Vehicle brake warning light system accelerator pedal switch

• US 3,921,750 A
• Filed: 06/20/1974
• Issued: 11/25/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Max Shames
• Original Assignee: Max Shames
• Inventors: Shames, Max
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Jr., M. Henson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/481,054
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 180/103 200/61.89,76,86.5,153C 340/71,72,52B
• US Class Current: 340/467
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/441 Electric switches operable by the driver's pedals
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/16 adapted for operation by a part of the human body other than the hand, e.g. by foot

Abstract

An accelerator pedal switch and solid state electrical control circuit is adapted to be attached to a conventional vehicle for operating the vehicle brake light for a given time period in response to lifting of an operator'"'"''"'"'s foot from the accelerator pedal. If the brakes are applied the normal brake light switch overrides the accelerator switch to maintain the brake light energized. If the brake pedal is not operated, the brake light will extinguish after the given period so that an early warning system is provided for cars following the vehicle.

Claims

1. In a vehicle equipped with a battery, a brake light, a normally open brake light switch connected between the battery and brake light, a brake pedal for closing the brake light switch when depressed to thereby energize the brake light, a foot pressure operated accelerator means for accelerating the vehicle, and a vehicle brake warning light system for energizing said brake light for a given time period In response to removal of an operator'"'"''"'"'s foot pressure on the accelerator means, a normally closed pedal switch for said foot operated accelerator means responsive to a given pressure applied by the operator'"'"''"'"'s foot to open and responsive to removal of the operator'"'"''"'"'s foot to close, said accelerator pedal switch including lower and upper plates having overlapping spaced flange portions so that they can move towards and away from each other over a limited distance;

spring means between said plates biasing them apart;

a fixed contact on the lower plate comprising one side of the switch;

a flexible metal member connected to the lower plate in juxtaposed relation to said fixed contact comprising the other side of said switch connected to ground, said flexible metal member being bowed upwardly to engage said fixed contact in the absence of foot pressure on said pedal switch, foot pressure on the pedal switch urging the upper plate towards the lower plate; and

projecting means on the upper plate engaging the metal member to cause it to assume a reversed bowed position when said upper plate moves towards the lower plate to result in a snap action which breaks the engagement of the metal member with said fixed contact thereby opening the pedal switch.