Adjustable shock absorbing handlebar structure
OwnerLouis J. Finkleinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A handlebar structure particularly adapted for use on motorcycles employed in racing over rough and uneven terrain. The grips and the angulation of first and second oppositely disposed cross members structures are manually adjustable to suit the riding characteristics of a particular rider. A combination of resilient pads and a fluid containing shock absorber cooperate to minimize the shock transmitted to the arms of a rider in traveling over a rough and uneven course. In an alternate form of the invention resilient cross members serve to minimize the shock transmitted to a rider as his motorcycle traverses an uneven course.
Claims5
In combination with a motorcycle that has a frame that pivotally supports a forked forward front wheel supporting structure having an upper extremity, an adjustable shock absorbing handlebar structure that includes:
- a. a rigid plate secured to said upper extremity;
- b. a rigid frame secured to said plate and extending upwardly therefrom, said frame including first and second end pieces and an upper cross piece;
- c. first upper and lower cross bars pivotally connected to said first end piece and second upper and lower cross bars pivotally connected to said second end piece, said cross bars having outer ends, said first and second cross bars extending from said frame in opposite directions;
- d. first and second supports pivotally connected to said outer ends of said first upper and lower cross bars and said outer ends of said second upper and lower cross bars;
- e. first and second grips extending outwardly in opposite directions from said first and second supports;
- f. a rod that extends between said first and second end pieces;
- g. first and second tubular resilient pads mounted in longitudinally spaced relationship on said rod, each of said pads having first and second end surfaces, and said first end surfaces adjacently disposed;
- h. rigid first means slidably mounted on said rod and in abutting contact with said first end surfaces;
- i. first and second linkage means pivotally connected to said rigid means and to said first upper cross bar and to said lower cross bar, and said first and second resilient pads, said rigid means, and said first and second linkage means cooperating to maintain said first upper and lower cross bars and second upper and lower cross bars at a first position relative to said frame;
- and
- j. second and third means mounted on said rod and in abutting contact with said second end surfaces, with at least said second means being in abutting contact with said second end surface of said second resilient pad, with said second means when moved longitudinally relative to said rod varying the degree of compression on said first and second resilient pads and the degree of shock that will be transmitted from said motorcycle to said grips.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.