Patent Publication Number: US-9898031-B1

Title: Clutch pedal extender

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a clutch pedal extender and more particularly to an extender for a clutch pedal which enables a driver to more easily and effectively depress the clutch pedal to enable the driver to shift gears. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Most large trucks such as those manufactured by Peterbuilt, Sterling, Mack, etc. utilize manual transmissions which require the use of a clutch pedal which must be depressed to enable the driver to shift gears. In some cases, such as in certain Peterbuilt trucks, the clutch pedal must be completely depressed to the floor of the truck before the shifting operation may be accomplished. Since the clutch pedal is rigidly connected to the clutch pedal arm, the inwardly and downwardly movement of the clutch pedal during the clutching action requires the driver to pronate his or her ankle during the downward and inward movement of the clutch pedal. The clutching action is made even more difficult when the driver&#39;s seat is in its most rearward position to accommodate larger drivers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     The method and means is disclosed for extending a clutch pedal which is connected to a clutch pedal arm. The method steps of extending the clutch pedal are: (a) removing the clutch pedal from the upper end of the clutch pedal arm; (b) providing an elongated clutch pedal extender having an inner end and an outer end; (c) securing the inner end of the clutch pedal extender to the upper end of the clutch pedal arm; and (d) securing the outer end of the clutch pedal extender to the clutch pedal. 
     The means of extending the clutch pedal involves the use of an elongated clutch pedal extender which includes an elongated body member having an inner end, an outer end, an upper side, a lower side, a first side and a second side. The inner end of the body member has a pair of spaced-apart first and second ears or fingers extending therefrom with each of the first and second fingers having a bolt opening formed therein. The outer end of the body member has a third ear or finger extending therefrom which also has a bolt opening formed therein. 
     The first and second fingers of the body member are secured to the upper end of the clutch pedal arm by a bolt extending through the bolt openings in the first and second fingers and through the bolt opening in the upper end of the clutch pedal arm. The third finger of the body member is secured to first and second brackets of the clutch pedal by a bolt extending through the bolt openings in the first and second brackets and through the bolt opening in the third finger of the body member. 
     A principal object of the invention is to provide a clutch extender for a vehicle. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a clutch extender which is easily installed between the clutch pedal and the clutch pedal arm. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a clutch extender which eliminates the need for the clutch pedal to be completely extended to the floor of the vehicle during the clutching action. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide clutch extender which is economical of manufacture, durable in use, and refined in appearance. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a prior art clutch; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the clutch extender of this invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the extender of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the clutch pedal arm, the clutch extender, and the clutch pedal; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the clutch extender positioned between the clutch pedal arm and the clutch pedal; and 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the clutch extender positioned between the clutch pedal arm and the clutch pedal. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The numeral  10  refers to the clutch extender of this invention which is designed to be used between a clutch pedal arm  12  and a clutch pedal  14  which are associated with a clutch of a vehicle such as a truck or the like. The prior art clutch pedal arm  12  may take many shapes such as that shown in the drawings. For example, the clutch pedal arm  12  may movably extend upwardly from the clutch of the vehicle through an opening  16  in the floor board  18  of the vehicle. The clutch pedal arm  12  disclosed herein has an upstanding plate  20  secured thereto which has a bolt opening  22  formed therein. The conventional clutch pedal  14  has an outer side  26 , an inner side  28 , an upper end  30 , a lower end  32 , a first side  34  and a second side  36 . The inner side  28  of clutch pedal  24  has a pair of ears or brackets  38  and  40  extending therefrom. Brackets  38  and  40  have bolt openings  42  and  44  formed therein respectively. Normally, clutch pedal  14  is secured to clutch pedal arm  12  by a bolt  45  extending through bolt opening  44  in bracket  40 , through bolt opening  22  in plate  20  and through bolt opening  42  in bracket  38 . A nut is secured to the threaded end of the bolt  45 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 1 , if the clutch pedal  14  is depressed to the broken line positioning  FIG. 1 , the ankle of the driver&#39;s foot must be pronated to fully depress the clutch pedal  14  so that the driver may shift gears. 
     Clutch extender  10  includes an elongated body member  46  having an outer end  48 , an inner end  50 , a first side  52 , a second side  54 , an upper end  56  and a lower end  58 . Body member  46  includes a pair of spaced-apart ears or fingers  60  and  62  which extend therefrom. Ears  60  and  62  have bolt openings  64  and  66  formed therein respectively. Body member  46  also has an ear or finger  68  extending outwardly from its outer end  48 . Ear  68  has a bolt opening  70  formed therein. 
     To extend the clutch pedal  14  from the clutch pedal arm  12 , the bolt  45  is removed so that clutch pedal  14  may be disconnected from plate  20 . The ears  60  and  62  are then positioned so that the plate  20  is received there between. A bolt  72  is then extended through bolt opening  66  in ear  62 , through bolt opening  22  in plate  20  of clutch pedal arm  12  and through bolt opening  64  in ear  60 . A nut  74  is secured to the threaded end of bolt  72  to rigidly connect plate  20  to body member  46 . 
     The clutch pedal  14  is then secured to the outer end of body member  46  by positioning the clutch pedal  14  with respect to body member  46  so that ear  68  of body member  46  is received between ears  38  and  40  of clutch pedal  14 . A bolt  76  is then extended through bolt opening  44  of ear  40 , through bolt opening  70  of ear  68  and through bolt opening  42  in ear  38 . A nut  74  is loosely threaded onto the threaded end of bolt  72 . Pedal  14  is then pivoted to the desired position with respect to body portion  46  such as seen in  FIG. 6 . The nut  78  is tightened to rigidly secure pedal  14  to body portion  46  of extender  10 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 6 , the clutch extender  10  permits the clutch pedal arm  12  to be moved inwardly to the broken line position without the need for the driver&#39;s ankle to be pronated to the degree of  FIG. 1 . 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
     Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.