Device for shortening brake activation reaction time

Abstract

The invention provides an under-thigh support and restrainer for use in combination with a driver's car seat. The device is made in the form of a triangular pillow that is attached to the car seat cushion and supports the driver's leg in a position required for the minimal time needed to move the driver's foot from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal at the moment of danger. The pillow is provided with straps that can be wrapped around the driver's right thigh to restrain the driver's leg in the aforementioned position to allow minimal time for reaching the brake pedal.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to ergonomics, in particular to ergonomics of a vehicle driver as a biomechanical system. More specifically, the invention relates to a combination of a car seat with a thigh-movement restraining means and an under-thigh support for use by a driver of a vehicle in order to shorten brake activation reaction time and to reduce fatigue.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Car crashes now claim more than 40,000 lives each year in the United States, a number that has slowly declined from about 50,000 per year over the last four decades. Automobile crashes are the leading cause of death among people 1 to 34 years of age, accounting for 3.4 million nonfatal injuries annually and costing an estimated 200 billion dollars. Rates of automobile fatalities and injuries per driver and per mile driven have decreased substantially because of safer cars and roads, laws that discourage drunk driving, and other measures, but the absolute toll of au...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0025]A three-dimensional view of the device made in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 3. It can be seen that this device comprises an under-thigh support pillow 30 that is intended for use in combination with a seat cushion of a car seat (not shown in FIG. 3) in order to support the driver's leg and preferably to restrain the driver's leg in a position most optimal from the viewpoint of shortening the brake activation reaction time.

[0026]A pillow body 32 has a flat contact surface 34 that during use of the device is maintained in contact with the surface of the seat cushion 36 (a three-dimensional view of a car seat 38 shown in FIG. 4) and an upper thigh-supporting surface 40, which in the working position of the device, is tapered in the direction from the edge 42 (FIG. 4) of the seat cushion 36 toward the driver (not shown) and is used for supporting the driver's thigh and hence the driver's leg in a position required for minimal braking time.

[0027]...

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to ergonomics, in particular to ergonomics of a vehicle driver as a biomechanical system. More specifically, the invention relates to a combination of a car seat with a thigh-movement restraining means and an under-thigh support for use by a driver of a vehicle in order to shorten brake activation reaction time and to reduce fatigue.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Car crashes now claim more than 40,000 lives each year in the United States, a number that has slowly declined from about 50,000 per year over the last four decades. Automobile crashes are the leading cause of death among people 1 to 34 years of age, accounting for 3.4 million nonfatal injuries annually and costing an estimated 200 billion dollars. Rates of automobile fatalities and injuries per driver and per mile driven have decreased substantially because of safer cars and roads, laws that discourage drunk driving, and other measures, but the absolute toll of au...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0025]A three-dimensional view of the device made in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 3. It can be seen that this device comprises an under-thigh support pillow 30 that is intended for use in combination with a seat cushion of a car seat (not shown in FIG. 3) in order to support the driver's leg and preferably to restrain the driver's leg in a position most optimal from the viewpoint of shortening the brake activation reaction time.

[0026]A pillow body 32 has a flat contact surface 34 that during use of the device is maintained in contact with the surface of the seat cushion 36 (a three-dimensional view of a car seat 38 shown in FIG. 4) and an upper thigh-supporting surface 40, which in the working position of the device, is tapered in the direction from the edge 42 (FIG. 4) of the seat cushion 36 toward the driver (not shown) and is used for supporting the driver's thigh and hence the driver's leg in a position required for minimal braking time.

[0027]...

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