IP Library Granted Patent US 12,435,489
Granted Patent B2
US 12,435,489 · App. 18/975,128 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

Lever device and working machine including the same

Inventor: Kazuyuki Hatta (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
E02F9/2004E02F9/20G05G1/04G05G5/06E02F9/2271
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,435,489
App. No.
18/975,128
Granted
Oct 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lever device includes a base, a movable body supported on the base rotatably about a first lateral shaft, a lever supported by the movable body and pivotable between a depressed position and a raised position, a cam body including a cam groove, the cam body being supported on the movable body rotatably about a second lateral shaft and configured to rotate about the second lateral shaft as the lever is pivoted, and first and second guide members attached to the base and inserted in the cam groove, the guide members being configured to change their position relative to the cam groove as the lever is pivoted. The cam groove includes a first groove portion where the first guide member is positioned when the lever is in the depressed position, and a second groove portion where the second guide member is positioned when the lever is in the depressed position.

Claims (50)

1. A lever device comprising:

a base;

a movable body pivotally supported on the base rotatably about a first lateral shaft;

a lever supported by the movable body and pivotable between a depressed position and a raised position;

a cam body including a cam groove, the cam body being pivotally supported on the movable body rotatably about a second lateral shaft and configured to rotate about the second lateral shaft as the lever is pivoted; and

guide members attached to the base and inserted in the cam groove, the guide members being configured to change a position thereof relative to the cam groove as the lever is pivoted; wherein

the guide members include a first guide member and a second guide member; and

the cam groove includes a first groove portion in which the first guide member is positioned when the lever is in the depressed position, and a second groove portion in which the second guide member is positioned when the lever is in the depressed position.

2. The lever device according to claim 1 , wherein

the cam body includes a projecting portion projecting toward an interior of the cam groove to separate the first groove portion and the second groove portion; and

the projecting portion is positioned between the first guide member and the second guide member when the lever is in the depressed position.

3. The lever device according to claim 2 , wherein

the first groove portion and the second groove portion are each configured such that a bottom thereof is positioned up and an opening thereof faces downward when the lever is in the depressed position, and the projecting portion projects downward when the lever is in the depressed position.

4. The lever device according to claim 1 , wherein

the cam groove includes a fourth groove portion where the first guide member is positioned when the lever is in the raised position, a fifth groove portion where the second guide member is positioned when the lever is in the raised position, and a third groove portion in communication with the first groove portion, the second groove portion, the fourth groove portion and the fifth groove portion; and

the first guide member and the second guide member are configured to move through the third groove portion when the lever is pivoted between the depressed position and the raised position.

5. The lever device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first groove portion includes a first inner surface located on the same side of the first groove portion as the second groove portion, and a second inner surface located on the opposite side of the first groove portion from the second groove portion;

the second groove portion includes a third inner surface located on the same side of the second groove portion as the first groove portion, and a fourth inner surface located on the opposite side of the second groove portion from the first groove portion;

the first guide member is configured to abut the first inner surface and be separate from the second inner surface when the first guide member is positioned in the first groove portion; and

the second guide member is configured to abut the third inner surface and be separate from the fourth inner surface when the second guide member is positioned in the second groove portion.

6. The lever device according to claim 5 , wherein

the first inner surface is in the shape of an arc centered on an axis of the second lateral shaft.

7. The lever device according to claim 5 , wherein

the third inner surface is linear and is configured such that, when the lever is in the depressed position, an axis of the first lateral shaft is positioned on an extension of the third inner surface.

8. The lever device according to claim 1 , wherein

the guide members include guide rollers each rotatable about an axis parallel to the second lateral shaft; and

the guide rollers include a first guide roller defining the first guide member, and a second guide roller defining the second guide member.

9. The lever device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first biasing member to bias the cam body in a direction that causes the cam body to rotate about the second lateral shaft; wherein

the cam groove includes an inner surface to be abutted by the first guide member when the lever is in the raised position; and

the first biasing member is configured to impart a biasing force to cause the first guide member to abut the inner surface when the lever is in the raised position.

10. The lever device according to claim 1 , wherein

the cam groove includes an engagement portion to engage with the first guide member when a portion other than the lever is depressed when the lever is in the raised position.

11. The lever device according to claim 10 , wherein

the lever device is configured such that pivoting of the lever from the raised position to the depressed position allows the first guide member to be disengaged from the engagement portion and allows the movable body to rotate about the first lateral shaft.

12. The lever device according to claim 1 , wherein

the guide members include guide rollers each rotatable about an axis parallel to the second lateral shaft;

the guide rollers include a first guide roller defining the first guide member, and a second guide roller defining the second guide member; and

the cam groove includes an engagement portion to engage with the first guide member when a portion other than the lever is depressed when the lever is in the raised position.

13. The lever device according to claim 12 , wherein

the cam body includes an inwardly projecting portion to project upward toward an interior of the cam groove when the lever is in the raised position;

the engagement portion includes a portion of a surface of the inwardly projecting portion; and

when the engagement portion and the first guide roller abut each other, an axis of the first lateral shaft is positioned on a tangent to an outer surface of the first guide roller that passes through the engagement portion.

14. A working machine comprising the lever device according to claim 1 .

15. The working machine according to claim 14 , comprising:

an operator's seat;

a hydraulic actuator; and

the lever device provided at one side of the operator's seat; wherein

the lever includes an unloading lever to switch the hydraulic actuator between an operable state and a non-operable state.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2024
From: HATTA, KAZUYUKI
To: KUBOTA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069538/0088 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-105781 · Jun 30, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2023022352 · Jun 16, 2023
Related Publication 20250101713A1 · Mar 27, 2025
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