Brake pedal fastener

• US 6,634,466 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation (Hoppy Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Master Concepts, Inc. (Hoppy Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Brock, Alec D., Decker, Daniel L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US10/015,339
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 188/3.R, 745/12, 745/13, 745/60
• US Class Current: 188/3.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/04 foot actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/20 specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of or overrunning by trailer inertia-actuated overrun brakes B60T13/08
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/487 Pedal extensions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

An improved brake pedal fastener adapted for use with a tandem-type braking system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the brake pedal fastener is expandable and biased toward a closed position so that the fastener can be securely applied to and removed from varying sized brake pedals in a quick and easy manner.

Claims

1. An apparatus, adapted for use with a tandem-type braking system, comprising:

(a) a stationary plate having a front side and a rear side, wherein at least a portion of the stationary plate is adapted to directly contact a brake pedal;

(b) a moveable plate having a front side and a rear side, wherein the rear side of the moveable plate is slidably interconnected to the front side of the stationary plate; and

(c) a coupling interconnected to the rear side of the stationary plate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moveable plate is interconnected to the stationary plate via at least one slot in the stationary plate.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moveable plate is biased in a first direction.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moveable plate is further comprised of at least one finger-like flange.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one finger-like flange of the moveable plate is generally J-shaped and interconnected to the stationary plate in an opposable fashion to at least one flange of the stationary plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stationary plate is further comprised of at least one flange.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the flange of the stationary plate is generally J-shaped.

8. An apparatus, adapted for use with a tandem-type braking system, comprising:

(a) a stationary plate, wherein at least a portion of the stationary plate is adapted to directly contact a brake pedal;

(b) an adjustable gripping means slidably interconnected to the stationary plate; and

(c) a coupling means interconnected to the stationary plate.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adjustable gripping means is slidably interconnected to the stationary plate via at least one slot in the stationary plate and at least one spring.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adjustable gripping means is biased in a first position.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adjustable gripping means is biased by at least one spring.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the coupling means further comprises a protrusion with an aperture for interconnecting the coupling means to the tandem-type braking system.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adjustable gripping means is a moveable plate having at least one finger-like flange.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one finger-like flange is generally J-shaped.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one flange of the stationary plate is generally J-shaped.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the stationary plate is further comprised of a plate having at least one flange.

17. An apparatus, adapted for use with a tandem-type braking system, comprising:

(a) a stationary plate having a J-shaped flange for gripping a brake pedal and a first pin and a second pin;

(b) a first slot and a second slot vertically and parallel-positioned in the stationary plate;

(c) a moveable plate having two finger-like flanges for gripping a brake pedal, and a first pin and a second pin, wherein the moveable plate is slidably interconnected to the stationary plate via the first slot and the second slot;

(d) a first spring interconnecting the first pin of the stationary plate with the first pin of the moveable plate;

(e) a second spring interconnecting the second pin of the stationary plate with the second pin of the moveable plate; and

(f) a coupling for use with a tandem-type braking system interconnected to the stationary plate.