Collapsible control lever

Abstract

A collapsible control lever for use with a control system having levers including a conventional cable control lever system such as those found on motorcycles and bicycles. The lever has three independent axes of rotation about which sections of the lever rotate during impact to deflect the impact force. However, the lever remains rigid in the direction of the applied control force when in its operational position during normal operation. The lever restores itself to its operational position following impact with minimal user assistance. The lever may be sized and shaped to be easily retrofit into existing known pivot bases, and at least one of the pivots may include an improved swivel pivot that is sealed from mud and other debris in its operational configuration. The improved swivel pivot has a first and second generally cylindrical frame portion that rotate about a pivot pin with each frame portion having a sliding surface with a smoothly alternating concave and convex-shaped sliding surface. The two surfaces are in intermeshed alignient when the lever is in its operational configuration. The two surfaces slide out of intermeshed alignment during impact. A coil spring received within the frame portions urges the two frame portions toward each other and the misaligned concave and convex surfaces urge the frame portions to rotate to restore the sliding surfaces into intermeshed alignment following an impact.

Description

CONTINUATION REISSUE APPLICATIONS [0001]This application is a broadening reissue of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 982,130 filed on Dec. 1, 1997 which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,611 on Apr. 11, 2000, and a parent of continuation-in-part U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 240,414, filed on Sep. 22, 2011 and currently pending. [0002]The present invention relates to a collapsible and recoverable control lever for use with systems having control levers including hand-operated cable control systems such as brake and clutch levers on motorcycles, brake levers on bicycles, other control lever systems, and the like.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Elongate levers used on control systems are susceptible to breakage caused by inadvertent impact. For example, motorcycles and bicycles are susceptible to spills and falls, particularly when being used in a race or off-road. The familiar brake and clutch cable control lever assemblies on a motorcycle, which are mounted on the front of the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes an improved pivot means for control levers that is protected from water, mud, and debris. It securely holds the control level in its operational position during normal operation. It is easily and inexpensively constructed with known materials and construction techniques. It is a low cost, easy to maintain, reliable, and inexpensive solution to the known problems of hand-operated control levers. In a preferred embodiment, the lever can be easily retrofit into existing known pivot bases. The improved swivel pivot has sliding surfaces that are resistant to entry of mud and other debris in its operational configuration. This ensures smooth operation and protection of the internal workings of the pivot from contamination. A coil spring received within the frame portions urges the two frame portions toward each other and thereby urges the sliding surfaces into the intermeshed operational configuration.

Problems solved by technology

Elongate levers used on control systems are susceptible to breakage caused by inadvertent impact.

For example, motorcycles and bicycles are susceptible to spills and falls, particularly when being used in a race or off-road.

The familiar brake and clutch cable control lever assemblies on a motorcycle, which are mounted on the front of the motorcycle handlebars, are particularly vulnerable to impact and fracture during these incidents, even during relatively minor spills and falls.

Similarly, motorcycle drivers themselves can be injured during a spill or fall by impact with these lever assemblies.

A broken brake or clutch lever assembly arising during a spill renders an otherwise functional motorcycle inoperative.

Such an incident can be particularly troublesome during a race, where time lost replacing a broken lever assembly will usually result in losing the race, or during off-road operations, where assistance is usually a great distance away.

Unfortunately, the increased range of motion of these types of levers prevents them from having a clearly defined control motion during use.

Such lack of a defined control motion adversely affects the controllability of the lever.

However, considerable user time and attention is required to reinstall the lever handle on the base.

Moreover, because the lever handle is completely detached from the base on impact, there is an increased risk of outright losing the detached lever in mud or other adverse terrain during the spill or fall.

However, several problems with these types of lever assemblies have arisen.

Second, the known means for allowing the handle lever to pivot about an axis are prone to fill with water, dirt, and debris, further inhibiting their ability to function properly on impact.

Third, these known pivot designs are prone to become easily displaced from their neutral operational position, even during normal operation, thereby adversely impacting the controllability of the motorcycle during critical times such as racing and off-road operations.

And fourth, many of the known designs are bulky devices that are not easily retrofit into the existing control lever pivot bases installed on most motorcycles.

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