Patent ID: 7275457
Filing Date: 2007-10-02
Classification: F16H,G05G,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A control lever assembly comprising: a lever housing having a floor, a guide plate and walls extending between the floor and the guide plate, the guide plate having a slot therein; a lever movable in and extending through the slot, the lever having a first end pivotally coupled to the floor and a second end projecting away from the first end; a knob having a non-rotatable base fixed to the second end of the lever and a hollow non-rotatable knob housing mounted on the base, the hollow knob housing having a top surface upon which an operator can rest a portion of the operators hand, and the knob housing having a cylindrical side wall which extends from the upper surface to the base; a control wheel rotatably mounted in the knob housing, the knob and the control wheel being positioned above an upper surface of the guide plate so that the control wheel can be manipulated by the operator while a portion of the operators hand is resting on the top surface of the hollow knob housing, the knob housing forming a lip attached to the top surface and entirely surrounding an axial upper end of the control wheel, and the side wall having an opening therein which exposes a portion of the control wheel for manipulation by an operator's finger; a rotary encoder; and a coupling member which couples the wheel to the encoder, the coupling member extending through the guide plate, and the guide plate being located between the wheel and the encoder.