Patent ID: 8484806

Claim:
A shock and impact damping sleeve for mounting an elastomeric grip to a handle bar, said sleeve having: an elongate thermoplastic tubular portion of a predetermined length with a proximal end for telescopically mounting on the handle bar with a clearance therebetween, said tubular portion for insertion within said elastomeric grip, said tubular portion having a split collar portion adjacent said proximal end for fastening said sleeve to said handle bar, a plurality of apertures extending distally from said collar portion in spaced relation about a sleeve periphery for a distance of less than about one-half the sleeve length, all of said apertures being of substantially the same shape and uniformly spaced apart about the sleeve periphery, said apertures providing said sleeve with a substantially linear torsional spring rate within a range of about 45 degrees of total angular deflection measured at a distal end of the sleeve remote from said collar portion.