Bracket cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016264200-A1
Application number	US-201615059772-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 3, 2016
Priority date	Mar 9, 2015
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bracket cover is configured to cover at least a portion of a bracket that is attachable to a handlebar of a bicycle. The bracket cover comprises a cover main body. The cover main body is formed in a tubular shape having a first end portion and a second end portion. The cover main body has an opening part extending from at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion such that the opening part forms a first edge portion and a second edge portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A bracket cover for covering at least a portion of a bracket that is attachable to a bicycle handlebar of a bicycle, the bracket cover comprising:
a cover main body formed in a tubular shape having a first end portion and a second end portion, and having an opening part extending from at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion such that the opening part forms a first edge portion and a second edge portion.

2 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a coupling mechanism configured to couple the first edge portion and the second edge portion together.

3 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 2 , wherein
the coupling mechanism comprises a zipper.

4 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 2 , wherein
the coupling mechanism comprises a coupling member which is engaged with at least one of the first edge portion and the second edge portion, and coupled to the bracket.

5 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 4 , wherein
the coupling member is coupled to the bracket by a snap-fit.

6 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 1 , further comprising
a fixing mechanism configured to fix at least one of the first edge portion and the second edge portion to the bracket.

7 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 6 , wherein
the fixing mechanism comprises at least one first fixing member configured to fix the first edge portion to the bracket, and at least one second fixing member configured to fix the second edge portion to the bracket.

8 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 7 , wherein
the first fixing member and the second fixing member are screw members.

9 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 1 , wherein
the opening part is disposed on an inwardly facing side of the cover main body that faces towards a vertical center plane of the bicycle, in a state in which the bracket cover is attached to the bracket and the bracket is attached to the handlebar.

10 . The bracket cover as recited in claims 1 , wherein
the first end portion is disposed rearward of the second end portion in a front and rear direction of the bicycle, in a state in which the bracket cover is attached to the bracket and the bracket is attached to the handlebar.

11 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 1 , wherein
the opening part extends from the first end portion so as not to reach the second end portion.

12 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 1 , wherein
the opening part extends from the first end portion so as to reach the second end portion.

13 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 1 , further comprising
a cover member that covers the opening part.

14 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 12 , wherein
the cover main body comprises an additional opening part which forms a third edge portion and a fourth edge portion, and the additional opening part extends from the first end portion so as to reach the second end portion.

15 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 12 , further comprising
an additional coupling mechanism configured to couple one of the third edge portion and the fourth edge portion to the other.

16 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 12 , further comprising
an additional fixing mechanism configured to fix at least one of the third edge portion and the fourth edge portion to the bracket.

17 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 16 , wherein
the additional fixing mechanism comprises at least one third fixing member configured to fix the third edge portion to the bracket, and at least one fourth fixing member configured to fix the fourth edge portion to the bracket.

18 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 17 , wherein
the third fixing member and the fourth fixing member are screw members.

19 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 14 , wherein
the additional opening part disposed on an outwardly facing side of the cover main body that faces away from a vertical center plane of the bicycle, in a state in which the bracket cover is attached to the bracket and the bracket is attached to the handlebar.

20 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 14 , further comprising
a cover member that covers the opening part, and an additional cover member that covers the additional opening part.

21 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 20 , wherein
the cover member and the additional cover member are integrally provided.

22 . A bracket cover for covering at least a portion of a bracket that is attachable to a bicycle handlebar of a bicycle, the bracket cover comprising:
a cover main body having a tubular shape and configured to be attached to the bracket; an opening formed on an outer perimeter of the cover main body; and an opening cover member configured to selectively close the opening.

23 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 22 , wherein
the opening cover member is integrally provided with the cover main body.

24 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 22 , wherein
the cover main body comprises a first pin insertion part including the first edge portion, and a second pin insertion part including the second edge portion and configured to communicate with the first pin insertion part, and the coupling mechanism comprises a pin configured to be insertable into the first pin insertion part and the second pin insertion part.

25 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 24 , wherein
the coupling mechanism comprises a base portion which holds the pin.

26 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 25 , wherein
the opening part comprises an opening, and the base portion is configured to be disposed in the opening.

27 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 25 , wherein
the base portion is configured from synthetic resin, and the pin is configured from metal.

28 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 25 , wherein
the base portion comprises a fitting part configured to be fitted to either a recess or a protrusion of the bracket.

29 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 25 , wherein
the base portion is coupled to the pin so that the base portion is biased to the bracket side with respect to the first pin insertion part and the second pin insertion part, in a state in which the pin is inserted to the first pin insertion part and the second pin insertion part.

30 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 29 , wherein
the pin extends in a first direction, and the base portion extends in a second direction having a predetermined angle with respect to the first direction.

31 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 24 , wherein
the first pin insertion part is configured from synthetic resin.

32 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 24 , wherein
the first pin insertion part comprises a first positioning structure configured to be positioned with respect to the bracket.

33 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 24 , wherein
the second pin insertion part is configured from synthetic resin.

34 . The bracket cover as recited in claim 24 , wherein
the second pin insertion part comprises a second positioning structure configured to be positioned with respect to the bracket.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Fujimoto Naoki
• Miki Yoshimitsu
• Watanabe Yasuhisa
• Komada Yasuyuki

Classifications

• B62K21/26

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

• B62L3/02

  for control by a hand lever (hand levers for control of cycles in general B62K23/06) · CPC title

• B62K23/06

  Levers · CPC title

• B62M25/04

  hand actuated · CPC title

• B62J23/00 Primary

  Other protectors specially adapted for cycles · CPC title