Motorcycle audio system

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of copending U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/275,119, filed Mar. 13, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to audio systems for motorcycles of all types and more particularly, to a motorcycle audio system which is mounted on the windshield frame or assembly of a motorcycle, wherein the windshield assembly may be fixed or detachable from the motorcycle. The motorcycle audio system includes a typically chrome-plated housing which is sized to receive a conventional or specially-designed radio, compact disc player and/or tape player, CB radio or combination thereof, and fitted with a speaker on each end or on the bottom, such that the speakers are aligned substantially above or below the motorcycle handlebars and oriented toward a rider seated on the motorcycle. In a preferred embodiment, the motorcycle audio system is bolted or otherwise removably attached to a detachable windshield assembly using the windshield assembly bolts and nuts, such that the audio system can be unplugged from the power source and removed from or with the windshield assembly for maintenance work and/or cleaning of the motorcycle. In another embodiment, the motorcycle audio system can be attached to a fixed windshield assembly of any type or design of motorcycle, as desired, and the player element is easily viewed at a glance, for safety.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various containers and container mount systems for accommodating motorcycle audio systems on motorcycles are known in the art. Examples include the container device detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,066,196, dated Jan. 3, 1978, to Jackson, et al. The Jackson, et al., patent details a “Handlebar Bag” which includes a box or container mounted on the handlebars of a bicycle by means of a wire frame, such that the container or box can be readily removed from the bicycle, as desired. U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,226, dated Jul. 21, 1981, to Joseph E. Jenkins, details a “Protective Cover For the Face Plate of a Motorcycle-Type Radio”, wherein an open-face, rectangular cover box adapted for mounting on a motorcycle and receiving a motorcycle radio, has a wall that spans the face of the radio. A slot is provided in the wall to expose the rectangular station-selector window and the station selector shaft, volume shaft and on/off shaft of the radio. U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,228, dated Apr. 24, 1984, to James G. Bruni, details a “Motorcycle Audio System” which includes a pair of speakers mounted on the respective handlebars of a motorcycle and a power amplifier suspended by means of metal bars between the two speakers, in front of the motorcycle driver. U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,251, dated Sep. 25, 1984, to M. Murayama, describes a motorcycle equipped with audio equipment on the front cowl thereof, with audio speakers which are arranged to maintain balance and weight in the lateral direction of the motorcycle while maintaining easy operation of the audio components. U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,208, dated Jul. 15, 1986, to Morishima, details a pair of speakers arranged in a two-rider motorcycle having front and rear seats, which speakers are mounted on respective receptacles provided on the frame body at the back of the rear seat. U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,779, dated Mar. 19, 1991, to Eggert, et al., details a “Mounting Arrangement For Motorcycle Stereo System”, which stereo system is mounted in a housing formed of a durable, flexible fabric that is removably attached to the gas tank of a motorcycle by magnets. U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,712, dated Oct. 27, 1992, to Schneider, et al., details a “Radio Integrated With Bicycle Handlebars”, wherein a radio is mounted by means of straps to the handlebars of a bicycle. The accessory includes a housing for containing an audio system such as a radio, and a pair of straps attached to the front and rear of the housing are provided to hold the housing in wedging contact with the handlebars. U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,752, dated Jun. 29, 1993, to Hewitt, details a “Fairing and Utility Assembly For Bicycles”, which assembly includes a car stereo-type audio source with speakers. A front fairing of the assembly, which houses the speakers, is mounted on the handlebars of a bicycle by means of straps. U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,965, dated Mar. 31, 1998, to B. A. Willey, details a “Mounting System For Motorcycle Accessories”, which includes a latching mechanism attached to the motorcycle assembly member for attachment to a pair of lugs on the motorcycle frame and mounting and de-mounting the windshield accessory on and from the motorcycle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,936, dated Mar. 16, 1999, to Bernard A. Li, details a “Motorcycle Caddy” which is constructed of soft, compressible foam held between the handlebars and windshield of a motorcycle for receiving and holding objects therein for easy access by the rider during operation of the motorcycle.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved motorcycle audio system for mounting on motorcycles, which audio system includes a housing for mounting on the fixed or removable windshield assembly of a motorcycle and receives a radio, compact disc and/or tape player, CB radio or combination thereof, and a pair of speakers attached to the housing, either above or below the handlebars of the motorcycle, depending upon the handlebar spacing.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved motorcycle audio system which is designed for attachment to any type of motorcycle and is positioned above or below the motorcycle handlebars, centrally at the motorcycle windshield, and includes a preferably chrome plated metal, or a plastic or fiberglass housing for enclosing a radio, compact disc and/or tape player, CB radio or combination thereof, which housing is bolted or otherwise attached to the windshield frame or assembly of the motorcycle and includes a pair of speakers, one on each end or on the bottom of the housing, above or below the respective handlebars and oriented toward a rider on the motorcycle to facilitate superior acoustics and safe operation for the rider.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved motorcycle audio system for motorcycles, which system includes a housing for removably receiving a conventional or specially-designed radio, compact disc and/or tape player, CB radio or combination thereof, which player is positioned for easy view for safety. The housing is typically bolted on the windshield assembly of a motorcycle using the windshield assembly mount bolts and nuts and can be unplugged from the power source and removed individually or in one piece with the windshield assembly.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a motorcycle audio system for bolting or mounting on the fixed or removable windshield frame or assembly of a motorcycle, which system includes a generally rectangularly-shaped, typically chrome-plated steel housing for removably receiving a conventional or specially-designed radio, compact disc and/or tape player, CB radio or combination thereof, with speakers provided on each end or on the bottom of the housing and located above or below the respective motorcycle handlebars, depending upon the handlebar spacing, and further including a specially mounted radio antenna and at least one accessory unit such as a power plug receptacle provided in the housing, which accessory unit is wired to receive an accessory plug for operating an accessory during operation of the motorcycle.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a motorcycle audio system for all types of motorcycles, which system can be fixed to or removably mounted on a typically removable windshield mount frame or assembly of the motorcycle, the system including a preferably chrome-plated steel housing, but also an optional plastic or fiberglass housing, secured to the windshield mount frame or assembly for containing a radio, compact disc player and/or tape player, CB radio or combination thereof, in easily viewable orientation, and a pair of spaced-apart speakers provided on each end or on the bottom of the housing and typically positioned above or below the respective handlebars and oriented toward the motorcycle driver, to facilitate superior acoustics and safety while the motorcycle is operated, including the use of headphones, as well as removal of the windshield frame or assembly and the motorcycle audio system together, to facilitate maintenance and/or cleaning of the motorcycle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects of the invention are provided in a motorcycle audio system for removably mounting on the windshield frame or windshield mount bars of a windshield assembly of a motorcycle of any design, and typically a design wherein the windshield assembly may be conventionally removable from the motorcycle, which system includes a generally rectangular, chrome-plated housing having a hollow interior for receiving a typically conventional, or a specially-designed radio, compact disc player and/or tape player, CB radio or combination thereof, the housing further fitted with a wiring harness plug, accessory and head phone jacks and a pair of speakers spaced-apart on each end or on the bottom thereof, which speakers are typically positioned above or below the handlebars of the motorcycle, depending upon the handlebar spacing, and oriented toward a rider seated on the motorcycle. The motorcycle audio system can be easily viewed without rider movement and it can be operated and removed from the windshield mount bars of the windshield assembly, or in some designs, the entire windshield assembly with the audio system mounted thereon can be removed from the motorcycle in conventional fashion, as desired by unplugging the wiring harness plug from the power source receptacle, to facilitate maintenance and/or cleaning of the motorcycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1

is a front perspective, or rider's, view of the motorcycle audio system of this invention, mounted on the windshield frame or assembly of a motorcycle;

FIG. 2

is a rear perspective view of the motorcycle audio system and front view of the windshield illustrated in

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 3

is an exploded, perspective view of the motorcycle audio system and the windshield and windshield frame or assembly illustrated in

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 4

is a front perspective view of the assembled motorcycle audio system housing and speakers illustrated in

FIG. 1

, removed from the windshield assembly of the motorcycle;

FIG. 4A

is a rear elevational view of the motorcycle audio system housing;

FIG. 5

is a rear perspective view of the motorcycle audio system housing and speakers illustrated in

FIG. 4

;

FIG. 6

is an exploded, perspective view of the motorcycle audio system illustrated in

FIGS. 5 and 6

, more particularly illustrating a preferred mounting of the speakers and radio antenna on the housing and insertion of the radio, compact disc player and/or tape player, CB radio or combination thereof in the housing;

FIG. 6A

is a sectional view of a preferred radio antenna mount configuration; and

FIG. 7

is a schematic illustrating a preferred wiring of the motorcycle audio system illustrated in

FIGS. 1-6

.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to

FIGS. 1-4

,

6

and

7

of the drawings, the motorcycle audio system of this invention is generally illustrated by reference numeral

1

. The motorcycle audio system

1

is characterized by a housing

2

, which is capable of enclosing a conventional or a specially-designed radio, compact disc and/or tape player, CB radio or combination thereof (hereinafter “player

12

”), in the housing opening

7

(

FIG. 6

) of a front panel

10

of the housing

2

, as desired. The housing

2

further includes a housing top

8

and a housing bottom

9

, as illustrated in

FIGS. 3 and 4

of the drawings. The player

12

is typically characterized by a player receptacle or slot

13

for receiving tapes and/or compact discs (not illustrated), depending upon the nature of the player

12

, and player wiring

14

(

FIG. 6

) extends from the back of the player

12

for connection to a power source and operation, typically as illustrated in FIG.

7

. The housing

2

includes a pair of housing mount brackets

3

, typically welded or bolted to the housing

2

, or fashioned in one piece with the housing

2

. Furthermore, each housing mount bracket

3

is characterized by a mount bracket plate

4

, with speaker mount openings

4

a

provided on both sides of the mount bracket plate

4

, and an antenna mount opening

22

a

, on the right hand side of the right-hand mount bracket plate

4

, as illustrated in FIG.

6

. The mount bracket plates

4

are each terminated by an outwardly-turned mount bracket flange

5

, each having a pair of spaced-apart flange openings

6

, for attaching the housing

2

to the motorcycle windshield assembly

37

of a motorcycle

30

(FIG.

3

), as hereinafter further described. As further illustrated in

FIGS. 3

,

6

and

7

, a wiring harness

15

, having a wiring harness plug

46

(FIG.

3

), extends from the left side of the housing

2

and connects to the player wiring

14

, typically as illustrated in

FIG. 7

, for operating the player

12

according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. An optional power plug opening

16

and headphone receptacle

55

are further provided in the front panel

10

of the housing

2

, and the power plug opening

16

receives a power plug receptacle or jack

17

, having receptacle wiring

18

for wiring into the wiring harness

15

, further as typically illustrated in

FIG. 7

, with a receptacle closure

19

closing the power plug receptacle

17

. A mount nut or ring

20

is typically provided in the power plug receptacle

17

for securing the power plug receptacle

17

in the power plug opening

16

of the housing

2

, in conventional fashion. A headphone plug (not illustrated) may be inserted in the headphone receptacle

55

, also illustrated in phantom in

FIG. 7

, which is wired into the player

12

by headphone wiring

56

, using capacitors

57

.

A radio antenna

21

is also typically attached to one of the housing mount brackets

3

, as further illustrated in

FIGS. 6 and 6A

, and includes an antenna mount

22

, complete with antenna wiring

23

(

FIG. 6

) which is wired into a separate wiring harness, typically as illustrated in

FIG. 7

, to operate the radio element of the player

12

using the extended radio antenna

21

. A nut

49

and antenna mount bolt

48

serve to secure the antenna mount

22

of the radio antenna

21

in a rubber grommet

36

, positioned as illustrated in

FIG. 6A

on the right-hand side of the right-hand mount bracket plate

4

of the housing mount bracket

3

inside the housing

2

, at the antenna mount opening

22

a

. In a preferred configuration the antenna mount bolt

48

extends through the antenna bolt access opening

25

(

FIG. 4A

) and seats in a shoulder washer

50

. A spacer

51

is provided on the antenna mount bolt

48

and the antenna mount bolt

48

extends through an antenna flange

52

, extending from the antenna mount

22

, to receive the nut

49

. In this mounting configuration there is no grounding of the radio antenna

21

on the housing

2

.

As illustrated in

FIGS. 1-7

of the drawings, each of a pair of speakers

26

is fitted with a threaded speaker mount

27

and speaker wiring

28

(FIG.

6

), the latter of which is attached to the player wiring

14

typically as illustrated in

FIG. 7

, for operating the speakers

26

when the player

12

is activated. Each of the speakers

26

is attached to a corresponding one of the housing mount brackets

3

by seating the corresponding threaded element of the speaker mount

27

in the speaker mount openings

4

a

and securing it in place with a mount nut

24

, as further illustrated in FIG.

6

. Alternatively, the speakers

26

can be attached to the bottom of the housing

2

at the optional speaker mount openings

29

(FIGS.

3

&

4

), normally closed by removable caps

29

a

(FIG.

4

), depending upon the spacing and oriented of the handlebars

31

of the motorcycle

30

.

Referring again to

FIGS. 1-3

and

6

of the drawings, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing

2

of the motorcycle audio system

1

can be typically attached to a pair of vertical windshield mount bars

40

in a windshield assembly

37

of the motorcycle

30

, which windshield assembly

37

typically includes a horizontal windshield mount bar

39

spanning the spaced-apart, vertical windshield mount bars

40

. A plexiglass windshield

38

is attached to the horizontal windshield mount bar

39

and the vertical windshield mount bars

40

in conventional fashion, and the housing

2

is typically secured to the vertical windshield mount bars

40

by means of windshield mount bolts

42

(

FIG. 3

) that extend through mount bar openings

41

in the corresponding spaced-apart windshield mount bars

40

and aligned openings (not illustrated) in the windshield

38

, to receive the corresponding windshield mount nuts

42

a

. The respective flange openings

6

of the mount bracket flanges

5

in the respective mount bracket plates

4

align with the corresponding windshield mount bolts

42

, as further illustrated in FIG.

3

.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the housing

2

encloses and secures the player

12

therein by means of a player mount bolt

11

, engaging the player

12

, through a player mount bolt opening

11

a

as illustrated in FIG.

4

A and FIG.

6

. The housing

2

receives the mounted speakers

26

and the radio antenna

21

(FIG.

6

), can be easily attached to and removed from the windshield assembly

37

by inserting and removing the respective windshield mount bolts

42

and corresponding windshield mount nuts

42

a

, respectively, as further illustrated in FIG.

3

.

Referring again to

FIGS. 1 and 3

of the drawings, in certain motorcycle designs, each vertical windshield mount bar

40

of the windshield assembly

37

is fitted with a conventional, downwardly-extending mount strut

44

, having a strut slot

45

in the bottom portion thereof, which strut slots

45

are designed to receive conventional structural members (not illustrated) provided on the motorcycle frame (not illustrated) of the motorcycle

30

(

FIG. 1

) for removably attaching the windshield assembly

37

to the motorcycle

30

, according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the housing

2

is preferably bolted to the respective vertical windshield mount bars

40

using the windshield mount bolts

42

and the windshield mount nuts

42

a

, as illustrated in FIG.

3

and the entire windshield assembly

37

, having the motorcycle audio system

1

mounted thereon, can be quickly and easily removed from the motorcycle

30

, as well as the player

12

and the attached speakers

26

and the radio antenna

21

, after unplugging the single wiring harness plug

46

from a power plug

54

, illustrated in FIG.

7

and extending from a battery (not illustrated) on the motorcycle

30

. This removable arrangement in mounting of the entire windshield assembly

37

facilitates maintenance and/or cleaning of the motorcycle

30

without detachment of the motorcycle audio system

1

, in an optimum manner.

It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art from a consideration of

FIG. 1

of the drawings, that the housing

2

and the speakers

26

of the motorcycle audio system

1

are typically located above the handlebars

31

and the speakers

26

are oriented upwardly toward a rider (not illustrated) seated on the motorcycle

30

to facilitate optimum acoustical characteristics behind the windshield

38

, when the spacing of the handlebars

31

allows such a speaker configuration. Alternatively, as heretofore described, in the case of narrow handlebars

31

and limited space above the handlebars

31

, the speakers

26

can be secured to the bottom of the housing

2

, at the optional speaker mount openings

29

, illustrated in

FIGS. 3 and 4

of the drawings, as heretofore described. As in the case of conventional motorcycles, the handlebars

31

of the motorcycle

30

are typically secured to a conventional steering plate

32

, located forwardly of the gas tank

34

and the speedometer

35

(FIG.

1

). The steering plate

32

is also typically attached to the front fork (not illustrated) of the motorcycle

30

by means of a steering plate bolt

33

, which facilitates steering of the motorcycle in conventional fashion.

As further illustrated in

FIGS. 1-3

of the drawings, a storage pouch or container

47

, for containing tapes, compact discs and other accessories may be provided adjacent to the housing

2

and may be mounted to the housing top

8

(

FIG. 5

) of the housing

2

in any conventional manner, or unmounted, according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. As illustrated in

FIG. 3

, the storage pouch

47

is preferably wedged-shaped in order to fit between the windshield

38

and the adjacent housing

2

of the motorcycle audio system

1

and may typically be fitted with a loop-pile closure

53

.

It will be further appreciated from a consideration of the drawings that the motorcycle audio system

1

of this invention is characterized by safety, convenience, flexibility and optimum performance, not only under circumstances where the motorcycle

30

is operating, but also when it is desired to maintain the motorcycle

30

or clean it. In the latter case, the entire windshield assembly

37

can be removed from the motorcycle after simply unplugging the wiring harness plug

46

from the power plug

54

(FIG.

7

), as heretofore described, or the motorcycle audio system

1

, including the housing

2

, speakers

26

, radio antenna

21

and player

12

can be quickly and easily removed from the windshield assembly

37

as a single unit, by removing the four mount bolts

42

and corresponding windshield mount nuts

42

a

as illustrated in FIG.

3

. Furthermore, the addition of the motorcycle audio system

1

to the removable, breakaway windshield assembly

37

does not impede the breakaway feature in the event of an accident involving the motorcycle.

The motorcycle audio system

1

is further characterized by convenience and flexibility, in that the player

12

may include a conventional or specially-designed radio, a combination radio and compact disc player, or a combination radio, compact disc player and tape player, CB radio and the like, according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Furthermore, referring again to

FIG. 1

of the drawings a primary safety feature is facilitated, in that the player

12

is easily viewed by the motorcycle operator at a glance, without the necessity of shifting the operator's position on the motorcycle. Moreover, as further illustrated in

FIG. 6

of the drawings, the radio antenna

21

is ideally located on one of the housing mount brackets

3

for raising and lowering in order to operate the player

12

as a radio, as desired. Power from a battery provided on the motorcycle

30

is typically supplied through a switch to the player

12

through the power wiring harness

15

, as illustrated in FIG.

7

. Power is supplied directly from the battery to the optional power plug receptacle

17

and the memory circuits of the player

12

, through the receptacle wiring

18

. The player

12

connects to the speakers

26

through the speaker wiring

28

; the radio antenna

21

, through the antenna wiring

23

; and the headphone receptacle

55

, through the headphone wiring

56

, and the ground circuit

59

, respectively. The capacitors

57

allow a common ground headset or headphone (not illustrated) to be plugged into the headphone and be used with the floating ground stereo speaker output.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.