U.S. patent number 3,878,348 [Application Number 05/421,223] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-15 for motorcycle ignition grounding switch.
Invention is credited to Ronald L. German.
United States Patent |
3,878,348 |
German |
April 15, 1975 |
Motorcycle ignition grounding switch
Abstract
A panel member constructed of insulative material is provided
and includes a recess formed therein opening outwardly through one
edge surface of the panel member between opposite side surfaces
thereof. A resilient conductive member is disposed in and projects
outwardly of the recess and is normally positioned with its outer
exposed end spaced above a surface upon which the panel member is
disposed. However, the outer end of the conductive member may be
downwardly depressed into electrical contact with any conductive
surface upon which the panel member rests and the edge surface of
the panel member from which the conductive member projects includes
an integral flat portion overlying the outer exposed end of the
conductive member and including a depending abutment portion of a
vertical extent no greater than the thickness of the outer end of
the conductive member and against which the outer end of the
conductive member is abutted, the abutment member thereby serving
to retain the conductive within the recess.
Inventors: |
German; Ronald L. (La Palma,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
23669670 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/421,223 |
Filed: |
December 3, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
200/530;
200/295 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H
9/08 (20130101); H01H 2300/026 (20130101); H01H
2009/068 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01H
9/08 (20060101); H01H 9/00 (20060101); H01h
009/08 (); H01h 013/52 () |
Field of
Search: |
;200/6C,6R,61.42,61.43,61.44,61.54,61.6,61.76,61.79,61.83,61.87,157,159R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Schaefer; Robert K.
Assistant Examiner: Redman; John W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: O'Brien; Clarence A. Jacobson;
Harvey B.
Claims
What is claimed as new is as follows:
1. A grounding switch comprising a panel member for overlying the
outer surface of a conductive member, said panel member including
opposite side surfaces joined by means of an edge surface of said
panel member, said panel member being constructed of insulative
material and including a recess formed therein opening outwardly
through said edge surface between said opposite side surfaces, a
resilient conduction member disposed in and projecting outwardly of
said recess, said conductive member being adapted to be
electrically connected to an electrical circuit and the portion of
said conductive member projecting outwardly of said recess being
deflectable through a plane containing one of said side surfaces,
said panel member comprising an elongated strap member constructed
of elastomeric material, said edge surface comprising one
longitudinal edge of said strap member, the opposite end portions
of said strap member including anchor means releasably engageable
with each other.
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said panel member includes an
integral flap portion thereof projecting outwardly of said edge
surface and overlying said outwardly projecting portion of said
conductive member on the side thereof remote from said plane.
3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said recess comprises a blind
recess, said conductive member being seated in said recess.
4. A grounding switch comprising a panel member for overlying the
outer surface of a conductive member, said panel member including
opposite side surfaces joined by means of an edge surface of said
panel member, said panel member being constructured of insulative
material and including a recess formed therein opening outwardly
through said edge surface between said opposite side surfaces, a
resilient conductive member disposed in and projecting outwardly of
said recess, said conductive member being adapted to be
electrically connected to an electrical circuit and the portion of
said conductive member projecting outwardly of said recess being
deflectable through a plane containing one of said side surfaces,
said recess comprising a blind recess, said conductive member being
seated in said recess, said panel member being constructed of
elastomeric material and including an integral flap portion thereof
projecting outwardly of said edge surface and overlying said
outwardly projecting portion of said conductive member on the side
thereof remote from said plane, said flap portion including an
outer end abutment portion against which the outer extremity of
said conductive member is abutted to retain said conductive member
seated in said recess, said panel member comprising an elongated
strap member, said edge surface comprising one longitudinal edge of
said strap member, the opposite end portions of said strap member
including anchor means releasably engageeble with each other.
5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said anchor means comprise an
opening formed through one end portion of said strap member and a
T-shaped extension formed on the other end portion of said strap
member.
6. The combination of claim 3 wherein said panel member has a small
diameter passage formed therein opening into the inner end of said
recess at one end and outwardly of the strap member at the other
end, and an insulated conductor extending through said passage and
electrically connected to said conductive member at one end, the
other end of said conductive member being adapted to be
electrically connected to a vehicle ignition circuit.
7. A grounding switch comprising a panel member for overlying the
outer surface of a conductive member, said panel member including
opposite sides jointed by means of an edge surface of said panel
member, said panel member being constructed of insulative material
and including a blind recess formed therein opening outwardly
through said edge surface between said opposite side surfaces, a
resilient conductive member seated in and projecting outwardly of
said recess, the portion of said conductive member projecting
outwardly of said recess being deflectable through a plane
containing one of said side surfaces, said panel member including
an integral flap portion thereof projecting outwardly of said edge
surface and overlying said outwardly projecting portion of said
conductive member on the side thereof remote from said plane, said
flap portion including an outer end abutment portion overlying and
against which the outer extremity of said conductive member is
abutted to retain said conductive member seated in said recess,
said panel member having a small diameter passage formed therein
opening into the inner end of said recess at one end and outwardly
of said strap member at the other end at a point remote from said
recess, and an insulated conductor extending through said passage
and electrically connected to said conductive member at the end of
said conductive member projecting into said recess, the other end
portion of said conductive member being adapted to be electrically
connected through an electric circuit of which said conductive
member comprises a part.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Motorcycles and motor bikes are in some instances provided with
ignition grounding circuits controlled by handle bar mounted push
button switches. The push button switches presently in use
generally include a switch body relative to which a spring-biased
push button is slidably supported. In addition, push button
switches presently in use must either be semi-permanently attached
to the associated handle bars by means of fasteners or clamps which
inherently disfigure the handle bars and constitute protrusions on
the handle bars which may cause injury to the user of the
motorcycle in the event of an accident. Still further, conventional
push button "kill" switches are subject to being clogged by mud and
grit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The ignition grounding switch of this invention has been designed
in a manner enabling it to be readily removably mounted on an
associated handle bar without marring the handle bar in any manner.
In addition, all of the ignition grounding switch, except for the
grounding contact thereof, is constructed of elastomeric material
which greatly reduces the chances of injury in the event of an
accident and the switch of the instant invention is not readily
subject to malfunction due to grit or mud.
The grounding switch includes a band-type body of elastomeric
material having an opening formed through one end and an integral
T-shaped extension on the other end which may be releasably secured
through the opening formed in the remote end in order to secure the
ends of the band-type body about an associated handle bar assembly.
One side edge portion of the band includes an outwardly opening
recess in which a conductive member is seated and the conductive
member projects outwardly of the recess and its outer end may be
deflected from a normal position spaced slightly above the
associated handle bar downwardly into electrical contact with the
associated handle bar.
It is accordingly the main object of this invention to provide an
extremely inexpensive grounding switch for the handle bar of a
motorcycle or motor bike.
Another object of this invention is to provide a grounding switch
which may be readily attached to an associated handle bar without
marring the handle bar in any manner.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a grounding
switch which may be removably secured to the associated handle bar
without the use of tools.
Another important object of this invention is to provide an
ignition grounding switch for use on a motorcycle handle bar and
constructed in a manner whereby the switch may be maintained in
adjusted position on the handle bar and yet may be readily shifted
in position along the handle bar without the use of tools.
A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated
herein is to provide an ignition grounding switch for the handle
bar of a motorcycle which will conform to conventional forms of
manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to
provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting
and relatively trouble-free in operation.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and
operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part
hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end portion of a
motorcycle handle bar with the ignition grounding switch of the
instant invention mounted on the handle bar;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken
substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2--2 of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the plane
indicated by the section line 3--3 of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ignition circuit grounding
switch of the instant invention prior to its being applied to an
associated handle bar and electrically connected to an associated
ignition circuit.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10
generally designates a motorcycle handle bar including an end
portion 12 having a handgrip 14 thereon.
The ignition grounding switch of the instant invention is referred
to in general by the reference numeral 14 and is mounted on the
handle bar end 12 in a manner which will become apparent from the
following description and FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.
The switch 14 includes a panel member 16 constructed of insulative
elastomeric material. The panel member 16 is in the form of an
elongated strap member and the opposite ends of the strap member 16
include coacting anchor means operable to releasably secure the
ends of the strap member together. The anchor means include an
aperture 18 formed in one end of the strap member and an integal
T-shaped extension 20 carried by the other end of the strap
member.
The panel member 16 includes inner and outer side surfaces 22 and
24 joined by opposite side edges 26 and 28. The panel member 16
includes a blind recess 27 formed therein which opens outwardly of
the side edge 26 and a flat and substantially straight and
resilient strap-type conductive member 30 has one end 32 thereof
seated in the recess 27 while the other end of the conductive
member 30 projects outwardly of the side edge 26 of the panel or
strap member 16.
From FIG. 2 of the drawings it may be seen that the outwardly
projecting end 34 of the conductive member 30 is normally spaced
above the underlying portion of the handle bar end 12. However, it
is to be noted that the conductive member 30 is constructed of
stiff but resilient material and therefore that the outer end 34
may bes downwardly deflected into electrical contact with the
handle bar end 12. Further, from FIG. 2 of the drawings it may be
seen that the panel member 16 includes an integral flap 38 which
projects outwardly of the side edge 26 and overlies the outwardly
projecting end 34 of the conductive member 30. Further, the flap 38
includes a depending abutment 40 against which the outer end 34 of
the conductive member 30 is abutted. In this manner, the abutment
40 tends to retain the conductive member 30, which can be
lengthwise removed from the recess 27 when the outer portion of the
flap 38 is upwardly deflected, in seated position within the recess
27.
Still further, the side edge portion of the panel member 16 remote
from the side portion thereof from which the conductive member 30
projects has a small diameter passage 42 formed therein. One end of
the passage 42 opens outwardly through the side edge 28 of the
panel member 16 and the inner end of the passage 42 opens into the
center portion of the inner end of the recess 27. An insulated
conductor wire 44 has one end thereof electrically connected to the
inner end of the conductive member 30 as at 46 and the other end of
the wire 44 may be electrically connected to any suitable portion
of the ignition circuit of the associated motorcycle in order that
the ignition circuit may be grounded whenever the flap 38 is
depressed so as to depress the extended end 34 of the conductive
member 30 into electrical contact with the handle bar end 12, it
being understood that the handle bar end 12 constitutes a ground
for the ignition circuit.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the invention. Further, since numerous modfications and changes
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the
invention.
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