Abstract:
A motorcycle gear shifter cover comprising a pair of hemicylindrical halves, wherein each half has a first centered, symmetrical, cylindrical cavity for mounting on the shift peg of a of a motorcycle and comprises two layers, an outer layer and an inner layer, and wherein the outer layer and the inner layer share a common, concentric axis and wherein the outer layer has mating surfaces for joining and affixing said halves around a gear shift peg, and the inner layer contacts and holds the foot-operated gear shifter to prevent movement between the gear shifter and the gear shifter cover.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention claims the priority of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/430,580 filed on Jan. 7, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to custom accessories for a motor vehicle, such as a motorcycle. In particular, the present invention relates to a cover accessory for a motorcycle shifting mechanism, which can easily replace the existing gear shift and presents a non-marring surface. In this application, references to “lever,” “shifting lever,” “gear shift,” or “gear shifter” refer to that portion of the gear shifting mechanism of a motorcycle&#39;s transmission that is typically parallel to the ground and designed to come into contact with the operator&#39;s foot as opposed to that portion of the shifting mechanism designed to function as a lever arm providing displacement from the gear box. 
     Consumers have shown a strong interest in customizing their motorcycles by adding accessories to enhance the appearance of the motorcycle, and this may include the replacement of the stock motorcycle basic black rubber gear shift lever. Gears in most motorcycles are changed via a foot-operated shifting lever while simultaneously actuating a hand-operated clutch lever on the handlebars. Such shifting levers require the operator to maneuver the lever up or down by lifting up or pushing down on the lever. For example, during the lifting motion, the operator positions his foot beneath the lever and lifts up so that the top of his shoe comes into contact with the bottom of the lever. On a typical motorcycle, the shift lever is comprised of a metal rod or peg which has a hard rubber covering, which usually contains carbon black or other abrasive fillers. The carbon black and fillers are used in the compounding of the rubber material and give it its typical characteristics. The carbon black can discolor surfaces with which it comes into frequent contact, and the filler material can abrade the upper part of the users shoe. The rubber is primarily disposed on the end portion of the lever that comes into contact with the shoe of the operator. During routine operation, the operator of such a vehicle will shift up and down quite frequently. Each time, the operator must manipulate the shifting lever with his foot. These actions bring both the top of the operator&#39;s shoe and the sole of the shoe into frequent contact with the shifting lever at the end where the hard rubber covers the metal. After such repeated shifting operations, the operator may experience scuff marks, dark carbon marks, or a wearing away of the shoe material. Also, it is not uncommon for the shoe to slip from the shifter while attempting to down shift. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention involves a non-marring polymeric gear shifter cover designed to cover the shifting mechanism of motorcycles and similar transportation vehicles. The device is intended to be securely affixed to the gear shifter lever indefinitely, rather than be considered disposable and/or replaceable. 
     The present gear shifter cover invention is made of two hemicylindrical halves, which can be or are nearly identical. Each half is a composite construction in which a hard rubber material similar to a standard gear shifter lever is covered with a shell of polymeric material to form a coaxial construction. The inner construction comprises a rubber, or other similar material on the inner portion that provides a non-slip inner lining, and the outer construction provides an outer surface that is a durable, colorfast, slip-resistant thermoplastic polymeric material. The outer surface may or may not be coarsely textured, in order to enhance shoe grip properties. The inner lining and the outer surface are intimately joined through natural molecular bonding, mechanical fastening, or through the use of permanent adhesives. The thermoplastic polymeric material does not contain carbon black, or other abrasive colored fillers that often leave scuff marks on the rider&#39;s shoes. 
     The device is designed such that the thermoplastic polymer additionally offers good grip performance, water resistance, and aesthetic value, i.e. it may be easily colored to match the motorcycle. Most importantly, it does not discolor or mar the rider&#39;s shoes, particularly those that are white. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the cover showing the device installed on a shifter lever of a motorcycle wherein the rider&#39;s foot in positioned to upshift in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the device showing the seam where the first portion of the outer layer meets the second portion of the outer layer in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the device in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an edge view of the device in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the device, showing from left to right, the second portion of the outer layer, the two halves of the inner layer, and the first portion of the outer layer in accordance with the present invention; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present gear shifter cover invention is made of two hemicylindrical halves, which can be or are nearly identical. Each half is a composite construction in which a hard rubber material similar to a standard gear shifter lever is covered with a shell of polymeric material to form a coaxial construction. The inner construction comprises a rubber, or other similar material on the inner portion that provides a non-slip inner lining, and the outer construction provides an outer surface that is a durable, colorfast, slip-resistant thermoplastic polymeric material. The outer surface may or may not be coarsely textured, in order to enhance shoe grip properties. The inner lining and the outer surface are intimately joined through natural molecular bonding, mechanical fastening, or through the use of permanent adhesives. The thermoplastic polymeric material does not contain carbon black, or other abrasive colored fillers that often leave scuff marks on the rider&#39;s shoes. 
     As noted previously, the gear shifter cover  10  is made of composite coaxial construction with an inner layer  28  of a hard rubber, or other similar material, coupled with an outer layer having a surface which is a durable, colorfast, slip-resistant thermoplastic polymeric material. The outer surface may or may not be textured with bands of ridges  32  in order to enhance shoe grip properties. The thermoplastic polymeric material does not contain carbon black, or other abrasive colored fillers, which can leave scuff marks on the rider&#39;s shoe  14  particularly those that are white. The cover may be easily colored to match the motorcycle. 
     The inner layer  28  is composed of rubber or similar material with a high coefficient of friction in order to properly grip the gear shifter lever  12  of the motorcycle. The inner layer  28  and the inner surface  26  of the outer layer are intimately joined through natural molecular bonding, mechanical fastening, or through the use of permanent adhesives. 
       FIG. 1  shows the motorcycle gear shifter cover  10  of the present invention positioned over a motorcycle gear shift  12  that is mounted on a motorcycle. The rider&#39;s shoe  14  is resting on top of the motorcycle footrest  13  and positioned under the motorcycle gear shifter cover  10  and oriented to perform an upshift operation on the motorcycle&#39;s transmission. 
       FIG. 2  shows in side view of the motorcycle gear shifter cover  10  in final assembled form wherein the first portion of the outer layer  16  is fastened to second portion of outer layer  18 . A series of parallel bands of ridges  32  cover the circumference of motorcycle gear shifter cover  10 . 
       FIG. 3  shows motorcycle gear shifter cover  10  as seen from above. Only the first portion of the outer layer  16  is visible. The bands of ridges  32  can be seen in this view as well. 
       FIG. 4  shows motorcycle gear shifter cover  10  as viewed from the end, along the axis of the motorcycle gear shifter. The inner layer  28  can be seen, with the innermost surface being the inner wall  34  of the inner layer. The inner layer  28  nests within first portion of the outer layer  16  and second portion of outer layer  18  and meets the inner wall of the outer layer  26 . The bands of ridges  32  can be seen covering the entire 5 circumference of the motorcycle gear shifter cover  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, the first portion or hemispherical half  16  is connected to the second portion or hemispherical half  18  via a series of pegs  20  which fit into matching openings and together result in the outer layer encasing the inner layer  28 . The pegs  20  are formed as part of, and are integral to, the first portion of the outer layer  16  and extend perpendicularly from the mating surface  37  of first portion of the outer layer  16 . The second portion of the outer layer  18  has a similar corresponding flat mating surface having a series of holes  22 . The pegs  20  engage complementary connector holes  22  in the second portion of outer layer  18 . The inner layer  28  is made up of two hemicylindrical halves like the outer layer, but unlike the outer layer, the two halves of the inner layer  28  are identical and interchangeable with neither half having connector pegs nor holes. The two halves of inner layer  28  are held together by pressure applied by the shell formed when the first portion of the outer layer  16  and the second portion of outer layer  18  are fastened together. When so fastened, the outer wall of the inner layer  36  is flush with the inner wall  34  of the outer layer. To prevent the 20 inner layer  28  from moving laterally and slipping out from between first portion of the outer layer  16  and the second portion of outer layer  18 , the inner layer  28  is formed having a ridge  30  that mates with a corresponding groove  24  in each of the outer layers. 
     In another embodiment, the inner layer  28  is joined with the outer layers by means of chemical bonding. The outer wall of inner layer  36  is treated to bond chemically to the inner wall of outer layer  26 , creating a permanent connection between the two layers. In another embodiment, the inner layer  28  is joined with the outer layers using an adhesive. This adhesive is applied to outer wall of inner layer  36  and to inner wall of outer layer  26 , creating a permanent connection between the two layers. The particular adhesive is not critical with the current invention and any number of commercially available adhesives could be so employed, as long as they provide a bond between the inner rubber material and the outer polymeric material. Further, the ridges  30  and grooves  24  could optionally be omitted or spaced differently, as long as they create enough surface for the gear shift to function properly. 
     In another embodiment, the mating surface  37  of the first portion of outer layer  16  is joined with the corresponding mating surface of the second portion of outer layer  18  using an adhesive or chemical bonding as described above. In this embodiment, the pegs  20  could optionally be omitted. In yet another embodiment, the hemicylinders could be joined by a web of hinge material on one side and by pegs and holes on the other side such that the shifter will resemble a clam-shell design. 
     Alternatively, the arrangement of pegs  20  and holes  22  can be such that, rather than all pegs being located on the first portion of outer layer  16  and all holes being located the second portion of outer layer  18 , half of the pegs and their corresponding holes are on one of the halves and a corresponding amount are on the other half. This would result in the halves being symmetrical and by rotating one of the halves 180°, the holes on one half would match up with the pegs on the other half. Using  FIG. 5  as an example, instead of four pegs on the first portion of outer layer  16  and four holes in the second portion of outer layer  18 , there would be two pegs on one side of the layer and two holes on the other side. The two halves would be identical in this arrangement, with no distinction between first and second layers. This arrangement could result in reduced manufacture costs as only a single piece would be manufactured having two pegs and two holes rather than two separate pieces manufactured, i.e., one with four pegs, one with four holes (see  FIG. 5 ). Two of the holes would be visible in this embodiment when viewed from either the top or the bottom, whereas in the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , no holes are seen when viewed from the top. For aesthetic reasons, the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  might be favored. Yet another alternative would entail having each half having alternating pegs and holes. In this arrangement, the sequence would be peg, hole, peg, and hole (when there are four pegs and holes). The halves would be identical, but by rotating one of the halves 180°, the pegs and holes would match and the halves could be then joined by inserting the pegs in the holes. 
     The pegs  20  are manufactured with a small gap, or slit down their centers and a flange  21  running about the circumference of the end of the peg  20 . This slit allows the pegs to compress slightly along their width, allowing the flange  21  on the end of the peg  20  to easily fit within the holes  22 . Once the flange end of the peg emerges from the hole, the peg returns to its original shape and effectively expands so that the edge of the flange engages the lip around the hole, thus securing the two halves of the cover. Even if the flange end does not pass entirely through a hole, the compressed peg will exert a force against the inner wall of the hole, with the resulting pressure and friction thus securing the two halves of the cover. 
     In another embodiment, the cover has an additional outermost layer. This layer would be softer than the thermoplastic polymer. Such outermost layers take their example from golf club grips, and include such materials as leather and ethylene propylene diene monomer elastomer (EPDM). 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to particular examples and embodiments, the examples and embodiments contained herein are merely illustrative and are not an exhaustive list. Variations and modifications of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The present invention includes all such modifications and equivalents. The claims alone are intended to set forth the limits of the present invention.