Motorcycle safety switch

• US 6,483,201 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Klarer
• Original Assignee: John Klarer
• Inventors: Klarer, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): POLK, SHARON A
• Application Number:
  US09/618,156
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.6, 307/120, 307/121, 307/122, 123/179.2, 123/179.3, 123/198.DC, 180/170, 180/21, 180/218, 180/219, 180/283
• US Class Current: 307/10.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/10 responsive to conditions relating to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/14 responsive to accident or emergency, e.g. deceleration, tilt of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 27/00 Safety equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/02 for driving cycles
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 9/005 by weakening or suppression of sparks to limit the engine speed

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, the ignition cutoff assembly includes fork switch 48, ignition coil kill circuit 50, upper bracket support clamps 55, switch activation collar 58, rod 67, upper bracket 73, and lower bracket 76. Fork switch 48 is a commercially available lever-actuated microswitch capable of signaling ignition coil kill circuit 50 upon actuation by switch activation collar 58. Ignition coil kill circuit 50 comprises commercially available electronic circuitry including at least one high voltage transistor 40a and/or 40b or 41a and/or 41b and/or 41c and/or 41d. Upper bracket support clamps 55 are commercially available clamps made of metal, plastic, or other suitable material capable of retaining upper bracket 73. Upper bracket 73 is custom made of metal, plastic, or other suitable material capable of providing a mounting location for fork switch 48. Lower bracket 76 is made of metal, plastic, or other suitable material capable of providing a mounting location for rod 67. Rod 67 is made of metal, plastic, or other suitable material capable of actuating fork switch 48 upon predetermined travel of fork upper section 61 and fork lower section 64. Switch activation collar 58 is made of metal, plastic, or other suitable material capable of adjustment on rod 67 to actuate fork switch 48 upon motion of rod 67.

Claims

1. A two wheeled vehicle having a front wheel and a rear wheel and an ignition cutoff assembly comprising:

a lower rod support [means] adapted to be mounted on said front wheel having a front lower suspension system, said suspension system supporting a generally vertically extending rod;

an upper rod support adapted to be mounted on a vehicle body allowing vertical movement of said rod and limited lateral movement;

said upper rod support also comprising means for supporting a first electrical switch effective to deactivate ignition of at least one cylinder of said vehicle;

said generally vertically extending rod having an upper end portion comprising an electrical contact

whereby when said electrical contact contacts said electrical switch, at or near the point when said front wheel leaves the surface upon which it is riding;

ignition in said cylinder is deactivated.

2. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 1 wherein said lower rod support comprises a lower bracket assembly.

3. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 1 wherein said upper rod support comprises an upper bracket assembly.

4. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 1 wherein said switch comprises an electrical circuit in electrical communication with means for causing ignition of said cylinder.

5. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 4 wherein first electrical switch comprises a commercially available lever-actuated microswitch.

6. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 3 wherein said upper bracket assembly includes at least one upper support clamp.

8. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 3 wherein said upper bracket assembly is selected from metal, plastic and composite material capable of providing a mounting location for said switch means.

9. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 6 wherein said bracket support clamp is made from a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, or composite materials capable of retaining said upper bracket means.

10. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 2 wherein said lower bracket assembly is made from a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, or composite material capable of providing a mounting location for said rod.

11. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 9 wherein said rod is-made from a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, or composite material capable of actuating said first switch means upon predetermined travel of said vehicle body.

12. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 11 wherein a switch activation collar made from a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, or other suitable material capable of adjustment on said rod to actuate said first switch upon motion of said rod.

7. A two wheeled vehicle having a front wheel and a rear wheel and an ignition cutoff assembly comprising:

a lower rod support adapted to be mounted on said front wheel having a front lower suspension system;

a lower rod support adapted to be mounted on a motor vehicle having a front lower suspension system, said suspension system supporting a generally vertically extending rod;

an upper rod support adapted to be mounted on a vehicle body allowing vertical movement of said rod and limited lateral movement;

said upper rod support also comprising means for supporting a first electrical switch including at least one transistor effective to deactivate ignition of at least one cylinder of said vehicle;

said generally vertically extending rod having an upper end portion comprising a electrical contact;

whereby when said electrical contact contacts said first electrical switch at or near the point when said front wheel leaves the surface upon which it is riding;

ignition in said cylinder is deactivated.

13. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 7 wherein when said first switch is activated, said circuit provides a ground to deactivate at least one ignition coil in said circuit.

14. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 13 wherein when said first switch deactivates an ignition module circuit including a first cylinder ignition coil and a second cylinder ignition coil.

15. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 14 wherein when said switch is open, current from a voltage source flows through a resistance

saturating at least one first transistor which in turn shorts the base of at least one second high voltage transistor to ground, leaving their collectors open, which allows operation of said coils.

16. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 15 wherein when said first switch closes, a ground to is applied to said first transistor, whereby said collector is no longer saturated to ground, said collector opens allowing current flow through said resistor, which in turn saturates said second high voltage transistor, and shorting said collector to ground.

17. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 16 wherein when said first switch closes said short to ground through said resistor prevents said coils from completely discharging, and thus preventing said coils from generating enough voltage to cause a spark across at least one spark plug contact.

18. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 16 wherein when said resistance includes more than one resistance.

19. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 16 wherein when said first transistor includes more than one transistor.

20. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 17 wherein said resistance includes more than one resistance.

21. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 17 wherein when said second transistor includes more than one transistor.

22. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 14 wherein when said first switch is open, current flows to ground at the base of a high voltage transistor means, whereby said collector is left open which allows operation of said ignition coil.

23. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 15 wherein when said first switch closes, voltage source is applied to said first resistor, which in turn saturates said high voltage transistor, and shorting said collector to ground.

24. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 23 wherein said short to ground through said second resistor prevents said coil from completely discharging, and thus preventing said coils from generating enough voltage to cause a spark across at least one spark plug contact.

25. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 23 wherein when said first resistance includes more than one resistance.

26. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 23 wherein said high voltage transistor includes more than one transistor.

27. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 24 wherein said second resistance includes more than one resistance.

28. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 14 wherein when said switch is open, a programmable micro-processor receiving said signal switches the base of a high voltage transistor off, whereby said collector is left open which allows operation of said ignition coil.

29. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 28 wherein when said first switch closes, said programmable micro processor determines, through user selectable switches, a duration to apply voltage to said first resistor, which in turn saturates said high voltage transistor, and shorting said collector to ground.

30. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 29 wherein said short to ground through said second resistor prevents said coil from completely discharging, and thus preventing said coils from generating enough voltage to cause a spark across at least one spark plug contact.

31. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 29 wherein said micro processor applies voltage to more than one first resistor.

32. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 29 wherein said high voltage transistor includes more than one transistor.

33. A vehicle ignition cutoff assembly according to claim 30 wherein said second resistance includes more than one resistance.

34. A two wheeled vehicle having a front wheel and a rear wheel and an ignition cutoff assembly comprising:

a lower rod support adapted to be mounted on said front wheel having a front lower suspension system;

a lower rod support adapted to be mounted on a motor vehicle having a front lower suspension system, said suspension system supporting a generally vertically extending rod;

an upper rod support adapted to be mounted on a vehicle body allowing vertical movement of said rod and limited lateral movement;

said upper rod support also comprising means for supporting a first electrical switch including at least one micro processor effective to deactivate ignition of at least one cylinder of said vehicle;

said generally vertically extending rod having an upper end portion comprising an electrical contact;

whereby when said electrical contact contacts said electrical switch, at or near the point when said front wheel leaves the surface upon which it is riding;

ignition in said cylinder is deactivated.