BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a handlebar grip, to be used, e.g., for bicycle grips, motorcycle grips, or handles of any kind.

Description of Prior Art

A bicycle, motorcycle, or tricycle, etc., has handlebars, which a rider holds onto for steering, control, and comfort while riding or standing. Regular vehicle handlebars are commonly made of metal and mounted with a flexible grip for a comfortable grip.

For a bicycle grip, discussed hereafter as an example, grips with a co- molded rubber outer portion or grips with lock-on rings for easy installation and removal are known. Often these grips have a foam-rubber or rubber outer portion, see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,653 or U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,742.

Obviously, the outer portion of these grips, being the part in contact with the user's hand, is very stressed and could need replacement when worn-out. Typically these grips have to be entirely replaced to change the outer part, with a high cost for the user and a troublesome maneuver of disassembly.

Recently, new synthetic fiber textiles are available in sheet form which provides excellent grip, traction, feel, and sweat wicking. However, these textiles are not easy to apply to handlebar grips except by using a narrow strip which is wrapped around the handle many times. When wrapped in this fashion, the textile overlaps itself, which produces a helical seam that is not always comfortable. Furthermore, these textiles, again, are not easy to replace after they are worn-out.

Summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a vehicle handlebar grip, which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks of cumbersome replacement and/or uncomfortable contact feeling from textile wraps. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle handlebar grip can easily be installed in the handlebar of a vehicle or quickly removed from the handlebar of the vehicle.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, is to provide a convenient system for applying sheets of textiles as the outer part of the grip.

According to one embodiment, a handlebar grip has an inner sleeve that fits over a handlebar, wherein the inner sleeve is collapsible when removed from the handlebar to receive a grip cover. Once the grip cover is slid onto the sleeve, the sleeve can be expanded again to secure the grip cover to the sleeve. In one embodiment, collapsing can be achieved by simply pushing inward one portion of the sleeve, where the sleeve has grooves that allow movement. To expand the grip, the inner portion of the sleeve can be pushed out to snap the sleeve into the expanded shape.

Once the grip is secured to the sleeve, the assembly can be inserted back onto the handlebar. Clamps on both ends of the sleeve can then be tightened to secure the assembly to the handlebar.

The invention has the advantage of economically using high tech synthetic textiles for grip covers, or, generally speaking, the ability to use any suitable sheet material which can be made into a tube by sewing or gluing or heat sealing or other known joining method.

Also, the invention has the advantage to use any suitable material for the cover which can be manufactured into a tube or into a non-tubular form wherein two edges of the material are enlarged such as with wires captured inside the edges.

Also, if the fit between the sleeve and the cover is sufficiently tight in the sleeve's expanded form, some cover materials provide enough friction such that even without enlarging the edges there will be no slippage between the cover and the sleeve. Alternatively, adhesive could be used to secure the cover to the sleeve. Additionally, the cover material could be comprised of multiple layers including a low stretch film that would resist deforming over time and provide a tighter fit to the sleeve.

Thus, the consumer has the ability to easily and inexpensively replace a worn grip cover.

Additionally, the cover material may comprise a layer substantially inextensible to tractions and strains, e.g. made of fiber-glass optionally impregnated with adhesive resin. This would prevent any stretching of the cover due to moisture (e.g. sweat) and/or aging because of sunlight.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the detailed description of the embodiments set forth below taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Figures

FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded view of a handlebar grip according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the grip of Fig. 1 assembled with an inner body not expanded;

FIG. 3 is a view of the grip of Fig. 1 assembled with an inner body expanded;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an inner member in an expanded form of the handlebar grip shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detailed, enlarged view of Fig. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an outer member of the grip in Fig. 1;

FIG 7 is a sectional view taken along plane VII in fig. 2 when an inner member is in expanded configuration;

FIG 8 is a sectional view as in fig. 7 when an inner member is not in expanded configuration;

FIG 9 and 10 are perspective views of a clamping member in the grip of Fig. 1;

FIG 11 is a partial sectional view of the outer member in Fig. 6. Exemplary embodiments and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, wherein showings therein are for purposes of illustrating exemplary embodiments and not for purposes of limiting the same.

Detailed Description

A vehicle handlebar grip 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown comprised of an inner member 20, an outer covering member 40, two locating rings 60, two tightening screws 62 and an occlusion plug 63.

The inner member 20 is injection-molded from plastics, comprising a semi-tubular wall 34 to which two movable curved walls 22, 24 are hingedly connected. One end of the walls 22, 24 join the wall 34 through respective hinges 26, 28, while the other ends are connected to each other by a hinge 36. The hinges 26, 28, 36 and the relative shape of the walls 22, 24 along with the wall 34 are such as to form a concave, recessed shape as in Fig.l and 2 or a convex, cylindrical round shape as in Fig. 3 and 4 depending on the retracted or expanded position of the walls 22, 24 respectively.

In one embodiment, the hinges 26 and 28 are formed by an angled groove on the outer surface of the inner member 20, where the angled groove extends into the inner member 20 at a depth sufficient to enable the walls to snap in and out. The hinge 36 is formed by a groove on the inner surface of the inner member 20, where the groove extends into the inner member 20 at a depth sufficient to enable the walls to snap in and out. Note that other hinging means, such as living hinges more or less extended, or mechanisms (like a pivotal solid hinge), may also be used. One side of the wall 34 presents a thickened superficial region 30, essentially arched in section, with a bead-section longitudinal open groove 32 formed in it. The ends of the wall 34 also present a radial opening 80.

The outer covering member 40 is tubular in shape. It may be essentially a tubular covering or, as in the figures, a folded sheet of textile with edges bent inwards, connected to each other and covering a wire insert 44 for preventing rotation between members 20 and 40. The connection at the edges forms a longitudinal or an elongated bead or ridge 42 projecting from the inner surface of and extending lengthwise along the outer covering member 40.

The rings 60, placed on each end of the member 20, are essentially annular in shape with two free ends separated by small void gap. The rings 60 are provided with a pass-through hole 64 wherein the screws 62 can be inserted and tightened. One side of the rings 60 has a groove 68 matching the expanded profile of the member 20, so that the end of the latter can be inserted in the former. Also, the inner surface of each ring 60 presents at the free ends thereof one or more projecting teeth 66, having substantially the same width of the opening 80. A ring 60 may comprise another tooth- formation in the form of one or two projections 65 projecting from the inner surface of the ring 60, opposite the projecting tooth 66.

The assembly and mounting of the grip 10 is as follows.

The inner member 20 is first placed in a retracted configuration, such as by pressing the portion around hinge 36 inward until walls 22 and 24 are snapped into the retracted configuration. The outer member 40 is then inserted onto the inner member 20 in its retracted configuration, with the bead 42 sliding inside the groove 32 (see FIGs. 2 and 8). This ensures that there cannot be relative angular or rotational displacement between the inner member 20 and the outer covering member 40. Next, the walls 22, 24 are moved (and partially locked) into an expanded position (see Fig. 3 and 7) in order to stretch and/or support the outer covering member 40, which now cannot collapse. The movement can be by pressing outward the ridge made by hinge 36. Thus, the assembly of the two members 20, 40 so coupled are locked in a round shape before installation onto the handlebar.

The rings 60 are then placed loosely on each end of inner member 20, where the groove 68 of each ring 60 receives and locks one end of such assembly. At the same time, the teeth 66 are located inside the openings 80. This assures the rings 60 are properly positioned and fastened to the inner member 20. Note that by moving the walls 22, 24 in the expanded position, the notches 25 get superimposed onto the projections 65 and fit thereinto, thereby providing another anti-slipping means for enhancing the clamping action of the rings 60. Note that the position of the projections and the notches may be exchanged.

Next, the whole assembly is inserted on the handlebar, and the screws 62 are tightened to clamp the rings 60 on the inner member 20 and secure the assembly to the handlebar. The handlebar fully supports the grip to remain in its expanded condition regardless of the forces that could be applied by the rider.

The outer covering member 40 can be easily replaced by consumers, such as by 1) loosening the screws 62, 2) pulling the assembly off the handlebar and removing both rings 60, 3) collapsing the inner member 20 into the retracted configuration, 4) replacing the old cover with a new cover, and 5) repeating the steps above to secure the assembly with the new cover onto the handlebar. The force required to collapse member 20 is high enough to not occur accidentally while handling the grip, but easy enough with the use of fingers and without tools.

This allows a wide variety of materials to be used for the grip cover including synthetic textiles. The grip cover can be made from a flat sheet which is cut and sewn, and as a variant providing a bead on two ends. The expandable inner member then is provided with a channel or groove 32 for receiving the beads. When expanded, the inner member secures the cover ends while making the cover tight. While wire insert 44 increases the security between members 20 and 40, it is also possible to achieve enough security without wire insert 44 if the fit between members 20 and 40 is tight enough and depending on the specific material selected. The grip can also be easily customized with different designs for the outer covering member for an easy and inexpensive way to personalize the vehicle.

Fig. 11 shows a preferred structure for the outer member 40, comprising an external layer in soft material 92, an intermediate optional layer in viscoelastic material 94 and an internal inextensible layer 96.

The soft layer 92 may serve to enhance the touch feeling for the rider, and/or to resist to abrasion. Possible materials may be a polyamide-based non- woven textile or leather.

The intermediate layer 94 may serve to enhance the touch feeling and comfort for the rider, and/or to dampen vibrations. Possible materials may be gel, chambers filled with gel or a generally hygroscopic material.

The inner layer 96 may be made, as already said, from plastics or fiber-glass optionally impregnated with adhesive resin, or even replaced by a thermoadhesive film, capable of being sticky under a given temperature and not above. Thus, it would be sufficient to heat the grip 10 to melt the adhesive and extract the member 40 away from the inner member 20 to replace it with another one. After cooling, the adhesive gets active again and retains in place the new outer member.

The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the present invention to the precise forms or particular fields of use disclosed. It is contemplated that various alternate embodiments and/or modifications to the present invention, whether explicitly described or implied herein, are possible in light of the disclosure. For example, specific features are disclosed, but some may not be needed or desired for any number of reasons, and equivalent ways of replacing elements for the same result may be used.

Having thus described embodiments of the invention, persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is limited only by the claims.