Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Handle – handle component – or handle adjunct – Detachable handle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-11
2002-07-23
Browne, Lunne H. (Department: 3629)
Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,
Handle, handle component, or handle adjunct
Detachable handle
C016S430000, C016SDIG001
Reexamination Certificate
active
06421879
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Description
The present invention relates to a clamping grip which is especially suitable for use on bicycle handlebars. The coupling to bicycle handlebars is however not the only possible application; clamping grips of the type described herein can be used, for example, on motorcycles, ski and hiking poles, sports and fitness equipment or on other equipment which involves a grip. For the purpose of simplification, however, the present invention will be described in the following with reference to its use on bicycle handlebars, whereby this description is in no case to be perceived as a limitation of its application.
The handlebar of a bicycle is usually affixed at the front. Depending upon the type of bicycle and its scope of application, a handlebar can exhibit various forms, whereas its cross-section is usually cylindrical. Handlebar design ranges from a basically straight rod to the classic racing handlebar to many various curved or winged forms. Handlebars are usually made of metal, light metal or fiber-reinforced plastic.
Since handlebars are customarily made of a hard material of minimal flexibility, they are fitted with a grip or covering at the typical grip points for a user in order to grant the user a comfortable ride. Among the functions realized by said grips or coverings is a shock-absorbing or elastic function so that the unevenness of the road and other such effects such as vibrations and shocks which are transferred to the handlebars are only further transferred to the hands or arms of the user to a minimized extent.
Grips are known in the prior art which are slipped onto the ends of handlebars or handle tubes. Such grips are comprised of, for example, a flexible plastic material and are of essentially cylindrical form.
The inner diameter of the grips is typically somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the handlebars to which they are fitted. When mounting such a grip, the user has to apply considerable force in slipping it over the ends of the handlebars, since these grips must be tightly affixed to the handlebars for safety reasons.
Because of this, the mounting as well as the removal of such grips is difficult and time-consuming; replacing a grip of this type becomes such an effort that it is only then replaced when the fitted grips are worn out or have deteriorated.
A disadvantage of the known prior art grips is that they can slacken due to factors of aging or environmental impact such as, for example, rain, snow, heat or cold; particularly under high stress, but not limited exclusively thereto, this slackening can lead to these grips loosening from the handlebars, respectively sliding off same, which entails a considerable safety hazard and high risk of injury.
Depending on the weather conditions and intended use, different various grips are better suited for a particular user. In weather conditions such as rain, snow, mud or fog, grips or grip coverings with a more pronounced profile are better suited than smoother ones. Far less profiled grips may meanwhile be favorable at, for instance, high outside temperatures.
Another disadvantage of the known grips is that the effort expended in mounting and removal is so high that the user will not change these grips daily in order to adapt accordingly to weather conditions.
Especially in the athletic, semi-professional or professional arena, such adapting of a grip to present conditions as they arise can be very advantageous.
It is therefore the task of the present invention to provide a clamping grip which meets the afore-mentioned requirements and which provides an especially reliable function with simple mounting and removal steps.
This task is solved in accordance with the present invention, including the preferred embodiments thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a clamping grip with high functional safety and which is simple to interchange with other clamping grips.
A clamping grip according to the present invention comprises a sleeve with a first essentially cylindrical section which extends preferably in longitudinal elongation. A slot which extends at least over one longitudinal portion is disposed essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said first section of said sleeve.
The sleeve is essentially completely enclosed by a gripping device, which is preferably non-rotatable or fixedly connected to the sleeve.
The gripping device is preferably essentially completely enclosed by a grip covering.
Furthermore, the clamping grip according to the present invention comprises at least one fastening device having at least one clamping piece provided for affixing the sleeve onto the bar, handlebar, tube, etc. inserted into said sleeve.
Said at least one clamping piece of said at least one fastening device may be positioned in at least one first open position and at least one second clamping position. The width of the sleeve slot is greater in the open position than in the clamping position.
A clamping device is preferably arranged at an end area of the longitudinal section which also comprises the slot. However, the fastening device may also be disposed at any other point on the longitudinal section, respectively the sleeve.
The gripping device wrapped around the sleeve is preferably disposed with an anti-skid, respectively elastic material on its outer surface which the user grips. This enables the user a more secure grip and shields the user's hands from smaller shocks.
The clamping grip according to the present invention has many advantages.
A particular advantage of the clamping grip according to the present invention is that only one clamping piece must be provided in the fastening device in order to securely and reliably mount the inventive clamping grip onto the bar, tube or the like.
Surprisingly enough, tests have shown that a fastening device having only one clamping piece, for instance at an end of the sleeve, is sufficient to reduce the slot width of the overall slot and sleeve length such that a reliable clamping is achieved. The utilization of just one clamping piece in the clamping grip according to the present invention results in reduced surface area, volume and weight.
Nor do the user's grip positions have to be unnecessarily reduced by using only one fastening device with preferably only one clamping piece. It should however be pointed out that the inventive clamping grip may also make use of two, three or more fastening devices, each with two or more clamping pieces.
The user can adjust the clamping piece of the fastening device into a first open position and a second clamping position, etc., so that the mounting and removal, respectively exchanging of a clamping grip mounted on a bar or tube is very simple and does not require much effort.
This enables the user to very easily affix a different clamping grip which he would like to use onto his equipment, respectively device.
Thus the user is able to change his bicycle handlebar grips as often as he likes depending upon, for example, weather conditions or personal preference.
Such substitutions are not so simple with the known prior art grips.
It is therefore possible, for example, to make use of a clamping grip with a more pronounced profile which would preferably be used in winter, while different clamping grips, respectively clamping grips having different surface characteristics, can be used, for instance, in the event of rain, moisture, high and low outside temperatures, with or without gloves, etc. Such adaptability is especially advantageous.
A further advantage of such clamping grips is that regular bicycle maintenance and repair is simplified due to the simple mounting and removal steps associated with such clamping grips. It requires a lot of effort to remove and then remount conventional slip-on or stuck-on grips, for example when replacing handlebars or brake grips. Utilizing clamping grips according to the present invention, yields considerable advantages in this respect.
A further advantage of the present invention is that safety factors are increased in
Grätz Michael
Klieber Jo
Browne Lunne H.
Garcia Ernesto
Pearne & Gordon LLP
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