Oblique Thumb Trigger Throttle Assembly for Handlebar Ergonomics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional throttle assemblies for vehicles with handlebars, such as 'twist' and 'lever' styles, face issues with inconsistent operation and discomfort during transitions between riding positions, particularly for riders with smaller hands, due to ergonomic challenges and bulkiness, leading to strain and reduced accessibility.
Innovation Solution
A thumb-trigger throttle assembly with a housing and pivot axis configured at an oblique angle relative to the housing axis, allowing the thumb pad to remain on the rider's side during movement between trigger positions, enabling smooth, ergonomic operation and maintaining grip engagement across various positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a 'twist' style throttle assembly is used, then the rider can control vehicle acceleration by rotating the grip, but excessive vehicle movement or position changes cause undesired acceleration or deceleration due to grip rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The throttle control function is separated from the steering grip function. The throttle assembly includes a separate trigger mechanism (thumb trigger or finger actuator) that is independent of the grip rotation, allowing acceleration control without affecting steering stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The throttle actuation mechanism is extracted from the grip structure itself. Instead of using grip rotation to control throttle, the patent uses a separate trigger or lever that can be actuated independently while maintaining firm grip on the handlebar.
2Reliability
If a 'lever' style throttle assembly is used, then unintended deceleration is reduced, but the lever positioning creates ergonomic challenges for riders with smaller hands and limits grip engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger mechanism is positioned locally adjacent to the grip in multiple configurations (thumb trigger on the grip surface, finger actuator near the grip). This allows riders to access the throttle control from their natural gripping position without extending their hand or loosening their grip.
Solution Approach 2:
The throttle control interface is moved from a linear extension away from the grip to a multi-dimensional arrangement around the grip. The trigger can be positioned on the grip surface, underneath the grip, or adjacent to it, allowing actuation from various angles while maintaining grip engagement.
3Reliability
If the lever is spaced far from the grip to prevent inadvertent engagement, then emergency braking is avoided, but the rider must loosen their grasp on the grip to engage the lever
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger mechanism is pre-positioned within easy reach of the rider's fingers or thumb while maintaining grip on the handlebar. The design anticipates the rider's natural hand position and places the control interface exactly where it can be accessed without breaking the grip, eliminating the need for preliminary hand repositioning.
4Ease of operation
If ergonomic lever designs are used to improve hand comfort, then the assembly becomes bulky and expensive to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The throttle assembly uses standard handlebar and grip components that serve multiple functions. The trigger mechanism integrates with the existing grip structure, allowing the same assembly to work across different vehicle types and rider preferences without requiring custom bulky housings or complex mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for use by a rider of a vehicle, comprising a handlebar with a grip extending along a grip axis, and a throttle assembly with a housing and mount adapted for attachment to the handlebar along a housing axis arranged coincident to the grip axis and laying in a longitudinal reference plane defining a forward side and a rider side. A thumb trigger is arranged for movement between a first trigger position and a second trigger position, and comprises a thumb pad arranged for engagement by the rider, and a trigger interface supported for rotation about a pivot axis defined by the housing and arranged at an oblique angle relative to the housing axis taken normal to the longitudinal reference plane such that at least a portion of the thumb pad remains on the rider side as the thumb trigger moves between the first and second trigger positions.