Plastic lever assembly for power transmission device

A method for reinforcing a lever assembly for a power transmission device comprising a lever for pivotal mounting to a fixed support member, the lever including a lever body made of a plastic having a mount hole extending from one surface to the opposite surface of the lever body at one end of the lever body, a central through-hole extending from the one surface to the opposite surface of the lever body at a central portion of the lever body, a first longitudinal groove formed in the one surface and extending from the central through-hole to a position in proximity to the mount hole, and a second longitudinal groove formed in the opposite surface and extending from the central through-hole to a position adjacent to the other end of the lever body, said method comprising

• providing a single reinforcement plate adapted to be fitted in the first and second grooves across the central through-hole of the lever body, and a fastener adapted to pass through the mount hole and be threaded to the fixed support member so as to mount the lever pivotally to the fixed support member, the fastener having a flange portion adapted to extend beyond the mount hole and lie over part of the first longitudinal groove in proximity to the mount hole,
• inserting the reinforcement plate through the central through-hole and subsequently turning the reinforcement plate about the central through-hole relative to the lever body to engage in said first and second grooves, and
• inserting said fastener through said mount hole and threading the fastener to the fixed support member to cause the flange portion to capture said reinforcing plate within the first longitudinal groove.