Protective HOTAS throttle cover
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorEmil Wodicka, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible cover for an aircraft hands on stick and throttle. The cover has a top layer and bottom layer joined by a grid having a particular grid density range and Shore A hardness range providing flexibility in cold climates and frictional grip to remain on the throttle in hot climates. The cover has an irregular perimeter, matched to the irregular perimeter of the particular throttle of the aircraft. The cover may have an indicium to assist in proper placement on the throttle. The cover is unitary and fits in the map case of the cockpit.
Claims20
A cover for an F35 HOTAS throttle and comprising:
- a shell, the shell having a top layer defining an outer surface and a bottom layer defining a concave inner surface opposed thereto and defining an irregular perimeter, the irregular perimeter conforming to a throttle of an F35 aircraft;
- and
- a grid connecting the top layer and the bottom layer.
An F35 aircraft cockpit having an operable HOTAS throttle therein and comprising:
- a HOTAS throttle for controlling operation of the aircraft without removal of the pilot's hand therefrom, the HOTAS throttle extending upwardly from a proximal end disposed in a cowl to a distal end remote therefrom, the distal end of the of the throttle having a cover removably disposed thereon, the cover comprising a shell having a top layer defining an outer surface and a bottom layer, the bottom layer defining a concave inner surface opposed thereto and defining an irregular perimeter, the irregular perimeter fitting over a throttle of an F35 aircraft;
- and a grid connecting the top layer and the bottom layer.
A method of protecting a HOTAS throttle in an F35 cockpit, the method comprising, in order, the steps of:
- providing a stationary F35 aircraft having a cockpit with a HOTAS throttle and map case therein, the HOTAS throttle the HOTAS throttle cantilevered upwardly from a proximal end disposed in a cowl to a distal end remote therefrom;
- removing a flexible cover from the map case, the cover having a shell, the shell having a top layer defining convex outer surface and a bottom layer defining a concave inner surface opposed thereto and defining an irregular perimeter, the irregular perimeter conforming to a throttle of an F35 aircraft and a grid connecting the top layer and the bottom layer;
- orientating the cover to fit on the distal end of HOTAS throttle;
- and
- positioning the cover on top of the HOTAS throttle and applying a downward compressive force to removably frictionally engage the cover thereon without external fastening means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.