Throttle grip device

Abstract

The present invention provides a throttle grip device that can cause energizing wiring extending from an energizing means of a throttle grip to be engaged at a prescribed position and that does not require a separate dedicated member for engaging the energizing wiring.　The throttle grip device is equipped with a fixed member C fixed to a handlebar H of a vehicle, a throttle grip 1 attached in the vicinity of the fixed member C and rotatably operable by a driver, and a heating means 2 attached to the throttle grip 1 and capable of being energized by being connected to energizing wiring h extending from a battery mounted on the vehicle. In this throttle grip device, the fixed member C has a cover member 7 covering a prescribed area, and an engaging part 7a for engaging the energizing wiring h is integrated into the cover member 7.

Description

Throttle grip device

[0001] The present invention relates to a throttle grip device that is attached to a handlebar of a vehicle and can be rotated by a driver.

[0002] In vehicles equipped with handlebars, such as motorcycles, handlebar grips are attached to the left and right ends of the handlebars. These handlebar grips are formed with gripping portions that are gripped by the rider, and a heating device for heating these gripping portions has been proposed. This heating device has a heating element that generates heat when powered by a battery installed in the vehicle, and the heating element is attached inside the handlebar grip to enable heating.

[0003] Such a heating device requires the wiring extending to the vehicle's battery to be fixed at a desired position on the vehicle body. However, when applied to a throttle grip device that heats the throttle grip, the wiring from the heating device to the fixed position on the vehicle moves in response to the rotation of the throttle grip, so it was necessary to check the durability of the wiring against repeated movement.

[0004] To address this issue, a throttle grip device has been proposed in which a metal stay is attached to a switch case (fixed member) fixed to the tip of the handlebar, and current-carrying wiring is fixed to the stay with a cable tie, as disclosed in Patent Document 1. This allows the current-carrying wiring of the heating device to be fixed at any position on the switch case, suppressing movement of the current-carrying wiring due to rotation of the throttle grip and improving durability.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-39459

[0006] However, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, since the current-carrying wiring of the heating device formed on the throttle grip is fixed to a fixing member, movement of the current-carrying wiring due to rotation of the throttle grip can be prevented, but a separate dedicated member such as a stay portion is required to fix the wiring, which is expected to pose a new problem of preventing an increase in the number of parts. Note that this problem is not limited to the heating device, but is common to throttle grip devices in which various current-carrying means that require current-carrying wiring for current flow are attached to the throttle grip.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a throttle grip device that can lock the current-carrying wiring extending from the current-carrying means of the throttle grip at a predetermined position and that does not require a separate dedicated member for locking the current-carrying wiring.

[0008] The invention described in claim 1 is a throttle grip device comprising a fixed member fixed to the handlebar of a vehicle, a throttle grip attached near the fixed member and capable of being rotated by the driver, and an electrical means attached to the throttle grip and connected to an electrical wiring extending from a battery mounted on the vehicle, wherein the fixed member has a cover member that covers a predetermined portion, and a locking portion that locks the electrical wiring is integrally formed with the cover member.

[0009] The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the throttle grip device described in claim 1, the current-carrying means comprises a heating means attached to the grip portion of the throttle grip and capable of generating heat when current is applied to heat the grip portion.

[0010] The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the throttle grip device described in claim 1, the fixing member comprises a switch case having an operating portion capable of operating various electrical equipment mounted on the vehicle and an intermediate connector that can be connected to a vehicle side connector of vehicle side wiring extended from the vehicle side, the intermediate connector being formed separately from the switch case at a predetermined position on the switch case, and the connection portion between the intermediate connector and the vehicle side wiring being covered by the cover member.

[0011] The invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that, in the throttle grip device described in claim 1, the cover member is removably attached to a predetermined portion of the fixed member and at least a portion of its surface is attached flush with the surface of the fixed member.

[0012] The invention of claim 5 is characterized in that, in the throttle grip device of claim 1, the fixed member accommodates an interlocking member that can rotate together with the rotational operation of the throttle grip, and a rotation angle detection means that can detect the rotation angle of the throttle grip by detecting the rotation angle of the interlocking member, and the throttle grip can be rotated in both forward and reverse directions, and when the throttle grip is rotated in the forward direction from its initial position, the vehicle's drive source can be controlled in accordance with the rotation angle of the throttle grip detected by the rotation angle detection means, and when the throttle grip is rotated in the reverse direction from its initial position, predetermined electrical equipment equipped on the vehicle can be operated.

[0013] According to the invention of claim 1, the fixing member has a cover member that covers a specified portion, and a locking portion that locks the current-carrying wiring is integrally formed with the cover member.Therefore, the cover member that covers the specified portion can be given the function of fixing the current-carrying wiring, the current-carrying wiring extending from the current-carrying means of the throttle grip can be locked at a specified position, and a separate dedicated member for fixing the current-carrying wiring is not required.

[0014] According to the invention of claim 2, the current-carrying means is comprised of a heating means attached to the grip portion of the throttle grip and capable of generating heat when current is passed through it to heat the grip portion, so that the current-carrying wiring extending from the heating means can be fixed in a predetermined position and a separate dedicated member for securing the current-carrying wiring is not required.

[0015] According to the invention of claim 3, the relay connector is formed separately from the switch case at a predetermined location on the switch case, and the connection portion between the relay connector and the vehicle side wiring is covered with a cover member, so that the cover member has the function of waterproofing and dustproofing the connection portion between the relay connector and the vehicle side wiring, and can also have the function of engaging the current-carrying wiring.

[0016] According to the invention of claim 4, the cover member is removably attached to a predetermined portion of the fixed member, and at least a portion of its surface is attached flush with the surface of the fixed member, thereby preventing the design of the fixed member from being impaired by attaching the cover member.

[0017] According to the invention of claim 5, the throttle grip can be rotated in both the forward and reverse directions, so the rotational angle is larger than that of a throttle grip that can only be rotated in the forward direction, and even though the current-carrying wiring moves over a wider range in response to the rotation of the throttle grip, by fixing the current-carrying wiring extending from the throttle grip's current-carrying means in a predetermined position, it is not necessary to check the durability of the current-carrying wiring for each vehicle model.

[0018] 10A and 10B are perspective views showing the front and rear appearances of the throttle grip device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The throttle grip device according to this embodiment is capable of heating the grip portion of a throttle grip attached to a vehicle such as a motorcycle, and as shown in Figures 1 to 9, includes a throttle grip 1 attached to a handlebar H (handle pipe) of the motorcycle, heating means 2 (see Figure 8) as a current-carrying means, a fixing member C, an interlocking member 3, a rotation angle detection means 5 for detecting the rotation angle of the throttle grip 1, current-carrying wiring h extended from the heating means 2, and a cover member 7.

[0020] 1 to 3, the throttle grip 1 is attached near a fixed member C fixed to the handlebar H, can be gripped by the driver and rotated about an axis, and in this embodiment, can be rotated in a forward direction α and a reverse direction β. When the throttle grip 1 is rotated in the forward direction α from its initial position, the drive source of the vehicle (engine, drive motor, etc.) can be controlled in accordance with the rotation angle of the throttle grip 1 detected by a rotation angle detection means 5, and when the throttle grip 1 is rotated in the reverse direction β from its initial position, a predetermined electrical device equipped in the vehicle can be operated (for example, the cruise control system can be turned off).

[0021] 5, the throttle grip 1 according to this embodiment is configured to include an outer member 1a made of a predetermined resin material (e.g., soft resin such as elastomer or rubber), an inner member 1b made of a cylindrically molded hard resin (e.g., hard resin such as glass fiber-reinforced nylon 6), and a heating means 2 interposed between the outer member 1a and the inner member 1b. Furthermore, a locking projection 1ba that can be locked with an interlocking member 3 is formed on the base end side of the inner member of the throttle grip 1.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 8, the heating means 2 is attached to the grip portion of the throttle grip 1, and is connected to a current-carrying wire h extending from a battery (not shown) mounted on the vehicle, and is capable of heating the grip portion by generating heat when current is passed through it. Specifically, the heating means 2 according to this embodiment is made of a flexible substrate on which a heating wire pattern is formed, and as shown in Fig. 8, it is wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of the inner member 1b and connected to the current-carrying wire h via a connection portion a.

[0023] Then, the inner member 1b wrapped around the heating means 2 is placed in a specified mold, and an outer member 1a made of a specified resin material is insert-molded onto its outer periphery, thereby obtaining a throttle grip 1 with the heating means 2 embedded therein.

[0024] The electrical wiring h consists of a wiring cord that electrically connects the heating means 2 to the battery installed in the vehicle and enables current to flow through the heating means 2. When current is passed through the heating means 2, the area where the heating wire pattern is formed generates heat, thereby heating the gripping portion of the throttle grip 1.

[0025] 1 to 3, the fixed member C is made up of a switch case fixed to the tip end side of the handlebar H of the motorcycle (vehicle) (the base end side of the throttle grip 1), and is configured by mating two half-split members. The fixed member C is formed with operation sections t1 to t3 for operating various electrical components equipped in the vehicle, and is also equipped with a unit case Y that houses an interlocking member 3, a rotating member 4, and a rotation angle detection means 5, as shown in FIG.

[0026] The interlocking member 3 is engaged with a locking protrusion 1ba (see Figure 7) formed on the base end of the throttle grip 1, and can rotate together with the rotation of the throttle grip 1. A gear portion is formed in a part of the interlocking member 3, and the interlocking member 3 is biased to its initial position by a forward return spring S1 and a reverse return spring S2. The rotating member 4 is made of a disk-shaped member with a gear portion formed on its outer circumferential surface that can be engaged with the gear portion of the interlocking member 3, and can rotate together with the rotation of the interlocking member 3. A magnet M is also attached to the rotating member 4, and the rotating member 4 and the magnet M can rotate together with the rotation of the interlocking member 3.

[0027] The rotation angle detection means 5 detects the rotation angle of the interlocking member 3, thereby detecting the rotation angle of the throttle grip 1, and transmits the detection signal to an electronic control device such as an ECU mounted on the motorcycle via vehicle-side wiring w1, and is configured to have a magnetic sensor that can detect magnetic changes in the magnet M. That is, as shown in Figure 5, the rotation angle detection means 5 is made up of a magnetic sensor attached to a substrate 6, and is capable of detecting the rotation angle of the interlocking member 3 and, therefore, the throttle grip 1, by detecting changes in magnetism generated by the magnet M.

[0028] A connector 10 is integrally formed with the unit case Y that houses the rotation angle detection means 5. A vehicle-side connector D1 formed at the tip of the vehicle-side wiring w1 is connected to the connector 10, so that a detection signal from the rotation angle detection means 5 can be transmitted to the vehicle side via the vehicle-side wiring w1. In the figure, reference symbols k1 and k2 indicate binding bands that secure the vehicle-side wiring w1 and w2.

[0029] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, the fixing member C according to this embodiment is made up of a switch case having operating sections t1 to t3 that can operate various electrical equipment mounted on the vehicle, and a relay connector 11 that can be connected to a vehicle-side connector D2 of a vehicle-side wiring w2 that extends from the vehicle side, and the relay connector 11 is formed separately from the fixing member C (switch case) at a predetermined position inside the switch case.

[0030] Specifically, the wires extending from the operation units t1 to t3 are combined into one wire and connected to the relay connector 11. As shown in Fig. 6, the relay connector 11 is made up of a connector separate from the fixed member C (switch case), and is connectable to a vehicle-side connector D2 formed at the tip of a vehicle-side wire w2 extending from the vehicle side, so that electrical signals generated in response to the operation of each of the operation units t1 to t3 can be transmitted to the vehicle side via the vehicle-side wire w2.

[0031] Here, the fixing member C according to this embodiment has a cover member 7 that covers a predetermined portion, and a locking portion 7a that locks the current-carrying wire h is integrally formed with the cover member 7. The cover member 7 is detachably attached to a predetermined portion of the fixing member C with a mounting screw n, as shown in Fig. 6, and is configured so that at least a portion of its surface is attached flush with the surface of the fixing member C, as shown in Figs.

[0032] Furthermore, the cover member 7 according to this embodiment is attached to the fixing member C to cover the connection portion between the connector 10 and the vehicle-side wiring w1 and the connection portion between the relay connector 11 and the vehicle-side wiring w2. That is, as shown in Fig. 6, the fixing member C is configured with a cutout portion so that the connector 10 and the relay connector 11 are exposed to the outside, and the vehicle-side connector D1 of the vehicle-side wiring w1 can be connected to the connector 10, and the vehicle-side connector D2 of the vehicle-side wiring w2 can be connected to the relay connector 11.

[0033] Then, after connecting the vehicle side connector D1 to the connector 10 and connecting the vehicle side connector D2 to the relay connector 11, the cover member 7 is attached to the notch in the fixing member C with the mounting screw n, so that the connection portion between the connector 10 and the vehicle side wiring w1 (the connection portion of the vehicle side connector D1) and the connection portion between the relay connector 11 and the vehicle side wiring w2 (the connection portion of the vehicle side connector D2) are covered by the cover member 7.

[0034] 10 to 12, the cover member 7 according to this embodiment has a locking portion 7a integrally formed at a predetermined position, and also has a screw hole 7b for inserting a mounting screw n. The locking portion 7a has a shape formed on the surface side of the cover member 7, and is configured to have a pair of protrusion shapes 7aa, a notch shape 7ab formed between the pair of protrusion shapes 7aa, a groove shape 7ac extending to a position adjacent to the protrusion shapes 7aa, and an opening shape 7ad through which a binding band 8 can be inserted.

[0035] Therefore, by arranging the current-carrying wires h along the groove shapes 7ac, the current-carrying wires h are clamped and locked by the protrusion shapes 7aa, and by fitting the binding bands 8 into the notches 7ab and inserting them into the opening shapes 7ad, the current-carrying wires h can be firmly fixed, as shown in Figure 11. Note that the reference numeral 9 in the figure denotes an elastic tape having elasticity that is attached to the fixing positions of the current-carrying wires h.

[0036] In this manner, in this embodiment, the current-carrying wiring h is engaged and fixed by the engaging portion 7a of the cover member 7 of the fixing member C, so that, as shown in Figure 13, when the throttle grip 1 is rotated in the forward direction α, the current-carrying wiring h between the throttle grip 1 and the engaging portion 7a moves to the current-carrying wiring h1 shown by the imaginary line, and when the throttle grip 1 is rotated in the reverse direction β, the current-carrying wiring h between the throttle grip 1 and the engaging portion 7a moves to the current-carrying wiring h2 shown by the imaginary line.

[0037] According to the throttle grip device of this embodiment, the fixing member C has a cover member 7 that covers a predetermined portion, and a locking portion 7a that locks the current-carrying wiring h is integrally formed with the cover member 7. Therefore, the cover member 7 that covers the predetermined portion can be given the function of fixing the current-carrying wiring h, and the current-carrying wiring h extending from the heating means 2 (current-carrying means) of the throttle grip 1 can be locked at a predetermined position, and a separate dedicated member for locking the current-carrying wiring h is not required.

[0038] Furthermore, the current supplying means in this embodiment is composed of a heating means 2 that is attached to the grip portion of the throttle grip 1 and generates heat when electricity is passed through it, thereby heating the grip portion. This allows the current supplying wiring h extending from the heating means 2 to be fixed in a predetermined position, and eliminates the need for a separate dedicated member for securing the current supplying wiring h.

[0039] Furthermore, the relay connector 11 in this embodiment is formed separately from the switch case (fixing member C) at a predetermined location on the switch case, and the connection portion between the relay connector 11 and the vehicle side wiring w2 is covered with the cover member 7. Therefore, the cover member 7 has the function of waterproofing and dustproofing the connection portion between the relay connector 11 and the vehicle side wiring w2, and can also have the function of engaging the current-carrying wiring h.

[0040] Furthermore, the cover member 7 according to this embodiment is detachably attached to a predetermined portion of the fixing member C, and at least a portion of its surface is attached flush with the surface of the fixing member C, so that it is possible to avoid impairing the design of the fixing member C by attaching the cover member 7. Furthermore, by attaching at least the surface of the cover member 7 flush with the surface of the fixing member C, it is possible to prevent a step from being formed at the attachment portion of the cover member 7.

[0041] In addition, since the throttle grip 1 of this embodiment can be rotated in the forward direction α and the reverse direction β, the rotational angle is larger than that of a throttle grip 1 that can only be rotated in the forward direction α, and even if the current-carrying wiring h moves over a wider range in response to the rotational operation of the throttle grip 1, by fixing the current-carrying wiring h extending from the heating means 2 (current-carrying means) of the throttle grip 1 at a predetermined position, it is not necessary to check the durability of the current-carrying wiring h for each vehicle model.

[0042] While the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and other current-carrying means (for example, light-emitting means attached to the throttle grip 1 that emits light when energized) to which the current-carrying wiring h is connected may be used instead of the heating means 2. Furthermore, the cover member 7 according to the present embodiment is configured to cover the connection portion between the relay connector 11 and the vehicle-side wiring w2 and the connection portion between the connector 10 and the vehicle-side wiring w1, but it may also cover either the connection portion between the relay connector 11 and the vehicle-side wiring w2 or the connection portion between the connector 10 and the vehicle-side wiring w1, or it may cover another portion attached to the fixing member C.

[0043] Furthermore, the fixing member C is sufficient as long as it fixes the current-carrying wire h, and may be applied to a device that does not include the interlocking member 3 and the rotation angle detection means 5, etc. (i.e., a device that controls the engine with an operating wire extended from the throttle grip 1). Furthermore, although the throttle grip 1 according to this embodiment is rotatable in the forward direction α and the reverse direction β, it may be rotatable only in the forward direction α. ​​Note that the vehicle to which this invention is applied is not limited to a two-wheeled vehicle as in this embodiment, but may also be applied to other vehicles having handlebars H (for example, an ATV, a snowmobile, etc.).

[0044] The present invention can also be applied to devices with different external shapes or devices with additional functions, provided that they have the same gist as the present invention.

[0045] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Throttle grip 1a Outer member 1b Inner member 1ba Locking protrusion 2 Heating means (current supply means) 3 Interlocking member 4 Rotating member 5 Rotation angle detection means (magnetic sensor) 6 Board 7 Cover member 7a Locking portion 7aa Protrusion shape 7ab Cutout shape 7ac Groove shape 7ad Opening shape 7b Screw hole 8 Cable tie 9 Elastic tape 10 Connector 11 Relay connector S1 Forward return spring S2 Reverse return spring H Handlebar C Fixing member (switch case) t1 to t3 Operation unit h Current supply wiring h1 Current supply wiring when the throttle grip is rotated in the forward direction h2 Current supply wiring when the throttle grip is rotated in the reverse direction w1, w2 Vehicle side wiring M Magnet n Mounting screw Y Unit case k1, k2 Cable tie D1, D2 Vehicle side connector a Connection part

Claims

1. A throttle grip device comprising: a fixed member fixed to the handlebar of a vehicle; a throttle grip attached near the fixed member and rotatable by the driver; and an energizing means attached to the throttle grip and connected to an energizing wiring extending from a battery mounted on the vehicle, wherein the fixed member has a cover member that covers a predetermined portion, and a locking portion that locks the energizing wiring is integrally formed with the cover member.

2. A throttle grip device according to claim 1, wherein said current supplying means comprises heating means attached to the gripping portion of said throttle grip and capable of generating heat when current is applied to heat said gripping portion.

3. The throttle grip device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing member comprises a switch case having an operating section capable of operating various electrical equipment mounted on the vehicle and an intermediate connector that can be connected to a vehicle connector of vehicle wiring extending from the vehicle side, the intermediate connector being formed separately from the switch case at a predetermined position on the switch case, and the connection portion between the intermediate connector and the vehicle wiring being covered by the cover member.

4. A throttle grip device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover member is detachably attached to a predetermined portion of the fixed member, and at least a portion of its surface is attached flush with the surface of the fixed member.

5. A throttle grip device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the fixed member houses an interlocking member that can rotate together with the rotational operation of the throttle grip, and a rotation angle detection means that can detect the rotation angle of the throttle grip by detecting the rotation angle of the interlocking member, the throttle grip can be rotated in both forward and reverse directions, and when the throttle grip is rotated in the forward direction from its initial position, the vehicle's drive source can be controlled in accordance with the rotation angle of the throttle grip detected by the rotation angle detection means, and when the throttle grip is rotated in the reverse direction from its initial position, predetermined electrical equipment equipped on the vehicle can be operated.

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