Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a locking assembly for a saddle-type vehicle such as an all terrain vehicle (hereinafter sometimes referred to as an “ATV”). The locking assembly integrates an engine stop actuator and a security system device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    ATVs typically include an engine stop switch which is attached to a left handlebar. The engine stop switch is typically configured such that an operator may use his or her left thumb to actuate the switch without removing his or her left hand from the handlebar. ATVs also typically include a security device, such as a keyed ignition switch, to prevent unauthorized use of the ATV. These two devices are typically provided in separate locations upon a conventional ATV, and can accordingly require excessive assembly time, complexity, space, weight, and/or cost. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In one embodiment of the present invention, an all terrain vehicle comprises a frame, an engine supported with respect to the frame, a handlebar, and a locking assembly supported with respect to the handlebar. The locking assembly has a locked condition and an unlocked condition. The locking assembly comprises a removable portion and a receptacle configured to engage the removable portion. Also, the locking assembly is configured to unlock and allow powering of the all terrain vehicle when the removable portion is engaged in the receptacle, and to lock and prevent powering of the all terrain vehicle when the removable portion is not engaged in the receptacle. The removable portion includes an actuator configured to select from a first operable engine condition and a second inoperable engine condition when the removable portion is engaged in the receptacle. 
         [0004]    In additional embodiments of the present invention, a saddle-type vehicle comprises a frame, an engine supported with respect to the frame, a steering assembly, and a locking assembly supported with respect to the steering assembly. The locking assembly has a locked condition and an unlocked condition. The locking assembly comprises a removable portion and a receptacle configured to engage the removable portion. The locking assembly is configured to unlock and allow powering of the saddle-type vehicle when the removable portion is engaged in the receptacle, and to lock and prevent powering of the saddle-type vehicle when the removable portion is not engaged in the receptacle. The removable portion includes an actuator configured to select from a first operable engine condition and a second inoperable engine condition when the removable portion is engaged in the receptacle. 
         [0005]    In still further embodiments of the present invention, a locking assembly for an engine-powered vehicle has a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration and comprises a removable portion and a receptacle configured to engage the removable portion. The locking assembly is configured to unlock and allow powering of the vehicle when the removable portion is engaged in the receptacle and to lock and prevent powering of the vehicle when the removable portion is not engaged in the receptacle. The removable portion includes an actuator configured to select from a first operable engine condition and a second inoperable engine condition. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the present invention, it is believed that the same will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with tie accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of an ATV in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view depicting an enlargement of a portion of the ATV of  FIG. 1  including a locking assembly, wherein the locking assembly is shown to have a removable portion and a receptacle, and the removable portion is not engaged in the receptacle; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view depicting the portion of the ATV of  FIG. 2  wherein the removable portion is engaged in the receptacle and the actuator is in a central position; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view depicting the portion of the ATV of  FIG. 2  wherein the removable portion is engaged in the receptacle and the actuator is in an upper outer position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view depicting the portion of the ATV of  FIG. 2  wherein the removable portion is engaged in the receptacle and the actuator is in a lower outer position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a top cross-sectional view depicting an enlargement of the locking assembly of  FIG. 2 , wherein the removable portion is not engaged in the receptacle; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a top cross-sectional view depicting the locking assembly of  FIG. 6 , wherein the removable portion is engaged in the receptacle; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a side cross-sectional view depicting an enlargement of the locking assembly of  FIG. 2 , wherein the removable portion is not engaged in the receptacle; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a side cross-sectional view depicting the locking assembly of  FIG. 8 , wherein the removable portion is engaged in the receptacle and the actuator is in an upper outer position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a side cross-sectional view depicting the locking assembly of  FIG. 8 , wherein the removable portion is engaged in the receptacle and the actuator is in a central position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a side cross-sectional view depicting the locking assembly of  FIG. 8 , wherein the removable portion is engaged in the receptacle and the actuator is in a lower outer position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a top cross-sectional view depicting a locking assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the locking assembly is shown to have a removable portion and a receptacle, and wherein the removable portion is not engaged in the receptacle; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a top cross-sectional view depicting the locking assembly of  FIG. 12 , wherein the removable portion is engaged in the receptacle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    The present invention and its operation are hereinafter described in detail in connection with the views and examples of  FIGS. 1-13 , wherein like numbers indicate the same or corresponding elements throughout the views. These embodiments are shown and described only for purposes of illustrating examples of the elements of the invention, and should not be considered as limiting on alternative structures or assemblies that will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0021]    A saddle-type vehicle in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention can include, for example, any of a variety of vehicles configured for recreational and/or utility purposes and that comprise a handlebar to facilitate steering of the vehicle by an operator. Saddle-type vehicles can include motorcycles, mopeds, scooters, ATVs, and personal watercraft, for example. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a saddle-type vehicle is shown to comprise an ATV  10 . Though the ATV  10  is shown to comprise four wheels, it will be appreciated that an ATV in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention may include fewer or greater than four wheels. One or more of the ATV&#39;s wheels can be configured as drive wheels, whereby their rotation is caused by a drive system present upon the ATV, and their contact with the ground while rotating causes movement of the ATV. 
         [0022]    The ATV  10  is shown in  FIG. 1  to include a handlebar  16  to facilitate steering of the ATV  10  by an operator of the ATV  10 . The handlebar  16  can be provided with a left handgrip  18  and a right handgrip  20 . An operator of the ATV  10  can, during operation of the ATV  10 , selectively place his or her left hand on the left handgrip  18  and/or his or her right hand on the right handgrip  20 . 
         [0023]    An ATV in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention will include an engine, as is generally depicted at location  14  in  FIG. 1 . Although the engine may include an internal combustion engine to facilitate rotation of the ATV&#39;s drive wheels, the engine may additionally or alternatively include an electric motor to facilitate this rotation. In such circumstances where an internal combustion engine is provided, the internal combustion engine can be configured to consume gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, natural gas, propane, alcohol, and/or any of a variety of other fuels. 
         [0024]    A locking assembly can be provided upon a saddle-type vehicle in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, the locking assembly can be supported with respect to a handlebar of a saddle-type vehicle. The locking assembly may be supported with respect to the handlebar by direct or indirect attachment to the handlebar. Additionally, the locking assembly can be attached to the handlebar at a location such that the locking assembly may be operable through use of an operator&#39;s right or left hand, and without, requiring removal of the operator&#39;s right or left hand from the handlebar. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the locking assembly  30  can be attached to the handlebar  16  at a location adjacent to the left handgrip  18 . In another embodiment of the present invention, a locking assembly can be attached to a handlebar  16  at a location adjacent to a right handgrip. 
         [0025]    The locking assembly  30  is shown in  FIGS. 2-11  as including a removable portion  32  and a receptacle  40 . The receptacle  40  is shown to be configured for selectively receiving the removable portion  32 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle can be provided within a housing which also includes one or more control devices such as, for example, engine controls, gear shifting controls, drive wheel selection controls, horn controls, radio controls, and/or lamp controls such as for running lights, utility lights, headlights, and/or turn signals. 
         [0026]    As will be described in further detail below, it will be appreciated that, when the removable portion  32  is removed from the receptacle  40 , and is thus disengaged from the receptacle  40 , operation of the ATV  10  can be prohibited. However, when the removable portion  32  is inserted into the receptacle  40 , and is thus engaged with the receptacle  40 , powering and operation of the ATV  10  can be enabled. In this manner, the removable portion  32  can serve the role of a conventional key to facilitate selective powering of the ATV  10 . When the removable portion  32  is engaged in the receptacle  40 , at least part of the removable portion  32  may be repositioned by an operator from a first position (e.g., an “oil” position, shown in  FIG. 3 ) to a second position (e.g., an “off” position, shown in both  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) to selectively discontinue engine operation as desired. In this manner, repositioning the removable portion  32  within the receptacle  40  can provide an engine stop or kill function as desired. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , for example, the removable portion  32  can comprise an actuator  31  which, in this embodiment, includes a handle  33  and two surfaces  34  and  35 . The receptacle  40  may comprise two pushbutton assemblies  60  and  64  which each respectively include plunger portions  62  and  66 . The actuator  31  may be moved from the central position to the upper or lower positions by gripping the handle  33  and then physically moving (e.g., by sliding) the removable portion  32  so that one of the surfaces  34  and  35  pushes against one of the plunger portions  62  and  66 . Depression of one of the plunger portions  62  and  66  resulting from contact by one of the surfaces  34  or  35  can facilitate discontinued or prevention of engine operation. One skilled in the art will recognize that other actuator configurations are possible, including, for example, actuators that do not involve movement of the entire removable portion with respect to the receptacle, or actuators that interact with the receptacle through use of a mechanism other than a pushbutton. Such mechanisms can involve, for example, an, inductive proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, an RF transponder, an optical sensor, or otherwise. Although  FIGS. 4-5 ,  9  and  11  illustrate the actuator  31 , once the removable portion  32  is engaged with the receptacle  40 , as being slidable within the receptacle  32  (like a slide-type switch), it will be appreciated that an actuator may alternatively interact with an engaged receptacle such as in a pushbutton, rocker, rotational, toggle, or other arrangement. Also, although  FIGS. 3-5  and  9 - 11  illustrate the actuator  31  as having three selectable positions (i.e., central, upper outer, and lower outer) once engaged with the receptacle  40 , it will be appreciated that an actuator may alternatively have two positions or more than three positions as desired, wherein at least one position is configured to allow engine operation and at least one position is configured to prevent or discontinue engine operation. 
         [0028]    When engaged with the receptacle  40 , the removable portion  32  can be selectively held within the receptacle  40  in any of a variety of alternative configurations. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 6-7 , the removable portion  32  can be removably held in an engaged position within the receptacle  40  through use of grooves  36  and  38  in the removable portion  32  receiving detents  42  and  44  of the receptacle  40 . While the detents  42  and  44  can be configured to selectively interact with the removable portion  32  for holding the removable portion  32  within the receptacle  40  during normal use of the ATV  10 , it will be appreciated that an operator of the ATV  10  can apply sufficient force as desired to pull or otherwise remove the removable portion  32  from the receptacle  40 . In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 6-7 , the detents  42  and  44  can be spring-biased. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are many alternative configurations in which a removable portion may be selectively held in an engaged position with respect to a receptacle including, for example, spring-and-hook systems, push-and-rotate systems, expandable flange systems, or combinations thereof. 
         [0029]    It will be appreciated that a locking mechanism can be operable to secure a saddle-type vehicle from unauthorized use. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , the removable portion  32  can be disengaged from the receptacle  40 , thereby locking the locking assembly  30  and preventing powering of the ATV  10 . FIGS.  7  and  9 - 11  depict the removable portion  32  being engaged in the receptacle  40 , thereby allowing powering of the ATV  10 . More specifically, the removable portion  32  can be engaged with the receptacle  40  if two conditions are met: (1) the removable portion  32  is placed in the receptacle  40 , and (2) a sensor (e.g.,  50 ) identifies the removable portion  32  as having an engaging configuration. An engaging configuration allows the locking assembly  30  to be unlocked when the removable portion  32  is placed in the receptacle  40 . Conversely, a non-engaging configuration does not allow the locking assembly  30  to be unlocked when the removable portion  32  is placed in the receptacle  40 . 
         [0030]    In one embodiment of the present invention, a locking assembly can be configured such that the ratio of engaging configurations to non-engaging configurations can be at least about  300 . In such a configuration, a removable portion and the receptacle can have only one engaging configuration for at least about  300  non-engaging configurations. As such, a given, removable portion may only be adapted to facilitate operation of no more than about 1 of 300 vehicles, thereby making it unlikely that a removable portion can be used to start a random vehicle, and accordingly providing a security function. In another embodiment of the present invention, the ratio can be at least about 720, thereby making it even more unlikely that a removable portion can be used to start a random vehicle, and accordingly providing an even more advanced security function. 
         [0031]    As one mechanism for identification of the removable portion  32 ,  FIGS. 6-11  illustrate the use of an embedded identifiable component  48  provided within the removable portion  32 . The sensor  50  can be provided within the receptacle  40  for sensing the embedded identifiable component  48 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the embedded identifiable component  48  can comprise a passive or active radio frequency identification tag or transponder (RFID). The sensor  50  can be capable of identifying the RFID and thus detecting when the removable portion  32  is engaged with the receptacle  40 . 
         [0032]    In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 12-13 , the removable portion  32  can include one or more protrusions  46  which are configured to contact and selectively actuate switches (e.g.,  54 ) provided by the sensor  52  of the receptacle  40 . The pattern of actuated and unactuated switches (e.g.,  54 ) can be used by the sensor  52  to determine if the removable portion  32  corresponds with a particular vehicle, and is thus suitable to enable operation of the vehicle. In some embodiments of the present invention, the removable portion, when engaged with a receptacle, completes an electrical circuit that is configured to unlock the locking assembly and facilitate operation of a vehicle. In this manner, by actuating switches, the removable portion can facilitate completion of an electrical circuit when the removable portion is engaged in the receptacle. In other embodiments, the removable portion participates in an optical detection arrangement when the removable portion is engaged in the receptacle in order to unlock the locking assembly. Other mechanisms may additionally or alternatively be employed to identify the removable portion including, for example, transponders, biometric readers, optical scanners, fingerprint scanners, iris scanners, magnetic strip) scanners, bar code scanners, and card scanners. It will be appreciated that the ratio of engaging configurations to non-engaging configurations can be affected by selecting a different one of the above-described mechanisms for a receptacle to identify a removable portion. 
         [0033]    A locking assembly can be connected with an engine control unit (ECU) or other device present upon a vehicle, and can be configured to transmit electrical signals thereto. For example, such electrical signals might include information relating to whether a removable portion (e.g.,  32 ) inserted within a receptacle (e.g.,  40 ) corresponds with the particular vehicle, and thus whether the vehicle may be operated. Such electrical signals might also include information relating to whether the engine present on the vehicle should be allowed to operate. It will be appreciated that communication between a locking assembly and the ECU and/or other vehicle components can occur through electrical wires, fiber optics, or wirelessly, for example. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , a cable  24  including at least one electrical wire can extend from the locking assembly  30 , along the handlebar  16 , and to other components (e.g., an ECU) of the ATV  10 . One or more straps (e.g.  26 ) can be provided to secure the cable  24  with respect to the handlebar  16 . 
         [0034]    Significant benefits can be achieved by integrating an engine-stop actuator and a security mechanism into a single control device. For example, any cables extending from the actuator can be bundled with any cables leading from the security mechanism:, and can, for example, even be disposed within a common outer wire sheath or insulation as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2-13 . Also, integrating the engine-stop actuator and the security mechanism into a single device can achieve improved appearance, conserve space and weight, reduce cost, reduce the number of components, and/or decrease the manufacturing tine of the vehicle. 
         [0035]    The foregoing description of embodiments and examples of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the forms described. Numerous modifications are possible in light of the above teachings. Some of those modifications have been discussed and others will be understood by those skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the invention and various embodiments as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The scope of the invention is, of course, not limited to the examples or embodiments set forth herein, but can be employed in any number of applications and equivalent devices by those of ordinary skill in the art. Rather it is hereby intended that the scope of the invention, be defined by the claims appended hereto.

Technology Category: 7