Telescoping Hand Brake Controller for Accessible Vehicle Braking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with neuropathy or missing a limb face challenges in controlling the brake pedal while driving, leading to safety concerns for themselves and others on the road.
Innovation Solution
A driver side brake controller system that includes a telescoping shaft with a brake lever connector and a tubular main body that can be adjusted and secured to extend under the steering wheel, allowing the driver to control the brake with either hand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a driver uses a conventional brake pedal, then the brake control is simple and direct, but drivers with neuropathy or missing a limb cannot feel or operate the brake pedal effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a brake controller as an intermediary device between the driver and the brake system. This controller includes a brake lever that can be operated by the driver's hand or foot, and it mechanically actuates the vehicle's brake pedal through a linkage mechanism. The brake controller serves as a mediator that translates the driver's input into effective brake activation, making braking accessible to drivers with neuropathy or limb deficiencies while maintaining reliable brake control.
2Reliability
If brake control modifications are installed in a driver's personal vehicle, then the driver's safety is improved, but the modification cannot be used in rented or borrowed vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The brake controller is designed with universal adaptability to be installed in various makes and models of vehicles. The controller uses standard mounting mechanisms and linkage components that can be adapted to different vehicle brake systems. This universality allows the same brake controller device to be installed in a driver's personal vehicle, rental vehicles, and borrowed vehicles, maintaining driver safety across different vehicle types without requiring vehicle-specific custom modifications.
3Ease of operation
If a telescoping shaft is used to position the brake lever, then the brake controller can be adjusted to reach the driver, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The brake controller incorporates a telescoping shaft that can extend and retract to adjust the position of the brake lever. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the brake lever to be positioned within reach of the driver while maintaining a compact storage position when not in use. The telescoping design provides the necessary adaptability for different driver positions and vehicle configurations while keeping the overall structure relatively simple through the use of a straightforward telescoping mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A driver side brake controller can include a telescoping shaft including a brake lever connector disposed thereon and adapted to be secured to a brake lever of a motor vehicle. A tubular main body can be provided that is adapted to adjustably accept the second telescoping end of the telescoping shaft therein and secure the telescoping shaft with locking hardware at a fixed position within the tubular main body to enable the main body to extend from the driver-side front floorboard area up into the driver side compartment near a steering wheel and within reach of a driver's hands. The tubular main body can terminate at a handle area that can be padded. The tubular main body can be rotated 360 degrees to allow for either hand (left, right) operation. Rotation can be facilitated by a swivel joint connecting the telescoping shaft and the brake lever connector.