Abstract:
A pedal pusher to provide for single handed manipulation of two (2) pedals of a motor vehicle, such as a golf cart, is disclosed. A first manipulation of the device in an arc range of motion controls a first pedal of the vehicle while a second manipulation of the device in a rotational range of motion controls a second pedal of the vehicle. Angular adjustment of the device to a desired orientation relative to the seat of the vehicle for the comfort of the operator is provided for.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.: 10/836,685 filed Apr. 30, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,447 entitled “Pedal Pusher”, currently pending. The original application is incorporated herein by this reference. 

   BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   Generally, the invention relates to pedal manipulation devices for motorized vehicles. More specifically, the invention relates to such devices which are hand operated and which operate two (2) pedals of the motorized vehicle. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Various devices are known in the art to provide persons having limited dexterity with the ability to operate motor vehicles. These include devices which provide the operator of the motor vehicle with the ability to manipulate operation of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle utilizing their hands. Typically these devices are complicated and operate directly upon the mechanisms of the vehicle controlled by the pedal and not upon the pedal proper. 
   Golf carts and other motorized vehicles which are intended to be used in non highway situations are often used to move about at low speeds such as on or about golf courses or in generally closed residential communities such as mobile home parks and gated communities. Many persons who would benefit from use of such motorized vehicles are unable to enjoy such use due to limited dexterity or other physical disabilities. 
   As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a simple device which will allow the user of motorized vehicles to operate two (2) foot pedals using their hand while not limiting conventional usage of the motorized vehicle by other operators. The present invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
   SUMMARY 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known methods for controlling operation of pedals of a motor vehicle your applicant has devised a hand operated control device to provide for control of two (2) pedals mounted relative to a floor of the motor vehicle. Applicable motor vehicles have a seat positioned relative to the pedals for an operator of the motor vehicle. Each pedal of the vehicle has an elevated neutral position and a depressed operating position. The hand operated control device has a connection portion and an extension portion. The connection portion attaches to a first pedal of the motor vehicle which a portion attached to the second pedal of the motor vehicle. The extension portion has a user manipulation end and a distal end with the distal end positioned relative to the connection portion attached to the pedal. The user manipulation end has a user contact portion to provide for operator control of the extension portion in a range of motion along an arc. The range of motion has a lower position and an upper position. The lower position of the range of motion provides for placement of the pedal of the motor vehicle in the elevated neutral position. The upper position of the range of motion provides for placement of the pedal of the motor vehicle at least toward the depressed operating position from the elevated neutral position. The angular adjustment means provides for selective placement of the extension portion relative to the connection portion at a desired angle of protrusion where the extension portion may be positioned at a user selected desired orientation relative to the seat of the motor vehicle. The user manipulation end provides for operator control of the extension portion in a range of motion along an arc. This range of motion has a lower position and an upper position. The lower position of this range of motion provides for placement of the first pedal of the motor vehicle in the elevated neutral position. The upper position of this range of motion provides for placement of the first pedal of the motor vehicle at least toward the depressed operating position from the elevated neutral position. The user manipulation end also provides for operator control of the user contact portion in a rotational range of motion. The rotational range of motion has a neutral position. The neutral position of the rotational range of motion provides for placement of the second pedal of the motor vehicle in the elevated neutral position. Rotation of the user contact portion from the neutral position provides for placement of the second pedal of the motor vehicle at least toward the depressed operating position from the elevated neutral position. 
   My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the particular combinations of them herein disclosed and it is distinguished from the prior art in these particular combinations of these structures for the functions specified. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide for a hand operated control device which will permit hand manipulation of two (2) foot pedals of a vehicle where persons having physical limitations may enjoy the use of their vehicles. 
   Other objects include: 
   a) to provide for a hand operated control device for control of a first pedal of the vehicle by manipulating a user manipulation end of the device in a range of motion in an arc. 
   b) to provide for a hand operated control device for control of a second pedal of the vehicle by manipulating a user manipulation end of the device in a rotational range of motion. 
   c) to provide for a hand operated control device having adjustment capabilities to permit ready adjustment of an angle of extension from the pedal of the vehicle for comfortable usage. 
   d) to provide for a user contact portion of the extension portion of the hand operated control device to have a spherical shape and dimples positioned thereon where the user contact portion resembles a golf ball. 
   e) to provide for a hand operated control device which safely returns the first pedal to an elevated neutral position when the hand operated control device is not manipulated by the operator. 
   f) to provide for a hand operated control device which safely returns the second pedal to an elevated neutral position when the hand operated control device is not manipulated by the operator. 
   These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated the preferred embodiments of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein; 
       FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a golf cart with a hand operated control device positioned thereon and in a first operational orientation. 
       FIG. 2  is an elevational view of the golf cart and hand operated control device shown in  FIG. 1  with the hand operated control device in a second operational orientation. 
       FIG. 3  is an elevational view of the golf cart and hand operated control device shown in  FIG. 1  with the hand operated control device in a third operational orientation. 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged elevational view of the hand operated control device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the hand operated control device. 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a portion of the hand operated control device. 
   

   DESCRIPTION 
   Many different pedal pushers, or hand operated control devices, having features of the present invention are possible. The following description describes the preferred embodiment of select features of those hand operated control devices and various combinations thereof. These features may be deployed in various combinations to arrive at various desired working configurations of hand operated control devices. 
   Reference is hereafter made to the drawings where like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views. 
   A hand operated control device  20 , a pedal pusher, is depicted in the various views.  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3  depict hand operated control device  20  positioned on a motor vehicle  22 , in the form of a golf cart. A first pedal  24  and a second pedal  26  are mounted relative to a floor of motor vehicle  22  where an operator, not shown in any of the various views, of motor vehicle may manipulate first pedal  24  and second pedal  26  while resting on a seat of motor vehicle  22 . Preferably first pedal  24  is a brake pedal and second pedal  26  is an accelerator pedal. 
     FIG. 1  depicts first pedal  24  of motor vehicle  22  in an elevated neutral position  28  while  FIG. 2  depicts first pedal  24  in a depressed operating position  30  following a manipulation of hand operated control device  20 .  FIG. 1  also depicts second pedal  26  of motor vehicle  22  in an elevated neutral position  32  while  FIG. 3  depicts second pedal  26  in a depressed operating position  34  following a manipulation of hand operated control device  20 . First pedal  24  has an upper user contact surface  36  and a backing surface  38  opposing upper user contact surface  36 . 
   Hand operated control device  20  has a connection portion  40  and an extension portion  42 . It is a requirement that hand operated control device  20  be attached to first pedal  24 . Many structural arrangements may be employed to provide this function. Connection portion  40  is formed of a pedal bracket  44 , see  FIG. 5 , capable of being positioned on pedals having a variety of thicknesses. Pedal bracket  44  has a pedal slot  46  into which first pedal  24  is positioned. An upper contact portion  48  engages a small portion of upper user contact surface  36  of first pedal  24 . If desired various structural configurations may be employed on upper contact portion  48  to enhance retention properties relative to upper user contact surface  36 . A lower contact portion  50 , in the form of tightening pads  52 , engage backing surface  38  of first pedal  24 . Securing means, in the form of tightening knobs  54 , having threads thereon penetrate threaded apertures  56  of pedal bracket  44 . Tightening knobs  54  provide for an application of a binding pressure between upper contact portion  48  and lower contact portion  50  to bind connection portion  40  to first pedal  24  of motor vehicle  22 . 
   Pedal bracket  44  has opposing spaced engagement tabs  58  having a passage  60  therebetween. Each engagement tab  58  has an aperture  62  therethrough to receive a shaft  64  of a locking member  66 . Locking member  66  has locking means, as conventionally known in the art, to retain locking member  66  within apertures  62 . 
   Passage  60  receives an extension bar  68  having an aperture  70  therethrough. When extension bar  68  is positioned in passage  60  and locking member  66  is installed extension bar  68  is securely retained relative to pedal bracket  44 , a part of connection portion  40 . Extension bar  68  has an opposing aperture  72  positioned thereon. 
   Extension portion  42  has a user manipulation end  74  and a distal end  76 . Distal end  76  is positioned relative to connection portion  40 . Manipulation of user manipulation end  74  of extension portion  42  in an arc provides for transfer of first pedal  24  between elevated neutral position  28  and depressed operating position  30 . User manipulation end  74  has a user contact portion  78  to provide for operator control of extension portion  42  in a range of motion along the arc. The range of motion has a lower position  80 , see  FIG. 1 , and an upper position  82 , see  FIG. 2 . In the preferred embodiment depicted user contact portion  78  of extension portion  42  has a spherical shape and dimples positioned thereon where user contact portion  78  resembles a golf ball. In a most preferred embodiment an actual golf ball is used to form user contact portion  78 . 
   Manipulation of user manipulation end  74  of extension portion  42  in a rotational manner provides for transfer of second pedal  26  between elevated neutral position  32  and depressed operating position  34 . During rotation of user contact portion  78  a cable  84  is moved toward user manipulation end  74  and is moved away from user manipulation end  74 .  FIG. 6  depicts a retraction assembly  86 , as conventionally known in the art, capable of such transfer. When user contact portion  78  is released by the operator cable  84  returns to an extended orientation. Cable  84  passes through extension portion  42  and passes through a guide  88  and is anchored to second pedal  26 . Guide  88  is secured to the floor of motor vehicle  22  utilizing a nut  90 . When structural modification to the motor vehicle, such as forming an aperture through the floor, it is possible to anchor guide  88  to existing structures without any structural modification. 
   Preferably extension portion  42  will have an angular offset  92  positioned between user manipulation end  74  and distal end  76  where extension portion  42  extends relative to first pedal  24  in a first directional orientation  94  and then extends toward user manipulation end  74  in a second directional orientation  96 , see  FIG. 1 . This arrangement provides for comfortable usage of hand operated control device  20 . 
   It is a desire to provide angular adjustment means to provide for selective placement of the extension portion relative to the connection portion at a desired angle of protrusion wherein the extension portion may be positioned at a desired orientation relative to the seat of the motor vehicle. Many structural arrangements may be employed to provide this function. 
     FIG. 5  depicts extension bar  68  having opposing aperture  72  therethrough. A contact bracket  98  has a contact surface  100  thereon having a texture thereto. Contact bracket  98  has an aperture  102  therethrough. A bracket contact surface, not shown, of extension bar  68  has a texture thereon which contacts contact surface  100  of contact bracket  98 . Contact bracket  98  contacts, in a non-rotational manner, extension bar  68 . Extension portion  42  has apertures  104  therethrough. A coupling member, in the form of a wing nut  106  and a nut  108  cooperate to provide a binding pressure to retain extension portion  42  in a desired orientation relative to connection portion  40 . Wing nut  106  having a shaft portion  110  passes through opposing aperture  72  of extension bar  68  and through aperture  102  of contact bracket  98  and through apertures  104  of extension bar  68  and is secured therein by nut  108 . The binding pressure produced by the coupling member acts upon the textured surfaces in contact to prevent rotation about the axis formed by wing nut  106 . 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, material, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.