HANDLE BAR COVER FOR A SADDLE TYPE VEHICLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to a handle bar, and particularly, to a cover for a handle bar for a saddle type vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In a saddle type vehicle, a handle bar is generally provided at a front portion of the vehicle, with the handle bar extending laterally for steering a front wheel. The handle bar is clamped above an upper bracket between a pair of a top clamp and a bottom clamp on either side of the longitudinal axis of the handle bar to develop into a handle bar assembly. An ignition lock is disposed anterior to the handle bar and a steering lock nut is disposed posterior to the handle bar. The top and bottom clamps are secured to each other by fasteners to prevent the handle bar from rotating forward or backward or moving from left to right. The angular position of the handle bar is variable relative to the top and bottom clamps.

[0003] In the prior art, a largely central portion of the handle bar assembly is covered by a handle bar cover. Generally, the handle bar cover is integrated to and secured with the handle bar assembly by means of aluminum fasteners passing vertically through threaded holes present on the handle bar cover, the top clamp and the bottom clamp, in a sequential manner. This attachment of the handle bar cover does not allow it to be assembled independently of the handle bar assembly leading to an increase in assembly time and a decrease in assembling efficiency. Further, since the handle bar cover is fastened, the maintainability and serviceability of handle bar assembly becomes difficult and the design flexibility of the handle bar cover is restricted.

[0004] While securing the handle bar cover with the handle bar assembly, the aluminum fasteners need to be very tight so that the handle bar does not rotate in the clamp. Since these fasteners also pass through the handle bar cover, they cause a compressive stress on the handle bar cover surface that may result in its fracture over a period of time. Further, the fastener heads, being present on top of the handle bar cover, are exposed to the outer environment and may rust due to rainwater. Still further, once the handle bar cover is assembled with the handle bar, it is difficult to access a steering nut, present posterior to the handle bar. Moreover, the simple profile and lesser strength of a conventional handle bar cover may lead to high warpage.

[0005] Furthermore, the ignition lock is present at the anterior portion of the handle bar assembly located at a level above the upper bracket. It has uneven gaps around it leading to poor aesthetic appearance as viewed from above the vehicle. The conventional handle bar cover is unable to extricate this problem.

[0006] Hence the present subject matter is directed to overcome all or any of the problems as set forth above and obviate the lacunae in the prior art. It is thus an object of the present subject matter to disclose a removably attachable handle bar cover for a saddle type vehicle which can be attached to, and unattached from, a handle bar separately and allows easy maintainability and fast serviceability of the handle bar assembly. It is also an object of the present subject matter to provide a simple, retrofittable and inexpensive handle bar cover which can be assembled and disassembled from a handle bar easily and in lesser time. It is yet another object of the present subject matter to provide a handle bar cover which can be removably attached to the handle bar without interfering with a steering lock nut.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] To this end, the present subject matter discloses a handle bar cover for partially covering a handle bar comprising: a collar member forming a periphery around an ignition lock located anterior to the handle bar and including a plurality of locating pips on its inner radial surface, a stem member supporting the handle bar cover on the handle bar assembly and including a relief at its posterior portion to accommodate and provide access to a steering lock nut, an orifice anterior to the said relief of stem member for improving the aesthetic appearance of the handlebar cover, a plurality of recesses provided on a top surface of the stem member to support easy serviceability of the handle bar and a plurality of ribbings provided at a bottom surface of the stem member for reinforcement.

[0008] According to an aspect of the present subject matter, the handle bar cover is snap fitted and supported over a central portion of the handle bar through at least one opening provided at a lower portion of a lateral surface of the stem member.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present subject matter, the collar member is present in an anterior portion of the handle bar cover and the stem member is present in a posterior portion of the handle bar cover.

[00010] According to a further aspect of the present subject matter, the handle bar cover can be fitted with the handle bar of any saddle type vehicle, preferably a motorcycle.

[00011] The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present subject matter. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present subject matter as well as the subject matter itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the ensuing detailed description of the subject matter and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00012] The above and other features, aspects, arid advantages of the subject matter will be better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a typical saddle type Vehicle.

Figure 2 shows a handle bar cover attached to a handle bar assembly according to the present subject matter.

Figure 3 shows a top view of the handle bar cover according to the present subject matter.

Figure 4 shows a left perspective view of the handle bar cover according to the present subject matter.

Figure 5 shows a right perspective view of the handle bar cover according to the present subject matter.

Figure 6 shows a right side view of the handle bar cover according to the present subject matter.

Figure 7 shows a bottom perspective view of the handle bar cover according to the present subject matter.

Figure 8 shows a bottom view of the handle bar cover according to the present subject matter.

Figure 9 shows a sectioned view of the handle bar cover according to the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00013] The subject matter described herein relates to a removably attachable handle bar cover for a saddle type vehicle which is not subjected to compressive forces while being attached to a handle bar assembly. The novelty of the present subject matter, among other things, resides in the advantageous construction of the handle bar cover and its attachment to the handle bar assembly. It is to be noted that the present subject matter is not dependent on the type of saddle type vehicle and therefore is equally workable with any saddle type vehicle capable of accommodating the said handle bar cover, including a motorcycle, a scooter type motorcycle or a moped.

[00014] Further "posterior" and "anterior", and "left" and "right" referred to in the ensuing description of the illustrated embodiment refer to front and rear, and left and right directions as seen in a state of being seated on a seat of the saddle type vehicle. Furthermore, a longitudinal axis refers to an anterior to posterior axis relative to the vehicle, while a lateral axis refers generally to a side to side, or left to right axis relative to the vehicle. Various other features and embodiments of the handle bar cover according to the present subject matter here will be discernible from the following further description thereof, set out hereunder.

[00015] The handle bar cover according to the present subject matter is now described in detail in connection with the rendered figures 1-9. The detailed explanation of the constitution of parts other than the subject matter which constitutes an essential part has been omitted at suitable places. Figure 1 shows a side view of a typical two wheeled saddle type vehicle in the form of a motorcycle capable of accommodating the present subject matter. The vehicle M comprises a body frame assembly made up of a number of tubes welded together. The vehicle M has a steerable front wheel 11 and a driven rear wheel 12. The body frame primarily includes a head pipe 1 disposed at a front end of the body frame, a main tube running across the longitudinal axis of the vehicle M and enclosed by several vehicle components, and a down tube 2. A front fork 3 is connected to the head pipe 1 through any known type of suspension system for the front wheel and rotatably carries the front wheel 11. The head pipe 1 supports a steering shaft (not shown) disposed inside the head pipe 1. The upper and lower ends of the steering shaft are fixed on an upper bracket and an under bracket (both not shown). The front end of the main tube and an upper end of the down tube 2 are connected to the head pipe 1. The down tube 2 extends obliquely downward in front of an engine 15 from the head pipe 1 whereas the main tube extends rearward from the front end thereof.

[00016] A front fender 4 is provided below the under bracket to avoid the vehicle and its occupants from being splashed with impurities including mud, water, wet soil and the like. Similarly, a rear fender 18 is provided proximately to the rear wheel 12. A fuel tank 5 is disposed above the main tube for storing the fuel for propelling the vehicle M. A seat 6 for a driver and a pillion is further provided, with the said seat 6 being placed behind the fuel tank 5 and rearwardly of the main tube.

[00017] The anterior portion of the vehicle placed forward to the fuel tank 5 comprises of a headlamp assembly, the headlamp assembly further comprising a headlamp 8 and a visor 7 placed forward to a handlebar assembly. The handle bar assembly further comprises of a handle bar 100 extending transversely to the vehicle and several control switches for various vehicle operations.

[00018] The said vehicle M is powered by the internal combustion engine 15 disposed below the main tube and supported by the down tube 2. The engine may be liquid-cooled or air-cooled. Drive force output from the engine 15 is transmitted to the rear wheel 12 through a transmission system 16.

[00019] Further, the rear wheel 12 revolves about a sprocket splined shaft (or axle) 13. The axle 13 is supported at each end by a swing arm 14, the swing arm in turn pivotally connected to the body frame of the vehicle M by a suspension 10. Generally a saddle type vehicle may use any of the two arrangements for rear suspensions, namely dual suspension and mono suspension. However the present vehicle is exemplified through a dual suspension system. Both suspensions in the suspension system are fixed at their upper ends to the vehicle frame and at their lower ends to the swing arm 14.

[00020] Figure 2 shows a handle bar cover 200 attached to the handle bar assembly according to the present subject matter. The handle bar 100, typically hollow, tubular and made of aluminium alloy, is sandwiched between at least one top clamp (not shown) and at least one bottom clamp (not shown) present respectively at the top and bottom, on either side of the longitudinal axis, of the handle bar 100. The top and bottom clamp are secured to each other by at least four fasteners (referred by the numeral 52), at least two on each side of the longitudinal axis of the handle bar 100. They prevent the handle bar 100 from rotating forward or backward or moving from left to right. The angular position of the handle bar 100 is variable relative to the top and bottom clamps. The handle bar 100 is mounted on an upper bracket 50 and is rotatable about the steering shaft (not shown). A steering lock nut 51 covers the steering shaft.
[00021] The handle bar cover 200 is positioned on top of the central portion of the handle bar assembly, and more particularly over the middle portion of the handle bar 100. It is not integrated to the handle bar assembly and is attached to the handle bar assembly by snap fitting.

[00022] The structure of the handle bar cover 200 according to the present subject matter is now described in detail. Figure 3 illustrates a top view of the handle bar cover 200 in accordance with the present invention. The handle bar cover is broadly divided into two members, a collar member 201 and a stem member 202. The collar member 201 is present at an anterior portion of the handle bar cover 200 and the stem member 202 is present at a posterior portion of the handle bar cover. According to an aspect of the present subject matter, the collar member 201 is at a lower elevation than the stem member 202 so that the handle bar cover 200 may be conveniently fitted to the handle bar assembly.

[00023] A conventional handle bar cover construction is independent of the ignition lock. However, in the present subject matter, the collar member 201 of the handle bar cover 200 is contoured corresponding to the shape of an ignition lock (not shown) and is configured to be attached to the ignition lock. It forms a periphery around the ignition lock. On the other hand, the stem member 202 of the handle bar cover 200 is attached to, and rests over the handle bar 100.

[00024] Figure 4 shows a left perspective view of the handle bar cover 200. The collar member 201 of the handle bar cover 200 can be of any shape as long as it forms a covering around the ignition lock.

According to an embodiment of the present subject matter, the collar member 201 of the handle bar cover 200 is in the form of a hollow cylinder 104 open from both sides. The outer surface of the hollow cylinder extends across the handle bar cover 200 towards a bottom surface 206 and is approximately perpendicular to a top surface 205 of the handle bar cover 200. The hollow cylinder 104 receives the ignition lock from the bottom in such a way that a key inserting portion of the ignition lock is visible to the eye from the top and forms a uniform covering around the ignition lock. When viewed from a side, the long axis of the said cylinder is oblique with respect to the axis of the handle bar cover 200 as viewed in Figure 6.

[00025] A plurality of curved locating pips is provided at an inner radial surface 203 of the hollow cylinder 104 of the handle bar cover 200 to avoid see through gap around the ignition lock. Each locating pip 103 points towards the centre of the hollow cylinder 104 and extends vertically across the inner radial surface 203 of the hollow cylinder 104. The locating pips 103 ensure a uniform appearance and proper clearance of the ignition lock with the surrounding hollow cylinder 104 thereby enhancing the overall appearance of the handle bar cover 200.

[00026] According to an aspect, the top surface of the stem member 202 of the handle bar cover 200 encompasses a plurality of recesses 101. In an embodiment, at least two recesses 101 are provided on each side of the longitudinal axis of the handle bar cover 200. When the handle bar cover 200 is attached to the handle bar 100, the recesses 101 are mounted over the fastener heads (used for fastening the top clamp with the bottom clamp of the handle bar) so that the fastener heads are exposed to the outer environment and visible to the eye when viewed from the top. This ensures easy serviceability of the handle bar.

[00027] However, there can be an embodiment (not shown) of the present invention, wherein the top surface of the stem member of the handle bar cover is flat and devoid of any recesses. The top surface is thus totally closed in this embodiment and forms a covering over the top clamp. The absence of the said recesses in the said embodiment evades the exposure of the said fasteners to the outer environment and consequently the fasteners are protected from rusting due to rainwater. Moreover, the presence of flat top surface in the handle bar cover improves the exterior appearance of the handle bar cover (and consequently the exterior appearance of the vehicle). Thus the merchantability of the vehicle is also improved.

[00028] Figure 6 shows a right side view of the handle bar cover according to the present subject matter. At least one opening 102 is provided at a lower portion of a lateral surface 204 of the stem member 202 projecting toward the ground on the right side of the handle bar cover 200. Figure 5 shows a right perspective view of the handle bar cover. The opening 102 is partially circular and is curved inward thereby forming a largely circular portion partially closed at the bottom with two protruding ends 105 facing towards each other, the protruding ends 105 being perpendicular to the width of the handle bar cover 200.

[00029] The handle bar cover 200 is attached to the handle bar 100 through the opening 102. By virtue of this opening, the stem member 202 supports the handle bar cover 200 over the handle bar 100. At least one identical opening 102 is also present on the lateral surface of the stem member 202 on the left side of the handle bar cover 200 (shown in Figure 4) in such a way that the openings on the left and right lateral surfaces of the handle bar cover are co-axial and symmetrical.

[00030] Further, the handle bar cover 200 is separately snap fitted to the central portion of the handle bar 100 through the left and right side openings 102 of the stem member 202 in such a way that the outer diameter of the tubular structure of the handle bar 100 is enclosed by the largely circular portion of the openings 102 and is locked by the protruding ends 105. Thus the top clamp, the bottom clamp and the central portion of the handle bar are covered under the handle bar cover 200. The configuration of the openings 102 ensures easy assembly of the handle bar cover 200 with the handle bar 100 and the handle bar clamps. The snap fitting allows instantaneous and removable attachment of the handle bar cover to the handle bar thereby increasing the serviceability and maintainability of the handle bar assembly. It also avoids compressive stresses on the handle bar cover as the attachment of handle bar cover to the handle bar avoids the use of fasteners. The provided fasteners 52 are thus used for clamping only the handle bar with the upper bracket. The handle bar cover is separately attached over the handle bar in such a way that the fastener heads are exposed from the handle bar cover to the outer environment. In this way, the handle bar cover is configured for longer durability.

[00031] Figure 8 shows a bottom view of the handle bar cover according to the present subject matter. According to a further aspect of the present subject matter, a relief 106 is provided at the posterior portion of the stem member 202. The continuous posterior surface along the width of the stem member 202 is folded inwards mainly at its centre to develop into the said relief 106 thereby breaking the continuity of the posterior surface. The relief 106 helps in accommodating and providing direct access to the steering lock nut 51 due to which the handle bar cover 200 can be removably attached without interference of the steering lock nut 51. Further, to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the handle bar cover 200, a hollow orifice 107 is provided in the stem member 202 anterior to the relief 106. The orifice 107 improves the overall exterior appearance of the handle bar cover 200 and reduces the overall weight of the handle bar cover 200 owing to its hollowness.

[00032] Still further, as shown in Figure 7, the bottom surface 206 of the stem member 202 of the handle bar cover 200 is provided with a plurality of ribbings 108 at various places, preferably at the corners. The ribbings 108 act as guides during the attachment of the handle bar cover with the handle bar assembly and help to lock the handle bar cover over the handle bar. The ribbings 108 also function as reinforcements so as to avoid warping and provide sufficient form strength to the handle bar cover.

[00033] According to an aspect, the handle bar cover may be made of any material including a plastic resin.

[00034] The present subject matter and its equivalent thereof offer many advantages, including those which have been described henceforth. The handle bar cover is simple and modest in construction and can be manufactured at a relatively low cost. It is retrofittable to the existing handle bar assemblies as it does not require any modification in the handle bar itself. The handle bar cover is assembled separately with the handle bar assembly. Further, the absence of any direct compressive forces on the handle bar cover by way of fasteners increases its durability and longevity. The handle bar cover reduces the cost of the vehicle because it is lightweight and because the previously used costly chrome plated fasteners used for better aesthetics can be replaced with basic fasteners.

[00035] The present subject matter is thus described. The embodiments described are chosen to provide an illustration of principles of the invention and its practical application to enable thereby one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Therefore the forgoing description is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that described in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A removably attachable handle bar cover partially covering a handle bar, the handle bar cover having an anterior portion and a posterior portion, the handle bar cover comprising:

a collar member present in the anterior portion of the handle bar cover and forming a periphery around an ignition lock, the collar member further comprising a plurality of locating pips on an inner radial surface of the collar member,

a stem member present in the posterior portion of the handle bar cover, the stem member provided with a relief at the posterior portion to accommodate a steering lock nut,

an orifice anterior to the said relief of stem member for improving the aesthetic appearance of the handle bar cover,

a plurality of recesses provided on a top surface of the stem member to support easy serviceability of the handle bar,

at least one opening at a lower portion of a lateral surface of the stem member for supporting the handle bar cover,

a plurality of ribbings provided at a bottom surface of the stem member for reinforcement; and,

wherein the said handle bar cover is snap fitted over a central portion of the handle bar.

2. The removably attachable handle bar cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said recesses are located on either side of a longitudinal axis of the handle bar cover.

3. The removably attachable handle bar cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the collar member is at a lower elevation than the stem member.

4. The removably attachable handle bar cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said handle bar cover is made of any material including plastic resin.

5. A saddle type vehicle provided with the handle bar cover as claimed in any of the preceding claims.

6. A handle bar cover substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.