Bicycle handlebar covers

Abstract

To easily fix a handle cover to a handle bar of a bicycle.SOLUTION: A handle insertion port 11 and a hand insertion port 12 are arranged at a cover main body 10, and fixing means for fixing the cover main body 10 to a handle bar of a bicycle is arranged in the vicinity of the handle insertion port 11. As the fixing means, there is employed an embracement member 20 having a pair of leg-openable leg parts 20a, 20a at its main body, opening legs of both the leg parts 20a, 20a, embracing or gripping the handle bar, and after that, capable of fixing a cover to the handle bar by restoring both the leg parts 20a, 20a to original positions. The embracement member 20 can be arranged at either of an outside face or an inside face of an upper edge part of the handle insertion port 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved handle cover for bicycles such as city bicycles and women's bicycles, and is applicable to handlebar covers with a flat handlebar shape that is a single horizontal line. [Background technology]

[0002] Examples of conventional bicycle handle covers include those described in the following patent documents. The handlebar cover described in this patent document has an object to prevent the cover from sliding toward the center of the handlebar after the handlebar cover is attached to the handlebar grip portion.

[0003] The invention is configured such that a handlebar insertion opening and a hand insertion opening are provided on the cover body, and a fixing means is provided near the handlebar insertion opening. A rubber band is provided across the handlebar insertion opening. The handlebar insertion opening is divided into two by the rubber band, with the handlebar grip inserted into one and the brake lever inserted into the other. This positions the rubber band inside the handlebar grip and brake lever, preventing the cover from moving toward the center of the handlebars. The fixing means consists of a tie string. A slide fastener is provided above or below the handlebar insertion opening so that it can be enlarged. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-112107 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The above-mentioned conventional handlebar cover is designed so that even when it is attached to a normal handlebar grip that is bent toward the front, or when it is attached to a flat handlebar, the cover will not move toward the center of the handlebar, i.e., toward the handlebar post, after it is attached with the fixing means.

[0006] However, in the above-mentioned conventional handlebar covers, a tie string was used as a means for fixing the handlebar cover to the handlebar, but this tie string as a fixing means required wrapping around the handlebar several times and tying both ends together to fix the cover, which made the fixing process cumbersome.

[0007] Therefore, in this invention, we have made every effort to improve this fixing means and to find a way to attach and fix it to the bicycle handlebar with one touch, and our first objective is to provide a handlebar cover that can be easily attached and fixed without using any of the conventional tying strings.

[0008] As such, the handle cover of the present invention has an improved fixing means, so the cover can be used as both a summer cover and a winter cover, and can be used on bicycle handlebars with grips bent forward like on a regular city bicycle, or flat handlebars with a straight horizontal grip like on a sports type. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the first aspect of the present invention is a bicycle handle cover having a handle insertion opening and a hand insertion opening on the cover main body, and a fixing means for fixing the cover main body to the bicycle handlebars near the handle insertion opening, wherein the fixing means uses a holding member which has a pair of legs on the main body that can be spread open, and which can hold or clamp the handlebars and fix them to the handlebars by spreading the legs and then returning them to their original position, and the holding member is provided on either the outer or inner surface of the upper edge of the handle insertion opening.

[0010] The second aspect of the present invention is a bicycle handle cover characterized in that, in the first invention described above, the upper edge of the handle insertion opening is extended forward to form an extension, and the holding member is provided on this extension.

[0011] Here, the terms "upper edge" and "forward" used to indicate the position and direction refer to the handlebars of a typical city bicycle, that is, the handlebars of a type in which the grips are bent toward the front (rear). (The same applies below.)

[0012] The third aspect of the present invention is a bicycle handle cover characterized in that, in the first or second invention above, when the holding member is provided on the outer surface of the upper edge of the handle insertion opening, when the holding member is fixed to the handlebar, the holding member can simultaneously hold or clamp the upper edge of the handle insertion opening or the extension portion.

[0013] The fourth aspect of the present invention is a bicycle handle cover according to any one of the first to third inventions, characterized in that the main body and both legs of the holding member are formed from an elastic or flexible material, and the legs open when an opening force is applied to the both legs, and return to their original position when the opening force is removed, allowing the handlebars to be held or clamped.

[0014] The fifth aspect of the present invention is a bicycle handle cover characterized in that, in any of the first to fourth inventions above, screw insertion holes or screw holes are provided at the ends of both leg portions of the holding member, and after the cover main body portion is fixed to the handlebar using the holding member, screws can be inserted or screwed into the screw insertion holes or screw holes to tighten and secure both leg portions of the holding member.

[0015] The sixth aspect of the present invention is a bicycle handle cover according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, characterized in that a covering member is provided that covers the lower portion of the handle insertion opening, so that the gap in the handle insertion opening can be closed after the bicycle handlebars are inserted into the handle insertion opening.

[0016] The seventh aspect of the present invention is a bicycle handle cover according to any one of the first to sixth inventions, characterized in that a transparent portion made of a transparent material is provided from the peripheral edge of the handle insertion opening to an appropriate position on the back of the cover main body.

[0017] The eighth aspect of the present invention is a bicycle handle cover characterized in that, in the seventh invention described above, the upper edge of the transparent portion is formed with an inclined portion that is inclined diagonally downward at a predetermined angle toward the handle insertion opening, and this inclined portion is formed into a flat surface having a predetermined width. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] In the first aspect of the present invention, a holding member is provided on either the outer or inner surface of the upper edge of the handle insertion opening of the handle cover (hereinafter simply referred to as the "cover"). This holding member has a pair of legs on its main body that can be spread open, and by spreading these legs and then returning them to their original position, the handle bar can be held or clamped and secured to the handle bar, allowing the cover to be attached and secured to the bicycle handle bar with a single touch.

[0019] The second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the upper edge of the handle insertion opening is extended forward to form an extension, and the holding member is provided on this extension, thereby making it easier to attach the holding member to the handlebar, or by taking into consideration the following third invention.

[0020] In the third aspect of the present invention, when the holding member is provided on the outer surface of the upper edge of the handle insertion opening, when the holding member is fixed to the handlebar, the holding member can simultaneously hold or clamp the upper edge of the handle insertion opening or the extension portion. In other words, since the holding member can be held or clamped by the handlebar and at the same time the upper edge or extension of the handlebar insertion opening of the cover main body can also be held or clamped, the cover can be more firmly attached and fixed to the handlebar.

[0021] In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the material and function of the holding member are limited; that is, the main body and both legs of the holding member are formed from an elastic or flexible material, and the legs open when an opening force is applied to the both legs, and when the opening force is removed, they return to their original position, allowing them to hold or clamp the handlebars. That is, by forming the holding member from, for example, a synthetic resin material having elasticity or flexibility, the holding member can be easily attached and fixed to the handlebar with a single touch.

[0022] In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the holding member is further limited, i.e., screw insertion holes or screw holes are provided at the ends of both leg portions of the holding member, and after the cover main body portion is fixed to the handlebar using the holding member, screws can be inserted or screwed into the screw insertion holes or screw holes to fasten and fix both leg portions of the holding member.

[0023] In the sixth aspect of the present invention, a covering member is provided to cover the lower portion of the handlebar insertion opening, so that the gap in the handlebar insertion opening can be closed after the bicycle handlebars are inserted into the opening, thereby improving cold weather protection. Of course, as a measure against the cold, it is also possible to join a cold protection sheet member such as a bore to the inside of the cover body.

[0024] In the seventh aspect of the present invention, a transparent portion made of a transparent material is provided from the periphery of the handle insertion opening to an appropriate position on the back of the cover main body, thereby making it possible to easily see from the outside various display portions such as the bell and gear scale provided at the base of the handle grip, as well as the power supply for the electrically assisted vehicle.

[0025] The eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the shape of the transparent part according to the seventh invention is more limited, that is, the upper edge of the transparent part is formed with an inclined part that is inclined diagonally downward at a predetermined angle toward the handle insertion opening, and this inclined part is formed in a flat shape having a predetermined width.

[0026] This allows for a larger internal space in the transparent section, allowing the cover body to be attached and secured to the handlebars with ease without being obstructed by various equipment attached to the base of the handle grip. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory side view showing one embodiment of a bicycle handle cover according to the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front explanatory view of the embodiment as viewed from the front side (handle insertion opening side). [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory view of a portion where a holding member according to the embodiment is provided. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory side view showing one embodiment of a bicycle handle cover according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory front view of the embodiment as viewed from the front side (handle insertion opening side). FIG. 3 is a perspective explanatory view of the embodiment.

[0029] The bicycle handle cover of the present invention has a cover body 10 shaped to cover the entire handle grips, brake levers, etc. of a bicycle, and is made up of a transparent part 14 on the handle insertion opening 11 side and a fabric part 10f. The cover body 10 is folded in half at the center (upper edge part 13 in the figure) and the lower peripheral edge part 10b is sewn together to form a bag shape.

[0030] 1 and 3 of this cover body 10 (front side: arrow F side in the figures) is a handle insertion opening 11, and on the right side in the figures is a hand insertion opening 12. A transparent portion 14 is provided from the upper peripheral edge of the handle insertion opening 11 to the front portion of the upper edge 13 of the cover.

[0031] The transparent portion 14 extends forward from the upper edge portion 13 of the cover when viewed from the side (see Figure 1), and slopes downward at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, with the sloped portion 14s formed in a wide, flat shape (the portion indicated by the symbol 14s in Figures 2 and 3) and reaching the edge of the handle insertion opening 11. The reason for forming the inclined portion 14s in this wide, flat shape is to enlarge the internal space of the transparent portion 14, and by enlarging this internal space, it is possible to comfortably cover the operating parts, scales, bells, and various display parts such as the power supply of an electrically assisted vehicle of a multi-stage gear provided at the base of the bicycle handle grip, and also to make it easy to see inside from outside the cover. The transparent portion 14 is made of transparent PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

[0032] A strip of synthetic fabric is sewn onto the periphery of the handle insertion opening 11 and the periphery of the hand insertion opening 12 of the cover main body 10, as well as the periphery of the lower end of the cover main body 10, and also the boundary between the transparent part 14 and the fabric part 10f as covering. The above-mentioned peripheral and border coverings not only serve to reinforce the edges, but also to facilitate the insertion of the handle and hand and to contribute to an improved aesthetic appearance.

[0033] The upper edge of the handle insertion opening 11 forms the edge of an inclined portion 14s of the transparent portion 14, and the tip of this inclined portion 14s is extended diagonally forward to form an extension portion 14e. The holding member 20 is provided on the outer surface of the extension portion 14e.

[0034] The extension 14e may be omitted. Furthermore, the holding member 20 may be provided on the inner surface of the extension 14e instead of on the outer surface thereof. The holding member 20 is used to secure the cover to the handlebars of the bicycle, and may be a so-called clip-type structure made of elastic or flexible synthetic resin or metal.

[0035] That is, the main body of the holding member 20 has a substantially annular shape, and is shaped so as to be able to hold or clamp the handlebars, and is provided with a pair of legs 20a, 20a at both ends. The legs 20a, 20a can be spread apart (spread outward) with the fingertips and attached to the handlebars.

[0036] In other words, the holding member 20 has elasticity or flexibility, and the legs 20a, 20a are spread open and attached to the handlebar, and when the spreading force is released, the holding member 20 returns to its original position, so that the holding member 20 can hold or clamp the handlebar, and the cover of the present invention can be attached and fixed to the bicycle handlebar with a single touch. In this embodiment, a synthetic resin is used.

[0037] In this embodiment, the holding member 20 is provided on the outer surface of the extension 14e of the transparent portion 14, and has the following configuration. That is, the annular body of the holding member 20 is attached by the belt-like member 30 .

[0038] Both ends of the belt-shaped member 30 are sewn to the extension 14e at the front end of the transparent member 14, so that the main body of the holding member 20 is held between the belt-shaped member 30 and the extension 14e. That is, the holding member 20 is loosely fitted between the belt-like member 30 and the extension 14e, and the leg 20a side thereof can rotate up and down as shown by the arrow in the figure.

[0039] Therefore, when in use, both legs 20a of the holding member 20 facing upward are rotated downward, and then the holding member 20 is attached to the handlebar by holding or clamping the handlebar. At this time, the extension 14e of the transparent portion 14 can also be embraced or clamped at the same time.

[0040] When the holding member 20 is attached to the inner surface of the extension portion 14e, there is no need to rotate the holding member 20 as described above, and the cover can be attached and fixed to the handlebar by simply spreading the downward-facing legs 20a, 20a and holding or clamping them to the handlebar.

[0041] In the present invention, a pair of covering portions 25, 25 are further provided above the crotch portion 11m at the lower portion of the handle insertion opening 11. This covering portion 25 can be seen clearly in FIG.

[0042] These covering portions 25, 25 can be formed by making an inverted T-shaped cut from the center of the upper edge of the crotch portion 11m. The covering portions 25, 25 are provided at their central edge portions with male and female fastening hooks 25t, 25t to lock them together and close the gap at the handle insertion opening.

[0043] That is, after the fastening hooks 25t are opened and the handle grip, brake lever, etc. are inserted through the handle insertion opening 11, the gap of the handle insertion opening 11 can be closed. This is to protect against the cold and wind.

[0044] The bicycle handle cover of the present invention is a winter handle cover for protection against the cold, and the fabric part 10f of the cover main body 10 has an elastic material such as urethane lined on the inside, and a cold-weather sheet member such as boa for protection against the cold is further joined to the inside of that. In Figs. 1 and 3, dashed lines 19 running vertically through the cover body 10, and dashed line 18 along the boundary between 19, the transparent portion 14 and the fabric portion 10f indicate seams for sewing the cold protection sheet member.

[0045] FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory view of a portion where the holding member according to the embodiment is provided. In this figure, the holding member 20 is shown rotated downward about halfway. As shown in this figure, the holding member 20 according to the present invention is rotatably attached to the outer surface of the extension 14e at the front end of the transparent portion 14 by a strip-shaped member 30.

[0046] In the normal state, the pair of legs 20a, 20a of the holding member 20 face upward, but when attaching the cover, they are rotated downward, and in the figure they are rotated about halfway, but the legs 20a, 20a can be rotated further downward to hold or clamp the bicycle handlebars and attach and fix them.

[0047] At this time, the extension 14e is also held or clamped together with the handlebar. As a result, when the extension portion 14e is provided, the extension portion 14e can be attached and fixed by embracing or clamping the upper edge of the handle insertion opening 11 together with the handlebar when the extension portion 14e is not provided.

[0048] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be modified in various ways as follows. The outer shape of the cover body can be designed in a variety of ways so as to cover the handle grip and brake lever portions. In short, as long as the shape can adequately cover the grip and brake lever parts and the gear shift operating part near the center, as well as the power supply and various display parts of an electrically assisted vehicle, the design and form can be modified in various ways.

[0049] Any suitable material can be used as the handle cover, taking into consideration its shape retention, weather resistance, waterproofness, and the like. The material of the cold weather sheet member can also be selected freely, and in the case of a summer handle cover, it is possible to implement it without such a cold weather sheet member or a covering member provided on the handle insertion port, and the cover main body can also be made of a material that allows outside air to pass through.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the holding member, which is a characteristic feature of the present invention, is in the form of a clip made of synthetic resin, but this holding member can also be made of a hard material that does not necessarily have elasticity or flexibility.

[0051] For example, the holding member may be formed by dividing the annular shaped main body into two parts and pivoting them together to open and close freely, and the main body may be opened and then both legs may be closed to hold or clamp the upper edge of the handle insertion opening or its extension to the handlebar, and then fastened with screws. If no screws are used, the pivotally attached main body can be closed and then the legs can be engaged and fixed together, allowing for one-touch mounting and fixing.

[0052] In this way, the holding member can be implemented in a form other than the clip form shown in the above embodiment; in short, any form that can hold or clamp both the handlebar and the upper edge (or extension) of the handle insertion opening of the cover main body can be implemented. By adopting the above configuration, the labor required for tying with a conventional string-like member can be eliminated.

[0053] As described above, the present invention has provided a bicycle handle cover that, although having a simple configuration, has an extremely significant effect in that the handle cover can be attached to the handlebars with a single touch by providing a holding member, which was not previously present at the upper edge of the handle insertion opening of conventional handle covers. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 10 Cover body 10b Lower edge 10f Fabric Department 11 Handle insertion port 11m Kusube 12 Hand insertion port 13 Upper edge 14 Transparent part 14e extension 14s slope section 20 Holding member 20a Legs 25 Covering part 30 Belt-shaped member

Claims

1. A bicycle handle cover having a handle insertion opening and a hand insertion opening on the cover body, and fastening means for fastening the cover body to the bicycle handlebars provided near the handle insertion opening, As the fixing means, a holding member is used which has a pair of legs on its main body that can be opened and then returned to their original positions, thereby holding or clamping the handlebars and fixing them to the handlebars, The holding member is provided on either the outer surface or the inner surface of the upper edge of the handle insertion opening, A transparent portion made of a transparent material is provided from the periphery of the handle insertion opening to an appropriate position on the back of the cover body, A bicycle handle cover characterized in that the upper edge of the transparent portion is formed into an inclined portion that is inclined diagonally downward at a predetermined angle toward the handle insertion opening, and this inclined portion is formed into a flat surface having a predetermined width.

2. 2. The bicycle handle cover according to claim 1, wherein an upper edge of the handle insertion opening is extended forward to form an extension, and the holding member is provided on the extension.

3. A bicycle handle cover as described in claim 2, characterized in that when the holding member is provided on the outer surface of the upper edge of the handle insertion opening, when the holding member is fixed to the handlebar, the holding member can also hold or clamp the upper edge of the handle insertion opening or the extension portion at the same time.

4. A bicycle handle cover as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the main body and both legs of the holding member are formed from an elastic or flexible material, and the legs open when an opening force is applied to the both legs, and return to their original position when the opening force is removed, allowing the handlebars to be held or clamped.

5. A bicycle handle cover according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that screw insertion holes or screw holes are provided at the ends of both leg portions of the holding member, and after the cover main body is fixed to the handlebar using the holding member, screws can be inserted or screwed into the screw insertion holes or screw holes to tighten and secure both leg portions of the holding member.

6. A bicycle handle cover according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a covering member is provided to cover the lower portion of the handle insertion opening, so that the gap of the handle insertion opening can be closed after the bicycle handlebars are inserted into the handle insertion opening.

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