Two-wheeled vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9550541-B2
Application number	US-201514827038-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2015
Priority date	Nov 12, 2012
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

A two-wheeled vehicle includes a frame, a plurality of ground-engaging members for supporting the frame, and an engine supported by the frame and operably coupled to the ground-engaging members. Additionally, the two-wheeled vehicle includes an upper and lower fairing assembly that cooperate together to define wind flow around the vehicle. Vents and deflectors are controllable to regulate the airflow to the rider. A vehicle control unit is operable to control the heated grips and the cruise control. A trunk is provided for mounting to the motorcycle and is electrically coupled to a harness running beneath the seat. The vehicle is further profiled to receive a hand held GMRS handset and smart phone.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
a frame;
front and rear ground-engaging members supporting the frame;
a powertrain drivingly coupled to one of the front and rear ground-engaging members;
a steering assembly coupled to the front ground-engaging member for steering the vehicle, the steering assembly comprising a handlebar having handgrips for an operator's hands;
a temperature sensor;
at least one programmable controller configured to receive feedback from the temperature sensor; and
a heater in each handgrip or within the handlebar, the heater being operably coupled to the at least one programmable controller and receiving feedback regarding ambient temperature and a speed of the vehicle from the temperature sensor to control operation of the heater.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of an ambient temperature sensor and a speed sensor.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is thermistors.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one programmable controller is an engine control unit.

5. A vehicle, comprising:
a frame;
front and rear ground-engaging members supporting the frame;
a powertrain drivingly coupled to one of the front and rear ground-engaging members;
a steering assembly coupled to the front ground-engaging member for steering the vehicle, the steering assembly comprising a handlebar having handgrips for an operator's hands;
at least one sensor;
at least one programmable controller configured to receive feedback from the sensor; and
a heater in each handgrip or within the handlebar, the heater being operably coupled to the at least one programmable controller and configured to control a temperature of each handgrip with PWM from the programmable controller, wherein the heater is configured to operate at 100% PWM for a first predetermined time and operate at less than 100% PWM and greater than 0% PWM for a second predetermined time to maintain the temperature of each handgrip.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the first predetermined time is up to 60 seconds.

7. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the heater is configured to increase the temperature of each handgrip during the second predetermined time.

8. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the at least one sensor is one of a temperature sensor at each handgrip or within the handlebar for monitoring the handgrip temperature; an ambient temperature sensor and a speed sensor.

9. The vehicle of claim 5 , further comprising:
an upper fairing coupled to the frame;
a lower fairing coupled to the frame; and
at least one deflector at upper portions of the lower fairing and configured to move between an open position and a closed position.

10. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the at least one programmable controller controls a current of the heater to control the temperature of each handgrip.

11. A method of controlling a temperature of a handgrip of a vehicle, comprising:
providing a steering assembly including a handgrip over a portion of the steering assembly;
operably coupling a heater to each handgrip;
operating the heater at 100% PWM for a predetermined time; and
operating the heater at less than 100% PWM and greater than 0% PWM after the predetermined time.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing at least one programmable controller and operably coupling the at least one programmable controller with the heater.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein operating the heater at 100% PWM for the predetermined time includes increasing a current of the heater.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein operating the heater at less than 100% PWM includes decreasing the current of the heater.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first predetermined time is up to 60 seconds.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising sensing an ambient temperature from a temperature sensor of the vehicle and operating the heater after the predetermined time based on the ambient temperature.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising providing an engine control unit operably coupled to the temperature sensor, transmitting the ambient temperature to the engine control unit, and, with the engine control unit, operating the heater based on the ambient temperature.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising sensing a speed of the vehicle and operating the heater after the predetermined time based on the speed of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising providing an engine control unit operably coupled to a speed sensor, transmitting the speed of the vehicle to the engine control unit, and, with the engine control unit, operating the heater based on the speed of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the engine control unit is configured to adjust a current to the heater based on the speed of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Indian Motorcycle International Llc

Inventors

• Lenton Ryan P
• Kahl Donald W
• Nutter John M
• Quade Neil P
• Novak Andrew J

Classifications

• B62K21/18

  Connections between forks and handlebars or handlebar stems · CPC title

• B62K21/26

  Handlebar grips (twist grips B62K23/04) · CPC title

• B62J15/00

  Mud-guards for wheels · CPC title

• B60Y2200/12

  Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters · CPC title

• B62K21/12

  Handlebars; Handlebar stems · CPC title