Variable position hand control mount for operator controls

A control implement mounting system for mounting a control implement with respect to an operator station, comprising:

• a first fixed support member;
• a second support member mounted upon said first fixed support member for rotational movement with respect to said first fixed support member;
• a manipulation member, defining a first axis and having an operator control implement mounted thereon, mounted upon said second support member;
• and
• means mounting said manipulation member upon said second support member such that when said manipulation member is rotationally moved between first and second positions in a first mode around said first axis, said manipulation member, having said operator control implement mounted thereon, can undergo axial and rotational movements between first and second positions in both second and third modes along said first axis and around a second axis defined by said first fixed support member, respectively, such that said operator control implement can be positionally adjusted with respect to an operator station so as to adjustably position said operator control implement with respect to the operator station and thereby optimally position said operator control implement with respect to an operator disposed at the operator station whereby said operator control implement is readily accessible to the operator at the operator station regardless of the size and stature of the operator.

A control implement mounting system for mounting a control implement with respect to an operator station comprising:

• a first fixed support member;
• a second support member mounted upon said first fixed support member for rotational movement with respect to said first fixed support member between a first position and a second position;
• a manipulation member, defining a first axis and having an operator control implement mounted thereon, mounted upon said second support member for axial movement along said first axis between a first position and a second position;
• first locking means operatively associated with said manipulation member, disposable in a LOCKED state so as to retain said manipulation member at one of said first and second positions along said first axis, and disposable in a RELEASED state so as to permit said manipulation member to be axially movable along said first axis between said first and second positions;
• second locking means operatively associated with said second support member, disposable in a LOCKED state so as to retain said second support member at one of said first and second positions with respect to said first fixed support member, and disposable in a RELEASED state so as to permit said second support member to be rotationally movable about a second axis defined by said first fixed support member and with respect to said first fixed support member between said first and second positions;
• means mounting said manipulation member upon said second support member in such a manner that in response to rotational movements of said manipulation member between said first and second positions in a first mode around said first axis, said first and second locking means are moved from said LOCKED states to said RELEASED states so as to permit said manipulation member, having said operator control implement mounted thereon, and said second support member to undergo axial and rotational movements in second and third modes along said first axis and around said second axis between their respective first and second positions such that said operator control implement can be positionally adjusted with respect to an operator station so as to adjustably position said operator control implement with respect to the operator station and thereby optimally position said operator control implement with respect to an operator disposed at the operator station whereby said operator control implement is readily accessible to the operator at the operator station regardless of the size and stature of the operator.