{
  "patent_number": "US 2519859",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "Ralph Teetor's Speed Control Device for Automobiles",
  "original_title": "Speed control device for resisting operation of the accelerator",
  "summary": "A 1948 invention by Ralph Teetor that introduced the mechanical foundation for modern cruise control by creating a system to resist accelerator pedal movement at a set speed.",
  "what_it_does": "The device acts as a mechanical governor for an automobile's accelerator pedal. It uses a speed-sensing mechanism connected to the vehicle's drivetrain to monitor velocity. When the car reaches a pre-selected speed, the device engages a resistance mechanism that pushes back against the driver's foot on the gas pedal. This provides tactile feedback to the driver, effectively signaling or maintaining a constant speed by making it physically difficult to accelerate further without intentional effort.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover fully electronic drive-by-wire throttle systems.",
    "Does not cover automatic braking or collision avoidance systems.",
    "Does not cover systems that maintain speed without providing physical feedback to the pedal."
  ],
  "filed": "1948-08-11",
  "granted": "1950-08-22",
  "expires": "1968-08-11",
  "status": "expired",
  "holder": "Individual",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/individual",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Ralph R Teetor",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/ralph-r-teetor"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 23,
  "tags": [
    "automotive",
    "mechanical"
  ],
  "abstract": null,
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2519859/cruise-control-teetor",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2519859/cruise-control-teetor/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US2519859",
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}