Control systems and throttle assemblies for vehicles having handlebars

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11827093-B2
Application number	US-201716625412-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2017
Priority date	Jul 14, 2017
Publication date	Nov 28, 2023
Grant date	Nov 28, 2023

Abstract

A throttle assembly (26) for a vehicle (20) having a handlebar (22) with a grip (36) extending along a grip axis (GA). A housing (42) is adapted for attachment to the handlebar (22) adjacent to the grip (36) and defines a housing axis (UA) adapted to be substantially parallel to the grip axis (GA). A link (48) is slidably supported by the housing (42) between a first link end (48A) and a second link end (48B). A thumb trigger (44) is coupled to the first link end (48A) and moves with the link (48) between first and second trigger positions (44A, 44B). A track mechanism (50) operatively attached to the housing (42) and to the second link end (48B) of the link (48) guides the link (48) along a curvilinear path (54A) such that movement of the thumb trigger (44) to the second trigger position (44B) slides the thumb trigger (44) away from the housing (42) with the thumb trigger (44) traversing the housing axis (UA) during at least a portion of the movement between the first and second trigger positions (44A, 44B).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A throttle assembly for a vehicle having a handlebar with a grip coupled to the handlebar and extending along a grip axis, said throttle assembly comprising:
a housing having a mount adapted for attachment to the handlebar adjacent the grip with at least a portion of said housing defining a housing axis adapted to be substantially parallel to the grip axis;
a link slidably supported by said housing and extending between a first link end and a second link end;
a thumb trigger coupled to said first link end to concurrently move with said link between a first trigger position and a second trigger position; and
a track mechanism operatively attached to said housing and to said second link end of said link to guide said second end of said link along a curvilinear path such that movement of said thumb trigger from said first trigger position to said second trigger position slides said thumb trigger away from said housing with said thumb trigger traversing said housing axis during at least a portion of said movement between said first trigger position and said second trigger position.

2. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a bushing coupled to said housing and slidably supporting said link between said first link end and said second link end.

3. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said bushing is supported for rotation relative to said housing such that said movement of said thumb trigger effects translation of said link relative to said bushing and at least partially effects rotation of said bushing relative to said housing.

4. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said bushing defines a bushing aperture shaped to slidably support said link for translation relative to said housing; and
wherein said link and said bushing aperture each have a generally cylindrical profile.

5. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said link defines a link axis between said first link end and said second link end; and
wherein said track mechanism comprises:
a track member operatively attached to said housing and defining a slot, and
a slider operatively attached to said second link end of said link and engaging said slot to guide said second link end along said curvilinear path during said movement of said thumb trigger between said first trigger position and said second trigger position and to restrict rotation of said link about said link axis as said thumb trigger moves between said first trigger position and said second trigger position.

6. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said slider is spaced laterally from said link axis; and
wherein said slider is arranged generally perpendicular to said link axis.

7. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said slot has a curved profile to define said curvilinear path.

8. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said track mechanism further comprises a carrier coupled to said second link end of said link; and
wherein said slider of said track mechanism is coupled to said carrier such that movement of said slider within said slot guides said carrier and said second link end of said link along said curvilinear path.

9. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 8 , further comprising:
an emitter operatively attached to said carrier for concurrent movement; and
a detector operatively attached to said housing for determining a position of said emitter as said thumb trigger moves between said first trigger position and said second trigger position.

10. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a biasing element arranged between said housing and said second link end of said link to bias said thumb trigger toward said first trigger position.

11. A throttle assembly for a vehicle having a handlebar with a grip coupled to the handlebar and extending along a grip axis, said throttle assembly comprising:
a housing having a mount adapted for attachment to the handlebar adjacent the grip;
a link slidably supported by said housing and extending along a link axis between a first link end and a second link end;
a thumb trigger coupled to said first link end to concurrently move with said link between a first trigger position and a second trigger position; and
a track mechanism operatively attached to said housing and to said second link end of said link with said track mechanism comprising:
a track member formed integrally with said housing and defining a slot, and
a slider operatively attached to said second link end of said link and engaging said slot to guide said second link end as said thumb trigger moves between said first trigger position and said second trigger position and to restrict rotation of said link about said link axis as said thumb trigger moves between said first trigger position and said second trigger position.

12. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said slot and said slider of said track mechanism are arranged to guide said second link end of said link along a path such that movement from said first trigger position to said second trigger position slides said thumb trigger away from said housing.

13. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said path is generally linear.

14. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of said housing defines a housing axis adapted to be substantially parallel to the grip axis; and
wherein said path is curvilinear such that movement from said first trigger position to said second trigger position moves said thumb trigger transverse to said housing axis during at least a portion of said movement between said first trigger position and said second trigger position.

15. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 11 , further comprising a bushing coupled to said housing and slidably supporting said link between said first link end and said second link end.

16. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 15 , wherein said bushing is supported for rotation relative to said housing such that said movement of said thumb trigger effects translation of said link relative to said bushing and at least partially effects rotation of said bushing relative to said housing.

17. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 15 , wherein said bushing defines a bushing aperture shaped to slidably support said link for translation relative to said housing; and
wherein said link and said bushing aperture each have a generally cylindrical profile.

18. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said slider is spaced laterally from said link axis; and
wherein said slider is arranged generally perpendicular to said link axis.

19. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said slot has a curved profile to guide said thumb trigger along a curvilinear path.

20. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said slot has a linear profile to guide said thumb trigger along a linear path.

21. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said track mechanism further comprises a carrier coupled to said second link end of said link; and
wherein said slider of said track mechanism is coupled to said carrier such that movement of said slider within said slot guides said carrier and said second link end of said link along a path.

22. The throttle assembly as set forth in claim 21 , further comprising:
an emitter operatively a

Assignees

• Ka Group Ag

Inventors

• Hetu Jean-Francois
• Thiebault Lionel

Classifications

• B60K26/02 Primary

  of initiating means or elements · CPC title

• B62K11/14

  Handlebar constructions, or arrangements of controls thereon, specially adapted thereto (hand controls per se B62K23/02) · CPC title

• B62K23/06

  Levers · CPC title

• F16H21/44

  for conveying or interconverting oscillating or reciprocating motions · CPC title

• B62K23/00 Primary

  Rider-operated controls specially adapted for cycles, i.e. means for initiating control operations, e.g. levers, grips (specially adapted to cycle brake mechanisms B62L3/00) · CPC title