Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Multiple controlling elements for single controlled element
Patent
1996-09-21
1998-01-20
Ta, Khoi Q.
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Multiple controlling elements for single controlled element
477209, B60K 2604
Patent
active
057091315
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a vehicle control apparatus for adapting foot-operated vehicle control pedals to manual operation.
Adaption of foot operated vehicle controls such as a throttle/accelerator pedal and a brake pedal is commonly desired, e.g. for a driver having impaired movement in the lower limbs.
Generally, the known types of vehicle control apparatus such as described in GB 1,169,568 (Lewthwaite) require a permanent fixing to the steering column or to the dashboard of the vehicle. This permanent fixing necessarily disfigures the appearance of the vehicle and means that the control apparatus is not readily transferred to another vehicle.
Generally, whilst some of these known apparatus do not prevent pedal operation using the feet, greater effort is required than for normal operation, i.e. known apparatus impedes pedal movement.
Known apparatus for adapting a vehicle, for example a car, is usually manufactured specific to a particular model. Apparatus designed for use with one model of car usually does not fit and function correctly if applied to another model.
A portable, adjustable vehicle control apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,723(Gockel). This known apparatus comprises two control rods each swivelingly connected at one end to a respective pedal clamp. However, the apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,723 suffers a number of disadvantages.
According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle control apparatus for adapting a vehicle accelerator pedal and a vehicle brake pedal to manual operation, comprising: securing means for securing the accelerator control member to a vehicle accelerator pedal; securing means for securing the brake control member to a vehicle brake pedal; characterised in that said first and/or said second securing means comprises: portion operatively locatable around a first edge of a vehicle pedal; portion operatively locatable around a second edge of a vehicle pedal, said bracket portion operatively slidably displaceable with respect to said body portion; relation to said body portion; and said locking means having a locking plate, said locking means operatively urging said locking plate against a surface of a vehicle pedal. body portion to allow the securing means to be adjusted in width to fit any pedal size within a predetermined range. Different bracket portions of different sizes may be used, making the securing means further adjustable to fit a wide range of pedal sizes. In use, the pedal is securely held. In the preferred embodiment, only the bent over portions fit around the pedal so that the range of movement of the pedal is not impeded to any significant extent.
The preferred embodiment of the vehicle control apparatus is particularly designed for adapting brake and accelerator pedals to manual operation and is therefore primarily intended for use on vehicles without a clutch pedal. Particular, non exclusive, examples are a car, van or lorry with an automatic gearbox, or an electrically powered delivery vehicle.
The vehicle control apparatus described need only be secured to the pedals. Attachment to the steering column or dashboard is not necessary, but nevertheless may be effected if desired.
In the preferred embodiment, the body portion fits around a right-hand edge of a rectangular pedal, and the bracket portion fits around a left-hand edge, or vice versa. The bent over portion of each of the bracket portion and the body portion abuts a rear surface of the pedal, whilst the locking plate abuts a front surface of the pedal.
The locking means is suitably a threaded shaft operatively engageable with a correspondingly threaded aperture of the body portion. Rotation of the threaded shaft in one direction urges the locking plate against a surface of the pedal to retain the pedal in the securing means. By rotating the shaft in the opposite direction to release the locking plate, the securing means may be quickly and easily removed from the pedal. The threaded shaft is conveniently connected directly or through a joint to one of t
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patent: 5121651 (1992-06-01), Bristow
patent: 5129492 (1992-07-01), Lenz et al.
patent: 5421217 (1995-06-01), Loustaunau
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Kwon Peter T.
Ta Khoi Q.
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