Flexible Hand Guard with Rotating Mount and Cable Connector

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hand guards on handlebars can entrap a rider's hand during a crash, leading to undesirable consequences.

Innovation Solution

A hand guard design featuring a rotatable, L-shaped structure with a flexible connector that allows for pivoting around the handlebar, preventing entrapment and deformation during impacts, and utilizing materials like steel cable or rubber hose for flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid hand guard is used to protect the rider's hand, then protection is provided, but the hand guard may entrap the hand during a crash

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveprotectionVSAvoidentrapment risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hand guard is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to pivot and move during impact events. The L-shaped configuration with the first member rotating around the handlebar and the flexible connector enables the guard to adapt its position during crashes, preventing entrapment while maintaining protective function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The hand guard incorporates flexible elements including a flexible connector made of materials like steel cable or rubber hose that allow pivoting and movement. This flexibility enables the guard to deform and move during impacts, preventing hand entrapment while still providing protection during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If a rigid hand guard is used to protect the rider's hand, then protection is provided, but the hand guard may break during a crash

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveprotectionVSAvoidbreakage resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The hand guard is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to pivot and move during impact events. The L-shaped configuration with the first member rotating around the handlebar and the flexible connector enables the guard to adapt its position during crashes, preventing entrapment while maintaining protective function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The hand guard incorporates flexible elements including a flexible connector made of materials like steel cable or rubber hose that allow pivoting and movement. This flexibility enables the guard to deform and move during impacts, preventing hand entrapment while still providing protection during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the hand guard is designed to pivot and move during impact, then entrapment and breakage are prevented, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveentrapment riskVSAvoidstructure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hand guard is divided into separate components: a first member with L-shaped configuration that rotates around the handlebar, a second member that extends from the handlebar, and a flexible connector that joins them. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while collectively providing the desired flexibility and movement capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hand guard is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to pivot and move during impact events. The L-shaped configuration with the first member rotating around the handlebar and the flexible connector enables the guard to adapt its position during crashes, preventing entrapment while maintaining protective function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design provides enhanced protection by allowing the hand guard to absorb impact and pivot, reducing the risk of injury to the rider's hand and preventing breakage during crashes.

Implementation Method 1

a flexible connector is used. This flexible connector can be many materials such as wire rope steel cable or wire braided rubber hose, as long as the material is somewhat flexible and allows the first member to pivot slightly when sufficient force is applied

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlexibility: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The first end attaches to the outside end of a handlebar to allow the hand guard to rotate around the handlebar. This attachment can be attached to the end of the handlebar with a bolt threaded into the handlebar or a wedging device to secure it in a way that allows rotation around the handlebar

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9499225B2Flexible hand guard

Publication Date: 2016.11.22 STANGER TAKIE ADONIS

AI summary

A protective hand guard for use on a vehicle with handlebars. The disclosed protective hand guard is attached at one end to the end of the handlebars and at another end to a clamping structure. The attachment to the clamping structure, which is on the inside end of the handlebars is by a cable which allows some movement when placed under pressure. The cable can be a steel cable, a pair of steel cables or other structures which are generally rigid but provide a small amount of flexion. The outer end of the hand guard can be attached to the outer tip of the handlebar in a rotating mount.