Patent Abstract:
End caps are retained by handlebar grip clamps. The grip clamps include recesses to attach to protrusions on an outside end of handlebar grips, interior circumferential portions which clamp against the handlebar, and outward facing mouths with inside grooves. The grip clamps may be loosely attached to the handle grips allowing insertable portions of the end caps to be inserted into the mouths. The insertable portions include tapered portions to facilitate insertion into the mouths of the loosely tightened clamps, and raised captured portions and recessed portions for retention of the end caps by the inside grooves of the mouths. The grip clamps may then be tightened onto the handlebars and thereby both lock the handlebar grips onto the handlebars and retain the end caps. Damaged end caps may later be replaced by loosening the clamps without requiring removal of the clamps or the grips for easy repair.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to handlebar grip end caps and in particular to handlebar end caps including an engaging ring to attach the end caps. 
         [0002]    Handlebars are used on motorcycles, bicycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), watercraft and snowmobiles. Such handlebars generally include grips and end caps for closing off the ends of handlebars. Soft grips are desirable both for comfort and for control but unfortunately, make it difficult to secure an end cap at the outer end thereof. If the end cap is molded in the soft grip, it can be torn off by contact between the handlebar end and the ground. Alternatively, if grooves are formed at the end of the soft grip they do not provide sufficient structural strength to hold an end cap in place. 
         [0003]    Several approaches have been taken to hold an end cap on a handle grip. U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,423 shows a soft grip with an end cap which is secured in a groove in the grip which is expanded by placing the grip over the handlebar. Unfortunately, the end cap is still supported by only the soft rubber grip. U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,618 provides a bicycle handgrip requiring an inside depending sidewall and an outside depending sidewall when the grip is molded from a soft material as desired. There is not sufficient structure to securely hold the end cap in place. U.S. Pat. No. 6,615,687 utilizes an end cap which is screwed into a ring. The ring in turn is held by a tubular insert. This provides a relatively expensive assembly with numerous parts and thus is impractical for most handlebar grips. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,154 provides a protective end cap which is an enlarged end cap to protect the user from impalement by the equipment handle. Such an end cap would be impractical for most bicycles, motorcycles and the like and would be readily knocked off when the end of the handlebar contacts the ground. 
         [0005]    Golf clubs typically have end caps but such end caps do not have the same vulnerability to be struck against the ground as for instance a bicycle grip end cap. Various golf club end caps are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,606,325; 4,195,837; 5,895,329; and 6,718,675. 
         [0006]    Another problem with soft grips is they tend to twist over the handlebar. Various anti-twist structures are disclosed in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,759 for “Removable, Non-turning Handlebar Grip,” filed by the present inventor, disclosed a soft grip with clamps at each end to fix the position of the grip on the handlebars. The clamps of the ′759 patent solved the problem of removably retaining the soft grips on handlebars, but obstruct the attachment of known end caps to the handlebars. The ′759 patent does not teach any way of securing an end cap thereto and thus there is a need for a structure which will securely hold an end cap onto a grip even though the grip portion is made from a relatively soft material. The ′759 patent is herein incorporated by reference. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing end caps which are retained by handlebar grip clamps. The grip clamps include recesses to attach to protrusions on an outside end of handlebar grips, circumferential portions which clamp against the handlebar, and outward facing mouths with inside grooves. The grip clamps may be loosely attached to the handle grips allowing insertable portions of the end caps to be inserted into the mouths. The insertable portions include tapered portions to facilitate insertion into the mouths of the loosely tightened clamps, and raised captured portions and recessed portions for retention of the end caps by the inside grooves of the mouths. The grip clamps may then be tightened onto the handlebars and thereby both lock the handlebar grips onto the handlebars and retain the end caps. Damaged end caps may later be replaced by loosening the clamps without requiring removal of the clamps or the grips for easy repair. 
         [0008]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a handlebar grip and end cap assembly including a hollow grip, a clamp, and an end cap. The hollow grip resides over a handlebar end and includes an outside grip end with arced protrusions. The clamp resides adjacent to the outside grip end and includes recesses in an inner end of the clamp for cooperation with the protrusions to grasp the grip, interior circumferential portions for clamping the clamp against the handlebar end, and an outer end of the clamp. The outer end includes a mouth residing inside the outer end and an inside groove residing inside the mouth. The end cap resides adjacent to the outer end of the clamp and includes a face facing outward from the grip, a substantially cylindrical waist residing between the face and the outer end of the grip, and an insertable portion opposite the face and protruding from the waist and removably insertable into the mouth of the outer clamp. The insertable portion includes a tapered portion, a capture portion, and a recessed portion. The tapered portion is farthest from the waist at an innermost end of the insertable portion and tapers from a smaller diameter end facing into the grip to a greater diameter end opposite the smaller diameter end. The captured portion residing adjacent to the tapered portion and has approximately the same diameter as the greater diameter end of the tapered portion. The recessed portion between the captured portion and the waist and having a smaller diameter than the captured portion. A radially extending first wall resides between the recessed portion and the captured portion. 
         [0009]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a handlebar grip and end cap assembly including a hollow grip, an outer clamp, and an end cap. The hollow grip resides over a handlebar end and has an outside grip end. The outer clamp resides adjacent to the outside grip end and grasps the grip and grasps the handlebars. The outside clamp includes an outer end, a mouth residing inside the outer end, and an inside groove residing inside the mouth. The inside grove has a groove face defining an outside edge of the groove and is approximately orthogonal to an axial centerline through the clamp. The end cap resides adjacent to the outer end of the clamp and includes a face facing outward from the grip, a substantially cylindrical waist residing between the face and the outer end of the grip, and an insertable portion opposite said face and protruding from said waist and removably inserted into the mouth of the outer clamp. The insertable portion includes a tapered portion, a captured portion, and a recessed portion. The tapered portion resides at an innermost end of the insertable portion and tapers from a smaller diameter end facing into the grip to a greater diameter end opposite the smaller diameter end. The captured portion resides adjacent to the tapered portion and has approximately the same diameter as the greater diameter end of the tapered portion. The recessed portion resides adjacent to and behind the captured portion and having a smaller diameter than the captured portion. A first wall extends radially between the recessed portion and the captured portion and a sharp edge resides between the first wall and the captured portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0010]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a grip, a clamp, and an end cap according to the present invention on a handlebar end. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the grip, clamp, and end cap taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the grip, clamp, and end cap taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a detailed cross-sectional view of the cooperation of the clamp and the end cap taken from detail  4  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5A  is a detailed view of a cross-section of a captured portion of the end cap taken from detail  5  of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5B  is a detailed view of a cross-section of a mouth of the outer clamp taken from detail  5  of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of cooperating surfaces of the clamp and grip. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the outer clamp showing the mouth and inside groove. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an end cap according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
         [0022]    A perspective view of a handlebar grip  10 , ridged inner and outer grip clamps  27  and  28 , and an end cap  38  according to the present invention, residing at an outer end  10   a  of the grip  10  on a handlebar end  11 , is shown in  FIG. 1 . The handlebar end  11  represents one end of typical handlebars. The handlebar grip  10  is affixed along a grip receiving length  13  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) of a cylindrical outer surface  14  of the handlebar end  11  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). The handlebar end  11  has an outside diameter D. The handlebar grip  10  has an inner rigid shell  16  which has an inner surface  17  which slides over the cylindrical outer surface  14  of handlebar end  11 . The inner rigid shell  16  has an outer surface  17 ′, a first end  18  and a second end  19 . A pair of lengthwise arced protrusions  20  and  20 ′ are formed at the first end  18  of the inner rigid shell  16  and a pair of lengthwise arced protrusions  21  and  21 ′ are formed at the second end  19  of the inner rigid shell  16 . An outer flexible grip  22  is secured to the outer surface  17 ′ of inner rigid shell  16 . The outer flexible grip  22  has an inner surface  23  which is preferably secured by an adhesive to outer surface  17 ′. The outer surface  24  of the outer flexible grip  23  is preferably knurled or otherwise covered with a pattern which assists in the holding of the grip. Outer flexible grip  22  has a first end  25  and a second end  26  and can be molded from a relatively soft material to provide rider comfort. 
         [0023]    The clamp  27  and the clamp  28 , securing the inner rigid shell  16  to the handlebar end  11 , are shown in  FIG. 2 , in a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . A cross-sectional view of the clamp  28  and arced protrusions  21  and  21 ′ taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  is shown in  FIG. 3 , where the outside diameter D of the handlebar end  11  is indicated. It may also be seen that the lengthwise protrusions  21  and  21 ′ are held within a pair of recesses  30  and  30 ′ of the outer clamp  28 . This interconnection is best understood by viewing  FIG. 6  which shows the outer clamp  28  and where the shell protrusion receiving recesses  30  and  30 ′ are clearly seen. 
         [0024]    The clamps  27  and  28  may be held to the handlebar end  11  in various ways. For example, an Allen screw  32  (or other threaded fastener) spanning a gap  34  and threaded into a threaded opening  33  on an opposite side of the gap  34 . Tightening the Allen screw  32  closes the gap  34  forcing the clamp  28  against the handlebar end  11 . In use, the inner and outer clamps  27  and  28  are placed over the protrusions  20  and  20 ′ and  21  and  21 ′. This assembly is slid over the end  12  of the handlebar end  11  and the two rigid clamps  27  and  28  are tightened by tightening Allen screws  32 . 
         [0025]    The inner rigid shell  16  is preferably fabricated from a durable and impact resistant polymer such as glass filled polypropylene. Of course, the term “rigid” is a relative one. Glass filled polypropylene has some flexibility, but, compared to the grip elastomer, is considered rigid. The clamps  27  and  28  are preferably made of metal, and preferably of aluminum which is considerably more rigid than glass filled polypropylene. The grip  10  is preferably fabricated from a relative soft elastomer such as a plasticized rubber of the type sold under the trademarks “J. Von,” “Krayton,” and “Starflex” having a hardness of typically 15 durometer. 
         [0026]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , rigid clamp  28  not only captures protrusion  21  with recess  30 , but also clamps against the surface  14  of handlebar end  11  along the inner gripping surface  29  of rigid clamp  28 . This metal clamp to metal handlebar contact provides a very secure clamping action against the handlebar end  11  without unduly compressing inner rigid shell  16  or its protrusions  21  and  21 ′. 
         [0027]    Furthermore, there are two interior circumferential portions  39  and  40  on an interior surface of each rigid clamp  27  and  28  which also contact the outer surface  14  of handlebar end  11 . This further helps to secure the rigid clamps to the handlebar end and thereby secure the inner rigid shell thereto. There are, additionally, pairs of spaces  35  and  36  between protrusions  20  and  20 ′ as shown in  FIG. 6 , which permit the full contact at portions  39  and  40  of the rigid clamps  27  and  28 . The result is a pair of handlebar grips which are very securely affixed to the handlebar and yet, can be rapidly removed by loosening Allen screws  32  and sliding off the handlebar and replaced with another grip quickly if desired. 
         [0028]    The end cap  38  is shown residing over the outer end  10   a  of the grip  10 , and in this instance, over the outer end the clamp  28 . 
         [0029]    A detailed cross-sectional view of the cooperation of the clamp  28  and the end cap  38  taken from detail  4  of  FIG. 2 . is shown in  FIG. 4 . The engagement of an insertable portion  50  of the end cap  38  into a mouth  46  (see  FIG. 7 ) of the clamp  28  allows the securing of the end cap  38  to the clamp  28  and thereby to the grip  10 . A captured portion  54  (see  FIG. 5A ) of the insertable portion  50  engages an inside groove  48  (see  FIG. 5B ) in the mouth  46  to retain the end cap  38 . The position of the insertable portion  50  inside the mouth  46  allows tightening of the Allen screw  32  to also tighten the clamp  28  on the insertable portion  50  of the end cap  38 . 
         [0030]    A detailed view of a cross-section of an insertable portion  50  of the end cap  38  taken from detail  5  of  FIG. 4  is shown in  FIG. 5A . The insertable portion  50  includes a tapered portion  56 , the captured portion  54 , and a recessed portion  52 . The recessed portion  52  is nearest to the waist  38   b  (see  FIG. 8 ) is preferably cylindrical and preferably extends axially (i.e., approximately coaxial with the axis  28   a  of the clamp  28 ) a distance w 1  between approximately 0.026 inches and approximately 0.034 inches, and is preferably between approximately 0.006 inches and approximately 0.010 inches deep. The captured portion  54  is adjacent to the recessed portion  52  and is preferably approximately cylindrical and approximately coaxial with the axis  28   a  and preferably extends axially a distance w 2  of between approximately 0.006 inches and approximately 0.014 inches. The tapered portion  56  is adjacent to the capture portion  54  and opposite the recessed portion  52  and is preferably approximately frusto-conical in shape and approximately coaxial with the axis  28   a  and preferably extends axially a distance w 3  between approximately 0.015 inches and approximately 0.025 inches and preferably has a taper a 1  from a greater diameter adjacent to the captured portion  54  to a smaller diameter, of between approximately 29 degrees and approximately 31 degrees, and more preferably has a taper of approximately 30 degrees. A first wall  60  separates the captured portion  54  from the recessed portion  52 . The first wall  60  is preferably flat and resides approximately orthogonal to the axis  28   a  and preferably meets the captured portion  54  at a sharp corner  58 . 
         [0031]    A detailed view of a cross-section of a portion of the mouth  46  of the outer clamp  28  taken from detail  5  of  FIG. 4  is shown in  FIG. 5B . The mouth  46  includes the inside groove  48  for retaining the insertable portion  50  in the mouth  46 . The inside groove  48  includes a second wall  48   a  for cooperation with the first wall  60  to retain the end cap  38  in the outer clamp  28 . The second wall  48   a  is preferably approximately orthogonal to the axis  28   a  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the clamp  28  and the inside groove  48  preferably has a rectangular cross-section and is preferably approximately 0.040 inches wide and approximately 0.012 inches deep. 
         [0032]    An exploded perspective view of cooperating surfaces of the outer clamp  28  and grip  10  is shown in  FIG. 6 . The recesses  30  and  30 ′ are concave and capture the protrusions  20  and  20 ′ so that one clamp  27  or  28  may hold the handlebar grip  10  on the handlebar end  11  since it cannot slide out of the clamp  27  or  28  when clamp  27  or  28  is tightened. 
         [0033]    A perspective view of the outer clamp  28  showing the mouth  46  and the inside groove  48  is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0034]    A perspective view of the cap end  38  showing a face  38   a  and a waist  38   b  is shown in  FIG. 8 . The face  38   a  is preferably substantially round, for example, has at least a round appearance, but may also be oval or polygonal shaped. The waist  38   b  is preferably substantially cylindrical, for example, appears cylindrical, and more preferably is approximately cylindrical with approximately the same diameter as the clamp  28 . The end cap  38  is preferably made from Nylon material, and more preferably from glass fiber filled Nylon material, and most preferably from 15% glass fiber filled Nylon material. 
         [0035]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8