Handlebar switch mounting structure

Details Handlebar switch mounting structure Handlebar switch mounting structure

2001-08-07

2003-10-14

Kim, Chong H. (Department: 3682)

Machine element or mechanism

Control lever and linkage systems

Elements

Reexamination Certificate

active

06631656

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority under 35 USC 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-239063 filed on Aug. 7, 2000 the entire contents thereof are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a split handlebar switch mounting structure for installation on the handlebar of for instance a motorcycle.
2. Description of Background Art
There has been proposed an improved art of a handlebar switch case as set forth, for example, in Japanese Utility Model No. Sho 57-59426 Handlebar Switch Case For Motorcycle.
FIG. 4
illustrated in this utility model application will be used herein with the designations of members changed.
FIG. 10
is a sectional view showing a conventional handlebar switch mounting structure. A handlebar switch
100
is of such a design that, with a bracket
102
set on a handlebar
101
, a first case half
103
made of an alloy is attached by bolts
104
,
104
to a first lug
102
a
of the bracket
102
, then the handlebar
101
is tightened by the bracket
102
and the first case half
103
, thereby firmly fastening the first case half
103
to the handlebar
101
.
Subsequently, a second case half
105
is installed by bolts
106
,
106
to a second lug
102
b
of the bracket
102
, thus installing the second case half
105
to the handlebar
101
.
According to the handlebar switch
100
, since the first case half
103
is made of an alloy, it is possible to reliably install the first case half
103
to the handlebar
101
by firmly tightening the bracket
102
.
Furthermore, the second case half
105
can be reliably installed, like the first case half, to the handlebar
101
by attaching the second case half
105
to the bracket
102
.
The first and second case halves
103
and
105
of the handlebar switch
100
, however, are produced of different kinds of materials, and therefore there exists a difference in the outward appearance between the first case half
103
and the second case half
105
. The outward appearance of the handlebar switch
100
is hard to improve; therefore the practical use of the handlebar switch
100
of an improved outward appearance is in demand depending on the type of motorcycle.
In some handlebar switch mounting structure, the material of the first case is changed from alloy to resin for the purpose of improving the outward appearance of the handlebar switch.
The first and second case halves can be matched with each other in external appearance by thus forming the first case half of the same resin as the second case half, thereby improving the outward appearance of the handlebar switch. In the next drawing, the handlebar switch will be explained.
FIG. 11
is a sectional view showing a conventional handlebar switch mounting structure. In a handlebar switch
110
, a bracket
111
is positioned by a lock pin
112
on a handlebar
113
. Flange portions
114
,
114
of the bracket
111
are so set as to be sandwiched by both a first case half
115
and a second case half
116
. Screws
117
a
and
117
b
are inserted into through holes
116
a
and
116
b
of the second case half
116
. Thereafter, the screws
117
a
and
117
b
thus inserted are screwed into screw holes
115
a
and
115
b
of the first case half
115
.
A circular portion
115
c
of the first case half
115
is thus pressed against the upper half of the periphery of the handlebar
113
, and a circular portion
116
c
of the second case half
116
is pressed against the lower half of the periphery of the handlebar
113
.
The first and second case halves
115
and
116
can be thus mounted unrotatably on the handlebar
113
.
There is a certain amount of clearance between the lock pin
112
installed on the handlebar
113
and the mounting hole of the handlebar
113
. Therefore, to install the first and second case halves
115
and
116
unrotatably on the handlebar
113
, it is necessary to firmly press the circular portion
115
c
of the first case half
115
and the circular portion
116
c
of the second case half
116
against the handlebar
113
.
Therefore, it is necessary to provide a clearance S
1
for instance between the flange portion
114
,
114
of the bracket
111
and the opposite surface
116
d
,
116
d
of the second case half
116
, and to firmly tighten by the screws
117
a
and
117
b
the first and second case halves
115
and
116
.
However, the presence of the clearance S
1
between the flange portion
114
,
114
and the opposite surface
116
d
,
116
d
impairs the outward appearance. To improve the outward appearance, the screws
117
a
and
117
b
must be firmly tightened to reduce or eliminate the clearance S
1
.
Therefore the first and second case halves
115
and
116
are sometimes subject to deformation, which will adversely affect the outward appearance of the handlebar switch
110
.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a handlebar switch mounting structure which has good outward appearance and can be reliably mounted on the handlebar.
To attain the above-described object, a split handlebar switch mounting structure is provided for mounting the handlebar switch on the handlebar by joining the second case half made of a resin to the first case half made of a resin. The handlebar switch mounting structure is provided with the first bracket having a circular portion so formed so as to be attached on about a half of the periphery of the handlebar with a pair of flange portions protruding from both ends of the circular portion. The second bracket includes at least the circular portion so formed so as to be attached on the remaining half of the periphery of the handlebar. The second bracket is joined to the first bracket placed on the handlebar, thereby securing the first and second brackets on the handlebar. Then the first and second case halves are joined to sandwich the flange portion, thereby mounting the first and second case halves to the handlebar through the flange portion.
The first and second brackets are secured on the handlebar, thus permitting the firm attachment of the first and second brackets to the handlebar. Then, the first and second case halves are attached to the flange portion of the first bracket installed firmly on the handlebar. Therefore the first and second case halves can be firmly attached to the handlebar.
Furthermore, since the first and second brackets are fixed on the handlebar, there is no need to tighten the handlebar by the first and second case halves. It is, therefore, possible to prevent deformation of the first and second case halves without applying an unnecessarily great tightening force to the first and second case halves.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.


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patent: 3832912 (1974-09-01), Edwards
patent: 3945337 (1976-03-01), Sweetman
patent: 4458115 (1984-07-01), Peterson
patent: 4710599 (1987-12-01), Motodate et al.
patent: 5377558 (1995-01-01), Harris
patent: 5904442 (1999-05-01), Takeda
patent: 6167774 (2001-01-01), Gagnon et al.
patent: 6225584 (2001-05-01), Ase et al.
patent: 50085 (1982-04-01), None
patent: Y2-5759426 (1982-12-01), None

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