Patent ID: 10173745

Abstract:
A mechanism for securing a payload in a desired angular orientation. The mechanism includes a gear; a spline shaft coaxially mounted to engage the gear in a first position on a longitudinal axis of the shaft and to disengage the gear in a second position of the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the gear or the shaft being coupled to the payload whereby an angular orientation of the payload may be changed from a first angle to a second angle when the gear is in the second position; and a spring assembly mechanically coupled to the gear and spline shaft to restore the shaft to the first position from the second position. The gear and the shaft have matching and interlocking male/female splines. The spline shaft is capped at a proximal end thereof. The cap is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and having an aperture therein at the center thereof. The spring assembly includes a bolt mounted for reciprocal movement in the shaft along the longitudinal axis thereof, the bold having a bolt head at a distal end thereof and being secured to the gear at a proximal end of the bolt. The spring assembly further includes a spring mounted between the bold head and the cap. In the illustrative embodiment, the mechanism is implemented in an adjustable handlebar assembly.