A lever for hand operation of the brakes and clutch from the handlebars of a cycle, wherein said lever is of a configuration for avoiding engagement with the fingers of the hand when the brakes or clutch members are actuated by depressing of the lever against the handlebars. The lever is particularly designed and constructed for ease of use during actuation of the brakes or clutch, but provides a sufficient clearance between the lever itself and the forefinger of the hand in the depressed position of the lever for precluding pinching or squeezing of the finger against the handlebars, thus improving the operating efficiency of the cycle.
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8. In combination with a bowden control secured to the handlebar of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brake or clutch through manipulation thereof by the fingers of the hand, a pivotal lever secured to the handlebar and operably connected with the bowden control for actuation thereof and comprising a finger receiving portion engagable by the outer three fingers of the hand for pivoting the lever towards the handlebar while the forefinger and thumb remains encircled about the handlebar in the proximity of the bowden control, an offset portion spaced from the finger receiving portion, and an integral connecting portion between the offset portion and finger receiving portion and substantially perpendicular to the finger receiving portion whereby said offset portion is spaced away from the handlebar in all positions of the lever to provide clearance for the forefinger encircling the handlebar in the proximity of the bowden control whereby the brake or clutch may be operated with the forefinger separated from the outer three fingers a minimum amount.
12. In combination with a bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch through manipulation thereof by the fingers of the hand, a pivotal lever secured to the handlebars and operably connected with the bowden control for actuation thereof and comprising an arm having a finger receiving portion engagable by certain fingers for pivoting of the lever in one direction while a forefinger remains encircled about the handlebars in the proximity of the bowden control, an arcuate portion conterminous with the finger receiving portion and spaced away from the handle bars in all positions of the lever to provide clearance for the forefinger encircling the handlebars in the proximity of the bowden control whereby the brakes and clutch may be operated by the fingers without loss of hand control of the handlebars, said pivotal lever having the arcuate portion curving outwardly and away from the handlebars and the finger receiving portion being substantially straight for facilitating engagement thereof by a plurality of the fingers, said finger receiving portion including an open loop member for engagement by the said plurality of fingers.
11. In combination with a bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch through manipulation thereof by the finers of the hand, a pivotal lever secured to the handlebars and operably connected with the bowden control for actuation thereof and comprising an arm having a finger receiving portion engagable by certain fingers for pivoting the lever in one direction while a forefinger remains encircled about the handlebars in the proximity of the bowden control, an arcuate portion conterminous with the finger receiving portion and spaced away from the handlebars in all positions of the lever to provide clearance for the forefinger encircling the handlebars in the proximity of the bowden control whereby the brakes and clutch may be operated by the fingers without loss of hand control of the handlebars, said pivotal lever having the arcuate portion curving outwardly and away from the handlebars and the finger receiving portion being substantially straight for facilitating engagement thereof by a plurality of the fingers and said finger receiving portion including a closed loop member for engagement by the said plurality of fingers.
1. In combination with a bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch through manipulation thereof by the fingers of the hand, a pivotal lever secured to the handlebars and operably connected with the bowden control for actuation thereof and comprising an arm having a finger receiving portion engagable by certain fingers for pivoting of the lever in one direction while a forefinger remains encircled about the handlebars in the proximity of the bowden control, an arcuate portion conterminous with the finger receiving portion and spaced away from the handle bars in all positions of the lever to provide clearance for the forefinger encircling the handlebars in the proximity of the bowden control whereby the brakes and clutch may be operated by the fingers without loss of hand control of the handlebars.
2. In combination with a bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch, a pivotal lever as set forth in
3. In combination with a bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch, a pivotal lever as set forth in
4. In combination with a bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch, a pivotal lever as set forth in
closed loop member for engagement by the said plurality of fingers. 5. In combination with a bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch, a pivotal lever as set forth in claim 4 11 wherein the closed loop is sufficiently short for avoiding engagement with the forefinger encircling the handlebars. 6. In combination with a bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch, a pivotal lever as set forth in
the said plurality of fingers. 7. In combination with a bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch, a pivotal lever as set forth in claim 6 12 wherein the open loop member is sufficiently long for receiving the fingers therein and sufficiently short for avoiding engagement with the forefinger. 9. In combination with a bowden control secured to the handlebar of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brake or clutch, a pivotal lever as set forth in
10. In combination with a bowden control secured to the handlebar of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brake or clutch, a pivotal lever as set forth in
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This application is for a re-issue of my Patent No. 3,720,111, issued Mar. 13, 1973, and entitled "Lever for Brake and Clutch Operation on Cycle Handlebars."
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly FIGS. 1 through 6, reference character 10 generally indicates the handlebars of a cycle, or other suitable vehicle (not shown) having the usual hand grip member 12 provided on the opposite ends thereof. Only one end of the handlebars 10 is shown in the drawings, and will be described in detail herein. However, it is to be understood that both ends of the handlebar 10 are substantially identical. With cycles or vehicles wherein the brakes and clutch are actuated by a Bowden control, the Bowden cable 14 may be secured to the handlebars in any suitable manner. As shown herein, the cable 14 extends through a flanged guide sleeve 16 which is threadedly or otherwise secured to a support member 18. The support member 18 may be of any well known type and is secured to the handlebars 10 in any suitable manner, such as clamped thereon by a bolt 20, or the like. The support 18 as shown herein is provided with an angled shoulder portion 20 21 on the outer portion thereof spaced from the guide sleeve 16, and is normally provided with a recess or slot (not shown) open in the direction of the hand grip member 12 for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth.
A control lever, generally indicated at 22, is pivotally secured to the support member 18 in a manner as will be hereinafter set forth, and extends from the support 18 in a direction toward the hand grip member 12 as particularly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The lever 22 is provided with a reduced tongue member 24 at one end thereof adapted for insertion within the slot or recess (not shown) of the support member 18, and is preferably provided with an aperture 26 (FIG. 6) for alignment with complementary apertures (not shown) provided in the support 18 whereby the tongue 24 may be pivotally secured thereto by a pivot pin 28, or the like. An angled outwardly extending shoulder 30 is provided on the lever 22 conterminous with the reduced tongue 24, and is of a configuration complementary with the shoulder 20 for engagement therewith in the idle or released position of the lever 22. Suitable spring means (not shown) is connected between the tongue 24 and the inner portion of the support 18 for constantly urging the shoulder 30 into engagement with the shoulder 20, as is well known. In addition, the Bowden cable 14 is suitably connected with the tongue 24 for slidable movement within the sleeve 16 upon pivoting of the lever 22 as will be hereinafter set forth. The connection of the lever 22 with the support 18 and Bowden cable 14 is conventional, and is not limited to the particular arrangement depicted herein.
The longitudinal configuration of the lever arm 22 is substantially S-shaped, as particularly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and is provided with an outwardly or upwardly curved offset portion 32 as shown in the drawings extending from the support member 18 in a direction toward the outer extremity of the handlebars 10. The curved offset portion 32 bends substantially sharply and extends in a direction toward the hand grip member 12 as shown at 34. The portion 34 bends in a reverse direction and extends substantially straight therefrom as shown at 36, and preferably terminates in an enlarged knob member 38. The portion 34 provides an integral connection portion between the offset portion 32 and the straight finger receiving portion 36 and is substantially perpendicularly disposed therebetween. In the normal position of the lever 22, the shoulder 30 is in engagement with the shoulder 20 as shown in solid lines in FIG. 1, and in the depressed position thereof, as will be hereinafter set forth, the shoulder 30 is moved away from the shoulder 20 and the lever is in the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 1.
Referring more particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, when it becomes desirable or necessary to engage the brakes (not shown) or disengage the clutch (not shown) of the vehicle through actuation of the Bowden cable 14, as is well known, the driver of the vehicle may leave the forefinger 40 and thumb 42 of his hand 44 encircled about the hand grip member 12 while reaching out with the remaining fingers 46 to engage or grasp the portion 36 of the lever 22, as clearly shown in FIG. 3. The fingers 46 may then be utilized for depressing or pulling the lever 22 in a direction toward the hand grip 12 as shown in FIG. 4. The portion 32 will be substantially parallel to the handle 12 in the depressed position of the lever 22 and the portions 32 and 34 of the lever 22 provide clearance for the forefinger 40, thus permitting retaining of the forefinger 40 around the grip member 12 in order to maintain a more efficient control of the vehicle during actuation of the lever 22. Of course, when the fingers 46 are disengaged from the portion 36, the spring means (not shown) will return the lever 22 to the normal position thereof as shown in solid lines. It will be apparent that the finger receiving portion 36 is angularly disposed with respect to the handle 12 in the normal position of the lever 22.
Referring now to FIG. 7, reference character 50 generally indicates a modified lever for operation of the Bowden cable 14 in a generally similar manner as the lever 22. The lever 50 may be pivotally secured to the support 18 and Bowden cable 14 in the same manner as hereinbefore set forth for actuation of the brakes and/or clutch. However, the configuration of the lever 50 is somewhat different from the configuration of the lever 22. The lever 50 comprises a slightly upwardly curving portion 52 extending from the support 18 in a direction toward the outer end of the handlebars 10. The curved portion 52 extends into a substantially straight outer portion 54 which is the upper limb of a closed loop having arcuate oppositely disposed end portions 56 and 58 and a lower limb 60, as viewed in the drawings. In the normal position of the lever 50, the loop member is in an upper or outward position spaced from the hand grip member 12. When it is necessary or desirable to actuate the Bowden cable 14 for any reason, the forefinger 40 and thumb 42 may remain in secure engagement around the grip member 12, and the remaining fingers 46 may be extended for grasping the lower limb 60 of the closed loop to depress or pull the lever 50 in a direction toward the grip 12. The limb 60 of the loop member may be moved into close proximity of the grip 12 or into engagement therewith. The loop is sufficiently long for eceiving the finers 46 but sufficiently short for avoiding contact with the forefinger and the upwardly or outwardly arching portion 52 will not engage the forefinger surrounding the grip 12. Thus, the Bowden cable 14 may be actuated while maintaining a firm and efficient grip on the handlebars 10.
Referring now to FIG. 8, reference character 62 generally indicates still another modification of a lever for operation of the Bowden cable 14 in a generally similar manner as the lever 22. The lever 62 may be pivotally secured to the support 18 and Bowden cable 14 in the same manner as hereinbefore set forth for actuation of the brakes and/or clutch. The lever is of an upwardly or outwardly curving or arcuate configuration extending from the support 18 in a direction toward the outer extremity of the handlebars 10. The lever 62 curves upwardly and outwardly away from the handlebars 10 and terminates in an open loop member comprising an arcuate closed end 64 and a lower or inner limb 66 terminating in an enlarged knob member 68. When the Bowden cable 14 is to be actuated, the forefinger 40 and the thumb 42 may remain encircled about the grip member 12, and the fingers 46 may reach out for the limb 66 of the open loop whereupon the lever 62 may be depressed or pulled in a direction toward the grip 12. The open loop is of a length sufficiently long for receiving the fingers 46 therein, but sufficiently short for avoiding contact with the forefinger, and the upwardly curving configuration of the lever 62 avoids any engagement with the forefinger, thus facilitating operation of the Bowden cable while maintaining a more efficient control of the vehicle.
From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel lever for actuation of a Bowden cable for hand operation of the brakes and clutch from the handlebars of a cycle. The lever is of a particular configuration wherein the forefinger and thumb of the hand may remain in position around the handlebar grip member, and the remaining fingers may be utilized for pivoting or depressing of the lever without engagement of the forefinger, thus increasing the efficiency of the operation of the Bowden cable while maintaining a more efficient control of the vehicle. The novel lever is simple and efficient in operation and economical and durable in construction.
Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.
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| Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
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