Audio system for a scooter type motorcycle

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an ''Audio system for a scooter type motorcycle" and more particularly to an audio system positioning and location for a scooter type motorcycle. The current invention relates to a positioning and location for an audio system which includes speakers, memory device and control unit along with an input device mounted on a vehicle, especially on a scooter type motorcycle.

Background of the invention:

In recent years, automotive vehicles are equipped with various electronic gadgets for user's convenience and entertainment purpose like FM receiver. Cassette player. Compact Disc (CD) player on the vehicle. These parts were mounted on the user's convenience place based on the individual choices, as it is used to be an accessory.

In two wheelers especially, it is difficult to place the music player itself or have specialized mounting devices. Further the operation of device becomes difficult during driving. In addition, it is desirable to obtain high quality of characteristics of the sound and reliability of entire system with motorcycle.

Conventionally, it is well known to provide a motorcycle with an audio system, in which there is, an amplifier and FM receiver with all controls on the panel of the music player unit. The locations of the player unit to arrange a player unit of the system in front of a seat and, at the same time, to arrange speakers at left and right sides of an instrument panel display portion, which performs a display of a speed and the like on a front central portion of a vehicle body. Japanese Publication No. JP2002145154 for a scooter type motorcycle describes one such arrangement wherein the music system (or audio system) is placed under the seat. Placing the music system under the seat actually consumes a lot of space from the utility box, which is meant to house accessories like helmet etc.

In the above-mentioned prior arts, the control unit, the memory storage device and switch cluster is integrally incorporated in a single unit, which makes it difficult to be located at a convenient position from the user point of view from the point of accessibility.

Further in the conventional music system or audio system used in a scooter type motorcycle, which integrally incorporates the speakers, and switch cluster in one unit, the main drawback is to provide exact location for music system to ensure its predetermined function with all vehicle and environmental conditions.

Objective of the Invention

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an audio system positioning and location for a scooter type motorcycle overcoming the above problems.

Another object is to use the redundant central space area which covers the head pipe inside the glove box of a scooter type motorcycle for locating the USB and Ear phone sockets, leaving a large storage area inside the glove box.

More particularly, the present invention relates to an audio system positioning and location structure in which a pair of speakers, USB socket. Ear phone sockets and switch cluster is located at a portion of a motorcycle which is separate and spaced apart from a main player unit or control unit, which has been powered by the vehicle battery itself when the vehicle is in the parked condition. The music player control unit is placed behind the front panel cover and mounted to the panel rear and the accessory like speakers is provided on the opening in panel rear and USB sockets, Earphone sockets are provided in the glove box area and switch cluster is provided on the opening provided on the headlamp housing rear.

The other objective of the present invention is to improve accessibility to the switch cluster without compromising the steering control. In order to achieve this objective the switch cluster is provided down the handle bar in the headlamp housing rear.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates a conventional scooter type motorcycle;

Fig. 2 illustrates the perspective view of the panel rear with the glove box lid open, according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 illustrates the inside view of the panel rear with the music system arrangement of the present invention;

Fig. 4 illustrates side view of panel rear;

Fig. 5 illustrates the left side view of the headlamp assembly;

Detailed Description of Drawings:

Any known scooter type motorcycle as illustrated in figure. 1, can be divided into three major portions, the front portion F, the middle portion M and the rear/tail portion R. The front portion F comprises of the steering, front wheel with necessary brakes, front suspension, and fender, the middle portion M comprises of the step through space portion, rider seat, foot rest for both the rider and the pillion member, engine, gear shift lever stand etc and the rear/tail portion R comprises of petrol tank, swinging arm, back wheel and suspension and rear fender.

The embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to figures 1 through 5.

The unique shaped panel rear (201) of the scooter type motorcycle is provided with a glove box (202) wherein the USB holder (203) is housed. The glove box (202) for accessories storage is formed in the panel rear (201) having an opening there into and a cover (101) configured and dimensioned to cover the opening. The USB and head phone cluster (203) is placed down in the centre inside the glove box (202), where the front central part of glove box covers the head pipe. Since the front central part of glove box (202) covers the head pipe, it is in a protruding rectangular shape leaving a little space in front of it. The above redundant space is utilized for locating the USB and ear phone cluster thereby it eliminates the requirement of additional space. Since the glove box (202) does not have a adequate space in to which many accessories can be put, placing the USB and Ear phone cluster down in the central part actually leaves a lot of space to be used for other purposes.

Two speaker grills (205) is snap locked from top on panel rear (201). The speaker is mounted to holder (301) and assembled to panel rear from bottom. Speaker cover (302) encloses the speaker.

The control unit (303) or control box is mounted to panel rear (201) using two mounting boss. The control unit (303) is held by two plastic cover, the control box holder top (401) and control box holder bottom (402).

The system includes provisions for using MP3 and FM receiver. The system does not have any in built memory, but it takes the input from USB2.0, which is a known memory device and decodes the songs, which are in either MP3 or in WWA format. The control switch cluster (501) for operating the system is separately located on the headlamp housing rear (502). On the left side of the headlamp housing rear (502) down the handle bar, a relief is provided through which the switch cluster (501) is mounted. The said switch cluster (501) gets the user input and the same is given to player unit. Based on the input received, the control unit gives the signal to other output devices.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the switch cluster (501) is located on handle bar, towards the end of the handle grip, on the side towards the headlamp assembly. The said switch cluster is preferably in the ring shaped matching the profile of the handle grip, thereby making it possible to perform all the functions like volume up and down. Next and Previous, power ON/OFF, Play/Pause and mode selection etc by rotation.

The audio system assembly includes a control unit, switch cluster, speakers, USB and Ear phone sockets. The switch cluster (501) is having soft feel control buttons to perform the various functions of music system. Like volume up and down. Next and Previous, power ON/OFF, Play/Pause and mode selection etc.

The supply for the switch cluster is being from control unit. The switch output is fed to control unit and control unit in turn controls the function.

The audio output from the control unit is fed to the speakers to produce sound of certain frequencies. The location of this unit is on the left and right upper part of the panel rear (201).

USB is a storage device and the control unit does not have inbuilt memory. Hence USB drive is required to play songs from MP3 player. Earphone sockets are provided for additional convenience. Dual ear phone sockets for both rider and pillion. From the said ear phone sockets, user can use ear phones to listen to the music.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

We Claim:

1. A audio system for use on a motorcycle or similar vehicle comprising: a power supply;

a control unit powered by the power supply;

a separate input receptacle spaced apart from the control unit;

a switch cluster; and at least one speaker;
wherein the switch cluster output is fed to the said control unit which in turn controls the function.

2. The audio system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said audio system includes at least a pair of speakers.

3. The audio system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said spaced apart speakers are located in panel rear.

4. The audio system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said speaker is provided with speaker grill which is snap locked from top on panel rear.

5. The audio system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said speaker is mounted to holder and assembled to panel rear from bottom.

6. The audio system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said speaker is enclosed with a speaker cover.

7. The audio system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said input receptacle is located in glove box area.

8. The audio system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said input receptacle is equipped to receive USB sockets or ear phone sockets or like devices.

9. The audio system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said control unit is placed behind front panel cover and mounted to the panel rear.

10. The audio system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said switch cluster is placed on headlamp housing rear.

11 .The audio system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the said switch cluster is preferably placed down the handle bar in the headlamp housing rear.

12. The audio system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said switch cluster is located on handle bar towards the end of the handle grip, on the side towards the headlamp assembly.

13. The audio system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said control unit is held by control box and mounted to panel rear using two mounting boss.

14. The audio system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said power supply is a battery source.