Sound adjustable device for coupling to an engine and method for manufacturing thereof

Abstract

A sound adjustable device that varies exhaust-noise having a casing including a sound-dampening material that dampens exhaust-noise, an outer slotted pipe inside the casing, an inner slotted pipe inside the outer slotted pipe, and wherein at least one of the outer and inner slotted pipes is movable with respect to the other to alternately align the slots of the respective slotted pipes for a quieter exhaust-noise and to misalign the slots of the respective slotted pipes for a louder exhaust-noise. The sound adjustable device may also include a heat-shielding material inserted between the casing and the sound-dampening material to shield the casing from heat emitted by the exhaust, and a heat-resistant material may be included in the inner and outer slotted pipes.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application No. 60/794367 filed Apr. 24, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices for varying the sound volume of exhaust-noise emitted from internal combustion engines, and more specifically for engines of the type commonly used on motorcycles, recreational vehicles or other vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional mufflers, for example motorcycle mufflers, consist of a perforated metal pipe wrapped in a sound-absorbing material which is contained within a metal or chrome casing. Conventional mufflers are connected to a motorcycle's engine by an exhaust pipe, which conveys the exhaust and exhaust-noise from the motorcycle's engine to the conventional muffler. The exhaust and exhaust-noise are then conveyed into a sound-absorbing material surrounding the perforated metal pipe via the perforations wherein the exhaust-noise is absorbed by the sound-absorbing material.

Conventional motorcycle mufflers are currently made or modified to be either quiet or loud, but not both. Modification of the muffler from quiet to loud or vise-versa requires that the muffler's sound-absorbing material be removed from the muffler to make the muffler louder, or that a semi-permeable plug or cap be inserted into the end of the muffler to make the muffler quieter. Each of these methods is manually intensive, and cannot be performed while operating the motorcycle. Furthermore, if the motorcycle muffler has been modified with a semi-permeable plug or cap, the flow of exhaust from the muffler is inhibited, thereby reducing the power of the motorcycle engine until the semi-permeable plug or cap is manually removed.

Loud mufflers are desirable because they make motorcycles sound more powerful and help to alert other motorists to the presence of the motorcycle and rider, thus helping motorcyclists avoid collisions with vehicles as well as collisions with animals that may stray into the road. However, loud mufflers are particularly disturbing to people either late at night or early in the morning, may violate town or hospital noise ordinances, and make it difficult for motorcyclists to speak with one another while operating the motorcycle.

Quiet mufflers are desirable because they add to the motorcyclists' comfort, ability to hear surrounding sounds, ability to speak with one another, and they do not create public disturbances or violate noise ordinances. However, quiet mufflers make the motorcycle sound less powerful, restrict the motorcycle engines power output, and the motorcycle rider is less noticeable to vehicular traffic and animals.

Although both loud and quiet mufflers each have their respective advantages and disadvantages, conventional motorcycle mufflers do not allow a motorcycle operator to easily vary the sound volume of the muffler while operating the motorcycle.

Another problem with conventional mufflers, for example, muffler 15 shown in FIG. 1, is that the chrome or metal muffler-casing of the muffler 15 gets very hot, and therefore can easily burn the bare skin or clothing of the motorcycle rider. In many cases, the heat produced by the exhaust from the engine 100 can cause discoloration of chrome muffler-casings or can cause a rider's shoe sole to melt onto the chrome muffler-casing, causing unsightly markings and resulting in the costly removal of these markings. A muffler resistant to the high temperatures common to conventional mufflers can not only reduce the risk of injury to a motorcycle rider, but can also preserve the appearance of the motorcycle.

In summary, conventional mufflers heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages:

(a) Conventional mufflers must be manually modified to increase the sound volume of the muffler by manually removing the sound-absorbing material in the muffler.

(b) Conventional mufflers must be manually modified to decrease the sound volume of the muffler by either manually reinserting the removed sound-absorbing material in the muffler, manually inserting a denser sound-absorbing material in the muffler, or by manually inserting a semi-permeable plug or cap into the exhaust emitting end of the muffler.

(c) Inserting a semi-permeable plug or cap into the exhaust emitting end of conventional mufflers reduces the power output of the motorcycle engine until the semi-permeable plug or cap is manually removed.

(d) Positioning a heat shield between conventional mufflers and the motorcycle rider can only shield the motorcycle rider from heat emitted by the exhaust, but cannot prevent the heat emitted by the exhaust from discoloring the muffler-casing.

(e) Positioning a heat shield between conventional mufflers and the motorcycle rider detracts from the aesthetic continuity of the motorcycle and decreases performance and handling due to increased wind resistance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sound adjustable device which enables a user to quickly and easily vary the sound volume of a motorcycle while the motorcycle is either stationary or in motion, and wherein the internal components of the sound adjustable device shield the casing of the sound adjustable device from the heat of the exhaust.

The subject invention results from the realization that a sound adjustable device including two slotted pipes, one positioned within the other, can affect the sound volume of the exhaust-noise by moving one of the slotted pipes with respect to the other so as to either align or misalign the slots of the respective pipes. Completely aligning the slots of the inner slotted pipe and the slots of the outer slotted pipe maximizes the amount of exhaust-noise to be exposed to a sound-dampening material surrounding the outer slotted pipe, thereby minimizing exhaust-noise. Increasingly misaligning the slots of the inner slotted pipe and the outer slotted pipe decreases the amount of exhaust-noise exposed to the sound-dampening material by proportionally decreasing the size of the openings formed by the combination of the slots of the inner and outer slotted pipes, in proportion to the misalignment of the slotted pipes, thereby increasing the amount of exhaust-noise. Furthermore, the subject invention also results from the realization that a sound adjustable device with components including heat-resistant or heat-shielding properties, for example a casing that includes a heat-shielding material as well as slotted pipes including heat-resistant materials, will effectively reduce the amount of heat to which the casing is exposed.

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:

(a) to provide a sound adjustable device which can quickly and easily increase the sound volume of the exhaust-noise while the motorcycle is stationary or in motion through the use of a hand switch or foot switch;

(b) to provide a sound adjustable device which can quickly and easily decrease the sound volume of the exhaust-noise while the motorcycle is stationary or in motion through the use of a hand switch or foot switch;

(c) to provide a sound adjustable device wherein the output power of the motorcycle engine can be increased or decreased, in proportion to the sound volume of the exhaust-noise, while the motorcycle is stationary or in motion through the use of a hand switch or foot switch;

(d) to provide a sound adjustable device including heat-shielding properties which protect the motorcycle rider and casing from heat emitted from the exhaust.

(e) to provide a sound adjustable device which protects the motorcycle rider and casing from heat emitted from the exhaust without the need for aesthetically unpleasant or performance decreasing accessories.

Further objects and advantages of the subject invention are to provide a sound adjustable device which can be used to easily, conveniently, and quickly to increase or decrease the sound volume of the exhaust while the motorcycle is stationary or in motion, through the use of a hand switch or foot switch, and to protect the motorcycle rider and casing from heat emitted from the exhaust without the need for aesthetically unpleasant or performance decreasing accessories.

The preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, includes an inner slotted pipe 50 at least partially contained within an outer slotted pipe 40, wherein the combination of the slotted pipes 40 and 50 are at least partially surrounded by a sound-dampening material 30. The inner slotted pipe 50 includes at least one second slot 56, and the inner slotted pipe 50 protrudes from the outer slotted pipe 40 at the opening 44 of the outer slotted pipe 40. The outer slotted pipe 40 includes at least one first slot 48, and the slotted pipes 40 and 50 are movable with respect to each other, either by rotation or by sliding. As the slotted pipes 40 and 50 are moved with respect to each other out of a maximally aligned position, the size of the openings formed by the alignment of the slots 48 and 56 becomes increasingly smaller, thereby allowing less exhaust-noise to enter the sound-dampening material 30. The slotted pipes 40 and 50 can be of any shape, size and length which allow the slotted pipes 40 and 50 to move with respect to each other for alternately aligning and misaligning the slots 48 and 56. The slots 48 and 56 of the slotted pipes 40 and 50 can be of any size and shape, as long as the openings formed by the combination of the slots 48 and 56 increase and decrease as the slotted pipes 40 and 50 are moved with respect to each other. In order to minimizing the sound volume of the exhaust, the slots 48 and 56 of the slotted pipes 40 and 50 are maximally aligned to allow the maximum amount of exhaust-noise to pass from the combination of slotted pipes 40 and 50 into the surrounding sound-dampening material 30. FIG. 2 depicts the combination of the slotted pipes 40 and 50 with the sound-dampening material 30 partially cut-away, and depicts the slots 48 and 56 in a maximally aligned position. In contrast to this, FIG. 3 depicts the combination of the slotted pipes 40 and 50 with the sound-dampening material 30 partially cut-away, and with the slots 48 and 56 in a minimally aligned position, thereby creating a pipe with no openings along the length of the combination of the slotted pipes 40 and 50 which maximizes the sound volume of the exhaust.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, an endcap 90 encloses the egress end of the outer slotted pipe 40 and the egress end of a casing 10. The endcap 90 includes a ring-shaped cover with an aperture 91 formed therethrough, and the endcap 90 also includes an exterior rim with an exterior protruding fold 96, an interior rim with an interior protruding fold 93, and a plurality of tabs 98 protruding from an interior surface of the endcap 90. The endcap 90 attaches to the casing 10 to secure the outer slotted pipe 40 in a fixed position. On the left side of FIG. 4 is a cut-away view of the rear portion of a sound adjustable device 200 showing the inner slotted pipe 50 set back within the outer slotted pipe 40. The slotted pipes 40 and 50 are at least partially surrounded by the sound-dampening material 30, which is at least partially surrounded by the heat-shielding material 20, which in turn is surrounded by the casing 10. The endcap 90 is shown on the right side of FIG. 4, and includes the exterior protruding fold 96 which overlaps the egress end of the casing 10 wherein the interior protruding fold 93 fits into the egress end of the outer slotted pipe 40. The tabs 98 fit into the notches 47 thereby securing the outer slotted pipe 40 in a fixed position. Exhaust which is directed through the slotted pipes 40 and 50, and not communicated into the sound-dampening material 30, exits through the aperture 91. The aperture 91 can be formed by machining, boring, cutting, molding or any other method known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, a peg 84 attaches to the inner slotted pipe 50 and moves the inner slotted pipe 50 with respect to the outer slotted pipe 40. The peg 84 can be inserted through one of the slotted pipes 40 and 50 to move one of the slotted pipes 40 and 50 with respect to the other, or can be attached to at least one of the slotted pipes 40 and 50 by any other method known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a collar 60 connects the sound adjustable device 200 including casing 10 and an exhaust pipe 105 for communicating the exhaust from the exhaust pipe 105 to the sound adjustable device 200. The collar 60 includes a collar sleeve 62, a sleeve plate 80, and a slot 70. The collar sleeve 62 has a channel 61 in the interior surface of the collar sleeve 62, wherein the channel 61 borders the slot 70. The sleeve plate 80 moves within the channel 61 in the interior surface of the collar sleeve 62 wherein the interior surface of the sleeve plate 80 is flush with the interior surface of the collar sleeve 62. The peg 84 passes through the slot 70 and is secured to the sleeve plate 80 and the inner slotted pipe 50. As the sleeve plate 80 slides along the channel 61 in the interior surface of the collar sleeve 62, the sleeve plate 80 prevents heat and exhaust-noise from escaping through the slot 70. The collar 60 therefore allows the peg 84 to move the inner slotted pipe 50 while the sleeve plate 80 provides a cover for the portion of the inner slotted pipe 50 that would be exposed through the slot 70. The interior surface of the collar 60 and the sleeve plate 80 can include the heat-shielding material 20 and the sound-dampening material 30. The heat-shielding material 20 can include ceramic, metal, fiberglass, silica fiber, or any other material known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The sound-dampening material 30 can include ceramic, steel wool, fiberglass, silica, woven materials, or any material known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a first motor 27, in communication with a switch 25, attaches to the collar 60 and moves the peg 84. The peg 84, as shown in FIG. 8, attaches to the inner slotted pipe 50 causing the inner slotted pipe 50 to move with respect to the outer slotted pipe 40. In this way, when the switch 25, shown in FIG. 12, communicates a signal to the first motor 27, the first motor 27 moves the peg 84, which moves the inner slotted pipe 50 with respect to outer slotted pipe 40, thereby either aligning or misaligning the slots 48 and 56 of the slotted pipes 40 and 50, and either respectively decreasing or increasing the sound volume of the exhaust-noise.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the first motor 27 attaches to the collar 60 and moves the peg 84. The peg 84, as shown in FIG. 8, attaches to the inner slotted pipe 50 causing the inner slotted pipe 50 to move with respect to the outer slotted pipe 40. In FIG. 13, a second motor 26 is-attached to an air flow device 22 of a carburetor 29 and moves the air flow device 22, thereby increasing or decreasing the air flow to the carburetor 29. In this way, when the switch 25 communicates a signal to the first and second motors 26 and 27, the first motor 27 moves the peg 84, which moves the inner slotted pipe 50 with respect to outer slotted pipe 40. The second motor 26 moves the air flow device 22 in proportion to the respective movement of the slotted pipes 40 and 50 to adjust the air intake of the carburetor 29 with respect to the exhaust output of the sound adjustable device 200 to regulate the power output of the engine.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, at least one of the inner and outer slotted pipes 40 and 50 include a heat-resistant material, thereby further shielding the casing 10, shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, from heat emitted by the exhaust. At least one of the slotted pipes 40 and 50 can include ceramic, metal, silica, or any other material known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, a layer of a heat-shielding material 20 can be positioned in between the sound-dampening material 30 and the casing 10, thereby shielding the casing 10 from heat emitted by the exhaust. The heat-shielding material 20 can include ceramic, metal, fiberglass, silica fiber, or any other material known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The sound-dampening material 30 can include ceramic, steel wool, fiberglass, silica, woven materials, or any material known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the combination of the first and second slots 48 and 56 of the inner and outer slotted pipes 40 and 50 form a plurality of angular channels encouraging the exhaust-noise into the sound-dampening material 30 when the first and second slots 48 and 56 of the inner and outer slotted pipes 40 and 50 are more than minimally aligned.

In another embodiment, a motor can be attached to the endcap 90 to move at least one of the slotted pipes 40 and 50 with respect to the other.

In another embodiment, multiple sound adjustable devices 200 connected to the exhaust pipe 105 can be used in combination to vary the sound volume of exhaust noise.

The accompanying drawings are described below in which example embodiments in accordance with the present invention are shown. Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative. The invention may be embodied in many alternative forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments described herein. Accordingly, specific embodiments are shown by way of example in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed herein, but to the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional side view of a motorcycle with an internal combustion engine 100, conventional muffler 15, and an exhaust pipe 105 connecting the internal combustion engine 100 with the conventional muffler 15.

FIG. 2 is an oblique partially cut-away view of a sound adjustable device 200 positioned for maximal sound-dampening in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention.

FIG. 3 is an oblique partially cut-away view of a sound adjustable device 200 positioned for minimal sound-dampening in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention.

FIG. 4 is an oblique partially cut-away view of an endcap 90 attaching to the egress end of a casing 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention.

FIG. 5 is an oblique partially cut-away view of an angular channel, formed by the alignment of at least one first slot 48 of the outer slotted pipe 40 and at least one second slot 56 of inner slotted pipe 50, in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention.

FIG. 6 is an oblique partially cut-away view of a sound adjustable device 200, including a heat-shielding material 20 and a collar 60, in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention.

FIG. 7 is an oblique partially cut-away view of the collar 60 in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the collar 60 in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention.

FIG. 9 is an oblique partially cut-away view of a sound adjustable device 200, including a collar 60, in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention.

FIG. 10 is an oblique partially cut-away view of a sound adjustable device 200, including a collar 60, in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention.

FIG. 11 is an oblique partially cut-away view of a sound adjustable device 200, including a heat-shielding material 20, in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention.

FIG. 12 is an oblique partially cut-away view of a sound adjustable device 200, including a first motor 27, switch 25 and collar 60, in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention.

FIG. 13 is an oblique partially cut-away view of a sound adjustable device 200, including a first motor 27, second motor 26, switch 25, air flow device 22, carburetor 29 and collar 60, in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention.

DETAILED SPECIFICATION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a motorcycle with an internal combustion engine 100, wherein exhaust pipe 105 directs exhaust and exhaust-noise from the internal combustion engine 100 to a conventional muffler 15, thereby dampening the exhaust-noise.

FIG. 2 is an oblique partially cut-away view of a sound adjustable device 200 in accordance with an embodiment, positioned for a maximal sound-dampening effect. The inner slotted pipe 50 is at least partially contained within the outer slotted pipe 40, wherein the combination of slotted pipes 40 and 50 are at least partially surrounded by a sound-dampening material 30. The inner slotted pipe 50 includes at least one second slot 56, and the inner slotted pipe 50 protrudes from the outer slotted pipe 40 at the opening 44 of the outer slotted pipe 40. The outer slotted pipe 40 includes at least one first slot 48, and the slotted pipes 40 and 50 are movable with respect to each other, either by rotation or by sliding. As the slotted pipes 40 and 50 are moved with respect to each other out of a maximally aligned position, the openings formed by the alignment of the slots 48 and 56 become increasingly smaller, thereby allowing less exhaust-noise to enter the sound-dampening material 30. The slots 56 of the inner slotted pipe 50 and the slots 48 of the outer slotted pipe 40 are maximally aligned to allow the maximum amount of exhaust-noise to pass from the combination of the slotted pipes 40 and 50 into the surrounding sound-dampening material 30.

FIG. 3, in contrast to FIG. 2, is an oblique partially cut-away view of the sound adjustable device 200 in accordance with an embodiment, positioned for a minimal sound-dampening effect. The sound adjustable device 200 includes the combination of the slotted pipes 40 and 50 with the sound-dampening material 30 partially cut-away, and with the slots 48 and 56 in a minimally aligned position. The minimal alignment of the slots 48 and 56 creates a pipe with no openings along the length of the combination of the slotted pipes 40 and 50, thereby preventing the exhaust from passing through the sound adjustable device 200 into the sound-dampening material 30.

FIG. 4 is an oblique partially cut-away view of the end section of the sound adjustable device 200 on the right side of FIG. 4 and the endcap 90 of the sound adjustable device 200 on the left side of FIG. 4, in accordance with an embodiment. The left side of FIG. 4 is an oblique partially cut-away view of the end section of the sound adjustable device 200 with the inner slotted pipe 50 set within the outer slotted pipe 40. The slotted pipes 40 and 50 are surrounded by the sound-dampening material 30, which is surrounded by the heat-shielding material 20, which in turn is surrounded by the casing 10. On the right side of FIG. 4 is an oblique partially cut-away view of the endcap 90 including a ring-shaped cover with the aperture 91 formed therethrough, and also including an exterior rim with an exterior protruding fold 96, an interior rim with an interior protruding fold 93, and a plurality of tabs 98 protruding from an interior surface of endcap 90. The endcap 90 attaches to the casing 10 to secure the outer slotted pipe 40 in a fixed position, and encloses the end portion of the outer slotted pipe 40 and the casing 10. The exterior protruding fold 96 overlaps the egress end of the casing 10 while the interior protruding fold 93 fits into the egress end of the outer slotted pipe 40. The tabs 98 fit into the notches 47 thereby securing the outer slotted pipe 40 in a fixed position. Exhaust which is directed through the slotted pipes 40 and 50, and not communicated into the sound-dampening material 30, exits through the aperture 91.

FIG. 5 is an oblique partially cut-away view of a segment of the inner slotted pipe 50 in combination with the outer slotted pipe 40, in accordance with an embodiment, wherein the first slot 48 of the outer slotted pipe 40 and second slot 56 of the inner slotted pipe 50 are angled to decrease resistance and encourage the flow of exhaust and exhaust-noise to the sound-dampening material 30 when the slotted pipes 40 and 50 are more than minimally aligned.

FIG. 6 is an oblique partially cut-away view of the sound adjustable device 200 in accordance with an embodiment in which exhaust is directed through the inner slotted pipe 50, positioned at least partially within the outer slotted pipe 40. Where the slots 48 and 56 of the slotted pipes 40 and 50 are minimally aligned, the exhaust and-resulting exhaust-noise are directed through the combination of the slotted pipes 40 and 50 and exit the casing 10 through the aperture 91 of the endcap 90. Where the slots 48 and 56 of the slotted pipes 40 and 50 are more than minimally aligned, the exhaust-noise is directed into the sound-dampening material 30, wherein the exhaust-noise is dampened and the exhaust exits the sound adjustable device 200 through the aperture 91 of the endcap 90. The casing 10 is shielded from heat from the exhaust by the heat-shielding material 20 positioned between the sound-dampening material 30 and the casing 10. The collar 60 attaches to the inner slotted pipe 50, which protrudes from the outer slotted pipe 40, and moves the inner slotted pipe 50 with respect to the outer slotted pipe 40 to align or misalign the slots 48 and 56.

FIG. 7 is an oblique partially cut-away view of the collar 60 in accordance with an embodiment. The collar 60 connects the exhaust pipe 105 and the casing 10, and the collar 60 includes a collar sleeve 62 and a slot 70 through which a peg 84 attaches to a sleeve plate 80.

FIG. 8 is an oblique partially cut-away view of the collar 60 in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention wherein collar sleeve 62 has a channel 61 in the interior surface of collar sleeve 62 bordering slot 70. Sleeve plate 80 moves within channel 61 in the interior surface of collar sleeve 62 wherein the interior surface of sleeve plate 80 is flush with the interior surface of collar sleeve 62. Peg 84 passes through slot 70 and is secured to sleeve plate 80 and inner slotted pipe 50. As sleeve plate 80 slides along channel 61 in the interior surface of collar sleeve 62, sleeve plate 80 keeps inner slotted pipe 50 from being exposed through slot 70. Collar 60 therefore allows peg 84 to move inner slotted pipe 50, while sleeve plate 80 provides a cover for the exposed portion of inner slotted pipe 50. The interior surfaces of collar 60 and sleeve plate 80 can include heat-shielding material 20 and sound-dampening material 30.

FIG. 9 is an oblique partially cut-away view of the sound adjustable device in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention wherein exhaust is directed through inner slotted pipe 50 which is inside outer slotted pipe 40. Wherein slots 48 and 56 of slotted pipes 40 and 50 are minimally aligned, the exhaust and resulting exhaust-noise are directed through slotted pipes 40 and 50 and exit casing 10 through aperture 91 of endcap 90. Wherein slots 48 and 56 of slotted pipes 40 and 50 are more than minimally aligned, the exhaust-noise is directed into sound-dampening material 30 wherein the exhaust-noise is dampened and the exhaust exits casing 10 through aperture 91 of endcap 90. Collar 60 attaches to inner slotted pipe 50, which protrudes from outer slotted pipe 40, and moves inner slotted pipe 50 with respect to outer slotted pipe 40 to align or misalign the slots.

FIG. 10 is an oblique partially cut-away view of the sound adjustable device in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention wherein exhaust is directed through the combination of slotted pipes 40 and 50. Wherein inner slotted pipe 50 and outer slotted pipe 40 are minimally aligned, the exhaust and resulting exhaust-noise are directed through the combination of slotted pipes 40 and 50 and exit casing 10 through aperture 91 of endcap 90. Wherein slots 48 and 56 of slotted pipes 40 and 50 are more than minimally aligned, the exhaust-noise is directed into sound-dampening material 30 wherein the exhaust-noise is dampened and the exhaust exits casing 10 through aperture 91 of endcap 90. Peg 84, attached to inner slotted pipe 50 which protrudes from outer slotted pipe 40, moves inner slotted pipe 50 with respect to outer slotted pipe 40 to align or misalign the slots.

FIG. 11 is an oblique partially cut-away view of the sound adjustable device in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention in which exhaust is directed through inner slotted pipe 50 which is at least partially inside outer slotted pipe 40. Wherein slots 48 and 56 of slotted pipes 40 and 50 are minimally aligned, exhaust and resulting exhaust-noise are directed through the combination of slotted pipes 40 and 50, and exit casing 10 through aperture 91 of endcap 90. Wherein slots 48 and 56 of slotted pipes 40 and 50 are more than minimally aligned, exhaust-noise is directed into sound-dampening material 30 wherein the exhaust-noise is dampened and the exhaust exits casing 10 through aperture 91 of endcap 90. Casing 10 is shielded from heat from the exhaust by heat-shielding material 20 positioned between sound-dampening material 30 and casing 10. Peg 84, attached to inner slotted pipe 50 which protrudes from outer slotted pipe 40, moves inner slotted pipe 50 with respect to outer slotted pipe 40 to align or misalign the slots.

FIG. 12 is an oblique partially cut-away view of the sound adjustable device in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention in which motor 27, in communication with switch 25, moves inner slotted pipe 50 with respect to outer slotted pipe 40 when motor 27 receives a signal from switch 25. Therefore a rider can increase or decrease the sound volume from the exhaust through the use of switch 25.

FIG. 13 is an oblique partially cut-away view of the sound adjustable device in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention in which motor 27 moves inner slotted pipe 50 with respect to outer slotted pipe 40. Motor 27 is attached to collar 60 and moves peg 84, which attaches to inner slotted pipe 50 causing inner slotted pipe 50 to move with respect to outer slotted pipe 40. Motor 26 is attached to the air flow device 22 of the carburetor 29 on the engine and moves the air flow device 22, thereby increasing or decreasing the air flow to the carburetor. In this way, when switch 25 communicates a signal to motors 26 and 27, motor 27 moves inner slotted pipe 50 with respect to outer slotted pipe 40, either aligning or misaligning slots 48 and 56 of slotted pipes 40 and 50, and either respectively decreasing or increasing the sound volume of exhaust-noise, and motor 26 moves the air flow device 22 in proportion to the respective movement of slotted pipes 40 and 50 to adjust the air intake of the carburetor 29 with respect to the exhaust output of the sound adjustable device 200. Therefore a rider can increase or decrease the sound volume from the exhaust through the use of switch 25 without affecting the performance of the engine.

Claims

1. A sound adjustable device comprising:

a casing including a sound-dampening material that dampens exhaust-noise;

an outer slotted pipe positioned at least partially inside the casing, with the outer slotted pipe including at least one first slot;

an inner slotted pipe positioned at least partially inside the outer slotted pipe with the inner slotted pipe including at least one second slot; wherein

at least one of the inner and outer slotted pipes is movable with respect to the other to either alternately align the first and second slots for a quieter exhaust-noise or to misalign the first and second slots for a louder exhaust-noise.

2. The sound adjustable device of claim 1 further including a heat-shielding material between the sound-dampening material and the casing, the heat-shielding material thereby shielding the casing from heat emitted by the exhaust.

3. The sound adjustable device of claim 1 further including an endcap attached to the casing, the endcap securing at least one of the inner and outer slotted pipes in a fixed position.

4. The sound adjustable device of claim 3 wherein the endcap is a ring-shaped cover having an aperture formed therethrough, the endcap having an exterior rim with an exterior protruding fold, an interior rim with an interior protruding fold, and a plurality of tabs protruding from an interior surface of the endcap.

5. The sound adjustable device of claim 1 further including a collar attached to at least one of the inner and outer slotted pipes, the collar connecting the casing and an exhaust pipe.

6. The sound adjustable device of claim 5 wherein the collar further comprises:

a collar sleeve having a channel formed in the interior surface of the collar sleeve, the channel bordering a slot formed though the collar sleeve;

a sleeve plate, movable within the channel in the interior surface of the collar sleeve, wherein the interior surface of the sleeve plate is flush with the interior surface of the collar sleeve; and

a peg passing through the slot of the collar sleeve, the peg secured to the sleeve plate and at least one of the inner and outer slotted pipes wherein the peg moves the sleeve plate along the channel in the interior surface of the collar sleeve and the peg moves at least one of the inner and outer slotted pipes with respect to the other of the inner and outer slotted pipes.

7. The sound adjustable device of claim 6 wherein a first motor, in communication with a switch and attached to the collar, moves the peg.

8. The sound adjustable device of claim 7 wherein a second motor, in communication with the switch and is attached to an air flow device, moves the air flow device to regulate the air flow to a carburetor on an engine.

9. A sound adjustment method comprising:

positioning a sound-dampening material at least partially within a casing to dampen exhaust-noise;

positioning an outer slotted pipe at least partially within the casing, the outer slotted pipe having at least one first slot;

positioning an inner slotted pipe at least partially within the outer slotted pipe, the inner slotted pipe having at least one second slot; and

moving at least one of the inner and outer slotted pipes with respect to the other to alternately align the first and second slots for a quieter exhaust-noise and to misalign the first and second slots for a louder exhaust-noise.

10. The sound adjustment method of claim 9 attaching a peg to at least one of the inner and outer slotted pipes to move at least one of the inner and outer slotted pipes with respect to the other.

11. The sound adjustment method of claim 9 positioning-a heat-shielding material between the casing and the sound-dampening material to shield the casing from heat emitted from exhaust-noise.

12. The sound adjustment method of claim 9 attaching an endcap to the egress end of the casing to secure at least one of the inner and outer slotted pipes in a fixed position.

13. The sound adjustment method of claim 12 forming the endcap into a ring-shaped cover with an aperture therethrough, the endcap having an exterior rim with an exterior protruding fold, an interior rim with an interior protruding fold, and a plurality of tabs protruding from an interior surface of the endcap.

14. The sound adjustment method of claim 9 attaching a collar to at least one of the inner and outer slotted pipes to connect the casing to an exhaust pipe, and to move at least one of the inner and outer slotted pipes with respect to the other.

15. The sound adjustment method of claim 14 comprising:

attaching the collar between the exhaust pipe and the casing, the collar including a collar sleeve;

forming a channel in the interior surface of the collar sleeve;

forming a slot though the collar sleeve, the slot bordered by the channel;

moving a sleeve plate within the channel in the interior surface of the collar sleeve, wherein the interior surface of the sleeve plate is flush with the interior surface of the collar sleeve; and

attaching a peg to the sleeve plate and at least one of the inner and outer slotted pipes, the peg passing through the slot formed in the collar sleeve to move the sleeve plate along the channel in the interior surface of the collar sleeve and to move at least one of the inner an outer slotted pipes with respect to the other.

16. The sound adjustment method of claim 15 attaching a first motor, in communication with a switch, to the collar to move at least one of the inner and outer slotted pipes with respect to the other.

17. The sound adjustment method of claim 15 further attaching a second motor, in communication with the switch, to an air flow device on a carburetor to adjust the air flow of the carburetor.