Vehicle handlebar heating system and method

A handlebar heating system for circulating heated fluid through a handlebar of a vehicle, comprising:

• a handlebar assembly including:
• a hollow handlebar member defining an internal cavity, the handlebar member including a central portion, the handlebar member further including opposite first and second end portions configured to be gripped by a user's hands, the internal cavity comprising a first cavity section arranged at the first end portion and a second cavity section arranged at the second end portion, wherein the first and second cavity sections comprise a respective distal end and a respective proximal end arranged closer to the central portion than the respective distal end,
• a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port formed through the handlebar member, the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the first cavity section and the second cavity section of the internal cavity, respectively,
• a central blocking element positioned within the central portion of the handlebar member, and
• an internal tube positioned entirely within the handlebar member, the internal tube extending from the distal end of the first cavity section to the distal end of the second cavity section through the central blocking element;
• wherein
• the central blocking element sealingly contacts the hollow handlebar member and the internal tube thereby separating and isolating the first cavity section from the second cavity section, wherein fluid communication between the distal end of the first cavity section and the distal end of the second cavity section is provided by the internal tube extending through the central blocking element;
• and further wherein
• a fluid passageway is provided from the fluid inlet port to the fluid outlet port via the first and second cavity sections and through the internal tube.

A handlebar heating system for circulating heated fluid through a handlebar of a vehicle, comprising:

• a handlebar assembly including:
• a hollow handlebar member defining an internal cavity, the handlebar member including a central portion, the handlebar member further including opposite first and second end portions configured to be gripped by a user's hands, the internal cavity comprising a first cavity section arranged at the first end portion and a second cavity section arranged at the second end portion, wherein the first and second cavity sections comprise a respective distal end and a respective proximal end arranged closer to the central portion than the respective distal end,
• a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port formed through the handlebar member, the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the first cavity section and the second cavity section of the internal cavity, respectively,
• a central blocking element formed of a thermally-insulating material and positioned within the central portion of the handlebar member, and
• an internal tube positioned entirely within the handlebar member, the internal tube extending from the distal end of the first cavity section to the distal end of the second cavity section through the central blocking element;
• wherein
• the central blocking element sealingly contacts the hollow handlebar member and the internal tube thereby separating and isolating the first cavity section from the second cavity section, wherein fluid communication between the distal end of the first cavity section and the distal end of the second cavity section is provided by the internal tube extending through the central blocking element;
• and further wherein
• a fluid passageway is provided from the fluid inlet port to the fluid outlet port via the first and second cavity sections and through the internal tube.