Cover for levers

A cover for levers and a method for making the same. The cover extends from an initial end to a terminal end of the lever. The cover is formed from a single strand of leather or other suitable material, a plurality of strands, or an elongated rectangular sheet partially serrated to provide a plurality of strands, each strand originating from an unserrated portion along the lateral edge. The strand or strands are wrapped about the lever and secured in position. The strands may be braided about the lever following any of a number of braiding patterns. After the lever is wrapped, the excess length of the plurality of strands may be fashioned so as to be permitted to hang freely.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a cover for levers and the like and more 
particularly, to a cover for motorcycle clutch and brake levers and a 
method of making the same. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Lever covers enhance the control of the lever and the operation of the 
machinery associated therewith. Clutch and brake lever covers for 
motorcycles and the like improve the control of the levers and the motor 
vehicle. A cover, however, which may easily loosen up, slip, and twist 
through use over a period of time may reduce the control of the machinery 
thereby, increasing the risk. A cover which fits tightly and securely over 
levers would reduce the risk of the cover becoming deformed and would 
assure optimum operation and control of the machinery. Handle grips which 
improve control as well as provide comfort to a user's hands are well 
known in the art. Examples of some grips are shown U.S. Pat. No. 2,506,197 
issued May 2, 1950 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,508,812 issued May 23, 1950, each 
to Sel H. Burger. Burger discloses hollow grips, each of which is 
frictionally engagable by an end portion of a handle bar. A plurality of 
flexible elements in the form of streamers are secured to the grips by 
fasteners. 
Another grip is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,672,342 issued Mar. 16, 1954 to 
John A. Griffin illustrating handgrips, one of which is shown in FIG. 5 as 
being a braided ribbon formed of seven strands of twine tightly braided to 
form a flat braided ribbon which is wound in tight convolutions about a 
handle. 
Another patent which may be of interest is U.S. Pat. 4,459,871 issued Jul. 
17, 1984 to Keizo Shimano. 
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in 
combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is a lever cover. More specifically, the present 
invention is a cover, preferably fabricated of leather the like, for 
motorcycle cycle clutch and brake levers and a method for making the same. 
The cover extends between an initial end and a terminal end of the lever 
and is formed from at least one elongate strand. In one embodiment, an 
elongated strip may be partially serrated to provide a plurality of 
strands integral with an unserrated lateral portion. The unserrated 
portion is wrapped about an initial end of the lever and secured in 
position. The lever is then wrapped extending from the initial end to the 
terminal end. Any one of a variety of braiding patterns may be used. After 
the lever is wrapped, the strands are secured position at the terminal end 
of the lever to ensure that the same do not become unwrapped. Each end may 
be wrapped by an independent strand or by an excess length of one of the 
strands so as to conceal the securing means. An excess length of one of 
the strands may also be used to bundle the excess of the other strands. 
The excess length of the plurality of strands may be severed and disposed 
of or may be permitted to hang freely so as to provide a fringe. 
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an 
improved cover for levers which covers the lever between the initial end 
and the terminal end thereof. 
It is another object to provide a cover for levers which includes an 
unserrated portion wrapped about an initial end of the lever and secured 
in position so as to permit the strands to be wrapped about the lever. 
It is a further object to provide a cover for levers in which any of a 
variety of braiding patterns may be followed. 
Still another object is to provide a cover for levers in which the strands 
are secured in position at both an initial end and a terminal end to 
ensure that the strands do not become loose. 
Yet another object is to provide a cover for levers in which an excess 
length of one of the strands is wrapped around an end to conceal the 
securing means. 
Another object is to provide a cover for levers in which an excess length 
of one of the strands is used to bundle the excess of the plurality of 
strands. 
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and 
arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is 
inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended 
purposes. 
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily 
apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The present invention as shown in FIG. 1 is a covering 10 for levers L, 
such as motorcycle clutch and brake levers. The covering 10 is braided 
between an initial end I of the lever L and a terminal end T. The covering 
10 is formed from an elongate rectangular sheet or strip 12, as is shown 
in FIG. 2A. The covering 10 may be formed from a single strand as shown in 
FIGS. 2B and 8 or a plurality of strands 16c as shown in FIGS. 2C and 7. 
The strip 12 or the strands 16b, 16c are preferably leather or the like 
and may be any of a number of colors. The sheet 12 is serrated 
longitudinally up to a predetermined distance from a lateral edge 14 to 
provide a fringe or plurality of strands 16a in FIG. 2A. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the unserrated portion 18 along the lateral edge 14 is 
circumferentially wrapped about the initial end I of the lever L. Tape 20 
may be wrapped around the initial end I of the lever L over the unserrated 
portion 18 to maintain the unserrated portion 18 in its wrapped position. 
After the tape 20 is applied, as shown in FIG. 4, the strands are braided 
about the lever L extending from the initial end I to the terminal end T 
thereof. Any of a variety of braiding patterns may be used. After the 
braiding is completed, a length of safety wire 22 is applied about the 
terminal end T of the lever L over the braided strands 16a and is twisted 
tight so as to prevent the braided strands 16a from unraveling. Safety 
wire twister tools, such as the tool P partially shown in FIG. 4A, are 
commonly known. These tools ensure that the safety wire 22 is twisted 
tightly while reducing the risk of breaking the safety wire 22. One such 
tool is a right hand twist square nose tool, Model 12W5 manufactured by 
Milbar of the United States. The safety wire 22 is preferably twisted 
adjacent the underside of the lever L and folded against the underside of 
the lever L in the direction the knob K. An excess length of one of the 
plurality of strands 16a is wrapped around the terminal end T of the lever 
L over the safety wire 22 as shown in FIG. 4. 
As shown in FIG. 5, once the safety wire 22 has been sufficiently 
concealed, a remaining portion of the excess length of strand concealing 
the safety wire 22 is tied in a knot 23, such as a fisherman's knot, so as 
to simultaneously maintain the same tightly about the terminal end T and 
bundle the remaining of the plurality of braided strands 16a. the tape 20 
is now removed from about the initial end I of the lever L and a band 24 
is applied in substitution of the tape 20. The band 24 is preferably a 
stainless steel band capable of sustaining environmental effects. The band 
24 is applied about the initial end I of the lever L over the unserrated 
portion 18 in like manner as was the tape 20. The band 24 is tightened 
permanently in place to maintain the unserrated portion 18 in the desired 
position. The band 24 is preferable a BAND-IT TIE-LOK clamp manufactured 
by BAND-IT-IDEX, Incorporated of the United States. The BAND-IT TIE-LOK 
clamp may tightened and locked using a TIE-LOKTOOL, shown in FIG. 5A, also 
manufactured by BAND-IT-IDEX, Incorporated. With the band 24 in place, a 
strand 16 is wrapped and secured about the initial end I the lever L to 
physically conceal the band 24. Alternatively, the band 24 may be 
initially applied in substitution of the tape 20. However, by applying the 
tape 20 prior to braiding the strands 16, overlapping portions of the 
unserrated portion 18 are permitted to be adjusted prior to applying the 
band 24 to ensure that the covering 10 at the initial end I of the lever 
is as smooth and aesthetically pleasing as possible. As an alternative, a 
covered band 28, such as the band shown in FIG. 6, may be used to 
eliminate the step of wrapping the strand 26 about the initial end I of 
the lever L to conceal the band 24. Once the band 24 is secured to the 
initial end I of the lever L, the covering 10 is complete as is shown in 
FIG. 1. 
Alternatively, the band may be used in substitution of the safety wire 22 
and, conversely, the safety wire may be substituted in place of the band. 
Is should be understood that excess length of the strands may be severed 
at the knot and discarded or may be permitted to hang freely. Note that it 
is not critical which end of the lever L the strands 16b, 16c or the strip 
12 are initially attached. However, it may be more practical to start at 
the initial end of the lever L shown in the drawings if it is desirable to 
permit the strands to hang freely as shown. 
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the 
sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments 
within the scope of the following claims,