Modular pedal assembly for vehicles
First Claim
1. A modular pedal assembly for use with a vehicle, the vehicle including a prime mover, and a brake assembly, the pedal assembly comprising:
- a base removably connected with the vehicle;
a brake pedal having a brake pedal pad and a brake pedal lever arm connected thereto, the brake pedal movably coupled with the base and operatively coupleable with the brake assembly;
a parking brake pedal having a parking brake pedal pad and a parking brake pedal lever arm connected thereto, the parking brake pedal movably coupled with the base and wherein the parking brake lever arm is slidingly engageable and nested within a slotted portion of the brake pedal lever arm substantially over the length of the brake pedal lever arm;
an accelerator pedal having an accelerator pedal pad and an accelerator pedal lever arm, the accelerator pedal movably coupled with the base so as to be displaceable between a first position and a second position;
a control output regulator coupled to the accelerator pedal and including a first sensor and a second sensor, and electrically connected with the prime mover when the base is connected with the vehicle;
wherein the first sensor enables operation of the prime mover and the second sensor generates a control signal for operation of the prime mover; and
wherein the base has a top side having a top side face and an opposing bottom side having an opposing bottom side face, the opposing bottom side face defining a mounting surface for connection to the vehicle and located opposite the top side face, wherein the brake pedal is pivotably coupled with the base, wherein the accelerator pedal arm is pivotably connected to the base, wherein the brake pedal pad and an accelerator pedal pad of the accelerator are located on the top side, wherein a pivot point of the brake pedal and a pivot point of the accelerator pedal are disposed on the opposing bottom side of the base and offset from the bottom side face in a direction away from the top side face, and wherein the accelerator pedal arm extends through the base past the top side and past the bottom side such that a portion of the accelerator pedal arm resides past the top side face and a portion of the accelerator pedal arm resides past the bottom side face; and
wherein the top side of the base includes a top side length and a top side width, wherein the top side length is greater than the top side width, wherein the top side length has a first end opposite a second end, and wherein the parking brake pedal and the accelerator pedal are located between the first end and the second end.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular pedal assembly for use with a vehicle that includes a prime mover, a control circuit, and a brake assembly. The modular pedal assembly including a base that is removably connectable with the vehicle, a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal that is displaceable between a first position and a second position, and a control output regulator that includes a first sensor and a second sensor. In a vehicle having an electric motor prime mover, the first sensor is a limit switch electrically connected to the control circuit, and the second sensor is a variable resistor. In a vehicle having an internal combustion engine prime mover, the first sensor is a limit switch operable to control a starter motor, and the second sensor is a limit switch operable to control a spark plug ignition.
46 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A modular pedal assembly for use with a vehicle, the vehicle including a prime mover, and a brake assembly, the pedal assembly comprising:
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a base removably connected with the vehicle; a brake pedal having a brake pedal pad and a brake pedal lever arm connected thereto, the brake pedal movably coupled with the base and operatively coupleable with the brake assembly; a parking brake pedal having a parking brake pedal pad and a parking brake pedal lever arm connected thereto, the parking brake pedal movably coupled with the base and wherein the parking brake lever arm is slidingly engageable and nested within a slotted portion of the brake pedal lever arm substantially over the length of the brake pedal lever arm; an accelerator pedal having an accelerator pedal pad and an accelerator pedal lever arm, the accelerator pedal movably coupled with the base so as to be displaceable between a first position and a second position; a control output regulator coupled to the accelerator pedal and including a first sensor and a second sensor, and electrically connected with the prime mover when the base is connected with the vehicle; wherein the first sensor enables operation of the prime mover and the second sensor generates a control signal for operation of the prime mover; and wherein the base has a top side having a top side face and an opposing bottom side having an opposing bottom side face, the opposing bottom side face defining a mounting surface for connection to the vehicle and located opposite the top side face, wherein the brake pedal is pivotably coupled with the base, wherein the accelerator pedal arm is pivotably connected to the base, wherein the brake pedal pad and an accelerator pedal pad of the accelerator are located on the top side, wherein a pivot point of the brake pedal and a pivot point of the accelerator pedal are disposed on the opposing bottom side of the base and offset from the bottom side face in a direction away from the top side face, and wherein the accelerator pedal arm extends through the base past the top side and past the bottom side such that a portion of the accelerator pedal arm resides past the top side face and a portion of the accelerator pedal arm resides past the bottom side face; and wherein the top side of the base includes a top side length and a top side width, wherein the top side length is greater than the top side width, wherein the top side length has a first end opposite a second end, and wherein the parking brake pedal and the accelerator pedal are located between the first end and the second end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A modular pedal assembly mountable as a module upon a vehicle having a brake assembly and adaptable for use on the vehicle having either a gas engine or an electric motor drive, the modular pedal assembly having a mounted state in which the modular pedal assembly is mounted in the vehicle and an unmounted state, the modular pedal assembly comprising:
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a base adapted to be mounted in a vehicle in the mounted state; a first pedal having a first pedal pad and a first pedal lever arm pivotally coupled to the base in the unmounted state of the modular pedal assembly and having a portion coupled to the brake assembly in the mounted state of the modular pedal assembly; a second pedal having a second pedal pad and a second pedal lever arm, the second pedal pivotally coupled to the base in the unmounted state of the modular pedal assembly and having a portion coupled to the drive in the mounted state of the modular pedal assembly, the second pedal having an unactuated state and an actuated state, the actuated state defined by pivotal movement of the second pedal with respect to the base; a third pedal having a third pedal pad and a third pedal lever arm nestingly received within the first pedal lever arm over a length of the first pedal lever arm between a pivot point and a bottom edge of the first pedal pad, the third pedal lever arm pivotally coupled to the base in the unmounted state of the modular pedal assembly and having a portion coupled to the brake assembly in the mounted state of the modular pedal assembly; a control output regulator coupled to the second pedal in the unmounted state of the modular pedal assembly and also electrically coupled to the drive assembly in the mounted state of the modular pedal assembly, the control output regulator adaptable to be used with vehicles driven by gas engines and electrical motors, the control output regulator having a sensor configured to detect the pivotal position of the second pedal and to communicate the position to drive in the mounted state of the modular pedal assembly; and an abutment connected to the first pedal configured to engage the third pedal after the third pedal pad is moved to a predetermined position causing the first pedal to move with the third pedal over a predetermined range of motion; wherein the base is in the form of an elongate shape that extends past opposing lateral sides of the first pedal and the second pedal such that both the first pedal and the second pedal are located between ends of the elongate shape; wherein the base further includes a peripheral boundary defining outer edges of a top side and outer edges of a bottom side, the peripheral boundary including a base front, base back, and opposing side ends, the peripheral boundary having an interior into which the pedals are disposed; wherein the opposing side ends each have a side end top side characterized by a side end length and a side end width, the side ends each also including a side end thickness smaller than the respective side end length and side end width, each side end top side extending in a direction coincident with a direction of the base top side; and wherein the top side of the base includes a top side face, the bottom side of the base includes a bottom side face, the bottom side face having a mounting surface for connection to the vehicle wherein the first pedal is pivotally coupled with the base a first distance away from the bottom side face in a direction away from the top side face, wherein the second pedal arm is pivotally connected at a pivot point with the base a second distance away from the bottom side face in a direction away from the top side face, and wherein the second pedal arm extends through the base past the top side and the past the bottom side such that a portion of the second pedal arm resides past the top side face and a portion of the accelerator pedal arm resides past the bottom side face. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification