GB1571841A - Vehicle handlebars - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO VEHICLE HANDLE-BARS (71) I, RICHARD CRADDOCK HAYES, a British Subject, of 65a Main Street, Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to a handle-bar assembly for two or three-wheeled vehicles.

Where a two or three-wheeled vehicle, for example a bicycle or tricycle is to be used by persons not having normal use of their arms, spine, or any part of their body concerned with riding posture, it will frequently be found that the conventional handle-bar arrangement found on such cycles is unsuitable. Moreover, if the disability affects only one side, or to a different extent on two sides, then allowance needs to be made for this.

The invention therefore provides in its broadest aspect a handle-bar assembly for two- or three-wheeled vehicles comprising two main struts, at an upper end of each of which is mounted an extension portion capable of rotational adjustment with relation to the strut, each extension portion including a clamping device mounting an inner end portion of handle-bar so as to extend in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to the associated strut.

Advantageously, at least one of the handle-bars will be substantially Z-shaped so that rotation of the handle-bar in its mounting will cause a variation in the height of a hand grip thereof with respect to its mounting.

It will be obvious that all adjustment on one side is independent of any adjustment made on the other side of the assembly.

The invention provides in another of its aspects a cycle having a handle-bar assembly according to the invention as hereinbefore described.

There will now be described an example of the invention. It will be understood that the description, which is to be read with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification, is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an exploded view in front elevation of an handle-bar assembly; and Figure 2 is a side view of the same, without hand grips.

Front forks 2 of a bicycle comprise the main struts of the assembly shown in the Figures. Only one side of the assembly will be described, it being understood that the other side is an identical mirror-image, capable of independent adjustment.

At the upper end of the strut 2, which is hollow, is received an extension portion 4.

The part of this extension portion 4 received within the strut 2 is provided with longitudinal slits 6 which enable the portion to be firmly held in place so as to extend upwardly from the strut.

At the upper end of the extension portion 4 is a bracket 8 (Figure 2) carrying a clamp 10 adapted to receive a transversely extending inner end portion 12 of a handle bar 14.

It will be appreciated that according to the position of the portion 4 with relation to the strut 2, so the clamp 10 will cause the handle-bar 14 to extend towards or away from a person riding the cycle.

The handle-bar 14 is Z-shaped so that rotational adjustment of the inner end 12 in the clamp 10, results in a hand grip 16 on the outer end of the bar to take up a variable position with respect to the strut 2, resulting in the facility to alter the effective height of the bar above the ground.

It may be found that a cycle having the above assembly may be suitable for use by a growing child over a number of years to accommodate progressive increase in arm length and height.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A handle-bar assembly for two- or three-wheeled vehicles comprising two main struts, at an upper end of each of which is mounted an extension portion capable of rotational adjustment with relation to the strut, each extension portion including a clamping device mounting an inner end portion of a handle-bar so as to extend in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to the associated strut.

2. A handle-bar assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one of the handlebars is substantially Z-shaped.

3. A cycle having a handle-bar assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2.

4. A handle-bar assembly as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the drawings acompanying the provisional specification.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. by a growing child over a number of years to accommodate progressive increase in arm length and height. Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A handle-bar assembly for two- or three-wheeled vehicles comprising two main struts, at an upper end of each of which is mounted an extension portion capable of rotational adjustment with relation to the strut, each extension portion including a clamping device mounting an inner end portion of a handle-bar so as to extend in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to the associated strut.

2. A handle-bar assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one of the handlebars is substantially Z-shaped.

3. A cycle having a handle-bar assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2.

4. A handle-bar assembly as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the drawings acompanying the provisional specification.