Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to adapters, and more specifically to a fixation adapter for a handlebar. 
         [0002]    In general, control units contained within a metal or plastic housing are often mounted and clamped to bars using a screwed metal bracket and used for a number of different applications, such as motorcycle controls on a handlebar, snowmobile controls on a handle bar, tricycle controls on a handlebar, agricultural equipment controls on a handlebar, and so forth. For example, a control units within a housing mounted on a motorcycle handlebar may contain controls to enable an occupant of a motorcycle to turn on or off a headlight, turn signals, and/or perform related operations with his or her hands left on the handlebar. 
         [0003]    One disadvantage of this type of mounting onto a handlebar is that space is needed for the clamp and securing screws. In addition, sensitive internal components within the housing may be subject to deformation that is dependent upon the tension caused by clap screwing (e.g., over tightening with a screw driver), which may effect a haptic of buttons and/or rockers, for example, contained on the housing. 
         [0004]    What is needed is a simple fixation adapter that optimizes internal space and realizes a quick solid mounting without the need of tools. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The following presents a simplified summary of the innovation in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
         [0006]    The present invention provides methods and apparatus for a fixation adapter for a handlebar. 
         [0007]    In an aspect, the invention features an apparatus including a fixation adapter mounted on a handlebar, the fixation adapter including a body having a pin on a bottom surface to secure the body to the handlebar and a latch on a top surface to fixedly lock to a control unit housing, and the control unit housing slidably mounted to the fixation adapter, the control unit housing including a mounting area for mating to the latch of fixation adapter. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, the invention features a method including securing a fixation adapter to a handlebar, the fixation adapter including a body having a pin on a bottom surface to secure the body to the handlebar and a latch on a top surface to fixedly lock to a control unit housing, securing two half shells of the control unit housing around the handlebar, and sliding the control unit housing along the handlebar to mate with the fixation adapter, the control unit housing including a mounting area for mating to the latch of fixation adapter. 
         [0009]    Embodiments of the invention may have one or more of the following advantages. 
         [0010]    Use of a fixation adapter in conjunction with a control unit housing optimizes useable space within the control unit housing and enables a quick solid mounting of the control unit housing on to the handlebar without tools. 
         [0011]    Optimizing useable space within the control unit housing enables the positioning of extra switch functions or conductor board without increasing an overall size of the control unit housing. 
         [0012]    Use of a fixation adapter in conjunction with a control unit housing enables assembly and assembly of the control unit housing and its components before customer delivery. 
         [0013]    These and other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory only and are not restrictive of aspects as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the detailed description, in conjunction with the following figures, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1A  is an illustration of a top portion of an exemplary fixation adapter. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1B  is an illustration of a bottom portion of the exemplary fixation adapter of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of two shell parts of an assembled control unit housing. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3A  is an illustration of an assembled control unit housing and fixation adapter mounted on a handlebar. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3B  is an illustration of a front prospective of one of the two shell parts of the control unit housing of  FIG. 3A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    The subject innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It may be evident, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the present invention. 
         [0021]    In the description below, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A, X employs B, or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in the subject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 1A , an exemplary fixation adapter  10  includes a top portion  20 . The top portion  20  is shaped in a contour fashion to match a diameter of a round handlebar (not shown) and includes a pin  30 . The pin  30  is a small projection in the top portion  20 . The pin  30  fits into a corresponding hole in the round handlebar (not shown), which is used to secure the fixation adapter  10  to the handlebar. In embodiments, the fixation adapter  10  may be constructed of a metal or a polymeric material, such as plastic. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 1B , the fixation adapter  10  also includes a bottom portion  50 . The bottom portion  50  include a channel  60  containing a latch  70 . The latch  70  is capable of being depressed within the channel  60  and rebound. More specifically, the latch  70  depresses when a control unit housing is slid along the handlebar over the latch  70  and the latch  70  rebounds and locks into place in a corresponding mounting area of the control unit housing, more fully described below. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , an exemplary assembled control unit housing  100  includes two shell parts  110 ,  120 . The two shell parts  110 ,  120  are secured together with, for example, one or more screws, and placed around a handlebar. Once screwed together, a vibration damper  130  rests against the handlebar. In an embodiment, the vibration damper  130  is constructed from rubber. In an embodiment, the two shell parts  110 ,  120  include one or more switches  140 ,  150 ,  160 . The one or more switches  140 ,  150 ,  160  may be used for operation of various electric parts, such as, for example, a headlight, a horn and/or a turn signal. 
         [0025]    In embodiments, contained within the assembled control unit housing  100  may be an inner carrier housing a printed circuit board (PCB) for connection to the one or more switches  140 ,  150 ,  160 . 
         [0026]    The control unit housing  100  also includes a mounting area  170 . The mounting area  170  has a geometry that matches a geometry of the bottom portion  50  of the fixation adapter  10  such they may be joined together, more fully described below. 
         [0027]    In embodiments, the control unit housing  100  and/or one or more switches  140 ,  150 ,  160  are constructed from metal or polymeric material, such as plastic. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 3A , a shell part  200  and a shell part  210  are secured together to form an assembled control housing  230 . A bottom portion  240  of a fixation adapter  250  is secured to the handlebar  220 . The assembled control housing  230  is slid or moved along a handlebar  220  until positioned over the fixation adapter  250 , which locks the assembled control housing  230  onto the handlebar  220  and prevents it from rotated around the handlebar  220  or moving along the handlebar. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 3B , a cross section of the assembled control housing  230  illustrates its attachment to fixation adapter  250 . More particularly, a pin  300  of the fixation adapter  250  fits into a corresponding hole  310  in the handlebar  220 . When the control unit housing  230  is moved over the fixation adapter  250 , a latch  340  on the fixation adapter  250  depresses and then rebounds when it mates with a mounting area  330  of the control unit housing  230 , locking the control unit housing  230  to the fixation adapter  250 . 
         [0030]    In summary, the fixation adapter  250  realizes a non-positive connection between the control unit housing  230  and the handlebar  220 . The fixation adapter  250  is positioned inside the control unit housing  230  by its outer shape and is locked by the latch  340 . A connection between the handlebar  220  and the fixation adapter  250  is implemented by the pin  300 . 
         [0031]    In an embodiment, the control unit housing  230  my be removed from the handlebar  220  by releasing the latch  340  from the mounting area  330  by placing using a tool (not shown) into the channel  60  (in  FIG. 1B ). 
         [0032]    Some embodiments may be described using the expression “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” along with their derivatives. These terms mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0033]    While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims. Such variations are intended to be covered by the scope of this present application. As such, the foregoing description of embodiments of the present application is not intended to be limiting. Rather, any limitations to the invention are presented in the following claims.

Technology Category: 7