Handle switch assembly for motorcycles

• US 4,508,944 A
• Filed: 04/04/1983
• Issued: 04/02/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hirose, Masashi, Takanashi, Masami, Yashima, Michio, Komatsu, Akihiro, Nakayama, Kengo
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ginsburg, Morris
• Application Number:
  US06/481,635
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5 E, 200/61.85, 200/157, 200/340, 200/328, 340/134, 340/135, 180/219
• US Class Current: 200/61.85
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/16 Arrangement of switches
• 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: H01H 13/72 wherein the switch has means for limiting the number of operating members that can concurrently be in the actuated position
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/068 with switches mounted on a handlebar, e.g. for motorcycles, fork lift trucks, etc.

Abstract

A handle switch assembly is arranged on the steering handle in the vicinity of a handle grip, and includes at least one switch comprising a plurality of first push buttons arranged on a surface of the switch housing, and a second push button arranged in a manner independent and separate from the first push buttons. Each of the first push buttons, when pushed, causes the switch to turn on and holds same in the on-state, while the second push button, when pushed, releases the switch from its on-state. The first push buttons are juxtaposed axially of the handle grip, and the second push button is spaced in a predetermined circumferential direction from a line connecting between side edges of the first push buttons facing in the same predetermined circumferential direction.

Claims

1. A handle switch assembly for use in a motorcycle in combination with a pair of handle grips mounted on opposite ends of a steering handle, said handle switch assembly comprising:

a housing arranged around said steering handle in the vicinity of one of said handle grips and having one surface extending transversely and generally contoured circumferentially of said one of said handle grips; and

a plurality of switches arranged in said housing, at least one of said switches including a plurality of push buttons arranged on said one surface of said housing,

said push buttons being juxtaposed on said one surface of said housing along a line extending axially of said one of said handle grips, with each of said push buttons having a side face facing in the same predetermined circumferential direction of said one of said handle grips, and a plurality of push rods integrally connected to respective ones of said push buttons,

said push rods each having an axis thereof extending in a direction in which a corresponding one of said push buttons may be pushed,

said push buttons each having a pushing surface adjacent said one surface of said housing,

at least a part of each push button remote from said one of said handle grips having the pushing surface thereof offset toward said one of said handle grips with respect to the axis of the corresponding integrally connected push rod,

said push buttons each having a portion thereof outwardly projected from said one surface of said housing, the projected portion of each push button having a volume greater than that of any of said push buttons closer to said one of said handle grips.

2. A handle switch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said projected portions of said push buttons are different in height from each other.

3. A handle switch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said projected portions of said push buttons has a height greater than that of any of said push buttons closer to said one of said handle grips.

4. A handle switch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pushing surfaces of said push buttons are projected outwardly from said one surface of said housing, each of said pushing surfaces being slanted so that the height thereof gradually decreases toward said one of said handle grips.

5. A handle switch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one switch comprises a winker switch.

6. A handle switch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one switch includes a switch for turning on and off a headlight and a position light mounted on said motorcycle.

7. A handle switch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said pushing surfaces of said push buttons has an area larger than that of any of said push buttons closer to said one of said handle grips.

8. A handle switch assembly for use in a motorcycle in combination with a pair of handle grips mounted on opposite ends of a steering handle, said handle switch assembly comprising:

a housing arranged around said steering handle in the vicinity of one of said handle grips and having one surface facing toward a driver position on the motorcycle, said one surface extending transversely and generally contoured circumferentially of said one of said handle grips; and

a plurality of switches arranged in said housing, at least one of said switches including a plurality of first push buttons arranged on said one surface of said housing,

each of said first push buttons, when pushed, being adapted to cause said at least one switch to be switched on and thereafter held in an on-state,

said first push buttons being juxtaposed on said one surface of said housing along a line extending axially of said one of said handle grips, with each of said first push buttons having an upper side face facing in the same predetermined circumferential direction of said one of said handle grips, and

a second push button arranged on said one surface of said housing separate from said first push buttons and having a pushing surface located in the vicinity of said axially extending line of said one of said handle grips,

said second push button, when pushed, being adapted to cause said at least one switch to be switched from said on-state to an off-state thereof,

said second push button having a lower side face facing said upper side faces of said first push buttons, said lower side face of said second push button being spaced upwardly from a line extending between said upper side faces of said first push buttons, in a circumferential direction of said one of said handle grips.

9. A handle switch assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second push button has a substantially rectangular shape, said second push button having a length, in the direction of said axially extending line of said one of said handle grips, not exceeding the entire length of said line along which said first push buttons are juxtaposed.