Lockable brake pedal fastener

• US 6,918,466 B1
• Filed: 08/27/2003
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation (Hoppy Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation (Hoppy Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Leber, Leland C., Samson, Jeffrey T., Decker, Daniel L. Jr., Mortensen, Nathan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US10/650,347
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 188/3.H, 188/3.R, 188/112.A, 188/112.R, 303/7, 303/123, 303/124
• 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 can be selectively locked against and removed from varying sized brake pedals in a quick and easy manner.

Claims

1. An apparatus adapted to grasp a brake pedal, comprising:

(a) an upper member;

(b) a lower member in slidable communication with the upper member;

(c) a locking mechanism in communication with the upper member and having a selectable first position and a second position;

(d) a coupling member connected to the lower member; and

wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a cam lever connected to a cam shoe and the cam shoe is between the cam lever and the upper member,

further wherein the second position, the locking mechanism applies sufficient frictional force to lock the upper member in a selected position against the brake pedal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member between the upper member and the lower member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the biasing member is at least one spring.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower member is further comprised of at least one flange for gripping the brake pedal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper member is further comprised of at least one flange.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper member is further comprised of at least one flange with a beaded edge for facilitating removal of the upper member from the brake pedal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower member is further comprised of at least one flange with a beaded edge to facilitate removal from the brake pedal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower member includes a handle.

9. An apparatus adapted to grasp a brake pedal, comprising:

(a) an upper member;

(b) a lower member in slidable communication with the upper member;

(c) a locking mechanism in communication with the upper member and having a selectable first position and a second position;

(d) a coupling member connected to the lower member; and

wherein the locking mechanism is a cam lever;

further wherein the second position, the locking mechanism applies sufficient frictional force to lock the upper member in a selected position against the brake pedal.

10. An apparatus adapted to grasp a brake pedal, comprising:

(a) an upper member;

(b) a lower member in slidable communication with the upper member;

(c) a locking mechanism in communication with the upper member and having a selectable first position and a second position;

(d) a coupling member connected to the lower member; and

wherein the lower member is further comprised of a cam shoe that is in operable contact with the locking mechanism.

further wherein the second position, the locking mechanism applies sufficient frictional force to lock the upper member in a selected position against the brake pedal,

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the cam shoe is connected to the lower member.

12. An apparatus adapted for grasping with a brake pedal, comprising:

(a) an upper jaw;

(b) a lower jaw in slidable communication with the upper jaw;

(c) a cam lever;

(d) a cam shoe interposed between the cam lever and the upper jaw; and

(e) a coupling interconnected to the lower jaw.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a biasing means interposed between the upper jaw and the lower jaw.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the biasing means is at least one spring.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the cam lever has a first unlocked position and a second locked position, further wherein the second locked position, the cam lever applies sufficient frictional force to the cam shoe to selectively lock the upper jaw in a desired position relative to the lower jaw.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the lower jaw is further comprised of an aperture adapted to receive the cam shoe.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the cam shoe is interconnected to the lower jaw.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the lower jaw is further comprised of at least one flange for gripping the brake pedal.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the upper jaw is further comprised of at least one flange for gripping the brake pedal.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the upper jaw is further comprised of at least one flange with a beaded edge for facilitating removal of the upper jaw from the brake pedal.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the lower jaw is further comprised of at least one flange with a beaded edge for facilitating removal of the lower jaw from the brake pedal.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the lower jaw is further comprised of a handle.

23. An apparatus adapted for gripping a brake pedal, comprising:

(a) an upper gripping means;

(b) a lower gripping means in slidable communication with the upper gripping means;

(c) a cam lever for applying frictional force against the upper gripping means to selectively lock the upper and lower gripping means against the brake pedal; and

(d) coupling means interconnected to the lower gripping means.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a biasing means interposed between the upper gripping means and the lower gripping means.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the biasing means is at least one spring.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the lower gripping means is further comprised of at least one flange for gripping the brake pedal.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the upper gripping means is further comprised of at least one flange.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the upper gripping means is further comprised of at least one flange with a beaded edge for facilitating removal of the upper gripping means from the brake pedal.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the lower gripping means is further comprised of at least one flange with a beaded edge for facilitating removal of the lower gripping means from the brake pedal.

30. An apparatus adapted for gripping a brake pedal, comprising:

(a) an upper gripping means;

(b) a lower gripping means in slidable communication with the upper gripping means;

(c) a cam lever in communication with a cam shoe for applying frictional force against the upper gripping means to selectively lock the upper and lower gripping means against the brake pedal; and

(d) a coupling means interconnected to the lower gripping means.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein at least a portion of the cam shoe is interconnected to the lower gripping means.