Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Wrap Around Handlebar Grip Assennbly
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a wrap around handgrip assembly for suitable
s installation over a handlebar of a bicycle. The handlebar ~;rip assembly
enables the
users to secure the grip member to a handlebar with ease. The grip assembly
when
attached will not rotate around the handlebar in use, and yet is easily
detached from
the handlebar. After the grip member is wrapped around the handlebar, a
plurality of
rigid clamps pass over the outwardly extending protrusions at opposite ends of
the
to grip membea- and tighten against the handlebar to hold the grip member in
place.
Background of the Invention
Sports such as mountain bicycling have gain tremendous popularity in recent
years. To properly steer the bicycle and fully master the ride, it is crucial
to have
15 secure and non-slid handlebar grips. In addition, the handlebar grips
should not turn
or rotate when in use.
Traditionally, handlebar grips are slithered onto the end of the handlebar
usually with the aid of hairspray or rubbing alcohol to aid the sliding
installation and
then dry tacky to assist in securing the grip to the bar (see, e.g., U.S. Pat.
No.
2o 3,344,684 issued on Oct. 3, 1967 to Steere, Jr. et al. and U.S. Pat. No.
4,416,166
issued on Nov. 22, 1983 to Jannard et al.). One major disadvantage with such
traditional grip is that when the grip becomes wet it commoWy slips and turns
on the
handlebar, thus creating very dangerous gripping for the rider. Another
disadvantage
relates to the extreme difficulty in getting the grip on, and off of,
handlebars. To
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remove the grip, among many things, the technician must first dislodge any
handlebar-ends and end plugs and then slip a screwdriver or the like under the
grip,
thus causing damages to the handlebar. Thereafter, brut strength, a lubricant,
or air
must be used to allow the grip to be removed.
In order to enhance the comfort for the rider, it is desirable to have
handlebar
grip members which are soft, cushion-like and able to absorb shocks. The
challenge
with such soft grip members is that they tend to wear out after extended use.
In view
of the extreme involved process in removing the traditional grip members, it
is
desirable to have a soft grip member which can be placed on and removed from
the
handlebar with relative ease. Another problem associated with traditional soft
grip
members is their tendency to rotate around the handlebar due to the non-
adhesive
attachment to the handlebar. Ono way to prevent the grip member rotation is to
glue
the grip members on the handlebar. In so doing, it makes the removal and
replacement of the grip members nearly impossible.
Accordingly, there is a clear need in the bicycle industry to have a handlebar
grip member which can be installed and removed with relative ease. The grip
member should also possess the advantages of being soft and shock-absorbent
and, at
the same time, non-slipping in extreme riding conditions.
Over the years, many patents have been granted for various grip member
designs directed to soft the aforementioned problems. U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,286
(issued
Jun. 30, 1992 to Wilson) teaches a handlebar grip consisting of three
components,
namely a tubular handgrip member, a tubular sleeve, and an end cap. During
installation, the tubular handgrip is slithered onto the handlebar. The
tubular sleeve
then slides on over the outer surface of the tubular handgrip and is
positioned in place
with the end cap. The Wilson dosign does not solve the slipping problem and
also
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requires dislodging the bar-ends and bar-plugs which are originally attached
to the
handlebar.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,735 (issued Jan. 25, 1994 to Kuipers of al.), it
discloses
a two-piece grip for reducing slippage between the grip and the handlebar. The
two
s piece grip is consisted of an inner sleeve and a rigid outer nylon lattice
housing, with
the latter applying force to the inner sleeve to prevent :~it from rotating on
the
handlebar. The soft inner sleeve has protrusions on its surface which extends
through
the openings in the lattice and is clamped in place by the ead cap and flanged
end.
The Kuipers et al. design requires intense labour in installation and provides
restricted
area of hand and member contacts due to the barrier from the :lattice outer
surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,759 (issued Jul. 24, 2001 to Hollingswo3-th et al.) shows
a
grip device which can be removably attached to a handlebar and will minimize
the
rotation around the handlebar in use. The Holhngsworth handlebar grip,
however,
requires the use of two exposed aluminium clamps to fit at each ends of the
grip
device. Exposed clamps are known to cause discomfort for the rider. More
disadvantageously, the Hollingsworth grip requires the technician to remove
any and
all components attached to the bar on the outside of the grip, such as bar-
ends, bar-
plugs before the grip can be uninstalled or installed.
Subsequent to the Hollingsworth patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,105.,460 (issued Aug.
22, 2000 to Li) teaches a sleeved on handgrip made of a plastic elongated
molded grip
body with an outer circumferential wall with a metacarpal portion and a
proximate
phalangeal portion respectively corresponding to anatomically contact areas of
a
rider's hand upon which i.t grips on the grip body. While the Li design
promotes
comfort and ergonomic to the rider's hand, like the Hollingsv~orth device, it
does not
address the complications and problems associated with grip installation.
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brief summary of the invention
The present invention is directed at solving the aforementioned shortcomings
and provides a handlebar grip member which can be installed and removed with
relative ease.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention. to provide a handlebar
grip member which is soft and shock-absorbent and, at the same time, non-
slipping
during use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a handlebar grip
member which can be easily installed and removed for replacement when desired
and
the process avoids the need to remove any other handlebar components.
The present invention is for a handlebar grip assembly removably attached
near an end of a handlebar. The grip assembly is compressed with the grip
member
and fastening means. When not in use, the handlebar grip member resembles a
wrap
in an open position. When in use, it is wrapped around a handlebar over its
entire
width and secured to itself in a closed position along the longitudinal edges
of the grip
member parallel to the handlebar. The grip member has a resilient inner
clamping
body which is locally flexible to allow the grip member to be wrapped around
the bar
and thickened at regular spatial positions to allow fastening hardware to
securely
clamp the grip member in place. A flexible, shock absorbent, soft outer hand
pad is
2o affixed to the outer surface of the inner clamping body. The grip assembly
has at
least one clamping section integrated into the inner clamping body which has
an inner
gripping surface urging against the outer surface of the handlebar such that,
when
tightened, the clamping section will bald the handlebar grip member in a
secure
manner on the handlebar, thus minimizing any turning anal slippage of the grip
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member. The clamping section also has means for loosening the clamp from the
handlebar so that the handlebar grip member can be easily rennoved.
According to one aspect of the invention, it provides a wrap around handlebar
grip assembly comprising a grip :member and a fastening member. The grip
member
further comprises an inner clamping body consisting of an outer surface and an
inner
surface; a soft outer hand pad consisting of an outer surface a.nd an inner
surface; first
and second edges substantially parallel to a portion of the handlebar to be
wrapped;
and a central section defining approximately two quarters of the total part
length of
the inner clamping body, and said first and second edges defining the
remaining two
1o equal quarters of the total part length of the inner clamping body. The
fastening
member comprises fastening means for joining said first and second edges
together.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure lA is a top perspective view of the grip member in its open state.
Figure 1B is a bottom perspective view of the grip member in its open state.
Figure ~ is a front view of the handlebar grip assembly in its open state.
Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along line A--A of FIG. 2.
Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B--B of fIG. 2.
Figure 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along line C--C of FIG. 2.
2o Figure 3A is a top perspective View of an end portion of a handlebar
covered with the
handlebar grip assembly of the present invention in its fastened state, and
also
including a bar end and end plug fastened at the end of the handlebar.
Figure 3B is a bottom perspective view of the depiction shown in FIG. 3A.
Figure 4 is a front view of the handlebar grip assembly in its fastened state.
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lFigure 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line A--A of FIG. 4
Detailed Description of the Preferred Eanbodiment
A handlebar grip assembly 10 has an open and a fastened state. When not in
use, the grip assembly 10 resembles a wrap in an open position. The wrap in an
open
state is flat. In a preferred embodiment, the opened wrap takes an inverted
"U"
shaped configuration (shown in FIG. lA). When in use, the grip assembly 10 is
wrapped around handlebar 202 to form a closed circuit (see FIGS. 3A ~ 3B). The
handlebar grip assembly 10 comprises of a grip member 20 and a fastening
member
to 100. A complete description of the components of the handle grip assembly
10 is
listed on Appendix A of this specification.
Grip member 20 has a central section 62 and two o~utwar~. first and second
edges substantially parallel to the portion of the handlebar to be wrapped. In
the
preferred embodiment, these edges are the screw insertion edge 60 and screw-
receiving edge 60', respectively. The central section 62 exists between the
two
described outward edges. The central section 62 accounts for approximately two
quarters of the total part length, and th.e described outward edges, screw
insertion
edge 60 and screw-receiving edge 60' account for the remaining two equal
quarters.
In its open state, the grip member 20 resembles an inverted "U" shape (shown
in FIG.
2o 2A). The central section 62 can be described as the top flat section of the
inverted "U"
and is flexible to allow the grip member 20 to be wrapped around the handlebar
202.
The outward edges, screw insertion edge 60 and screw-receiving edge 60', can
be
described as the legs of the inverted "U" section. These edges are slightly
tlZickened
when compared with central section 62 to provide secure clamping ends to the
grip
member 20 in which fastener member 100 can be affixed.
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Grip member 20 comprises of two layers: an inner clamping body 30 and a
soft outer hand pad 70 {shown in FIGS. lA 8c 1B.). The inner clamping body 30
has
an inner surface 40 and an outer surface 50. The soft outer hand pad 70 has an
inner
surface 80 and an outer surface 90. The inner surface 40 of the inner clamping
body
30 wraps around the cylindrical outer surface of a handlebar 202. The outer
surface
50 of the inner clamping body 30 is affixed to the inner surface 8U of the
soft outer
hand pad 70, preferably using an overmolded or co-injection molded technique.
The
outer surface 90 of the soft outer hand pad 70 provides a comfortable
interface with
the user's hand. The outer surface 90 is preferably knurled or otherwise
covered with
1o a grip pattern 72 (shown in FIG. 1A) of a sort which assists in the holding
of the grip.
To ease the process of wrapping the grip member 20 around the handlebar 202,
thinning features 92 can be optionally added to tile outer surface 90 of the
soft outer
hand pad 70 (shown in FIG. 4A).
When in use, the grip member is wrapped around a section of the handlebar.
The closure of the grip wrap can be effected by joining the first and second
edges
together by any conventional means, such as cam lock, Velcro ~~, snap, hooks,
nut
and bolt, etc. In a preferred embodiment, fastening member 100 is comprised of
a
screw insertion aperture 110 and a screw-receiving aperture 120 (shown in FIG.
2C).
Brass insert 122 is permanently captured in screw-receiving aperture 120.
Allan
2o screw 112, or other socket head cap screw, is removably inserted into screw
insertion
aperture 110 and threaded into brass insert 122, or other suitable nut
embedded
therein, when grip assembly 10 is fastened to handlebar 202 (shown in FIG.
4A).
Handlebar grip assembly 10 is affixed to the outer cylindrical surface of a
handlebar 202 (shown in FIG. 3A). A mountain bicycle handlebar has a typical
2s outside diameter of 0.875" (7/8"). A handlebar grip assembly starts out in
an open
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position (shown in FIG. lA). During use the grip assembly 10 is wrapped around
a
handlebar 202 over its entire width and secured to itself in a closed position
along the
longitudinal edges, screw insertion edge 60 and screw-receiving edge 60', of
the grip
member 20 parallel to the handlebar 202 (shown in FIG. 3.A). In its fastened
state
grip member forms a closed circuit around handlebar 202. Screw insertion edge
and
screw-receiving edge 60' are thicker than central section 62 which give the
grip
member a slightly oval shaped profile when viewed from the side (shown in FIG
4A).
This described oval shape is optional to give the grip membe-r 20 a more
comfortable
shape to grip.
1o Grip member 20 has an inner clamping body 30 which has an inner surface 40
for wrapping around the cylindrical outer surface of a handlebar 202 (shown in
FIG.
4A). The inner clamping body 30 will have several clampirug sections 42 (shown
in
FIG. 1 B), which localize the applied force on handlebar 202. Once the grip
assembly
has been wrapped around the handlebar 202 a minute gap 64 remains between the
screw insertion edge 60 and the screw-receiving edge 60' (shown in FIGS. 4 &
4A).
The tiny gap 64 ensures that a constant gripping force is being applied by the
inner
clamping body 30 to the handlebar 202. The grip assembly 10 may be held to the
handlebar in various ways, but one such way is that Allen screw 112 nests in
screw
insertion aperture 110 on one side of gap 64 and spans gap 64 and is threaded
into
2o brass insert 122 which is captured in the screw-receiving aperture 120 of
inner
clamping body 30 on the adjacent side of gap 64 (shown in FIG. 4A).
One advantage of the grip assembly of the present invention is that it can be
secured to the handlebar 202 at any distance froze the end of handlebar 202
which
permits the tightening of bar-end 204 on the outside of the grip assembly
(shown in
FIGS. 3A & 3B). This is possible since grip assembly 10 does not have a closed
end
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as do the conventional grips. Another advantage of the grip assembly of the
present
invention is that it can be installed and uninstalled without removing any
other
handlebar components like bar-end 204 and end-plug 206 (shown in FIG. 3A).
The inner clamping body 30 is preferably fabricated from a durable, yet
flexible, and impact resistant polymer such as polypropylene;. Polypropylene
has the
appropriate flexibility to be wrapped around the handlebar 202 when molded in
thin
sections such as through central clamping section 42 and is a~dequatc~ly rigid
in thicker
sections such as through screw insertion edge 60 and screw-receiving edge 60'
to
securely clamp the grip assembly 10 to the handlebar 202. The soft outer hand
pad 70
to of the grip member 20 is preferably fabricated from a relatively soft,
shock absorbent
thermoplastic elastomer, such as a plasticized rubber of the type sold under
the
trademark "Santoprene" and "Synprene," having a hardness of typically Shore A
55
durometer.
As can be seen in FIG. 4A, the inner clamping body 30 clamps against the
surface of the handlebar 202 along the inner surface 40. This rigid plastic
clamp
combined with exposed grip sections 82 (shown in FIG. 1 B) of inner surface
80,
interference to handlebar 202 provides a clamping action against the handlebar
202.
The result is a pair of handlebar grips which are very securely affixed to the
handlebar
202 and yet, can be rapidly removed by loosening Allen screws 112 and un-
wrapping
2o the grip assembly thus allowing it to be removed and replaced with another
handlebar
grip quickly if desired.
It is clear that the inventive concept of the present wrap around handlebar
grip
assembly is not limited to use on bicycle handlebars. Any conventional
handlebars
can incorporate the present inventive concept and provide for suitable
installation and
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uninstallation of the grip. Thus, the embodiment depicted herein is intended
to be
merely illustrative and not restrictive in any sense.
It is further understood that the present invention may be carried out in
other
specific way than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and
essential
characteristics of such invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to
be
considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all
changes coining
within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended
to be
embraced therein.
