Abstract:
A back-lit handlebar control assembly for vehicles steered by a handlebar includes a front control housing and a rear control housing that are joined together at each end of the handlebars where an operator typically would grip. The control housing includes back-lit control buttons with indicia thereon partially passing through the front portion of the control housing for easy access and nighttime vision by the operator.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to a back-lit control assembly and more particularly to a back-lit handlebar control assembly for use with vehicles such as motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, golf carts and the like. The operation and control of such vehicles would be facilitated by the control buttons being illuminated. 
     It is well known that automobiles have advanced significantly in their controls and operation to facilitate the operator&#39;s control over the vehicle. For instance, the dashboards of automobiles and trucks have become computerized with information stations and back-lit gauges. Nonetheless, what controls remain manual are generally easily located by the operator as the operator does not require any balance or exerted physical attention during operation of the vehicle while comfortably seated within the automobile or truck. 
     In contrast, motorcycles, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, golf carts and the like have not significantly advanced in their control operation. These recreational vehicles require significant concentration on behalf of the operator to prevent an accident. That is, balance and concentration while maintaining control of the vehicle and operating the motorcycle or the like by gripping the handlebars, is significantly more complicated than operating an automobile or a truck. These types of vehicles are steered by handlebars which include buttons and switches near the gripping region of the handlebars for controlling the starting of the vehicle, turning the vehicle off, operating left and right blinkers, high and low beam headlights and a warning horn or siren. 
     Operation of handlebar driven vehicles requires training, balance and, in many jurisdictions, certification. The operation of these types of vehicles requires balance as well as skill in less than straight flat terrain. When operating these types of vehicles in low light or at night, the operator is often confused as to the location of the control buttons unless significant training and commitment to memory as to the control button location has been previously achieved. 
     There is a need for a back-lit handlebar control assembly for an operator to use on handlebar operated vehicles having not previously committed to memory the specific location of the various control buttons. In other words, the individual control buttons are illuminated with their indicia of operation to facilitate the operator as to the particular location of the button. Thus, while the operator is driving the vehicle and concentrating on balance and steering, the operator merely would only need to instantaneously look down to the handlebar control assembly with back-lit control buttons to determine the location of the particular control button for the operational condition. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A back-lit handlebar control assembly for vehicles steered by a handlebar includes a front control housing and a rear control housing that are joined together at each end of the handlebars where an operator typically would grip. The control housing includes back-lit control buttons with indicia thereon partially passing through the front portion of the control housing for easy access and nighttime vision by the operator. 
     A principal object and advantage of the present invention is that handlebar driven vehicles do not require the operator to memorize the location of each particular control button now that they may be back-lit with indicia thereon for quick reference and operation. 
     Another object and advantage of the present invention is that a novice handlebar vehicle operator may continue to concentrate on balance and operation without carelessly pressing the wrong button during startup, operation and turning off the vehicle due to the visible back-lit indicia on the control assembly buttons. 
     Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon a viewing of the attached figures, a study of the specification, and a reading of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the handlebar assembly of a typical handlebar controlled vehicle; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the handlebar assembly; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded assembly view of the back-lit handlebar control assembly of the present invention for the brake side of the handlebars; 
     FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the back-lit handlebar control assembly for the clutch side of the handlebars; 
     FIG. 5 is a rear exploded general assembly perspective view of the back-lit handlebar control assembly for the clutch side of a handlebar; 
     FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the brake side of the back-lit handlebar control assembly; and 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the clutch side of the back-lit handlebar control assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, handlebar  4  is shown which is typically the steering and handling mechanism for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), snowmobiles, and golf carts. The handlebar  4  is typically comprised of a brake and throttle side assembly  6  and a clutch side assembly  8 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 through 6, the back-lit handlebar control assembly  10  may be appreciated. First referring to the brake side of what would be handlebar  4 , the present invention comprises brake side front control housing  16  which may be molded, cast or otherwise machined out of metal, composite or high impact plastic. The brake side front control housing  16  has control button access passages, cut-outs or holes  18 . The passages typically are right blinker button passage  20 , engine start button passage  22  and engine off button passage  24 . On the inside of housing  16  (shown as  126  in FIG. 5) is located a blinker bulb bracket which supports a bulb for blinker lights which is enclosed by lens  28 . 
     The brake side front control housing  16  typically has a handlebar cut out  30  with screw apertures  32  for receiving screws  34 , which will be appreciated. The brake side rear control housing  40  similarly may be constructed as the front housing  16  while the two housings  40  and  16  may be unitary and slid over handlebars  40  and secured thereat by conventional means, such as set screws appreciated by one skilled in the art. The brake side rear control housing  40  has a brake master cylinder assembly  42  including a fluid reservoir  44 , cap  46 , brake lever  48  with actuator tip  50 , piston cylinder assembly  52  and brake switch  54 . Threaded apertures  56  are located internal of the rear housing  40  to receive screws  34  passing through front housing apertures  32  to securely locate and clamp the control housings  16  and  40  about the handlebar  4  at a comfortable position for the operator. 
     Internal of the control housing  16  is a PCB electrical switch assembly  58 , which has soldered thereon a tactile switch  68  from C&amp;K Components, Inc., Newton, Mass. A white 3 mm LED88 is also mounted on board  58 . The LED is from SloanLED of Ventura, Calif. A Molex 10 CKT right angled header  78  permits the electrical connection between the tactile switch  68 , the White LED  88 , and the vehicle&#39;s twelve volt system, including lights, horn and engine system. 
     The back-lit assembly  98  generally includes a back-lit membrane  108  made of an elastomer with printed indicia thereon and an internal light conducting element, such as plastic or other suitable fiberoptic material, as will be appreciated in detail later herein in FIG.  4 . The membrane  108  once assembled is comprised of right blinker button  110 , engine start button  112 , and engine off button  114 , which extend through the button access passages  20 ,  22 , and  24  respectively for easy operator access. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the clutch-side front control housing  116  of the present invention may be appreciated. Housing  116  includes control switch or button passage  122  and high/low headlight button passage  124 . Here, the blinker bulb bracket  126  may be seen in FIG. 5 as well as lens  128  which refracts the blinking and driving lights of the bulb, not shown. Blinker bulb bracket  126 , lens  128  and the bulb generally comprise a turn signal  127 . Also, front housing  116  has handlebar cutout  130 , screw apertures  132 , and screws  134 , which may pass therethrough and will be appreciated in FIGS. 5 and 6. 
     The clutch-side rear control housing  140  includes clutch assembly  142  and internally threaded apertures  156 . Similarly, the rear housing has a handlebar cutout as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art to allow the front control housing  116  and rear control housing  140  to be clamped and secured to a specific location about handlebar  4  by way of screws  134  passing through screw apertures  132  and being secured in threaded apertures  156 . 
     Similar to the brake side front control housing, internal of the clutch side is back-lit assembly  198  with the back-lit membrane  208  which is made of a light conducting synthetic or natural elastomer. The membrane is comprised of a two-shot molded product including the left blinker button  210  with light conducting element  211  secured into the protruding portion of the membrane  208  suitably at left blinker button  210  position. Horn button  212  also includes light conducting element  213  similarly positioned at its protuberance and the membrane  208 . Also high/low headlight button  214  includes a light conducting element  215  situated within the protuberance of the back-lit membrane  208 . All of the light conducting elements  211 ,  213 , and  215  appropriately have an LED pocket  216  for receiving the White LED  188 . Similarly, the PCB electrical switch assembly  158  includes the tactile switch  168  which engages the light conducting elements  211 ,  213 , and  215  and the control assembly is energized by way of connection to the Molex CKT right angle header  178 . Again, the White LED  188  is supported on the PCB  158 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the operation of the back-lit handlebar control assembly  10  may be appreciated. The operator turns the key on the vehicle. Upon the ignition energizing the assembly, all buttons  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  210 ,  212 , and  214  are lit up for easy recognition and location in low light conditions. The operator depresses the engine start button  112 . The operator may then drive the vehicle concentrating on steering and balance without concern about memorizing the location of the particular control buttons. That is because the control buttons are illuminated with indicia thereon to assist the operator in safe operation of the vehicle. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.