Abstract:
A control device for vehicle steering, braking and accelerator, including but not limited to motor vehicles for use by handicapped drivers, especially those handicapped in the lower limbs, is provided. The control device relates to a system utilizing the steering wheel to accomplish both steering and braking and an accelerator lever device to control the accelerator operations of the vehicle. Specifically, the present invention relates to a system wherein the steering is accomplished in a normal manner by the driver, but the driver need only push forward on the steering wheel to accomplish the braking operations or move a lever device to control the speed of the vehicle. The control device for vehicle steering, braking and accelerator may be employed in any vehicle, including but not limited to motor vehicles, with a mechanical or an automatic gear box.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a control device for operating the brake and accelerator pedals for a vehicle having either a manual transmission or an automatic transmission, including but not limited to motor vehicles, by handicapped drivers who have lost the functional mobility of the 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventional vehicles incorporate foot controls, a typical vehicle with an automatic transmission having accelerator and brake pedals and a manual transmission having accelerator, brake and clutch pedals. To permit operation by handicapped persons having restricted or no use of their legs, such vehicles may be fitted with hand controls which permit hand operation of the accelerator and brake pedals. Handicapped persons are normally restricted to the use of automatic transmission vehicles. 
     The majority of hand controls which have been considered previously utilize systems of levers and push rods of varying complexity, and are installed in the vehicle in various ways. 
     Sebazco&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,857 discloses a steering and braking control system. This invention provides a means to brake a car without use of the brake pedal by pushing the steering wheel to activate the brake and releasing it to release the brake. Venturini&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,002 discloses a control device mounted within the steering wheel for control of acceleration and braking. This device uses a series of lever elements connected to a cable system which activates electrical controls for control of the automobile. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,674 by Rivas discloses a set of vehicle controls for brake, clutch and accelerator pedals. An accelerator and brake control is mounted on the steering wheel and a brake and clutch control is mounted on the gear shift level. Signals arc transmitted electrically from the control to a motor with a wire-free connection to operate the pedal. Bolduc&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,684 discloses a system for the operating of the brake and accelerator pedals using a single joystick. A signal is electrically transmitted to mechanical components which operate the respective pedals. 
     Lenz&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,492 demonstrates a hand lever control device mounted on the steering column, which controls the acceleration and braking systems. Likewise Ruprecht&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,983 discloses a lever system which activates the brake and accelerator pedals. The lever is attached to the steering column. Ruprecht&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,879 also discloses a lever system to operate the brake and accelerator pedals. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,177 by Johnson discloses a remote controller steering, braking and accelerating. The invention incorporates a two axis joystick which is the connected to the steering wheel, and brake and accelerator through electric motors. Reichenberger&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,628 discloses a double wheel control system for controlling brake and accelerator. 
     SUMMARY 
     The object of the present invention is a control device for vehicle steering, braking and accelerator for the assistance of handicapped drivers in driving vehicles, especially drivers handicapped in the lower limbs. The present invention provides a control device for vehicle, steering, braking and accelerator that is readily accepted by all users and leads to enhanced driver handling capability. The present invention is for any vehicle, including but not limited to motor vehicles. 
     The control device for vehicle steering, braking and acceleration comprises a steering wheel, a steering mechanism, a braking mechanism and an accelerator mechanism. The steering mechanism has a spline shaft connected to the vehicle steering shaft, a spline bearing, an inner ring on a ring assembly and a steering wheel, whereby rotation of the steering wheel is transferred through the inner ring to the spline bearing, then to the spline shaft and finally to the steering shaft. The braking mechanism has a control rod attached to the vehicle brake pedal, a bearing cap and a brake bearing means attached to the control rod. The brake bearing means is in contact with the outer ring of the ring assembly whereby when a force is exerted on the steering wheel, the steering wheel then exerts a force on the ring assembly and thereby on the outer ring which, in turn exerts the force against the brake bearing means, the bearing cap and the control rod thereby moving the brake pedal and causing the braking system to arrest the motion of the vehicle. 
     In a second embodiment of the invention, an accelerator control lever device is mounted on the outer ring of the ring assembly and attached to the accelerator pedal through a control cable, whereby movement of the accelerator lever device moves the control cable and the accelerator pedal to change the speed of the vehicle. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is modular and can therefore be used in any vehicle with either a mechanical or an automatic gear box. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device which allows the handicapped user to experience sensations identical to those of driving a normal vehicle. The invention also aims to provide a device that allows all the flexibility and performance of the vehicle to be maintained, and which enables normal driving with pedals by a non-handicapped person. 
    
    
     Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention, provided as a non-limiting example and illustrated by the attached drawings wherein: 
     DRAWING DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective partial side view showing the control device in accordance with the present invention in assembled position in a vehicle for the control of a brake pedal according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective side view illustrating an embodiment a spline shaft used in the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a view, taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.2, illustrating the spline shaft used in the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an embodiment of a spline bearing used in the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a view, taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 4, illustrating the spline bearing used in the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a view, taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 1 illustrating the spline shaft assembled within the spline bearing as used in the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a view, taken along line  7 — 7  of FIG. 1, illustrating a ring assembly used in the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a view, taken along line  8 — 8  of FIG. 7, illustrating the ring assembly used in the present invention 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective partial side view showing the control device in accordance with the present invention in assembled position in a vehicle for the control of a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a view, taken along line  10 — 10  of FIG. 9, illustrating the placement of an accelerator lever device on a ring assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a view, taken along line  11 — 11  of FIG  10 , illustrating an accelerator lever device to control an accelerator according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the brake bearing means. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings the same reference numbers illustrate the same elements throughout. FIG. 1, is a partial side view illustrating a first embodiment of the control device  10  according to the present invention for the control of the braking system. FIG. 1 does not illustrate the embodiment of the control device for use for acceleration. The control device comprises a spline shaft  200  wherein said spline shaft  200  is integral at said bottom end  210  with a vehicle steering shaft  100 . In an alternative embodiment said bottom end  210  of said spline shaft  200  is coupled to a vehicle steering shaft  100  by a shaft connector means including but not limited to a threaded connection. Further, said spline shaft  200  is removably inserted into a first end  310  of spline bearing  300 , whereby said spline bearing  300  may move in an axial direction along said spline shaft  200 . And still farther said spline bearing  300  is restricted to movement between the top end  220  of said spline shaft  200 , not shown in FIG. 1, and said bottom end  210  of said spline shaft  200  by any appropriate means. Said top end  320  of said spline bearing  300  being fit into said ring assembly  400 . A steering wheel  500  is attached to said ring assembly  400  by appropriate connector means including, but not limited to bolts. Further brake bearing means  550  is in contact with said the bottom surface  450  of said ring assembly  400 . Said brake bearing means  550  is attached to control rod  570  by means of bearing cap  560 . Said brake bearing means  550  includes, but is not limited to a ball bearing. Said control rod  570  passing through at least one support guiding bracket  580  and further attached by appropriate means to the vehicle brake pedal (not shown). The brake pedal is connected to the vehicle brake system (not shown). Movement of the steering wheel  500  and said ring assembly  400  in a direction  800  along the axis of said control device  10  results in movement of the vehicle brake pedal and operation of the vehicle brake system. 
     The operational functions of the control device  10  is solely performed by a driver&#39;s use of a steering wheel  500 , and in particular, without the use of the driver&#39;s feet to provide for the braking operation. FIG. 1 also illustrates that the rotation of the steering wheel  500 , as will be further described, does not affect the brake system of the vehicle in which the first embodiment of the control device for steering and braking  10  is used. 
     The driver uses the steering wheel  500  to perform the steering functions in a normal manner, and when it is desired to brake the vehicle, the driver need only exert a force on the same steering wheel  500  to cause the ring assembly  400 , coacting with the brake bearing means  550 , the bearing cap  560  and the control rod  570  to be pressed in the same direction which, in turn, and conversely, causes the brake pedal (not shown) to be pressed downward, thereby, arresting the motion of the vehicle by means of the vehicle&#39;s braking mechanism (not shown). 
     Furthermore, the terminology “central region,” “central portion,” or “intermediate portion,” is used herein in an interchangeable manner and all such usages are meant to correspond to the intermediate location between the first and second ends of a structural element of the present invention, such as spline shaft  200  or spline bearing  300 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective side view of said spline shaft  200  used in the present invention, wherein said spline shaft  200  has a bottom end  210  and a top end  220 . As further shown in FIG. 3, said spline shaft  200  has at least one outer spline tooth  230  and at least one outer spline groove  240 . 
     As further illustrated in FIG. 4, a perspective side view, said spline bearing  300  used in the present invention, wherein said spline bearing  300  has a first end  310  and a second end  320 . As further shown in FIG. 5, said spline bearing  300  has at least on inner spline tooth  330  and at least one inner spline groove  340 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 6, said spline shaft  200  is inserted into said spline bearing  300 , whereby said at least one outer spline tooth  230  of said spline shaft  200  fits into said at least one inner spline groove  340  of said spline bearing  300 . And further said at least one outer spline tooth  330  of said spline bearing  300  fits into said at least one outer spline groove  240  of said spline shaft  200 . And still further that at least one friction reducing means  380  is inserted between said at least one outer spline tooth  230  of said spline shaft  200  and said at least one inner spline tooth  330  of said spline bearing  300  to allow movement of said spline bearing  300  axially along said spline shaft  200 . Further rotation of said spline bearing  300  about its midpoint will transmit a corresponding rotation of the spline shaft  200  about its common midpoint. 
     As represented in FIG. 7, said ring assembly  400  is used in the first embodiment of the present invention. Said ring assembly  400  is comprised of a ring assembly connector means  600 , said second end  320  of said spline bearing  300 , a spacer ring  430 , a ring assembly bearing  420  and an outer ring  410 . Said second end  320  of said splinebearing  300 , said spacer ring  430 , said ring assembly bearing  420  and said outer ring  410  are press fit together to form said ring assembly  400  or are united by any appropriate means. Said ring assembly bearing  420  allows said spacer ring  430 , and said spline bearing  300  to be rotated about the midpoint of said ring assembly  400  while allowing said out ring  410  to be held stationary or alternatively to move independently of said spacer ring  430  and said spline bearing  300 . Said steering wheel (not shown) is attached by any appropriate means, such as bolting, to said spacer ring  430  whereby rotation of said steering wheel (not shown) about the midpoint of said ring assembly  400 , results in rotation of said spacer ring  430  and said spline bearing  300 . 
     As further represented in FIG. 8, said spacer ring  430  of said ring assembly  400  has an upper surface  480  and a bottom surface  490 , said ring assembly bearing  420  of said ring assembly  400  has an upper surface  460  and a lower surface  470 , and said outer ring  410  of said ring assembly  400  has an upper surface  440  and a lower surface  450 . As further illustrated in FIG. 8, said ring assembly connector means  600  restricts the movement of said ring assembly  400  and said spline bearing  300  in direction  900 . And as still further illustrated in FIG. 8, in an alternative embodiment, said lower surface  450  of said outer ring  410  has a groove  510  for receiving said brake bearing means  550 . 
     As shown in FIG. 9, in a second embodiment of the control device for vehicle steering, braking and accelerator  20  of the present invention, an accelerator lever device  700 , a lever device connector means  710  and a lever device cable guide  720 , are attached by any appropriate means to said outer ring  410  of said ring assembly  400 . As further shown in FIG. 9, said accelerator lever device  700  is connected to an accelerator control cable  730  which is then connected by any appropriate means to the vehicle accelerator pedal (not shown). Thereby movement of said accelerator lever device  700  causes a movement in the vehicle accelerator pedal (not shown). 
     FIG. 10 demonstrates one embodiment of said acceleration lever device  700  and said lever device connector means to said outer ring  410  of said ring assembly  400 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 11, said accelerator control cable  730  is connected by any appropriate means to said accelerator lever device  700  and further said accelerator control cable  730 . passes through said lever device cable guide  720 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 12, said bearing means  550  is a ball bearing. Said brake bearing means is attached to control rod  570  by means of bearing cap  550 . 
     OPERATION OF THE CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLE STEERING, BRAKING AND ACCELERATOR 
     In operation, the steering of the vehicle is accomplished in the normal manner by the driver using the steering wheel  500 . However, in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, if the driver desires to stop the vehicle, the driver need only apply a downward force, in a forward direction relative to the driver, on the steering wheel  500 . The use of the steering wheel  500  combined with the elements of the steering and braking device  10  provide a force to the brake pedal (not shown) with minimum of effort on the part of the driver. The downward force applied by the driver causes the steering wheel  500  to move. from its original position downward. The downward movement of the steering wheel  500  is shown by the directional arrow  800 . The downward force exerted on the steering wheel  500  causes the ring assembly  400  to exert a downward force on the brake bearing means  550 , the bearing cap  560  and the control rod  570  which, in turn, exerts a force on the vehicle brake pedal (not shown), thereby causing the braking mechanism (not shown) to arrest the motion of the vehicle. In an alternative embodiment said brake bearing means is confined by any appropriate means within groove  510 . 
     Further when the driver reduces or releases the downward force on the steering wheel.  500 , the brake pedal (not shown) returns to its normal position, which, in turn, returns the control rod  570 , the bearing cap  560  and the brake bearing means  550  to its normal position and further the ring assembly  400  and the steering wheel  500  to their normal position. The ring assembly  400  comprises the outer ring  410 , the ring assembly bearing means  420 , the inner ring  430 , the second end  320  of the spline bearing  300  and the ring assembly connector means  600 . The ring assembly bearing means  420  allows the outer ring  410  to remain stationary or to move independently of the inner ring  430 . 
     Steering of the vehicle is accomplished by rotation of the steering wheel  500  about its midpoint which, in turn, exerts a rotational movement of the ring assembly  400  through the wheel connector means (not shown). Rotation of the ring assembly, in turn, rotates the spline bearing  300 , which, in turn, rotates the spline shaft  200  and in turn the steering shaft  100 . 
     It should now be appreciated that the practice the first embodiment of the present invention provides for a control device for vehicle steering and braking  10  that not only serves as a steering control device but also, by simply exerting a force on the steering wheel, allows the driver of the vehicle to control the braking action of the vehicle. 
     In the second embodiment of the present invention, steering and braking are accomplished as described above. In addition, an accelerator lever device  700  is provided. If the driver desires to use the vehicle accelerator, the driver moves the accelerator lever device  700  in the direction of the steering wheel  500 . The movement of the accelerator lever device, in turn, moves the accelerator control cable, which, in turn, moves the vehicle accelerator pedal (not shown) and accelerates the vehicle. Likewise release of the accelerator lever device reduces the vehicle acceleration. In the second embodiment, the accelerator lever device  700  restrains the outer ring  410  of the ring assembly from rotating when the steering wheel moves the inner ring  430 , the spline bearing, the spline shaft  200  and the vehicle steering shaft  100 . 
     It should now be appreciated that the practice of the present invention provides for various embodiments of the control device for vehicle steering and braking  10  and the control device for vehicle steering, braking, and accelerator  20  each of which allows the driver of a vehicle, which also includes race cars as well as golf carts, to not only control the steering of the vehicle, but in addition, thereto, allows the driver to merely press on the steering wheel to control the braking operations and move an accelerator lever device to control the speed of the vehicle. 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein have been discussed for the purpose of familiarizing the reader with the novel aspects of the invention. Although preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown, many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as described in the following claims.