Patent ID: 6101678
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: B62B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
An adjustable handle for a movable article, said handle including:a) at least one handlebar for grasping by an individual;b) a height-adjustment assembly interconnecting said handlebar and said article, said assembly including at least a pair of clutch plates, wherein one of said clutch plates is secured to the handlebar and the other of the clutch plates is secured to the article, each of said clutch plates including a generally circular-shaped portion and a reduced sized generally rectangular portion, the plates being arranged in alternating fashion so that every other one of said clutch plate portions extend in a first direction and the other ones of said clutch plate rectangular portions extend in a second direction opposed to said first direction; andc) a cam movable to a locked position for causing abutment of and friction between said clutch plates to prevent relative movement of the plates for securing the handlebar at a selected location, said cam being movable to an unlocked position for reducing friction between said plates to allow relative movement of the plates for adjusting the location of the handlebar and said cam further being a lever pivotally attached to a bolt which passes through aligned openings formed in said clutch plates; in which an end of said lever proximal to said bolt is formed with a cam surface and an end of the lever distal from the bolt can be grasped by an individual; in which a first spacer is slidably mounted on said bolt and is captured between said cam surface and the clutch plates and a second spacer is located between each aligned adjacent pair of clutch plate rectangular portions; in which upon grasping and pivotal movement of the lever in a first direction, the cam surface forces said first spacer against said plates which in turn are forced against a nut threadably engaged on an end of the bolt opposite from said lever, whereby said plates are moved into frictional abutment; and in which upon pivotal movement of the lever in a second direction opposite from said first direction, said cam surface retracts, whereby friction between said plates is reduced.