Patent Publication Number: US-2009218334-A1

Title: Heated Motorcycle  Gas Tank Cover

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/039,288, filed Feb. 28, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to heaters, and more particularly to a heated cover for a motorcycle gasoline tank. 
     DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
     Heating devices for motorcycle riders are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,178,866 to Scott on Feb. 20, 2007 teaches such a device. Such devices are made to provide warmth to a motorcycle rider when riding in the cold. However, despite the development of many approaches to warming a rider, these approaches often have significant drawbacks. 
     Using electrically heated clothing is one approach to keep motor cycle riders warm. Electrically heated clothing for motorcycle riding has been around since the 1970s. In particular, electrically heated vests are popular because heating the torso affects the rider&#39;s entire body temperature and is less bulky than wearing layers of clothing. However, electrically heated vests have the disadvantage of needing to be connected to a power source which is typically the motorcycle. It is an inconvenience for the rider to be physically connected to the motorcycle. Furthermore, the connecting plugs are often difficult to line up and usually require two hands and some effort to fasten. Wearing heavy gloves in cold weather makes it even more difficult to connect and disconnect the wiring. Moreover, using any electrically heated clothing forces the rider to wear, carry and store such clothing, which can be burdensome. Therefore, a heating device is needed that provides warmth to the motorcycle rider yet does not need to be worn, does not require the rider to be connected to the motorcycle, and does not require to be reconnected with every use. 
     One approach that gives motorcycle riders more freedom is to put the heating device in the seat of the motorcycle. Both U.S. Pat. No. 7,178,866 to Scott on Feb. 20, 2007 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,183,519 to Horiyama et al. on Feb. 27, 2007 teach electrically heated seats for a motorcycle. Despite the benefits of more freedom provided by these devices, they have some disadvantages. First, the heat is directed at the posterior side of the rider and is not directed towards the torso. Second, these devices teach using heating elements embedded into the seats of motorcycles which would be difficult and expensive to add to existing motorcycles. Therefore, a device is need that directs heat towards the torso of the rider and that can be easily and economically added to existing motorcycles. 
     A solution is adding a heating device in front of the rider on the fuel tank of the motorcycle. The prior art teaches combining fuel tank covers with other functionality. U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,256 to McEwen on Sep. 4, 1984 teaches a cover with detachable compartments for a motorcycle gas tank. U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,859 to Dittman on Jan. 17, 1978 teaches a combined fuel tank protective cover and thigh grip pad for motorcycles. However, neither of these devices teach combining a fuel tank cover with a heating device. Despite the convenient location of the fuel tank being in front of the rider, the prior art tends to teach away from putting a heating device on the fuel tank due to the risk of igniting the fuel. Therefore, a device is needed that is easily added in front of the motorcycle rider and also protects the safety of the rider. 
     In addition to providing heat to the rider, such a device would protect the fuel tank from external damage. Fuel tank covers also provide a way for riders to customize and decorate their motorcycle. Therefore, a heat radiating fuel tank cover should also provide the ability to be decorative. 
     Moreover, the functionality of the motorcycle should not be impeded. Therefore, such a device should use a material that fits closely over the fuel tank to maintain the aerodynamics of the motorcycle. In addition, the amount of power the device needs should not interfere with the performance of the motorcycle. The device should also be waterproof or water-resistant to avoid the possibility of electric shock, particularly when it rains, and to protect both the device itself as well as the fuel tank. 
     In summary, there is a need for a device that provides warmth to the motorcycle rider yet does not need to be worn, does not require the rider to be connected to the motorcycle, and does not need to be reconnected with every use. The needed device would be easily and economically added in front of the rider on the motorcycle fuel tank and still protect the safety of the rider. The needed device would further function as a fuel tank cover and provide the ability to be decorative. Finally, the needed device would not significantly impede the functionality of the motorcycle. The present invention accomplishes these objectives. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present device is a cover for a gasoline tank of a motorcycle that has a power source. The cover includes a flexible, heat insulating, substantially water-impermeable lower web that is conformable to the shape of the gasoline tank, being made from either a flexible or malleable material. A flexible middle web includes at least one heating means, each of which are electrically connected to a power cord, a switch, and the power source of the motorcycle. A flexible, heat transmitting, substantially water-impermeable upper web is also conformable to the shape of the gasoline tank, being made from either a flexible or malleable material. A peripheral edge of the upper web is fixed to a peripheral edge of the lower web, such as by stitching, ultrasonic welding, or the like. As such, the at least one heating means is sandwiched between the webs. 
     Preferably the cover further includes at least one tank attachment means adapted for selectively attaching the cover to the gasoline tank. Each tank attachment means is fixed to at least one of the peripheral edges, and may be a mechanical fasting clip, such as a metal or plastic J-shaped clip. The attachment means may alternately be an elastic strap that includes a strap fastener, a non-elastic strap that includes an adjustable strap fastener, or other suitable means for attaching the cover to the gasoline tank. 
     In use, the power cord is electrically connected to the power source of the motorcycle, and the switch is closed to cause each heating means to warm, the heat radiating up through the upper web but being substantially prevented from radiating down into the gasoline tank by the heat insulating lower web. With gasoline tanks that include a filling cap projecting away from a top surface thereof, each web further includes an aperture therethrough for receiving the filling cap of the gasoline tank therethrough. 
     The present invention is a heating device for motorcycle riders that provides warmth to the rider yet does not need to be worn, does not require the rider to be connected to the motorcycle, and uses an on/off switch so it does not need to be reconnected with every use. The device is easily and economically added in front of the rider on the motorcycle fuel tank and still protects the safety of the rider by using heating means that are safe. The present invention uses waterproof and water-resistant parts to avoid the possibility of electric shock and to protect the fuel tank and the device itself. The device further functions as a fuel tank cover, conforming to the shape of the tank and providing the ability to be decorative. Additionally, this device uses low power and does not impede the functionality of the motorcycle. In short, this device provides protection to the fuel tank, to the device itself, and to the rider. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the invention, taken generally along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of the invention, taken generally along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial close-up view of an attachment means of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is partial close-up view of an alternate attachment means of the invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the invention, as attached to a gasoline tank of a motorcycle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a cover  10  for a gasoline tank  30  of a motorcycle  20  that has a power source  40 , such as a battery. Such a gasoline tank  30  typically includes a filling cap  35  projecting away from a top surface  36  thereof. 
     The cover  10  includes a flexible, heat insulating, substantially water-impermeable lower web  50  includes a lower surface  54 , an upper surface  56 , and a peripheral edge  55 . The lower web  50  is conformable to the shape of the gasoline tank  30 , being made from either a flexible or malleable material. The lower web  50  may be made from a heat-insulating fabric, for example. The lower web  50  may further include a bottom layer of rubber or other water-impermeable material (not shown). 
     A flexible middle web  60  includes at least one heating means  70 , each of which are electrically connected to a power cord  80 , a switch  90 , and the power source  40  of the motorcycle  20 . The switch  90  is electrically disposed between the power source  40  and each heating means  70 . Such heating means  70  may include carbon fiber heating elements, as shown, resistant copper heating wires, such as Gerbings Heated Clothing&#39;s (Union, Wash.) High Density Heat Technology™ products (not shown), micro-sized stainless steel fibers encased in a waterproof coating (not shown), silvered fibers stitched into a non-woven fabric and then waterproof sealed (not shown), or the like. The at least one heating means  70  is preferably a grid or mesh of a plurality of carbon fiber heating elements, thereby forming the flexible middle web  60  that also conforms to the shape of the gasoline tank  30 . 
     A flexible, heat transmitting, substantially water-impermeable upper web  100  includes a lower surface  104 , an upper surface  106 , and a peripheral edge  105  that corresponds to the peripheral edge  55  of the lower web  50 . The upper web  100  is also conformable to the shape of the gasoline tank  30 , being made from either a flexible or malleable material. Such an upper web  100  may be made from a heat-transmitting polymer material, nylon, or the like. The peripheral edge  105  is fixed to the peripheral edge  55  of the lower web  50 , such as by stitching, ultrasonic welding, or the like. As such, the at least one heating means  70  is sandwiched between the webs  50 , 100 . Heat-transmitting cushioning material (not shown) may also be included between the upper and lower webs  100 , 50  such that the cover  10  has the look and feel of a blanket. The switch  90  and the power cord  80  project away from the webs  50 , 100  ( FIG. 4 ). 
     Preferably the cover  10  further includes at least one tank attachment means  120  adapted for selectively attaching the cover  10  to the gasoline tank  40 . Each tank attachment means  120  is fixed to at least one of the peripheral edges  55 ,  105 , and may be a mechanical fasting clip  130 , such as a metal or plastic J-shaped clip  130  ( FIG. 1 ), an elastic strap  140  that includes a strap fastener  145  ( FIG. 6 ), or a non-elastic strap  140  that includes an adjustable strap fastener  147  ( FIG. 5 ). 
     In use, the power cord  80  is electrically connected to the power source  40  of the motorcycle  20 , and the switch  90  is closed to cause each heating means  70  to warm, the heat radiating up through the upper web  100  but being substantially prevented from radiating down into the gasoline tank  40  by the heat insulating lower web  50 . With gasoline tanks  40  that include a filling cap  35  projecting away from a top surface  36  thereof, each web  50 ,  60 ,  100  further includes an aperture  110  therethrough for receiving the filling cap  35  of the gasoline tank  40  therethrough. 
     While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the size and shape of each web  50 , 60 , 100  may be modified to fit any particular brand and model of motorcycle  20 . Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.