Ergonomic apparatus for controlling a vehicle

An apparatus is provided for ergonomically controlling a vehicle. A vertical control stick provides acceleration, brake, and turn functions in the vehicle. The apparatus may include a pivotal attachment or a slidable attachment at the lower end of the stick to a fixed surface in the vehicle. The stick is restricted to movement along the line of direction of the vehicle, both forward and rearward, of a neutral stick position. A braking means is interconnected with the stick such that movement of the stick forward from the neutral stick position causes vehicle braking. Similarly, an acceleration means is interconnected with the stick such that movement of the stick rearward from the neutral stick position causes vehicle acceleration. A steering collar on the stick is included such that the collar may be manually rotated about the longitudinal axis of the stick in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions from a neutral collar position. Clockwise rotation of the collar away from the neutral collar position causes the vehicle to turn to the right, and counterclockwise rotation of the collar away from the neutral collar position causes the vehicle to turn to the left. A console is mounted on an upper end of the stick. The console has a control panel with a plurality of controls for thumb actuation so that a single hand can provide manual control of the stick, the collar, and the control panel. The controls may include turn signal controls, horn actuation controls, low-high headlight beam controls, windshield wiper controls, windshield washer controls, speed range controls, gear range selection controls, and the like. Status indicators are further included on the console to provide vehicle status information.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to devices for controlling vehicles, and, 
more particularly, to a vehicle control stick for controlling multiple 
vehicular functions with one hand. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Single handed control devices for vehicles are known in the prior art 
Typically, such devices control steering, braking, and acceleration, or 
some combination of these three basic vehicle functions. For example, U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,275,093 to Pawl on Sep. 27, 1966, illustrates a control handle 
with two degrees of freedom. Horizontal motion of the handle controls 
steering of the vehicle, while vertical motion of the handle controls 
acceleration and braking. However, such an apparatus protrudes dangerously 
from the dash board and, during a collision, can cause serious injury to 
the driver if the driver is forced into the handle upon impact. Further, 
such a handle device makes no provision for allowing all vehicle functions 
to be controlled i therefrom, making the device difficult to use when the 
driver needs to activate a control on the dash board while, at the same 
time, holding onto this type of device to control steering and vehicle 
speed. 
Other prior art control devices suffer many similar drawbacks. The present 
inventors know of no prior art devices that combine all of the possible 
vehicle control functions on a single control handle. Moreover, no prior 
art device is ergonomically designed to allow easy manipulation of 
function controls with the same hand while simultaneously controlling 
steering, acceleration, and braking. Such a needed device would allow 
people without the use of other limbs to effectively and safely drive an 
automobile or similar vehicle, and would allow use with either the right 
or left hand. Further, such a needed device would not present a safety 
hazard to the driver in the event of a sudden stop, such as in a 
collision, for example. Further, such a needed device would urge steering 
into a straight direction, and would stop acceleration, in the event that 
the handle is released. Moreover, such a needed device could be used with 
a combination of electrical, hydraulic, or mechanical linkages to the 
various control actuators, thereby allowing flexibility in vehicle design. 
The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related 
advantages. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is an ergonomic apparatus for controlling a vehicle, 
or the like. A vertical control stir-k provides acceleration, brake, and 
tum functions in the vehicle. The apparatus may include a pivotal 
attachment means or a slidable attachment means at the lower end of the 
stick for either pivotal attachment or slidable attachment of the stick to 
a fixed surface in the vehicle, such as a passenger compartment floor 
board. The stick is restricted to movement along the line of direction of 
the vehicle, both forward and rearward, of a neutral stick position. A 
braking means is interconnected with the stick such that movement of the 
stick forward from the neutral stick position causes vehicle braking. 
Similarly, an acceleration means is interconnected with the stick such 
that movement of the stick rearward from the neutral stick position causes 
vehicle acceleration. 
A steering means provides a rotatable collar on the stick such that the 
collar may be manually rotated about the longitudinal axis of the stick in 
both clockwise and counterclockwise directions from a neutral collar 
position. Clockwise rotation of the collar away from the neutral collar 
position causes the vehicle to turn to the right. Similarly, 
counterclockwise rotation of the collar away from the neutral collar 
position causes the vehicle to tum to the left. 
A console may be optionally mounted on an upper end of the stick. The 
console has a control panel with a plurality of control means for thumb 
actuation so that a single hand can provide manual control of the stick, 
the collar, and the control panel. The control means may include turn 
signal control means, hom actuation control means, low-high headlight beam 
control means, windshield wiper control means, windshield washer control 
means speed range control means, gear range selection control means, and 
the like. Status indicators may be further included on the console for 
providing turn signal status, headlight beam status, speed status, oil 
pressure status, coolant temperature status, seat belt conditioner status, 
speed range status, gear range status, and the like. 
The present invention combines all of the possible vehide control functions 
on a single control handle is ergonomically designed to allow easy 
manipulation of function controls with the same hand that simultaneously 
controls steering, acceleration, and braking. The present invention allows 
people, including those without the use of other limbs, to effectively, 
easily, and safely drive an automobile or similar vehicle with one hand. 
Further, the present invention increases safety to the driver in the event 
of a sudden stop, such as in a collision, by not presenting a protruding 
handle toward the driver's body. Still further, the present invention 
urges steering to return to a straight direction, and stops acceleration, 
in the event that the handle is released. The present invention can be 
used with a combination of electrical, hydraulic, or mechanical linkages 
to various control actuators for steering, braking, and acceleration, 
thereby allowing flexibility in vehicle design. Other features and 
advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the 
following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles 
of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIGS. 1 and 2 show an ergonomic apparatus for controlling a vehide, or the 
like. A vertical control stick 10 provides, at a minimum, acceleration, 
brake, and turn functions in the vehide. One embodiment of the invention 
includes a pivotal attachment means 20 at the lower end 25 of the stick 10 
for pivotal attachment to a fixed surface in the vehide, such as a 
passenger compartment floor board, or the like. The pivotal attachment 
means 20 may include at least one horizontally oriented pivot pin 280 for 
pivotal rotation of the stick 10. The stick 10 is restricted to movement 
along the line of direction of the vehicle, both forward and rearward, of 
a neutral stick position 30. Preferably, the apparatus further indudes a 
first urging means 290 for urging the stick 10 towards the neutral stick 
position 30. The first urging means 290 may be a pair of springs, as 
illustrated in FIG. 1, or may be other suitable urging means. The stick 10 
is preferably manufactured from a rigid material, such as a metal alloy. 
Clearly, however, stick 10 may also be manufactured from a combination of 
rigid and semi-rigid materials such that the stick 10 is comfortable to 
hold for extended periods of time. Further, in the event of a collision or 
the like, the stick 10 will give way so as not to cause injury to a person 
colliding therewith. 
An alternate embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, 
includes a slidable attachment means 300 for slidable attachment of the 
stick 10 to the fixed surface of the vehicle. Preferably, the slidable 
attachment means 300 includes a carrier assembly 310 fixed to the lower 
end of the stick 10, and a track assembly 320 fixed to the fixed surface 
in the vehicle. The carrier assembly 310 includes bearing means 330, fixed 
on opposing sides of the carrier assembly 310, that slidably engage a pair 
of opposing tracks 340 on the track assembly 320. A flexible conduit 350 
is included, one end of which is attached to the carrier assembly 310 and 
the other end of which is attached to the fixed vehicle surface. The 
flexible conduit 350 allows the carrier assembly 310 to move freely along 
the track assembly 320, and may contain wires, control cables, and the 
like. The first urging means 290' of such an alternate embodiment may 
comprise two opposing pairs of springs, as illustrated in FIG. 5, and 
corresponding carrier cavities 315. Such an urging means 290' urges the 
stick 10 into the neutral stick position 30. Preferably, the slidable 
attachment means 300 is manufactured from a rigid metal material, with 
bearing means 330 and tracks 340 being of conventional type. 
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a braking means 70 is 
interconnected with the stick 10 such that movement of the stick 10 
forward from the neutral stick position 30 causes vehicle braking, with 
the braking force being proportional to the magnitude of movement of the 
stick 10 away from the neutral stick position 30. Similarly, an 
acceleration means 75 is interconnected with the stick 10 such that 
movement of the stick 10 rearward from the neutral stick position 30 
causes vehicle acceleration, with the accelerating force being 
proportional to the magnitude of movement of the stick 10 away from the 
neutral stick position 30. Alternate embodiments of the invention might 
dictate that the degree of braking and acceleration is non-linear with 
respect to the magnitude of movement of the stick 10 away from the neutral 
stick position 30. 
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, if the operator of the 
vehicle needs to make a sudden emergency stop, for example, the inertia of 
the stick 10 during deceleration of the vehide further moves the stick 10 
forward, thereby adding to the braking effect. In an altemate embodiment 
of the invention, on the other hand, the braking means 70 and the 
acceleration means 75 are interchanged such that vehicle braking occurs 
when the stick 10 is moved rearward of the neutral position 30 and 
acceleration occurs when the stick 10 is moved forward of the neutral 
position 30. In such an alternate embodiment, the inertia of the stick 10 
in a sudden deceleration causes the stick 10 to move toward the neutral 
position 30, thereby causing less braking force to be applied. Other 
embodiments would be obvious to one skilled in the art. 
A steering means 40 provides a rotatable collar 45 on the stick 10 such 
that the collar 45 may be manually rotated about the longitudinal axis 50 
of the stick 10 in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions from a 
neutral collar position 60 (FIGS. 1 and 3). Preferably, the apparatus 
includes a second urging means 295 for preferentially holding the collar 
45 at the neutral collar position 60 and for urging the collar 45 back to 
the neutral position 60 when the collar 45 is not in the neutral position 
60. The second urging means 295 may be two springs mounted in opposing 
arcs, each spring being mounted at one end to the collar 45 and at the 
other end to the stick 10 (FIG. 2A), or other suitable urging means. 
Clockwise rotation of the collar 45 away from the neutral collar position 
60 causes the vehicle to turn to the right. Similarly, counterclockwise 
rotation of the collar 45 away from the neutral collar position 60 causes 
the vehicle to turn to the left. In the preferred embodiment of the 
invention, the degree of the right and left fuming is proportional to the 
magnitude of rotation of the collar 45 away from the neutral collar 
position 60. Altemate embodiments of the invention cause the degree of the 
right and left turning to be non-linear with respect to the magnitude of 
rotation of the collar 45 away from the neutral collar position 60. 
An electronic collar position sensor 130 (FIG. 4) is included for sensing 
the position of the collar 45 and for producing an electrical servo 
voltage in proportion to the position of the collar 45. A steering 
servomotor 140 is further included in the steering means 40 for receiving 
the servo voltage and for providing a torque to a first shaft 160 of the 
steering servomotor 140 (FIG. 3). The first shaft 160 is, in turn, 
connected to a power steering unit 150 for turning a steering linkage 170 
in the vehicle, such that the vehicle may be steered by rotating the 
collar 45. In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic collar 
position sensor 130 is a potentiometer transducer. Clearly, however, other 
types of position sensors 130 could be utilized, such as optical, 
magnetic, and the like, and one skilled in the art could readily choose 
other means of controlling vehicle steering through the electrical signals 
generated by the collar position sensor 130. 
The braking means 70 of the apparatus further includes a first electronic 
stick position sensor 180 for sensing the position of the stick 10 and for 
producing an electrical servo voltage in proportion to the position of the 
stick 10 (FIGS. 2 and 3). A braking servomotor 190 is further included in 
the braking means 70 for receiving the servo voltage and for providing a 
torque to a second shaft 200 of the braking servomotor 190. The second 
shaft 200 drives a vacuum brake booster unit 210 for producing brake 
pressure to a braking hydraulic system 220 for braking the vehicle so as 
to provide deceleration (FIG. 3). Similarly, the acceleration means 75 of 
the apparatus further includes a second electronic stick position sensor 
230 for sensing the position of the stick 10 and for producing an 
electrical servo voltage in proportion to the position of the stick 10. An 
acceleration servomotor 240 is further included in the acceleration means 
75 for receiving the servo voltage and for providing a torque to a third 
shaft 250 of the acceleration servomotor 240. The third shaft 250 drives 
an acceleration linkage 260 for opening an orifice 270 in the fuel line of 
the vehicle to enrich the air to fuel ratio introduced into the carburetor 
275 of the vehicle to provide vehicle acceleration. In one embodiment of 
the invention, the first and second electronic stick position sensors 180, 
230 are potentiometer transducers. Referring now to the embodiment shown 
in FIG. 2, the first and second electronic stick position sensors 180,230 
are round potentiometer transducers. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, 
the first and second electronic stick position sensors 180,230 are linear 
potentiometer transducers, such that a wiper 185 is fixedly attached to 
the camer assembly 310 with a screw means 186. As such, linear 
displacement of the carrier assembly 310 causes a proportional linear 
displacement of the wiper 185 within the position sensors 180',230', 
resulting in an electrical resistance proportional to the position of the 
stick 10. Clearly, alternate types of electronic position sensor 180, 
180', 230, 230' could be utilized, such as optical, magnetic, and the 
like. Moreover, alternate acceleration means 75 and braking means 70 could 
also be devised without significantly deviating from the spirit and scope 
of the present invention. For example, movement forward or rearward of the 
stick 10 could be used to control acceleration, as opposed to directly 
controlling speed. In such an embodiment, when the stick 10 is in the 
neutral stick position 30, the vehicle maintains its present speed. Moving 
the stick 10 forward causes the present speed to be reduced by activating 
the braking means 70. Moving the stick 10 rearward causes the present 
speed to be increased by activating the acceleration mean 75. 
A console 80 may be optionally mounted on an upper end 90 of the stick 10 
(FIGS. 1 and 2). The console has a control panel 100 with a plurality of 
control means 110 for thumb actuation so that a single hand can provide 
manual control of the stick 10, the collar 45, and the control panel 100. 
The control means 110 may include turn signal control means, horn 
actuation control means, low-high headlight beam control means, windshield 
wiper control means, windshield washer control means speed range control 
means, gear range selection control means, and the like. Clearly, a 
variety of safety features may be incorporated into the control panel 100 
without significantly departing from the spirit and scope of the 
invention, such as means for disabling selection of park or reverse gears 
while the vehicle is moving in a forward direction, and the like. Status 
indicators 120 may be further included on the console 80 for providing 
turn signal status, headlight beam status, speed status, oil pressure 
status, coolant temperature status, seat belt conditioner status, speed 
range status, gear range status, and the like. Such status indicators 120 
are positioned such that they are not blocked by a person's hand or arm 
while the person is grasping the control stick 10. 
While the invention has been described with reference to several preferred 
embodiments, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art 
that the invention is not limited thereto. For example, other vehicle 
functions might be controlled through the present invention, such as 
vehicle radio controls, environmental controls such as air conditioning, 
cellular telephone controls, and the like. Further, various safety 
features may be incorporated into the overall design of a vehicle 
utilizing the present invention, such as redundant electrical and 
hydraulic actuation systems and redundant electrical position sensors 130, 
180, 180', 230. Thus, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only 
in conjunction with the appended claims.