Motorcycle handlebar with shock absorber
DCFirst Claim
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1. A motorcycle handlebar assembly, comprising:
- a clamp tube defining a handlebar axis, said clamp tube being sized and shaped to be secured to a motorcycle by a handlebar clamp arrangement;
an elongated, first handgrip portion, wherein said first handgrip portion is pivotally connected to said clamp tube at a first pivot assembly and is a tubular member extending outwardly from said clamp tube and supporting a hangrip on an outer end thereof, said tubular member and said handgrip being coaxil, said first pivot assembly substantially constraining movement of said first handgrip portion and said handgrip to vertical, arcuate movement about a first pivot axis generally perpendicular to said handlebar axis, said first pivot axis being spaced above said handlebar axis;
an elongated, second handgrip portion, wherein said second handgrip portion is pivotally connected to said clamp tube at a second pivot assembly and is a tubular member extending outwardly from said clamp tube and supporting a handgrip on an outer end thereof, said tublar member and said handgrip being coaxial, said second pivot assembly substantially constraining movement of said second handgrip portion and said handgrip to vertical, arcuate movement about a second pivot axis generally perpendicular to said handlebar axis, said second pivot axis being spaced above said handlebar axis;
a first stop and a second stop, said first stop being configured to limit upward movement of said first handgrip portion and said second stop being configured to limit upward movement of said second handgrip portion; and
at least one shock absorber configured to provide a force resisting downward movement of said first and second handgrip portions.
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Abstract
A handlebar assembly including a pair of handgrip portions extending outwardly from a mounting portion and configured for generally vertical, arcuate movement relative to the mounting portion. One or more shock absorbing arrangements may be provided to produce a force tending to resist downward movement of the handgrip portions. Desirably, the handgrip portions are adjustable in height relative to the mounting portion.
25 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A motorcycle handlebar assembly, comprising:
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a clamp tube defining a handlebar axis, said clamp tube being sized and shaped to be secured to a motorcycle by a handlebar clamp arrangement;
an elongated, first handgrip portion, wherein said first handgrip portion is pivotally connected to said clamp tube at a first pivot assembly and is a tubular member extending outwardly from said clamp tube and supporting a hangrip on an outer end thereof, said tubular member and said handgrip being coaxil, said first pivot assembly substantially constraining movement of said first handgrip portion and said handgrip to vertical, arcuate movement about a first pivot axis generally perpendicular to said handlebar axis, said first pivot axis being spaced above said handlebar axis;
an elongated, second handgrip portion, wherein said second handgrip portion is pivotally connected to said clamp tube at a second pivot assembly and is a tubular member extending outwardly from said clamp tube and supporting a handgrip on an outer end thereof, said tublar member and said handgrip being coaxial, said second pivot assembly substantially constraining movement of said second handgrip portion and said handgrip to vertical, arcuate movement about a second pivot axis generally perpendicular to said handlebar axis, said second pivot axis being spaced above said handlebar axis;
a first stop and a second stop, said first stop being configured to limit upward movement of said first handgrip portion and said second stop being configured to limit upward movement of said second handgrip portion; and
at least one shock absorber configured to provide a force resisting downward movement of said first and second handgrip portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A motorcycle handlebar assembly, comprising:
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a mount portion configured to be connected to a front suspension assembly of a motorcycle;
an elongated, first handgrip portion, said first handgrip portion being pivotally connected to said mount portion at a first pivot assembly for rotation about a first pivot axis and extending outwardly from said mount portion, said first pivot assembly comprising a first stop spaced from said first pivot axis and defining a relaxed height of said first handgrip portion relative to said mount portion, said first stop being configured to prevent upward movement of said first handgrip portion;
an elongated, second handgrip portion, said second handgrip portion being pivotally connected to said mount portion at a second pivot assembly for rotation about a second pivot axis and extending outwardly from said mount portion, said second pivot assembly comprising a second stop spaced from said second pivot axis and defining a relaxed height of said second handgrip portion relative to said mount portion, said second stop being configured to prevent upward movement of said second hand grip portion;
at least one shock absorber configured to bias said first and second handgrip portions into said relaxed height and providing a force tending to resist downward movement of said first and second handgrip portions;
wherein each of said first and second stops are configured to permit adjustment of said relaxed height of said first and second handgrip portions. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A motorcycle handlebar assembly, comprising:
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a clamp tube defining a handlebar axis, said clamp tube being sized and shaped to be secured to a motorcycle by a handlebar clamp arrangement;
an elongated, first handgrip portion, said first handgrip portion being pivotally connected to said clamp tube at a first pivot assembly for rotation about a first pivot axis and extending outwardly from said clamp tube, said first pivot assembly including a first stop defining a relaxed height of said first handgrip portion relative to said clamp tube, said first stop being adjustable to permit adjustment of said relaxed height of said first handgrip portion without disassembly of said handlebar assembly;
an elongated, second handgrip portion, said second handgrip portion being pivotally connected to said clamp tube at a second pivot assembly for rotation about a second pivot axis and extending outwardly from said clamp tube, said second pivot assembly including a second stop defining a relaxed height of said second handgrip portion relative to said clamp tube, said second stop being adjustable to permit adjustment of said relaxed height of said second handgrip portion without disassembly of said handlebar assembly;
at least one shock absorber configured to provide a force resisting downward movement of said first and second handgrip portions. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A motorcycle handlebar assembly, comprising:
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a clamp tube defining a handlebar axis, said clamp tube being sized and shaped to be secured to a motorcycle by a handlebar clamp arrangement;
a first support extending upward from a first end of said clamp tube and supporting a first shaft, said first shaft defining a first pivot axis spaced above and generally perpendicular to said handlebar axis;
a second support extending upward from a second end of said clamp tube and supporting a second shaft, said second shaft defining a second pivot axis spaced above and generally perpendicular to said handlebar axis;
an elongated, first handgrip portion, said first handgrip portion being pivotally supported on said first shaft and extending outwardly from said first support, said first handgrip portion being substantially constrained to vertical, arcuate movement about said first pivot axis;
an elongated, second handgrip portion, said second handgrip portion being pivotally supported on said second shaft and extending outwardly from said second support, said second handgrip portion being substantially constrained to vertical, arcuate movement about said second pivot axis;
a first shock absorber positioned between said first support and said first handgrip portion to provide a force resisting downward movement of said first handgrip portion by compressing in response to downward movement of said first handgrip portion; and
a second shock absorber positioned between said second support and said second handgrip portion to provide a force resisting downward movement of said second handgrip portion by compressing in response to downward movement of said second handgrip portion. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A motorcycle handlebar assembly, comprising:
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a mounting portion configured to be connected to a front suspension assembly of a motorcycle;
a first pivot assembly supported by said mounting portion and comprising a first support shaft defining a first pivot axis, a second pivot assembly supported by said mounting portion and comprising a second support shaft defining a second pivot axis;
an elongated, first handgrip portion supported on said first pivot assembly and extending outwardly from said mounting portion, said first handgrip portion substantially constrained to vertical, arcuate movement about said first pivot axis;
an elongated, second handgrip portion supported on said second pivot assembly and extending outwardly from said mounting portion, said second handgrip portion substantially constrained to vertical, arcuate movement about said second pivot axis;
a first shock absorber configured to provide a force resisting downward movement of said first pivot assembly by compressing in response to downward movement of said first pivot assembly; and
a second shock absorber configured to provide a force resisting downward movement of said second pivot assembly by compressing in response to downward movement of said second pivot assembly;
a first stop configured to define a relaxed position of said first pivot assembly; and
a second stop configured to define a relaxed position of said second pivot assembly. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
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Specification