Lever throttle converter

• US 6,658,965 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2002
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Don A. Allen
• Original Assignee: Don A. Allen
• Inventors: Allen, Don A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUONG, VINH
• Application Number:
  US10/052,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20030136215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 745/43, 745/04, 745/022, 744/89, 744/88, 745/519, 745/518, 745/57, 745/58, 744/80.R, 745/26
• US Class Current: 74/526
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/04 Twist grips
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/06 Levers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20213 Interconnected
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2028 Handle bar type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20287 Flexible control element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20474 Rotatable rod, shaft, or post
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2063 Stops
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20822 Attachments and accessories
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20828 Handholds and grips

Abstract

An apparatus for throttling a vehicle equipped with an exterior throttle lever actuated near a handlebar, said throttling via actuation caused by rotation of said apparatus around the longitudinal axis of the handlebar rather than by direct personal actuation of the throttle lever, said rotational throttling apparatus including a finger-like projection extending from a rotatable sleeve near the throttle lever.

Claims

1. An apparatus for throttling a vehicle equipped with an exterior throttle lever actuated near a handlebar, said throttling via actuation caused by rotation of said apparatus around the longitudinal axis of said handlebar rather than by direct personal actuation of the throttle lever, said rotational throttling apparatus comprising:

means for stationing an auxiliary sleeve essentially axially encircling said handlebar, said sleeve rotating around the handlebar; and

said rotating sleeve having an external projection in cooperating contact with the vehicle'"'"'s exterior throttle lever, for actuating same, said stationing means comprising a proximal bushing and a distal bushing; and

between said bushings, said rotating sleeve comprising an auxiliary sleeve having a finger projection projecting externally and proximally a sufficient distance for said cooperating contact with the vehicle'"'"'s throttle lever, said sleeve further comprising a distal edge including an extension extending distally a sufficient distance for establishing a cooperating relationship with said distal bushing.

2. An apparatus described in claim 1 hereinabove, said proximal bushing comprising a first collar sized for stationing around said handlebar, said sleeve comprising a second collar sized for rotation around said handlebar, said distal bushing comprising a third collar sized for stationing around said handlebar.

3. An apparatus described in claim 2 hereinabove, wherein said stationing includes members selected from the groups consisting of adhesives, wedging, clamping, screwing, bolting and elastomeric affixation, and combinations thereof.

4. An apparatus described in claim 3 hereinabove, each of said bushings comprising rigidly elastomeric material with an axial split transversing its length.

5. An apparatus described in claim 4 hereinabove, wherein said rigidly elastomeric material includes members selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), styrene-butadiene, thermoplastic elastomers, and polycarbonate material, plastic, nylon, polyurethane and polyetheline, and combinations thereof.

6. An apparatus described in claim 1 hereinabove, wherein said cooperating relationship comprises the degree of allowable axial rotation of a distal extension of said rotating sleeve, between stops defined by each longitudinal side of said proximal extension of said distal bushing.

7. An apparatus described in claim 6 hereinabove, wherein said stops defined by each longitudinal side of said proximal extension correspond to the idle position of the vehicle throttle-lever and the vehicle'"'"'s maximum desirable throttling level.

8. An apparatus for throttling a vehicle equipped with an exterior throttle lever actuated near a handlebar, said throttling via actuation caused by rotation of said apparatus around the longitudinal axis of said handlebar rather than by direct personal actuation of the throttle lever, said rotational throttling apparatus comprising:

a proximal bushing essentially stationed axially encircling said vehicle handlebar in close proximity to its exterior throttle-lever;

a rotating sleeve having a distal edge and essentially axially encircling said handlebar distally adjacent to said proximal bushing, the distal edge of said sleeve including an extension extending distally a sufficient distance for cooperating rotation-limiting relationship with a distal bushing;

a distal bushing having a proximal edge and essentially stationed axially encircling said handlebar essentially adjacent to the distal edge and extension of said sleeve, said proximal edge including an extension extending proximally a distance sufficient to facilitate a cooperative rotation-limiting relationship with a distal extension from the distal edge of said sleeve; and

an auxiliary sleeve having a proximal edge and further comprising a finger projection projecting externally and proximally therefrom a sufficient distance for cooperating contact with the vehicle throttle-lever, said auxiliary sleeve sized for rotating mounting around said bushings around said handlebar, said rotating sleeve stationed within said auxiliary sleeve and positioned to maintain said cooperative contact and to maintain said cooperative rotation-limiting relationship.

9. An apparatus described in claim 8 hereinabove, said stationing means comprising a proximal bushing and said distal bushing;

and

between said bushings, said rotating sleeve comprising a distal edge including an extension extending distally a sufficient distance for said cooperating relationship with said distal bushing.

10. An apparatus described in claim 9 hereinabove, said proximal bushing comprising a first collar sized for stationing around said handlebar, said sleeve comprising a second collar sized for rotation around said handlebar, said distal bushing comprising a third collar sized for stationing around said handlebar.

11. An apparatus described in claim 10 hereinabove, wherein said stationing includes members selected from the groups consisting of adhesives, wedging, clamping, screwing, bolting and elastomeric affixation, and combinations thereof.

12. An apparatus described in claim 11 hereinabove, each of said bushings comprising rigidly elastomeric material with an axial split transversing its length.

13. An apparatus described in claim 12 hereinabove, wherein said rigidly elastomeric material includes members selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), styrene-butadiene, thermoplastic elastomers, polycarbonate material, plastic, nylon, polyurethane and polyetheline, and combinations thereof.

14. An apparatus described in claim 8 hereinabove, wherein said cooperating relationship comprises the degree of allowable axial rotation of a distal extension of said rotating sleeve, between stops defined by each longitudinal side of said proximal extension of said distal bushing.

15. An apparatus described in claim 14 hereinabove, wherein said stops defined by each longitudinal side of said proximal extension correspond to the idle position of the vehicle throttle-lever and the vehicle'"'"'s maximum desirable throttling level.

16. An apparatus described in claim 8 hereinabove, said rotating sleeve integrated within the design of the inner wall of said auxiliary sleeve and positioned to maintain said cooperative contact and to maintain said cooperative rotation-limiting relationship.