Abstract:
Cruiser bars for motorcycle handlebars comprising right and left cruiser bars pivotally mounted to the motorcycle handlebars for movement in a plane between extended and folded positions at one end and having a handgrip on the opposite end. A connector bar can connect the right and left cruiser bars between the mounting brackets and the handgrips when the cruiser bars are in the extended position. In the folded position the rider can operate the motorcycle using the handlebars without interference from the folded cruiser bars. In the extended position the rider can lean back and comfortably operate the motorcycle. The handgrip on the cruiser bars can include at least one auxiliary control for the motorcycle. The cruiser bars can be adjustable in length and spacing. The cruiser bars can have an integral connector.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This non-provisional application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/572,793 filed on May 19, 2004. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention generally relates to improvements in two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles and the like by providing foldable cruiser bars which permit a rider to sit back on the seat and still control the vehicle. 
   2. Prior Art 
   Motorcycles and the like generally employ a pair of handlebars that the rider grips and turns to control the direction of the travel and operation of the motorcycle. It can be tiring to lean forward or sit upright or hunch over the handlebars in order to steer the motorcycle, particularly on long trips. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to one aspect of the invention cruiser bars can be provided for motorcycle handlebars comprising right and left cruiser bars pivotally mounted to the motorcycle handlebars for movement in a plane between extended and folded positions at one end and having a handgrip on the opposite end. The cruiser bars can include a connector bar connecting the right and left cruiser bars between the mounting brackets and the handgrips in the extended position. 
   The pivotal mounting can include a clamp attached to the handlebars having a first hinge element and the cruiser bars can include a second hinge element at the opposite the handgrips. The cruiser bars can include an end bracket including the second hinge element at the end opposite the handgrip. The first hinge element and second hinge element can comprise holes for a hinge pin and the cruiser bars can include hinge pins pivotally connecting the first and second hinge elements. 
   The end brackets can be pivotally attached to the ends of the right and left cruiser bars and the first hinge element can be pivotally attached to the clamp by a swivel connection. 
   The connector bar can have a right and left end including a connector element and the right and left cruiser bars can have a connector bar tab arranged for receiving the connector element when the cruiser bars are in the extended position. 
   In another aspect of the invention at least one of the handgrips can include an auxiliary control for the motorcycle. 
   In another aspect of the invention the length of the right and left cruiser bars can be adjustable. The right and left cruiser bars can comprise telescoping tubes arranged to be positioned in a desired extension. 
   In another aspect of the invention the length of the right and left cruiser bars include handgrips having inwardly and outwardly extending portions. The inwardly extending portions can form the connector bar. The inwardly extending portions can include a connector at the inward end for connecting the cruiser bars in the extended position. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a motorcycle with one embodiment of cruiser bars according to the invention shown in the extended position. 
       FIG. 2  is a partial front view of the motorcycle of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a partial front view of the motorcycle of  FIG. 1  with the cruiser bars in the folded position. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view showing the cruiser bars and handlebars of the motorcycle of  FIG. 1  removed from the motorcycle with the cruiser bars in the extended position. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view showing the cruiser bars and handlebars of the motorcycle of  FIG. 1  removed from the motorcycle with the cruiser bars in the folded position. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the right cruiser bar with the clamp and end bracket attached. 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded side view of the right cruiser bar of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a partial exploded top view of the right cruiser bar of  FIG. 6  with the clamp removed. 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the connector bar for the cruiser bar embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of one clamp embodiment for use with cruiser bars according to the invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a partially exploded top view of another cruiser bars embodiment according to the invention. 
       FIG. 12  is a top view of the cruiser bars embodiment of  FIG. 11  showing the cruiser bars in a first position. 
       FIG. 13  is a top view of the cruiser bars embodiment of  FIG. 11  showing the cruiser bars in a second position. 
       FIG. 14  is a top view of another cruiser bars embodiment according to the invention in a first position. 
       FIG. 15  is a top view of the cruiser bars embodiment of  FIG. 14  showing the cruiser bars in a second position. 
       FIG. 16  is a top view of another cruiser bars embodiment according to the invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the invention cruiser bars can be provided for a motorcycle to allow an operator to lean back against a backrest when cruising on a highway or the like by extending the handgrips toward the rider. The cruiser bars according to the invention can be folded forward to the handlebars when the rider wishes to use the conventional handlebars. Turning to FIG.  1 – FIG. 3 , motorcycle  10  can be seen with cruiser bars  20  according to the invention in the extended position. Motorcycle  10  can have conventional handlebars  11  attached to front fork  12  for controlling front wheel  13  as is well known in the art. Front fork  12  can carry headlights and turn signal lights as is well known in the art. Also, handlebars  11  can carry throttle  14 , clutch  15  and brake  16  controls adjacent the handgrips  17  again as well known in the art. Turning to  FIG. 3  cruiser bars  20  can be seen folded and secured in a forward position for operation of the motorcycle using the conventional handlebars  11 . 
   Turning to FIG.  4 – FIG. 9 , handlebars  11  can be seen removed from motorcycle  10  having one embodiment of cruiser bars  20  according to the invention attached and shown in the extended position ( FIG. 4 ) and in the folded position ( FIG. 5 ). Cruiser bars  20  can include a left cruiser bar  21 , a right cruiser bar  22 , and a connector bar  23 . Cruiser bars  20  can be pivotally mounted to handlebars  11  to permit movement of the cruiser bars  20  from the extended position ( FIG. 4 ) to a folded position ( FIG. 5 ) with a hinge structure between the cruiser bars  20  and clamps  24  that can be used to mount the cruiser bars  20  to the handlebars  11 . Left and right cruiser bars  21  and  22  can have an end bracket  25  mounted at the ends  21 ′ and  22 ′ of the respective cruiser bars. End bracket  25  can have a base  37  and a pair of legs  38 . Legs  38  can have a hole  39  positioned to receive a hinge pin to hinge each cruiser bar to a clamp  24 . As shown in  FIG. 8  end bracket  25  can be mounted to the cruiser bar using a bolt  32 . Those skilled in the art will understand that end bracket  25  can be rotatably or fixedly attached to the left and right cruiser bar ends  21 ′ and  22 ′ using a bolt  32 , or other known fastener. If end brackets  25  are to be fixed to the respective cruiser bars end bracket  25  can be welded to the cruiser bar ends  21 ′ and  22 ′. Cruiser bars  21  and  22  can be pivotally connected or attached to a clamp  24  with a hinge pin  28  that can pass through hole  39  in end bracket legs  38 . Hinge pin  28  can be a pin with a head on one end and having a hole for a spring retaining clip or cotter pin, not shown. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that hinge pin  28  can also be a threaded fastener if desired. Clamp  24  can be a conventional handlebar clamp having a hole  33  in a hinge element  34  to receive hinge pin  28 . Hinge element  34  can be formed integrally with inner clamp  29 . Outer clamp  30  can be mounted to inner clamp  29  using clamp bolts  31  as is well known in the art. 
   Cruiser bars  20  can be positioned in the extended position by mounting connector bar  23  between the left and right cruiser bars  21  and  22  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Connector bar  23  can have a pin  35  projecting from the bottom side of connector bar  23  positioned to be placed in hole  36  in connector bar tabs  27  attached to the left and right cruiser bars  21  and  22 . Pin  35  can have a snap connector, not shown, at the distal end of pin  35  to retain pin  35  in hole  36  in the connector bar tab  27 , or can have a transverse hole at the distal end to receive a spring clip to retain pin  35  in connector bar tab  27 . Alternately, pin  35  could have a threaded distal end to receive a threaded fastener to retain connector bar in place between the left and right cruiser bars  21  and  22 . Alternately, connector bar  23  can have a hole through the cruiser bar in place of pins  35  to facilitate mounting of connector bar  23  to the left and right cruiser bars using pins or threaded fasteners as is well known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, connector bar  23  can be permanently pivotally connected to one cruiser bar, such as left cruiser bar  21  and removably connected to the other cruiser bar, such as right cruiser bar  22  to facilitate folding and extending the cruiser bars  20 . 
   The left and right cruiser bars  21  and  22  can have handgrips  26  as are well known in the art. As shown in  FIG. 4  the right cruiser bar  22  handgrip  26 ′ can be an auxiliary throttle having an auxiliary throttle cable  26 ″. Those skilled in the art with understand that other auxiliary devices such as auxiliary switches for lights, horn, kill switch and turn signals can be mounted to cruiser bars  20  to facilitate operation of the motorcycle with the cruiser bars  20  in the extended position. Likewise auxiliary clutch and/or brake controls can be provided on the cruiser bars. 
   The cruiser bars  20  can be readily installed on motorcycle handlebars  11  by positioning the cruiser bars in the extended position ( FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 ) and mounting clamps  24  to handlebars  11 . Once cruiser bars  20  are in the desired position clamp bolts  32  can be tightened to secure clamps  24  in position. To move the cruiser bars to the folded position ( FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 ) the user can disconnect one end of connector bar  23  from a cruiser bar and fold the cruiser bars forward and pivoting connector bar  23  parallel to the cruiser bar to which it remains connected. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5  connector bar  23  remains connected to left cruiser bar  21 . Cruiser bars  21  and  22  together with connector bar  23  can be secured by straps  40  and  41  that can be wrapped around the cruiser bars  21  and  22  and connector bar  23 . As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5  one strap  40  can be used to secure connector bar  23  to left cruiser bar  21  and strap  41  can be used to secure left cruiser bar  21  to right cruiser bar  22 . Those skilled in the art will understand that straps  40  and  41  can be resilient clamps, Velcro straps, elastic bands or can be fabric or leather straps with appropriate fasteners. 
   Turning to  FIG. 10  a clamp embodiment incorporating a pivot between the hinge element  46  and inner clamp member can be seen. Clamp  45  can include an inner clamp  48  and outer clamp  49  that can be connected by clamp bolts  31  as is well known in the art. Hinge element  46  can be pivotally connected to inner clamp  48  at pivot plane  44  using a swivel connection, not shown. Hinge element  46  can have a hole  47  to receive a hinge pin similar to the embodiment of FIG.  4 – FIG. 9 . Those skilled in the art will understand that the swivel connection can be a 360° swivel, or less than a 360° swivel as are well known in the art. Use of a swivel between hinge element  46  and inner clamp  48  can facilitate installation of cruiser bars  20  on a wide variety of motorcycle handlebar styles and shapes without modifying the configuration of the cruiser bars  20 . Hinge element  46  can be pivotally connected to inner clamp member  48  by a rivet, pin or bolt to form the swivel connection. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that other swivel connections can be used to connect hinge element  46  to inner clamp member  48 . 
   Turning to FIG.  11 – FIG. 13  a telescoping cruiser bars embodiment can be seen. Telescoping cruiser bars can allow a user to set up cruiser bars to have a desired extension as opposed to the fixed cruiser bar extension in the embodiment of FIG.  1 – FIG. 9 . Telescoping cruiser bars  50  can have left and right cruiser bars  51  and  52  that can have an outer tube  51 ′ and  52 ′ and an inner tube  51 ″ and  52 ″ that can be sized to telescope inside the respective outer tubes  51 ′ and  52 ′. Telescoping cruiser bars  50  can have a connector bar  53  that can connect the left and right cruiser bars  51  and  52  in the same manner as connector bar  23  in the embodiment of FIG.  1 – FIG. 9 . Left and right cruiser bars  51  and  52  can have an end bracket  55  connected to the end of inner tubes  51 ″ and  52 ″ opposite the end that telescopes into outer tubes  51 ′ and  52 ′. A clamp  54  can be pivotally connected to end bracket  55  as in the embodiment of FIG.  1 – FIG. 9 . 
   Inner tubes  51 ″ and  52 ″ can include a series of holes  58  arranged to receive a pin  57  and outer tubes  51 ′ and  52 ′ can include hole  59  to receive pin  57  to secure inner tubes  51 ″ and  52 ″ in outer tubes  51 ′ and  52 ′ in one of a plurality of positions. Pin  57  can be a pin having a head formed on one end and having a hole adjacent the opposite end to receive a spring clip or cotter pin or similar fastener as are well known in the art. Alternately, a threaded fastener can be used in lieu or pin  57 . A threaded fastener such as a bolt can be inserted through holes  58  and  59  and secured with a nut. Those skilled in the art will understand that a nut can be affixed to upper tubes  51 ′ and  52 ′ at holes  59  to receive a bolt for securing the inner tubes  51 ″ and  52 ″ in outer tubes  51 ′ and  52 ′. Those skilled in the art will understand that other forms or fasteners can be used including a snap fastener.  FIG. 12  shows telescoping cruiser bars  50  in a first position and  FIG. 13  shows cruiser bars  50  in a second position. Those skilled in the art will understand than more than three holes  58  can be provided in inner tubes  51 ″ and  52 ″ to provide more than three positions. Likewise two holes  58  can be provided to limit the choices to two positions. 
   Telescoping cruiser bars  50  can include handgrips  56  like the handgrips in the embodiment of FIG.  1 – FIG. 9 , and those skilled in the art will understand that auxiliary controls can be provided as described above. Connector bar  53  can be connected to the left and right cruiser bars  51  and  52  as in the embodiment of FIG.  1 – FIG. 9 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15  a cruiser bar embodiment arranged to facilitate variable spacing between the cruiser bars can be seen. Cruiser bars  60  can include telescoping left and right cruiser bars  61  and  62  as described in the embodiment of FIG.  11 – FIG. 13 . Left and right cruiser bars  61  and  62  can have a plurality of connector bar tabs  67  spaced along outer tubes  61 ′ and  62 ′. As a result of the angled configuration of cruiser bars  61  and  62 , attaching connector bar  63  to different pairs of connector bar tabs  67  can vary the spacing of the cruiser bars  60  as can be seen by comparing  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 . Thus, by selecting the position of connector bar  63 , a user can vary the spacing of handgrips  66  to suit the user or to adapt to motorcycle handlebars, not shown, having different configurations. Cruiser bars  60  can be provided with end brackets  65  and clamps, not shown, as described above to connect the cruiser bars to a set of motorcycle handlebars. In operation, cruiser bars  60  can be assembled with connector bar  63  positioned between a pair of connector bar tabs  67  to achieve the desired handgrip  66  spacing. Clamps, not shown, can be attached to motorcycle handlebars and hinged to end brackets  65  as described above to secure the cruiser bars in the desired position. To position cruiser bars  60  with a different spacing, clamps, not shown, can be loosened and connector bar  63  repositioned to achieve the desired handgrip spacing and clamps, not shown, retightened. In operation cruiser bars  60  can be folded and extended as described above. 
   Turning to  FIG. 16  another cruiser bar embodiment can be seen. Cruiser bars  70  can include left and right cruiser bars  71  and  72  that can include handgrips  74  and  75 . Handgrips  74  and  75  can extend inwardly past cruiser bars  71  and  72  and can connect at  76  to support cruiser bars  70  in an extended position. Handgrips  74  and  75  can include a suitable connector, not shown, so that cruiser bars  71  and  72  can snap together. Cruiser bars  71  and  72  can include a hole  77  at ends  71 ′ and  72 ′. Holes  77  can receive a pin or mounting bolt to secure cruiser bars  70  to clamps, not shown, for mounting the cruiser bars  70  to motorcycle handlebars. Those skilled in the art will understand that clamps similar to clamps  24  in the embodiment of FIG.  1 – FIG. 9  can be used to mount cruiser bars  70  to motorcycle handlebars. 
   In the embodiment of FIG.  1 – FIG. 9  cruiser bars  21  and  22  can be formed of 1″ steel tubing. Hinge pin  28  can be a 5/16″ pin, clamp  24  can be a 1″ I.D. clamp and clamp bolts can be 8–32×¾″ cap screws. Connector bar  23  can be 1″×⅛″ flat stock steel and pin  35  can be a ¼″ to 5/16″ pin or bolt. Hole  36  in connector bar tab  27  can be a ¼″ to 5/16″ diameter hole. In the embodiment of FIG.  11 – FIG. 13  outer tubes  51 ′ and  52 ′ can be 1″ steel tubing and inner tubes  51 ″ and  52 ″ can be ⅞″ steel tubing. Pin  57  can be a 5/16″ pin and holes  58  and  59  can be 5/16″ holes. The cruiser bars, pins, fasteners and connector bars can be formed of stainless steel tube, or can be formed of plating steel and chrome plated. Those skilled in the art will understand that other materials and/or finishes can be used as desired including but not limited to powder coat and plastic coat finishes. 
   While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.