Vehicle brake warning light system accelerator pedal switch

Claim 1

In a vehicle equipped with a battery, a brake light, a normally open brake light switch connected between the battery and brake light, a brake pedal for closing the brake light switch when depressed to thereby energize the brake light, a foot pressure operated accelerator means for accelerating the vehicle, and a vehicle brake warning light system for energizing said brake light for a given time period In response to removal of an operator''s foot pressure on the accelerator means, a normally closed pedal switch for said foot operated accelerator means responsive to a given pressure applied by the operator''s foot to open and responsive to removal of the operator''s foot to close, said accelerator pedal switch including lower and upper plates having overlapping spaced flange portions so that they can move towards and away from each other over a limited distance; spring means between said plates biasing them apart; a fixed contact on the lower plate comprising one side of the switch; a flexible metal member connected to the lower plate in juxtaposed relation to said fixed contact comprising the other side of said switch connected to ground, said flexible metal member being bowed upwardly to engage said fixed contact in the absence of foot pressure on said pedal switch, foot pressure on the pedal switch urging the upper plate towards the lower plate; and projecting means on the upper plate engaging the metal member to cause it to assume a reversed bowed position when said upper plate moves towards the lower plate to result in a snap action which breaks the engagement of the metal member with said fixed contact thereby opening the pedal switch.