Operator control system for a materials handling vehicle

An operator control system for a materials handling vehicle, the materials handling vehicle including an operator station having a support structure, the operator control system comprising:

• an operator control assembly comprising:
• a housing having a lower surface mounted to or integral with the support structure, the housing including a top portion and a recessed portion, the recessed portion being defined by a curvilinear edge at a front side of the top portion and a curved surface extending downwardly from the curvilinear edge toward the lower surface;
• a first elongate grip member mounted to the top portion of the housing at a first grip mount location on a first side of the recessed portion and at a second grip mount location on a second side of the recessed portion opposite the first side so that the first elongate grip member extends over the recessed portion of the housing;
• and
• a first control element comprising a base portion mounted to the curved surface at a first control mount location and a switch or lever extending from the base portion and positionable in a plurality of positions, the first control element configured to control a function of the materials handling vehicle,
• wherein:
• the curved surface is configured so that an angle of the switch or lever relative to the first elongate grip member is modifiable by repositioning the first control mount location to a different location on the curved surface;
• and
• in each of the plurality of positions of the first control element, adjacent portions of the first control element and the first elongate grip member define a gap between the first control element and the first elongate grip member;
• and
• the gap has a distance greater than or equal to a minimum clearance distance and less than or equal to a maximum reach distance.

An operator control system for a materials handling vehicle, the materials handling vehicle including an operator station having a support structure, the operator control system comprising:

• a first control element configured to control a first function of the materials handling vehicle and positionable in a plurality of positions;
• a second control element having a different size or configuration from the first control element and being configured to control a second function of the materials handling vehicle and positionable in a plurality of positions, the second function being the same as or different from the first function;
• and
• an operator control assembly comprising:
• a housing having a lower surface mounted to or integral with the support structure, the housing including a top portion and a recessed portion, the recessed portion being defined by a curvilinear edge at a front side of the top portion and a curved surface extending downwardly from the curvilinear edge toward the lower surface;
• and
• a first elongate grip member mounted to the top portion of the housing at a first grip mount location on a first side of the recessed portion and at a second grip mount location on a second side of the recessed portion opposite the first side so that the first elongate grip member extends over the recessed portion of the housing,
• wherein:
• the curved surface is configured so that the first control element and the second control element are interchangeably mountable to the curved surface, the first control element being mountable to the curved surface at a first control mount location on the curved surface, the second control element being mountable to the curved surface at a second control mount location on the curved surface different from the first control mount location;
• when the first control element is mounted to the curved surface, in each of the plurality of positions of the first control element, adjacent portions of the first control element and the first elongate grip member define a first gap between the first control element and the first elongate grip member, the first gap having a distance greater than or equal to a minimum clearance distance and less than or equal to a maximum reach distance;
• and
• when the second control element is mounted to the curved surface at the second control mount location, in each of the plurality of positions of the second control element, adjacent portions of the second control element and the first elongate grip member define a second gap between the second control element and the first elongate grip member, the second gap having a distance greater than or equal to the minimum clearance distance and less than or equal to the maximum reach distance.