Field of the Invention
Present disclosure relates in general to field of automobiles. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to heated grips for vehicles. In particular, present disclosure relates to heated grips with wire guide.
Background
Heated grips are provided in motorcycles or vehicles in order to assist a rider of the vehicle to ride vehicle in cold weather conditions. Heated grips can be a part of vehicle or may be installed as an optional accessory.
Heated grips known in the art generally have components such as a tube guide, a heating element wrapped or wound over the tube guide, and a rubber grip covering the heating element and the tube guide. The rubber grip provides for a gripping surface to the rider. Often, when such heated grips are in use, i.e. when heated, the rubber grip gets loose over the tube guide due to thermal expansion and results in rotation of the rubber grip over the tube guide or the heating element. This may pose a safety hazard for the rider and may also result in bad product experience for a user.
Further, the accelerator of the motorcycle is required to be turned in order to control motion of the vehicle. The turning of the accelerator often results in damage to the wires coupled to the terminals of the heating element. Thus resulting in failure of the heated grip and affecting robustness of the overall assembly.
The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations as stated above and any other problems associated with the prior arts.

Summary of the Disclosure
One or more shortcomings of conventional assemblies are overcome, and
additional advantages are provided through the provision of heated grip
assembly for vehicles as defined in the present disclosure.
A heated grip assembly for vehicles is disclosed. The assembly comprises a
tube guide having a first end and a second end and a surface defined by a
portion in between the first end and the second end. A heating element is
disposed over the surface of the tube guide. The heating element comprises a
plurality of terminals for making electrical connections through wires. A rubber
grip is moulded over the surface of the tube guide thereby covering the
heating element. A guiding structure is secured at the first end of the tube
guide. The guiding structure is provisioned to accommodate a length of the
wires.
In an embodiment, the guiding structure comprising an outerskirt and an inner
skirt and a cavity defined there between.
In an embodiment, the outer skirt is provided with a terminal slit for extending
therethrough the wires and located proximate to the terminals of the heating
element.
In an embodiment, the guiding structure is adapted to be secured with a casing
mounted on a handle bar of the vehicle.
In an embodiment, the cavity defined between the outer skirt and the inner
skirt of the guiding structure is covered by a cover for securing wires inside the
cavity.
In an embodiment, wherein the wire is routed out of the cavity through a
harness slit provided on the outer skirt and positioned at an angular distance
from the terminal slit.

In an embodiment, the terminal slit is configured such that wires coupled to
the terminals may be inserted in the cavity defined by the outer skirt and the
inner skirt of the guiding structure.
In an embodiment, the harness slit has a narrow portion and a wide portion
wherein the narrow portion is configured to allow passage of wires and the
wider portion is configured to allow clearance for wires for lateral movement
of wires thereby preventing damaging of wires from the edges of the outer
skirt defining the harness slit.
In an embodiment, the terminal slit is covered by an insert which fits in the
terminal slit and adapted to secure the wires in the terminal slit.
In an embodiment, the casing comprises a clamp for securing secure the wire
on the casing thereby fixing length of the wires between the clamp and the
terminals.
In an embodiment, the tube guide comprises plurality of protrusions on the
outer surface of the tube guide.
In an embodiment, the protrusions are adapted to stick to the rubber grip (8),
upon moulding of the rubber grip on the surface of the tube guide thereby
preventing rotation of the rubber grip relative to the heating element and the
tube guide.
In an embodiment, the heating element is a foil-type heating element.
In an embodiment, the foil-type heating element comprises plurality of slits for
receiving the protrusions of the tube guide for locating the heating element on
the surface of the tube guide.
Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the
present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are
described in detail herein and are considered a part of the present disclosure.

Brief Description of Accompanying Drawings
The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a tube guide of the heated grip assembly in accordance with
an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 2 illustrates a heated grip assembly in accordance with an embodiment
of the present disclosure.
Figure 3 is an exemplary illustration of the heating element of the heated grip
assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 4 illustrates an exploded view of the guiding structure of the heated grip
assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 5 illustrates assembled view the guiding structure of the heated grip
assembly shown in Figure 4.
Figure 6(a) illustrates a perspective view of the heated grip assembly mounted
with a casing in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 6(b) illustrates a sectional view of the heated grip assembly shown in
Figure 6(a).
Figure 6(c) illustrates an exploded view of the heated grip assembly shown in
Figure 6(a).
Figures 7-9 illustrate wire guiding structure with different angle rotations of
heated grip in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The accompanying drawings depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
Description
While the embodiments in the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.
It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art would be motivated from the present disclosure and modify the heated grip assembly for vehicles, which may vary from one application to another. However, such modifications should be construed within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings show only those specific details that are pertinent to understand the embodiments of the present disclosure, so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, system, assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed

or inherent to such system, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or device proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or device.
The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to Figures 1 to 9. In the Figures the same element or elements which have same functions are indicated by the same reference numerals.
A heated grip assembly (100) with wire guide (20) and anti-rotation feature is disclosed. The term anti-rotation herein refers to a feature that controls slackening or tightening of the wires due to rotation of the grip assembly. Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a tube guide (1) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the tube guide (1) includes a first end (la) and a second end (lb). The tube guide (1) is configured to be disposed over a handle bar of a motorcycle. The tube guide (1) may define a cylindrical cavity (21) extending from the first end running along a longitudinal length of the tube guide (1). The cylindrical cavity (21) may be configured for receiving an end portion of the handle bar as known in the art. The first end may be configured for other provisions such as accelerator cable harness. The tube guide (1) may be made of a material such as plastic, fiber, etc.
In an embodiment, the tube guide (1) may have an outer surface (lc) defined by the portion of the tube guide (1) between the first end (la) and the second end (lb) and running substantially about the cylindrical periphery of the cylindrical cavity. The outer surface (lc) may be provided with a plurality of protrusions (3) as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The plurality of protrusions (3) may be located on the outer surface (lc) in any pattern and in any number. In the embodiment as shown herein, the tube guide (1) is provided with a number of

protrusions (3) distributed substantially equally over the outer surface (lc). The tube guide (1) may further have other known provisions for facilitating fixing of a heating element (4) and a rubber grip (8) over the tube guide (1) as shown in Figures 6 (a)-(c).
Figure 2 illustrates a heated grip assembly (100) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, a heating element (4) is mounted over the tube guide (1). In the embodiment as shown, the heating element (4) is a foil type heating element. The heating element (4) may be provided with corresponding slits (6) for matching with the protrusions (3) provided on the tube guide (1). Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary heating element (4) provided with the slits (6) that match with the protrusions (3) on the tube guide (1). The slits (6) are configured to allow the protrusions (3) to penetrate and jut out from the slits (6) as shown in Figure 2.
The above description describes foil type heating element. It can be clearly understood that any other type of heating element (4), for example a coil type heating element, wire type, film type or flexible PCB type, resistive ink etc. may be used.
The heating element (7) is disposed on the tube guide (1) so that the terminals (7) are located towards the first end (la) of the tube guide (1). The terminals (7) of the heating element (4) may be coupled to wires (15) for electrical connection. The first end of the tube guide (1) is configured to guide and harness the wires (15) as described later in the description.
A rubber grip (8) may be provided over the tube guide (1) and the heating element (4) as shown in Figure 6(b). In accordance with the present disclosure,

the rubber grip (8) may be moulded over the outer surface (lc) of the tube guide (1) such that the rubber grip (8) encases the heating element (4). The rubber grip (8) may also ensure that the heating element (4) is kept in place on the tube guide (1). In an embodiment, the rubber grip (8) is moulded on the tube guide (1) such that the rubber of the rubber grip (8) sticks to the protrusions (3) provided on the tube guide (1). The moulding process results in the rubber towards the inner surface of the rubber grip (8) sticking to the protrusions (3) provided on the tube guide (1). Specifically, the moulding process may result in at least partial melting of the protrusions (3) and the rubber that results in a sticky undetachable connection between the rubber and the protrusions (3). The moulding of the rubber grip (8) over the tube guide (1) ensures that the rubber on the inner surface of the rubber grips form fits and sticks on the protrusion such that once cold, the rubber grip (8) is firmly affixed on the tube guide (1) with a rigid attachment to the protrusions (3). This preventsany rotation of the rubber grip (8) relative to the heating element (4) or the tube guide (1) when the heated grip (4) is in operation.
Referring to Figures 4, 5, 6(a)-(c), a guiding structure (2) is mounted on the first end (la). The guiding structure (2) is provisioned for accommodating a length of the wires coupled to the terminals (7) of the heating element (4). In an embodiment, the guiding structure (2) is integral to the tube guide (1) located at the first end (la) of the tube guide (1). In an alternate embodiment, the guiding structure (2) can be rigidly secured with the first end (la) of the tube guide (1). The guiding structure (2) comprises an outer skirt (9) and an inner skirt (10) extending from the first end of the tube guide (1) and defining a cavity (16) therebetween. Both the inner skirt (10) and the outer skirt (9) are substantially cylindrical in shape and have an end towards the first end. The outer skirt (9) is provided with a terminal slit (18) configured to be located

proximate to the terminals of the heating element (4). The terminal slit (18) is configured such that the wires (15) coupled to the terminals (7) may be inserted a cavity (16) defined by the outer skirt (9) inner skirt (10) and the first end (la). An insert (19) may be provided that fits in the terminal slit (18) in order to cover the terminal slit (18) and secure the wires (15) in the terminal slit (18). In an embodiment, the terminal cover (19) comprises a projection (19a) for securing the wires (15) passing through the terminal slit.
Further, the wires (15) may be wound around and over the inner skirt (10) at the first end such that the wires are positioned in the cavity. After winding the wires with a required number of turns, the wire may be routed out of the cavity through a harness slit (17) provided on the outer skirt (9) and positioned at an angular distance from the terminal slit (18). It may be understood that the number of turns may be determined based on required freedom of rotation of the heated grip (5) as will be understood from the following description. Further, in the embodiment as illustrated, the harness slit is positioned substantially opposite to the terminal slit on the outer skirt (9). In an alternate embodiment, the harness slit (17) and the terminal slit (18) may be located with any other angular distance with respect to each other.
The harness slit (17) has a narrow portion and a wider portion. The narrow portion is configured to allow passage of wires in and out of the slit, whereas the wider portion is configured to allow enough room or clearance for the wires so that movement of the wires in the harness slit do not damage the wires from the edges of the outer skirt defining the harness slit.
As shown in Figure 4, the cavity of the guiding structure may be covered by a cover (14). The cover (14) closes the cavity by fixing proximate to the outer

edges of the outer skirt and the inner skirt. The cover may be shaped and designed to form-fittingly close the cavity including the terminal slit (18) and the harness slit. Suitable provisions may be provided on the cover, the outer skirt and the inner skirt to ensure proper fit of the cover. In an embodiment, the inner skirt (10) may have flanges extending from an edge of the inner skirt and away from the first end of the tube guide. Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of the heated grip in an assembled state. After the cover is fitted, the flanges may jut out through the cover as shown in Figure 5. The flanges are configured to cooperate with an electrical cable type acceleration/throttle position sensor.
As shown in Figures 6(a)-(c), the guiding structure (2) is secured with a casing (11) mounted on a handle bar (12) of the vehicle. The casing (11) may be configured for mounting rigidly on the handle bar (not shown) proximate to the first end of the heated grip assembly (100). As shown in Figure 6, on mounting of the heated grip assembly (100), the flanges may jut out from the casing (11) for throttle position sensor as known in the art.
In an embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the guiding structure comprising one or more openings on the outer skirt (9) of the guiding structure (2) for securing the accelerator cable harness in case of mechanical cable type throttle assembly.
As shown in Figure 6(b), the heated grip assembly comprises a clamp (22) being disposed in the casing for securing the wire (15) on the casing (11) thereby fixing length of the wires between the clamp (22) and the terminals (7).

Figures 7-9 illustrate the wire guiding structure (2) with different angle of rotations of the heated grip assembly (100). As can be seen, the turns of wire (15) provided in the cavity (16) accommodates the slack and tightening of the wire due to rotation of heated grip assembly (100). This way the wires are securely held in cavity and the guiding structure ensures the wire does not get twist or scrambled due to turning action of the heated grip assembly (100).
Further, various modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations provided they come within the ambit of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Equivalents:
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to

understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description,

claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

List of Reference Numerals
Heated grip assembly (100)
Tube guide (1)
First end of tube guide (la)
Second end of tube guide (lb)
Surface of tube guide (lc)
Guiding structure (2)
Protrusions (3)
Heating element (4)
Heated grip (5)
Slits (6)
Terminals (7)
Rubber grip (8)
Outer skirt (9)
Inner skirt (10)
Casing (11)
Handlebar (12)
Flanges (13)
Cover(14)
Wires (15)
Cavity (16)
Harness slit (17)
Terminal slit (18)
Terminal cover(19)
Projection on insert (19a)
Wire guide (20)
Cylindrical cavity (21)
Clamp (22)

We Claim:
1. A heated grip assembly (100) for vehicles comprising:
a tube guide (1) having a first end (la) and a second end (lb) and a surface (1c) defined by a portion in between the first end (la) and the second end (lb);
a heating element (4) disposed over the surface 1(c) of the tube guide; wherein the heating element comprises a plurality of terminals (7) for making electrical connections through wires (15);
a rubber grip (8) moulded over the surface (lc) of the tube guide (1) thereby covering the heating element;
a guiding structure (2) secured at the first end (la) of the tube guide (1); wherein the guiding structure is provisioned to accommodate a length of the wires (15).
2. The heated grip assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guiding structure comprising an outer skirt (9) and an inner skirt (10) and a cavity defined there between.
3. The heated grip assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer skirt (9) is provided with a terminal slit (18) for extending therethrough the wires (15) and located proximate to the terminals (7) of the heating element (4).
4. The heated grip assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guiding structure is adapted to be secured with a casing mounted on a handle bar (12) of the vehicle.

5. The heated grip assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity (16) defined between the outer skirt (9) and the inner skirt (10) of the guiding structure is covered by a cover (14) for securing wires (15) inside the cavity (16).
6. The heated grip assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wire (15) is routed out of the cavity (16) through a harness slit (17) provided on the outer skirt (9) and positioned at an angular distance from the terminal slit (18).
7. The heated grip assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the terminal slit (18) is configured such that wires (15) coupled to the terminals (7) may be inserted in the cavity (16) defined by the outer skirt (9) and the inner skirt (10) of the guiding structure.
8. The heated grip assembly (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the harness slit (17) has a narrow portion and a wide portion wherein the narrow portion is configured to allow passage of wires (15) and the wider portion is configured to allow clearance for wires (15) for lateral movement of wires thereby preventing damaging of wires from the edges of the outer skirt (9) defining the harness slit (17).
9. The heated grip assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the terminal slit is covered by an insert (19) which fits in the terminal slit and adapted to secure the wires in the terminal slit.
10. The heated grip assembly (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the casing
comprises a clamp (22) for securing secure the wire on the casing thereby fixing
length of the wires between the clamp (22) and the terminals (7).

11. The heated grip assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1-10, wherein the tube guide (1) comprises plurality of protrusions (3) on the outer surface (lc) of the tube guide (1).
12. The heated grip assembly (100) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the protrusions (3) are adapted to stick to the rubber grip (8), upon moulding of the rubber grip (8) on the surface of the tube guide (1) thereby preventing rotation of the rubber grip (8) relative to the heating element (4) and the tube guide (1).
13. The heated grip assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating element (4) is a foil-type heating element.
14. The heated grip assembly (100) as claimed in claims 1 and 13, wherein the foil-type heating element comprises plurality of slits (6) for receiving the protrusions (3) of the tube guide (1) for locating the heating element (4) on the surface of the tube guide (1).