Control device with thumb trigger

Abstract

A manual control device including a handle configured to be grasped by a hand with a thumb, and a trigger configured to be subjected to a pressure from the distal phalanx of the thumb. The trigger is placed relative to the handle so as to be able to be subjected to a pressure from the distal phalanx while the proximal phalanx from the thumb is resting along the handle.

1 : A manual control device comprising:
 a handle extending along a handle axis,   a trigger mobile about a trigger axis with respect to the handle;   a pressure part disposed at a first end of the trigger, wherein the pressure part has an actuation surface centered on an actuation surface center, which receives a thumb of a hand grasping the handle;   a trigger shaft disposed at a second end of the trigger, an axis of the trigger shaft being coaxial with the trigger axis;   a trigger rotation guide that receives the trigger shaft and guides the trigger in rotation about the trigger axis, the trigger rotation guide extending along a guiding segment of the trigger axis;   a trigger rest stop delimiting a rotation of the trigger in a first direction;   a return system that urges the trigger against the trigger rest stop;   a rest position of the actuation surface center defined as a position of the actuation surface center when the trigger contacts the trigger rest stop;   an extreme actuation trigger stop delimiting a rotation of the trigger in a second direction;   an extreme actuation position of the actuation surface center defined by a position of the actuation surface center when the trigger contacts the extreme actuation trigger stop; and   a first reference plane including the handle axis and extending parallel to the trigger axis, wherein   the first reference plane is located between the extreme actuation position of the actuation surface center and the trigger axis,   the handle has a first profile as viewed perpendicular to the first reference plane, the first profile being a handle profile closest to the pressure part in a direction parallel to the first reference plane,   a first normal surface extends perpendicular to the first reference plane and includes the first profile of the handle,   a first trigger axis cross point is defined as the intersection of the trigger axis with the first normal surface,   an actuation perpendicular plane extends perpendicular to the trigger axis and includes the actuation surface center, and   the first trigger axis cross point is located along the trigger axis between the guiding segment and the actuation perpendicular plane.   
     
     
         2 : The device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second normal surface extending perpendicular to the first reference plane and including the handle axis; and   a second trigger axis cross point defined as the intersection of the trigger axis with the second normal surface,   wherein the second trigger cross point is located along the trigger axis between the guiding segment and the actuation perpendicular plane.   
     
     
         3 : The device as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second reference plane defined as including the trigger axis and as being perpendicular to the first reference plane;   a handle cross point defined by the intersection of the handle axis and the second reference plane;   a first normal plane defined as being perpendicular to the handle axis and as including the actuation surface center when the trigger is in the rest position; and   a second normal plane defined as being perpendicular to the handle axis and as including the actuation surface center when the trigger is in the extreme actuation position,   wherein the handle cross point is located between the first normal plane and the second normal plane.   
     
     
         4 : The device as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second reference plane defined as including the trigger axis and as being perpendicular to the first reference plane,   wherein the rest position locates the actuation surface center on a first side of the second reference plane and the extreme actuation position locates the actuation surface center on a second side of the second reference plane, opposite the first side of the second reference plane.   
     
     
         5 : The device as in  claim 1 , wherein the trigger axis is located on a first side of the first reference plane, and the extreme actuation position locates the extreme actuation position of the actuation surface center on a second side of the first reference plane, opposite the first side of the first reference plane. 
     
     
         6 : The device as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 hand grasping prepositioning means located between a trigger support and an end of the handle closest to the trigger support, the hand grasping prepositioning means having a palm reception surface, the palm reception surface extending along a palm segment of the handle axis;   a second reference plane including the trigger axis and extending perpendicular to the first reference plane;   a handle cross point defined by the intersection of the handle axis and the second reference plane; and   a first normal plane extending perpendicular to the handle axis and including the rest position of the actuation surface center,   wherein the handle cross point is located along the handle axis between the palm segment and the first normal plane.   
     
     
         7 : The device as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second reference plane defined as including the trigger axis and as being perpendicular to the first reference plane; and   a trigger projection line defined as the intersection of the first reference plane and the second reference plane,   wherein an angle formed between the trigger projection line and the handle axis is about 90 degrees.   
     
     
         8 : The device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second reference plane defined as including the trigger axis and as being perpendicular to the first reference plane; and   a trigger projection line defined as the intersection of the first reference plane and the second reference plane,   wherein the handle axis forms an obtuse angle with the trigger projection line between 90 degrees and 120 degrees.   
     
     
         9 : The device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising hand grasping prepositioning means, such that a proximal phalanx/distal phalanx reference plane has a gripping angle relative to the axis of the handle that is less than 25 degrees. 
     
     
         10 : The device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 hand grasping prepositioning means having a palm reception surface that receives a metacarpal palm, the palm reception surface having a midplane that is substantially parallel to the axis of the handle.   
     
     
         11 : The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a substantially flat bearing zone configured to receive the proximal phalanx of the thumb of the hand grasping the handle during the control action. 
     
     
         12 : The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the trigger rest stop and the extreme actuation trigger stop define an arc of a circle along which the actuation surface center is subjected to move, and   the trigger rotation axis is situated so that the arc of the circle is identical to an arc of a second circle defined by motion of the distal phalanx all along the control action.   
     
     
         13 : The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes an external hand arrestor and/or an internal hand arrestor. 
     
     
         14 : The device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one control setpoint generator taken from a mechanical connecting part, an analog or digital sensor of the position of the trigger, or an analog or digital sensor of the force exerted on the trigger.   
     
     
         15 : The device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second reference plane defined as including the trigger axis and as being perpendicular to the first reference plane,   wherein the handle axis is perpendicular to the second reference plane.   
     
     
         16 : A machine fitted with a device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pressure part of the trigger is situated at least partly in front of the handle in a horizontal position. 
     
     
         17 : A method for grasping a machine and simultaneously controlling at least one system for controlling the machine using a manual control device as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising:
 grasping the machine with all the fingers of the hand on the handle during actuation of the control device with the thumb of the same hand.