Rotatable control lever mount

Abstract

A control lever mount assembly suitable for use in connection with an off-road motorcycle. The lever mount assembly includes a lever-supporting portion, or perch, which is configured to rotatably support a control lever. A sleeve is secured to the handlebar and supports the perch for rotation about an axis of the handlebar. A detent assembly secures the perch in a desired angular orientation relative to the sleeve and the handlebar. The detent assembly is configured to permit rotation of the perch in response to a force being imparted to the lever and/or perch during a crash or fall to protect the perch and lever from damage. Preferably, one or more clamp members are configured to apply a clamping force to the sleeve over a relatively large surface area to prevent damage to the handlebar. A slot may be provided in the sleeve to permit the sleeve to be compressed around the handlebar for a secure fit.

1 . A control lever mount for mounting a control lever to a handlebar, the handlebar defining a handlebar axis and an outer end portion of the handlebar comprising a control lever mount location and a hand grip portion, said mount comprising: 
 a sleeve, an internal surface of said sleeve defining a first diameter, said first diameter sized such that said sleeve may be positioned around the handlebar at said mount location, said sleeve comprising a slot, said slot being configured to permit said first diameter to be reduced such that said sleeve may be secured to the handlebar;    at least one clamp portion configured to secure said sleeve to said handlebar;    a body portion having a lever support portion configured to pivotally support a control lever for rotation about a pivot axis, said body portion being supported by said sleeve and being rotatable about said handlebar axis;    a detent arrangement configured to releasably secure said body portion in an angular orientation with respect to said handlebar axis, said detent arrangement permitting said body portion to move from said angular orientation in response to a moment above a predetermined threshold being applied to said body portion;    a first stop and a second stop, said first stop portion arranged to contact said body portion to prevent movement of said body portion along said handlebar axis beyond said first stop in a first direction and said second stop portion arranged to contact said body portion to prevent movement of said body portion along said handlebar axis beyond said second stop in a second direction opposite said first direction.    
   
   
       2 . The control lever mount of  claim 1 , wherein said slot extends axially throughout a length of said sleeve.  
   
   
       3 . The control lever mount of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one clamp comprises a first clamp portion, said first clamp portion engaging an outer end of said sleeve, further comprising a second clamp portion engaging an inner end of said sleeve.  
   
   
       4 . The control lever mount of  claim 3 , wherein said first clamp portion defines said first stop and said second clamp defines said second stop portion.  
   
   
       5 . The control lever mount of  claim 3 , wherein said first clamp portion and said sleeve are monolithically formed.  
   
   
       6 . The control lever mount of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one clamp portion is integral with said sleeve.  
   
   
       7 . The control lever mount of  claim 1 , wherein said detent arrangement comprises a depression defined by said sleeve and a ball carried by said body portion, said ball being biased into said depression by a biasing member.  
   
   
       8 . The control lever mount of  claim 7 , additionally comprising an adjustment member to adjust a preload on said biasing member thereby adjusting said predetermined threshold for releasing said body portion.  
   
   
       9 . The control lever mount of  claim 1 , wherein said detent arrangement comprises a ball carried by said body portion, said ball being biased into said slot by a biasing member.  
   
   
       10 . The control lever mount of  claim 9 , additionally comprising an adjustment member to adjust a preload on said biasing member thereby adjusting said predetermined threshold for releasing said body portion.  
   
   
       11 . The control lever mount of  claim 1 , wherein said control lever comprises a finger grip portion, an intermediate portion and a biasing member, said biasing member urging said finger grip portion into a normal position of said control lever, said finger grip portion being rotatable relative to said intermediate portion against the biasing force of the biasing member to a deflected position of said control lever.  
   
   
       12 . A control lever mount for mounting a control lever to a handlebar, the handlebar defining a handlebar axis and an outer end portion of the handlebar comprising a control lever mount location and a hand grip portion, said mount comprising: 
 a sleeve, an internal surface of said sleeve defining a first diameter, said first diameter sized such that said sleeve may be positioned around the handlebar at said mount location, said sleeve comprising a slot, said slot being configured to permit said first diameter to be reduced such that said sleeve may be secured to the handlebar;    a first clamp portion and a second clamp portion configured to secure said sleeve to said handlebar, said first clamp portion configured to apply a clamping force to substantially the entire circumference of a first end of said sleeve, said second clamp portion configured to apply a clamping force to substantially the entire circumference of a second end of said sleeve;    a body portion having a lever support portion configured to pivotally support a control lever for rotation about a pivot axis, said body portion being supported by said sleeve and being rotatable about said handlebar axis;    a detent arrangement configured to releasably secure said body portion in an angular orientation with respect to said handlebar axis, said detent arrangement permitting said body portion to move from said angular orientation in response to a moment above a predetermined threshold being applied to said body portion;    at least a first stop portion arranged to contact said body portion to prevent movement of said body portion along said handlebar axis beyond said first stop in a first direction.    
   
   
       13 . The control lever mount of  claim 12 , wherein said slot extends axially throughout a length of said sleeve.  
   
   
       14 . The control lever mount of  claim 12 , wherein said first clamp portion defines said first stop and said second clamp defines said second stop portion.  
   
   
       15 . The control lever mount of  claim 14 , wherein said first clamp portion and said sleeve are monolithically formed.  
   
   
       16 . The control lever mount of  claim 12 , wherein said first clamp portion is integral with said sleeve.  
   
   
       17 . The control lever mount of  claim 12 , wherein said detent arrangement comprises a depression defined by said sleeve and a ball carried by said body portion, said ball being biased into said depression by a biasing member.  
   
   
       18 . The control lever mount of  claim 17 , additionally comprising an adjustment member to adjust a preload on said biasing member thereby adjusting said predetermined threshold for releasing said body portion.  
   
   
       19 . The control lever mount of  claim 12 , wherein said detent arrangement comprises a ball carried by said body portion, said ball being biased into said slot by a biasing member.  
   
   
       20 . The control lever mount of  claim 19 , additionally comprising an adjustment member to adjust a preload on said biasing member thereby adjusting said predetermined threshold for releasing said body portion.