GB2436608A

GB2436608A - Vehicle pedal modifier having a base plate with fastening straps

Info

Publication number: GB2436608A
Application number: GB0606553A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Owen Peter Briggs
Original assignee: BRIG AYD CONTROLS Ltd
Current assignee: BRIG AYD CONTROLS Ltd
Priority date: 2006-03-31
Filing date: 2006-03-31
Publication date: 2007-10-03
Also published as: GB0606553D0

Abstract

A motor vehicle is adapted for a driver with a lower limb disorder by a pedal modifying apparatus that has a base plate 1 that occupies a major part of a driver's footwell and is fastened by metal straps 8 that extend laterally from the footwell and the base plate 1 to existing mounting points (e.g. seat rail, trim or central console bolts) in the vehicle. Slots (9, fig 3) in the straps 8 allow adjustment to suit the vehicle, and the straps may be bent or curved. The plate 1 may be covered (e.g. with carpet or matting). Drilling into the footwell floor is thus avoided. A pedal modifying arrangement (2, fig 1) can provide a left-handed pedal 4 or a guard to cover the pedals, and be easily removed by a quick release mechanism such as disengaging tabs from slots (not shown) in the base plate 1.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING

VEHICLE PEDAL ADAPTORS

This invention relates to motorised vehicles which have controls including at least one foot pedal, and which have been provided with apparatus which adapts the pedal controls for drivers with physical disabilities. Such adaptations may, for example, include a removable cover for one or more pedals so that accidental operation can be avoided when the vehicle is being driven using hand controls only, or apparatus for shifting the position of one or more pedals. For example, the accelerator pedal is normally mounted on the right hand side of the driver footwell (or floorwell) with respect to a driver. Apparatus may be provided which duplicates the accelerator pedal on the left hand side, for operation by somebody unable to use their right leg. A removable cover may be provided to cover the accelerator pedal that is not to be used by a particular driver.

The current arrangement of vehicle controls, with a steering wheel and pedals, is well known. This configuration usually consists of a steering wheel, to control the direction of travel of the vehicle, together with two or three foot pedals. For vehicles with an automatic gearbox, there are usually only two pedals. There will be a pedal on the right which controls the engine revs. By depressing this pedal, the engine causes the vehicle to accelerate. Thus this pedal is commonly referred to as the accelerator. A second, generally larger, pedal controls the vehicle's brakes and is usually to the left of the accelerator pedal. This is commonly referred to as the brake pedal. Manual gearbox vehicles have a third pedal, usually to the left of the brake pedal, which disengages the drive from the engine to the gearbox. This is commonly referred to as the clutch pedal. The clutch pedal is used to allow gentle movements to be made from stationary to moving, and also to all the gears to be changed. The operation of a manual gearbox car is usually effected by the use of the left leg only for the clutch pedal, and the alternate use of the right foot, to control alternately the accelerator pedal and brake pedal.

Clearly such interfaces work well for able bodied' humans, as it is necessary to have both arms present and functional to control the steering wheel, and thus the direction of motion of the vehicle, and both legs and feet present and functional to operate the pedals of the vehicle. As noted above, automatic vehicles that have only a brake and accelerator pedal can be driven using only the right leg and foot, and thus the pedals can be operated by the disabled, as long as their right leg and foot is functional. However, many disabled people have a functional left leg and foot only.

In these cases, it may be that the disabled person has had the right foot or leg amputated, or the limbs may be present but not function with sufficient strength or reliability to operate the vehicle pedals. It is even more important to citizens who cannot walk easily to have vehicular transport, and thus there are a large number of adaptations that have been made to vehicles to enable them to be operated by the disabled.

When vehicles are adapted for use by disabled people, it is of importance that the vehicle can also be driven by able bodied people. This is for a number of reasons; there may be other members in the family or household that share the vehicle, when the vehicle goes into the dealer for maintenance it will need to be driven and tested by able bodied garage staff and if the vehicle breaks down or is involved in an accident, it may be necessary for the roadside rescue patrol to drive the vehicle, if only onto a recovery trailer.

Vehicles are also becoming more electronic' as technology makes it more cost efficient for vehicles to use electronic control systems than the older cable' systems. This is noticeable in the controls of the vehicle, primarily in the accelerator pedal. Newer vehicles, which have an electronic' accelerator system often utilise an accelerator pedal that is pivoted from the floor of the vehicle, whilst older vehicles often have a hanging pendant' pedal, whose pivot point is above the driver's foot.

Systems are known which adapt automatic vehicles for disabled people with fully functioning left legs only. US patent 6,494,115 discloses a device as shown in Figure 5. This consists of a mounting plate 51, which is bolted to the floor of the vehicle, with a base unit 52 removably attached to it. The base unit supports a transfer mechanism comprising a new accelerator pedal' 53 which is in the correct position to be used by the left foot, and a rod 54 driven by operation of the new pedal 53, which then depresses the original accelerator pedal via a lever. In the device of Figure 5 the original accelerator pedal would be located beneath a guard 55. It is usual in such an arrangement to include a guard 55 over the original accelerator pedal to prevent it being depressed accidentally. One way that this could occur is in the case of a two legged disabled person who has motive control of only their left leg.

Without the guard the right leg may accidentally rest on the original accelerator pedal, causing the vehicle to be out of control. The transfer mechanism is mounted to the base unit 52 via a quick release' mechanism that allows it to be rapidly fitted and removed to the said vehicle. The quick release mechanism includes mounting tabs on the transfer mechanism, which engage in slots in the base unit, and the transfer mechanism is secured by means of a latch that is released by pulling pull ring 56.

In this device, the mounting plate 51 and base unit 51 are permanently mounted to the vehicle floor. In order to securely mount the mounting plate 51 to the floor of the vehicle, holes are drilled in the floor of the vehicle and the plate is mounted with nuts and bolts. This has many disadvantages.

Some designs of modem vehicle have a false floor', i.e. a floor having a cavity in its centre between two floor layers. If only the upper false floor layer is drilled through, it is usually impossible to get to the other side of this false floor, making the mounting of nuts onto the bolts impossible. If both of the layers are drilled through then when nuts and bolts are tightened to mount the plate securely it tends to cause the false floor to undesirably cave in' by pulling the two layers of floor together.

Additionally, in order to make vehicles quieter, vehicle floors are often coated with a thick (up to several centimetres) polyurethane foam layer. It is not possible to mount a bracket securely on a layer of this foam, as it is compressible.

Vehicles are also being fitted with more complicated control systems, requiring more loom wiring, and more pipes of hydraulics (for brakes), coolant (for air conditioning), pneumatics (for central locking) as well as massive amounts of electrical wiring for other accessories. Trying to drill through car floors is therefore hazardous in case one of the above systems is accidentally damaged. In addition, it is generally undesirable to be drilling holes with power tools in a vehicle propelled by Petrol / Gasoline, which is inherently very flammable.

Drilling through the floor of a vehicle is also undesirable because it penetrates the galvanised (or other anti-rust) coating that is often applied to vehicle chassis and bodies in the manufacturing process. This can lead to problems with corrosion at a later date. Holes in a vehicle floor can also allow penetration of water into the interior of the vehicle during wet weather, or when the vehicle drives through standing water.

When a speeding vehicle hits a body of stationary water, such as a puddle, the pressure of water hitting the vehicle can be very high.

Finally, a vehicle which has had holes drilled in the floor will have a lower resale value compared with an identical vehicle without the holes.

Viewed from one aspect, the present invention provides a motorised vehicle having controls including at least one foot pedal provided in the driver footwell of the vehicle, the vehicle having been adapted for use by a driver with a lower limb disability by means of pedal modifying apparatus that includes a base which is disposed in the driver footwell and is secured to a vehicle part, and a pedal modifying arrangement which is secured to the base; characterised in that the base is in the form of a plate which occupies a major part of the floor of the driver footwell and which is secured by fasteners which extend into portions of the vehicle which are disposed laterally of the floor of the driver footwell.

Viewed from another aspect, the present invention provides a method of adapting a motorised vehicle for use by a driver with a lower limb disability, the vehicle having controls including at least one foot pedal provided in the driver footwell of the vehicle, the method comprising the step of positioning a pedal modifying apparatus in the driver footwell of the vehicle, the pedal modifying apparatus including a base, which is secured to a vehicle part, and a pedal modifying arrangement which is secured to the base; characterised in that the base is in the form of a plate which occupies a major part of the floor of the driver footwell and which is secured in the vehicle by fasteners which extend into portions of the vehicle which are disposed laterally of the floor of the driver footwell.

Viewed from another aspect, the present invention provides a pedal modifying apparatus for adapting a motorised vehicle for use by a driver with a lower limb disability, the vehicle having controls including at least one foot pedal provided in the driver footwell of the vehicle, the pedal modifying apparatus being adapted for positioning in the driver footwell of the vehicle and including a base, means for securing the base to a vehicle part, and a pedal modifying arrangement which is secured to the base; characterised in that the base is in the form of a plate which is dimensioned so as to occupy a major part of the floor of the driver footwell of a vehicle which the pedal modifying apparatus is intended to adapt, and fasteners which are arranged to extend laterally from the plate so as to enable the plate to be fastened to portions of the vehicle which are disposed laterally of the floor of the driver footwell.

The portions of the vehicle which are disposed laterally of the footwell floor may comprise, for example, existing mountings for the central console, seat rail mountings, mounting points beneath trim panels and so on. By providing a base in the form of a plate which covers a major part of the footwell floor, and by securing the plate to vehicle portions which are disposed laterally of the footwell floor, there is provided a secure foundation for the pedal modifying arrangement without passing fasteners through the footwell floor.

Preferably, a number of metal straps are provided as fastener extensions, the straps comprising elongate members having a first aperture at one end for connection to the mounting plate and a second aperture at the other end for connection via a fastener to the portions of the vehicle disposed laterally of the footwell floor.

Preferably the straps are adapted to fit common sizes of bolts used in vehicles.

Further, the metal straps are preferably provided with apertures in the form of a circular hole at one end, and a longitudinal slot at the other end, the slot allowing the distance between the plate and the mounting portions in the vehicle to be adjusted.

The base plate preferably has a plurality of mounting holes along each edge for connection to the fasteners or fastener extensions. The holes are arranged to be in proximity to likely locations for existing mounting points in the vehicle, such as mounting points for seat rails, centre console and so on.

In preferred embodiments, the fastener extensions can be deformed in a plane perpendicular to the vehicle floor. This allows the fasteners to be used to join the plate to mounting points at a different height or in a different plane to the plate.

Preferably the pedal modifying apparatus has a quick release connection to the mounting plate. This may be a slot and tab arrangement as described in US 6,494,115. The quick release connection allows the system to be easily removed in the event that an able bodied person wishes to operate the vehicle.

The pedal modifying apparatus may be an accelerator pedal adaptor as described above. Alternatively, it may be a guard to cover all the pedals. This type of guard is required when a vehicle is adapted to be completed hand operated, to ensure that none of the pedals are inadvertently operated. Other pedal modifying systems can also be advantageously combined with the mounting plate of the present invention.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a base and a pedal modifying apparatus; Figure 2 shows the base and pedal modifying apparatus of Figure 1 in place in a footwell; Figure 3 shows part of a base plate along with fastener extensions of varying sizes; Figure 4 shows an example configuration of fastener extensions attached to the base plate; and

Figure 5 shows a prior art apparatus.

In Figure 1, a base plate I and pedal modifying arrangement 2 are shown outside of a vehicle. The base plate I includes mounting holes around its outer edge for joining to fasteners such as nuts, bolts, tie bars and the like. The pedal modifying arrangement 2 is an accelerator adaptor of the type described in US 6,494,115, and has a guard 3 to be fitted over the vehicle accelerator pedal, and a new left handed accelerator pedal 4, which operates the original accelerator pedal by means of a rod 5.

As can be seen in Figure 2, when the base plate and pedal modifying apparatus is fitting into a vehicle footwell, the rod 5 transfers rotation of the left handed accelerator pedal 4 via a lever 6 to the original accelerator pedal 7.

Figure 2 also shows clearly the large size of the base plate I. In contrast to the prior art discussed above, the base plate is dimensioned to occupy a major part of the floor of the vehicle footwell. The mounting holes around the periphery of the base plate 1 enable it to be easily attached to existing mounting points in the vehicle by fasteners and optionally fastener extensions 8, which will be described later.

By mounting a large permanent base plate 1 on existing fixing points, rather than using a small permanent plate secured with bolts that penetrate the floor of the vehicle, a mounting for a pedal modifying arrangement 2 is provided which can be securely and stably fixed to the vehicle without the disadvantage of holes drilled into the vehicle footwell floor. The large plate 1 can be covered either with a non-slip' material, or with carpet or matting. This ensures safety for the driver getting in and out of the vehicle, and provides grip when using the pedals. It also improves the appearance of a vehicle with the device fitted.

The base plate I includes slots provided beneath the pedal modifying arrangement 2 into which tabs on the pedal modifying arrangement 2 can engage.

This arrangement allows the pedal modifying arrangement 2 to be easily removed by disengaging the tabs, thereby allowing the vehicle to be operated normally.

Figure 3 shows a part of the plate 1 along with some metal straps which form the fastener extensions 8. These metal straps 8 are provided in varying lengths to allow the base plate 1 to be mounted in a wide range of vehicle sizes and types. The straps 8 have a slot 9 at one end, and a hole 10 at the other end. One end of the strap 8 is mounted to the base plate 1, and the other end to an existing mounting point in the vehicle footwell. The hole 10 and slot 9 are sized to fit widely used bolt sizes so that they can readily be mounted to existing bolts in the vehicle. The slot 9 allows the mounting position at that end of the strap 8 to be varied to thereby adjust the distance between the plate 1 and the mounting point on the vehicle. The straps 8 can therefore be mounted on the plate 1 to join to mounting points over a range of distances from the plate 1, and also at differing angles to the plate I as required to give the most secure connection. Figure 4 illustrates a possible arrangement, with straps 8 connected to the plate 1 by bolts 11, and extending from the plate 1 to connect via fasteners in the holes 10 to suitable mounting points in the footwell. As shown in the Figures, the plate I is provided with mounting holes at various positions along the plate edges, and this provides further flexibility in the connection of the plate I to the vehicle.

In Figure 4, the slots 9 are joined to the plate 1, with the holes 10 at the outer ends of the straps 8 for connection via fasteners to suitable mounting points in the vehicle. However, it will be appreciated that the orientation of the straps 8 can be reversed if required, with the slots 9 being fixed to the vehicle mounting points, and the holes 10 fixed to the plate 1.

One example of suitable mounting points are the bolts used to mount the seat rails. These bolts are generally located toward the front of the seats, and are therefore conveniently placed for connection to the rearward edge of the plate 1. Many vehicles also contain a central console that comes down to separate the passenger and driver's footwells. It is often found that this central console contains securing bolts, which retain the central console to the vehicle floor or other members, and these bolts can often be used to connect to the straps 8. Additionally, the sidewall of the driver's footwell (the right hand wall on right hand drive vehicles and the left hand wall on left hand drive vehicles) often contains mounting bolts under trim panels. which can also be used. Due to the adjustable nature of the metal straps 8, and the adjustment of angle and position available in the strap / plate mounting, the plate I can be mounted in most vehicles.

The straps 8 can be bent in order to join to mounting points in the footwell out of the plane of the base plate 1 or at a different height. For example, if a suitable mounting point is on a side wall of the central console, elevated above the floor of the footwell, then a bent strap can be used, which is bent or curved to follow the contour of the floor of the footwell and then go up the side wall of the centre console.

In the depicted in Figures 1 and 2 the pedal modifying arrangement 2 is an accelerator pedal adaptor. Another type of pedal modifying arrangement exists for the class of disabled person that requires the vehicle to be entirely hand operated.

Such disabled persons often have both legs still present, but lack motive skills to control these limbs. This can happen due to spinal injury or due to Multiple Sclerosis.

Often these people have involuntary spasms of the legs, sometimes with significant strength.

To make vehicles that can serve the dual purpose of operating for such disabled persons, and also to operate for able bodied people, for all of the reasons described earlier, it is highly desirable to have a large pedal guard that covers all pedals. Naturally this pedal guard will be considerably bigger than the "accelerator only" pedal guard 3 described earlier. It is desirable to quickly and easily clip such a total pedal guard over all pedals for when the disabled person is to use the vehicle, as they will be relying on hand controls. The advantage here is that if they suffer from a spasm or other involuntary movement, then the vehicle will not be caused to go out of control. It may also be desirable to cover the front of such a guard with padding to prevent injury to the legs of a disabled person in the case of involuntary spasms.

When the able bodied person is to drive the vehicle, the total pedal guard is able to be quickly an easily removed by use of a quick release type mechanism.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A motorised vehicle having controls including at least one

foot pedal provided in the driver footwell of the vehicle, the vehicle having been adapted for use by a driver with a lower limb disability by means of pedal modifying apparatus which includes a base that is disposed in the driver footwell and is secured to a vehicle part, and a pedal modifying arrangement which is secured to the base; characterised in that the base is in the form of a plate which occupies a major part of the floor of the driver footwell and which is secured in the vehicle by fasteners which extend into portions of the vehicle which are disposed laterally of the floor of the driver footwell.

2. A motorised vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fasteners are joined to the base plate and to existing mounting points at portions of the vehicle which are disposed laterally of the floor of the driver footwell to thereby secure the base plate to the vehicle.

3. A motorised vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the existing mounting points comprise one or more of central console mounting points, seat rail mounting points or mounting points on the sidewall of the driver's footwell.

4. A motorised vehicle as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, including fastener extensions that comprise metal straps having a first aperture at one end to connect to the plate, and a second aperture at the other end to receive fasteners.

5. A motorised vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein one or more of the fastener extensions are bent to enable the fasteners to extend both laterally and out of the plane of the driver footwell.

6. A motorised vehicle as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein at least one of the first or second fastener extension apertures is elongate.

7. A method of adapting a motorised vehicle for use by a driver with a lower limb disability, the vehicle having controls including at least one foot pedal provided in the driver footwell of the vehicle, the method comprising the step of positioning pedal modifying apparatus in the driver footwell of the vehicle, the pedal modifying apparatus including a base, which is secured to a vehicle part, and a pedal modifying arrangement which is secured to the base; characterised in that the base is in the form of a plate which occupies a major part of the floor of the driver footwell and which is secured by fasteners which extend into portions of the vehicle which are disposed laterally of the floor of the driver footwell.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fasteners are joined to the base plate and to existing mounting points at portions of the vehicle which are disposed laterally of the floor of the driver footwell to thereby secure the base plate to the vehicle.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the existing mounting points comprise one or more of central console mounting points, seat rail mounting points or mounting points on the sidewall of the driver's footwell.

10. A method as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein one or more of the fasteners are fitted with fastener extensions having a first aperture at one end to cormect to the plate, and a second aperture at the other end to receive the fasteners.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein one or more of the fastener extensions are bent to enable the fasteners to extend both laterally and out of the plane of the driver footwell.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein at least one of the first or second fastener extension apertures is elongate.

13. A pedal modifying apparatus for adapting a motorised vehicle for use by a driver with a lower limb disability, the vehicle having controls including at least one foot pedal provided in the driver footwell of the vehicle, the pedal modifying apparatus being adapted for positioning in the driver footwell of the vehicle and including a base, means for securing the base to a vehicle part, and a pedal modifying arrangement which is secured to the base; characterised in that the base is in the form of a plate which is dimensioned so as to occupy a major part of the floor of the driver footwell of a vehicle which the pedal modifying apparatus is intended to adapt, and the base is secured by fasteners which are arranged to extend laterally from the plate so as to enable the plate to be fastened to portions of the vehicle which are disposed laterally of the floor of the driver footwell.

14. A pedal modifying apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the fasteners are adapted to be joined to the base plate and to existing mounting points at portions of the vehicle which are disposed laterally of the floor of the driver footwell to thereby secure the base plate to the vehicle to which it is to be fitted.

15. A pedal modifying apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the existing mounting points comprise one or more of central console mounting points, seat rail mounting points or mounting points on the sidewall of the driver's footwell.

16. A pedal modifying apparatus as claimed in claim 13, 14 or 15, including fastener extensions having a first aperture at one end to connect to the plate, and a second aperture at the other end to receive fasteners.

17. A pedal modifying apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein one or more of the fastener extensions are bent to enable the fasteners to extend both laterally and out of the plane of the driver footwell.

18. A pedal modifying apparatus as claimed in claim 16 or 17, wherein at least one of the first or second fastener extension apertures is elongate.

19. A motorised vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A pedal modifying apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.