Abstract:
A clamp kit for motorcycles permitting a wide range of handlebar positions to fit the size of the rider, the comfort of the rider, or to change the riding style of the motorcycle. The clamp has two split rings, one for attaching to the fork tube of the motorcycle and one for accepting a handlebar. The clamp is rotatable to various positions on the fork tube to position the handlebar in a position, which is comfortable for the rider and does not interfere with the frame or component parts of the motorcycle. The height of the handlebars and the angle of the handlebars are easily adjustable by use of the second split ring on the clamp. The handlebars are spread apart and can rotate in case of an accident to improve motorcycle safety.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to motorcycles and more particularly to a handlebar conversion kit for motorcycles. The invention allows the position of handlebars to be quickly, easily, changed over a large range of positions to fit the rider or to change the riding position to suit the desired riding style. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Street motorcycles come in five basic styles; sport, sport touring, standard, cruiser, and touring. The style of these bikes is simply a description of the type of riding position or riding style that they offer. When you purchase a motorcycle, essentially, you purchase a riding position. Typically the manufacture of a motorcycle will design a handlebar system that will generally fit most people, however many people of different sizes purchase these same motorcycles with virtually no way of changing the position of the handlebars to suit their size or personal preference. In an effort to offer a product to solve this problem, various handlebars and “riser” kits are offered in the marketplace. These handlebars and risers kits however, are designed to be a permanent or semi permanent change, allowing only very limited adjustability, therefore severely limiting the ability of the rider to customize their riding position, change the fit of their motorcycle, and or change their riding style. The disadvantage of the prior art handlebars and risers is that they offer only a very limited range of travel and again lock the rider into one riding position. The prior art is severely limited in its ability to make quick and large travel movement changes in the handlebar position because until now, an adequate design had not been developed. A further disadvantage of the prior art kits discussed above, is that the various components are often welded or fixed therefore the handlebars will “dig in” or snap off in the event of an accident, and serve as a fulcrum causing the motorcycle to flip, exacerbating the extent of injuries incurred by the rider. Worse yet, the design of prior art handlebar kits can cause injuries when such injuries would not otherwise occur. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The motorcycle handlebar assembly of the present invention includes two clamps and two handlebars. One clamp is attached to each of the fork tubes of the motorcycle. Each clamp comprises a block of metal having a double split ring. The first split ring is used to secure the clamp to the fork tube and the second split ring is used to secure a handlebar to the clamp. The first split ring is infinitely adjustable both in terms of height and rotation relative to the fork tube. Likewise, the second split ring permits similar adjustment of the height and rotation of the handlebar relative to the clamp. These two split rings allow independent movement of both the handlebar and fork inside their respective split rings. The split rings are tightened or loosened on the fork tubes or handlebars by a bolt extending though posts held in apertures in a locking portion of the split rings. The clamps permit the handlebars to be quickly and easily adjusted over a large range of travel in height, rotational angle relative to the fork tube, and towards and away from the rider. 
   The design of the adjustable handlebar assembly is such that it can generally be installed without the need to remove the cowling or windscreen. Once installed, the adjustable handlebar assembly of the present invention permits quick and easy adjustment. The adjustable motorcycle handlebar assembly can be used on many kinds of motorcycles to provide a wide range of handlebar positions. On a standard, sport touring, or sport bike, the invention can also be used to convert the motorcycle riding style from a sports bike style to a touring bike style and back again. For example, to change to a touring riding position from a sport bike position, the handlebars can be positioned higher, further back and wider to allow the rider to sit upright with the handlebars in easy reach. The upright posture is more comfortable for the rider and contributes to safety, as the wider position allows for easier control. Further the rider&#39;s head is upright for better observation of the road and traffic conditions. The design of the clamp generally permits the handlebars to be placed in such a way that there is little likelihood of contact or interference with the windscreen or cowling allowing full controllability as designed by the manufacture, and changing the adjustable motorcycle handlebar assembly back to the stock setting is just as easy and fast. Also, in the event of an accident, the invention will allow the handlebars to safely collapse so they will not snap off or act as a fulcrum, which can cause the motorcycle to tumble and injure the rider. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   One object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable handlebar assembly for quickly and easily permitting customized positions of handlebars in order to better fit the rider or to change the riding position. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable handlebar assembly that can collapse in an accident to reduce the risk of injury. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a universally applicable handlebar system to fit virtually any motorcycle. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable handlebar assembly that can be installed on a motorcycle quickly and easily. 
   Another object of the invention is to be able to position the handlebars in a wide range of positions and still allow the full range of steering motion as designed by the manufacture of the motorcycle with little or no interference. 
   It is an object of the invention to increase the safety of riding motorcycles. 
   Still another object of the invention is to improve the comfort and fit of the motorcycle to the rider. 
   An additional object of the invention is to allow the user to convert a sports bike style riding position to a touring style riding position and back again easily and quickly. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable handlebar assembly having a clamp that is infinitely adjustable in terms of height, rotation, and fore and aft position ability relative to the fork tube of the motorcycle. 
   Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sports bike style motorcycle. 
       FIG. 2  is a top rear perspective view of the clamp for a motorcycle handlebar with the handlebar installed. 
       FIG. 3  is a top rear perspective view of the clamp for a motorcycle handlebar. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross section of the locking portion of the clamp for a motorcycle handlebar with the handlebar. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the handlebar. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  shows a sports bike style motorcycle  100 . The motorcycle includes a frame  102 , a seat  103 , a rear wheel  104 , and front wheel  105 , an engine  106 , for powering the rear wheel,  104  and a fork  107  pivotally connected to the frame  102 . The fork  107  includes a pair of fork tubes  140 ,  142 . The front wheel  105  of the motorcycle  100  is attached to the fork tubes  140 ,  142  by axle  110 . The factory installed handlebars  120  are mounted to the fork tubes  140 ,  142  or the top triple clamp (not shown) and are used to steer the motorcycle. A variety of actuators are mounted on the handlebars. These typically include a throttle for controlling the speed, a clutch lever, brake levers, and turn signals. In some models of motorcycles, such as the one shown in  FIG. 1 , there is a fork  107  with a cowl  152  mounted thereon. The cowl  152  may include a lower section  153  that projects forward from the fork  107 , a bull nose section  154  and a swept back section  155  that holds the windscreen  156 . The swept back section  155  of the cowl  152  and the windscreen  156  extend back over the handlebars  120 . The cowl  152  may have right and left sides each having a cut out portion  127 . The handlebars  120  extend from fork  107  through the cut out portion  127  of cowl  152  and past the sides of the cowl  152 . The mirrors  158  of the motorcycle typically extend from the cowl  152  above the handlebars  120 . The handlebars  120  are moved to turn the fork  107 . This turning motion is imparted to the front wheel  105  to help steer the motorcycle  100 . 
   The present invention provides an adjustable handlebar assembly  200 . While the adjustable handlebar assembly  200  can be installed at the factory, it can also replace traditional factory installed handlebars  120 . The adjustable handlebar assembly  200  includes a pair of clamps  10  and a pair of handlebars  20 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2  one clamp  10  is attached to fork tube  140 . The other clamp  10  is attached to fork tube  142 . Clamps  10  are used to mount handlebars  20  to the fork tubes  140 ,  142 . A significant aspect of the present invention is that the height and the rotation of the clamps  10  are both infinitely adjustable within a given range with respect to the associated fork tubes  140 ,  142 . Likewise, the handlebars  20  are both infinitely adjustable within a given range with respect to the associated clamp  10 . 
   Another important aspect of the design is that the handlebars  20  can move in any number of directions in the event of a crash. First, the handlebars  20  will move along with the fork  107  as fork  107  pivots relative to frame  102 . Second, given the design of the clamps  10 , at least eight different motions can be imparted independently to each of the handlebars  20  in the event of a crash. The clamps  10  can rotate in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction as shown by arrows  50  around fork tubes  140  and  142 . The clamps  10  can also move up or down on fork tubes  140 ,  142  as shown by arrows  54 . The handlebars  20  can rotate in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction as shown by arrows  52  around clamp  10  and the handlebars  20  can move up or down in clamps  10  as shown by arrows  51 . 
   The construction of the handlebars  20  is easily understood from the drawings. Each handlebar  20  has a column  22  and a handgrip portion  24  projecting from the column  22  at an angle  23 . Alternatively, the handlebar  20  may be made from a tube having been bent to form a curved section between the column  20  and the hand grip portion  24 . 
   The clamps  10  each have three distinct portions. First, each has a split ring portion  12  having an opening  14  such that split ring portion  12  can receive and surround one of the fork tubes  140  or  142 . Second, each has a split ring portion  11  having an opening  13  such that the split ring portion  11  can receive and surround the column  22  of handlebar  20 . Third, each has a connection portion  15  joining the two split ring portions  11  and  12 . 
     FIG. 2  shows a clamp for an adjustable motorcycle handlebar  10  shown installed on a motorcycle fork tube  140 . A handlebar  20  is adjustably attached to the clamp  10  for an adjustable motorcycle handlebar  20 . 
   Clamp  10  has a split ring portion  12  for adjustably engaging one of the fork tubes  140 ,  142  of the motorcycle  100 , a connecting portion  15  and a split ring portion  11  for adjustably engaging handlebar  20 . 
   The clamp  10  can be rotated on fork tube  140  or  142  as shown by arrows  50  to adjust the position of the split ring for the handlebar  20  to a desired position to support the handlebar  20 . In order to rotate the clamp  10  the split ring  12  is loosened by turning bolt  34  until gap  14  is large enough to rotate the split ring  12  on fork tube  40 . When split ring  11  is in the desired position bolt  34  is tightened until the split ring  12  grips the fork tube  140  such that clamp  10  is prevented from rotating in the directions shown by arrows  50 . In a similar fashion handlebar  20  can be raised or lowered on column  22  to adjust the height of the handlebar  20  as shown by arrows  51  and to rotate the handlebar as shown by arrows  52  to adjust the position of the handlebar  20  to the desired position which will make it easier and more comfortable for the rider to operate the motorcycle. When the handlebar  20  is in position bolt  34  in split ring  11  is tightened to grip column  22  of handlebar  20 . In this manner the handlebars  20  can be added to the motorcycle  100  with out taking off the windscreen  156  or the cowl  152  since the clamp  10  is of small height and length and can be attached to the fork tube  140  or  142  without interfering with the cowl  152  or the windscreen  156 . Similarly the handlebar  20  can be attached to the clamp  10  by swiveling the clamp into a position whereby the handlebar  20  can be inserted into the aperture  111  in split ring portion  11  and rotated as shown by arrows  52  and raised or lowered as shown by arrows  51  to the desired position, which can be extended out of the cowling as a sports bike or raised and rotated toward the rider inside the cowling  152  and windscreen  156  to provide a touring bike style handlebar position. The raising or lowering and rotating of the handlebars  20  can be accomplished to fit the contours of the cowling  152  and windscreen  156  so there is no interference. 
   With the handlebars  20  down and rotated to extend outward the handlebars are in the sports bike position. 
   With the handlebars  20  raised and rotated toward the handlebars  20  are in the touring bike position, which is more comfortable for the rider. 
   The detailed construction of the clamp  10  is shown in  FIG. 3 . Clamp  10  has a split ring  12  for engaging either fork tube  140  or  142  on the front wheel  105  of the motorcycle  100 . When the sports bike style handlebar  120  is removed and clamp  10  is attached in its place for allowing the conversion of the sports bike to a standard upright ridden touring style motorcycle when desired. Aperture  112  is slid onto the top of fork tube  140  or  142  when gap  14  is wide. Bolt  34  having a hex indentation  36  in its head  37  is rotated by a hex Allen wrench to adjust the gap  14 . 
   Split ring  12  has locking portions  18  and  19  having cylindrical apertures  118  and  119  respectively for placing posts  30 ,  32  therein which work in conjunction with bolt  34  to increase or decrease the gap  14  in split ring  12  which will increase or decrease the size of aperture  112  in split ring  12  for engaging or disengaging fork tube  140  or  142 . 
   As best seen in  FIG. 4  locking portion  18  has post  32  with a portion  38  removed for allowing the head  37  of bolt  34  to engage the post. Locking portion  18  has a portion  138  removed to allow the head  37  of bolt  34  to pass through to engage post  32 . An aperture  31  through post  32  allows the threaded portion  35  of the bolt  34  to pass therethrough without engaging post  32 . Bolt  34  then passes through aperture  135  in locking portion  18  and gap  14  before entering aperture  139  in locking portion  19 , which is aligned with the aperture  135  in locking portion  18 . The threaded portion  35  of bolt  34  then enters the threaded aperture  33  in post  30  in the cylindrical aperture  119  of locking portion  19  for engaging post  30  in the cylindrical aperture  119  of locking portion  19  and drawing it toward or pushing it away from locking portion  18  thus opening or closing gap  14  to tighten or loosen aperture  112  around fork tube  140 ,  142 . In this manner the clamp  10  is easily placed on or removed from the fork tube  140 ,  142  or its position adjusted thereon. 
   Similarly locking portion  11  has locking portions  16  and  17 . Within locking portion  16  there is a post  32  with a portion  38  removed for allowing the head  37  of bolt  34  to engage post  32 . Locking portion  16  has a portion  138  removed to allow the head  37  of bolt  34  to pass through to post  32 . An aperture  31  through post  32  allows the threaded portion  35  of bolt  34  to pass therethrough without engaging post  32 . Bolt  34  then passes through aperture  135  in locking portion  16  and gap  13  before entering aperture  139  in locking portion  17 , which is aligned with the aperture  135  in locking portion  16 . The threaded portion  35  of bolt  34  then enters the threaded aperture  33  in post  30  in the cylindrical aperture  117  of locking portion  17  for engaging post  30  in the cylindrical aperture  117  of locking portion  17  and drawing it toward or pushing it away thus opening or closing gap  13  to tighten or loosen aperture  111  around the column  22  on handlebar  20 . In this manner the handlebar  20  is easily placed on or removed from the clamp  10  or its position adjusted therein. 
   When handlebars  20  are installed handgrips, brakes, clutches, accelerators, turn signals, or other controls may be added to the handlebars hand grip portion  24 . The handlebars  20  can be adjusted such that the handlebars do not interfere with the motorcycles control panel, windscreen, fuel tanks or other structures on the frame. 
   The clamp  10  is preferably made of aluminum for low weight and strength. Similarly the handlebars  20  are preferably made from aluminum tubing for low weight and high strength. 
   With the clamp  10  and handlebar  20  installed on a sport bike the rider can easily adjust the hand-gripping portion  24  of the handlebars  20  from the sports bike position to a position closer to the seat of the sport bike so that the handlebars are in easy reach without the rider having to bend forward. This allows the rider to sit upright for a more comfortable ride. It also allows the rider to have his head in an upright position for better viewing of the road and traffic conditions. Further by sitting upright the riders weight is shifted so that he does not have to support himself by gripping the handgrip portion  24  of the handlebars, which is more comfortable and safer as the arms of the rider are used only to turn the handlebars rather than to support the rider and turn the handlebars. 
   The handgrip portion  24  of the handlebars are long enough to support the controls of the motorcycle without them being so crowed together that access is difficult. 
   Although the embodiments shown are for a motorcycle any vehicle having handlebars may benefit from use of the invention. 
   Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.