GB2449494A

GB2449494A - Compressible fuel economy device for a vehicle accelerator lever

Info

Publication number: GB2449494A
Application number: GB0710045A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Bond
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-05-25
Filing date: 2007-05-25
Publication date: 2008-11-26
Also published as: GB0710045D0

Abstract

A fuel economy device 1 for a motor vehicle which can be fixed to either an accelerator lever 3, or a floor, bulkhead or handlebar 5, offers variable resistance when the user depresses the accelerator lever, and returning to its original shape when the force is removed. Numerous embodiments include: sponge-like materials; kits with attachment means; integral moulding with a mat; arrangements of slits for fitting around the lever (figs 3-12 and 18-19); the use of closed cells to resist permanent deformation; layers of materials with different compression resistances; and plastic or metal springs. The closed cells may contain gas, liquids or beads.

Description

1 2449494

Description

Fuel Economy Device The invention relates to a device for saving fuel in motor driven vehicles.

Background

High fuel consumption had been attributed largely to poor driving habits, particularly in the accelera-tion phase.

To reach urban speed limits in a modem car typically requires a fraction of the vehicles potential en-gine power. Habitually depressing the accelerator hard from a standstill, consumes more fuel than a gradual increase in revolutions of the engine. The motorist may be unaware of the detrimental effect fast acceleration has on fuel consumption. It is desirable in this era of high fuel costs and high carbon emissions to minimize fuel consumption.

The object of the present invention is to permit the operator to follow an optimum mode of operation during vehicle acceleration to attain fuel economy.

Another object of the invention is to permit the operator to override this influence so as not to suppress the operator's will or ability to overtake and pass another vehicle safely.

The foregoing objectives are achieved in the present invention by providing restraint to the accelerator direction of increasing fuel to the engine. Whilst increasing physical force to the accelerator overrides the restraining effect.

The Invention The current invention proposes a fuel economy device to react with the accelerator pedal lever and the floor or bulkhead, to offer variable resistance when the accelerator pedal is manually depressed, the device returning to its uncompressed shape or state when the compressive force is removed.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a device comprising a three dimensional sponge-like device to facilitate repeated compression and decompression, retaining a memory of its uncompressed shape.

"Shape" in this context is used describe an extrusion, pressing, die or moulding before deformation.

"Sponge-like" describes the spring qualities of deformation, enabling the material of the invention to return to its former shape, the invention should resist absorption of liquids, in one embodiment a closed cell construction repels and resists liquids applied to the outer surface of the device, closed cells of the device may contain oil, liquid, gas, air, fibrous, bead or sponge-like material to enable repeated compression and decompression of the device without permanent deformation taking place, when in contact with the floor or bulkhead and accelerator pedal armature.

Decompression of the device takes place when the compressive force is removed from the accelerator lever, the device returns materially to its former shape or state is affixed in position, enabling manual positioning on the accelerator lever, enabling torque or leverage adjustment with regard to compres-sion of the shape.

Said device may be in the form of a kit of parts and may comprise a shape attached with cable ties, screws, bolts, rivets, hook and loop, adhesive, catches, intended to be used to form a said device.

Configurations may have sculptured decorative or functional shapes, which may be combined for functional and atheistic effect.

According to another aspect of the invention, the device can be attached to the accelerator pedal lever or to the bulkhead, floor, mat or carpet or moulded as an integral part of a an armature, mat or carpet; such devices may comprise any one or more of the following features, as the case will allow: A coni-cal, domed, wedge, cylindrical, coiled, cuboid, or spherical shape or a combination of shapes to allow for a progressive or non-progressive amount of effort to be a applied when an armature is depressed: attached to a floor, bulkhead or armature; the invention could be rolled around an lever; the design may be attached using cable ties, hook and loop, flexible straps, screws, bolts or adhesives; the device may be hollow or have a bore at its centre to accommodate an lever, typically the bore will be nar-rower than the lever to present a tight fit; silt along the length of one side adjoining the bore; the slit may be interlocking, spiral, curved or straight in the way that a clam shell mirrors on the un-joined edge to enable an absolute fit; fitting around a lever afforded by bore and securing with hook and loop or cable ties or double sided adhesive tape; the ties may have holding channels, holes or lugs; securing straps may be bonded to the body of the invention or shape or may be separate and replaceable with different profiles to change the required application of pedal pressure to suit the driver and vehicle.

A rigid or semi-rigid material may be joined to the sponge-like material to strengthen and focus the area of deformation when compressed, the semi rigid material may be used for fixing to a lever or bulkhead, the sponge-like material may be layered or sandwiched, to provide vaiying degrees of resistance when compressed, or to assist expansion when decompressed.

In another embodiment the device is made of a spring metal or plastic, clipped to the lever of the ac-celerator, the shape of the device could be circular, oval, triangular affording distortion when under compression and returning to its former shape when released from compression by the user. The de-vice may be clipped to the lever by means of sprung clips requiring reasonable force to secure around the lever in the same manner as a crocodile clip grips, but shaped and roughened or sharpened to grip the lever.

The shape of the device may embody text, slogans, trademarks, or emulate specific objects or people, be fiorescent, luminescent, or internally lit, depending on the requirement, or tailor made to suit re-quirements, the device may be marketed as a part of a related or unrelated product or service.

Displays of the device could be arranged for promotion on cards or displays demonstrating the posi-tion in situ on an accelerator pedal lever.

The device may be individually wrapped for inclusion in cereal packets or to giveaway in store or dis-played on a publication.

The device for domestic car use may be substantially 20mm to 120mm long preferably substantially 50mm to 70mm long and substantially 3/4 of any of these sizes in width, e.g. 100mm long by 75mm wide or spherical within these parameters. Suitable examples were made by: Drayton Foam Ltd Drayton House Enterprise Way Maiden Road Industrial Estate Flitwiclc Bedfordsh ire MK45 SBX

Claims

Claims 1. The current invention proposes a fuel economy device affixed

to the accelerator lever or the floor, bulkhead or handlebar, to offer variable resistance when the accelerator pedal is manually depressed by the user, the device returning to its uncompressed shape or state when the compressive force applied by the user is removed and the accelerator lever is able to return to it's at rest position.
2. A fuel economy device according to claim 1, attached to the accelerator lever.
3. A fuel economy device according to claim I, attached to the floor, bulkhead, handlebar or mat.
4. A fuel economy device according to the previous claims, of any shape able to deform under compression and revert to it's moulded shape when the compressive force is removed.
5. A fuel economy according to the preceding claims fitted in the driver's compartment with-out need to open the engine compartment.
6. A fuel economy device according to claim I, comprising a metal Archimedes spiral metal section, spring or cylinder.
7. A fuel economy device according to claim 1, comprising layers of material offering differ-ent compressive and expansive resistance.
8. A fuel economy device according to the preceding claims displaying a figurative shape.
9. A fuel economy device displaying an embossed or moulded shape, object, trademark or logo.
10. A fuel economy device according to claim 4, filled with a gas or liquid.
11. A fuel economy device according to claim 4, with a borehole about its centre and a lateral cut accommodating the accelerator lever.
12. A fuel economy device according to claim ii, with an interlocking cut along its length to accommodate an accelerator lever.
13. A fuel economy device according to claim 4, comprising a foam spiral to wrap around the accelerator lever.
14. A fuel economy device according to the preceding claims attached to the lever, bulkhead, floor or handlebar using straps, adhesives, bolts, rivets, loop and hook or clips in combina-tion or singularity.
15. A fuel saving device according to claim 14, with recesses to hold straps in position
16. A fuel economy device according to the preceding claims, displaying a logotype, trade name or slogan.
17. A fuel economy device according to claims I, with detachable profiles to Suit driver and vehicle preferences.
18. A fuel economy device according the preceding claims containing a, luminescent, constant or intermittent light source.
19. A fuel economy device according to the preceding claims containing scent, perfume or anti-bacterial liquid.
20. A fuel economy device according to claim 1, able to release atomised liquid when squeezed or compressed.
21. A fuel economy device according to claim 1, given away as part of an awareness campaign or promotion.
22. A fuel economy device sold as a kit of parts.
23. A fuel economy device according to the previous claims, attached to a magazine or periodical.
24. A fuel economy device, sold with a dissimilar product.
25. A fuel economy device according to the previous claims available in different colours or a combination of colours.
26. A fuel economy device attached to a working model of an accelerator pedal.
27. A fuel economy device according to claim I, used for promotion of an organisation, political party, registered charity, limited company, or individual.