Abstract:
An instrument panel device includes an instrument panel incorporating a speed meter, an odometer, a main switch and a meter cover covering the instrument panel and the main switch. The main switch is provided with a key cylinder projecting inwardly from the side surface of the meter cover. An inclined surface is formed on the side surface of the meter cover so that the projecting direction of the key cylinder is oriented obliquely downwardly. The inclined surface is formed at a position lowered by one step from the outermost circumferential surface of the meter cover. The resulting configuration reduces the size of the instrument panel device by reducing the depth of the instrument panel device incorporating the main switch with the key cylinder.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-148142, filed May 29, 2006, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to vehicle instrument panel devices and in particular to a vehicle instrument panel device having a main switch including an ignition switch. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Background Art 
         [0005]    Motorcycles, all terrain vehicles (hereinafter referred to as “ATVs”) and other vehicles include an instrument panel device generally housing a speed meter and an odometer. There is known an example in which a main switch including an ignition switch as well as instruments such as a speed meter and an odometer is integrally arranged in such an instrument panel device. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-280577 discloses an ATV attached with an instrument panel device including a main switch in which the central axis of a key cylinder, namely, a direction of taking a key in and out, is set to a direction almost-vertically to an instrument panel. 
         [0006]    An effort has been made to reduce the thickness of the entire instrument panel device (a size in a direction perpendicular to an instrument panel) by employing a liquid crystal display panel or the like as an instrument panel installed in the instrument panel device. 
         [0007]    A key cylinder may be arranged almost vertically to an instrument panel like the instrument panel device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-280577. In this case, a cover of the instrument panel device needs to cover at least a length of the key cylinder extending from the surface of the instrument panel. However, this opposes the technique of downsizing the instrument panel device by reducing the thickness of the entire instrument panel device. Thus, a technique is desired which can downsize the instrument panel device without the effect of the length of the key cylinder. 
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an instrument panel device that can be downsized while being equipped with a main switch having a key cylinder. 
       SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the the present invention, a vehicle instrument panel device includes: an instrument panel having an instrument and a screen displaying display information of the instrument; a main switch including a key cylinder; and a meter cover which covers the instrument panel and the main switch; the main switch is attached to an side wall portion of the meter cover and the key cylinder projects obliquely downwardly from the side wall portion in the meter cover. 
         [0010]    According to a second aspect of the present invention, an inclined surface formed to have a downward angle with respect to an upper surface of the instrument panel is provided in the side wall portion of the meter cover and the inclined surface is provided with an attachment hole adapted to receive the key cylinder passing therethrough. 
         [0011]    According to a third aspect of the present invention, the inclined surface is arranged in the side wall portion of the meter cover and at a position close to a rear portion of a vehicle mounted with the vehicle instrument panel device. 
         [0012]    According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the inclined surface is formed with a stepped surface at a position recessed inwardly of the meter cover from an outermost circumferential portion of the side wall portion. 
         [0013]    According to a fifth aspect of the present invention the inclined surface is formed to have a further inclined angle so that the key cylinder which passes through the attachment hole for attachment thereto is oriented toward the screen of the instrument panel. 
         [0014]    The effects of the invention include the following: 
         [0015]    According to the first aspect of the present invention, unlike, for example, the structure of a key cylinder extending vertically from the upper surface of a meter cover, the key cylinder is arranged to extend obliquely downwardly from the side surface of the meter cover. Therefore, the depth extending downward from the upper surface of the meter cover can be reduced. Consequently, the instrument panel device can be entirely downsized. In addition, since the depth of the meter cover is reduced, the position of the instrument panel can be lowered accordingly, contributing to lowering of the gravity center of the entire vehicle. 
         [0016]    According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the main switch is attached to the inclined surface formed in the meter cover, the projecting direction of the key cylinder can be defined accurately. 
         [0017]    According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the main switch is disposed close to the rear end portion of the meter cover, the operator can operate switches without stretching her or his arm widely. In addition, since the amount of the meter cover projecting from the main switch toward the operator is reduced, the space around the main switch can be enlarged during operation, thereby enhancing operability. 
         [0018]    According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the inclined surface serving as an attachment surface for the main switch is set at a position recessed by one step, the entire instrument panel device can be further downsized. In addition, the amount of the key projecting from the meter cover can be reduced, the key being inserted into the key cylinder. 
         [0019]    According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the key cylinder extends toward the screen of the instrument panel, protrusion of the meter cover can be reduced, thereby further downsizing the entire instrument panel device. 
         [0020]    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. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an essential portion of a vehicle front portion including an instrument panel device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the essential portion of the vehicle front portion shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an ATV as an example of the vehicle mounted with the instrument panel device; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a meter cover; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the meter cover; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the meter cover. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    An embodiment of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 3  is a side view of an ATV mounted with an instrument panel device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The ATV  1  includes a body frame  2 , a 4-cycle engine  3 , a power transmission device  4 , a front cushion  5  and a rear cushion  6 . The engine  3  is disposed at a central lower portion of the body frame  2 . The power transmission device  4  is connected to the output shaft of the engine  3 . The front and rear cushions  5  and  6  carry the front and rear, respectively, of the power transmission device  4  swingably with respect to the body frame  2 . 
         [0029]    The body frame  2  includes a main frame  12 , a pair of left and right front frames  13  and rear frames  14 . The front frames  13  are connected by a bracket  15  and a cross member  16 . A front guard  17  and a front carrier  18  are attached to the front portion of the front frame  13 . A fender  10  composed of a front cover  33  and a rear cover  34  is attached to the body frame  2 . A pair of left and right headlights  21  are attached to the front portion of the vehicle body. 
         [0030]    The power transmission device  4  includes a transmission  24 , a gear shift pedal  25 , a front drive shaft  26  and a rear drive shaft  27 . The front drive shaft  26  is connected to a front reduction gear  28  and the rear drive shaft  27  is connected to a rear reduction gear  29 . A pair of left and right front wheels  7  and rear wheels  8  (only left-hand front and rear wheels  7  and  8  are illustrated) are attached to the power transmission device  4 . A steering device  9  is connected to the front wheels  7 . The steering device  9  includes a steering shaft  31  attached to the main frame  12  with a shaft holder  30  and a handlebar  32  attached to the steering shaft  31 . 
         [0031]    A passenger seat  11  is provided above the engine  3 . An oil pan  35  is disposed below the engine  3 . A cooling fan  36  which forcibly cools the engine and a lubricating oil mechanism  37  are disposed forward of the engine  3 . An instrument panel device  38  is provided on the upper portion of the steering device  9 . 
         [0032]    The instrument panel device  38  is described in detail.  FIGS. 1 and 2  are a perspective view and a right side view, respectively, illustrating an upper portion of the steering device  9  with the front cover  33  removed. A support plate  39  with an almost-horizontal surface is fixedly attached to an upper end of the steering shaft  31 . A lower-half block  40 A constituting part of a handlebar support block  40  is fastened to the upper surface of the support plate  39  with a bolt  41 . An upper-half block  40 B is, from above, fitted together with and fastened to the lower-half block  40 A with bolts  42 . The upper surface of the lower-half block  40 A and the lower surface of the upper-half block  40 B are each formed with a semi-circular groove conforming to the shape of the handlebar  32 . 
         [0033]    The handlebar  32  is composed of a central horizontal portion, almost-vertical portions extending upward from both the ends of the central horizontal portion and both-end horizontal portions contiguous to the almost-vertical portions. The central horizontal portion of the handlebar  32  is sandwiched from above and below by the upper-half block  40 B and the lower-half block  40 A, respectively. The semi-circular grooves come into contact with the outer circumference of the handlebar  32 . The lower-half block  40 A and the upper-half block  40 B are fastened with the bolts  42 , whereby the handlebar  32  is secured to the handlebar support block  40 . 
         [0034]    The instrument panel device  38  is disposed above the central horizontal portion of the handlebar  32 , namely, above a portion lowered by one step from both-end portions of the handlebar  32 . The instrument panel device  38  includes an instrument panel (panel main body)  43  provided with instruments indicating the conditions of the ATV, such as a speed meter, a rotating meter, a fuel meter, an odometer, etc. and with a liquid crystal display panel indicating information. The panel main body  43  is supported by a stay  45  connected to a bracket  44  secured to the support block  40  and by a stay  47  connected to a pipe member  46  which is secured to the front surface of the plate  39  and extends upward. 
         [0035]    A meter cover  48  is provided to cover the central portion of the handlebar  32  including the panel main body  43 . The stay  47  extends so as to reach an attachment boss  487  formed inside the meter cover  48 . The meter cover  48  is supported by the handlebar  32  by passing a setscrew  49  through the stay  47  from below and fastening it to the attachment boss  487 . Attachment bosses (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) are provided at the rear portion of the meter cover  48  and are secured to the extension of the stay  45  with setscrews (not shown). 
         [0036]    The meter cover  48  is composed of an upper surface portion  481  covering the panel main body  43  from above and a front surface portion  482  which is contiguous to the front portion of the upper surface portion  481  and extends downward. The upper surface of the panel main body  43  is viewed from a window  483  formed in the upper surface portion  481 . 
         [0037]    A main switch  50  is attached to a right side portion of the upper surface portion  481  of the meter cover  48 . The main switch  50  has a function of opening and closing a main circuit which feeds electric power from a battery to an electrical system provided in the ATV  1  and an ignition switch function of driving an ignition device of the engine. 
         [0038]    A key cylinder  50 A of the main switch  50  is not arranged parallel or vertically to the upper surface of the panel main body  43 . The key cylinder  50  is arranged so that its key insertion slot side end portion  50 B and bottom portion are located on the upside and downside, respectively. That is to say, the key cylinder  50 A is arranged obliquely relative to the upper surface of the panel main body  43 . Since the key cylinder  50  is arranged obliquely relative to the upper surface of the panel main body  43 , the depth D of the meter cover  48  (a dimension in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the panel main body  43 ) can be reduced as shown in  FIG. 2 . If the key cylinder  50 A is arranged parallel to the panel main body  43 , the depth D can be further reduced. Taking into consideration the height of the operator&#39;s eyes when she or he inserts the key into the key cylinder  50 A, however, it is advantageous that the key insertion slot of the key cylinder  50 A slightly faces the upside. Thus, the key cylinder  50 A is oriented obliquely so that the depth D is almost equal to the thickness of the panel main body  43 . 
         [0039]    The handlebar  32  is provided with grips  51  and  52  at left and right ends thereof, respectively. A combination switch  53  is provided adjacently to the left grip  51 . The combination switch  53  includes a plurality of switches including a shift-up switch, a shift-down switch, an engine stop switch, a winker switch and a dimmer switch. A throttle lever  54 , a throttle lever operation angle sensor  55 , a brake lever  56 , a brake oil reservoir  57  and the like are provided in the vicinity of the right grip  52 . 
         [0040]    The meter cover  48  is subsequently described in detail.  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the meter cover  48 ,  FIG. 5  is a plan view of the meter cover  48  and  FIG. 6  is a front view (as viewed from the rear of the vehicle body). The meter cover  48  can be integrally cast from a resin material such as polyethylene. The meter cover  48  is formed with the large rectangular window  483  at the upper surface portion  481  as described above and with a circular hole  484  adapted to receive the key cylinder  50 A inserted thereinto. The circular hole  484  is formed in an inclined surface  485  having an angle with respect to a plane including the window  483 . The inclined surface  485  has an angle with respect to a plane including the window  483  and is provided along the plane including the window  483  at a minute angle β with respect to the upper and lower sides of the window  483 . The inclined surface  485  is formed as a surface recessed from the outermost circumferential portion of the meter cover  48 . Specifically, the inclined surface  485  is disposed at a position lowered by one step from the side surface  488  of the meter cover  48  through a boundary surface  489 . 
         [0041]    In this way, the inclined surface  485  is lowered by one step from the outermost circumferential portion of the meter cover  48 . Therefore, a portion of the surface of the key cylinder  50 A or a portion of the key  50 A inserted into the key cylinder  50 A (indicated with the two-dot chain line in  FIG. 5 ) which projects outwardly from the meter cover  48  can be reduced. 
         [0042]    Preferably, the position of the key cylinder  50 A, namely, the forming position of the circular hole  484  is set at the aftermost portion of the meter cover  48 , that is, at a position in vicinity to the end face of the meter cover  48  close to the rear of the vehicle body. This intends to facilitate the operator&#39;s operation by bringing the key cylinder  50 A closer to the operator. 
         [0043]    The meter cover  48  is formed on the inside thereof with a plurality of ribs  486  used for reinforcement and with attachment bosses  487  adapted to receive setscrews  49  fastened thereto for securing the meter cover  48 . 
         [0044]    The present invention has been described thus far according to the embodiment but is not limited to the embodiment. The invention may be modified or altered in various ways. For instance, the vehicle mounted with the instrument panel device is not limited to the ATV and the present invention can be applied to overall saddle-ride type vehicles such as motorcycles and three wheelers. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.