Patent ID: 7201080

Claim:
A hand-operated jointed control lever assembly comprising: (a) a lever body mounted for pivoting movement about an axis from a released position to an actuated position; said lever body having a rearward first fulcrum surface and a rearwardly-extending lip proximate said first fulcrum surface; (b) a lever arm having a forward edge portion and a second fulcrum surface proximate said forward edge portion, said first fulcrum surface and said second fulcrum surface being adapted for mating engagement without a pivot axle jointing said lever arm to said lever body when said forward edge portion is engaged under said lip; and (c) tensioning means for applying a contraction force between said first fulcrum surface and said second fulcrum surface that biases said first and second fulcrum surfaces into mating engagement; said tensioning means comprising: i. a tensioning cable passing through said first and second fulcrum surfaces, said tensioning cable having a first end and a second end, said first end being secured to said lever arm; and ii. a compression coil spring interposed between said second end of said tensioning cable and said lever body, said compression coil spring being disposed within a cavity formed within said lever body with said tensioning cable passing axially through said coil spring.