Downhill grip for a bicycle

Abstract

A downhill grip for a bicycle comprises an inner sleeve. The inner sleeve is enclosed by a grip element. For fixing the downhill bicycle grip to a bicycle handlebar, a fixing element is connectible to the inner sleeve. The grip element has a larger circumference in an outer region than at in an inner region.

Claims

1. A downhill grip for a bicycle, comprising an inner sleeve, a grip element enclosing the inner sleeve, and a fixing element connectible to the inner sleeve, for fixing the bicycle grip to a bicycle handlebar, wherein the grip element has a larger circumference in a laterally outer region than at in a laterally inner region.

2. The downhill grip for a bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the grip element is designed with rotational symmetry with respect to a grip longitudinal axis.

3. The downhill grip for a bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the circumference of the grip element decreases from the outer region to the inner region in a smooth manner.

4. The downhill grip for a bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the circumference of the grip element decreases from the outer region to the inner region in a continuous manner.

5. The downhill grip for a bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the grip element has a conically tapering shape from the outer region to the inner region.

6. The downhill grip for a bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element at least partially surrounds a clamping region of the inner sleeve.

7. The downhill grip for a bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element is arranged on a laterally inner side of the bicycle grip.

8. The downhill grip for a bicycle according to claim 1, wherein only a sole fixing element is provided.

9. The downhill grip for a bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element comprises a fastening element for fixation.

10. The downhill grip for a bicycle according to claim 2, wherein the circumference of the grip element decreases from the outer region to the inner region in a smooth manner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] A full and enabling disclosure of the present disclosure, including the best mode thereof, enabling one of ordinary skill in the art to carry out the disclosure, is set forth in greater detail in the following description, including reference to the accompanying drawing in which

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a downhill grip for a bicycle, and

[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a fixing element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] The downhill grip for a bicycle comprises an inner sleeve 10 made of hard plastic material such as e.g. PP-GF. Inner sleeve 10 is of a cylindrical shape and has an inner diameter substantially corresponding to the outer diameter of the bicycle handlebar. On an inner side 12, i.e. on a side which in the mounted state is facing inward in the direction of the handlebar stem, said inner sleeve 10 comprises a clamping region 14. Further, inner sleeve 10 comprises a clamping slot 18 which in the illustrated exemplary embodiment extends in the longitudinal direction. Thereby, it is possible, with the aid of a fixing element 20 such as e.g. a clip (FIG. 2), to reduce the inner diameter of inner sleeve 10 in the clamping region 14 for clamping fixation on a bicycle handlebar. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the fixing element 20 which in the illustrated exemplary embodiment is designed as a clamping element, has an annular shape and comprises two thickened portions 22 having a mutual distance. With the aid of a fastening element formed as a screw, this distance can be reduced, thus reducing the inner diameter of fixing element 20.

[0019] On an outer surface 26 of inner sleeve 10, a grip element 28 is arranged. Sleeve 10 can be bonded to grip element 28, or sleeve 10 can have the grip element 28, which is made of a soft plastic material, injection-molded around it. For safe connection, sleeve 10 can also comprise e.g. recesses or openings which are penetrated by the material of grip element 28. As a material for the grip element 28, particularly TPE is suited.

[0020] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the grip element 28 is of a conical shape starting from an outer region 30 toward an inner region 32. Thereby, in the inner region where the grip element 28 has the thumb and the index finger gripping around it, the grip element 28 has a smaller outer diameter than in the outer region 30 where it is gripped by the little finger. Thus, in this region, the grip element 28 is thicker so that a better damping is realized and the stress on the ulnar nerve will be minimum.

[0021] The grip element and thus the entire downhill grip of the bicycle are substantially configured with rotational symmetry relative to the longitudinal axis 16 of the grip.

[0022] Although the disclosure has been described and illustrated with reference to specific illustrative embodiments thereof, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited to those illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations and modifications can be made without departing from the true scope of the disclosure as defined by the claims that follow. It is therefore intended to include within the disclosure all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.