Devices for inputting command signals to marine vessel control systems

A device for inputting command signals to a marine vessel control system, the device comprising a lever that is selectively operable in a joystick mode and a lever mode;

• wherein in the lever mode, the lever is confined to pivoting about a horizontal axis to thereby input throttle and shift commands to the control system;
• and wherein in the joystick mode, the lever is structured to be freely pivoted in all directions away from a vertical axis that is perpendicular to the horizontal axis to thereby input throttle, shift, and directional commands to the control system;
• wherein the lever comprises a housing and a handle;
• wherein in the lever mode, the housing is configured to pivot with respect to the horizontal axis and the handle is held stationary with respect to the housing;
• and wherein in the joystick mode, the housing is held stationary and the handle is configured to freely pivot in all directions away from the vertical axis;
• a lock that is configured to selectively lock the lever for operation in one of the lever mode and joystick mode and unlock the lever for operation in the other of the lever mode and the joystick mode;
• wherein the lock comprises a pin that is configured to move between a lever mode position and a joystick mode position;
• and
• a movable joint that is configured to facilitate pivoting of the handle with respect to the housing;
• and
• wherein the pin engages with the movable joint in the lever mode position to prevent movement of the handle with respect to the housing.

A device for inputting command signals to a marine vessel control system, the device comprising:

• a housing;
• a handle that is connected to the housing, wherein the handle extends along a first axis;
• a stationary shaft that extends along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the housing and the handle are configured to pivot together about the stationary shaft and about the second axis;
• a joint that pivotably connects the handle to the housing such that the handle is pivotable with respect to the housing in all directions away from the first axis;
• and
• a lock that is configured to move back and forth between
• (a) a joystick mode position wherein the lock prevents pivoting of the handle and housing with respect to the second axis and allows pivoting of the handle with respect to the first axis, and
• (b) a lever mode position wherein the lock prevents pivoting of the handle with respect to the housing and allows pivoting of the handle and housing with respect to the stationary shaft;
• wherein the joint comprises a ball that is connected to the handle and a seat for the ball, wherein the ball pivots in all directions with respect to the seat when the handle is pivoted in all directions away from the first axis.

A device for inputting command signals to a marine vessel control system the device comprising:

• a housing;
• a handle that is connected to the housing, wherein the handle extends along a first axis;
• a stationary shaft that extends along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the housing and the handle are configured to pivot together about the stationary shaft and about the second axis;
• a joint that pivotably connects the handle to the housing such that the handle is pivotable with respect to the housing in all directions away from the first axis;
• and
• a lock that is configured to move back and forth between
• (a) a joystick mode position wherein the lock prevents pivoting of the handle and housing with respect to the second axis and allows pivoting of the handle with respect to the first axis, and
• (b) a lever mode position wherein the lock prevents pivoting of the handle with respect to the housing and allows pivoting of the handle and housing with respect to the stationary shaft;
• wherein the pin is made of ferrous material and further comprising a spring that is engaged with the pin;
• wherein the spring comprises an upper end that is engaged with a bearing surface on the pin and a lower end that is engaged with a bearing surface on the housing,
• wherein activation of the solenoid causes an electrical current to flow through the spring and create a magnetic force that causes the pin to compress the spring and thus move the pin into one of the joystick mode position and the lever mode position, and
• wherein deactivation of the solenoid allows a bias of the spring to push on the bearing surface on the pin and the bearing surface on the housing to move the pin into the other of the joystick mode position and lever mode position.

A device for inputting command signals to a marine vessel control system, the device comprising:

• a housing;
• a handle that is connected to the housing, wherein the handle extends along a first axis;
• a stationary shaft that extends along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the housing and the handle are configured to pivot together about the stationary shaft and about the second axis;
• a joint that pivotably connects the handle to the housing such that the handle is pivotable with resect to the housing in all directions away from the first axis;
• and
• a lock that is configured to move back and forth between
• (a) a joystick mode position wherein the lock prevents pivoting of the handle and housing with respect to the second axis and allows pivoting of the handle with respect to the first axis, and
• (b) a lever mode position wherein the lock prevents pivoting of the handle with respect to the housing and allows pivoting of the handle and housing with respect to the stationary shaft;
• wherein the lock comprises a pin that is movable between the joystick mode position and the lever mode position, and further comprising a solenoid that is configured to cause the pin to move into the joystick mode position and into the lever mode position;
• and
• wherein the pin comprises a head and a shaft, and wherein the head comprises a recess, and wherein the recess is configured to receive another pin that is on the joint when the lock is moved into the lever mode position and thereby prevent pivoting of the handle with respect to the housing.