Abstract:
A tie for securing a handgrip to a handle bar has a series of short rods formed along the outer surface which project radially outwardly when fastened about a handgrip to provide a handlebar handgrip assembly with an improved frictional surface for the hand of an operator and improved frictional contact between handlebar and handgrip. The ties may be made in multiple colors and textures for different styling effects.

Description:
This is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 08/773,275 filed Dec. 23, 1996 now Pat. No. 5,893,297. 
    
    
     This invention relates to handgrips for use on handlebars of bicycles, motorcycles, and other devices and to ties for securely affixing such grips to handlebars. More particularly this invention concerns friction enhancing ties that when affixed about a handlegrip on a handlebar provide a superior frictional gripping surface for the hand of the user and improved friction between-grip and bar. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     In todays sophisticated sports vehicles handgrips for handlebars used to operated the vehicle have become important safety, comfort and style components. Functionally handgrips must be capable of providing positive, non-slip gripping of the handlebar and yet be comfortable for extended periods of use. Also handgrips have become somewhat of a style setting item on these vehicles with a wide variety of colors and designs appearing on the market. 
     Examples of previous proposed solutions to the safety and comfort problems are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,286 to Wilson and U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,735 to Kulpers et al. The latter shows screw actuated clamps to secure the grips to the handlebar and the former twisted safety wires to secure the grips to the handlebar. The twisted wires are unsightly and can cause injury if not applied carefully. Clamps are expensive and tend to be bulky. Neither offer designers much to work with from a style standpoint. 
     Further the frictional surfaces disclosed by the prior art leave much to be desired. Kulpers&#39; rigid outer sleeve is at best uncomfortable and Wilson&#39;s grip looses much of its frictional ability when wet and dirty. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to overcome the limitations of the prior art. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a handgrip and ties that when applied both securely affix the grip to the handlebar and improve the frictional gripping surface. 
     It is a further object to provide a functionally superior grip and tie that also provides a stylish accent to the applied handgrip and handlebar. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a handgrip and tie that provide a superior frictional surface even when wet and dirty. 
     A still further object is to provide handgrip ties in a variety of colors to match and/or compliment the particular style of a vehicle and handlebar. 
     These and other and further objects are achieved in one embodiment wherein a handgrip having at least three annular grooves spaced therealong is secured to a handlebar by a corresponding number of multicolored ties having a series of short rods projecting outwardly therefrom. The ties when used to fasten a grip to a handlebar, provide a superior frictional handgrip surface. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a grip mounted on a handlebar; 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, partially in section of a grip without the ties; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tie; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a tie positioned in a groove; and 
     FIG. 5 is a partial view similar to FIG. 3 showing a rectangular stud on the tie. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 3 shows a tie  10  according to the present invention. Tie  10  is a narrow, elongated strap having a generally rectangular cross-section. The length is chosen to extend around a handgrip to be fastened to a handlebar. 
     An annular groove  12  is formed on the inner surface of the tie. Positioned about the outer surface of the tie, at spaced intervals, are cylindrical rods  14  which are adapted to extend generally radially from the handgrip when a tie is installed thereon. Tie  10  has formed at one end a latch or locking box  16  and at the other end a tightening ratchet  18 . 
     The rods or studs  14  are formed on the outer surface only of the tie  10  between the latch  16  and the ratchet portion  18  so as not to interfere with proper tightening of the tie about a resilient handgrip member when it is desired to secure same to a handle. The inner surface of the tie is left smooth or in a preferred embodiment, sightly concave such as by shallow groove  12 . This allows complete smooth compression of a resilient handgrip  20  about its entire circumference, to a handle. This ensures maximum frictional contact between the handgrip and the handle. Toothed or apertured ties only provide tight contact at spaced intervals about the circumference of the handgrip. 
     Rods  14  shown as cylindrical in a preferred embodiment in FIGS. 3 &amp; 4 have a length sufficient to extend above the surface of the resilient handgrip  20  after installation, as may be seen in FIG.  4 . The outer end is generally perpendicular to the axis of the rod  14  and forms a sharp edge around the top which provides good frictional contact with a user&#39;s hand and since the tie is somewhat resilient in no way injures the user&#39;s hand. Obviously square, triangular or other polygonal cross sectional shaped rods could be used without departing from the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates one such. Similarly while FIG. 4 shows the tie  10  installed in a groove in the handgrip  20  the ties  10  may be applied anywhere along a resilient handgrip as desired with equal effectiveness. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 a handgrip  20  is shown installed on a handlebar  22  and securred thereto by three ties  10 . Handgrip  20  has three annular grooves  24  formed at spaced intervals along its length. Longitudinal ribs  26  extend between grooves  24  and form part of the gripping surface. Ties  10  are secured about the grip  20  in the grooves  24  to compress the grip into tight contact (see FIG. 4) with the handlebar and prevent slippage thereabout. Rods  14  extend above the surface of grip  20  to provide a positive frictional contact with a hand placed about the grip  20  on a handlebar  22 . While three grooves and ties with cylindrical rods have been shown any appropriate number of grooves and rod cross-section can be used as desired. 
     The grip  20  is made of any desired resilient material such as rubber, foam plastic, leather, or other natural or synthetic material that will provide the desired gripping and comfort characteristics. Ties  10  similarly may be made of any material strong enough to exert the required compression of the grip  20  to secure it to the bar  22 . In one embodiment a polyethylene tie approximately ⅛th of an inch wide by about a {fraction (1/16)} inch thick is used to secure the grip to the handlebar. Rods or studs  14  are about {fraction (1/16)} inch in diameter and have a length of {fraction (1/16)} inch. Rods  14  are spaced at intervals of about ¼ inch around the circumference of the tie  10 . Other sizes and spacings may be used to optimize the ties and grip for its intended application without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Referring now to FIG. 4 the tie  10  when installed in one of the annular grooves  24  in the grip  20  and properly tightened compresses the bottom of the groove  24  into tight engagement with the handlebar  22  on which it is mounted. The edges  30  of the annular groove  12  further compress the resilient material of the grip  20  and provide additional gripping above that obtained by the full tie itself. 
     The tie  10  is installed about a grip  20  by inserting ratchet  18  end into the latching or locking receptacle  16  and positioning tie  10  in one of the annular grooves  24 . By pulling the ratchet end  18  through lock  16  the tie  10  can be tightened about the grip  20 . This may be aided by a pair of small pliers or other tool and the end  18  is pulled tight enough to secure the grip  20  to the handlebar  22  and prevent rotation or other slippage of the grip relative to the handlebar. After tightening, the rods  14  protrude beyond the surface of the grip  20  and will be engaged by the hand of an operator of the vehicle on which the grip is mounted. The rods  14  will deform slightly when the handgrip is grasped by the operator and imbed themselves somewhat into the operators hand. The rods  14  thus provide additional lateral and longitudinal friction to the operators hand without discomfort or injury. Excessive dirt, oil, water, mud and the like will not significantly decrease the frictional effect of the rods  14 . 
     Finally the ties  10  are made in a variety of colors to match or contrast with the color and texture of the handgrips  20 . Each tie may be a different color or sets of ties may be the same color. Different colors can be substituted by cutting off the prior tie and applying a new one. Also if a set of ties becomes worn down they may similarly be replaced to renew the frictional grip without replacing the handgrip  20  itself. 
     While there are given above certain specific examples of this invention and its application in practical use, it should be understood that they are not intended to be exhaustive or to be limiting of the invention. On the contrary, these illustrations and explanations herein are given in order to acquaint others skilled in the art with this invention and the principles thereof and a suitable manner of its application in practical use, so that others skilled in the art may be enabled to modify the invention and to adapt and apply it in numerous forms each as may be best suited to the requirement of a particular use.