| Device for shortening brake activation reaction time -> Monitor Keywords |
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Device for shortening brake activation reaction timeDevice for shortening brake activation reaction time description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080073959, Device for shortening brake activation reaction time. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
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 automobile crashes remains high. [0003]By the year 2025 thirty three million people will be 70 years or older in America. This segment of the population will grow 2.5 times as fast as the total population and will comprise the largest percentage of "slow-reaction" accidents. Slowly but surely, senior citizens have developed a higher accident ratio than teenagers. Also, by 2025, total costs for motor vehicle accidents in the United States will exceed 450 billion dollars. [0004]It took several decades to install seatbelts in cars. The auto industry at the time believed that safety would not sell and that emphasis on safety features would scare the public. [0005]Advertising generally focused on comfort, style, and performance. At the same time, efforts to reduce traffic crashes never focused on the automobile but rather on the driver or the road. [0006]When driving a vehicle, the driver's leg that controls the accelerator and brake pedals can be considered as a biomechanical system, the model of which is shown in FIG. 1. In the context of the present invention, the part of the leg from the fulcrum point H of the heel on the vehicle floor to the knee joint KN is referred to as "leg" L; the part of the driver's leg from point H to the point T1 of contact with the accelerator pedal 20 is referred to as "foot" FT; and the part of the driver's leg from point KN to the pelvic floor joint PF, which is considered to be the fulcrum point on the vehicle seat 22, is referred to as "thigh" TH. FIG. 2 is a view of the driver's right leg in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1. Two planes are taken into consideration to analyze the movement in which the driver's leg participates. The first plane is plane I-I which is slightly inclined with respect to vertical plane V-V and passes through the thigh TH and leg L, i.e., the plane that passes through the joints PF, KN, and H' (where H' is a heel joint [FIGS. 1 and 2]). Plane I-I corresponds to the unrestrained position of the leg during normal driving with the foot PT on the accelerator pedal 20. The second plane is plane II-II that passes through the same joints when the foot FT is on the brake pedal 24. The position of the leg in plane II-II is shown by broken lines. [0007]Let us consider the movements of the driver's leg when driving a car with an automatic gear box wherein two pedals, i.e., the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal, are used to control the car. Although these movements are more complicated in reality, in a simplified form they may be considered as the following two modes. Let us assume that the initial position of the leg is with the foot FT on the accelerator pedal 20. When braking is necessary, the driver with relatively short legs first slightly raises the foot FT from the floor F so that the heel is disconnected from point H and the leg is shifted sidewise to the brake pedal 24. In this movement, the entire leg is raised as a fulcrum relative to the point PF. The driver then turns the entire leg relative to plane I-I to plane II-II and moves it down in order to press on the brake pedal 24. [0008]In the second mode, which is more typical of a driver with relatively long legs, the driver merely turns the foot FT relative to the point H in order to brake from the position on the accelerator pedal 20. [0009]In reality, the aforementioned movements are more complicated and may comprise a combination of both movements simultaneously. In the context of the present patent application, movement of the foot from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal also includes the movement of pushing on the brake pedal until actual initiation of the brakes, i.e., to the moment when the brake lights are ignited. [0010]It is important to consider the aforementioned movements with regard to the time of braking. The inventor has experimentally proven that when a human being accomplishes braking movements on the basis of subconscious reflexes, the aforementioned movements are not at all optional. In other words, there exists a certain unnatural position of the pedal-controlling leg that can provide a more optimal breaking condition, i.e., the condition that allows the shortening of braking time and hence of the braking path. [0011]Heretofore many studies have been conducted to improve the ergonomics for a vehicle driver. For example, "Survey of Auto Seat Design Recommendations for Improved Comfort" by M. P. Reed, et al. (University of Michigan, Transportation Research Institute, Ann Arbor), 1994 contains a review of a large body of literature with emphasis on fit parameters related to anthropometric measurements, feel parameters, including pressure distribution and vapor permeability, and support parameters defined with respect to seating posture. Particular attention is given to appropriate lumbar support configuration. [0012]U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,355 issued in 2001 to W. Fay, III discloses an easily adjustable foot-operated pedal assembly, such as a brake pedal for use in heavy equipment, that can be placed in multiple positions to accommodate people of differing heights and body shapes. [0013]U.S. Pat. No. 7,051,613 issued in 2006 to Burton, et al, discloses an adjustable pedal assembly for a vehicle that includes an adjustment bracket adapted for mounting on a vehicle, and the adjustment bracket includes a pair of outwardly extending side portions having a vertically extending arcuate slot. The adjustable pedal assembly also includes a pedal arm pivotally attached to the adjustment bracket using a pivot pin, such that an end of the pivot pin is slidably disposed within the arcuate slot in the adjustment bracket. The adjustable pedal assembly further includes a pedal pad mounted to the pedal arm and a pedal adjustment mechanism operatively attached to the pedal arm for adjusting the position of the pedal arm along a predetermined path such that the pivot pin is slidably positioned in the arcuate slot relative to the predetermined path of the pedal arm in order to ergonomically position the pedal pad. [0014]U.S. Pat. No. 7,077,476 issued in 2006 to McMillen relates to an ergonomic weight support device for a driver's or a passenger's seat. Among other elements of the seat carcass attention is drawn to a thigh support. However, the main emphasis of this patent is on development of a universal ergonomic support that occupies less space, costs less to manufacture and install, simplifies manufacture, decreases needed components, and uses a more robust mechanism for supporting the weight of a human passenger. [0015]The necessity for raising an under-thigh support is mentioned in many advertisements of modern cars. For example, in "Nissan 350Z GT--MotorBar Road Test" it is stated that "a raised bolster in the middle of the seat cushion helps give extra under-thigh support for more precise operation of the pedal." In the pamphlet titled "Follow-Up Test: 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8" it is stated that "the long-haul comfort is commendable too, with excellent under-thigh support and feeling of the seats wrapping around." [0016]However, all of these under-thigh support means relate to ergonomically profiled seats and do not provide positive and adjustable means for finding and securing a position of the leg most optimal for shortening reaction time from the moment the driver sees a danger to the moment of pressing on the brake pedal. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0017]It is an object of the invention to provide a combination of a car seat with an under-thigh support for shortening brake activation reaction time and for reducing the driver's fatigue. It is another object to provide an under-thigh pillow for a driver of a vehicle that can be placed in the position most optimal for shortening brake activation reaction time. A further object is to provide the aforementioned under-thigh pillow with means for securing the pillow in an appropriate position on the driver's seat and for securing the driver's leg in the position required for minimal braking time. Still another object is to provide an adjustable under-thigh support that is built into the driver's seat. [0018]The present invention provides an under-thigh support and restrainer for use in combination with a driver's car seat. According to one embodiment of the invention, the device is made in the form of a pillow having a flat lower surface that during use is maintained in contact with the surface of the seat cushion and an upper thigh-supporting surface which in the working position is tapered in the direction from the edge of the seat cushion toward the driver and is used for supporting the driver's thigh and hence the driver's leg in the position required for minimal time from detection of danger to activation of the brakes. The device is intended not only for comfortably supporting the driver's right leg in the aforementioned position but also for maintaining the leg in this position by using restraining means such as snaps, hooks and loops, and, in particular, hook- and loop-type fasteners which are commercially available under the trademark Velcro, or other fasteners that can be easily and automatically disconnected from the leg in case of emergency. The under-thigh pillow of the invention may have the aforementioned hook and loop fasteners on the lower surface if the seat cushion is not made from leather but rather from a material that can be easily engaged with such fasteners. If the seat cushion is made from leather or another smooth material with a low coefficient of friction, the triangular pillow can be used in combination with a seat cushion case that can be easily placed onto the seat cushion and can be made from a material that can be engaged with the Velcro-type straps so that the pillow with the restraining straps can be attached to the cushion case in the position most optimal for shortening the braking time. According to still another embodiment, the under-thigh support pillow is built into the driver's seat and can be maintained in the seat cushion in a hidden position inside the seat cushion with the upper surface of the pillow in the same plane as the surface of the cushion or can be raised to the aforementioned position most optimal for the specific driver with regard to his/her weight, height, and posture. In addition to the functional features associated with optimal conditions for braking, the under-thigh pillow reduces muscle strains and driver fatigue. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0019]FIG. 1 is a side view on the driver's leg as a biomechanical system. [0020]FIG. 2 is a view in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1. Continue reading about Device for shortening brake activation reaction time... Full patent description for Device for shortening brake activation reaction time Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Device for shortening brake activation reaction time patent application. Patent Applications in related categories: 20090289481 - Adjustable bolster assembly - An adjustable bolster assembly is provided for use with a seat assembly. The adjustable bolster assembly includes a mounting bracket configured to be fixedly secured to the seat assembly. The adjustable bolster assembly also includes a pair of side bolster paddles. Each of the side bolster paddles is operatively mounted ... ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Device for shortening brake activation reaction time or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Rocking chair and anti-skid base Next Patent Application: Seat device Industry Class: Chairs and seats ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Device for shortening brake activation reaction time patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.30062 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , 174 |
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