Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates a meter display for a saddle type vehicle and more particularly to an improved and adjustable meter display for such vehicles.  
           [0002]    There is a very popular type of vehicle that is provided with a seat on which an operator may sit in a saddle type fashion with his feet disposed at a lower level.  
           [0003]    Normally this type of vehicle has two wheels and the front wheel is dirigible by means of a handlebar assembly carried at the upper end of the front wheel suspension system. It is desirable to provide a display in the vicinity of the handlebar mechanism for displaying information such as vehicle speed, engine speed or other conditions to the rider. However, there is a great difference in the size and stature of the persons that ride these type vehicles. When the display is of the liquid crystal type, the angle of incidence to the rider&#39;s eyes is very important. Hence, it is difficult to provide such a display that can be viewed by the multiple types of riders that ride this type of vehicle.  
           [0004]    It is, therefore, a principal object to this invention to provide an improved adjustable display for the instruments of a vehicle of this type.  
           [0005]    However, the display normally receives signals from one or more sensors placed at various positions on the vehicle. These sensors then transmit their signals through one or more wire harnesses to the display unit. It is important that the wire harnesses not be subject to considerable bending or flexure as may result from adjustment of the display. In addition, if the display is adjusted, it may expose parts of the display that will appear unsightly or alternatively could leave gaps in the viewing area that would be objectionable.  
           [0006]    It is, therefore, a still further object to this invention to provide an improved compact and yet neat adjustable display for a vehicle of this type and wherein the display face may be adjusted without opening gaps that would expose components, which should be concealed.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0007]    This invention is adapted to be embodied in a vehicle having a seat upon which a rider is seated with his feet extending forwardly and downwardly. A handlebar assembly is provided at the front of vehicle for steering of the vehicle in its path of movement. A cover is associated with the handlebar and defines an internal recess in which a liquid crystal display is mounted for adjustment about an axis that extends transversely to the longitudinal center line of the vehicle so as to accommodate viewing by a variety of different size riders. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a motor scooter constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken through the handlebar cover of the motorcycle and shows the instrument mounting of the invention and certain of the components that are movable in one position in solid lines and in another position in phantom lines.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the rear and side of the structure shown in FIG. 2 and with the storage compartment cover shown in phantom.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view taken along the same plan as that shown in FIG. 4 but illustrating a different embodiment of the invention for permitting the adjustment.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view looking along the line  6 - 6  of FIG. 5.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]    Referring first to FIG. 1, a motor scooter constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is identified generally by the reference numeral  11 . The motor scooter  11  includes a main body portion, indicated generally by the reference numeral  12 , from which a front wheel  13  and rear wheel  14  are suspended. The front wheel  13  is dirigibly supported by the main body portion  12  in a known manner by means that includes a front fork  15  that is steered by a handlebar assembly  16 .  
         [0015]    The rear wheel  14  underlies a rider&#39;s seat  17  and is journalled by a suspension system, indicated generally by the reference numeral  18  and which includes a rear shock absorber  19 . An engine transmission assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral  21  consists of an internal combustion engine  22  and a transmission  23  that drives the rear wheel  14 . This engine transmission assembly  21  is pivotally mounted on the main body portion  12  by the suspension system  18  in a suitable manner for accommodating the suspension movement of the rear wheel  14 .  
         [0016]    A foot area  24  is formed by the main body portion  12  forwardly of the seat  17  so that a rider seated on the seat may place his feet on the foot area  24 .  
         [0017]    The handlebar assembly  16  is enclosed by a cover comprised of a main cover portion  25  and which is shown in perspective view in FIG. 3 and partially in top plan view in FIG. 4. FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view through this assembly.  
         [0018]    Referring now primarily to these figures (FIGS.  2 - 4 ), it will be seen that the main cover portion  25  has a generally cylindrical shape with rounded end portions. A recessed area, indicated by the reference numeral  26  is formed in the upper central portion of this main cover portion  25  which is formed in part by a recessed or indented upper wall portion  27  that extends generally transversely across a substantial portion of the width of the main cover portion  25  and a second, forward lower wall portion  28  of the main cover  25 .  
         [0019]    The recessed area  26  and specifically the part thereof formed by the upper wall portion  27  receives a display assembly  29  which includes, among other things, a liquid crystal display  30 . This display assembly  29  is carried by a bracket member  31  which has its lower portion affixed to a vertically extending wall part  32  formed where the wall portions  27  and  28  are joined. A threaded fastener  33  holds this support bracket member  31  in position.  
         [0020]    As best seen in FIG. 4, the bracket member  31  has a pair of leg portions  34  that extend rearwardly into the portion of the recessed area  26  formed by the upper wall portion  27 . A pair of female threaded fasteners  35  are imbedded in the case of the display assembly  29 . Apertures in the leg portions  34  pass male threaded fasteners  36  with a rubber frictional washer  37  being interposed between the each of the bracket leg portions  34  and the sides of the case of the display assembly  29 .  
         [0021]    This fastener assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral  38  functions to provide a pivot axis  39  about which the display assembly  29  and specifically the liquid crystal display  30  may be viewed. Thus, the rider may adjust this display to his viewing preference merely by applying pressure on the upper surface of the display assembly  29 .  
         [0022]    It should be noted that the pivot axis  39  overlies an enlarged opening  41  formed in the upper wall portion  27  through which a wire harness  42  may be passed. This wire harness  42  has leads  43  that enter into the display assembly  29  in line with the pivot axis  39  so as to minimize the amount of bending of the leads  43  when the display is adjusted through its range of movement, indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 2.  
         [0023]    A quick disconnect coupling  44  connects the wire harness  42  to one or more sensors, shown schematically at  45 , that are mounted on the vehicle and sense conditions such as vehicle speed, engine speed or the like which are displayed on the liquid crystal display  30 .  
         [0024]    The forward part of the recessed area  26  formed in part by the lower wall portion  28  functions to provide a storage area, indicated generally by the reference numeral  46  in which small articles may be positioned one of which is shown in phantom in FIG. 2 and is identified by the reference numeral  47 . Upstanding walls  48  at opposite ends of the lower wall portion  28  carry pivot pins  49  on which a pivoted closure member  51  is supported.  
         [0025]    In its closed position, as shown in the solid line view of FIG. 2, this closure member  51  covers the rear portion of the cavity in which the display assembly  29  is mounted so as to provide a neat appearance. In its opened position, when pivoted in the direction of the arrow B, the closure member  51  permits ease of access to the contents for insertion or removal.  
         [0026]    Drain holes  52  and  53  are formed at lower portions of the upper wall portion  27  and lower wall  28  of the recessed area  26 . These holes  52  and  53  will allow any accumulated water to drain from these areas.  
         [0027]    In this embodiment, the elastic frictional washers  37  provide anti-rattle mounting for the display assembly  29  while holding it in its adjusted position. FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment wherein a more positive locking is achieved.  
         [0028]    This achieved by forming the case of the display assembly  29  with a plurality of serrations  61  which cooperate with serrations  62  formed on the leg portions  34  of the mounting bracket member  31 . By tightening or loosening the threaded fasteners  36  in its engagement with the embedded nut  35 , it is possible to open the gap between these serrations or teeth as shown in the phantom line view in FIG. 6 and permit adjustment to be made. When the fasteners  36  are again tightened into the nuts  35 , the display assembly  29  will be locked into its adjusted position.  
         [0029]    Thus, from the foregoing description it should be readily apparent that the described construction permits a very neat appearing display as well as one that can be easily adjusted to permit convenient viewing by a wide variety of riders. In addition, the electrical wiring is connected to the display in such a way that it will undergo minimum flexure during adjustment. Of course, the foregoing description is that of a preferred embodiment of the invention and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Category: b