Abstract: A control lever device has a lever shaft supported to a fixing member attached in the vicinity of a grip at a handle bar and a control lever having a boss and a control portion supported rotatably to the lever shaft. The lever shaft is slanted with respect to the axis of the handle bar, and the control portion of the control lever is directed toward the grip and positioned radially outwardly of the handle bar with respect to the boss, so that movement of the control portion may match movement of the fingers of a cyclist's hand gripping the handle grip.

Abstract: A control device for a brake and a derailleur for a bicycle, in which a fixing member is fixed to a handle bar, to which member a brake lever having a grip is supported swingably through a first pivot and a control lever having at least one control portion for operating a derailleur is supported swingably through a second pivot disposed approximately perpendicularly with respect to the first pivot, the control portion at the control lever being positioned between the handle bar and the grip at the brake lever and made swingable in the direction perpendicular to the swinging direction of the brake lever, so that a driver can operate the derailleur while gripping by his hand the grip of handle bar.

Abstract: A brake operating device for a bicycle has a bracket which carries a control lever pivoted thereto and is adjustable mounted to a fixed member fixed to a handle bar of the bicycle. Structures are provided to enable the bracket position to be changed with respect to the fixed member to adjust the distance between the grip of the control lever and the handle bar without changing the relative position of an outer sheath of a control cable supported at the bracket with respect to a control wire of a control cable supported at the control lever.

Abstract: A manually operated latch mounted on the handlebar of a motorcycle and engaging the clutch control lever for releasably holding the clutch in a locked-out position or in a partially disengaged position.

Abstract: An operating lever apparatus for a bicycle comprising a bracket and an L-shaped operating lever supported on the bracket. A projection for catching a wire is provided, on the inner face of a wire inserting groove which is connected with a support hole formed in the angular portion of the lever and is open to the bottom face and front face of the angular portion, on the under side of the moving route of the wire on the inner face of the inserting groove.

Abstract: An actuator for mounting on a part such as a cycle handgrip and for operating a cable having a core and a sheath has a one-piece lever, a one-piece support carrying the lever, and a clamp for securing the support to the part. The lever is unitarily formed with an elongated handle, with a laterally projecting foot having a pair of opposite outwardly facing sides, with respective coaxially aligned cylindrical pivot pins projecting oppositely outwardly from the sides, and with a holding formation for the end of the cable core.

Abstract: A brake operating device comprises a lever pivoted to a bracket member which is fixed to a handle bar at a bicycle and a retainer attached to one end of a control wire and supported to the lever. A support having a receiving portion for receiving therein the retainer, is formed and supported in a turnable manner to the lever, and a gap sustainer interposable between a front wall of the bracket member and a front surface of the lever is provided at the support, whereby the grip dimension a distance between a handle bar and lever is made changeable by a turn of the support to control the interposing of the gap sustainer between the front wall of the bracket member and front surface of the surface.

Abstract: A brake operating device for a bicycle of a drop type handle bar, has a hollow shaft at the foremost end of a main lever supported swingably to a bracket member. The hollow shaft supports a retaining member for one end of a control wire the other end of which is connected to the bicycle brake. An auxiliary lever is supported swingably to the bracket member around a pivot coaxial with a pivot around which the main lever swings, and is provided at the head with an engaging shaft parallel to the common axis of the pivots and engageable with the hollow shaft. The engaging shaft is fit into the hollow shaft to thereby operate the auxiliary lever in association with the main lever.

Abstract: The shift mechanism is incorporated into the handlebar stem which goes into the front fork stem.

Abstract: A housing pivotably supporting an operating lever is mounted on a handle bar by a band. A nut with opposite end ears engaged in apertures formed in the ends of the band is held drawn into the housing by a bolt provided within the housing and extending through the nut in screw-thread engagement therewith to fasten the band to the handle bar. Each of the ears includes a shank projecting from each end of the nut and a flange formed at the outer end of the shank and having a portion remote from the center of the shank and a portion close to the shank center diametrically of the shank. Each of the apertures in the band is so shaped as to permit the flange to removably pass therethrough and to render the shank displaceable within the aperture, thereby making the band engageable with the inside surface of the flange.

Abstract: A lever operating device has a lever supported rotatably with respect to a fixed shaft for retaining one end of a control wire to control gear-shifting means of a bicycle. The lever operating device includes an indicator which is provided at the lever which is adapted to move in the turning direction of the lever within a fixed range corresponding to the play existing in the control wire, whereby when the lever is turned the indicator moves lagging behind the turning lever by a fixed distance corresponding to the play of the control wire.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bicycle speed change lever comprising a support shaft secured to a mounting member, a lever body pivotally mounted on the support shaft, and a click plate disposed adjacent the lever body so as to be slightly movable in opposite directions about the support shaft for presenting the alternative of two positional phases. A plurality of spaced circular holes are formed in the click plate and aligned in an arc of a circle, a steel ball is retained between a base portion of the lever body and the click plate so as to be disengageable with any one of the plurality of circular holes, and a phase converting mechanism for converting the positional phases of the click plate from one phase to the other and vice versa. The phase converting mechanism including an engaging member formed with the click plate and a switching member secured to the mounting member which cooperate to effect the phase converting only when the lever body is pivotally moved in a reverse direction.

Abstract: A single hand-operated actuator for effecting operation of two devices, such as the front and rear caliper brakes of a bicycle or the like. The actuator includes a base adapted to be secured to the handle bars of a bicycle and having two Bowden sliding wire or cable linkages thereon with the linkages being interconnected to a lever operated by one hand for effecting actuation of both the front and rear brakes of the bicycle via the linkages. In another version of the actuator of this invention, a mechanical power assist is provided for aiding operation of the actuator.

Abstract: A shift lever device for use with a bicycle comprises a bracket having a pair of spaced walls, a stepped slide shaft slidably mounted on the bracket and formed with a plurality of stepwise reduced cylindrical sections of different diameter, a push-button mounted to one end of the slide shaft, a coil spring interposed between the push-button and one of the pair of walls for urging the slide shaft in one direction, and a lever pivotally mounted on a support shaft supported by the bracket. A base portion of the lever is interposed between the pair of spaced walls and provided with a contact surface which is operatively contactable with a selected one of the plurality of stepwise reduced cylindrical sections of the stepped slide shaft.

Abstract: A control device for a bicycle derailleur cooperates with a control lever to control the derailleur through a control wire and absorb a change in length in the wire. The control device includes a positioning plate which serves to position the lever and is supported relatively rotatably under resistance greater than strength of a return spring at the derailleur, with respect to one of the lever and a fixing member supporting the lever, and is made freely rotatable with respect to the other, so that during operation of the lever for changing the bicycle speed the positioning plate, when subjected to a wire tension over a predetermined value, is secured to the lever or fixing member and, when subjected to a tension less than the predetermined value, is allowed to be freely rotatable, thereby automatically absorbing a change of length in the wire.

Abstract: A steering and control member including a cross member adapted for connection to a stem member, a pair of hand-grip-control members each formed from at least two molded members joined to one another, and each control member including an upper hand grip member connected to the cross member, a lower hand grip member spaced below the upper hand grip member and a control housing member connected to the upper and lower hand grip members.

Abstract: Apparatus for attaching a stay for a brake lever to a handle bar of a bicycle in which a non-ferrous metal or synthetic resin stay pivotably supports a brake lever through a pivot shaft by a fastening band mounted in a cavity portion formed in the bottom of the stay. A spacer is mounted within the cavity portion and has first support elements for abutting against the handle bar and second support elements for engaging the pivot shaft such that when the band is secured to the pivot shaft frictional engagement is obtained between the first supporting elements and the handle bar and the stay becomes secured to the handle bar through the spacer.

Abstract: A quick release locking device to hold a tiller arm of a sailing boat is disclosed. The device allows a helmsman to engage or disengage the locking mechanism almost instantaneously with one hand, and also allows the tiller arm to be locked in any position. The device comprises two rope attachment anchors, one at each side of the boat, positioned an equi-distance from the rudder axis, rope locking device located on the underside of the tiller arm which includes two opposing cam detents to positively grip the rope, flexible rope tautly strung between the two attachment anchors passing through the rope locking device, quick release control lever located on the tiller arm and a connection between the control lever and the rope locking device such that depression of the control lever releases the rope from the locking device allowing the tiller arm to rotate as desired, and release of the control lever grips the rope in the locking device preventing the tiller arm from rotating.

Abstract: A twist-grip cable control having cable movement parallel to the axis of the twist-grip rotation. A bell-crank lever is pivotally mounted within a housing with the inner portion of a Bowden cable connected to one arm of the lever. The other arm of the lever operatively engages a pin or finger member radially extending, fixedly mounted on a rotatable twist-grip sleeve. A guide is formed within a portion of the housing to receive the pin member and to limit the rotation of the sleeve. The device includes anchor means for securing one cable of the Bowden cable to the housing permitting the other cable to move relative to the anchored cable.

Abstract: A bicycle speed change lever device comprises a lever body pivotally mounted on a support shaft and having a handle portion and a base portion which is formed with internal hollow spaces, within which are disposed a step positioning mechanism including a resiliently urged engaging piece and a plurality of engaging recesses arranged so as to cooperate for retaining the lever body in a selected speed gear position, and a one-way clutch mechanism including means for permitting the lever body to pivotally move in one direction with reduced frictional resistance.

Abstract: A mechanism for mounting a speed control lever to a bicycle is so constructed that a bearing member, which is fixed to an upper end of a head pipe of the bicycle, is extended axially upwardly to form an extension which rotatably supports the speed control lever.

Abstract: A brake control device for a bicycle is disclosed having main and auxiliary levers which are pivoted to a bracket fixed to the handle bar of a bicycle. The levers are mounted to be swingable independently of one another to swingingly move a wire hook which is integral with the auxiliary lever and which anchors one end of a brake control wire. The main lever is provided with an engaging member for swinging the wire hook upon main lever operation and between the engaging member and wire is provided an adjusting bolt for adjusting the relative position of the wire hook and engaging member. Adjustment of the adjusting bolt controls the distance between the grip portion of the auxiliary lever and the portion of the handle bar opposite thereto. An adjustment of the distance between the main lever and the portion of the handle bar opposite it can also be effected through the provision of an adjustable ratchet mechanism provided in association with the main lever.

Abstract: A power lawn mower having a transversely arranged tubular grip for manual control rockable forwardly from a reference position to adjust a power control member. The grip is of oval cross section dimensioned to fit the grasp of the operator's hands. When the grip is in reference position the long dimension of the oval is angled rearwardly and downwardly so as to be substantially parallel to the operator's palms in a natural grasping position, so that the operator can sense by the orientation of his hands the neutral, or starting, position of the power control member and, upon forward rocking, the degree of departure from neutral position. A safety latch is provided for securely latching the grip in its reference position. A latch-releasing trigger on the grip is positioned to be manually engageable by at least one hand of the operator incident to grasping the grip for releasing the latch and thereby releasing the grip for forward rocking movement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the control of respective speed change gear units at the rear wheel and crank-wheel of a bicycle comprising two pivotable levers mounted on the bicycle each including an integral bearing with a groove therein. A cable is associated with each of the speed change gear units and is operatively coupled in the groove of a bearing of a respective pivotal lever. The cables are wound on the respective bearing of the levers in opposite directions as viewed from the same side of the bicycle such that when the levers are pivotably moved in one direction, one cable is pulled in tension and the other cable is released.

Abstract: A single, manually operated lever rotates cam means providing guide surfaces that program a progressive series of different drive ratio combinations of the front and rear sprockets of a conventional 10-speed bicycle. The gearshift is mounted on and projecting forwardly from the bicycle's handlebar next to the handlebar stem. The lever has a limited range of movement in a fore and aft direction and can be placed in any one of six drive ratio positions. The lowest and highest drive ratio combinations of the front and rear sprockets are obtained automatically when the lever is placed in its rearwardmost and forwardmost positions, respectively, and intermediate drive ratios are obtained in consecutive increments ordered from the lowest to the highest drive ratio positions of the lever. The guide surfaces have cooperating cam followers to which the control cables for the front and rear derailleurs are attached.

Abstract: Apparatus for synchronizing the operation of a pair of wire-operated mechanisms such as a carburetor and a lubricating oil pump. In order to take up block or looseness which may exist, the actuated wires from the mechanisms are connected to a rocker beam which is part of a slider. An actuating wire is connected to the slider. Lock means is unlocked and enables the rocker beam to equalize tension in the two wires until a sufficient force is exerted by the actuating wire, whereupon the lock means locks the beam and the adjusted actuating wires operate the mechanisms in synchronism.

Abstract: An operating lever assembly for a bicycle derailleur has a rotor having a rotational resistance greater than the force of a return spring at the derailleur and a lever body freely rotatable, and is provided with a gap at a portion where the rotor is coupled to a lever body, within which gap the lever body is allowed to be freely rotatable, so that the lever body is, when turned or rotated against the return spring force, capable of being returned a certain extent by the force of the derailleur return spring.

Abstract: A manually operated, cable control lever assembly especially adapted for use with a handlebar grip is provided with an elongate lever having one end thereof pivotally mounted to a support bracket which also restrains the movement of the control cable in a direction generally aligned with the lever. The lever is provided with: an essentially straight, internal cavity extending longitudinally therethrough and providing a first access opening in the free end of the lever; an attenuated, internal passageway in communication with the cavity and diverging away from the latter toward the free extremity of the lever and terminating in a second, recessed access opening; and, an access slot extending between the access openings and into the passageway.

Abstract: A speed-changing device for a bicycle, comprising a derailleur, a control lever and a transmitting device formed of an outer cable and a less flexible inner wire. One end of the outer cable is fixed to the derailleur and the other end is fixed to the control lever. The lever is reciprocally operable to push or pull the inner wire for allowing a movable member of the derailleur to be reciprocated, whereby a single wire can, without a return spring, lightly effect the bicycle's speed change.

Abstract: A twistable type throttle-grip assembly especially adapted for use with motorcycle-like vehicles manipulates a single control cable and is normally operational in a first rotational range for controlling the supply of fuel to the vehicle's internal combustion engine thereby controlling the vehicle's speed and is provided with an integral latch mechanism which may be operated by the thumb of the operator while holding the hand grip to release the hand grip for rotation into a second rotational range associated with the operation of a cable controlled, combustion cylinder compression release device on the engine to turn off the latter and permit manual pedaling of the vehicle.

Abstract: An operating device selectively connects and disconnects a first operating system with a second operating system. The first operating system has a frequently used operating piece, such as a brake lever. The second operating system would conventionally have an infrequently used operating piece, such as a starting lever. Switching means selectively connects and disconnects the first and second operating systems so that the systems may be operated simultaneously or separately by the operation of a single operating piece, such as a brake lever.

Abstract: A multi-functional control lever adapted for selectively operating on a front speed change device or a rear speed change device of a bicycle comprising a manually manipulable handle portion and a mounting portion rotatably mounted on a shaft. The lever has a housing for receiving a pin on the extremity of the cable and the cable is wound on one of two surfaces of the lever having different radii measured from the axis of rotation of the lever. The surfaces of different radii are brought into operative position by simple reversal of the lever on the shaft. The levers can be mounted at opposite sides of a common support block which supports the shaft and is attached to the frame of the bicycle.

Abstract: Control lever apparatus for speed change devices for bicycles comprising a pivotal lever for controlling speed change and a shaft rotatably supporting the lever. The shaft is fixed and the lever rotatable and a sound producing mechanism is mounted between the shaft and the lever for producing an audible sound as the lever undergoes rotation. The sound producing mechanism comprises a toothed wheel secured to the shaft and a shoe mounted in a recess in the lever for undergoing relative angular movement with respect to the wheel as the lever is rotated. The shoe is supported in the recess for undergoing limited radial and angular displacement relative to the wheel. The shoe has a plurality of teeth arranged along an annular sector for engagement with the teeth of the wheel. Elastic blades are formed on the shoe and bear against the lever at the recess to yieldably urge the teeth of the shoe and the wheel in engagement.

Abstract: On a motorcycle handlebar having a handgrip, a control lever pivotally supported on the handlebar normally extends outward in an angular position relative to the handgrip, but may be selectively pivoted toward the handgrip in order to actuate a brake or clutch of the vehicle. The actuating handle of the lever has an intermediate portion of its length which, when the lever is pivoted inwardly, engages the surface of the handgrip. This intermediate portion of the lever handle provides a hook which may be grasped by the forefinger and middle finger of the hand of the rider, while he is keeping the palm of his hand and the two smallest fingers in firm engagement with the handgrip. The rearward extremity of the lever handle is offset in an outwardly direction relative to the hook portion so that, when the lever handle is pivoted inwardly, the two smallest fingers of the rider are not mashed by it.

Abstract: A shift assembly and integral handbrake apparatus for bicycles is comprised of a handbrake housing on which pivots a handbrake lever. The housing has an interior region formed with a cavity. A slot, defined by an extending flange, is formed on the housing. A shift lever has one end formed as a shift barrel and the other end formed as a finger paddle. The shift barrel is pivotally mounted in the cavity. A portion of the shift lever is placed in the slot causing the finger paddle to extend from the housing. A Bowden cable is coupled to the shift lever. Means places a frictional drag on the shift barrel. Manual pressure on the finger paddle overcomes the drag placed on the shift barrel causing same to pivot. This pivoting results in a relative lengthening or shortening of the Bowden cable. Means locks the frictional drag means at a given predetermined level. The flange provides a comfortable finger stop.

Abstract: A shift assembly and integral handbrake apparatus particularly for bicycles is comprised of a pivotal shift lever and a pivotal handbrake lever. Both levers are carried on a handbrake housing. A Bowden cable is coupled to the shift lever. Friction means places a preset and controlled drag on the shift lever. Pivoting the shift lever provides the mechanical advantage necessary to overcome the drag placed thereon thereby to effect a relative lengthening or shortening of the Bowden cable. The shift lever and handbrake lever are positioned on the housing in such manner as to allow nearly simultaneous grip of both levers.

Abstract: A cable actuating lever is disclosed wherein the lever is operable when shifted in any direction within a 360.degree. range. This mechanism is easily attached to the handle bars of bicycles, motorcycles, and similar vehicles where a readily accessible manual control means is required to actuate braking, clutchings or other mechanical operations.Due to its capability to flex in any direction, the danger of breakage, bending, or becoming inoperable by an impact force applied contrary to its normal operating direction is virtually eliminated.

Abstract: A brake lever mounted to a drop type handle for a bicycle, comprising a main lever substantially parallel to a bent rod section and an auxiliary lever parallel to a straight rod section of the drop type handle. The auxiliary lever is shiftable in pivoted position from the main lever so that the strokes of both levers may cause substantially equal strokes of a control wire and so that the grip dimension, the distance between the auxiliary lever and the straight rod section, may be adjusted.

Abstract: There is disclosed an automatic lubricating device for a remotely operable bowden cable which consists of an outer wire and an inner wire relatively frictionally slidably inserted in said outer wire and which is connected between operating means and actuating means so that the actuating means may be remotely operated by pulling the inner wire of the bowden cable, wherein an oil cover provided with an inner-wire receiving aperture is interposed between an outer-wire holding cap directly supporting the end of the outer wire and an oil cover attaching bracket fixed to one or each of said operating and actuating means, and lubricating oil is enclosed in a lubricating oil storage chamber formed in said oil cover, said lubricating oil being applied to the inner wire inserted in said inner-wire receiving aperture, the arrangement being such that the back and forth movement of the inner wire produced as a result of the operation of the operating means is utilized to cause said lubricating oil to flow along the relati

Abstract: The handle mechanism for operating the bike brake cable has a ratchet-pawl controlled cable drum built into it for automatically adjusting for brake shoe wear.

Abstract: A bicycle speed change lever device is combined with a fixing band having a pair of expandable open ends, wherein at least one inside nut holding means is formed with the open ends of the fixing band for supporting an inside nut. A cup member is mounted to the fixing band so as to receive the inside nut holding means in order to eliminate external projections with the fixing band. A lever handle is movably mounted on the cup member and a threaded shank passes through the cup member and the lever handle in engagement at its inner end with the inside nut.

Abstract: A novel bicycle neck has two sleeves disposed one over the other. A round handle-bar is rotatably mounted in each sleeve. The novel neck is placed into the front wheel fork of the bicycle after the standard prior art gooseneck has been removed. A flexible cable is attached by one end to the handle-bar in the upper sleeve so that the cable could be wound thereon by turning the handle-bar. The cable is then wound around the lower handle-bar and attached thereto to prevent slippage therebetween. The cable terminates at a whiffletree. Also attached to the whiffletree are two more cables disposed on opposite sides of the cable depending from the handle-bars. One of these other cables actuates the front wheel brakes, and the other actuates the rear wheel brakes when the cables are in tension. Tension is placed on the cables by rotating any one of the handle-bars within its respective sleeve.

Abstract: Device comprising an adjusting device provided at least at one end of a bowden cable for transmitting a grasping force on a brake operating lever in a direction to actuate brake shoes. The adjusting device includes a gauge member having a bore for passing the inner element of the cable therethrough and a hole or recess formed at one end of the bored portion and having a depth to determine a proper brake clearance, a nut having a portion shaped to fit in the recess of the gauge member and a portion of a shape unfittable in the recess when turned through a desired angle, and an adjusting screw member screwed in the nut and connected to the outer element of the cable.

Abstract: Motorcycle throttle, twist-grip control unit is connected by a Bowden cable to the carburetor. In one form, both the inner and outer cable members are attached to pivot arms urged apart by a rotatable cam movable by the twist-grip. In another form, one of the cable parts is anchored to a lever arm and the other cable part anchored to the housing, the cam engaging the lever arm for movement thereof.

Abstract: An operating lever for cable or wire actuated bicycle brakes wherein the lever is pivotally connected to a housing through a pin and slot connection whereby the lever is movable from a normal operative position to an inoperative position to thereby slacken the brake wire.

Abstract: A cap used for covering an idle end of an operating inner wire for exerting actuators of bicycles such as brakes or the like, which comprises a body, a holder and a retainer thereof. The cap is adapted to allow the body to cover the idle end of the wire to be attached thereto and also the retainer to be fixed to the actuator so that the cap may be retained by the actuator and attached to the wire.

Abstract: Brake levers for bicycles, according to which there are auxiliary brake levers in addition to primary brake levers. The auxiliary brake levers have pivot axes different from the primary brake levers.

Abstract: An auxiliary brake lever for actuating the brakes of a bicycle wherein the auxiliary brake lever is operable independently of the main brake lever.

Abstract: A control mechanism adapted for incrementally and positively controlling the displacement of a biassed member or the like associated with a bicycle gear-change transmission between a plurality of predetermined positions for effectuating changes in gear ratios of such transmission in response to unidirectional movement of an operator control lever of the control mechanism. In addition, the control mechanism is also, preferably, provided with an "overshift" arrangement which effectively and effortlessly enables an operator to shift the bicycle sprocket chain from one sprocket to another sprocket of larger diameter. In an alternate embodiment, the control mechanism is directly mounted on and connected to a derailleur type bicycle change-gear mechanism.

Abstract: A lever for hand operation of the brakes and clutch from the handlebars of a cycle, wherein said lever is of a configuration for avoiding engagement with the fingers of the hand when the brakes or clutch members are actuated by depressing of the lever against the handlebars. The lever is particularly designed and constructed for ease of use during actuation of the brakes or clutch, but provides a sufficient clearance between the lever itself and the forefinger of the hand in the depressed position of the lever for precluding pinching or squeezing of the finger against the handlebars, thus improving the operating efficiency of the cycle. .Iadd.