In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to an adjustable pedal depressor for use, in particular, with large vehicles to facilitate service and repair of such vehicles by engaging and maintaining a pedal, such as a brake pedal, in a depressed, fixed position.
When servicing vehicles, particularly trucks, buses and heavy vehicles, it is often necessary to check systems, such as the braking system or the clutch mechanism. When engaged in such efforts, it is often desirable to depress the brake pedal, the clutch pedal, or other pedals within the vehicle and to maintain the pedals in a depressed position while attending to service with respect to that particular system. Proposals have been made to use a pedal depressor which will engage a portion of the vehicle, for example, the seat, and provide a brace between the seat and the brake pedal or the like. Various devices have been proposed for accomplishing such an objective, including devices such as illustrated in the following disclosure: Application of Glen Mouck, Ser. No. 09/801,791, filed Mar. 9, 2001.
While such a mechanism has proven to be useful, there has remained the need to provide for an easily adjustable mechanism which may be engaged with not only a steering wheel, but also with a seat or other contact point in order to maintain a pedal in a depressed position. Such a device should be easily adjustable, compact and simple to use, yet adequately rugged for the heavy duty usage associated with vehicles such as trucks.
Briefly, the present invention comprises a telescoping tube that receives a second tube. The telescoping tube includes a projecting tip at one end and fits, slidably over the second tube at its opposite end. The second tube may be braced against the steering wheel or seat of the vehicle. An adjustable locking plate mounted on the telescoping tube engages and maintains the telescoped tube in a fixed adjusted position relative to the second tube. The tip of the telescoped tube includes an elastomeric non-slip material, socket member which may engage against the pedal. The opposite end of the second tube includes a yoke which is a Y-shaped member having opposite arms that fit around a steering wheel handle, for example, and further includes a center projection that is rotatable in the second tube to accommodate the angular relationship between the steering wheel and the pedal which is being depressed.
Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved, adjustable pedal depressor for vehicles, particularly useful for maintaining a brake pedal of a large sized vehicle in a depressed position during servicing and repair work.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an adjustable length pedal depressor having opposite ends especially designed to maintain engagement with a pedal at one end and a steering wheel or seat at the opposite end.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable pedal depressor which can be easily adjusted to maintain a fixed and desired length with a minimum of manual adjustment.
A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable pedal depressor which is economical, rugged, easy to use, and sized so as not to interfere with a maintenance or servicing operation.
A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable pedal depressor which may be easily disassembled for storage or packaging and easily reassembled.
These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.
In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:
Referring to the figures, the pedal depressor of the invention is comprised of a first hollow elongate tube or handle 10 which, in the embodiment depicted, is a cylindrical tubular member having a pedal engaging end 12 and an opposite open end 14. The first hollow elongate tube 10 includes a cylindrical bore passage or opening 16 extending from the open end 14 through the pedal engaging end 12. An elastomeric tip or socket 18 comprised of a non-skid material is fitted over the pedal engaging end 12. Thus, the tip or socket 18 includes a counterbore 20 into which the pedal engaging end 12 is fitted. The socket or tip 18 is preferably made from an elastomeric material or rubber in order to increase the frictional interaction thereof with a pedal against which the tip 18 is placed during use of the device. Also, the socket 18 is generally flat along its bottom face or surface 21. However, various shapes and configurations may be utilized to enhance gripping action of tip 18.
The opposite open end 14 of the tube 10 includes a circumferential groove 22 approximately 1-1½ inches from the open end 14. A semi-circular slot 24 is provided intermediate the groove 22 and the open end 14. An opening or passage 26 is defined in the tube 10 aligned with the edge 28 of the slot 24 most closely adjacent to the open end 14. The slot 24 has a longitudinal or axial extent or dimension of approximately ⅜ of one inch. Thus, a manually actuated plate 30, depicted in plan view in
A second hollow cylindrical tube 36 has an outside diameter substantially equal to the necked down inside diameter or slightly less than the necked down inside diameter of groove 22 of the first tube 10. Thus, the second tube 36 is telescopically or adjustably slidable in the first tube 10. The interior end 40 of the second tube 36 is slightly flared to provide a friction fit of the tubes 36, 10 one within the other and to prevent the second tube 36 from exiting out of the first tube 10 past the groove 22.
The second tube 36 includes an open end 42 into which is fitted a yoke assembly 44. The yoke assembly 44 has a Y-shaped configuration. That is, the yoke assembly 44 includes a rod or cylindrical stub or stud 46 formed as the lower leg of a Y assembly configuration, and a transverse plate 48 with projecting wings 50 and 52. The stub 46 includes a circumferential groove 58 with an O-ring 61 therein. As a result, the stub 46 may be rotated within the tube 36; however, the O-ring 61 enables maintaining the yoke or plate assembly 44 oriented in a desired position. Note that the plate 48 is a flat plate which has been shaped to define a channel between the arms or wings 50 and 52. The width of the channel formed by the spaced arms 50 and 52 is on the order of 2-3 inches thereby insuring that the placement of a steering wheel in the formed channel or space between the arms 50 and 52 will be adequate to fit over the rim of a steering wheel, or against the edge of a vehicle seat, or against some other bracket.
Laterally extending side plates 54, 56 extend respectively in opposite directions from arms 50, 52. The side plates 54, 56 function to facilitate engagement of yoke 44 with a bracket, seat, etc.
The locking plate 30 includes a lower projecting tab 51 which fits into passage 26 and a central throughpassage 33 which is elongated and has a diameter or a profile in cross section which exceeds the cross sectional profile of the second tube 36. Thus, the second tube 36 may slidably pass through passage 33. However, when the locking plate 30 is canted or at an angle with respect to the second tube 36 and axis 31, the edges, and more particularly, the top edge 37 and bottom edge 39 will engage against the second tube 36 and bold the tube 36 in a fixed, non-telescoping opening 26 position. A biasing spring 60 fits between forward necked portion 23 of tube 10 against plate 30 and biases the plate 30 about the pivot point defined by the projecting tab or stud 51 fitted in passage or opening 26 to insure that the top edge 37 and/or bottom edge 39 of the plate 30 will engage the second tube 36 holding it in an adjustable, but locked position. Thus, the second tube 36, as shown in
Preferably, spring 60 is a coil spring which fits over the tube 36. In this manner, when spring 60 is positioned between the necked down portion 23 of tube 10 and plate 30, spring 60 will be maintained in position to continually bias plate 30 toward the locking position.
In practice, as depicted in
Various components of the device may be altered or changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, reconstruction of the yoke or plate assembly 44 may be varied. The side elements 54 and 56 may be omitted if desired. The size and shape of the tubes 10 and 36 may be varied. The shape and configuration of the tip 18 may be altered or varied. Numerous other alternatives are possible without altering the invention. The invention is therefore limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.
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1681192 | McBride | Aug 1928 | A |
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4957257 | Gonzalez | Sep 1990 | A |
5238213 | Pool | Aug 1993 | A |
5427355 | Sukonthapanich | Jun 1995 | A |
5427364 | Zborschil | Jun 1995 | A |
5583288 | Brenner et al. | Dec 1996 | A |
6079703 | Chavez, Jr. | Jun 2000 | A |
6202519 | Yandt | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6279418 | Olive, Jr. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20040035264 A1 | Feb 2004 | US |