Handle switch assembly for a motor vehicle

• US 4,565,909 A
• Filed: 06/07/1983
• Issued: 01/21/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Komatsu, Akihiro, Takanashi, Masami, Yashima, Michio
• Primary Examiner(s): SCOTT, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US06/501,882
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 200/52 R, 200/61.54-61.57, 200/61.85, 200/157
• 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: H01H 2009/068 with switches mounted on a handlebar, e.g. for motorcycles, fork lift trucks, etc.

Abstract

A handle switch assembly for a motor vehicle having a bar-like handle member with a handle grip, on which the switch assembly is mounted, comprises a pair of elongated members to be combined with each other to form the bar-like handle, and respectively provided with a bent portion to form a cavity portion and switch elements disposed in the cavity portion. Push buttons or switch knobs for the switch elements are disposed in a control section which is provided at the cavity portion of the elongated members so as to be on or behind an imaginary plane which includes a rear end of a cylindrical surface of the handle grip, whereby to provide an easy access to the push buttons or switch knobs.

Claims

1. A handle switch assembly for a motorcycle having a handle bar with a handle grip mounted at an end thereof, comprising:

a pair of elongated members oppositely fitted with each other to form said handle bar, said elongated members having mutually opposing portions formed therein bent such as to form a first cavity therebetween near to the end on which the handle grip is mounted, and

at least a switch element with a switch operating member housed in said first cavity of said elongated members such that the switch element can be actuated by manual operation of the switch operating member from outside of said first cavity.

2. A handle switch assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising, at least a housing member mounted on said elongated member at a position on said mutually opposing portions, said housing member being bent such as to form a second cavity between itself and said elongated member contiguously to said first cavity, and at least a switch element with a switch operating member housed in said second cavity such that the switch element can be actuated by manual operation of the switch operating member from outside of the second cavity.

3. A switch assembly as set forth in claim 2, further comprising, a control panel which covers a side of said first and second cavities, and on which said switch operating members are arranged so as to be manually operated.

4. A switch assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said control panel is disposed on or behind a substantially vertical plane tangential with a side of a cylindrical surface of said handle grip with respect to a direction of forward movement of said motorcycle.

5. A switch assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said switch operating members are disposed such that a head portion of a switch operating member is positioned on or behind said substantially vertical plane when said switch element associated with the switch operating member is actuated.

6. A switch assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said switch operating members are disposed such that a head portion of a switch operating member is positioned on or behind said substantially vertical plane when said switch element associated with the switch operating member is turned off.

7. A handle grip for a motorcycle having a handle bar which carries a plurality of switch elements near to the handle grip, comprising, a cylindrical body mounted at an end of the handle bar, a flange portion formed at an inner end of said cylindrical body near to said switch elements, said flange portion having a diameter greater than that of said cylindrical body and provided with a flat face having the same level as the surface of said cylindrical body, so as to provide an easy access to said switch elements.