Safety horn actuator for motorcycles and other handlebar operated vehicles

A method of installing a safety hand grip containing a first horn actuator on a handlebar operated vehicle having original hand grips on each end of a rigid handlebar, a horn, a battery, and a second horn actuator disposed on a console as part of the vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining the safety hand grip containing the first horn actuator which comprises a resilient cylinder dimensioned to be accepted over the end portion of the rigid handlebar, an elongate switch in the form of a strip substantially the length of the cylinder and embedded longitudinally within the wall of the cylinder, a switch locator in the form of a longitudinal raised portion integral with the outside of the wall of said cylinder, said raised portion being substantially the length of the cylinder and disposed directly over said elongate switch to concentrate a force exerted by the fingers of the operator on the elongate switch, and two leads, each connected at one end to the elongate switch and the other end to an electrical connector, each of said electrical connectors being dual sided to accept two connectors, and said cylinder being sufficiently rotatable on the handlebar to enable the operator to rotate said cylinder so that the raised portion is positioned under the operator's fingers to accommodate the operator's gripping preference and so the elongate switch is always positioned for actuation of the horn by the exertion of force from the fingers of the operator on the raised portion;
• removing the original hand grip from one end of the rigid handlebar;
• replacing the original hand grip with the safety hand grip on the end of the rigid the handlebar;
• rotating the safety hand grip so the raised portion is positioned according to the gripping preference of the operator;
• opening the console;
• disconnecting horn and battery connectors from the second horn actuator;
• interposing the dual sided connectors from the elongate switch between the connectors from the horn and battery and the connectors from the second horn actuator;
• and
• closing the console;
• whereby the horn can be actuated using the first horn actuator by exerting a force on the raised portion of the safety hand grip and also by using the second horn actuator on the console.