Shift plate control panel for off-road vehicle
A shift plate control panel for an off-road vehicle is provided. The shift plate control panel may include a shift plate member having a longitudinal slot configured for a shift stick to travel within during shifting. The shift plate control panel may also include a control panel with at least one control button. The control panel may be coupled to the shift plate member. Further, the control panel is configured to electrically couple to at least one vehicle system corresponding to the at least one control button. The vehicle systems may be a horn, a dome light, bumper lights, a pillar light, a pumper, headlights, a fuel tank switch, and the like. These control buttons may be customized based on the vehicle and driver preferences.
1 . A shift plate control panel for an off-road vehicle comprising:
a shift plate member having a longitudinal slot configured for a shift stick to travel within during shifting;
at least one vehicle system; and
a control panel having at least one control button, the control panel coupled to the shift plate member, wherein the control panel electrically couples to the at least one vehicle system corresponding to the at least one control button, wherein the at least one vehicle system is selected from a group consisting of a horn, a dome light, bumper lights, a pillar light, a pumper, headlights, and/or a fuel tank switch, wherein the shift plate control panel is operational during operation of the off-road vehicle, wherein the operation of the off-road vehicle comprises driving of the off-road vehicle, wherein the at least one control button is a plurality of control buttons, wherein each of the at least one vehicle system corresponds to one of the plurality of control buttons, wherein the plurality of control buttons is arranged along one side of the longitudinal slot, wherein the plurality of control buttons is arranged and aligned in a linear manner in both horizontal rows and vertical columns on the control panel along the one side of the longitudinal slot in at least a pair of vertically arranged columns, wherein a plurality of shift points is arranged on an opposite side of the longitudinal slot within the shift plate member in at least one vertically arranged column, and wherein the plurality of shift points is aligned in the at least one vertically arranged column along the opposite side of the longitudinal slot in a parallel relationship to the longitudinal slot and to the at least a pair of vertically arranged columns of the plurality of control buttons.
2 . The shift plate control panel of claim 1 , wherein the control panel is located on a passenger side of the shift stick and configured to be operated by a passenger.
3 . The shift plate control panel of claim 1 , wherein the operation of the off-road vehicle further comprises racing of the off-road vehicle.
4 . A method of using a shift plate control panel with an off-road vehicle, the method comprising:
coupling a shift plate control panel to an off-road vehicle, the shift plate control panel comprising:
a shift plate member having a longitudinal slot wherein a shift stick of the vehicle extends through the longitudinal slot and travels within the longitudinal slot during shifting; and
a control panel with at least one control button, the control panel coupled to the shift plate member;
electrically coupling the control panel to at least one vehicle system, wherein each of the at least one vehicle system coupled to the control panel corresponds to one of the at least one control button;
selecting the at least one vehicle system from a group consisting of a horn, a dome light, bumper lights, a pillar light, a pumper, headlights, and/or a fuel tank switch; and
engaging the at least one control button to operate the corresponding at least one vehicle system, wherein the engaging of the at least one control button to operate the corresponding at least one vehicle system is during operation of the off-road vehicle, wherein the operation of the off-road vehicle comprises driving of the off-road vehicle, wherein the at least one control button is a plurality of control buttons, wherein each of the at least one vehicle system corresponds to one of the plurality of control buttons, wherein the plurality of control buttons is arranged along one side of the longitudinal slot, wherein the plurality of control buttons is arranged and aligned in a linear manner in both horizontal rows and vertical columns on the control panel along the one side of the longitudinal slot in at least a pair of vertically arranged columns, wherein a plurality of shift points is arranged on an opposite side of the longitudinal slot within the shift plate member in at least one vertically arranged column, and wherein the plurality of shift points is aligned in the at least one vertically arranged column along the opposite side of the longitudinal slot in a parallel relationship to the longitudinal slot and to the at least a pair of vertically arranged columns of the plurality of control buttons.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising locating the control panel on a passenger side of the shift stick and operating by a passenger.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the operation of the off-road vehicle further comprises racing of the off-road vehicle.