Brake and clutch lever height adjusters

1 . A lever comprising:

A. a lever that pivots about an axis;

B. a lever mounting structure from which the lever extends; and

C. a thumbwheel having a cam thereon and disposed directly between the lever and the lever mounting structure, wherein the thumbwheel rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of lever pivoting.

2 . The lever of claim 1 , further comprising a dog that is provided on the bottom surface of the thumbwheel and that maintains the thumbwheel in position in the absence of user-imposed rotational forces.

3 . The lever of claim 1 , wherein the thumbwheel does not alter the mechanical advantage or cable tension upon adjusting lever height.

4 . The lever of claim 1 , further comprising a spring that biases the lever and lever mounting structure together.

5 . The lever of claim 1 , wherein the lever is a two-piece lever, and the lever mounting structure includes an actuator of the lever, the actuator including a lever mounting portion and an adjuster mounting portion.

6 . The lever of claim 1 , wherein the cam comprises arcuate sections of the thumbwheel of distinct axial thicknesses and ramps interspersed between the sections.

7 . The lever of claim 6 , wherein the cam comprises three arcuate sections.

8 . The lever of claim 1 , further comprising an anti-rattling bushing.

9 . The lever of claim 1 wherein the lever is a brake lever.

10 . The lever of claim 1 wherein the lever is a clutch lever.

11 . A method of adjusting a height of a lever comprising:

A. lifting a grip portion of a lever away from a handlebar;

B. rotating a thumbwheel having a cam thereon about an axis that is perpendicular to a pivot axis of the lever; and

C. lowering the lever toward the handlebar.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the rotating step comprises engaging radially spaced nubs on an outer edge of the thumbwheel to facilitate rotation of the thumbwheel.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the thumbwheel has discrete thicknesses such that rotation of the thumbwheel discretely adjusts a height of the lever relative to the handlebar.

14 . The method of claim 11 wherein the lever is a brake lever.

15 . The method of claim 1 wherein the lever is a clutch lever.

16 . A method of assembling a lever height adjuster, comprising:

(A) providing a lever height adjuster including a thumbwheel having a cam thereon and a pivot axis;

(B) mounting the lever height adjuster directly between (1) a lever and (2) a lever mounting structure wherein the thumbwheel pivot axis is perpendicular to a pivot axis of the lever, the lever height adjuster including a cam that sets a gap between the lever and the lever mounting structure, the thickness of the gap varying with the angular orientation of the lever height adjuster relative to the lever and the lever mounting structure.

17 . A brake lever comprising:

A. a lever that pivots about an axis;

B. a lever mounting structure from which the lever extends; and

C. a thumbwheel having a cam thereon and disposed directly between the lever and the lever mounting structure, wherein the thumbwheel rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of lever pivoting.

18 . A clutch lever comprising:

A. a lever that pivots about an axis;

B. a lever mounting structure from which the lever extends; and

C. a thumbwheel having a cam thereon and disposed directly between the lever and the lever mounting structure, wherein the thumbwheel rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of lever pivoting.

19 . A method of adjusting a height of a brake lever comprising:

A. lifting a grip portion of a brake lever away from a handlebar;

B. rotating a thumbwheel having a cam thereon about an axis that is perpendicular to a pivot axis of the brake lever; and

C. lowering the brake lever toward the handlebar.

20 . A method of adjusting a height of a clutch lever comprising:

A. lifting a grip portion of a clutch lever away from a handlebar;

B. rotating a thumbwheel having a cam thereon about an axis that is perpendicular to a pivot axis of the clutch lever; and

C. lowering the clutch lever toward the handlebar.

21 . A method of assembling a brake lever height adjuster, comprising:

(A) providing a brake lever height adjuster including a thumbwheel having a cam thereon and a pivot axis;

(B) mounting the brake lever height adjuster directly between (1) a lever and (2) a lever mounting structure wherein the thumbwheel pivot axis is perpendicular to a pivot axis of the lever, the brake lever height adjuster including a cam that sets a gap between the lever and the lever mounting structure, the thickness of the gap varying with the angular orientation of the brake lever height adjuster relative to the lever and the lever mounting structure.

22 . A method of assembling a clutch lever height adjuster, comprising:

(A) providing a clutch lever height adjuster including a thumbwheel having a cam thereon and a pivot axis;

(B) mounting the clutch lever height adjuster directly between (1) a lever and (2) a lever mounting structure wherein the thumbwheel pivot axis is perpendicular to a pivot axis of the lever, the clutch lever height adjuster including a cam that sets a gap between the lever and the lever mounting structure, the thickness of the gap varying with the angular orientation of the clutch lever height adjuster relative to the lever and the lever mounting structure.