Patent Publication Number: US-2005123148-A1

Title: Motorcycle audio system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/523,863 filed Nov. 20, 2003. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an audio system for a motorcycle.  
      2. Background Art  
      An audio system is a popular accessory for motorcycles. Examples of audio systems include radios, tape players, CD players, digital music players, and the like. The weight and bulk of vehicle audio systems present one problem when they are attempted to be assembled to a motorcycle. Another problem is that the audio system controls and display must be attached to the motorcycle at a front and center location or it will be difficult to operate.  
      One example of a prior art attempt is disclosed in U.S. Published Application 2002/0131606 published on Sep. 19, 2002, but discloses a motorcycle audio system in which the radio is mounted in its entirety on a windshield assembly. The motorcycle audio system is disposed in a generally vertical orientation relative to the windshield assembly and also includes speakers mounted adjacent opposite sides of the radio. The problem with this system is that it is large and adds a substantial amount of weight to the handlebar and front end assembly. This system is also vulnerable to theft.  
      Another audio system for a bicycle is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,305. The system described in the &#39;305 patent proposes including an AM/FM radio, a cassette or CD player and also proposes storing the entire audio system in a bag that is removably mounted on the handlebar. This system suffers from the same disadvantages as the &#39;606 publication.  
      Another proposed solution is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,228 that discloses a stereo audio system for a motorcycle that is assembled to base socket assemblies that are associated with handlebar mounted mirrors. The mirrors also include speakers that are mounted to the mirror side of the mirror assemblies.  
      Another proposed solution is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,752 that discloses a radio system for a two wheeled bicycle that includes a radio system mounted into a windshield faring assembly. All of the components of the radio are mounted on the handlebar as part of the windshield faring assembly. The &#39;752 patent also discloses the use of a saddlebag that may be used to contain solar collectors that are used to recharge a battery contained in the windshield faring assembly.  
      All of the above proposed solutions involve adding bulky accessories to an already crowded handlebar area.  
      One way to provide an audio system for a motorcycle that does not encumber the handlebar area is to provide an audio system that may be carried in a saddlebag of a motorcycle. This potential solution, while eliminating the problems associated with mounting a radio on a handlebar, is subject to the disadvantage of being difficult to operate. If an audio system is placed in the saddlebag of a motorcycle, it is nearly impossible while driving to change radio channels, adjust volume, or change tracks of a stored music player such as a tape player, CD player or digital music player. The saddlebags are not normally secure, so an audio system contained in a saddlebag could be stolen.  
      These and other disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art are addressed by Applicant&#39;s invention, as summarized below.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to one aspect of the present invention, an audio system is provided for an open vehicle such as a motorcycle, an ATV, or the like that is steered with a handlebar. A housing containing a plurality of component parts of the audio system is secured to the motorcycle at a location that is remote relative to the handlebar. A face plate receptacle has clamps or other brackets that are used to secure the receptacle to the handlebar. A wiring harness connects the faceplate receptacle to the components of the audio system contained in the housing. A face plate having a plurality of control switches that control the operation of the audio system of the audio system is attached to the face plate receptacle.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, an audio system for a motorcycle is provided. The motorcycle comprises a frame supporting a motor and a rear drive wheel, a seat, and a storage compartment such as a saddlebag. The motorcycle also includes a front assembly comprising a front wheel and handlebars connected by a front fork. An audio system is installed on the motorcycle that has a detachable face plate. The audio system has a face plate sub-assembly, a housing for a plurality of electrical components of the audio system, a face plate housing that receives the face plate sub-assembly, and a wiring harness electrically connecting the face plate sub-assembly to the plurality of electrical components. The face plate subassembly, and the face plate housing that receives the face plate assembly are secured to the front assembly of the motorcycle. The housing for the plurality of electrical components of the audio system is secured to the frame of the motorcycle.  
      According to other aspects of the invention, the face plate may be a detachable face plate of the type that may have been adapted to be secured to an audio system for a vehicle instrument panel, but is instead attached to the face plate receptacle. One of the control switches of the face plate may be the tuner control. Another of the control switches of the face plate may be the stored music player controls. Other control switches on the face plate may be a volume control, a power control, a plurality of preset channel selection control switches, a balance control, and a tone control.  
      According to other aspects of the invention that relate to the speakers of the audio system, at least one audio speaker may be electrically connected to the audio system to provide the audio output of the audio system. The speakers may be secured to the handlebar of the motorcycle.  
      According to other aspects of the invention as it relates to the connection of the face plate to the face plate housing, the face plate receptacle may have a multi-pin connector receptacle that is connected to the wiring harness, and wherein the faceplate has a multi-pin plug that corresponds to the multi-pin connector receptacle. The multi-pin connector receptacle may be a remounted multi-pin connector receptacle that was originally mounted on the audio system housing. The face plate is detachable from the face plate receptacle to discourage theft of the audio system from the motorcycle.  
      These and other aspects of the invention will be better understood in view of the attached drawings and the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a fragmentary and partially diagrammatic perspective view of a motorcycle and an audio system;  
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary and partially diagrammatic perspective view of a motorcycle and audio system as shown in  FIG. 1  with the face plate subassembly removed;  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic plan view of an audio system for motorcycle; and  
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary partially diagrammatic elevation view of an audio system for a motorcycle. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a motorcycle generally indicated by reference numeral  10  is fragmentarily illustrated in conjunction with an audio system generally indicated by reference numeral  12 . The handlebar  16  of motorcycle  10  is adapted to receive a faceplate receptacle  18 , or faceplate housing. A faceplate subassembly  20  comprising a detachable faceplate is shown in  FIG. 1  as it is assembled to the faceplate receptacle  18 . In  FIG. 2 , the faceplate subassembly is shown detached from the faceplate housing  18 . The faceplate receptacle  18  is secured to handlebar  16  by means of brackets  22 , or clamps that may be tightened to securely anchor the faceplate receptacle  18  to the handlebar  16 .  
      An audio system electrical component housing  24  is shown diagrammatically in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and is identified by the block identified as “RADIO.” While the block is labeled RADIO, it should be understood that it refers to electrical components, other than the controls and display panel, such as a tape player, CD player, MP3 player, or the like that are contained in a housing.  
      A plurality of speakers  26  are shown diagrammatically in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The speakers  26  are preferably also mounted on the handlebar  16  or any other location that would provide an audio output to the motorcycle rider. Alternatively, speakers or earphones could be mounted to the motorcycle rider&#39;s helmet. The speakers or earphones could be connected by either wires or a radio frequency link.  
      A front faring  28  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in diagrammatic form. The front faring  28  may take many forms including a full windshield, partial windshield or a molded windbreak panel. A gas tank  36  is also shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  to provide a partial representation of the body of the motorcycle  10 . The other parts of the motorcycle that are not shown are of conventional design.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a multi-pin receptacle  32  is provided on the faceplate receptacle  18  inside a cavity  34  defined by the faceplate receptacle  18 . The faceplate  20  is preferably of conventional design and may include either an analog or a digital radio control. In the illustrated embodiment, an analog tuner is shown wherein an on/off and volume knob  36  is provided on the left side of the faceplate  20 . An analog tuning knob  38  is provided on the right side that may also include tone and balance adjustments as is well known in the art. A plurality of preset channel selection control switches  14  are shown on the faceplate  20 . A display screen  42  is provided on the faceplate  20  and may be either an analog or a digital display.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the audio system  12  is illustrated schematically in greater detail. The faceplate housing  18  is shown secured to the handlebar  16  by means of brackets  22 . The detachable faceplate  20  is shown installed in the faceplate housing  18  in  FIG. 3  and is fragmentarily shown in  FIG. 4 .  
      In  FIG. 3 , the faceplate  20  is shown connected by a multi-pin plug  46  that is connected through the multi-pin receptacle  32  to the wiring harness  48 . The wiring harness  48  is connected to the audio system electrical component housing  24  that may be stored in a saddlebag  50 .  
      Speaker jacks are shown in  FIG. 3  that enable the speaker  26  to be connected to the faceplate receptacle  18  to receive the audio output from the audio system  12 . Speaker wires  54  are shown connecting the speaker jacks  52  to the speakers  26 .  
      The audio system  12  of the present invention is operated by mounting the faceplate receptacle  18  on a handlebar  16  of a motorcycle  10 . The detachable faceplate may be the faceplate from a radio having a detachable faceplate. If so, the audio system electrical component housing  24  may be from the same radio as the detachable faceplate  20 . A wiring harness  48  connects the detachable faceplate  20  through the faceplate receptacle  18  to the audio system electrical component housing  24 . The audio system electrical component housing  24  may be stored in a saddlebag  50  that is in turn attached to the motorcycle  10  adjacent the rear wheel (not shown). Speakers  26  may be mounted on either the handlebar or in the helmet of a motorcycle rider. The speakers  26  may be connected to the faceplate receptacle  18  by means of speaker wires  54 . The motorcycle rider can easily control the audio system by, for example, adjusting on/off volume knob  28 , tuning knob or tone/balance adjustment knob  39  and preset channel selection control switches  40 . The rider may also adjust these or other knobs to control a CD player, tape player, or digital music player. CDs, tapes and digital music media would be loaded into the audio system electrical component housing  24  that is stored in the saddlebag and remotely operated by means of the faceplate  20 .  
      While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.