Electronic vehicle pedal activation system

• US 9,886,053 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2016
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timothy Buse
• Original Assignee: Timothy Buse
• Inventors: Buse, Timothy, Buse, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elahmadi, Zakaria
• Application Number:
  US15/341,247
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 20/04 floor mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/02 for main transmission clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/042 by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2025/2037 Actuator supports or means for fixing piston end, e.g. flanges
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/2015 Means specially adapted for stopping actuators in the end position; Position sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/44 pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/54 Controlling members specially adapted for actuation by auxiliary operating members or extensions; Operating members or extensions therefor (pedal extensions)

Abstract

An electronic vehicle pedal activation system for eliminating the need to have more than one person when working on vehicle where using a pedal of the vehicle is required. The electronic vehicle pedal activation system includes a support assembly including a shaft having a length and adapted to be removable and in contactable relationship with a floor board; a pedal activation assembly in communication with the support assembly for moving a pedal of a vehicle; and a control assembly in operable communication with the pedal activation assembly.

Claims

1. An electronic vehicle pedal activation system comprising;

a support assembly including a shaft having a length and adapted to be removable and in contactable relationship with a floor board of a vehicle;

a pedal activation assembly in communication with the support assembly for moving a pedal of a vehicle, wherein the pedal activation assembly includes at least one rigid support sleeve which is movably disposed upon, along and about the shaft, and also includes a linear actuator attached to the at least one support sleeve, and further includes a motor connected to the linear actuator for energizing thereof, wherein the linear actuator includes an elongated housing having an open end and side and end walls and also attached side-by-side to the at least one support sleeve with longitudinal axes of the elongated housing and the at least one support sleeve being parallel to one another, also includes a piston disposed in and extendable from the housing through the open end with the piston being parallel to the shaft and adapted to engage and depress the pedal of the vehicle; and

a control assembly in operable communication with the pedal activation assembly.

2. The electronic vehicle pedal activation system as described in claim 1, wherein the piston has a distal end with a bore laterally disposed through the piston near the distal end, wherein the pedal activation assembly further includes an anchor member removably disposed through the bore of the piston.

3. The electronic vehicle pedal activation system as described in claim 2, wherein the anchor member is a bolt extending through the bore and outwardly of the piston.

4. The electronic vehicle pedal activation system as described in claim 2, wherein the pedal activation assembly also includes at least one fastening member removably secured to the anchor member and adapted to removably secure about and pull the pedal of the vehicle as the piston is retracted into the housing.

5. The electronic vehicle pedal activation system as described in claim 4, wherein the at least one fastening member is at least one strap removably disposed about the anchor member and adapted to removably secure about the pedal of the vehicle.

6. The electronic vehicle pedal activation system as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one support sleeve includes a first support sleeve and a second support sleeve attached side-by-side to the first support sleeve with the elongated housing also attached side-by side to the first support sleeve, wherein the first support sleeve is sandwiched between the second support sleeve and the elongated housing.

7. The electronic vehicle pedal activation system as described in claim 6, wherein the first and second support sleeves are interchangeably and movably disposed about and along the shaft to adapt to varying positions of the pedal of the vehicle relative to a pedal support.

8. An electronic vehicle pedal activation system comprising;

a support assembly including a shaft having a length and adapted to be removable and in contactable relationship with a floor board of a vehicle;

a pedal activation assembly in communication with the support assembly for moving a pedal of a vehicle, wherein the pedal activation assembly includes at least one rigid support sleeve which is movably disposed upon, along and about the shaft, and also includes a linear actuator attached to the at least one support sleeve, and further includes a motor connected to the linear actuator for energizing thereof; and

a control assembly in operable communication with the pedal activation assembly, wherein the control assembly further includes speakers mounted to the pedal activation assembly and connected to the processor to emit selected distinct audible sounds depending upon whether the piston is being extended or retracted.

9. The electronic vehicle pedal activation system as described in claim 8, wherein the control assembly also includes a sensor removably disposed upon the piston near the distal end thereof and in communication with the processor to detect and transmit motion and position of the piston to the processor whereupon the distinct audible sounds are emitted through the speakers, and further includes at least one sensor activating member removably positioned upon the shaft to which the sensor senses and detects the position of the piston.

10. The electronic vehicle pedal activation system as described in claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor activating member is a clip with a chip removably positioned about and along the shaft and to which the sensor is capable of detecting.