Safety device for actuating a brake

Claim 2

In a motor vehicle having a seat for an operator and a brake for controlling such vehicle, means for actuating such brake, which means is automatically responsive to the presence and absence of an operator in his seat, comprising a movable member associated with said seat and operatively connected to said brake, such movable member being movable from a first position in which such member acts to disengage the vehicle brake when the operator is in a normal driving position on said seat, to a second position in which such member acts to disengage said brake when the operator is not in a normal driving position on said seat, the movable member consisting of a two part seat back, one part of which is non-movable and conventionally attached to the base of the seat, and the other part of which is movable, and hinged to the non-movable part and subject to the pressure of a spring which will cause such movable part to rotate around its hinge in the absence of the force of a vehicle leaning against the seat back when said operator is in a normal driving position.

Claim 3

In a motor vehicle having a seat for an operator and a brake for controlling such vehicle, means for actuating such brake, which means is automatically responsive to the presence and absence of an operator in his seat, comprising a movable member associated with said seat and operatively connected to said brake, such movable member being movable from a first position in which such member acts to disengage the vehicle brake when the operator is in a normal driving position on said seat, to a second position in which such member acts to disengage said brake when the operator is not in a normal driving position on said seat, the movable member being movable from a neutral position in which said brake may be either engaged or disengaged when an operator is in a normal driving position on said seat, to an active position in which said movable member acts to engage said brake when the operator is not in a normal driving position on said seat, in combination with means for manually operating said brake comprising an element operatively connected to said brake, which may be manually controlled by the operator to either engage said brake regardless of the position of the operator and the aforementioned movable member, or to disengage said brake, but only if the operator is in a normal driving position and said movable member is in its neutral position, the operative connection between the movable member and the vehicle brake consisting of a mechanical linkage comprising a support member or bracket attached to the said movable member, a connecting meMber attached at one end to the support member, and at the other end to the actuating lever of a conventional brake system, such linkage providing a lost motion and unidirectionally operating connection between said movable member and said actuating lever, combined with means for manually operating the vehicle brake comprising a second movable member operatively connected to said brake and having two positions such that when said movable member is placed in one position the vehicle brake will be engaged, and when said movable member is placed in its second position the brake will be disengaged.

Claim 4

In a motor vehicle having a seat for an operator and a brake for controlling such vehicle, means for actuating such brake, which means is automatically responsive to the presence and absence of an operator in his seat, comprising a movable member associated with said seat and operatively connected to said brake, such movable member being movable from a first position in which such member acts to disengage the vehicle brake when the operator is in a normal driving position on said seat, to a second position in which such member acts to disengage said brake when the operator is not in a normal driving position on said seat, the movable member being movable from a neutral position in which said brake may be either engaged or disengaged when an operator is in a normal driving position on said seat, to an active position in which said movable member acts to engage said brake when the operator is not in a normal driving position on said seat, in combination with means for manually operating said brake comprising an element operatively connected to said brake, which may be manually controlled by the operator to either engage said brake regardless of the position of the operator and the aforementioned movable member, or to disengage said brake, but only if the operator is in a normal driving position and said movable member is in its neutral position, the operative connection between the movable member and the vehicle brake consisting of a mechanical linkage comprising a support member or bracket attached to the said movable member, a connecting meMber attached at one end to the support member, and at the other end to the actuating lever of a conventional brake system, such linkage providing a lost motion and unidirectionally operating connection between said movable member and said actuating lever, combined with means for manually operating the vehicle brake comprising a second movable member operatively connected to said brake and having two positions such that when said movable member is placed in one position the vehicle brake will be engaged, and when said movable member is placed in its second position the brake will be disengaged.

Claim 5

In a motor vehicle having a seat for an operator and a brake for controlling said vehicle, a brake-activating assembly for automatically engaging said brake in response to the operator''s not being seated for normal driving and for allowing the same to be manually disengaged by the operator when the operator is seated for normal driving, comprising: a two-part seat back including a lower stationary part and an upper part hinged to the lower part under spring bias tending to urge said upper part to a position in which, in the absence of a driver not seated for normal driving, it projects forwardly from the lower part; means operable by movement of said upper part to said forwardly projecting position for engaging said brake and for leaving the same engaged on return movement of the lower part; and manually operable brake-disengaging means disposed for ready access to an operator when the operator is seated for normal driving.

Claim 6

In a motor vehicle having a seat for an operator and a brake for controlling said vehicle, a brake-activating assembly for automatically engaging said brake in response to the operator''s not being seated for normal driving and for allowing the same to be manually disengaged by the operator when the operator is seated for normal driving, comprising: a two-part seat back including a lower stationary part and an upper part hinged to the lower part under spring bias tending to urge said upper part to a position in which, in the absence of a driver not seated for normal driving, it projects forwardly from the lower part; means operable by movement of said upper part to said forwardly projecting position for engaging said brake and for leaving the same engaged on return movement of the lower part; and manually operable brake-disengaging means disposed for ready access to an operator when the operator is seated for normal driving.

Claim 7

A brake-activating assembly as in claim 3 wherein said brake-engaging means includes a brake-control valve on the lower part of the seat back and a lost-motion connection between the valve and the upper part of the seat back for operating the valve to a brake-engaging position following a predetermined amount of travel of said upper part toward the forwardly projecting position thereof.

Claim 8

A brake-activating assembly as in claim 4 in which the manually operable means for disengaging the brake includes a handle mounted upon the vehicle seat and a linkage connected between the handle and the valve for operating the valve to a brake-disengaging position responsive to throw of the handle by the operator when seated for normal driving.