Direction indicators for motorcycles

The invention relates to a direction indicator, in particular for motorized two-wheelers. These include moped, scooter, moped, light motorcycle, motorcycle etc.

Motorcycles are typically used today about an electrical system for indicating the change of direction, which consists essentially of flasher relay, operating switches and four indicators, which are arranged in pairs. A pair of turn signals is located in the area of ​​the rear light and radiates to the back, another is usually mounted on the front fork and emitted at the front.

For better visibility, however, the assembly of the front turn signals at the ends of the handlebar would be useful. They are clearly visible from the side (z. B. for the driver of a standing beside the motorcycle, motor vehicles).

In fact there are those Indicators for mounting on the handlebar ends. In practice it has been shown that there is often interference (contact problems, tearing of the filament) is due to the vibrations of the handlebar ends. In addition, the subsequent assembly of products on the market turn signal is manageable for Barends relatively expensive and only of motorcyclists with some technical skill. The vibrations of the handlebar ends a two-wheeler affect moreover not only to the life of any mounted indicators are negative, but also affect the comfort and thus the ability to concentrate and safety of the driver to a considerable extent.

For many, even modern motorcycles arise during driving such violent vibrations at the handlebar ends and thus on the handles and control elements (handle for front brake, throttle, clutch confirmation, horn, light, flasher switch) that the driver despite soft rubber grips and gloves after a short time only numbness felt in his hands.

It is therefore an object of the invention to further develop a direction indicator for mounting on the handlebar of a motorcycle to the effect that the disturbing vibrations of the handlebar ends are largely prevented.

This object is achieved with a direction indicator, which is located at one end of a two-wheel handlebar and a mass of at least 150 grams has.

The invention is thus an indicator which is designed so that the oscillation of the arm end is significantly reduced in amplitude and frequency by its mounting.

According to the voliegenden invention this is achieved in that the indicator body is designed as a damper mass. Selection of the appropriate damping mass depends on a number of parameters. The most important are material, wall thickness, diameter and length of the handlebar, preferred speed range of the engine, design of the engine mount and the chassis. Generally speaking, that the frequency of the oscillation with increasing the mass decreases the handlebar end. Good results can be achieved with a mass of the turn signal at least 200 grams in the current normal motorcycle designs. The practical use range is especially at 200 to 400 grams.

Another important issue for the effectiveness of the invention is the design of the connection between the bar end and turn signals (= damping mass).

Suitably, the invention should be designed so that it can be releasably connected to one end of a two-wheel handlebar. As a result, they can be retrofitted to the handlebar. This makes it possible to retrofit already on the market two-wheelers with a turn signal according to the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the compound is not rigid but vibration mechanically articulated, z. B. is carried out by a rubber member.

A visually and technically favorable variant is designed so that the vibration is mechanically hinged connection is disposed in Einein open end of a two-wheel handlebar.

A particularly preferred version of the invention provides that as a luminous body is a halogen lamp is used. The higher luminous efficiency as compared to a corresponding bulb intention of changing the direction of the two-cyclist for other road users is particularly visible. Moreover, the use of a halogen lamp allows a more compact design, which accommodate a greater mass in the indicator housing at the same volume allows.

In the following two embodiments of the invention are explained in detail with reference to the drawing. Show it,<dl id="dl0001"><dt>figure 1</dt><dd>a side view of the indicator, the handlebar mounted,</dd><dt>figure 2</dt><dd>a plan view of the indicator is shown in section,</dd><dt>figure 3</dt><dd>a longitudinal section through a further embodiment of the vibration mechanically articulated connection and</dd><dt>figure 4</dt><dd>a cross section through the connecting mechanism according to FIG. 3</dd></dl>

The housing 1 of the blinker 13 represents the actual damping mass. It should therefore be made possible massive and of a suitably heavy material (eg. As stainless steel). In a central opening, which is completed by two orange plastic lenses 5, is the lighting unit 2, 3, 4 of the blinker. The holding plate 3 is used for fixing the lamp socket 4, which is suitable for receiving a conventional halogen lamp 2nd The supply cable 6 (switched plus from the flasher relay, mass) are guided through the threaded tube 7 from the housing 1 to the outside. The housing 1 with internals 2, 3, 4 plastic lenses 5 and threaded pipe 7 has a mass of 250 grams.

In this threaded pipe 7 is the holding device 8, 9, 10, with the bulbs on the handlebar 12 of the bicycle can be mounted. It consists of the spacer 8 and the rubber element 9, which are fixed by the mother 10th The rubber member corresponding in shape to a hollow cylinder. Its task is to ensure a connection reibkraftschlüssige the indicator with the inside of the handlebar tube 11th If the distance between the housing 1 and the nut 10 by tightening the nut 10 or rotation of the housing 1 is reduced to the threaded tube 7, so the rubber element 9 is compressed as a result of the occurring compressive force. This compression of the rubber element 9 is associated with an extension in the radial direction and results in the inside of the handlebar tube 11 to the desired force-fit connection.

The installation itself takes place in two steps. First, the nut 10 is tightened so far that the outer diameter of the rubber element 9 approximately corresponds to the inner diameter of the steerer tube eleventh With appropriate dimensioning, so all common handlebar tube inner diameter d = 16.5 mm to d = 25 mm can be realized. Then the holding device (8, 9, 10) the indicator is inserted to the bottom of the housing 1 in the handlebar tube 11th Well enough one to two rotations of the housing body 1 in order to ensure a secure fit of the blinker 13 on handlebar 21 of the bicycle. It is remarkable, that takes place in this way the connection between blinker 13 and handlebar tube 11 exclusively via the rubber member 3, so that no rigid, but there is an elastic clamping connection. This elastic suspension, together with the high housing composition to the excellent vibration damping effect of the present invention.

In the figures 3 and 4 shows a further constructive embodiment of the retaining device 15, 16, 17 is shown. In this embodiment, the resilient connection between the handlebar tube 18 and turn signal 13 is achieved by a spreader 16th This expanding body 16 is a barrel-shaped, thin-walled hollow body whose lateral surface is multiply slit. As a material for this component next steel sheet is also Teflon, silicone or other plastics conceivable. The assembly of a vehicle equipped with the illustrated here retaining device 15, 16, 17 winker 22 is similar to the manner already described. First, the nut 15 tightened on the threaded pipe 14 so far that the expansion body 16 rests with one end to the nut 15 and the other end of the spacer 17th When the nut 15 is now tightened further, the spreading body 16 is compressed in the axial direction, thus resulting in a bending of the individual webs and a spread of the component in the radial direction. The nut 15 is applicable tightened until the outer diameter of the expansion member 16 is approximately equal to your inner diameter of the steerer tube 18th Then, the holding device consisting of nut 15, spreader 16 and spacer 17, inserted into the steerer tube 18th Through a few twists of the case body 20 is now a secure connection between blinker 22 and handlebar 19 can be produced.

This design also ensures the desired elastic connection between steerer tube 19 and flasher 22nd