FLEXIBLE HAND GUARD

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A hand guard for a handlebar comprising: a first member being generally elongate and having a first end and a second end, and a curve nearer said first end than said second end, attachable to an end of a handlebar and extending forward from said handlebar; said first end of said first member having an attachment mechanism configured for rotatable attachment near the end of a handlebar and extending forward from the handlebar; a second member having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end configured to attach to a handlebar near the center of the handle bar, said second member extending outwardly and forward from the handlebar in a direction similar to said first member; a flexible connector configured to connect said second end of said first member and said distal end of said second member, with said flexible member configured to flex when impacted; said rotatable attachment of said first member and said flexible connector configured to allow said first member to rotate and flex when said first member is impacted by an object.

2. The hand guard of claim 1 further comprising: a recessed area near said distal end of said second member, said recessed area configured to accept said flexible member; a set screw placed in said distal end of said second member, said set screw configured to attach said flexible member within said recessed area.

3. The hand guard of claim 1 further comprising: a third member having a primary end and secondary end, said third member forming the connection between said first member and said flexible member, said primary end being connected to said first member and said secondary end being connected to said flexible connector.

4. The hand guard of claim 5 wherein said third member is rotatably connected to said second member.

5. The hand guard of claim 1 further comprising: a third member having a primary end and secondary end, said third member removably connected to said first member and removably connected to said second member, and comprising said flexible member, with said third member replaceable.

6. A hand guard for a handlebar comprising: a first member being generally elongate and having a first end and a second end, and a curve nearer said first end than said second end, attachable to an end of a handlebar and extending forward from said handlebar; said first end of said first member having an attachment mechanism configured for rotatable attachment near the end of a handlebar and extending forward from the handlebar; a second member having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end configured to attach to a handlebar near the center of the handle bar, said second member extending outwardly and forward from the handlebar in a direction similar to said first member; a third member having a primary end and secondary end, said third member removably connected to said first member and removably connected to said second member, and comprising said flexible member, between said primary and said secondary end, with said third member replaceable, with said flexible member configured to flex when impacted; said rotatable attachment of said first member and said flexible connector configured to allow said first member to rotate and flex when said first member is impacted by an object.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a top view of the disclosed hand guard on both ends of a motorcycle handlebar.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a top view of one hand guard on one side of a motorcycle handlebar.

[0016] FIG. 3 is perspective view of one type of flexible connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] While the presently disclosed technology is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the inventive concept(s) to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the inventive concept(s) as defined in the claims.

[0018] Shown in the figures are certain preferred embodiments of the disclosed hand guard. Shown in FIG. 1 is a motorcycle handlebar 12 with attached hand guards 10. The left and right hand guards 10 are mirror images of each other. The hand guards 10 shown in FIG. 1 have a first member 16 which has a first end 18 and a second end 20. The first end and the second end are joined by a curved section 22. The first end 18 of the hand guard is attached near the distal end of the motorcycle handlebar 12 and extends forward from the motorcycle handlebar, thus providing protection from objects that would hit the users hands from the front.

[0019] Shown in FIG. 1 is a hand grip 24, which represents where the motorcycle rider's hand would be positioned. The hand guard 10 is positioned in front of the user's hand, to protect the user's hand from brush, sticks, rocks and from physical impact with the ground in case the rider falls. The hand guard 10 has second member 26 which attaches to the inner region of the handlebar by a clamp 34. The second member 26 has a proximal end 28 and a distal end 30, and attaches to the motorcycle handlebar 12 at a point near the center of the handlebar.

[0020] The first member 16 can be made of a number of materials, such as aluminum, steel, titanium, composite, and plastic.

[0021] Between the second member 26 and the first member 16 is a flexible connector 32. The flexible connector can be made of a number of relatively stiff materials, but which provide a certain amount of flex if enough force is presented to them. One material which is useful as the flexible connector is steel cable, with the cable having a diameter of approximately ⅜ inch or 10 millimeters being suitable and preferred. The second member 26 can be made up of one piece or two pieces, with one of the pieces including a clamp 34 which attaches directly to the motorcycle handlebar 12.

[0022] Other types of material can be used for the flexible connector 32, including smaller cables, in pairs such as is shown in FIG. 3, or other stiff material such as a composite similar to the material which makes up fan belts of automobiles. Cables of brass, Kevlar, aramid, nylon and other materials which have some flex are also suitable as the flexible connector 32. The flexible connector 16 can also be tubular in form, such as nylon or Kevlar tubes, and can be shapes other than round in cross section, such as square or rectangular cross section bars of composite, nylon, Kevlar, or other suitable flexible material.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a closer view of the hand guard 10, with the flexible connector 32 comprising an inner arm 38 and outer arm 40, with the inner arm 38, outer arm 40, and flexible member 32 attached to the first member 16 by a bolt 42 and a bolt 44. With this configuration, the flexible member 32 is replaceable in case it is damaged in a crash. Set screws 36 are shown, and provide one way to secure material forming the flexible connector such as steel cable into bored out recess made to hold the ends of the steel cable. The set screws can press against the steel cable making up the flexible connector, or they can force a plate against the steel cable to secure it in in the first and second members. If the flexible connector is tubular of square or rectangular in cross section, set screws configured for those shapes would be used.

[0024] Shown in FIG. 2 is the first end 18 of the first member 16 attached to the end of the handlebar 12. The attachment allows the first member to rotate. The combination of rotation and flexing at the flexible connection 32 results in a hand guard that tends to survive more crashes and impacts without breaking.

[0025] FIG. 3 shows an optional form of flexible connection, in which more than one cable is used. Two cables are shown in FIG. 3, but 3 or 4 cables may also be preferred in some configurations.

[0026] While certain preferred embodiments are shown in the figures and described in this disclosure, it is to be distinctly understood that the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims.