CD changer mounting structure and support device

• US 6,502,884 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Access Corp. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Tsuneaki, Shimazaki, Takayuki, Kusakari, Hidehiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US09/946,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20020041105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.1
• US Class Current: 296/37.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0211 for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0036 Luggage compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 11/00 Supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening specific devices to cycles, e.g. supports for attaching maps
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/10 Arrangement of audio equipment; Supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 9/23 above or alongside the rear wheel B62J9/26 takes precedence

Abstract

A CD changer support device mountable in a trunk forming a luggage compartment of a motorcycle, includes a storage recess to store a CD changer. The storage recess is provided in a luggage compartment-forming wall of the trunk. A swing support device allows the CD changer to swing between a protruding position where the opening of the CD changer protrudes inside the luggage compartment and a storage position where the CD changer is stored within the storage recess. A cover plate covers the CD changer. When the CD changer is in the storage position, the cover plate blocks the opening of the storage recess so as to be flush with the inner surface of the luggage compartment-forming wall. When an operating force is applied to the swing support device, the CD changer swings between the protruding position and the storage position.

Claims

1. A CD changer mounting structure mountable to a motorcycle having a rear fender covering an upper part of a rear wheel of the motorcycle, comprising:

a trunk of the motorcycle disposed above the rear fender, the trunk including a trunk main part having a horizontal base and a protrusion disposed between a rear downward curve of the rear fender and the trunk main part, wherein the protrusion extends downward from a lower front part of the trunk main part and the trunk forms a luggage compartment; and

a CD changer is stored within the protrusion in a central area of the motorcycle along a width of the motorcycle.

2. The CD changer mounting structure according to claim 1 wherein:

a storage recess provided in the trunk, the storage recess being configured to store a CD changer having an opening on a front surface to insert and remove therefrom a compact disc;

swing support means that allow the CD changer to be swung between a protruding position where the front surface of the CD changer protrudes into the luggage compartment from an inner surface of the trunk, and a storage position where the CD changer is stored within the storage recess, the swing support means being provided among a pair of support plates that support either side of the CD changer and the trunk; and

a cover plate covering the CD changer, wherein when the CD changer is in the storage position, the cover plate blocks the opening of the storage recess so as to be flush with the inner surface of the trunk, the cover plate being connected to both of the support plates so that an operating force applied to the CD changer for swinging from the protruding position to the storage position can be applied to the swing support means.

3. The CD changer mounting structure according to claim 2, wherein an operating part that operates the swing support means is positioned to face a window provided in the cover plate.

4. The CD changer mounting structure according to claim 2 wherein the swing support means comprises:

a pair of base plates fixed to the trunk, each base plate corresponding to a support plate;

a pair of support shafts, each support shaft connecting a corresponding support plate to a rear part of a corresponding base plate;

a pair of swing biasing springs, each swing biasing spring being provided between a corresponding support plate and a corresponding base plate, whereby the CD changer is spring-biased toward the protruding position;

a pair of levers that are supported to swing around axes parallel to the support shafts, the pair of levers being connected to each other and operable in association with each other;

a pair of pins having axes parallel to the support shafts, each pin being fixed to a corresponding lever; and

a pair of lever biasing springs, each lever biasing spring being provided between a corresponding lever and support plate;

wherein a side edge on the support shaft side of each guide plate provided on a corresponding base plate on a forward side relative to the support shaft includes;

a guide recess having a shape of an arc whose center is an axis of the support shaft and making sliding contact with a corresponding pin;

a first engagement recess formed on one end along the circumference of the guide recess so that a corresponding pin engages the first engagement recess when both of the support plates are in the storage position; and

a second engagement recess formed on the other end along the circumference of the guide recess so that a corresponding pin engages the second engagement recess when both of the support plates are in the protruding position,

wherein each of the lever biasing springs is provided between a corresponding lever and support plate so as to exhibit spring forces in a direction in which both pins make sliding contact with both of the guide recesses.

5. The CD changer mounting structure according to claim 4, wherein each lever includes an operating force application section integrally connected to a position restraining section to form an approximately L-shape, wherein a section connecting the operating force application section and the position restraining section is supported on the support plate in a swingable manner, and the pin is fixed to an extremity of the position restraining section.

6. A CD changer support device mountable in a trunk that forms a luggage compartment of a motorcycle, comprising:

a storage recess configured to store a CD changer having an opening on a front surface to insert and remove compact discs therefrom, the storage recess being provided in a luggage compartment-forming wall of the trunk; and

swing support means that allow the CD changer to be swung between a protruding position where the front surface of the CD changer protrudes inside the luggage compartment from an inner surface of the luggage compartment-forming wall and a storage position where the CD changer is stored within the storage recess, the swing support means being provided among the luggage compartment-forming wall and a pair of support plates that support either side of the CD changer; and

a cover plate covering the CD changer, wherein when the CD changer is in the storage position, the cover plate blocks the opening of the storage recess so as to be flush with the inner surface of the luggage compartment-forming wall, the cover plate being connected to both of the support plates so that an operating force applied to the CD changer for swinging from the protruding position to the storage position can be applied to the swing support means.

7. The CD changer support device according to claim 6, wherein an operating part that operates the swing support means is positioned to face a window provided in the cover plate.

8. The CD changer support device according to claim 6, wherein the swing support means comprises:

a pair of base plates fixed to the luggage compartment-forming wall, each base plate corresponding to a support plates;

a pair of support shafts, each support shaft connecting a corresponding support plate to a rear part of a corresponding base plate;

a pair of swing biasing springs, each swing biasing spring being provided between a corresponding support plate and a corresponding base plate whereby the CD changer is spring-biased toward the protruding position;

a pair of levers that are supported to swing around axes parallel to the support shafts, the pair of levers being connected to each other and operable in association with each other;

a pair of pins having axes parallel to the support shafts, each pin being fixed to a corresponding lever; and

a pair of lever biasing springs, each lever biasing spring being provided between a corresponding lever and support plate;

wherein a side edge on the support shaft side of each guide plate provided on a corresponding base plate on a forward side relative to the support shaft includes;

a guide recess having a shape of an arc whose center is an axis of the support shaft and making sliding contact with a corresponding pin;

a first engagement recess formed on one end along the circumference of the guide recess so that a corresponding pin engages the first engagement recess when both of the support plates are in the storage position; and

a second engagement recess formed on the other end along the circumference of the guide recess so that a corresponding pin engages the second engagement recess when both of the support plates are in the protruding position,

wherein each of the lever biasing springs is provided between a corresponding lever and support plate so as to exhibit spring forces in a direction in which both pins make sliding contact with both of the guide recesses.

9. The CD changer support device according to claim 8, wherein each lever includes an operating force application section integrally connected to a position restraining section to form an approximately L-shape, wherein a section connecting the operating force application section and the position restraining section is supported on the support plate in a swingable manner, and the pin is fixed to an extremity of the position restraining section.

10. A CD changer support device wherein:

a pair of mounting plates, each mounting plate being mounted on either side of a CD changer having an opening on a front surface to insert and remove a compact disc therefrom;

a pair of mounting points provided in either side of the CD changer and separated from each other along a longitudinal direction of the CD changer, each mounting plate being mounted to the CD changer at corresponding mounting points in such a manner that an inner surface of each mounting plate faces the side of the CD changer;

a pair of support plates supported on a vehicle body and facing outer surfaces of both of the two mounting plates;

at least two support points provided in each mounting plate and positioned outside the two mounting points provided along a longitudinal direction of the CD changer, wherein each support point is supported on a corresponding support plates via dampers; and

a pair of springs positioned between each end of each mounting plate in the longitudinal direction and corresponding ends of each support plate to apply an upward force to the CD changer.

11. The CD changer support device according to claim 10, wherein a pair of stoppers are detachably set between both mounting plates and both support plates, wherein the stoppers can maintain a three dimensional position of the mounting plates and the support plates.

12. The CD changer support device according to claim 11, wherein the stoppers are linked to each other by a linking part.

13. The CD changer support device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a storage recess configured to store a CD changer and provided in a luggage compartment-forming wall that forms a luggage compartment in the body of a vehicle;

swing support means for allowing the CD changer to be swung between a protruding position where a front surface of the CD changer protrudes into the luggage compartment from an inner surface of the luggage compartment-forming wall, and a storage position where the CD changer is stored within the storage recess, the swing support means being provided among the pair of support plates that support either side of the CD changer and the luggage compartment-forming wall; and

a cover plate covering the CD changer, wherein when the CD changer is in the storage position, the cover plate blocks the opening of the storage recess so as to be flush with the inner surface of the trunk, the cover plate being connected to both of the support plates so that an operating force applied to the CD changer for swinging from the protruding position to the storage position can be applied to the swing support means.

14. The CD changer support device according to claim 13, wherein an operating part that operates the swing support means is positioned to face a window provided in the cover plate.

15. The CD changer support device according to claim 13 wherein the swing support means comprises:

a pair of base plates fixed to the luggage compartment-forming wall, each base plate corresponding to a support plates;

a pair of support shafts, each support shaft connecting a corresponding support plate to a rear part of a corresponding base plate;

a pair of swing biasing springs, each swing biasing spring being provided between a corresponding support plate and a corresponding base plate, whereby the CD changer is spring-biased toward the protruding position;

a pair of levers that are supported to swing around axes parallel to the support shafts, the pair of levers being connected to each other and operable in association with each other;

a pair of pins having axes parallel to the support shafts, each pin being fixed to a corresponding lever;

a pair of lever biasing springs, each lever biasing spring being provided between a corresponding lever and support plate; and

wherein a side edge on the support shaft side of each guide plate provided on a corresponding base plate on a forward side relative to the support shaft includes;

a guide recess having a shape of an arc whose center is an axis of the support shaft and making sliding contact with a corresponding pin;

a first engagement recess formed on one end along the circumference of the guide recess so that a corresponding pin engages the first engagement recess when both of the support plates are in the storage position; and

a second engagement recess formed on the other end along the circumference of the guide recess so that a corresponding pin engages the second engagement recess when both of the support plates are in the protruding position,

wherein each of the lever biasing springs is provided between a corresponding lever and support plate so as to exhibit spring forces in a direction in which both pins make sliding contact with both of the guide recesses.

16. The CD changer support device according to claim 15 wherein each lever includes an operating force application section integrally connected to a position restraining section to form an approximately L-shape, wherein a section connecting the operating force application section and the position restraining section is supported on the support plate in a swingable manner, and the pin is fixed to an extremity of the position restraining section.