US3733922A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible control lever for mechanical devices
Assignee: Interstate Sports Inc
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Filing: 1971-11-11
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1991-11-11
Abstract
Abstract A flexible control lever for mechanical devices such as motocycles that facilitate precise and sensitive manual control of the mechanical device and prevent damage to the mechanical device by over-stressing of mechanical parts. The control lever may be adapted for manipulation by the hand or foot of the user during operation of the mechanical device. The control lever may include an integral web that cooperates with the control lever structure to gradually increase the resiliency of the control lever from a pivoted extremity thereof toward the free extremity thereof. The control lever may also be formed to define an elongated tapered groove that presents a control lever structure gradually increasing in resiliency from the pivoted extremity toward the free extremity thereof. The control lever may be composed of any one of a number of commercially available impactresistant plastic materials to prevent breakage or other damage to the control lever upon receiving an impact.
Inventors
- 👤 V Tripp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:02
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62L; B62L3/00; B62L3/02; B62K; B62K23/00; B62K23/02; B62K23/06; G; G05; G05G; G05G1/00; G05G1/04; G05G1/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20207; Y10T74/20256; Y10T74/20268; Y10T74/2028; Y10T74/20287; Y10T74/20528; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20582; Y10T74/20612; Y10T74/20888
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A manually actuated control lever for mechanical devices comprising: an elongated lever body composed of impact resistant flexible material and having a pivoting extremity and a free extremity; means adapted to pivotally mount said pivoting extremity of said control lever on a mechanical device; and means gradually decreasing the rigidity of said control lever from a substantially rigid portion adjacent said pivotal mounting means to a flexible portion adjacent the free extremity thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
A manually actuated control lever for mechanical devices comprising: an elongated lever body composed of impact resistant flexible material and having a pivoting extremity and a free extremity; means adapted to pivotally mount said pivoting extremity of said control lever on a mechanical device; and means gradually decreasing the rigidity of said control lever from a substantially rigid portion adjacent said pivotal mounting means to a flexible portion adjacent the free extremity thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A manually actuated control lever as recited in claim 1: said means varying the rigidity of said control lever comprising an elongated rib formed integrally with said control lEver; and said elongated rib extending along the length of said control lever and tapering in thickness from one extremity to the other extremity thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A manually actuated control lever as recited in claim 1: said means varying the rigidity of said control lever comprising an elongated rib extending at least partially along the length of said lever; and said elongated rib being tapered and being relatively thick adjacent said pivot and being relatively thin toward the free extremity of said lever body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A manually actuated control lever as recited in claim 3: said control lever being composed of an impact resistant material being plastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A manually actuated control lever as recited in claim 3: said material being nylon resin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A manually actuated control lever as recited in claim 1: said means varying the rigidity of said control lever comprising elongated groove means formed at least partially along the length of said lever body; and said elongated groove being tapered and having a maximum cross-sectional area adjacent said pivot means and a minimum cross-sectional area at the free extremity of said lever body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
A manually actuatable control lever for mechanical devices, said lever comprising: an elongated lever body composed of flexible material; pivot means provided at one extremity of said lever body; and said control lever being tapered from a relatively thick and rigid portion adjacent said pivot means to a relatively thin and flexible portion at the other extremity of said lever body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A manually actuatable control lever for mechanical devices, said lever comprising: an elongated lever body composed of flexible material; pivot means provided at one extremity of said lever body; and said control lever being tapered from a relatively thick and rigid portion adjacent said pivot means to a relatively thin and flexible portion at the other extremity of said lever body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A manually actuatable control lever as recited in claim 7: a tapered web being formed integrally with said lever body and extending at least partially along the length of said lever body; and said tapered web being oriented with the thickest portion thereof disposed adjacent said pivot means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A manually actuatable control lever as recited in claim 7: said pivot means comprising a pivot arm extending in transverse relation to said elongated lever body; a pivot aperture defined in said pivot arm; and said tapered web being integral with said pivot arm and said lever body and defining a fillet therebetween.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
A manually actuatable control lever as recited in claim 7: said pivot means comprising a pivot arm extending transversely from said lever body and being integral therewith; said lever arm having an elongated tapered groove defined therein, said groove having a larger cross-sectional dimension adjacent said pivot means than at the opposite extremity thereof; and said elongated lever body being substantially inflexible adjacent said pivot means and gradually increasing in flexibility toward the free extremity thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A manually actuatable control lever as recited in claim 7: mounting bracket means; and said lever body being pivotally connected at the pivotal extremity thereof to said mounting bracket means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A manually actuatable control lever as recited in claim 11: said mounting bracket means and said lever body being composed of flexible impact resistant material being plastic.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
90 words
A manually actuatable control lever as recited in claim 7: mounting bracket means including pivot pin means; said pivot means of said lever body being pivotally received by said pivot pin means; foot engagement means being provided at said free extremity of said lever body; and web means being formed integrally with said lever body and extending at least partially along the length of said lever body and being tapered along the length thereof with the thickest portion of said web disposed at the pivoted extremity of said lever body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |