Ergonomic apparatus for controlling a vehicle

• Main Authors: SCHOCH; PAUL T, SCHOCH, JR.; MARVIN G
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 16.11.1993
• Edition: 5
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS INVEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OFTRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GASEXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS, IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BYMECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY; CONTROLLING; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; REGULATING; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

An apparatus is provided for ergonomically controlling a vehicle. A vertical control stick provides acceleration, brake, and turn functions in the vehicle. The apparatus may include a pivotal attachment or a slidable attachment at the lower end of the stick to a fixed surface in the vehicle. The stick is restricted to movement along the line of direction of the vehicle, both forward and rearward, of a neutral stick position. A braking means is interconnected with the stick such that movement of the stick forward from the neutral stick position causes vehicle braking. Similarly, an acceleration means is interconnected with the stick such that movement of the stick rearward from the neutral stick position causes vehicle acceleration. A steering collar on the stick is included such that the collar may be manually rotated about the longitudinal axis of the stick in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions from a neutral collar position. Clockwise rotation of the collar away from the neutral collar position causes the vehicle to turn to the right, and counterclockwise rotation of the collar away from the neutral collar position causes the vehicle to turn to the left. A console is mounted on an upper end of the stick. The console has a control panel with a plurality of controls for thumb actuation so that a single hand can provide manual control of the stick, the collar, and the control panel. The controls may include turn signal controls, horn actuation controls, low-high headlight beam controls, windshield wiper controls, windshield washer controls, speed range controls, gear range selection controls, and the like. Status indicators are further included on the console to provide vehicle status information.