The present invention relates generally to manual control devices for automotive vehicles.
Applicant is aware of a number of both patented and unpatented devices for manually controlling the brake and/or accelerator pedals of automotive vehicles. The inventors and the respective patent numbers of which applicant is aware of as follows:
Pawl 3,275,093
Bhattacharya 4,143,734
Appley 4,228,865
Dowden, et al. 4,438,835
Johnson, et al. 4,476,954
Ahnafield 4,722,416
A number of unpatented devices are also known to applicant. One such device is distributed by the Ricon Corporation of Sun Valley, Calif., which activates the throttle of the accelerator and brake pedals by a push-pull motion of the longitudinal handle. A very similar device is marketed by Manufacturing and Production Services Corporation of San Diego, Calif. Applicant is also aware of the hand control device manufactured and marketed by Handicaps, Inc., which activates responsive rods to forward pivotal movement and downward pivotal movement of the elongated control arm, respectively.
Applicant's invention is directed to a unique vehicle hand control device which activates the accelerator pedal by rotation of a control arm about its longitudinal axis via manual corresponding rotation of a uniquely configured handle. Separately, the brake pedal of the vehicle is activated by a forward pushing motion of the handle which pivots the control arm about its pivotal connection to a supporting control arm tube positioned adjacent the vehicle's steering column.