Patent ID: 8491348

Claim:
A lever position sensor assembly comprising: a main housing; a lever pivotally connected to the housing about a first axis, the lever having at least a portion thereof extending outside the housing, the lever being pivotable between a first position and a second position; a lever position sensor having a fixed portion and a pivoting portion, the fixed portion being connected to the housing, the pivoting portion being pivotally connected to the fixed portion about a second axis, the pivoting portion being pivotable between a third position and a fourth position, the second axis being generally parallel to the first axis, and the second axis being spaced from the first axis; a first spring connected to the lever, the first spring being spaced from the pivoting portion of the lever position sensor, the first spring biasing the lever towards the first position and the pivoting portion of the lever position sensor towards the third position; and a second spring connected to the pivoting portion of the lever position sensor, the second spring being spaced from the lever, the second spring biasing the lever towards the first position and the pivoting portion of the lever position sensor towards the third position, the lever being operatively connected to the pivoting portion of the lever position sensor such that pivoting the lever about the first axis pivots the pivoting portion of the lever position sensor about the second axis, the pivoting portion of the lever position sensor being in the third position when the lever is in the first position, and the pivoting portion of the lever position sensor being in the fourth position when the lever is in the second position.