Handlebar mounted remote transmitter controller unit for door operator

• US 6,937,149 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2003
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: McMahon, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung T.
• Application Number:
  US10/639,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20050035856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.11, 340/5.7, 340/5.71, 340/528, 340/545.1, 340/5.32, 292/2, 292/144
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/14 Handlebar constructions, or arrangements of controls thereon, specially adapted thereto hand controls per se B62K23/02

Abstract

A garage door opener remote controller unit is mountable on the handlebar of a motorcycle or other handlebar steered vehicle and includes a radio frequency transmitter and a push button actuator for sending a door control signal. The controller unit includes a housing and opposed mounting parts for mounting the controller unit on a handlebar assembly. The controller unit is mounted on a handlebar assembly by screw type fasteners which secure the controller unit housing and mounting parts in assembly. At least one of the mounting parts may include a recess or channel for training vehicle control cables and electrical conductors therethrough and along the handlebar.

Claims

1. A remote controller unit for a garage door operator for mounting on a handlebar steered vehicle comprising:

a housing part including a push button switch actuator for actuation of said controller unit to send a radio frequency signal to a garage door operator;

a radio frequency transmitter circuit disposed in said housing part and operable to transmit a signal to said door operator in response to actuation of said switch actuator;

a first mounting part connected to said housing part for mounting said controller unit on a handlebar; and

a second mounting part adapted to be releasably connected to said first mounting part for mounting said controller unit on said handlebar wherein a portion of said handlebar is disposed between said mounting parts.

2. The controller until set forth in claim 1 including:

plural fasteners engageable with said mounting parts for mounting said controller unit on said handlebar.

3. The controller unit set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said fasteners comprise screws and said fasteners include headparts engageable by a tool for connecting said mounting parts to each other by way of said fasteners.

4. The controller unit set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said mounting parts include opposed arcuate recesses for receiving said handlebars, respectively.

5. The controller unit set forth in claim 4 wherein:

one of said mounting parts includes a further recess for training one of a control cable and an electrical conductor therethrough and for supporting said one of said control cable and said electrical conductor with respect to said handlebar.

6. The controller unit set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said housing part is connected to a housing for a switch assembly for controlling selected operational features of said vehicle and mounted on said handlebar.

7. The controller unit set forth in claim 6 wherein:

said circuit receives electrical power from a vehicle electrical power system.

8. The controller unit set forth in claim 1 including:

a battery mounted in said housing part and comprising an electrical power source for said circuit.

9. The controller unit set forth in claim 8 including:

a visual indicator for indicating a low power level of said power source, said visual indicator begin illuminated when battery power is sufficient and upon actuation of said switch actuator.

10. A remote controller unit for a garage door operator for mounting on a handlebar steered vehicle comprising:

a housing part including a push button switch actuator for actuation of said controller unit to send a radio frequency signal to a garage door operator;

a radio frequency transmitter circuit disposed in said housing part and operable to transmit a signal to said door operator in response to actuation of said switch actuator;

a first mounting part connected to said housing part for mounting said controller unit on a handlebar;

a second mounting part adapted to be releasably connected to said first mounting part for mounting said controller unit on said handlebar; and

said mounting parts include opposed arcuate recesses for receiving said handlebar, respectively, between said mounting parts.

11. The controller unit set forth in claim 10 wherein:

one of said mounting parts includes a further recess for training one of a control cable and an electrical conductor therethrough and for supporting said one of said control cable and said electrical conductor with respect to said handlebar.

12. The controller unit set forth in claim 10 including:

a battery mounted in said housing part and comprising an electrical power source for said circuit.

13. The controller unit set forth in claim 12 including:

a visual indicator on said housing part for indicating a low power level of said power source.

14. A remote controller unit for a garage door operator for mounting on a handlebar steered vehicle comprising:

a housing part including a push button switch actuator for actuation of said controller unit to send a radio frequency signal to a garage door operator;

a radio frequency transmitter circuit disposed in said housing part and operable to transmit a signal to said door operator in response to actuation of said switch actuator;

a first mounting part connected to said housing part for mounting said controller unit on a handlebar;

a second mounting part adapted to be operably connected to said first mounting part;

plural fasteners engageable with said mounting parts for securing said controller unit to said handlebar; and

a recess formed in one of said mounting parts for training one of an electrical conductor and a control cable therethrough.

15. The controller unit set forth in claim 14 wherein:

said mounting parts include opposed arcuate recesses for receiving said handlebar, respectively.

16. The controller unit set forth in claim 14 wherein:

said housing part is connected to a housing for a switch assembly for controlling selected operational features of said vehicle and mounted on said handlebar.

17. The controller unit set forth in claim 16 wherein:

said circuit receives electrical power from an electrical power system for said vehicle.

18. The controller unit set forth in claim 14 including:

a battery mounted in said housing part and comprising an electrical power source for said circuit.

19. The controller unit set forth in claim 18 including:

a visual indicator for indicating a low power level of said power source.