Headlight Support Patents (Class 362/476)
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Patent number: 11325670Abstract: A saddle riding vehicle includes a front fork including a pair of left and right fork tubes and a pair of top and bottom bridges connecting the left and right fork tubes, a headlight, and an electric part accommodating member accommodating electric parts, the electric part accommodating member being disposed on the rear side of the headlight in a space surrounded by the left and right fork tubes and the top and bottom bridges. The electric part accommodating member includes a fastening section fixed to the front fork by a fastening member and a fitting section fitted and fixed to the bridge.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Takuro Tanaka, Keita Mikura, Shota Yamasaki
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Patent number: 10283007Abstract: A training system for a motorcycle has a plurality of sensor monitoring operating conditions of the motorcycle. A navigation system indicates a location and a route traveled by the motorcycle. A processor is coupled to the plurality of sensors and the navigation system. A memory is coupled to the processor. The memory stores program instructions that when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: analyze the operating conditions monitored by the plurality of sensors along the route; and provide feedback to increase a riding performance when re-riding the route.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2015Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Fuminobu Kurosawa, Daniel Behrendt
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Patent number: 9598129Abstract: An increase in the size of a body portion of a straddled vehicle forward of a steering shaft in a left-right direction and a front-rear direction of a body frame is suppressed to secure a space forward of the steering shaft. Each top end of left optical lens body 35L and right optical lens body 35R is located below top edge B1 of an upper bracket in an up-down direction of the body frame. Each bottom end of left optical lens body 35L and right optical lens body 35R is located above bottom edge B2 of a lower bracket in the up-down direction of the body frame. The left end of left optical lens body 35L is located on the right of left edge B3 of a left front-wheel support unit in the left-right direction of the body frame. The right end of left optical lens body 35L is located on the right of right edge B5 of the left front-wheel support unit in the left-right direction of the body frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takehiro Inoue, Yutaka Kubo, Takeshi Ikeda
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Patent number: 9039258Abstract: A saddle type vehicle provided with a headlight stay for permitting a harness laying operation to be easily carried out. A motorcycle is provided with the headlight stay which is supported on a head pipe and extends toward the vehicle front side from the head pipe. A headlight unit is attached to the headlight stay. The headlight stay includes a first stay extending forward from the head pipe, in a side view of the vehicle and a second stay which is supported in a cantilever manner by a front portion of the first stay and extends rearwardly and upwardly. The headlight unit is partly disposed on the front side of the second stay and is disposed so as to overlap with the first stay.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2013Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Yuji Noguchi
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Publication number: 20150070919Abstract: A bicycle lighting system comprises a front light 13 with a power source 11 with a cradle 12 for mounting on a bicycle, said front light 13 being releasably secured to the cradle 12 to allow removal of the front light 13 when the bicycle is not being used, front light indicator lights 14A, 14B powered by the from light power source, a rear light 23 with a power source 2 for mounting on a bicycle, rear indicator lights 24A. 24B powered by the rear light power source, and a switch device 30 for mounting, on the handlebars X to operate the lights, the switch device being adapted to control the rear light and rear indicator lights through a wireless connection. Removal of the front light from its cradle may disable the rear light. The system may also include a helmet-mounted wirelessly controlled light and the power sources may be kept charged by means of a solar panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2013Publication date: March 12, 2015Inventors: Anthony Richard Howe, Sean Anthony Howe
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Patent number: 8974098Abstract: A bicycle light for securing to a handlebar or other part of a bike, or to a rider's helmet, has an angled front face that allows use of a single, flat LED circuit board with one or more deep conic or parabolic reflectors positioned in front of the upper part of the board and one or more shallow reflectors in front of the bottom part of the board. This provides for both a spot beam produced by the deep reflector and flood light produced by the shallow reflector, in a compact and efficient assembly. Another important feature of the device is side lighting which can be independently controlled, important in affording the rider side lighting while in street traffic but the option to pulse or switch off the side lighting when riding on a trail.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2012Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Light & Motion IndustriesInventors: Christopher McCaslin, Greg Weisenfeld, Beau Jesse Robertson, Roxanne Lo
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Patent number: 8939620Abstract: A headlamp device (18) having left and right pairs of lamp units (20) is disposed inwardly of a front fairing (14) to enclose a front portion of an automotive vehicle. Each of the lamp units (20) is a direct lighting type and includes two light emitting portions (34, 35), on which circuit boards (30, 31) having LED chips (32, 33) mounted thereon, and two lens portions (36, 37) for projecting light, emerging from the light emitting portions (34, 35), in a direction outwardly of the vehicle widthwise direction. The front fairing (14) is so formed as to bulge gradually laterally and upwardly of the vehicle widthwise direction from a tip portion (14a) in a rearward direction, and the headlight device (18) is disposed proximate to a lower end of the front fairing (14).Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2012Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kaoru Kouchi, Yuu Shibuta
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Patent number: 8845154Abstract: A motorcycle wherein an attachment angle of a tail light bulb is increased to reduce a distance between a seat and a tail light unit, to improve the flexibility of a short tail design around a tail light of a motorcycle. The motorcycle includes a rear cowl attached to a rear part of a vehicle body frame, a seat catch arranged on a rear end portion of the vehicle body frame and configured to lock and to unlock an openable/closable seat, a tail light unit arranged behind the seat catch and attached to the rear cowl, a tail light bulb attached to the tail light unit in a forward-tilted state, and a rear fender covering an upper part of a rear wheel WR. An opening that allows access to the tail light bulb is formed at a portion of the rear fender facing the tail light bulb.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akira Hamauzu, Kotaro Fujiyama, Jun Suzuki
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Publication number: 20140286027Abstract: A headlamp assembly for a saddle-type vehicle ensures a generous light-emitting area of an upper lamp, and can make a gap formed between upper and lower lamps hard to see. The headlamp assembly includes upper and lower lamps, each including a light source and a reflector, with the lower lamp arranged below the upper lamp. The headlamp assembly also includes extension members, which extend in a substantially horizontal direction and approach front ends of the reflectors from a front side thereof, where flange portions are attached to and extend downwardly from the lower edges of the reflectors.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 25, 2014Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi HAYASHI, Nobuyuki TAKENAKA, Daisuke KURIKI
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Publication number: 20140254184Abstract: The invention pertains to a set of bicycle lamps for detachable mounting on a tubular structure of a bicycle, said set of lamps comprising a front lamp and a rear lamp, each of said lamps comprising: a substantially cylindrical light emitting element for emitting visible light of a specific wave length or a specific wave length range, a housing attached to said light emitting element, said housing comprising a power supply for supplying electrical energy to the light emitting element, the housing having a component with dimensions resembling the dimensions of a segment of said tubular structure and said substantially cylindrical light emitting element, said two lamps of said set of lamps being adapted to be connected to one another to form a body having a substantially elliptical cross section with one of the focal points of the ellipse being within the one of said cylindrical light emitting elements and the other focal point of the ellipse within the other of said cylindrical light emitting elementsType: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2012Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: Z & M LTD.Inventor: Lars Beck
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Patent number: 8733989Abstract: A bicycle light system has front and rear (white and red) lights with mounting brackets to secure on a bicycle helmet. A battery is contained in the rear light casing, with an electrical cord extending between the front and rear light casings. The front light casing has controls for both front and rear lights, which can include different power levels and preferably a flash mode for the front light. The rear light can be separately controllable with a switch on the rear casing. 360° visibility preferably is provided via the front light, which projects colored light, such as amber, toward the sides. Helmet mountings for the front and rear light casings have a quick-release feature enabling the lights to be easily and quickly removed from the helmet, such as for recharging. For marine use appropriate light colors can be provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Light & Motion IndustriesInventors: Roxanne Lo, Christopher McCaslin, Doug Foss, Damon Campbell, Daniel T. Emerson
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Publication number: 20140092613Abstract: A front cowl structure for a saddle riding type vehicle for preventing turbulence in a stream of air flowing over a front cowl surface. The front cowl structure includes a duct placed inside a front cowl with a duct opening that opens to the front of the vehicle. The front cowl has a cowl front surface opening at a leading end portion thereof for opening a cowl front surface. Headlights are disposed on both lateral sides of the cowl front surface opening with each having a lens surface. The lens surfaces form opening edge portions on both lateral sides of the cowl front surface opening. The lens surfaces are each inclined to a vehicle outer side and rearwardly from the opening edge portions. The duct opening and a cowl opening central portion of the cowl front surface opening are substantially aligned with each other in a vehicle longitudinal direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Rui MAEDA, Yoshinori KOROGI, Shinsuke YUKI, Atsushi TAKASAKI, Shunji YOKOKAWA
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Publication number: 20140063826Abstract: A saddle type vehicle provided with a headlight stay for permitting a harness laying operation to be easily carried out. A motorcycle is provided with the headlight stay which is supported on a head pipe and extends toward the vehicle front side from the head pipe. A headlight unit is attached to the headlight stay. The headlight stay includes a first stay extending forward from the head pipe, in a side view of the vehicle and a second stay which is supported in a cantilever manner by a front portion of the first stay and extends rearwardly and upwardly. The headlight unit is partly disposed on the front side of the second stay and is disposed so as to overlap with the first stay.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Yuji NOGUCHI
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Patent number: 8616744Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a lamp unit having a bulb attaching portion into which a bulb is inserted and attached, an outer housing configured to engage with the lamp unit at a location behind the bulb attaching portion, an inner housing disposed inside the outer housing such that a clearance is provided in a radial direction between the outer housing and the inner housing and such that, relative to the outer housing, the inner housing is movable in an axial direction and is rotatable about an axis extending in the axial direction, and a spring disposed between the outer housing and the inner housing to bias the inner housing toward the bulb in the axial direction. When the outer housing is engaged with the lamp unit, the spring biases the inner housing such that a flange of the bulb is pressed against the bulb attaching portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2010Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignees: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takahiro Uchiyama, Izumi Suzuki, Masaaki Nakabayashi
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Publication number: 20130250593Abstract: A combination lamp and flashlight assembly including a frame; a headlamp attachment and a charging attachment carried by the frame; a cable electrically coupling the headlamp attachment and the charging attachment; a headlamp head; and a battery pack, wherein the assembly is changeable between a headlamp configuration, where the headlamp head is mechanically and electrically coupled to the headlamp attachment and the battery pack is mechanically and electrically coupled to the charging attachment, and a handheld flashlight configuration, where the headlamp head is mechanically and electrically coupled to the battery pack to form a handheld flashlight. The assembly is also changeable to a cycle lamp configuration, where the headlamp head is mechanically and electrically coupled to a headlamp attachment of a handle bar mount to form a cycle lamp and the battery pack is mechanically and electrically coupled to a charging attachment of a cycle tube mount.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: XGlow P/T, LLCInventors: Richard S. Popper, Jensen Jorgensen
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Patent number: 8529107Abstract: There is provided a system for use in illuminating a feature of a railway. In one embodiment, a system can include an illumination unit disposed for illumination of a railway feature. The illumination unit can include a light source bank, a solar panel, and a rechargeable battery for energizing the light source bank that is rechargeable utilizing energy collected by the solar energy panel.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2010Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Tripsplusone, Inc.Inventors: Henry Andrew Moran, Milton Brill, Danny Thomas Forster
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Publication number: 20130163263Abstract: A headlamp device (18) having left and right pairs of lamp units (20) is disposed inwardly of a front fairing (14) to enclose a front portion of an automotive vehicle. Each of the lamp units (20) is a direct lighting type and includes two light emitting portions (34, 35), on which circuit boards (30, 31) having LED chips (32, 33) mounted thereon, and two lens portions (36, 37) for projecting light, emerging from the light emitting portions (34, 35), in a direction outwardly of the vehicle widthwise direction. The front fairing (14) is so formed as to bulge gradually laterally and upwardly of the vehicle widthwise direction from a tip portion (14a) in a rearward direction, and the headlight device (18) is disposed proximate to a lower end of the front fairing (14).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2012Publication date: June 27, 2013Applicant: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
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Patent number: 8469561Abstract: A road-adaptive headlight for motorcycles includes a curved base plate having a left curved portion divided from top to bottom into a left-banking lighting zone and a left-crossing lighting zone, a right curved portion divided from top to bottom into a right-banking lighting zone and a right-crossing lighting zone, and a middle curved portion divided from top to bottom into a high-speed lighting zone, a main lighting zone and a horizontal lighting zone. LED light sources are provided in each of the above-mentioned zones. A power source assembly drives the base plate to incline upward or downward and to turn clockwise or counterclockwise. A controller is electrically connected to the LED light sources and the power source assembly for controlling the operation thereof. Thus, different headlight beam patterns can be quickly and flexibly produced under control to ensure increased road visibility and motorcycle riding safety.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2010Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: National Taipei University of TechnologyInventors: YaoJung Shiao, Chun-Cheng Chen
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Patent number: 8430544Abstract: A headlight of motorcycle includes a dashboard, a connection member, a headlight, a bracket, and front support racks. The dashboard is coupled to the headlight by the connection member in a modularized manner. The headlight forms coupling holes for mounting to the front support racks. The bracket carries signal lights thereon. By coupling the headlight and the dashboard together in a modularized manner and mounting the bracket that carries the signal lights to the opposite sides of the headlight, and further fixing the front support racks to the opposite sides of the headlight, a headlight module is formed. The headlight module can be easily attached between upper and lower beams of a steering handlebar by using the front support racks so as to simplify the assembling operation and to conceal the front support racks between the bracket and the steering handlebar for improving the outside appearance of the headlight.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2010Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shih-Wang Tu, Tai-Yuan Sue, Jung-Hung Hsieh
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Publication number: 20130100689Abstract: A front cowl for use with a saddle-ride type vehicle includes headlights as well as an air introduction passage configured to introduce a flow of air rearwardly. The air introduction passage is opened in a forward direction to enable the headlights to be cooled by the flow of air that flow through the air introduction passage. Headlights using LEDs as their respective sources of light are placed inside an air introduction passage while supported by a duct that forms the air introduction passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2012Publication date: April 25, 2013Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hayato OHASHI, Akira OMAE
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Patent number: 8398280Abstract: A lighting system includes a first lighting apparatus, an annular second lighting apparatus, and an annular stay. The first lighting apparatus includes a light source covered with a housing. The annular second lighting apparatus is disposed around the housing and includes a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed annularly so as to be radially spaced apart from an outer periphery of the first lighting apparatus. The annular stay is supported by the housing to support the second lighting apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2010Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Toru Miyagawa
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Publication number: 20120314435Abstract: A separate member is provided in the space between the side portion of headlight and the side cowl. A front structure of straddle type vehicle includes a joint portion that can be precisely positioned, while an increase in the width of the front portion of side cowl is prevented. A separate air intake cover is provided between the side portion of the headlight and the side cowl and is attached to the headlight stay with the headlight, simultaneously. The side cowl engaging portions is disposed behind the side cowl and with which the side cowl is engaged in the vicinity of the joint portion with the side cowl.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2012Publication date: December 13, 2012Inventors: Taiki HOASHI, Gen TANABE
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Patent number: 8317377Abstract: A lighting apparatus is mounted to a lower end of a front fork that supports a front wheel via a bearing portion. The lighting apparatus has a housing, an upper surface of which includes a bottom case receiving surface formed thereon. The bottom case receiving surface is shaped so that an outer periphery of a bottom case can fit therein. A rubber sheet is placed between the bottom case and the bottom case receiving surface to offer vibration isolation property. A bolt is screwed into a threaded hole in the bottom case so as to penetrate through a mounting portion having the bottom case receiving surface, so that the lighting apparatus is secured to the bottom case.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2008Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Koshi Hayakawa
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Patent number: 8235566Abstract: A motorcycle is provided with a head light and an auxiliary light that are arranged along an up and down direction of a vehicle, and is provided with a front cover that can cover at least a portion of the legs of a rider. The respective lenses of the head light and the auxiliary light are arranged to be exposed in a forward portion of the vehicle. The front cover has an outside cover that is formed on both sides of the head light and the auxiliary light, and a head light cover that is formed in a portion closer to a center of the front cover than the outside cover. The head light and the auxiliary light protrude forward of the front edge of the outside cover. The head light cover protrudes forward of the outside cover.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2008Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tzu-Pin Li
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Patent number: 8210725Abstract: A light bar has several modular light source heads which may contain different types of light sources as well as different technologies mounted in cages by shock absorbing grommets. The cages are mounted on a bottom member so that the heads can be arranged along opposite sides and the ends of the bottom members. The heads are captured, and assembled with the bottom member, by a top member which also captures translucent or transparent members or lenses along the sides of the light bar and, transparent or translucent end caps which may also provide lenses for the light source heads at the ends of the bar. The end caps are removably connected to the top and bottom members at the ends of the bar by screws extending through the end caps. The light source modules have the same wiring connected thereto by connectors from a connector board to connectors along the back ends of the light source heads.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2009Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Start Headlight & Lantern Co., Inc.Inventors: R. Michael Datz, Robert J. Gross, Steven W. Neufeglise, Stephen T. Vukosic, J. Douglas Richardson, Michael F. Mastin
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Patent number: 8192061Abstract: An annular lighting fixture having a housing, a channel, and a plurality of lights disposed in the channel. The fixture can be attached about a tubular portion of a motorcycle. In one embodiment, the plurality of lights are light emitting diodes surface mounted on a flexible printed circuit board disposed in the channel. In another embodiment a collimator is associated with each LED unit to redirect light in a desired direction. In another embodiment reflective portions are arranged on respective sides of the channel so as to redirect light in a desired direction. A method is also provided herein for the illumination of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2008Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Inventor: Jennifer S. Waring
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Patent number: 8134456Abstract: A wire is provided in a turn signal power cord drawn out from a turn signal indicator fixed to a front fork while achieving a good appearance. A turn signal indicator includes a lamp case housing a lamp, and a stay member coupled to the lamp case. The stay member includes an annular collar fitted around a circumference of a front fork shaft. A cord-housing groove is formed in an outer part of the annular collar. A turn signal power cord is drawn out from the lamp case to the annular collar through an arm part to the outside through the groove. The cord-housing groove is covered with a cover, which is formed integrally with a locking member that engages with a slot part of a top bridge, as an anti-rotation component of the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2009Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Osugi, Kenji Watanabe
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Patent number: 8104937Abstract: A headlight support structure for a saddle-type vehicle allows a headlight to be easily mounted easily on a handlebar of the vehicle. The headlight support structure includes a support member. The support member, in turn, includes: an attachment portion fixed to a mounting bracket disposed on a handlebar; a first holding portion covering the handlebar from an upward direction; and a second holding portion covering the handlebar from a forward direction. The headlight support member is supported on the handlebar by having the first and second holding portions supported on the handlebar with gaps interposed therebetween, while having the attachment portion fixed to the mounting bracket on the handlebar. The headlight is supported by first and right wall portions, extending respectively forwardly from right and left sides of a front portion of the support member.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2009Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tadashi Oshima, Tomoko Nagamatsu
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Patent number: 8104936Abstract: A straddle-type vehicle includes a head light having a lens face, and an auxiliary light arranged above the head light and having a lens face. The auxiliary light is arranged behind the head light. Moreover, the straddle-type vehicle has an outside cover part formed on the sides of the head light and the auxiliary light. The outside cover part is inclined rearward and upward at a specified inclined angle, and the head light and the lens face are inclined at a smaller angle than is the outside cover part.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2008Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tzu-Pin Li
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Publication number: 20110273896Abstract: A headlamp device includes a mounting stay extending from a vehicle body, a headlamp case mounted to the mounting stay in such a manner as to enclose the mounting stay, and a lamp unit mounted to the headlamp case.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2011Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Jiang YUN
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Patent number: 8055023Abstract: A plurality of lighting units are positioned forwardly of the driver seat in the cabin of a vehicle for applying infrared radiations in respective directions to the vehicle driver seated on the driver seat. The intensities of the emitted infrared radiations are controlled according to respective basic controlled variables depending on the illuminance in the vehicle cabin. The position and orientation of the face of the vehicle driver are recognized from an image captured of the vehicle driver by an imaging device, and the basic controlled variables are corrected according to the recognized position and orientation, thereby adjusting the intensities of the infrared radiations emitted from the lighting units and a balance of the infrared radiations emitted from the lighting units. Thereafter, the illuminance in the vehicle cabin and the recognized position and orientation change, then corrective coefficients for the basic controlled variables are updated depending on the changes.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2005Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, Nippon Soken, Inc.Inventors: Tomoyuki Goto, Rokuro Okada
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Patent number: 8042979Abstract: A headlight case, that houses a light body, is made small in size. The light body includes a reflector, and a lens attached to the reflector. The light body is pivotally supported in the headlight case by bolts extending through a ring member extending around the light body, so that an aiming operation can be performed. The ring member is connected to the light body behind the lens, and is locked to the headlight case at a position spaced away from an open edge thereof. A ring body of the ring member has an outer shape smaller than a maximum outer shape of the light body. A rim, to be fitted around the open end of the headlight case, has a lead that extends toward a position spaced away from the open end of the headlight case, to be fitted into a concave part of the headlight case.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2009Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Osugi, Naoki Murasawa
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Publication number: 20110211359Abstract: A road-adaptive headlight for motorcycles includes a curved base plate having a left curved portion divided from top to bottom into a left-banking lighting zone and a left-crossing lighting zone, a right curved portion divided from top to bottom into a right-banking lighting zone and a right-crossing lighting zone, and a middle curved portion divided from top to bottom into a high-speed lighting zone, a main lighting zone and a horizontal lighting zone. LED light sources are provided in each of the above-mentioned zones. A power source assembly drives the base plate to incline upward or downward and to turn clockwise or counterclockwise. A controller is electrically connected to the LED light sources and the power source assembly for controlling the operation thereof. Thus, different headlight beam patterns can be quickly and flexibly produced under control to ensure increased road visibility and motorcycle riding safety.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2010Publication date: September 1, 2011Applicant: NATIONAL TAIPEI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: YaoJung Shiao, Chun-Cheng Chen
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Patent number: 7972047Abstract: A headlight unit having a virtual pivot center provided at a position different from a supported position to a vehicle body. Two, upper and lower headlight supporting portions spaced apart from each other are provided at a rear portion of a headlight unit The upper headlight supporting portion on each side includes a guide shaft formed on a support member of a radiator cover and a groove formed on an upper base portion of the headlight unit. The lower headlight supporting portion on each side includes an elongated hole formed through the support member of the radiator cover and a bolt threadedly engaged with a lower base portion of the headlight unit. The guide shaft and the bolt slide in the groove and the elongated hole, respectively, for performing the swing motion of the headlight unit about the virtual pivot center C to perform an adjustment of an optical axis.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2008Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tatsuya Shiokawa, Koji Aoki
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Patent number: 7950835Abstract: A bicycle or moped lighting system projects light onto a rider's moving legs to make the rider more visible to motor vehicle operators and thereby improve the rider's safety. A single safety light fixture is mounted below the bicycle seat and directs diverging light beams towards the backs of both of the rider's legs. While peddling, the motion of the lighted legs attracts the attention of the motor vehicle operators thereby improving rider visibility. A second light fixture may reside ahead of the rider to direct diverging light beams onto the fronts of the rider's moving legs.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2008Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Inventor: James Carillo
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Patent number: 7931392Abstract: A motorcycle includes a fork assembly and a headlight. The fork assembly is provided with a cavity. The headlight is at least partially disposed within the cavity in the fork assembly and is configured to selectively provide illumination ahead of the motorcycle.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2008Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.Inventors: Daisuke Nagao, Kenji Tamura
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Patent number: 7922377Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light emitting diode (LED) unit supported by a metal-made support member. The LED unit is constituted by an integrally formed aluminum diecast product including an LED support portion for supporting an LED, a reflector including a reflecting face constituted by a face thereof opposed to the LED, a rib projected from a back face of the reflector, and a connecting portion connected to the metal-made support member.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tatsuhiko Yamamichi, Shigeyuki Watanabe, Tetsuaki Inaba, Takashi Inoue
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Patent number: 7802907Abstract: A vehicle that is able to improve visibility of the light member (turning indicator) mounted to the front side of the motorcycle body, is preferably an underbone type motorcycle, and includes an engine, a head pipe disposed above the front of the engine, a main frame extending downward in the rear direction from the head pipe and disposed above the engine. In addition, the vehicle includes handlebars disposed above the head pipe, a cover member for covering the handlebars, a headlight disposed at the front sides of the cover member, a cover member for covering the front side of the head pipe, and width indicators and turn signals disposed at the front side of the cover member.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2005Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kiyotaka Uemura, Yoshiharu Matsumoto
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Patent number: 7789544Abstract: A modular light rack assembly for off-road vehicles having a plurality of individual pieces that can be selectively connected to form a substantially linear assembly for attaching a variety of headlight subassemblies. In each embodiment, there is a common left hand mounting configuration and common right hand mounting configuration, so that each piece of the modular light rack assembly having one or both of these configurations on its end or ends is selectively connectable to any other piece to form a substantially linear assembly of any desired configuration.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2007Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Baja Designs, Inc.Inventors: Alan R. Roach, Stephen J. Mitchell
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Patent number: 7784982Abstract: A wraparound light assembly for a vehicle. A lens is attached to a housing. A body panel defines an interior vehicle space, and the body panel includes a recessed portion defining an aperture. The housing overlays at least part of the recess. A grommet is disposed in the aperture and extends through the body panel into the interior vehicle space. The grommet defines a receptacle having an opening facing the housing. A projection extends from the housing. The projection is configured to be slidably engaged in the receptacle along an installation axis and to extend into a portion of the receptacle in the interior vehicle space.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.Inventors: Carlos Gerardo Navarro Zavala, Jeffrey Alan Mesko, Thomas W. Schumacher, Kent J. Agne
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Patent number: 7780321Abstract: A light assembly includes an attaching member having a chamber for attaching onto an object and having two couplers, two electric cables engaged in the attaching member and each having two end terminals disposed in the couplers, a light device and a power supply device each include a latch device for engaging with the couplers and for attaching to the couplers of the attaching member, and each having two connectors for electrically connecting to the terminals of the electric cables and for electrically connecting the light device to the power supply device, and for allowing the light device and the power supply device to be easily and quickly attach to and disengaged from the attaching member without external wires.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2009Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Ravx Inc.Inventor: Darren Retief
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Patent number: 7766522Abstract: A headlight device for a vehicle that improves external appearance by varying irradiation light reflected by a reflector. The reflector is in a shape of a bowl opening to a front side of the vehicle. An outer housing supports the reflector so that the reflector can swing back and forth. A ring member formed separately from the outer housing covers an opening edge of the reflector.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2008Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshikazu Suita
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Patent number: 7722231Abstract: A bicycle or moped lighting system projects light onto a rider's legs to make the rider more visible to motor vehicle operators and thereby improve the rider's safety. At least one safety light fixture is mounted to lower portions of bicycle seat stays or rear portions of the bicycle chain stays. The light fixture includes light sources generating light beams directed forward onto rear surfaces of the rider's legs. While peddling, the motion of the lighted legs attracts the attention of the motor vehicle operators thereby improving rider visibility. Additional light beams may be directed inward and upward toward the bicycle frame and/or the rider's buttocks to provide additional visibility to the rider and to allow the motor vehicle operators to more easily identify the bicycle and rider. A second light fixture may reside ahead of the rider to direct light beams onto the front of the rider's moving legs.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2007Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Inventor: James Carillo
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Patent number: 7703962Abstract: A lighting device usable in a vehicle, the lighting device comprising at least a reflector and a lamp, wherein the reflector further includes an orifice. The lamp may be mounted in a lamp holder, the lamp holder being coupled to the reflector and positioned at least partly in the office. In addition, the orifice located within the reflector may be configured to work with a variety of lamp holders, including at least a discharge bulb lamp holder and a halogen bulb lamp holder.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2005Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Valeo VisionInventors: Jean-François Delourme, Nicolas Simmet
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Publication number: 20100096829Abstract: A motorcycle includes a fork assembly and a headlight. The fork assembly is provided with a cavity. The headlight is at least partially disposed within the cavity in the fork assembly and is configured to selectively provide illumination ahead of the motorcycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2008Publication date: April 22, 2010Inventors: Daisuke Nagao, Kenji Tamura
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Patent number: 7699491Abstract: A flashlight mounting arrangement may comprise a flashlight body having a source of light therein, and a mounting saddle for detachably affixing the flashlight body on an object, the mounting saddle detachably engaging the flashlight body. Optionally, the flashlight may have a rotatable lamp head, and the lamp head may also include a reflector having one or more sources of light, e.g., an incandescent lamp and a light emitting diode, therein. Also optionally, a battery charger may be provided to recharge a battery for the flashlight.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2007Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.Inventors: Raymond L. Sharrah, John C. DiNenna, Charles W. Craft
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Patent number: 7695173Abstract: A motorcycle front lighting apparatus structure includes a headlight and a position light provided adjacent to the headlight. In this structure, the position light is disposed in a condition protruding downwardly from a lower edge of the headlight. This structure allows the position light to be made larger, and makes any needed repair easy and cost effective.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2008Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyasu Ota, Eiji Ashihara
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Patent number: 7674023Abstract: A headlight assembly for a straddle-type vehicle (e.g., a motor scooter) is provided that is positioned lower to the ground and farther forward than typical headlights to provide enhanced illumination from a front end of the vehicle. The assembly comprises a front portion of a vehicle body cover that extends over a portion of the front wheel of the vehicle. A headlight assembly is disposed at least partially on a front end of the front portion of the vehicle body cover. The headlight assembly comprises an upper light for generating a low beam of light and a lower light for generating a high beam of light. In addition, the headlight comprises position lights disposed on the right side and the left side of the upper and lower lights. Preferably, at least a portion of the headlight assembly is positioned farther forward than a leading end of the front wheel of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2005Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masaru Ohira
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Patent number: 7628518Abstract: A bicycle hub includes a hub shaft, a hub shell, a bearing arrangement, an electricity generating mechanism and at least one lamp. The hub shaft is configured and arranged to be mounted in a non-rotatable manner to a bicycle frame. The hub shell has a hollow interior with the hub shaft being disposed in the hollow interior of the hub shell. The bearing arrangement is arranged between the hub shell and the hub shaft in such a manner that the hub shell can rotate freely with respect to the hub shaft. The electricity generating mechanism is arranged inside the hub shell and is configured to generate electricity in response to relative rotation of the hub shell with respect to the hub shaft. The lamp is arranged on at least one end of the hub shell and illuminated using electricity generated by the electricity generating mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2004Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Kazuhiro Fujii, Koji Uno
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Patent number: 7628517Abstract: To provide a vehicle headlight assembly designed to increase the productivity, the vehicle headlight assembly includes a light projecting group (34) accommodated within a casing (31) and including a plurality of light projecting units (29, 30). Each of the light projecting units (29, 30) in turn includes a light emitting element (37, 38), and a support member (40A, 40B) supported by and within the casing (31). The support members (40A, 40B) of each light projecting units (29, 30) cooperatively form a single holder (40A, 40B).Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2006Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignees: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Stanley Electric CO., Ltd.Inventors: Mikio Domoto, Katsushi Ono