Emergency driver system

• US 5,775,456 A
• Filed: 06/05/1995
• Issued: 07/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George S. Reppas
• Original Assignee: George S. Reppas
• Inventors: Reppas, George S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US08/464,525
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 180/271, 180/272, 180/322, 180/323, 180/325, 180/90, 180/315, 180/286, 296/70, 200/43.16, 200/43.22, 200/43.19, 200/333, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 340/468, 340/471
• US Class Current: 180/322
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/042 by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/10 Disposition of hand control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle

Abstract

Disclosed is an emergency driver system for a motor vehicle. The emergency driver system allows a passenger in the motor vehicle to safely maneuver the motor vehicle should the driver become incapacitated by exposing a brake actuator and an accelerator actuator concealed by a cover. Upon opening the cover, a cover sensor actuates emergency lights, headlights, and a horn, and disengages the operation of the driver brake pedal and accelerator pedal. This allows the passenger to control the steering with the left hand and the acceleration and braking of the motor vehicle with the right hand, via the brake actuator and the accelerator actuator positioned on an emergency control panel located under the cover.

Claims

1. An emergency driver system for a motor vehicle, said system comprising:

a first controller, said first controller being responsive to a first actuator and a second actuator and operable to control a first operation of said motor vehicle;

a cover, said cover concealing said second actuator; and

a cover sensor, said cover sensor operable to sense the opening of said cover to expose said second actuator, wherein upon opening said cover, said cover sensor disables the operation of said first actuator.

2. The emergency driver system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second controller, said second controller being responsive to a third actuator and a fourth actuator and operable to control a second operation of said motor vehicle, said fourth actuator concealed by said cover, wherein upon opening said cover, said cover sensor further disables the operation of said third actuator.

3. The emergency driver system as defined in claim 2, wherein said first controller is an accelerator controller and said first actuator is an accelerator pedal, and wherein said second controller is a brake controller and said third actuator is a brake pedal.

4. An emergency driver system as defined in claim 3, further comprising:

an emergency light actuator for illuminating a plurality of emergency lights; and

a horn, wherein said cover sensor is operable for actuating said emergency light actuator and said horn for providing visual and audible warning.

5. An emergency driver system for a motor vehicle, said system comprising:

accelerator control means for controlling the acceleration and deceleration of the motor vehicle, said accelerator control means responsive to a first accelerator actuator and a second accelerator actuator;

brake control means for controlling brakes on the motor vehicle, said brake control means responsive to a first brake actuator and a second brake actuator;

an emergency control panel positioned within reach of a passenger, said second accelerator actuator and said second brake actuator positioned on said emergency control panel;

a cover concealing said second accelerator actuator and said second brake actuator positioned on said emergency control panel; and

a cover sensor means for sensing the opening of said cover to expose said second accelerator actuator and said second brake actuator, wherein upon opening said cover, said cover sensor means disables the operation of said first accelerator actuator and said first brake actuator, whereby said passenger can control the acceleration and braking of the motor vehicle with said second accelerator actuator and said second brake actuator.

6. The emergency driver system as defined in claim 5, wherein said first accelerator actuator is an accelerator pedal and said first brake actuator is a brake pedal.

7. The emergency driver system as defined in claim 5, wherein said second accelerator actuator is a slide switch and said second brake actuator is a button.

8. The emergency driver system as defined in claim 5, wherein said emergency control panel is positioned on a vehicle dashboard adjacent to the passenger and a steering wheel.

9. The emergency driver system as defined in claim 5, further comprising an emergency light actuator for illuminating a plurality of emergency lights, said emergency light actuator responsive to said cover sensor means for illuminating said plurality of emergency lights upon said cover sensor means sensing the opening of said cover.

10. The emergency driver system as defined in claim 5, further comprising an interrupt means for enabling the operation of said first accelerator actuator and said first brake actuator and disabling the operation of said second accelerator actuator and said second brake actuator.

11. The emergency driver system as defined in claim 5, further comprising a horn and a horn interupt switch, wherein upon opening said cover, said cover sensor means causes said horn to sound, and wherein upon activating said horn interupt switch, said horn stops sounding.

12. The emergency driver system as defined in claim 5, further comprising a warning indicator for indicating when said emergency driver system is not functioning properly.

13. An emergency driver system for a motor vehicle, said system comprising:

an accelerator controller, said accelerator controller being responsive to an accelerator pedal and an accelerator actuator and operable to control the acceleration and deceleration of the motor vehicle;

a brake controller, said brake controller being responsive to a brake pedal and a brake actuator and operable to control the brakes on the motor vehicle;

an emergency control panel, said emergency control panel positioned on a dashboard of the motor vehicle and within reach of a passenger, said accelerator actuator and said brake actuator positioned on said emergency control panel;

a cover, said cover concealing said accelerator actuator and said brake actuator positioned on said emergency control panel;

an emergency light actuator, said emergency light actuator operable to illuminate a plurality of emergency lights positioned on the motor vehicle; and

a cover sensor, said cover sensor operable to sense the opening of said cover to expose said accelerator actuator and said brake actuator, wherein upon opening said cover, said cover sensor disables the operation said accelerator pedal and said brake pedal and enables said emergency light actuator to illuminate said plurality of emergency lights, whereby said passenger can control the acceleration and braking of the motor vehicle with said accelerator actuator and said brake actuator.

14. The emergency driver system as defined in claim 13, wherein said accelerator actuator is a slide switch and said brake actuator is a button.

15. The emergency driver system as defined in claim 13, further comprising an interrupt button positioned within reach of a driver of the motor vehicle, said interrupt button operable to enable the operation of said accelerator pedal and said brake pedal and disable the operation of said accelerator actuator and said brake actuator.

16. The emergency driver system as defined in claim 15, wherein said interrupt button is positioned on the dashboard of the motor vehicle to the left of a steering wheel.

17. The emergency driver system as defined in claim 13, further comprising a horn, wherein upon opening said cover, said cover sensor actuates said horn to cause said horn to sound.

18. A method for controlling and operating a motor vehicle with an auxiliary accelerator actuator and an auxiliary brake actuator positioned on an emergency control panel and concealed with a cover in case of an emergency, said method comprising the steps of:

operating said motor vehicle with an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal;

opening said cover to expose said auxiliary accelerator actuator and said auxiliary brake actuator during an emergency;

sensing the opening of said cover with a cover sensor;

disabling the operation of said accelerator pedal and said brake pedal upon sensing the opening of said cover with said cover sensor; and

controlling the acceleration and braking of said motor vehicle with said auxiliary accelerator actuator and said auxiliary brake actuator upon disabling the operation of said accelerator pedal and said brake pedal with said cover sensor.

19. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein the step of sensing the opening of said cover further includes the step of illuminating a plurality of emergency lights on said vehicle upon sensing the opening of said cover.

20. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein the step of sensing the opening of said cover further includes the step of actuating a horn on said vehicle upon sensing the opening of said cover.

21. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein the step of controlling the acceleration and braking of the motor vehicle further includes the step of maneuvering the motor vehicle with said auxiliary accelerator actuator and said auxiliary brake actuator and a steering wheel to bring said motor vehicle to a stop.