Abstract:
An improved, adjustable hand-operated motorcycle lever is disclosed for actuating hydraulic motorcycle braking and clutching mechanisms. The adjustable lever comprises, inter alia, a base member, a proximal member, a center member, a distal member, an actuator nut, and a barrel component. The lever is easily adjustable to accommodate the hand sizes of different riders, and can be laterally adjusted to augment or reduce leverage to a motorcycle rider.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to vehicle clutch and brake actuation mechanisms, and more particularly relates to adjustable motorcycle clutch and brake levers. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Motorcycle clutch and braking systems, clutch and brake actuation mechanisms, and clutch and brake levers are well-known in the art. Traditional levers in the art comprise rigid elongated levers, or cantilevers, which are pivotably connected to handlebars, a chassis, or the like. Traditional brake levers are detachably connected to a Bowden cable, which clenches brake arms and force brake pads against a braking surface to slow a motorcycle. More recent developments in the art include hydraulic brake levers and disc brakes. Hydraulic brake levers force pressurized braking fluid through hoses to activate motorcycle brakes and slow the vehicle. 
         [0005]    Some clutch and brake levers are difficult for smaller riders to reach while steering and effectively grip while the motorcycle is in motion. Although there exist clutch and brake levers known in the art which are designed to accommodate female riders, and riders with smaller hands, traditional levers known cannot be effortlessly readjusted to accommodate riders with differing grip and hand sizes, which is necessary if multiple riders are using the same motorcycle. Traditional levers cannot be shortened or elongated to add leverage for riders of different strengths. Additionally, traditional levers are not modularized such that damaged portions of the lever can be replaced independently of the entire clutch or brake lever, which may be necessary after a motorcycle falls or impacts with a ground surface. Furthermore, traditional levers are not modularized such that upon crash impact, the lever can axially rotate around an axis other than the axis around which the level pivots to avoid breakage of the lever itself 
         [0006]    It is therefore desirable that an adjustable, modularized, hydraulic brake/clutch lever which is aesthetically pleasing be provided. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an improved, adjustable motorcycle lever for braking or clutching. Beneficially, such a lever would overcome many of the difficulties with prior art by providing a means for easily readjusting the brake lever to alternately serve riders of different hand sizes. 
         [0008]    The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available brake actuation systems. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an improved, adjustable hand-operated motorcycle lever comprising: a base member comprising a generally planar plate fabricated from one or more of metals, alloys and polymers, the plate coupled to an elongated, hollow, generally cylindrical metallic member, wherein a longitudinal axis of the brake lever extends through the hollow length of the metallic member, wherein the metallic member is affixed to a generally l-shaped metal plate, a portion of which juts outwardly in cantilever fashion along the longitudinal axis for actuating a hydraulic brake system. 
         [0009]    The improved, adjustable hand-operated lever also comprises a proximal member, pivotably connected to the base member at a joint, comprising a metallic, generally planar plate with a top surface and a bottom surface, the proximal member forming a recess for housing an actuator nut. 
         [0010]    The actuator nut is rotatably affixed within the proximal member, the actuator nut housing a shaft-like gear member extendable and retractable with manual adjustment of the actuator nut, which gear member is in physical contact with the base member, such that when the gear member is extended, the proximal member is pivoted away from the base member to accommodate a motorcycle rider with larger hands. 
         [0011]    The improved, adjustable hand-operated lever also comprises an elongated center member hingedly connected to the proximal member at a joint. The center member comprises a metallic, generally planar plate with a planar top surface and a planar bottom surface, which center member generally tapers from the point of abutment with the proximal member to an opposing point more distantly separated from the actuator nut on a lateral axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. 
         [0012]    The improved, adjustable hand-operated lever also comprises an elongated distal member slidably connected to the center member such that the distal member can be extended and refracted laterally relative to the center member, the distal member comprising an aperature traversing the distal member longitudinally. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the brake lever further comprises a padded polymer grip made spanning a forward edge of the center member. In some embodiments, the base plate, proximal member, center member, and distal member all are formed from one of titanium, aluminum, stainless steel, and brass. 
         [0014]    In still further embodiments, the improved, adjustable motorcycle lever further comprises a spring affixed at one end the base plate and affixed at another end to the proximal member such that the spring presses the gear member against the base member. 
         [0015]    These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a top perspective view of an improved brake/cluth lever  100  in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2A  shows an inner elevational perspective view of the improved brake/clutch lever in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2B  shows an exploded view of the joint of an improved brake/clutch lever in accordance with the present invention  1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  shows an outer elevational perspective view of an improved brake/clutch lever in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  shows a front perspective view of the improved brake/clutch lever in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0023]    Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a top perspective view of an improved brake/clutch lever  100  in accordance with the present invention. The improved brake lever  100  comprises four principal members: a base member  102 , a proximal member  112 , a center member  122 , and a distal member  126 . Each member comprises various subcomponents, including an aperature  104 , a barrel component  105 , an annularity  106 , a cantilever or tooth  108 , a joint  110 , an actuator nut  114 , a gear member  116 , a barrel hinge  120 , a padded grip  124 , and a bore  128 . 
         [0025]    The base member  102  may be formed from any number of rigid materials well known to those of skill in the art, including polymers, iron, stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, brass, wood, stone, polymers, and the like. The base member  102  comprises a generally planar plate fabricated from one or more metals, alloys and/or polymers which is between one millimeter and six centimeters thick. 
         [0026]    The base member  102  is attachable and detachable to a motorcycle chassis, frame, handlebar assembly, and the like. In the shown the embodiment, the base member  102  activates a hydraulic brake or clutch system vis-à-vis the tooth  108 . In other embodiments, the base member  102  may be configured to work with a Bowden cable and the like. 
         [0027]    The base member  102  may be coupled, formed to, molded with, or fabricated with, an elongated, hollow, generally cylindrical metallic barrel member  102 . 
         [0028]    The barrel component  105  comprises a tubular, cylindrical, or barrel-like component permanent affixed to, or forming part of, the base member  102 . The barrel component  105  may be fabricated via welding, machining, laser sintering, and the like. The barrel component  105  may be manufactured as part of the base member  102 . 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the lever  100  is affixed to the motorcycle by bolting the lever  100  onto the motorcycle handlebars with a bolt that traverses the hollow recess of the barrel component  105 . The lever  100  then rotates, or pivots, around the bolt from one to fifty degrees. 
         [0030]    The annularity  106  and/or the barrel component  105  detachably connect to the handle bars and/or other components of the braking/clutching mechanism of a motorcycle (not shown). 
         [0031]    A longitudinal axis runs through the hollow portion of the barrel member  102  and traverses the brake lever  100 . The base member comprises, and is affixed to, a generally l-shaped metal plate, a portion of which juts outwardly in cantilever fashion along the longitudinal axis for actuating a hydraulic brake system. 
         [0032]    In some embodiments, the base member  102  comprises one or more holes, bores, or aperatures  104  for reducing weight and saving raw materials necessary to construct the brake lever  100 . 
         [0033]    The proximal member  112  is pivotably connected to the base member at a joint  110 . The proximal member  112  comprises a metallic, generally planar plate with a top surface and a bottom surface, the proximal member forming a recess for housing an actuator nut  114 . 
         [0034]    The actuator nut  114  is rotatably affixed within the proximal member  112 . The actuator nut  114  housing a shaft-like gear member  116  extendable and retractable with manual adjustment of the actuator nut  114 . The actuator nut  114  can be turned manually by a motorcycle rider to extend or retract the gear member  116 . When the gear member  116  is in physical contact with the base member  102 , the gear member forces the proximal member  112  away from the handlebars disposed roughly parallel to the breadth of the lever  100  such that when the gear member  116  is extended, the proximal member  112  is pivoted away from the base member  102  to accommodate a motorcycle rider with larger hands. 
         [0035]    The actuator nut  114  gear may comprise any type of manual linear actuator, including any type of gear commonly known to those of skill in the art, including a worm gear, a spiral gear, a helical gear, spur gear, rack and pinion, screw jack, ball screw, roller screw, and the like. 
         [0036]    The barrel hinge  120  comprises a hinge connecting the proximal member  112  to the center member  122 . The barrel hinge  120  allows the center member  122  and the distal member  126  to axially rotate with around the proximal member  112  when impact to avoid breakage of the lever itself. Because the barrel hinge  120  allows axial rotation around an axis that is orthogonal to the direction of pull of a user activating the lever  100 , it does not interfere with user braking or clutching. 
         [0037]    In some embodiments, the barrel hinge  120  comprises a torsion spring, or another type of spring well-known to those of skill in the art, that biases the barrel hinge  120  into its shown position in which the center member  122  and proximal member  112  share a plane with each other. In other embodiments, the screw traverses the barrel hinge  120  can be tightened to adjust the torque that must applied to the barrel hinge  120  to for the barrel hinge  120  to break from its shown position. 
         [0038]    The center member  122  comprises an elongated component hingedly connected to the proximal member  112  at a joint, comprising a metallic, generally planar plate with a planar top surface and a planar bottom surface, which center member  122  generally tapers from the point of abutment with the proximal member  112  to an opposing point more distantly separated from the actuator nut  114  on a lateral axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. 
         [0039]    The distal member  126  comprises an elongated component separated from the center member  122  along the lateral axis and slidably connected to the center member  122  such that the distal member  126  can be extended and retracted laterally relative to the center member  122 , the distal member  126  comprising an aperature traversing the distal member  126  longitudinally. 
         [0040]    The brake lever  100  may comprised a padded polymer grip  124  spanning a forward edge of the center member  122 . The padded grip  124  may be made from memory foam, silicone gel, inflated bladders or balloon, and the like. The padded grip  124  may be inflatable. 
         [0041]    The base plate  102 , proximal member  112 , center member  122 , and distal member  126  may are formed from one of titanium, aluminum, stainless steel, and brass. 
         [0042]      FIG. 2A  shows an inner elevational perspective view of the improved brake/clutch lever  100  in accordance with the present invention. Shown are the base member  102 , the barrel component,  106 , the tooth  108 , the joint  110 , proximal member  112 , and actuator nut  114 , center member  122 , and distal member  126 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 2A  shows an alternative perspective view of the brake lever  100 . Each of the components shown in  FIG. 2  is substantially described above in relation to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 2B  shows an exploded view of the joint  110  section of an improved brake/clutch lever  150  in accordance with the present invention. Shown are the joint  110  and the spring  152 . 
         [0045]    The join  110  is substantially described above in relation to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0046]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the brake/clutch lever  150  comprises a spring  152  affixed at one end the base member  102  and affixed at its opposing end to the proximal member  112 . The spring  152  may be configured to pull the base member  102  and the proximal member  112  together, thus pressing the gear member  116  against the base member  102 , but allowing for the proximal member  112  and its appendages to rotate axially around the joint  110  if forced in that direction by the ground or another object impacting with the lever  150 . 
         [0047]    The spring  152  may comprise a helical spring, a volute spring, a spiral torsion spring, a gas spring, flat spring, and the like. The spring  152  may fixed anywhere in or near the joint  110  provided that the spring  152  interconnects, or is mutually attached to, both the base member  102  and the proximal member  112 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 3  shows an outer elevational perspective view of the improved brake/clutch lever  100  in accordance with the present invention. Shown are the base member  102 , the barrel component  106 , the proximal member  112 , the actuator nut  114 , the barrel hinge  120 , the center member  122 , and the distal member  126 . Each are substantially described above in relation to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 3  shows an alternative perspective view of the brake lever  100 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 4  shows a front perspective view of the improved brake/clutch lever  100  in accordance with the present invention. Shown are the tooth  108 , the joint  110 , the actuator nut  114 , the barrel hinge  120 , the center member  122 , and the padded grip  124 . Each are substantially described above in relation to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 4  shows an alternative perspective view of the brake lever  100 . 
         [0052]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.