Stem deflector

Abstract

A stem deflector is provided. The stem deflector includes an arm and a shoe having a first end and a second end. The first end of the shoe is coupled to the arm with a suitable fastener. At least one torsion spring is active between the arm and the shoe.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A stem deflector comprising:
 a mounting arm element including an arm and a mounting bracket that is a separate piece from the arm, wherein the arm includes a first end pivotally coupled to the mounting bracket about a pivot axis, and wherein the arm is pivotal in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis;   a shoe having an outer side, an inner side, a first end, a second end and a middle portion, wherein the first end of the shoe is coupled to the mounting bracket; and   a spring active between the mounting arm element and the shoe.   
     
     
         22 . The stem deflector of  claim 21  and further comprising an adjustment means for pivotally adjusting a position of the arm relative to the shoe in the plane perpendicular to the pivot axis. 
     
     
         23 . The stem deflector of  claim 22  and wherein the adjustment means comprises:
 an array of aligned pairs of adjustment holes in a pair of opposing flanges of the mounting bracket, the adjustment holes being parallel to the plane perpendicular to the pivot axis; 
 at least one bore that extends through in the arm, wherein the bore is substantially parallel to the pivot axis, and wherein the bore is in a portion of the arm that is between the opposing flanges; and 
 a pin that extends through the bore and through any aligned pair of adjustment holes of the array of aligned pairs of adjustment holes. 
 
     
     
         24 . The stem deflector of  claim 23 , wherein the array of aligned pairs of adjustment holes comprises a plurality of columns of aligned pairs of adjustment holes, and wherein the at least one bore comprises a plurality of bores with each of the plurality of bores corresponding to a different one of the plurality of columns of aligned pairs of adjustment holes. 
     
     
         25 . The stem deflector of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of columns of aligned pairs of adjustment holes comprises a first column of aligned pairs of adjustment holes and a second column of aligned pairs of adjustment holes proximate the first column of aligned pairs of adjustment holes, and wherein the plurality of bores comprises a first bore corresponding to the first column of aligned pairs of adjustment holes and a second bore corresponding to the second column of aligned pairs of adjustment holes. 
     
     
         26 . The stem deflector of  claim 21  and wherein the shoe is connected to the mounting bracket along a different pivot axis than the pivot axis along which the arm is connected to the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         27 . The stem deflector of  claim 21  and wherein the shoe is connected to the mounting bracket along the pivot axis along which the arm is connected to the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         28 . The stem deflector of  claim 21  and further comprising a containing element having first and second ends, the containing element is coupled to the mounting arm element proximate to the first end of the containing element and the second end of the containing element is coupled to the shoe. 
     
     
         29 . The stem deflector of  claim 21  and wherein the spring is a compression spring. 
     
     
         30 . The stem deflector of  claim 21  and wherein the spring is a torsion spring. 
     
     
         31 . A stem deflector comprising:
 a mounting arm element including an arm and a mounting bracket that is a separate piece from the arm, wherein the arm includes a first end pivotally coupled to the mounting bracket about a pivot axis, and wherein the arm is pivotal in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis;   a shoe having an outer side, an inner side, a base that is substantially convex on the outer side, a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the shoe is coupled to the mounting bracket, and wherein the single further includes, on the inner side, a connection bar, which is coupled to the base on the inner side and comprises the first end of the shoe that is coupled to the mounting bracket, and a reinforcement bar that is coupled to the connection bar, the reinforcement bar being proximate to the second end of the shoe; and   at least one spring active between the mounting arm element and the shoe.   
     
     
         32 . The stem deflector of  claim 31  and further comprising an adjustment means for pivotally adjusting a position of the arm relative to the shoe in the plane perpendicular to the pivot axis. 
     
     
         33 . The stem deflector of  claim 32  and wherein the adjustment means comprises:
 an array of aligned pairs of adjustment holes in a pair of opposing flanges of the mounting bracket, the adjustment holes being parallel to the plane perpendicular to the pivot axis; 
 at least one aligned pair of holes in opposing sides of the arm, and wherein the at least one pair of aligned holes is in a portion of the arm that is between the opposing flanges; and 
 a pin that extends through the at least one aligned pair of holes in opposing sides of the arm and through any aligned pair of adjustment holes of the array of aligned pairs of adjustment holes in the pair of opposing flanges. 
 
     
     
         34 . The stem deflector of  claim 33 , wherein the array of aligned pairs of adjustment holes comprises a plurality of columns of aligned pairs of adjustment holes. 
     
     
         35 . The stem deflector of  claim 31  and wherein the shoe is connected to the mounting bracket along a different pivot axis than the pivot axis along which the arm is connected to the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         36 . The stem deflector of  claim 31  and wherein the shoe is connected to the mounting bracket along the pivot axis along which the arm is connected to the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         37 . The stem deflector of  claim 31  and further comprising a containing element having first and second ends, the containing element is coupled to the mounting arm element proximate to the first end of the containing element and the second end of the containing element is coupled to the shoe. 
     
     
         38 . The stem deflector of  claim 31  and wherein the at least one spring comprises a compression spring. 
     
     
         39 . The stem deflector of  claim 31  and wherein the at least one spring comprises a torsion spring. 
     
     
         40 . The stem deflector of  claim 31  and wherein the at least one spring comprises two torsion springs.