Patent Publication Number: US-2004045132-A1

Title: Ergonomic handle for bicycle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to an ergonomic handle for a bicycle.  
       [0003] 2. Related Prior Art  
       [0004] Various handles have been used for various bicycles. A typical handle for a so-called racing bicycle includes a cross member connected with the front fork of the bicycle, two bent members each extending from one of two opposite ends of the cross member and two curved members each extending from one of the bent members. While riding the bicycle slowly, a rider usually feels comfortable keeping his or her back straight. Accordingly, the rider holds the cross member of the handle. While riding the bicycle at a medium speed, the rider lowers his or her body a little bit for reducing damping by air. Accordingly, the rider holds the bent members of the handle. While rushing with the bicycle, the rider lowers his or her body even further for minimizing damping by air. Accordingly, the rider holds the curved members of the handle. However, this typical handle fails to provide a comfortable feel. Moreover, this typical handle becomes slippery and therefore difficult to grasp when it rains or the rider sweats.  
       [0005] The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0006] It is an objective of the present invention to provide an ergonomic handle.  
       [0007] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a non-slippery handle.  
       [0008] According to the present invention, an ergonomic handle is provided for a bicycle. The ergonomic handle includes a cross member to be mounted on the front fork of the bicycle, two bent members each extending from one of two opposite ends of the cross member and two curved members each extending from one of the bent members and including a grip portion near its free end. The grip portion of each of the curved members includes a convex upper side. The ergonomic handle is made of a compound material. The grip portion of each of the curved members includes a convex upper side for intimate contact with the palm of the rider&#39;s hand. The grip portion of each of the curved members includes a planar face formed on the lower side for increasing an area for contact with the fingers of the rider&#39;s hand. The planar face extends in a longitudinal direction of the grip portion.  
       [0009] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
     [0010] The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of embodiments referring to the attached drawings.  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ergonomic handle for a bicycle according to the present invention.  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the ergonomic handle of FIG. 1.  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is a top view of the ergonomic handle of FIG. 1.  
     [0014]FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but showing it held by hands.  
     [0015]FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but showing it held by hands in another manner.  
     [0016]FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5, but showing it held by hands in another manner. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0017] FIGS.  1 - 3  show a handle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention for installment on a bicycle. The handle includes a cross member  10  to be mounted on the front fork of the bicycle, two bent members  16  each extending from one of two opposite ends of the cross member  10  and two curved members  20  each extending from one of the bent members  16 . The cross member  10  and the bent members  16  substantially extend in a same plane, while the curved members  20  extend in two other planes, respectively. In the preferred embodiment, the cross member  10 , the bent members  16  and the curved member  
     [0018] The cross member  10  includes two grip portions  11  each positioned near to one of the opposite ends of the cross member  10 . Each of the grip portions  11  is like an oval instead of a circle in a cross-sectional view taken in a plane perpendicular to a length thereof. In other words, the grip portions  11  are flat. In the preferred embodiment, the handle is made from a compound material such as carbon fiber so that the grip portions  11  can be made flat easily. Each of the grip portions  11  includes a plurality of palm recesses  12 , an upper thumb recess  13 , a lower thumb recess  14  and four finger recesses  15 . The palm recesses  12  assume an elongated form extending in a substantially longitudinal direction of the cross member  10  for contact with the palm of a rider&#39;s hand. The thumb recesses  13  and  14  assume an oblong form for receiving the thumb of the rider&#39;s hand. The finger recesses  15  assume a substantially circular form for receiving the fingers of the rider&#39;s hand.  
     [0019] Each of the bent members  16  includes a palm recess  23  defined in the upper side and a thumb recess  26  defined in an internal side. The palm recess  23  assumes a substantially triangular form for receiving a portion of the palm near the thumb. The thumb recess  26  assumes an oblong form for receiving the thumb.  
     [0020] Each of the curved members  20  includes a recess  25  through which extends a sheath (not shown) for a wire leading to a brake. Each of the curved members  20  is formed with a grip portion  22  near its free end. The grip portion  22  includes a convex upper side for intimate contact with the palm of the rider&#39;s hand. The grip portion  22  includes a planar face  27  formed on the lower side for increasing an area for contact with the fingers of the rider&#39;s hand. The planar face  27  assumes an elongated form extending in a longitudinal direction of the grip portion  22 .  
     [0021] While riding the bicycle slowly, the rider usually feels comfortable keeping his or her back straight. Accordingly, the rider holds the cross member  10  with his or her hands as shown in FIG. 6. The rider grips each of the grip portions  11  with one of the hands, having the palms in contact with the palm recesses  12 , the thumb in the upper thumb recess  13  or the lower thumb recess  14  and the tips of the fingers in the finger recesses  15 .  
     [0022] While riding the bicycle at a medium speed, the rider lowers his or her body for reducing damping by air. Accordingly, the rider grips each of the bent members  16  as shown in FIG. 5, having the portion of the palm near the thumb in the palm recess  23  and the thumb in the thumb recess  26 .  
     [0023] While rushing with the bicycle, the rider lowers his or her body even further for minimizing damping by air. Accordingly, the rider grips each of the grip portions  22  with one of the hands as shown in FIG. 4, having the palm in contact with the upper side thereof and the fingers in contact with the planar face  27 .  
     [0024] The handle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a comfortable feel. Moreover, this typical handle becomes slippery and therefore difficult to grasp when it rains or the rider sweats.  
     [0025] The present invention has been described via illustration of the preferred embodiment. After a study of this specification, those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment. Therefore, the preferred embodiment is only taken as an example, and shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.