Cushioning hand grip

• US 6,561,058 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2000
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard A. Steinke
• Original Assignee: Richard A. Steinke
• Inventors: Steinke, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luong, Vinh T.
• Application Number:
  US09/716,110
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 745/519, 745/511, 745/585, 145/62, 428/35.2, 161/10.R, D 8/303
• US Class Current: 74/551.9
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/26 Handlebar grips twist grips B62K23/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20822 Attachments and accessories
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20828 Handholds and grips

Abstract

A cushioning hand grip formed from a polymer material having a vio-elastic character whereby the grip will exhibit nearly perfect (less than two (2) percent of an applied force only is not cushioned) recovery or compression set, provides, even when wet, a tacky surface that will adhere to an operators hand closed therearound and, additionally, provides a non-slip adherence to a handle bar end whereover the grip is fitted. The grip is formed as a cylinder that may include a liner, such as a nylon sleeve, wherearound the grip is formed, and preferably includes an end cap arranged for locking into a handle bar end, maintaining the grip fitted onto that handle bar. For ease of gripping the grip outer cylindrical surface includes lateral and longitudinal rows of spaced dimples formed therein, with grooves between which dimples for channeling water or allowing as air flow to pass therethrough. The dimples to receive and support fingers of an operators hand closed around the grip, somewhat compressing the dimples that provide cushioning and shock adsorption, minimizing operator fatigue.

Claims

1. A cushioning hand grip for mounting onto a handle bar end portion comprising, a sleeve formed from an elastomer polymer compound of OH (hydroxyl) that contains polymers that are reacted with Methylene Diisocyanate as an NCO, and contains an isocyanate producing a material having a vio-elastic character selected to provide a non-slip adherence to a cylindrical surface whereover said sleeve is fitted and to afford both flexure and shock absorbency to the hand of an operator gripping said sleeve, and includes longitudinal and lateral equal spaced dimples projecting outwardly from around and along an outer surface of said sleeve, with spaces between said dimples to provide air and liquid flow paths;

and a cap arranged for fitting into an end of said sleeve.

2. The cushioning gand grip as recited in claim 1, wherein the cap is formed for fitting over an end of the sieeve and into a longitudinal opening wherearound the cylindrical surface is formed and includes a shaft for fitting over an end of said sleeve and into the cylindrical surface and includes a shaft for fitting and locking into the longitudinal opening of said cylindrical surface, blocking removal of said sleeve.

3. The cushioning hand grip as recited in claim 1, wherein the dimples are flat squares and project outwardly from one thirty second ({fraction (1/32)}) to one eighth (⅛

) of an inch outwardly from the sleeve outer surface.

4. The cushioning hand grip as recited in claim 3, wherein the dimples project outwardly one eighth (⅛

) of an inch from the sleeve outer surface.

5. The cushioning hand grip as recited in claim 1, wherein the distance between a dimple and the adjoining dimple is approximately three quarters (¾

) of an inch.

6. The cushioning hand grip as recited in claim 1, wherein the sleeve inner surface tapers at a slope of from fifteen (15) to twenty (20) degrees from approximately one half (½

) an inch inward from the p end as is first installed onto a cylindrical surface open end.

7. The cushioning hand grip as recited in claim 6, further including a reinforcing sleeve for fitting within the elastomer polymer compound sleeve formed from a section of nylon material and has approximately the same length as said elastomer polymer compound sleeve.

8. The cushioning hand grip as recited in claim 1, further including a reinforcing sleeve wherearound the elastomer polymer compound sleeve is formed.