Hand Protection Device for a Vehicle

Abstract

A hand protection device for a handlebar of a vehicle is provided. The hand protection device includes a protective bracket that can be rigidly connected to the handlebar of the vehicle, and an extension element that is movably arranged relative to the protective bracket. The extension element can be fixed relative to the protective bracket in at least a first position and in a second position which is different from the first position. More than one extension element may be provided, and the extension element second positions may be above or below the handlebar. The vehicle may be a motorbike or a scooter.

Claims

1. A hand protection device for a vehicle, comprising: a protective bar configured to be rigidly connected to a handlebar of the vehicle; and an extension element movable with respect to the protective bar between a first position and at least one second position.

2. The hand protection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the extension element is rotatably mounted with the protective bar.

3. The hand protection device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hand protection device (1) has a flow facing surface, in the first position of the extension element the flow-facing surface of the hand protection device corresponds to a flow facing surface of the protective bar, and the flow facing surface of the hand protection device is enlarged when the extension element is in the at least one second position.

4. The hand protection device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one second position includes two different second positions.

5. The hand protection device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the extension element fixable in at least one of the at least one second positions by at least one of a latch and a stop.

6. The hand protection device as claimed in claim 5, wherein one of the two different second positions is a second position above the protective bar and the other of the two different second positions is below the protective bar.

7. The hand protection device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a second extension element movable with respect to the protective bar between a second extension first position and at least one second extension second position.

8. The hand protection device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the flow facing surface of the hand protection device is enlarged when the second extension element is in the second extension second position.

9. The hand protection device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the extension element and the second extension element each are fixable in their respective second positions to form the flow facing surface of the hand protection device as a sum of the flow facing surfaces of the protective bar, the extension element and the second extension element.

10. The hand protection device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second position of the extension element and the second extension second position are on two different sides of the protective bar.

11. The hand protection device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second position of the extension element and the second extension second position are on one side of the protective bar.

12. The hand protection device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: at least one further extension element.

13. The hand protection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand protection device is configured to allow the extension element to be moved between the first and second positions without use of a tool.

14. The hand protection device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the hand protection device is configured to allow the extension elements to be moved between respective first and second positions without use of a tool.

15. A handlebar for a vehicle with a hand protection device, comprising: a handlebar handgrip; and a hand protection device configured to be rigidly connected to the handlebar of the vehicle at the handgrip, the hand protection device including a protective bar and an extension element movable with respect to the protective bar between a first position and at least one second position.

16. A vehicle, comprising: a handlebar; and a hand protection device configured to be rigidly connected to the handlebar of the vehicle, the hand protection device including a protective bar and an extension element movable with respect to the protective bar between a first position and at least one second position.

17. The vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein the vehicle is a motorbike or scooter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIGS. 1A and 1B show two views of a hand protection device with a protective bar and an extension element in a first position according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0024] FIGS. 2A and 2B show two views of the hand protection device from FIGS. 1A and 1B with the extension element in a second position,

[0025] FIGS. 3A and 3B show two views of a hand protection device with a protective bar, a first and a second extension element in a second position according to a further embodiment of the present invention, and

[0026] FIGS. 4A and 4B show two views of the hand protection device from FIGS. 3A and 3B with the second extension element in a further second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In the embodiments and figures, components which are identical or have an identical effect may each be provided with the same reference signs. The elements illustrated and the size ratios thereof with respect to one another should basically not be considered as to scale. On the contrary, individual elements may be illustrated with exaggerated thickness or in a large size for better illustration and/or for better understanding.

[0028] FIGS. 1A and 1B show a hand protection device 1 for a vehicle according to a first embodiment. The hand protection device 1 has a protective bar 2 which is connected rigidly to a handlebar 3 of the vehicle. The protective bar 2 in particular has a first end which is directly connected to the handlebar 3 in the region of a handlebar weight 31 of the handlebar 3. Furthermore, the protective bar 2 has a second end which is connected via a connecting rod 6 to a hand control 7 which is fastened to the handlebar 3. Alternatively, the two ends of the protective bar 2 can also be connected directly to the handlebar 3.

[0029] Furthermore, the hand protection device 1 has an extension element 4 which is arranged movably with respect to the protective bar 2. The extension element 4 can be fixed in at least two positions. In FIGS. 1A and 1B, the extension element 4 is fixed in a first position 41 in which the extension element 4 is concealed by the protective bar, in a view from the direction of the approaching slipstream during the travel of the vehicle. The hand protection device 1 has a flow-facing surface 10 which, during the travel of the vehicle, is approached by the slipstream flowing counter thereto and which, in the first position 41 of the extension element 4 that is illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, corresponds to the flow-facing surface 20 of the protective bar 2 since the protective bar 2 conceals the extension element 4 in its first position 41 from the direction of the slipstream.

[0030] In FIGS. 2A and 2B the extension element 4 is fixed in a second position 42 in which the flow-facing surface 10 of the hand protection device 1 is enlarged in comparison to the first position 41 of the extension element 4 that is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Alternatively to the second position 42 of the extension element 4 that is illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the extension element 4 can also be fixed in different, further second positions. For example, the extension element 4 can be fixed in different second positions above the protective bar 2 and/or in one or more different second positions below the protective bar 2, wherein, however, in each second position of the extension element 4, the flow-facing surface 10 of the hand protection device 1 is enlarged in comparison to the first position 41 of the extension element 4. As a result, the protective and comfort function of the hand protection device 1 can advantageously be adjusted variably by the rider depending on requirements and, for example, depending on travel and/or weather properties. The protective bar 2 and the extension element 4 are preferably designed in such a manner that, irrespective of which second position of the extension element 4 is selected, there is no gap between the protective bar 2 and the extension element 4.

[0031] In the case of the hand protection device 1 according to the embodiment according to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the hand protection device 1 furthermore has a second extension element 5 which, like the first extension element 4, is also arranged movably with respect to the protective bar 2. In addition, the second extension element 5 can likewise be fixed in a first position and in at least one second position 52 which is different from the first position. In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the second extension element 5 is fixed in a second position 52 in which the entire flow-facing surface 10 of the hand protection device 1 is enlarged by the opened-out first and second extension elements 4, 5.

[0032] FIGS. 4A and 4B show the hand protection device 1 from FIGS. 3A and 3B according to a further variant in which the second extension element 5 is fixed in a further second position 52. The different positions of the first and/or second extension element 4, 5 can preferably be set by the rider of the vehicle without a tool.

[0033] The features described in the exemplary embodiments shown can also be combined with one another according to further exemplary embodiments. Alternatively or additionally, the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures can have further features according to the embodiments of the general description.

[0034] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0035] 1 Hand protection device

[0036] 10 Flow-facing surface of the hand protection device

[0037] 2 Protective bar

[0038] 20 Flow-facing surface of the protective bar

[0039] 3 Handlebar

[0040] 31 Handlebar weight

[0041] 4 Extension element

[0042] 40 Flow-facing surface of the extension element

[0043] 41 First position of the extension element

[0044] 42 Second position of the extension element

[0045] 5 Second extension element

[0046] 51 Flow-facing surface of the second extension element

[0047] 52 Second position of the second extension element

[0048] 6 Connecting rod

[0049] 7 Hand control