Abstract:
A handle is disclosed for passenger use on a motorcycle. The handle is easily detachable from the motorcycle, by the use of a suction cup. The handle is firmly securable to the body of the motorcycle, while also offering enhanced gripping comfort for a passenger. The handle includes a proximal end attached to and protruding from a base that is fixed to the top of the suction cup, and a gripping portion oriented so as to be grippable by a user when the removable handle is attached to a motorcycle body, the gripping portion including a free distal end. In this manner, the handle is positioned such that when it is secured to the motorcycle body, the handlebar portion of the handle can be gripped by the passenger in a way that is comfortable for the passenger, even when the passenger leans their weight on the handles.

Description:
FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to vehicle safety equipment, and more specifically to motorcycle safety equipment. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Motorcycling is a recreational past time enjoyed by motorcycle drivers and passengers alike. Riding on motorcycles is known to involve safety risks, given the lack of protection of motorcycle riders. While all motorcycles have handles for the driver of a motorcycle, many motorcycles do not have handles for the passenger. 
     The general lack of passenger handles requires the passenger to put their hands palms down against the gas tank, or else hold onto the body or clothes of the motorcycle driver, but this can be uncomfortable and/or unsafe for both the passenger and the driver. For example, if a passenger is simply pressing their hands against the gas tank, they do not have a way of anchoring their body. If the passenger holds onto the driver, they can lose their balance in the event that the driver shifts his or her weight unexpectedly, thereby endangering themselves as well as possibly also causing balance issues for the driver. The movement and weight distribution of motorcycle riders and passengers during accelerating, turning, maneuvering around challenging objects or through rough roads or terrain, and/or braking (especially sudden braking) can pose significant risks to a passenger. Furthermore, a driver&#39;s mobility can be restricted by a passenger holding onto the driver&#39;s body or clothes. For such reasons, the passenger is put at greater risk, and the driver is inconvenienced by the need to concentrate on the safety of both themselves and the driver. 
     Passenger handles have been proposed for motorcycles, but some of these handles are not quickly and easily detachable from the motorcycle, therefore detracting from the general aesthetics of the motorcycle itself. Other handles available for motorcycles which do readily detach from the motorcycle, via suction cups for example, are difficult or uncomfortable to use because of their design and orientation during use. Handles detachable via suction cups generally have handles which are attached at both ends to a base while also having a gripping portion parallel to the base. When applied to a surface of the motorcycle that is accessible to the passenger, these handles do not provide the same level of comfort as the driver&#39;s handles, for example. Passengers, many of whom are female and may have thin wrists, can strain their wrists or put themselves in an awkward position when using these detachable handles, thereby facing discomfort as well as the risk of minor or serious injury. 
     SUMMARY 
     A handle is claimed for passenger use on motorcycle vehicles. The handle is easily detachable from the motorcycle, by the use of a suction cup. The handle is firmly securable to the body of the motorcycle, while also being designed to offer enhanced comfort level for passengers. The handle includes a proximal end attached to and protruding from a base above the suction cup, and a gripping portion oriented so as to be comfortably grippable by a user when the passenger handle is attached to a motorcycle body surface, the gripping portion including a free distal end. In this manner, the handle is positioned such that when it is secured to the motorcycle body, the handlebar portion of the handle can be gripped by the passenger in a way that is comfortable for the passenger, even when the passenger leans their weight on the handles. 
     A removable handle for use by a passenger riding on a motorcycle is claimed, the removable handle comprising a base for supporting a handlebar, a suction cup attached to the underside of the base, the suction cup being suitable for attaching the handle to a motorcycle body surface, at least one handlebar having a proximal end attached to the base, and a gripping portion connected to the proximal end and oriented so as to be grippable by a user when the removable handle is attached to the motorcycle body surface, the gripping portion including a free distal end not attached to the base, and a locking mechanism attached to at least one of the base and the handlebar, for locking the suction cup to a motorcycle body surface. 
     In some embodiments, the suction cup is a vacuum cup. In some embodiments, the suction cup is circular. In some embodiments the base is circular. In some embodiments, the proximal end of the handlebar is attached to a side or the top of the base. In some embodiments, the gripping portion further includes a gripping feature for facilitating gripping of the gripping portion. In some embodiments, the gripping feature includes bumps and/or grooves. In some embodiments, the gripping portion is substantially parallel to the suction cup. In some embodiments, the gripping portion is substantially parallel to the base. 
     In some embodiments, the locking mechanism includes a lever. In some embodiments, the lever is a suction lever. In some embodiments, the lever is a pump lever. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism is located on the top surface of the base, underneath the gripping portion of the handlebar. In some embodiments, the gripping portion is straight. In some embodiments, the gripping portion is curved. In some of these embodiments, the gripping portion contains a convex curve, and in some of these embodiments, the gripping portion contains a concave curve. 
     In some embodiments, the removable handle includes one handlebar, while in other embodiments, the removable handle includes two handlebars. In some embodiments, at least one handlebar includes a joint lock, for moving the gripping portion of the handlebar relative to the base. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following description will be more fully understood in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a profile view of an embodiment of the passenger handle of the invention incorporating one handlebar and a locking lever; 
         FIG. 1B  is an oblique view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 1C  is a profile view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A , further including a gripping feature; 
         FIG. 2A  is a profile view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A , including a joint lock for adjusting the orientation of the gripping portion of the handlebar relative to the base; 
         FIG. 2B  is a profile view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A , with the handlebar having been adjusted to a new position via the joint lock; 
         FIG. 3A  is a front oblique view of an embodiment of a single passenger handle incorporating two handlebars; 
         FIG. 3B  is a top oblique view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a front oblique view of an embodiment of a single passenger handle incorporating two handlebars having joint locks for 
       adjusting the orientation of the gripping portions of both handlebars relative to the base; 
         FIG. 4B  is a front oblique view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4A , with both handlebars having been adjusted to new positions; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the passenger handle; 
         FIG. 6A  is a profile view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A  being applied to a surface before being locked in place against the surface; 
         FIG. 6B  is a profile view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6A  attached to a surface, illustrating the locking of the handlebar via a locking lever; 
         FIG. 6C  is a profile view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6A  attached to a surface, illustrating the release of the locking lever; 
         FIG. 6D  is a profile view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6A , with the passenger handle being removed from the surface; 
         FIG. 7A  is an alternative embodiment of the passenger handle, containing a gripping portion containing a convex curve; 
         FIG. 7B  is an alternative embodiment of the passenger handle, containing a gripping portion containing a concave curve; 
         FIG. 8  is an elevated angle view of a pair of passenger handles attached to a motorcycle body surface, each handle containing a single handlebar; 
         FIG. 9  is an elevated angle view of a passenger handle containing two handlebars attached to a motorcycle body surface; 
         FIG. 10  is an illustration of a passenger using the passenger handles; and 
         FIG. 11  is an illustration of the handles being stored in trunk of motorcycle 
         FIG. 12  is an illustration of the handles being attached to helmet; and 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart showing the steps of use of the passenger handle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1A  is a profile view of an embodiment of the passenger handle  100  of the invention, including one handlebar  102  and a locking lever  104 . A base support structure  106  has a suction cup  108  attached to an underside of the base  106 . The locking lever  104  and the suction cup  108  work together to form a locking mechanism, such as a suction or vacuum lock, that serves to lock and unlock the suction cup  108  to a motorcycle surface such as its gas tank. Recess  116  serves to protect lever  104  from accidentally being unlocked by user&#39;s hand while in the locked mode. 
     Handlebar  102  is supported by a distal end  110  that is attached to a top of the base  106 . The handlebar  102  also has an unattached or free-floating proximal end  114  that forms the terminus of a gripping portion  112 . The proximal end  114  and the gripping portion  112  are sufficiently elevated above the base  106  and oriented to enable the handlebar  102  to mimic a steering handlebar of a typical motorcycle type vehicle such that they are as easily and comfortably grippable by a user as the steering handlebars of the vehicle when the handle  100  is attached to the vehicle&#39;s body. The elevation and orientation of the gripping portion and proximal end of the handlebars  102  are achieved at least in pert by the dimensions and orientation of the portion of the handlebar  102  between the distal end  110  and the gripping portion  112 . 
     The passenger handles  100  of the invention provide enhanced gripping comfort to a passenger of a motorcycle type vehicle because the elevation and spatial orientation of the gripping portion  112 , as it terminates at the and free proximal end  114  of handlebar  102 , are designed to provide a natural handlebar feel to the passenger. The experience of gripping such a handle is similar to that of gripping the steering handlebar of a motorcycle or a bicycle or the like, and the handlebar minimizes strain on a user&#39;s hand, wrist and arm in the same way that it does for the driver of such a vehicle. 
       FIG. 1B  is profile view of the same embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A . This handle  100  provides a single handlebar  102  for one hand, and would typically be accompanied by another such handle  100 . The handles  100  could be placed in whatever orientation relative to each other that a user preferred.  FIG. 1C  is a profile view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A , further including a gripping feature in the form of a series of bumps  118  on the underside of the gripping portion  112  of the handlebar  102 , which facilitate gripping of the handlebar  102 . Other possible gripping feature configurations, such as grooves, will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. 
       FIG. 2A  is a profile view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A , including a joint lock  200  for adjusting the orientation of the gripping portion  112  of the handlebar relative to the base. The joint lock  200  can permit rotation of the handlebar  102  about the joint lock  200  in at least one plane, for example in the vertical plane. The joint lock  200  can include a trigger mechanism, such as a pull pin  202  for example, which enables the joint lock to rotate and lock in various different positions. 
       FIG. 2B  is a profile view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2A , with the handlebar  102  having been adjusted to a new position via the joint lock  200 . In this figure, the handlebar  102  has been rotated in the vertical plane, about the joint lock  200 . This can enable a user of the passenger handles  100  to adjust the orientation of the handlebars  102  to accommodate their preferred hand gripping position. 
       FIG. 3A  is an oblique view of a passenger handle embodiment  300  incorporating two handlebars  302 . This design provides handlebars  302  for both of a passenger&#39;s hands, on the same unit. This design may be preferred by some users because of its enhanced portability, and for eliminating the inconvenience of requiring a user to position two separate handle units to a motorcycle body surface.  FIG. 3B  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3A . 
       FIG. 4A  is an oblique view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , with joint locks  400  for adjusting the orientation of the gripping portions  112  of both handlebars  302  relative to the base. Each joint lock  400  can permit rotation of the handlebar  302  about the joint lock  400  in at least one plane, for example in the vertical plane. As discussed in connection with  FIG. 2A , the joint locks  400  can include a trigger mechanism, such as a pull pin  402  for example, which enables each joint lock  400  to rotate and lock in various different positions.  FIG. 4B  is an oblique view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4A , with both handlebars  302  having been adjusted to new positions via the joint locks  400 . In this figure, the each handlebar  302  has been rotated in the vertical plane, about its corresponding joint lock  400 . This can enable a user of the passenger handle  300  to adjust the orientation of the handlebars  302  to accommodate their preferred hand gripping positions. 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the passenger handle. In the embodiment shown in this figure, the handlebars  500  are T-bar shaped. This T-bar configuration enables the gripping portions of each handle  500  to protrude beyond both the front and back of the base  106 . providing a user with options as to where to place each of his hands relative to each other and relative to the base  106 . 
       FIG. 6A  is a profile view of the handle embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A  being applied to a surface  600  before being locked in place against the surface  600 . The handle  100  is placed such that its suction cup  108  is pressed firmly against the surface.  FIG. 6B  is a profile view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6A  attached to the surface  600 , illustrating the locking of the suction cup  108  via a locking lever  104 . As shown in the figure, the lever  104  is pulled down from its vertical orientation, into a more horizontal orientation, thereby locking the suction cup  108  to the surface. In other embodiments, the lever  104  can be moved in a different direction, to accommodate the same locking function. 
       FIG. 6C  is a profile view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6A  attached to a surface, illustrating the release of the locking lever  104 . In this embodiment, the lever  104  is pulled upwards and back into its vertical orientation, thereby releasing the suction cup  108  from the surface  600 .  FIG. 6D  is a profile view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6A , with the passenger handle  100  being removed from the surface. 
       FIG. 7A  is an alternative embodiment of the passenger handle  700 , containing a gripping portion  702  with a convex curve  704 .  FIG. 7B  is an alternative embodiment of the passenger handle  704  containing a gripping portion with a concave curve  706 . Different shape handlebars may appeal to different users, and the invention is not restricted to anyone handlebar shape. 
       FIG. 7-8  is an elevated angle view of a pair of passenger handles  800 ,  802  attached to a motorcycle body surface  804 , each handle containing a single handlebar  806 ,  808 . These handles  806 ,  808  are placed in positions relative to each other by a user, so as to provide maximum comfort to that user. One of the advantages of two separate handle units, where each handle contains a single handlebar, is the ability for a user to position the two handlebars into whichever orientation relative to each other that the user finds most comfortable. As an example, a user who has a slightly compromised shoulder or back may wish to position one handlebar closer to the user&#39;s torso, than the other handlebar. 
       FIG. 9  is an elevated angle view of a passenger handle  900  containing two handlebars  902 ,  904  attached to a motorcycle body surface  906 . As discussed above in connection with  FIG. 3A , this design may be preferred by some users because of its enhanced portability, and for eliminating the inconvenience of requiring a user to position two separate handle units to a motorcycle body surface. 
       FIG. 10  is an illustration of a passenger  1000  using two passenger handles  1002 ,  1004 , each with its own handlebar  1006 ,  1008 . The free distal ends  1010 ,  1012  of the handlebars  1006 ,  1008  provides for a more comfortable and anatomical grip of the handles  1002 ,  1004 . Particularly for riding on motorcycles, a free distal end similar to the handles configuration for motorcycle or bicycle riders facilitates gripping, and allows for better posture during riding, both in cases where the user leans their weight on the handles, or where the user is sitting more erect and exerting less force on the handlebars. The user&#39;s wrists will be in a more natural position, and less strained, than would be the case when using typical suction cup handles. 
     In the figure shown, the passenger  1000  is a separate handle  1002 ,  1004  for each handlebar  1006 ,  1008 . This enables a user to place the respective handles in whatever position and orientation relative to each other that the user prefers. As an example, a user who has a slightly compromised shoulder or back may wish to position one handlebar closer to the user&#39;s torso, than the other handlebar. 
       FIG. 11  is an illustration of handles  1100 ,  1102  being stored in a trunk  1104  of motorcycle. Alternatively, the handles  1100 ,  1102  can be carried with a user when not being used.  FIG. 12  is an illustration of handles  1200 ,  1202  being attached to a user&#39;s helmet  1204 . The handles  1200 ,  1202  can be attached via suction directly to the helmet  1204 . 
       FIG. 13  is a flowchart showing the steps of use of the passenger handle. First, a user positions the handles to suit their body type, posture, and comfort level  1300 , and then they lock the suction cups  1302  and place their hands on the handlebars  1304 . If the handles are not in the optimal position and orientation for the user  1306 , they can reposition  1300  and try again. The user then uses the handles as appropriate during the motorcycle ride  1308 , so as to maximize his and the driver&#39;s comfort and safety. After the ride is over, the user can unlock the suction cups  1310 , and stow the handles  1312 , either storing them in the motorcycle trunk, or keeping them on their person to be stored elsewhere. 
     Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention except as indicated in the following claims.