Safety interlock system for left foot operated accelerator control devices
OwnerJohn Livingston Kazanchyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A safety interlock system for left foot operated vehicle accelerator control systems is disclosed which permits a left foot operated accelerator control system to be immobilized so that it cannot be activated unintentionally or accidentally by an individual operator who is not familiar with a vehicle so equipped. The safety interlock system may be selectively activated by the vehicle operator manually directly by mechanical means or remotely by means of a switch-controlled hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical activator. An indicator system is provided which indicates the status of the safety interlock system to the vehicle operator.
Claims20
A safety interlock system and left foot operated vehicle acceleration control device assembly comprising:
- a bearing block having a first aperture and a second aperture;
- a control device including a rotating shaft and a left foot pedal operatively connected to the rotating shaft at a left end portion of the rotating shaft, the rotating shaft being rotatable about a first axis for controlling vehicle acceleration, the rotating shaft being a unitary, one-piece, integral member and extending through the first aperture of the bearing block;
- a slot aperture formed in the rotating shaft;
- a locking member disposed in the second aperture of the bearing block and having an elongate body portion disposed along a second axis, the locking member being selectively movable along the second axis and including a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being adapted to be releasably received in locking engagement by the slot aperture, the rotating shaft being non-rotatable at the left end portion and at a right end portion of the rotating shaft when the slot aperture receives the locking member;
- and
- an activating device secured to the second end portion for moving and positioning the locking member at preselected positions along the second axis.
In a vehicle having a left foot operated vehicle acceleration control device, the control device including a left foot pedal operatively connected to a left end portion of a rotating member, the rotating member being rotatable about a first axis for controlling vehicle acceleration, the improvement comprising:
- a bearing block having a first aperture and a second aperture;
- a safety interlock system including:
- an aperture formed in the rotating member;
- a locking member disposed in the second aperture of the bearing block and having an elongate body portion disposed along a second axis, the locking member being selectively movable along the second axis and including a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being adapted to be releasably received in locking engagement by the aperture in the rotating member, the rotating member being configured and arranged as a unitary, one-piece, integral member and extending through the first aperture of the bearing block to be non-rotatable at the left end portion of the rotating member and at a right end portion of the rotating member when the aperture in the rotating member receives the locking member;
- and
- an activating device secured to the second end portion for moving and positioning the locking member at preselected positions along the second axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.