Lever for brake and clutch operation on cycle handlebars

Abstract

A lever for hand operation of the brakes and clutch from the handlebars of a cycle, wherein said lever is of a configuration for avoiding engagement with the fingers of the hand when the brakes or clutch members are actuated by depressing of the lever against the handlebars. The lever is particularly designed and constructed for ease of use during actuation of the brakes or clutch, but provides a sufficient clearance between the lever itself and the forefinger of the hand in the depressed position of the lever for precluding pinching or squeezing of the finger against the handlebars, thus improving the operating efficiency of the cycle. .Iadd.

What is claimed: .[.1. In combination with a Bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch through manipulation thereof by the fingers of the hand, a pivotal lever secured to the handlebars and operably connected with the Bowden control for actuation thereof and comprising an arm having a finger receiving portion engagable by certain fingers for pivoting of the lever in one direction while a forefinger remains encircled about the handlebars in the proximity of the Bowden control, an arcuate portion conterminous with the finger receiving portion and spaced away from the handle bars in all positions of the lever to provide clearance for the forefinger encircling the handlebars in the proximity of the Bowden control whereby the brakes and clutch may be operated by the fingers without loss of hand control of the handlebars..]. .[.2. In combination with a Bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch, a pivotal lever as set forth in claim 1 wherein the arm is of a substantially S-shaped configuration to provide said finger receiving portion in said arcuate portion..]. .[.3. In combination with a Bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch, a pivotal lever as set forth in claim 1 wherein the arcuate portion curves outwardly and away from the handlebars, and the finger receiving portion is substantially straight for facilitating engagement thereof by a plurality of the fingers..]. .[.4. In combination with a Bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch, a pivotal lever as set forth in claim 3 wherein the finger receiving portion includes a 
     
        closed loop member for engagement by the said plurality of fingers..]. 5. In combination with a Bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch, a pivotal lever as set forth in claim .[.4.]. .Iadd.11 .Iaddend.wherein the closed loop is sufficiently short for avoiding engagement with the forefinger encircling the handlebars. .[.6. In combination with a Bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch, a pivotal lever as set forth in claim 3 wherein the finger receiving portion includes an open loop member for engagement by 
     
     
        the said plurality of fingers..]. 7. In combination with a Bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch, a pivotal lever as set forth in claim .[.6.]. .Iadd.12 .Iaddend.wherein the open loop member is sufficiently long for receiving the fingers therein and sufficiently short for avoiding engagement with the forefinger. .Iadd. 8. In combination with a Bowden control secured to the handlebar of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brake or clutch through manipulation thereof by the fingers of the hand, a pivotal lever secured to the handlebar and operably connected with the Bowden control for actuation thereof and comprising a finger receiving portion engagable by the outer three fingers of the hand for pivoting the lever towards the handlebar while the forefinger and thumb remains encircled about the handlebar in the proximity of the Bowden control, an offset portion spaced from the finger receiving portion, and an integral connecting portion between the offset portion and finger receiving portion and substantially perpendicular to the finger receiving portion whereby said offset portion is spaced away from the handlebar in all positions of the lever to provide clearance for the forefinger encircling the handlebar in the proximity of the Bowden control whereby the brake or clutch may be operated with the forefinger separated from the outer three fingers a minimum amount. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. In combination with a Bowden control secured to the handlebar of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brake or clutch, a pivotal lever as set forth in claim 8 wherein the offset portion is substantially parallel to the finger receiving portion, and the connecting portion is substantially mutually perpendicular thereto. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. In combination with a Bowden control secured to the handlebar of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brake or clutch, a pivotal lever as set forth in claim 8 wherein the finger receiving portion is movable towards a position in the proximity of the handlebar and substantially parallel with respect thereto for engagement of the clutch or brake and movable in a second direction to a position whereby the finger receiving portion is angularly disposed with respect to the handlebars for disengagement of the brake or clutch..Iaddend. .Iadd. 11. In combination with a Bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch through manipulation thereof by the finers of the hand, a pivotal lever secured to the handlebars and operably connected with the Bowden control for actuation thereof and comprising an arm having a finger receiving portion engagable by certain fingers for pivoting the lever in one direction while a forefinger remains encircled about the handlebars in the proximity of the Bowden control, an arcuate portion conterminous with the finger receiving portion and spaced away from the handlebars in all positions of the lever to provide clearance for the forefinger encircling the handlebars in the proximity of the Bowden control whereby the brakes and clutch may be operated by the fingers without loss of hand control of the handlebars, said pivotal lever having the arcuate portion curving outwardly and away from the handlebars and the finger receiving portion being substantially straight for facilitating engagement thereof by a plurality of the fingers and said finger receiving portion including a closed loop member for engagement by the said plurality of fingers. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. In combination with a Bowden control secured to the handlebars of a vehicle for hand operation of the vehicle brakes and clutch through manipulation thereof by the fingers of the hand, a pivotal lever secured to the handlebars and operably connected with the Bowden control for actuation thereof and comprising an arm having a finger receiving portion engagable by certain fingers for pivoting of the lever in one direction while a forefinger remains encircled about the handlebars in the proximity of the Bowden control, an arcuate portion conterminous with the finger receiving portion and spaced away from the handle bars in all positions of the lever to provide clearance for the forefinger encircling the handlebars in the proximity of the Bowden control whereby the brakes and clutch may be operated by the fingers without loss of hand control of the handlebars, said pivotal lever having the arcuate portion curving outwardly and away from the handlebars and the finger receiving portion being substantially straight for facilitating engagement thereof by a plurality of the fingers, said finger receiving portion including an open loop member for engagement by the said plurality of fingers..Iaddend.