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.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   Remote control type controllers for garage door operators are ubiquitous for automotive applications. Typically, such controllers comprise radio frequency transmitter devices which are battery powered and are mountable in a suitable relatively compact housing which may be clipped to a sun visor or otherwise conveniently mounted within a driver&#39;s reach in a motor vehicle. However, there is a need also to provide a remote control type controller for use with other vehicles which may require access to a garage. For example, bicycles, motorcycles, and other handlebar steered or tiller steered vehicles may require access to a garage whose door is operated by a remotely controllable operator. 
   Conventional remote controllers using radio frequency transmitters are not easily adapted for use with handlebar or tiller steered vehicles. For example, a garage door controller designed for use with automobiles is inconvenient when one wishes to use such a controller unit while riding a motorcycle. For example, when leaving for a ride a conventional automotive remote transmitter or controller unit can be placed inside a jacket pocket. However, later in the day as the ambient temperature increases the jacket might be removed and placed in the motorcycle saddlebag. Now, when the rider returns to the garage he must stop first and retrieve the remote transmitter from his jacket within the saddlebag before being able to open the garage door. Alternate approaches are, of course, to temporarily secure a conventional automobile remote transmitter to a handlebar steered vehicle. However, such an arrangement may result in the transmitter being easily lost or stolen. Thus, there is a need for a remote control type controller or transmitter for garage doors for use with handlebar steered vehicles, such as motorcycles, bicycles, and all terrain vehicles, as well as other handlebar or tiller steered vehicles which may require access to a garage which is closed by a door having a remote controllable door operator. It is to these ends that the present invention has been developed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a remote control radio frequency transmitter type controller unit for use with handlebar steered vehicles or tiller steered vehicles for remotely controlling the opening and closing of a garage door. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the present invention a remote control transmitter based controller unit is provided which is adapted to be attached as an accessory near other control switches or control devices on the handlebar of a vehicle such as a motorcycle, for example. The controller unit is preferably configured to include opposed mounting members whereby screw fasteners may conveniently engage the mounting members and clamp the controller unit to a handlebar adjacent a handgrip or adjacent other control devices or switches for convenient actuation by the vehicle rider or driver. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention a controller unit for a garage door operator is provided which includes a channel or passageway to allow routing of existing wiring and cables associated with control of a handlebar steered vehicle. The remote control controller unit includes a casing having a push button style switch actuator for energizing a radio frequency (RF) transmitter. A battery housed within the casing serves to power the RF transmitter and a low battery indicator, such as a light emitting diode (LED), may be included in the transmitter circuitry to inform the controller user when a battery should be replaced. 
   Still further, a remote control type controller in accordance with the present invention may provide for integrating the transmitter into the vehicle main switch assembly such as typically found on motorcycles, for example. 
   Accordingly, the present invention provides a garage door operator controller that is adapted to be securely fastened to a vehicle handlebar in a manner similar to the fastening of a main switch assembly, for a motorcycle, for example, and in a manner such that it does not normally attract attention. The controller unit may be ruggedly constructed and mounted in a readily accessible location on a handlebar of a handlebar steered vehicle, such as a bicycle, motorcycle, or all terrain vehicle, for example. 
   In accordance with yet further aspects of the present invention, a garage door operator controller is provided which is particularly adapted for mounting on the handlebar of a handlebar steered vehicle, such as a motorcycle, in a manner similar to that of other handlebar mounted controls, cannot be easily removed without proper tools, does not attract attention, can be purchased as an accessory and, thus, is adapted for after-market manufacture and marketing. Still further, one embodiment of the invention provides for integrating the controller into a master switch assembly which includes other control functions for a motorcycle, for example. 
   Those skilled in the art will further appreciate the above-noted features and advantages of the invention together with other important aspects thereof. Upon reading the detailed description which follows in conjunction with the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is side elevation of a portion of a motorcycle handlebar showing the controller unit of the present invention mounted thereon; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded side elevation of the controller unit shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a view, partially sectioned, of the controller unit showing certain details of the components of the unit; and 
       FIG. 4  is a view of a portion of a motorcycle handlebar showing a multifunction switch assembly which includes an alternate embodiment of the controller unit of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In the description which follows like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawing with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat generalized or schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a portion of a handlebar steered vehicle, such as a motorcycle  10  having a conventional handlebar assembly, a portion of which is illustrated and generally designated by the numeral  12 . The handlebar assembly  12  includes a distal handgrip  14  which may comprise a throttle, brake or shift control mechanism, not shown, in accordance with conventional motorcycle design. A multi-function switch assembly  16  is mounted on the handlebar assembly  12  in a conventional position and may include switches for such functions as engaging an engine starter, a horn, vehicle running lights and turn signals, for example. The switch assembly  16  may also support a rearview mirror  18 , as illustrated. Conventional electrical conductors  20  extend from the switch assembly  16  and are trained along the contour of the handlebar assembly  12  together with a throttle, brake or shift cable assembly  22 . 
     FIG. 1  also illustrates a garage door operator remote controller unit in accordance with the invention and generally designated by the numeral  24 . The controller unit  24  is conveniently mountable on the handlebar assembly  12  at a point adjacent to the switch assembly  16  and toward the distal end of the handlebar assembly with respect to a curved portion  13  thereof, as shown in FIG.  1 . The controller unit  24  includes a so-called push button switch actuator  26  conveniently positioned for activation by a person riding the vehicle  10  and the activation of which sends a radio frequency signal to a garage door operator in a well known manner. The controller unit  24  may, for example, include circuitry and have the capability of transmitting a coded radio signal in accordance with the teaching of U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,289 issued Apr. 11, 2000 to Dennis Waggamon et al, which patent is incorporated herein by reference. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2  also, the controller unit  24  includes a first housing part  28  which supports the push button switch actuator  26  together with a suitable circuit board  30  and a source of electrical power, such as a low voltage battery  32 , all mounted within the housing part  28 . The circuit board  30  preferably includes electrical circuitry corresponding to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,289 for the transmitter disclosed in the patent. The controller unit  24  includes a generally planar base member or second housing part  34  interposed the housing part  28  and a mounting part  36  which is cooperable with a second mounting part  38  for mounting the controller unit  24  on the handlebar assembly  12 . For example, the housing mounting parts  36  and  38  are provided with cooperating arcuate recesses  37  and  39  having diameters slightly greater than the diameter of the tubular handlebar assembly  12  and dimensioned such that conventional machines screws  40 ,  FIG. 2 , may be used to assemble the housing part  28  to the mounting part  36  and to the mounting part  38  to suitably clamp the controller unit  24  to the handlebar assembly. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the mounting part  38  has a second recess  41  form therein for receipt of members such as electrical conductors and cable assemblies, such as the conductors  20  and the cable assembly  22 , extending through the recess and to aid in supporting and training these members along the contour of the handlebar assembly  12 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the controller unit  24  is shown assembled and clamped on the handlebar assembly  12 . The mounting parts  36  and  38  are dimensioned such that surfaces defining the recesses  37  and  39  will engage the outer circumference of the handlebar assembly  12  before opposed surfaces  36   a  and  38   a  engage each other whereby a suitable clamping action may be provided. The machine screws  40  extend through suitable bores in housing parts  28  and  34 , mounting part  36  and are threadedly engaged in suitable threaded bores formed in the mounting part  38 , as shown. The screws  40  are preferably provided with suitable heads  40   a  which are recessed within counterbores formed in housing part  28  as illustrated in FIG.  3 . Moreover, the screw heads  40   a  may include suitable wrench engaging recesses, not shown, which may be of the so-called hex socket type, clutch head, Frearson, Torx, or other specialized driving heads which minimize the risk of theft of the controller unit  24  when mounted on a handlebar steered vehicle, such as the motorcycle  10 . 
   Referring further to  FIG. 3 , the housing part  28  is provided with a suitable cavity  27  for containment of the circuit board  30  and battery  32 . The push button actuator  26  may be part of a padlike member  29  which is preferably formed of a flexible plastic to allow tactile distortion of the push button actuator to engage a switch  26   a  mounted on the circuit board  30 , as illustrated. A light emitting diode low battery power indicator  42  may be mounted, as shown, on the circuit board  30  for projecting light through a lens part  26   b  to indicate when energy remaining in battery  32  is sufficient and the battery should be replaced. For example, the control circuitry for the unit  24  is preferably configured such that when switch  26   a  is actuated, if battery energy (and power) is sufficient, indicator  42  will be illuminated. However, if battery voltage is low, indicating low remaining stored energy, indicator  42  will not illuminate. 
   Accordingly, the controller unit  24  provides a very compact device which may be easily mounted on a handlebar, such as the handlebar assembly  12 , by the owner or operator of the vehicle. The controller unit  24  may also be disassembled, when required, for replacing the battery  32  by removing the removable housing part or base member  34  after disconnecting the mounting part  38  from the remainder of the controller unit by removing the screws  40  therefrom. Major components, such as the push button switch actuator  26  and its associated pad member  29 , the circuit board  30 , the housing parts  28  and  34  and the mounting parts  36  and  38  may be formed of suitable plastic materials, for example. The circuit board  30  may be adapted to mount all of the components described in the aforementioned patent. 
   Referring now briefly to  FIG. 4 , there is illustrated an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein a switch assembly  16   a  is shown mounted on the handlebar assembly  12  in place of the switch assembly  16 . Switch assembly  16   a  includes a housing  17   a  which has been modified to include a housing part  17   b  similar in some respects to the housing part  28  and which includes the circuitry for the aforementioned controller unit including the push button switch actuator  26 , as illustrated. Accordingly, a controller unit in accordance with the invention may be provided, as indicated by numeral  24   a , which is integrated with the switch assembly  16   a  and may use electrical power from the vehicle power source, suitably regulated as required. Those components of the controller unit  24  including the circuit board  30  and switch actuator  26  may be disposed in the housing portion  17   b  of the switch assembly  16   a.    
   Those skilled in the art will recognize that other modifications and substitutions may be provided with respect to the invention disclosed herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.