Patent ID: 8925414
Filing Date: 2015-01-06
Classification: B63H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A device for inputting command signals to a marine vessel control system, the device comprising a lever that is selectively operable in a joystick mode and a lever mode; wherein in the lever mode, the lever is confined to pivoting about a horizontal axis to thereby input throttle and shift commands to the control system; and wherein in the joystick mode, the lever is structured to be freely pivoted in all directions away from a vertical axis that is perpendicular to the horizontal axis to thereby input throttle, shift, and directional commands to the control system; wherein the lever comprises a housing and a handle; wherein in the lever mode, the housing is configured to pivot with respect to the horizontal axis and the handle is held stationary with respect to the housing; and wherein in the joystick mode, the housing is held stationary and the handle is configured to freely pivot in all directions away from the vertical axis; a lock that is configured to selectively lock the lever for operation in one of the lever mode and joystick mode and unlock the lever for operation in the other of the lever mode and the joystick mode; wherein the lock comprises a pin that is configured to move between a lever mode position and a joystick mode position; a solenoid that is configured to move the pin between the lever mode position and the joystick mode position; and wherein the pin comprises a shaft and a head, wherein the solenoid comprises a spring, wherein activating the solenoid moves the pin from the lever mode position to the joystick mode position, and wherein deactivating the solenoid allows a bias of the spring to move the pin from the joystick mode position to the lever mode position.