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 the help of a suitable fastener. At least one torsion spring is active between the arm and the shoe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . 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 configured to pivotally couple 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 arm element;   a spring active between the mounting arm element and the shoe; and   an adjustment mechanism comprising:
 at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in a pair of opposing flanges of the mounting bracket, the at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in the mounting bracket being parallel to the plane perpendicular to the pivot axis; 
 at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in the arm; and 
 a pin that extends through the at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in the arm and through the at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in the pair of opposing flanges of the mounting bracket. 
   
     
     
         2 . The stem deflector of  claim 1  and wherein the shoe is connected to the mounting arm element about a different pivot axis than the pivot axis about which the arm is configured to pivotally couple to the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         3 . The stem deflector of  claim 1  and wherein the shoe is connected to the mounting arm element about the pivot axis about which the arm is configured to pivotally couple to the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The stem deflector of  claim 1  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. 
     
     
         5 . The stem deflector of  claim 4  and wherein the shoe further comprises, on the inner side, a reinforcement bar that is proximate to the second end of the shoe. 
     
     
         6 . The stem deflector of  claim 5  and wherein the second end of the containing element is coupled to the reinforcement bar of the shoe. 
     
     
         7 . 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 configured to pivotally couple 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 arm element;   a spring active between the mounting arm element and the shoe; and   an adjustment mechanism comprising:
 a plurality of first aligned pairs of adjustment holes in one of the mounting bracket or the arm, the first adjustment holes being parallel to the plane perpendicular to the pivot axis; 
 a second aligned pair of adjustment holes in the other one of the mounting bracket or the arm, wherein the second aligned pair of adjustment holes are parallel to the plane perpendicular to the pivot axis; and 
 a pin that extends through the second aligned pair of adjustment holes and through any aligned pair of adjustment holes of the plurality of first aligned pairs of adjustment holes. 
   
     
     
         8 . The stem deflector of  claim 7  and wherein the shoe is connected to the mounting arm element about a different pivot axis than the pivot axis about which the arm is configured to pivotally couple to the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         9 . The stem deflector of  claim 7  and wherein the shoe is connected to the mounting arm element about the pivot axis about which the arm is configured to pivotally couple to the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         10 . The stem deflector of  claim 7  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. 
     
     
         11 . The stem deflector of  claim 10  and wherein the shoe further comprises, on the inner side, a reinforcement bar that is proximate to the second end of the shoe. 
     
     
         12 . The stem deflector of  claim 11  and wherein the second end of the containing element is coupled to the reinforcement bar of the shoe. 
     
     
         13 . The stem deflector of  claim 7  and wherein the spring is a compression spring. 
     
     
         14 . 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 configured to pivotally couple 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 arm element; and   a spring active between the mounting arm element and the shoe.   
     
     
         15 . The stem deflector of  claim 14  and further comprising an adjustment mechanism that comprises:
 at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in a pair of opposing flanges of the mounting bracket, the at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in the mounting bracket being parallel to the plane perpendicular to the pivot axis; 
 at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in the arm; and 
 a pin that extends through the at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in the arm and through the at least one aligned pair of adjustment holes in the pair of opposing flanges of the mounting bracket. 
 
     
     
         16 . The stem deflector of  claim 14  and wherein the shoe is connected to the mounting arm element about a different pivot axis than the pivot axis about which the arm is configured to pivotally couple to the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         17 . The stem deflector of  claim 14  and wherein the shoe is connected to the mounting arm element about the pivot axis about which the arm is configured to pivotally couple to the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         18 . The stem deflector of  claim 14  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. 
     
     
         19 . The stem deflector of  claim 18  and wherein the shoe further comprises, on the inner side, a reinforcement bar that is proximate to the second end of the shoe. 
     
     
         20 . The stem deflector of  claim 19  and wherein the second end of the containing element is coupled to the reinforcement bar of the shoe.