Abstract:
A lighting arrangement for a handlebar steered vehicle such as a motorcycle wherein a pair of headlights are positioned behind a single lens cover and concealed behind a single opening in a handlebar cover that is configured to make the lights appear as separated and which are commonly vertically adjustable through a controlled range without forming a gap through which the interior of the cover may be viewed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a motorcycle type vehicle and more particularly to a light arrangement for vehicles of a type steered by a handlebar. Some motorcycles are provided with a dual light unit having a pair of right and left headlights to improve the appearance and lighting therefore. As an example of the prior art structures, Japanese Utility Model JP-U-2526760 discloses a structure in which a pair of right and left headlight openings are formed in a front wall of a cover for the handlebar with a vertical connecting part therebetween so that the right and left headlights are disposed in the right and left headlight openings, respectively. This results in a more expensive arrangement and requires the headlights to be adjusted separately that can present alignment problems.  
         [0002]     This situation can be improved by positioning the lights in a common housing behind a single headlight cover. However then the appearance advantage of having paired lights is at least partially lost.  
         [0003]     Therefore it is a principal object of the invention to provide a dual lighting arrangement for a vehicle steered by a handlebar where the dual lights are mounted in a common housing but covered in such way as to emphasize the separation between the lights.  
         [0004]     In addition to the aforenoted problem, when the entire light unit is moved vertically to adjust the optical axis, a gap is likely to be formed between the light unit and the handlebar cover. This results in an undesirable appearance.  
         [0005]     Therefore it is a further object of the invention to provide an adjustable dual headlight assembly and cover arrangement therefore wherein no exposed gap is formed when the entire light unit is moved to adjust the optical axis.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     A first feature of the invention is adapted to be embodied in a light arrangement for a vehicle of the type steered by a handlebar. The vehicle has a handlebar cover the lighting arrangement comprises a pair of lights disposed on transversely opposite sides of an axis about which the handlebar is dirigible. A single lens cover covers both of the lights. The handlebar cover has a downwardly extending portion that extends over a central portion of the lens cover and between the lights of the pair for providing a visual separation between the lights of the pair.  
         [0007]     Another feature of the invention is adapted to be embodied in a dual light arrangement for a motorcycle or like handlebar steered vehicle having a handlebar cover defining an opening. A pair of lights disposed on transversely opposite sides of an axis about which the handlebar is dirigible A single lens cover covering both of said lights and is supported for vertical adjustment behind an opening in the cover. The portion of the handlebar cover defining the opening and the single lens cover having overlapping portions that prevent any direct view behind the opening regardless of the adjusted position of said the lens cover. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a vehicle constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view thereof.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view thereof.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged front elevational view looking in the same direction as  FIG. 1 , but showing the forward lighting system.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view taken along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view taken along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view taken along the line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view taken along the same plane as  FIG. 5 , but shows the positioning light adjusted in one extreme position.  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view, in part similar to  FIG. 8 , taken along the same plane as  FIG. 5 , but shows the positioning light adjusted in the other extreme position.  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view taken along the same plane as  FIG. 6 , but shows the head light adjusted in one extreme position.  
         [0018]      FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view, in part similar to  FIG. 10 , taken along the same plane as  FIG. 6 , but shows the head light adjusted in the other extreme position.  
         [0019]      FIG. 12  is a cross sectional view taken along the same plane as  FIG. 7 , but shows the mechanism adjusted in one extreme position.  
         [0020]      FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view, in part similar to  FIG. 12 , taken along the same plane as  FIG. 7 , but shows the mechanism adjusted in the other extreme position.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     Referring now in detail to the drawings and initially primarily to  FIGS. 1-3 , a vehicle embodying the invention is designated generally at  21 . The particular type of vehicle is a motorcycle but those skilled in the art will readily understand that the invention has particular utility with “motorcycle type vehicles”, these being vehicles normally steered by handlebars such as three or four wheelers, snowmobiles and even some forms of personal watercraft. The motorcycle  21  has a body frame (not shown since it is primarily covered by a body assembly), upon which a front fork  22  is dirigibly supported in a suitable manner at the front end of the body frame. for steering movement. An engine transmission unit  23  is suspended from and supported by an intermediate portion of the body frame forwardly of a rear arm  24 . The rear arm  24  is pivotally supported by an intermediate portion of the body frame by a suitable suspension unit for vertical swinging movement. A rear wheel  25  is journalled at the rear end of the rear arm in any suitable fashion. A seat  26  for two persons mounted on an upper rear part of the body frame in part above the rear wheel  25 .  
         [0022]     A front wheel  27  is rotatably supported at the lower end of the front fork  22 . This support may also include a suspension system of a desired type. A steering handlebar assembly  28  is secured to the upper end of the front fork  22  forwardly of the seat  26 .  
         [0023]     As has been noted, the front and rear halves of the body frame are covered with a by means of a front cover  29  and a rear cover  31 , respectively. A front fender  32  is secured to the front fork  22  and covers the upper portion of the front wheel  27 .  
         [0024]     A taillight unit  33 , as best seen in  FIG. 3 , is disposed on a rear wall of the rear cover  31 . The taillight unit  33  includes a taillight portion  34  located at the center in the vehicle width direction and a pair of right and left flasher lights  35  on the right and left sides of the taillight portion  34 .  
         [0025]     Referring now again to the front of the motorcycle  21 , the front cover  29  has a front side cover  29   a  for covering a front side of the body frame and a rear side cover  29   b  for covering a rear side of the body frame. The front and rear side covers  29   a  and  29   b  are secured to the body frame in any suitable manner.  
         [0026]     The steering handlebar assembly  28  is surrounded by a handlebar cover  36  made of resin material. The handlebar cover  36  covers the center part of the steering handlebar assembly  28  in the vehicle width direction so that right and left grips  28   a  and  28   b  of the steering handlebar assembly  28  and the operation parts of right and left switch boxes  28   c ,  28   d  are exposed for operation by the rider.  
         [0027]     The handlebar cover  36  is divided into a front cover portion  37  and a rear cover portion  38 . The rear cover portion  38  has an upper wall part  38   a  for covering an upper part of the steering handlebar assembly  28  and a rear wall part  38   b  extending from a rear edge of the upper wall part  38   a  for covering a rear part of the steering handlebar assembly  28  and a rear part of a steering shaft  38  that is fixed to the upper end of the front fork  22 .  
         [0028]     The rear cover portion  38  is secured to the steering shaft  38  and the steering handlebar assembly  28 . More specifically, the rear wall part  38   b  is secured to brackets  40   a  and  40   b  secured to the steering shaft  38  by a screw  41  and a bolt  42 , respectively (see  FIG. 5 ).  
         [0029]     Continuing to refer to  FIG. 5 , the upper wall part  38   a  of the rear cover portion  38  has a meter opening  38   c , and a meter unit, indicated generally at  43  including, for example, a speedometer and any other desired instruments are disposed in the meter opening  38   c.    
         [0030]     The front handlebar cover portion  37  has a front wall part  37   a  for covering a front part of the steering handlebar assembly  28  and a bottom wall part  37   b  extending backward from a lower edge of the front wall part  37   a.    
         [0031]     The front handlebar cover portion  37  is secured to the steering handlebar assembly  28  and the rear cover portion  38 . More specifically, a pair of right and left fitting projections  37   c  formed on the front wall part  37   a  are fitted into brackets  44  secured to the steering handlebar assembly  28  via grommets  45 , and a boss part  37   d  formed on the bottom wall part  37   b  is secured by a screw  46  inserted from the rear side into a rib  38   d  of the rear cover portion  38 .  
         [0032]     A plurality of positioning engaging parts  42  ( FIG. 4 ) for use in positioning the mating parts of the front and rear covers  32  and  33  are formed along the upper edges of the front and rear covers  32  and  33 .  
         [0033]     Referring now primarily to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a headlight unit  15  is disposed in the handlebar cover  36 . The headlight device  15  is constituted as follows.  
         [0034]     The front wall part  37   a  of the front cover portion  37  has a wide headlight opening  37   e  extending in the vehicle width direction across generally the entire width of the front wall part  37   a  and configured as will be described in more detail shortly. A light unit, indicated generally at  49  is disposed in the headlight opening  37   e.    
         [0035]     The light unit  49  is comprised of a pair of transversely spaced right and left headlights  51  and a pair of right and left turn flasher lights  52  disposed transversely outwardly of the headlights  51 . A common outer lens  53  covers the front side of the right and left turn flasher lights  52  and the right and left headlights  51 . Inner lenses  54  and  55  reflect light from lamp bulbs (light sources)  56  and  57  of the right and left headlights  51  and the right and left turn flasher lights  52 , respectively, toward the outer lens  53 . It should be noted that in  FIG. 4 , the outer lens  53  has been removed.  
         [0036]     The headlights  51  and the turn flasher lights  52  are arranged symmetrically with respect to a vehicle center line which coincides with the section line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . The right and left turn flasher lights  52  have a diameter smaller than that of the headlights  51  and located higher than the headlights  51 .  
         [0037]     Each of the inner lenses  54  and  55  is of a generally hemispherical shape which opens forwardly. The inner lenses  54  and  55  have bottoms  54   a  and  55   a , respectively, in which the lamp bulbs  56  and  57  are detachably attached. In addition, the inner lenses  54  and  55  have openings  54   b  and  55   b , respectively, in which the outer lens  53  is secured. If desired, the inner lenses  54  and  55  may be formed integrally with each other.  
         [0038]     A position lamp  58  which can be turned on separately from the headlights  51  and the turn flasher lights  52  is disposed at a lower part in the space between the right and left headlights  51 . The position lamp  58  has an inner lens  59  having a bottom  59   a  to which a lamp bulb  61  is attached. The outer lens  53  covers the front side of the inner lens  59 . Designated as  62  is a lens for changing the color of light from the position lamp  58 .  
         [0039]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , boss parts  54   c  extend rearwardly of the inner lens  54  of each of the right and left headlights  51  from an upper part on the outer side of the vehicle  21 . Pivot shafts  63  inserted from the rear side of the vehicle are secured to the boss parts  54   c , and each has an engaging part  63   a  of a generally spherical shape formed at the rear end thereof.  
         [0040]     The rear cover portion  38  has right and left supporting parts  38   f  at positions opposed to the right and left boss parts  54   c . Each of the right and left supporting parts  38   f  has an engaging recess  38   g  which opens forward. The engaging parts  63   a  of the pivot shafts  63  are inserted into the right and left engaging recesses  38   g . The light unit  49  is thereby supported by the handlebar cover  36  for vertical swinging movement. That is, when the light unit  49  is swung vertically via the right and left pivot shafts  63 , the optical axis angles of the lamp bulbs  56  and  57  can be changed simultaneously.  
         [0041]     As best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 8 , a longitudinally extending slot  37   f  is formed at the center of the bottom wall part  37   b  of the front cover portion  37 . The inner lens  59  of the position lamp  58  bottom  59   a  extends rearwardly in contact with the upper surface of the portion of the bottom wall part  37   b  where the slot  37   f  is formed. An aiming bolt  64  is inserted into the slot  37   f  and threaded into a nut  65  and washer  66  received in the bottom  59   a . When the aiming bolt  64  is loosened, the entire light unit  49  may be swung vertically about the engaging parts  63   a  of the pivot shafts  63 , for adjustment of the optical axis. Then, when the aiming bolt  64  is fastened, the headlights  51  and the turn flasher lights  52  are fixed at a desired optical axis angle.  
         [0042]     Referring now primarily to  FIG. 4  and as viewed from the front of the vehicle  21 , the headlight opening  37   e  of the front cover portion  37  has an upper edge  37   f  having an extending part  32   g  integrally formed therewith and extending downward between the right and left headlights  51 .  
         [0043]     The extending part  32   g  extends obliquely downward from the upper edge  37   f  and has a generally V-shape which becomes narrower in the vehicle width direction from the upper edge  37   f  to its extending end  32   g.    
         [0044]     The upper edge  37   f  has right and left side parts which are slightly inclined upward and outward in the vehicle width direction and cover upper parts of the right and left turn flasher lights  52 . The extending part  32   g , which extends from the right and left side parts, is inclined downward and inward in the vehicle width direction and covers upper inner edges of the right and left headlights  51 .  
         [0045]     The lower end of the extending part  32   g  is located below a line b connecting the centers of the lamp bulbs  56  of the right and left headlights  51  and a line c connecting the centers of the lamp bulbs  57  of the right and left turn flasher lights  52 .  
         [0046]     As viewed from the front of the vehicle, the position lamp  58  is located below the line b connecting the centers of the lamp bulbs  56  of the right and left headlights  51  and below the lower end of the extending part  32   g . The center line of the position lamp  58  in the vehicle width direction coincides with the vehicle center line.  
         [0047]     The distance t 1  from the center of swinging of each of the right and left pivot shafts  63  to the point, where a vertical line d passing through the center of the pivot shaft  63  and the upper edge  37   f  intersect, is smaller than the distance t 2  from a line c connecting the centers of swinging of the right and left pivot shafts  63  to the end of the extending part  32   g . Said another way, the right and left pivot shafts  63  acting as the fulcrums for swinging the light unit  49  are located in the vicinity of the upper edge  37   f  of the headlight opening  37   e.    
         [0048]     As best seen in  FIG. 5 , a coupling mechanism, indicated generally at  67  is disposed between the extending part  37   g  and the light unit  49 . The coupling mechanism  67  is configured to removably couple the light unit  49  and the extending part  37   g  when the light unit  49  is swung vertically for adjustment of the optical axis thereof. The construction of the coupling mechanism  67  will now be described.  
         [0049]     The upper edge  37   f  of the headlight opening  37   e  and the lower end of the extending part  37   g  are opposed to a step part  53   a  of the outer lens  53  with a prescribed gap therebetween.  
         [0050]     At the center of the outer lens  53  in the vehicle width direction, an engaging recess  53   b  forms one part of the coupling mechanism  67  and opens forward. This recess  53   b  is formed continuously from the step part  53   a . The other part of the coupling mechanism  67  comprises an engaging projection  37   h  which extends backward from the inner wall of the extending part  37   g . An elastic member  68  made of a rubber sponge or the like is fitted on the engaging projection  37   h.    
         [0051]     The coupling mechanism  67  is so configured such that when the light unit  49  is in an intermediate position in the angle through which it can be swung vertically, there are formed upper and lower gaps (e), (e) between the elastic member  68  and the engaging recess  53   b . That is, the engaging projection  37   h  and the engaging recess  53   b  are not in contact with each other as seen in  FIG. 5 . In the present invention, the concept that the light unit  49  and the extending part  37   g  are removably coupled includes the above non-contact state.  
         [0052]     When the light unit  49  is swung downward to its lowermost position as seen in  FIG. 8 , the elastic member  68  on the engaging projection  37   h  abuts against an upper part of the engaging recess  53   b , and the extending part  37   g  is drawn downward and elastically deformed. Along with the elastic deformation of the extending part  37   g , the upper edge  37   f  is drawn downward. The resulting gap between the outer lens  53 , and the upper edge  37   f  and the extending part  37   g  is prevented from becoming excessively wide as seen in  FIGS. 8, 10  and  12 .  
         [0053]     When the light unit  49  is swung upward to its uppermost position, the elastic member  68  on the engaging projection  37   h  abuts against a lower part of the engaging recess  53   b , and the extending part  37   g  is drawn upward and elastically deformed (see  FIG. 8 ( b )). As a result, the step part  53   a  of the outer lens  53  is prevented from pressing the extending end  37   g  of the extending part  32  excessively upward, and the gap is closed as seen in  FIGS. 9, 11  and  13 .  
         [0054]     According to this embodiment, the light unit  49 , which is a dual light system having the paired right and left headlights  51  and the paired right and left turn flasher lights  52  disposed outside the headlights  51  in the vehicle width direction, has an improved appearance.  
         [0055]     Also in this embodiment, the upper edge  37   f  of the headlight opening  37   e  of the handlebar cover  36  has the extending part  37   g  extending between the right and left headlights  51 , and the extending end  32   g  of the extending part  37   g  is located below the line b connecting the centers of the lamp bulbs  56  of the right and left headlights  51 . Thus, the right and left headlights  51  look divided by the extending part  32  as viewed from a side of or above the vehicle, and look continuous as viewed from the front of or below the vehicle. It is, therefore, possible to provide variations to the appearance of a dual light system and enhance the design effect.  
         [0056]     The extending end  32   g  of the extending part  37   g  is located below the line b connecting the centers of the lamp bulbs  56 . Thus, the handlebar cover  36  extends deeply between the right and left headlights  51  and provides a large variation to the appearance.  
         [0057]     In this embodiment, the position lamp  58  is located below the line b connecting the right and left headlights  51  and below the extending end  32   g  of the extending part  37   g . The position lamp  58  is disposed in an extra space defined by the right and left headlights  51  and the extending part  37   g.    
         [0058]     The extending part  37   g  has a generally V-shape which becomes narrower in the vehicle width direction from the upper edge  37   f  to the extending end  32   g . Thus, the appearance of the headlight device  15  provided with a dual headlight system can be novel and unconventional.  
         [0059]     In this embodiment, the distance t 1  from the center of swinging of each of the right and left pivot shafts  63  to the point, where a vertical line (d) passing through the center of the pivot shaft  63  and the upper edge  37   f  intersect, is smaller than the distance t 2  from a line c connecting the right and left pivot shafts  63  to the extending end  32   g  of the extending part  37   g . Thus, the amount, in which the upper edges of the headlights  51  are swung when the light unit  49  is swung vertically about the right and left pivot shafts  63 , can be small. Thus, the gap S between the upper edges of the headlights  51  and the upper edge  37   f  does not become excessively wide or impair the appearance when the optical axis of the light unit  49  is adjusted.  
         [0060]     Also, since the pivot shafts  63  are located between the headlights  51  and the turn flasher lights  52 , the boss parts for supporting the pivot shafts  63  can be prevented from interfering with the headlights and so on and the arrangement structure of the pivot shafts  63  can be simple.  
         [0061]     In this embodiment, since the coupling mechanism  67  for removably coupling the outer lens  53  of the light unit  49  and the extending part  37   g  when the light unit  49  is moved vertically is interposed between the extending part  37   g  and the outer lens  53 , the extending part  37   g  is moved together with the light unit  49  when the light unit  49  is swung vertically. Thus, the gap S between the light unit  49  and the extending part  37   g  does not become excessively wide or impair the appearance when the optical axis of the light unit  49  is adjusted. In addition the overlapping parts of the outer lens  53  and the handlebar cover  36  prevent any view behind the outer lens  53  and the cover  36  regardless of the adjusted position.  
         [0062]     The coupling mechanism  67  is comprised of the engaging recess  53   b  of the outer lens  53  and the engaging projection  37   h  of the extending part  37   g , and the engaging projection  37   h  is removably engaged with the engaging recess  53   b . Since the coupling mechanism  67  is constructed using existing parts without requiring additional parts, an increase in cost can be avoided.  
         [0063]     Also, the elastic member  68  fitted on the engaging projection  37   h  can prevent the engaging projection  37   h  and the engaging recess  53   b  from abutting directly against each other and thus prevent noise caused by vibration and so on during running.  
         [0064]     In this embodiment, when the light unit  49  is rotated to its uppermost position, the elastic member  68  on the engaging projection  37   h  abuts against the engaging recess  53  and the extending part  37   g  is elastically deformed upward. Thus, the gap S between the light unit  49  and the extending part  37   g  can be small and does not impair the appearance.  
         [0065]     In addition, when the light unit  49  is rotated to its lowermost position, the elastic member  68  on the engaging projection  37   h  abuts against the engaging recess  53   b  and the extending part  37   g  is elastically deformed downward. Thus, the step part of the light unit  49  is prevented from pressing the extending part  37   g  excessively upward, and the appearance is not impaired.  
         [0066]     When the light unit  49  is in an intermediate position, the gaps are formed between the elastic member  68  on the engaging projection  37   h  and the engaging recess  53   b . Thus, when the amount, in which the optical axis is adjusted, is small, the extending part  37   g  is not elastically deformed.  
         [0067]     It is needless to say that the elastic member  68 , which is provided on the side of the engaging projection  37   h  in the above embodiment, may be provided on the side of the engaging recess  53   b.    
         [0068]     Although the extending part is elastically deformed when the lamp unit is swung to its uppermost or lowermost position in the above embodiment, the extending part does not necessarily have to be elastically deformed.  
         [0069]     It is needless to say that the application of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and as has been noted is not limited to use in the type of vehicle specifically illustrated. Of course those skilled in the art will readily understand that the described embodiment is only of a exemplary form that the invention may take and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.