switch and the first-mentioned rocker-type switch is operable substantially in a radial direction with respect to said handlebar and the other single-action switch and the first-mentioned rocker-type switch are operable substantially circumferentially relative to the handlebar.