Two-wheeled vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10760730-B2
Application number	US-201815937190-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2018
Priority date	Nov 11, 2013
Publication date	Sep 1, 2020
Grant date	Sep 1, 2020

Abstract

A vehicle includes an electrical system which has at least one control unit and a first operator input device operably coupled to the at least one control unit. Additionally, the electrical system includes a second operator input device electrically coupled to the at least one control unit. The at least one control unit being operative to power on at least the engine. Also, the electrical system includes a security input device operably coupled to the at least one control unit. The at least one control unit is configured to transmit an actuation signal to the security input device in response to actuation of the first operator input device independent of actuation of the second operator input device and in response to actuation of the second operator input device independent of actuation of the first operator input device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
a frame;
a plurality of ground-engaging members supporting the frame;
an engine supported by the frame and operably coupled to the ground-engaging members; and
an electrical system including:
at least one control unit operative to control the engine and a plurality of electrical components of the electrical system;
a first operator input device operably coupled to the at least one control unit, and the at least one control unit is operative to power on at least a portion of the electrical system in response to actuation of the first operator input device;
a second operator input device electrically coupled to the at least one control unit, and the at least one control unit being operative to power on at least the engine in response to actuation of the second operator input device; and
a security input device operably coupled to the at least one control unit, and the at least one control unit being configured to transmit an actuation signal to the security input device in response to actuation of the first operator input device,
the at least one control unit programmed to transmit a start signal upon actuation of the second operator input device when the actuation signal indicates the presence of the security input device.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first operator input device defines a power input configured to initiate operation of at least a portion of the electrical system independent of a status of the engine, and the second operator input device defines a start input configured to initiate operation of the engine when the actuation signal indicates the presence of the security input device.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the security input device defines a portable wireless security device.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the at least one control unit is configured to determine if the portable wireless security device is within a distance range of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the at least one control unit is configured to immobilize the vehicle when the portable wireless security device is outside of the distance range of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the engine is configured to operate when the vehicle is immobilized.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the security input device defines an identification input configured to be provided by a user.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising at least one accessory selected from the group of a cruise control system, heated handgrips, a communication system, and a storage area including a coupling system having a first coupler and a second coupler.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one control unit is programmed to disable transmission of the start signal when the actuation signal indicates the absence of the security input device.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first operator input device is fixed to the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the first operator input device is a button positioned to be pushed by an operator of the vehicle.

12. A vehicle, comprising:
a frame;
a plurality of ground-engaging members supporting the frame;
an engine supported by the frame and operably coupled to the ground-engaging members; and
an electrical system including:
at least one control unit operative to control the engine and a plurality of components of the electrical system;
at least one operator input device operably coupled to the at least one control unit; and
a security input device operably coupled to the at least one control unit, and the at least one control unit being configured to:
perform a first check to determine if the security input device is within a distance range of the vehicle in response to actuation of the at least one operator input;
initiate operation of the engine in response to the actuation of the at least one operator input and a determination that the security input is within the distance range of the vehicle;
immobilize movement of the vehicle in response to the actuation of the at least one operator input and a determination that the security input device is outside of the distance range of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the at least one control unit is further configured to perform a second check to determine if the security input device is within the distance range of the vehicle after immobilizing movement of the vehicle, and to allow mobilization of the vehicle when the second check determines that the security input device is within the distance range of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the security input device is a portable wireless security device.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the portable wireless security device includes an identification number and the at least one control unit is configured to compare the identification number of the portable wireless security device to an identifier stored in a memory of the at least one control unit.

16. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the at least one control unit is configured to maintain the engine in a powered off state when the first check determines that the security input device is outside of the distance range of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the at least one operator input defines a power input configured to initiate operation of at least a portion of the electrical system and a start input configured to initiate operation of the engine.

18. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the first operator input device is fixed to the vehicle.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the first operator input device is a button positioned to be pushed by an operator of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Indian Motorcycle International Llc

Inventors

• Lenton Ryan P
• Kahl Donald W
• Novak Andrew J
• Oltmans Jeffrey D

Classifications

• B62D35/008

  Side spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62J17/04 Primary

  Windscreens · CPC title

• B62J9/23

  above or alongside the rear wheel (B62J9/26 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16M13/02 Primary

  for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle · CPC title

• B62J7/04

  arranged above or behind the rear wheel · CPC title