Patent Publication Number: US-2011051442-A1

Title: Bike handlebar grip structure hanging caution/direction light device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a bike caution/direction light device, particularly to a detachable bike handlebar grip structure hanging a caution/direction light device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     With emergence of the environmental protectionism, energy saving and carbon emission reduction has been gradually put into practice in daily living. Further, people make much of their health and leisure activities now. Biking not only excises our bodies but also reduces waste gas emitted by general traffic tools. Thus, biking becomes very popular, and many people use bikes as traffic tools or leisure-activity equipment. 
     Not all regions have ready bikeways. Therefore, bikers usually have to bike on sidewalks or traffic lanes together with pedestrians, motorcycles and automobiles. Such a case is likely to incur traffic accidents and endanger bikers. Bikes usually have none of headlights, taillights and direction lights. Such a case further endangers bikers at night or in a dim light environment. Therefore, many bikers install headlights and taillights on their bikes to remind others and improve biking safety. However, rare bikers install direction lights on their bikes. Therefore, they cannot warn the drivers in rear vehicles when they intend to turn. Such a case may endanger bikers also. 
     To solve the abovementioned problem, manufacturers had proposed several types of handlebar grips with caution lights. The related patents thereof include Taiwan patents of No. M298566, No. M340972, No. M360830, etc. Each of Taiwan patents of No. M298566 and No. M340972 has a transparent handlebar grip. A light-emitting element or a reflective layer is arranged inside the handlebar grip. The light-emitting element or the reflective layer enables the handlebar grip to emit light. However, the light-emitting element is positioned at the inner end of the handlebar in Taiwan patent No. M298566. For drivers of rear vehicles, the light is thus completely shaded by the biker. In Taiwan patent No. M340972, the light-emitting device is arranged in the outer end of the handlebar. However, the size of the light-emitting device is smaller than the diameter of the handlebar. Thus, the light is likely to be shaded by the arms of the bikers. In Taiwan patent No. M340972, there are numerous complicated components, which make the assemblage and usage thereof very troublesome. Further, the size of the light seat is also smaller than the diameter of the handlebar. Therefore, the light is also likely to be shaded by the arms of the biker. 
     The abovementioned patent products have to be installed on handlebars fixedly. When the bike is not in use, the products are unlikely to detach from the handlebars. Thus, rain and sunshine will decrease the lifetime of the products. Further, the products are easy to damage or steal. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a bike handlebar grip structure, wherein a caution/direction light device hangs in the outer end of the handlebar grip, and wherein the width and length of the caution/direction light are greater than the diameter of the handlebar grip, whereby is effectively enhanced the warning effect of the caution/direction lights. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a bike handlebar grip structure, which is detachably installed on the handlebar, whereby the present invention can be fast assembled to a bike when in use and disassembled from the bike when not in use. 
     A further objective of the present invention is to provide a bike handlebar grip structure, which can be elastically assembled to the handlebars of different bikes. 
     To achieve the abovementioned objectives, the present invention proposes a bike handlebar grip structure, which applies to a bike handlebar, and which comprises an elastic grip body and a caution/direction light device. The elastic grip body has an accommodation space corresponding to the bike handlebar and can elastically and detachably sleeve the handlebar. The surface of the elastic grip body has a switch device. The caution/direction light device is hanged to the outer end of the elastic grip body and electrically connected to the switch device of the elastic grip body. The caution/direction light device has a seat attached to the elastic grip body, a cover covering the seat, and a light-emitting module arranged in the seat. The width and length of the caution/direction light device are greater than the diameter of the elastic grip body. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the elastic grip body has a plurality of perforated holes; the elastic grip body also has a plurality of drainage holes and a plurality of wire holes on the bottom thereof. The outer end of the elastic grip body has a first hanging member. The inner end of the caution/direction light device has a second hanging member corresponding to the first hanging member. 
     In comparison with the conventional technologies, the bike handlebar grip structure of the present invention has an elastic grip body, which can flexibly sleeve the handlebar of any bike. Therefore, the present invention can be fast assembled to any handlebar. The caution/direction light device of the present invention can be easily hanged to the outer end of the elastic grip body. Therefore, the assemblage of the caution/direction light device is very convenient. In addition to being attached to the outer end of the elastic grip body, the caution/direction light device has width and length greater than the diameter of the handlebar. Therefore, the light of the caution/direction light device is exempted from being shaded by the arms of the biker in the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention can obviously enhance the warning effect and biking safety. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded-view drawing of a bike handlebar grip structure according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective assembly drawing of a bike handlebar grip structure according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side-view exploded sectional drawing of a bike handlebar grip structure according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side-view sectional assembly drawing of a bike handlebar grip structure according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a side-view appearance drawing of a bike handlebar grip structure according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a top-view sectional assembly drawing of a bike handlebar grip structure according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a drawing schematically showing an application of a bike handlebar grip structure according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective appearance drawing of a bike handlebar grip structure according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective assembly drawing of a bike handlebar grip structure according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective exploded-view drawing of a bike handlebar grip structure according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a side-view exploded sectional drawing of a bike handlebar grip structure according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a side-view sectional assembly drawing of a bike handlebar grip structure according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 13  is a drawing schematically showing an application of a bike handlebar grip structure according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Below, special embodiments are described in detail to demonstrate the present invention, whereby the persons skilled in the art can easily understand the technical contents, characteristics and efficacies of the present invention. 
     The embodiments will be described in cooperation with the attached drawings. It should be noted that the drawings are only to schematically show the fundamental concepts of the present invention but not to include all the details of the practical applications. The schematic drawings are not depicted according to the real numbers, shapes and dimensions of the components of the practical applications of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments or drawings but includes various modifications and variations. 
     Refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  respectively a perspective exploded-view drawing, and a perspective assembly drawing of a bike handlebar grip structure according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The bike handlebar grip structure  1  of the present invention applies to a bike handlebar and comprises an elastic grip body  11  and a caution/direction light device  12  hanging to the outer end of the elastic grip body  11 . 
     The elastic grip body  11  has an accommodation space  110  corresponding to the bike handlebar. The elastic grip body  11  has a plurality of perforated holes  111  and at least one switch fixing hole  112 . The perforated holes  111  can increase the elasticity of the elastic grip body  11 . The switch fixing hole  112  is used to install a switch device  113 . The outer end of the elastic grip body  11  has a first hanging member  114 . The elastic grip body  11  has a plurality of slip-proof convex rings  115  near the inner end thereof. 
     The caution/direction light device  12  has a seat  120  and a cover  121  covering the seat  120 . The seat  120  has a light-emitting module  13 . The light-emitting module  13  includes a circuit board  131 . The light-emitting module  13  also includes a power source seat  132 , two batteries  133  and a plurality of light-emitting elements  134 , which are all arranged on the circuit board  131 . The inner end of the caution/direction light device  12  has a second hanging member  122  corresponding to the first hanging member  114 . The width W and length L of the caution/direction light device  12  are greater than the diameter D of the elastic grip body  11 . A water-proof washer  123  is arranged between the seat  120  and the cover  121  to prevent water from entering the interior of the seat  120  or the cover  121 . 
     In first embodiment, the elastic grip body  11  is made of an elastic rubber or an elastic plastic. The elastic grip body  11  can elastically sleeve the handlebars (not shown in the drawings) of various bikes. The caution/direction light device  12  has a rectangular seat  120  and a cover  121  having a shape corresponding to the shape of the seat  120 . The width W and length L of the caution/direction light device  12  are greater than the diameter D of the elastic grip body  11 . The circuit board  131  of the light-emitting module  13  is arranged in the center of the seat  120 . The two batteries  133  are respectively arranged on two sides of the circuit board  131 . The plurality of light-emitting elements  134  is also arranged on two sides of the circuit board  131 . The number of the light-emitting elements  134  is not limited by the first embodiment. In other embodiments, the light-emitting elements  134  may have different numbers. 
     Refer to  FIGS. 3-6  respectively a side-view exploded sectional drawing, a side-view sectional assembly drawing, a side-view appearance drawing, and a top-view sectional assembly drawing of a bike handlebar grip structure of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The elastic grip body  11  of the bike handlebar grip structure  1  of the present invention has a first hanging member  114  on the outer end thereof. The caution/direction light device  12  has a second hanging member  122  on the inner end thereof and corresponding to the first hanging member  114 . As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the first hanging member  114  is a hanging slot, and the second hanging member  122  is a hanging plate, whereby the second hanging member  122  can be fast hanged to the outer end of the first hanging member  114 . Thus, the caution/direction light device  12  can be fast attached to the outer end of the elastic grip body  11 . The bottom of the elastic grip body  11  has wire holes  116  and drainage holes. The switch device  113  is electrically connected to the power source seat  132  via a wire  1131 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the switch device  113  is firmly fixed to the elastic grip body  11  in an elastic press-fit way. The wire  1131  extends from the switch device  113  through the wire hole  116  to the power seat  132 , whereby the switch device  113  can control the caution/direction light device  12  to emit light. 
     Refer to  FIG. 7  for an application of a bike handlebar grip structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the preferred application of the bike handlebar grip structure  1  of the present invention, the left and right handlebars  21  of a bike  2  are respectively sleeved by two elastic grip bodies  11 . Then, two caution/direction light devices  2  are respectively hanged to the outer ends of the elastic grip bodies  11 . Thereby, the present invention is fast assembled to the bike  2 . Refer to  FIG. 2  again. The width W and length L of the caution/direction light device  12  are greater than the diameter D of the elastic grip body  11 . Thus, the width W and length L of the caution/direction light device  12  are also greater than the diameter D of the handlebars  21 . Then, the caution/direction light device  12  is obviously greater than the handlebars  21 . Therefore, in practical application, the arms of the biker will not shade the light of the caution/direction light devices  2  at all, and the drivers of the front and rear vehicles can see the light of the caution/direction light devices  2  clearly. Thus is promoted the warning effect and biking safety. 
     When not in use, the bike handlebar grip structures  1  of the present invention can be directly detached from the handlebars  21 . The detachable design can prevent the bike handlebar grip structures  1  from rain and sunshine and prolong the lifetime thereof. Further, the detachable design can prevent the bike handlebar grip structures  1  from damage or stealth. 
     Refer to  FIG. 8  a perspective appearance drawing of a bike handlebar grip structure according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the second preferred embodiment, the elastic grip body  11  is free of perforated holes. The elastic grip body  11  of the second preferred embodiment can also sleeve the handlebar (not shown in the drawing) easily. The elastic grip body  11  of the second preferred embodiment also has a first hanging member  114  on the outer end thereof for hanging the caution/direction light device (not shown in the drawing). Therefore, the bike handlebar grip structure of the second preferred embodiment can also be assembled to a bike fast. 
     Refer to  FIG. 9  a perspective assembly drawing of a bike handlebar grip structure according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of  FIG. 9  is different from that of  FIG. 2  in that the caution/direction light device  12  has an additional back view mirror device  14  in  FIG. 9 . Refer to  FIGS. 10-12 . Two opposite sides of the seat  120  of the caution/direction light device  12  respectively have holes  124 . The top of the second hanging member  122  has an insertion hole  125 . The back view mirror device  14  has a support frame  141  with an insertion member  142 . The insertion member  142  is inserted into the insertion hole  125 , and the lower tips of the support frame  141  are press-fitted into the holes  124 , whereby the support frame  141  is secured to the second hanging member  122 . The support frame  141  has a pivotal seat  143 , and a pivotal shaft  144  is arranged inside the pivotal seat  143 . The pivotal shaft  144  is joined to a frame  145 , and the frame  145  rotates horizontally via the pivotal shaft  144  and the pivotal seat  145 . The frame  145  has two connection members  146 , and a back view mirror  147  is installed on the connection members  146 . The back view mirror  147  rotates back and forth with the connecting line of the two connection members  146  being the axis. 
     Refer to  FIG. 13 . The back view mirror devices  14 , together with the elastic grip bodies  11  and the caution/direction light devices  12 , are respectively installed to the left and right handlebars  21  of a bike  2 . The biker can easily rotate the back view mirror  147  horizontally or back-and-forth to attain the best viewing angle for observing the rear vehicles. Thus is promoted biking safety. 
     In comparison with the conventional technologies, the elastic grip bodies of the present invention can be detachably installed to the handlebars of a bike, and the caution/direction light devices can be detachably hanged to the outer ends of the elastic grip bodies. When in use, the present invention can be easily and fast assembled to a bike. When not in use, the present invention can be easily and fast disassembled from the bike. In the present invention, the width and length of the caution/direction light device are larger than the diameter of the handlebar grip of the bike. Therefore, the arms of the biker will not shade the light of the caution/direction light devices, and the drivers of the rear vehicles can see the light clearly. Thus is promoted the warning effect and biking safety. Therefore, the present invention can achieve the intended efficacies. 
     The embodiments have been described in detail thereinbefore. However, the embodiments are only to exemplify the present invention but not to limit the scope of the present invention. Any revision in forms, structures, layouts, proportions, materials, components or modules according to the spirit or principles of the present invention shall not depart from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, any equivalent modification or variation is to be also included within the scope of the present invention.