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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
HANDLEBAR GRIP
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2004/048187
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A grip (10) for a handlebar including a first portion (11) for at least substantially encircling a handlebar (16) to retain the grip thereon and a second portion (12) for supporting the user's palm, when the user's fingers are wrapped around the first portion.

Inventors:
LAIDLAW COLIN ALEXANDER (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB2003/005051
Publication Date:
June 10, 2004
Filing Date:
November 20, 2003
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
LAIDLAW COLIN ALEXANDER (GB)
International Classes:
B62K21/26; (IPC1-7): B62K21/26
Domestic Patent References:
WO1999055426A11999-11-04
WO2002030731A12002-04-18
Foreign References:
US4308762A1982-01-05
DE806325C1951-06-14
US5761767A1998-06-09
US4599920A1986-07-15
US6183400B12001-02-06
FR1221709A1960-06-03
Other References:
None
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Dunlop, Brian Kenneth Charles (Laine & James 22 Rodney Roa, Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL50 1JJ, GB)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims
1. A grip (10) for a handlebar including a first portion (11) for at least substantially encircling a handlebar (16) to retain the grip thereon and a second portion (12) for supporting the user's palm, when the usar's fingers are wrapped around the first portion.
2. A grip (10) for a handlebar including a first portion (11) in the form of a sleeve for at least substantially encircling the handlebar (16) and a second portion (12) in the form of a platform extending generally tangentially from the sleeve for supporting the user's palm, when the user's fingers are wrapped around the first portion.
3. A grip (10) as as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the second portion (12) extends less than the length of the first portion to define a passage (20) into which the user's thumb (19) can sit.
4. A grip (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the second portion (12) is profiled to accommodate the ball of the user's thumb (19).
5. A grip (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least the second portion (12) has a pressure relieving covering (13).
6. A grip (10) as claimed in claim 5 wherein the pressure relieving covering (13) is constituted by a gel sac.
7. A grip (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the part of the surface (13) of the grip, which is designed to be in contact with the hand, is pimpled.
8. A grip (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first (11) and second portions (12) are integral.
9. A grip (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including at least one stiffening element (25).
10. A grip (10) as claimed in claim 9 wherein the stiffening element (25) includes a part for at least substantiate encircling the handlebar (16).
11. A grip (10) as claimed in claim 10 wherein the part includes one or more grub screws (17) for engaging the handlebar (16), in use, to resist rotation of the grip relative to the handlebar.
12. A grip (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 further including a device (26) for engaging the handlebar to resist rotation.
13. A grip (10) as claimed in claim 12 wherein the device includes an expandable body for insertion within a hollow handlebar to engage the inner surface of the handlebar (16) on expansion.
14. A grip (10) as claimed in any on of the preceding claims wherein the first (10) and second (11) portions are formed from silicon rubber.
Description:
Handlebar Grip This invention relates to a grip for a handlebar.

Handlebar grips are particularly known in connection with bicycles, but they can occur in many fields, where the user is gripping a cylindrical or tubular bar, for example mowing machines, shopping trolleys and the like. Traditionally they are in the form of a sleeve which encircles the bar and they are often formed from materials which are designed to increase comfort by being softer, of appropriate outer diameter and poor heat conductors (so as to not feel excessively cold). However, when used for long periods of time, particularly where vibration is involved, they can be uncomfortable to use and may even introduce injuries in the wrist area.

From one aspect the Applicant's invention consists in a grip for a handle bar including a first portion for at least substantially encircling the handlebar to retain the grip thereon and a second portion for supporting the user's palm when the user's fingers are around the first portion.

From a second aspect the invention consists in the grip for a handlebar including a first portion in the form of a sleeve for at least substantially encircling the handlebar and a second portion in the form of a platform extending generally tangentiaily from the sleeve for supporting the user's paim, when the user's fingers are wrapped around the first portion.

In either case the second portion may extend less than the length of the first portion to define a passage into which the user's thumb can sit. Preferably the second portion is profiled to reflect the shape of the user's palm and in

particular to accommodate the ball at the base of the thumb, which is known as the"mound of Venus"in astro palmistry. The second portion, at least, may have a pressure relieving covering, for example in the form of a gel sac. The Applicant is are not aware of any hand grips which seek to relieve pressure on the user's hand. The pressure relieving covering may extend downwardly over the first portion and, additionally or alternatively, the second portion may be shaped to provide channels or openings for accommodating the user's fingers or parts thereof.

A part of the surface of the grip, which is designed to be in contact with the hand, may be pimpled for improved grip and to reduce sweating.

The second and first portions may be integral or the second portion may be integral with a part of the first portion, which may be made in two part form, or the first and second portions may be formed from a two or mufti-part moufding.

The grip may include at least one stiffening element and the stiffening element may include a part for at least substantially encircling the handlebar.

That part may include one or more grub screws for engaging the handlebar, in use, to resist rotation of the grip relative to the handlebar. Additionally or alternatively other provision may be made for resisting rotation, for example, the grip may further include a device for engaging the handlebar to resist rotation.

Such a device may include an expandable body for insertion within a hollow handlebar to engage the inner surface of the handlebar on expansion. it is preferred that this first and second portions are formed from silicon rubber. They may be moulded from this or other suitable material and the moulding may be two or more part. In that case a lower part of the moulding

might be made of stiffer material than the upper part of the moulding to achieve a suitable combination of support and comfort.

Although the invention has been defined above it is to be understood it includes any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description.

The invention may be performed in various ways and specific embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above and one end of a handle bar grip; Figure 2 is a view substantially from above; Figure 3 is a view of the grip of Figures 1 and 2 mounted on a handlebar when viewed from the read; Figures 4 to 6 are respective views from one end and above; below and from the front and below and the other end of a further embodiment of the grip suitable for use with rapid fire gearing changing apparatus; Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a view from below and one end and a view from above and the same end of a grip for use with a twist action gear change; Figures 9 and 10 are views from above, from one end and the other end respectively, of a grip for use with a handlebar horn; Figure 11 is an exploded view of the grip of Figure 4; Figure 12 is an exploded view of the grip of Figure 8; and Figure 13 is an exploded view of the grip of Figure 9.

Looking first at Figures 1 to 3 a handlebar grip is generally indicated at 10, and consists of first portion in the form of a cylindrical sleeve 11, a second portion in the form of a rearwardly extending platform 12 and a pressure relieving cover 13. The sleeve 11 and platform 12 may be made of any suitable material, but it is particularly preferred that they are made of silicon rubber.

Such rubber can be provided in a range of stiffnesses and a compromise will be sought between the material being soft enough for comfort and yet still enough to form the platform 12. Alternatively, as will be seen below, a frame or stiffening elements may be provided to give support to the platform 12. The sleeve 11 has a collar 14 which is preferably rigid and includes one or more screw apertures 15 to receive a grub screw to enable. the grip to be locked against rotation relative to a handlebar.

As can be seen in Figure 3, in use, the sieeve is slide onto a handlebar 16 in a conventional manner and then orientated relative to the handlebar 16 so that the platform 12 extends horizontally to provide support for the user's palm.

The precise position will be selected by the user for maximum comfort. Once the position is selected, the grip 10 is secured in that orientation by means of a grub screw 17 located in the hole 15.

As can be seen in Figure 3 the platform 12 is profiled to accommodate the ball 18 of the user's thumb 19 and further it extends only along part of the sleeve 11 to leave a passage 20 for the thumb 19. The under surface of the sleeve 11 may be relieved locally, as indicated in chain line at 21 in Figure 2 to accommodate the user's fingers 23.

The pressure relieving mat 13 may be pimped, as indicated at 24 to

improve grip and allow air circulation and will normally be in the form of a gel sac.

As has been indicated above Figures 4 to 6,7 and 8 and 9 and 10 illustrate further embodiments of the grip 10 for use in different situations and in particular with different gear changing arrangements. They are otherwise substantially as previously described, except the pressure relieving mat has been dispensed with and a suitable softness of silicon rubber selected. The pimples 24 are therefore formed on the surface of the rubber. To accommodate this softer rubber, as can be seen in Figures 11 to 13, each of these embodiments is provided with stiffening elements which allow the load on a platform 12 to be transmitLed directly to the handlebar. It will be noted that the stiffening elements 25 have lateral tags or enlarged portions 26 which can accommodate the grub screw 17. An opening, such as is indicated at 27 may be provided to allow access to the grub screw.

As shown in Figures 11 to 13 the grips 10 are conveniently moulded in two-part form and in this case the lower portion may be formed of stiffer material than the upper portion to enhance mechanical stability, whilst leaving the area contacted by the user's hand sufficiently soft to enhance comfort and pressure release.

In each of these later embodiments, the surface of the platform 12 has a greater sophistication in its profiling so that it will particularly accommodate the user's hand. The two-part form of the grip 10 gives the possibility of supplying a range of profiles for use by different user's e. g. men, women and children.

As has been mentioned above other forms of locking mechanism could

be used. For instance the device could include an expandable body, which would be inserted with the inside of the handlebar 16 on mounting of the sleeve 11 and could be then expanded, in a known manner to lock the device to the handlebar. Such an arrangement could be required for example for use on particularly rugged terrain or with a mechanism which creates significant vibration.

The. platform 12 has been described as extending tangentially to the sleeve 11. This encompasses any arrangement in which the surface of the platform 12 is essentially continuous with the surface of the sleeve 11 so that the pa ! m of the user's hand can be supported generally horizontally whilst the user's fingers are wrapped around the sleeve 11.




 
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