Bicycle handlebar and grip assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10189530-B2
Application number	US-201514748158-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2015
Priority date	Mar 12, 2010
Publication date	Jan 29, 2019
Grant date	Jan 29, 2019

Abstract

A bicycle handlebar assembly that includes a body having at least two grip areas positioned for interaction with the hands of a rider. The grip portions or grip areas are preferably spaced apart by a center portion that secures the assembly to a bicycle steerer tube. A channel or detent is formed in the body proximate at least one, and preferably proximate each grip portion or grip area. A dampener formed of a different material than the body is disposed in the detent and dissipates at least a portion of vibration of the body to reduce vibrations communicated to the hands of the rider from handlebar vibration. An optional grip assembly cooperates with the handlebar assembly and is constructed to further dampen handlebar vibration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of isolating a bicycle rider from handlebar vibration comprising:
forming a handlebar that is securable to a bicycle and shaped to be gripped by a user for steering the bicycle;
forming a detent in the handlebar proximate at least one area of interaction with a hand of a user of a bicycle, wherein the detent is only formed in a portion of the circumference of the handlebar and not the entirety of the circumference of the handlebar, and along a length of the at least one area of interaction with a hand, wherein the length of the at least one area of interaction with the hand is located on a top side of the handlebar;
populating the detent with a dampener that is formed of material that is more pliable than a material of the handlebar, wherein the dampener is supported from at least the bottom by the detent;
securing a nipple of the dampener to an opening of the detent; and
wrapping an outward-facing portion of the dampener and a portion of the handlebar not having the detent with a handlebar wrap thereby capturing the dampener in the detent.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein forming the detent includes forming a detent for each area of common interaction with either hand of a user of a bicycle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein populating the detent with the dampener further includes generating a smooth and continuous contour over the detent with the dampener such that the circumference of the handlebar is smooth and continuous.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising positioning the handlebar wrap over at least one of the handlebar and the dampener.

Assignees

• Trek Bicycle Corp

Inventors

• Galstad Ryan
• Staszak Jeffery
• Leighton Michael
• Hu Allen

Classifications

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• Y10T74/20828

  Handholds and grips · CPC title

• B62K21/08 Primary

  Steering dampers (dampers in general F16F) · CPC title

• B62K21/12 Primary

  Handlebars; Handlebar stems · CPC title

• B62K21/26

  Handlebar grips (twist grips B62K23/04) · CPC title