Grip cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9821871-B2
Application number	US-201514802061-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2015
Priority date	Jul 17, 2015
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A grip cover for a bicycle control device includes a high durometer portion that is configured to engage the bicycle control device to maintain the grip cover in contact with the bicycle control device. The grip cover further includes a low durometer portion that is connected to the high durometer portion. The low durometer portion is configured to be tensioned by the high durometer portion when the grip cover is installed on the bicycle control device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A grip cover for a bicycle control device, the grip cover comprising:
a high durometer portion comprising an attachment mechanism configured to engage the bicycle control device to maintain the grip cover in contact with the bicycle control device; and
a low durometer portion connected to the high durometer portion, the low durometer portion dimensioned to extend over the bicycle control device,
wherein the high durometer portion defines a durometer of between 30 and 85 Shore D, and the low durometer portion defines a durometer of between 30 and 70 Shore A.

2. The grip cover of claim 1 , wherein the low durometer portion is configured to be tensioned by the high durometer portion when the grip cover is installed on the bicycle control device.

3. The grip cover of claim 1 , wherein the low durometer portion defines a durometer of 50 Shore A.

4. The grip cover of claim 3 , wherein the high durometer portion defines a durometer of 75 Shore D.

5. The grip cover of claim 1 , wherein the high durometer portion is constructed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

6. The grip cover of claim 1 , wherein the low durometer portion is constructed of thermoplastic polyurethane.

7. The grip cover of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism of the high durometer portion includes a projection configured to engage the bicycle control device.

8. The grip cover of claim 7 , wherein the projection includes a tab.

9. The grip cover of claim 7 , wherein the projection includes a groove and a retaining ring engagable with surfaces defining the groove to maintain the grip cover installed on the bicycle control device.

10. The grip cover assembly of claim 7 , wherein the projection includes a through hole sized to receive a fastener that passes through the through hole and is configured to engage the bicycle control device.

11. The grip cover of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism of the high durometer portion includes an interlocking slide configured to engage the bicycle control device.

12. The grip cover of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism of the high durometer portion includes a concealed shell configured to engage the bicycle control device.

13. The grip cover of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism of the high durometer portion includes a concealed snap configured to engage the bicycle control device.

14. The grip cover of claim 13 , wherein the attachment mechanism of the high durometer portion includes a concealed rib configured to engage the bicycle control device.

15. The grip cover of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism of the high durometer portion comprises a plurality of projections configured to engage the bicycle control device.

16. The grip cover of claim 1 , wherein the low durometer portion and the high durometer portion are comolded.

17. The grip cover of claim 1 , wherein the low durometer portion and the high durometer portion are mechanically coupled.

18. A bicycle control device comprising:
a housing including a retention receptacle;
a lever coupled to the housing; and
a grip cover coupled to the housing and including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion has a durometer value greater than the second portion, wherein the first portion engages the retention receptacle to maintain the grip cover on the housing, and wherein the second portion is connected to the first portion and extends over the housing.

19. The bicycle control device of claim 18 , wherein the retention receptacle includes a recess, and the first portion includes an attachment mechanism configured to be received within the recess.

20. The bicycle control device of claim 19 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a projection sized to be received within the recess.

21. The bicycle control device of claim 20 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes the projection and a hooking tab extending from the projection and sized to be received within the recess.

22. The bicycle control device of claim 20 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a projection and a groove formed on the projection, the projection sized to be received within the recess, and further comprising a retaining ring engagable with surfaces defining the groove to maintain the projection within the recess.

23. The bicycle control device of claim 20 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a projection sized to be received within the recess, and further comprising a fastener passing through the projection and engaging the housing.

24. The bicycle control device of claim 18 , wherein the retention receptacle includes a slide track, and the first portion includes an interlocking slide sized to be slidingly received within the slide track.

25. The bicycle control device of claim 18 , wherein the retention receptacle includes a plurality of recesses, and the first portion includes a plurality of projections received in the plurality of recesses.

26. The bicycle control device of claim 18 , wherein the first portion includes a concealed shell.

27. The bicycle control device of claim 18 , wherein the retention receptacle includes a plurality of projection recesses and a plurality of rib recesses, and wherein the first portion includes an attachment mechanism comprising a plurality of concealed projections sized to be received within the plurality of projection recesses and a plurality of concealed ribs sized to be received within the plurality of rib recesses.

28. The bicycle control device of claim 18 , wherein the second portion includes a transition area that annularly surrounds the housing.

29. The bicycle control device of claim 18 , wherein the second portion defines a durometer of between 30 and 70 Shore A.

30. The bicycle control device of claim 18 , wherein the first portion is constructed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and the second portion is constructed of thermoplastic polyurethane.

31. The bicycle control device of claim 18 , wherein the first portion defines a durometer of between 30 and 85 Shore D.

32. The bicycle control device of claim 18 , wherein the second portion and the first portion are comolded.

Assignees

• Sram Llc

Inventors

• Feuerstein Paul A

Classifications

• B62J23/00 Primary

  Other protectors specially adapted for cycles · CPC title

• B62K21/26 Primary

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

• B62K23/04

  Twist grips · CPC title

• B62K23/06

  Levers · CPC title

• B62K23/02

  hand actuated (arrangements of controls on handle-bars of engine-driven cycles B62K11/14) · CPC title