Adjustable pedal apparatus

• US 20010039849A1
• Filed: 02/13/2001
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grand Haven Stamped Products Company (JSJ Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Grand Haven Stamped Products Company (JSJ Corporation)
• Inventors: Fisher, Daniel J., Brock, Robert D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,564,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/36 Mounting units comprising an assembly of two or more pedals, e.g. for facilitating mounting
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20534 Accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/209 Extension

Abstract

A pedal-supporting apparatus includes a bracket support configured to pivotally support a brake pedal subassembly and an accelerator pedal subassembly. The brake pedal subassembly includes a first upper portion and a brake pedal coupled to the first upper portion by an adjustment device comprising a vertically-elongated C-shaped track and follower. A rack on the track is engaged by a worm gear for adjusting the brake pedal location. The accelerator pedal subassembly is supported by an adjustment device like the brake pedal subassembly, and has a second rack on its track engaged by a worm gear for adjusting the accelerator pedal location. A reversible electric motor includes a rotatable shaft and a driving gear, and gear-driven cables engage the driving gear and extend to the worm gears so that the brake pedal and accelerator pedal are simultaneously and equally adjusted upon actuation of the motor. The tracks can be linear or arcuate.

Claims

1. An adjustable pedal apparatus comprising:

a support configured for attachment to a vehicle;

a pedal-supporting subassembly with an upper portion pivotally engaging the support, a lower portion supporting a pedal construction, and a track adjustment mechanism connecting the upper and lower portions, the track adjustment mechanism including a track having an elongated vertical dimension and having a cross section with upper and lower flanges that stiffen the track, and a follower slidably engaging the track;

an actuator coupled to the pedal-supporting member and adapted for operative connection to a control system of a vehicle for operating the control system when the pedal-supporting member is moved; and

an adjuster for adjusting the pedal construction including a rack oriented parallel the track and attached to one of the track and the pedal construction, and further including a driven gear operably supported on the other of the track and the pedal construction for operably engaging the rack to adjust the pedal construction along the track, and still further including a motor for rotating the driven gear.

2. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 1

, wherein the follower is hat-shaped, and includes edges shaped to slidably engage the upper and lower flanges for linear movement.

3. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 1

, wherein the rack is integrated into the follower.

4. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 1

, wherein the pedal includes a brake pedal and wherein the actuator includes a push rod adapted for coupling to a vehicle brake system.

5. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 1

, wherein the pedal includes an accelerator pedal and wherein an actuator includes a linkage adapted for coupling to an engine control system.

6. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 1

, wherein the first-mentioned pedal includes a brake pedal, and further including:

an accelerator pedal-supporting subassembly pivotally engaging the support, the accelerator pedal-supporting subassembly including an upper portion with a second track having an elongated vertical dimension and having a cross section with upper and lower second flanges that stiffen the second track;

a second actuator coupled to the accelerator pedal-supporting subassembly and adapted for operative connection to a second control system of a vehicle for operating the second control system when the accelerator pedal-supporting subassembly is moved;

the subassembly further including an accelerator pedal construction including a downwardly hanging accelerator pedal and a second follower slidably engaging the second track; and

a second adjuster for adjusting the accelerator pedal construction including a second rack oriented parallel the second linear track and attached to one of the second track and the accelerator pedal construction, and further including a second driven gear operably supported on the other of the second track and the accelerator pedal construction for operably engaging the second rack to adjust the accelerator pedal construction along the second track, the motor being also connected to the second driven gear for rotating the second driven gear.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a support configured for attachment to a vehicle;

a brake-pedal-supporting subassembly pivotally engaging the support, the brake-pedal-supporting subassembly including a first upper portion pivoted to the support, a first lower portion, and a first adjustment device that defines a first track having an elongated vertical dimension and having a C-shaped cross section;

a push rod pivotally connected to the first upper portion and adapted for operative connection to a brake system of a vehicle for operating the brake system when the first upper portion is moved;

the first lower portion including a brake pedal construction having a downwardly hanging brake pedal and a first follower slidably engaging the first track;

a first drive device operably associated with the first track and the first follower for adjustably moving the brake pedal construction along the first track;

an accelerator-pedal-supporting subassembly pivotally engaging the support, the accelerator-pedal-supporting subassembly including a second upper portion pivoted to the support, a second lower portion, and a second adjustment device that defines a second linear track having an elongated vertical dimension and having a C-shaped cross section;

an actuator member operably connected to the second upper portion and adapted for operative connection to an engine control device of a vehicle for controlling operation of a vehicle engine when the second upper portion is moved;

the second lower portion including an accelerator pedal construction including a downwardly hanging accelerator pedal and a second follower slidably engaging the second track;

a second drive device operably associated with the second track and the second follower for adjustably moving the accelerator pedal construction along the second track;

a single motor for simultaneously motivating the first and second drive devices; and

wherein the first and second drive devices include first and second elongated flexible drive means, respectively, each extending from the single motor to the first and second tracks, respectively.

8. An adjustable pedal apparatus comprising:

a support;

a brake-pedal subassembly pivoted to the support and including a brake pedal and a first adjustment mechanism for adjusting a position of the brake pedal;

an accelerator-pedal subassembly pivoted to the support and including an accelerator pedal and a second adjustment mechanism for adjusting a position of the accelerator pedal; and

an adjuster including a motor with a rotatable shaft having a driven gear, a first drive cable connected to the driven gear and to the first adjustment mechanism for driving the first adjustment mechanism, and a second drive cable connected to the driven gear and to the second adjustment mechanism for driving the second adjustment mechanism.

9. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 8

, wherein the brake-pedal subassembly includes a brake-pedal supporting member pivoted to the support, and wherein the first adjustment mechanism adjustably supports the brake pedal on the brake-pedal supporting member for linear adjustment.

10. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 8

, wherein the accelerator-pedal subassembly includes a accelerator-pedal supporting member pivoted to the support, and wherein the second adjustment mechanism adjustably supports the accelerator pedal on the accelerator-pedal supporting member for adjustment.

11. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 8

, including a first connector connected to the brake-pedal supporting member and adapted for connection to a first vehicle control component, and a second connector connected to the accelerator-pedal supporting member and adapted for connection to a second vehicle control component, the adjuster being configured to simultaneously re-position the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal without affecting a position or operation of the first and second connectors.

12. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 8

, wherein the first and second adjustment mechanisms have an elongated vertical dimension for improved torsional strength.

13. An adjustable pedal apparatus comprising:

a support configured for attachment to a vehicle;

a pedal-supporting subassembly with an upper portion pivotally engaging the support, a lower portion supporting a pedal construction, and an adjustment mechanism connecting the upper and lower portions, the adjustment mechanism including a curved track and a follower slidably engaging the track that define a virtual pivot; and

an adjuster for adjusting the pedal construction including a rack extending along the track and attached to one of the track and the pedal construction, and further including a driven gear operably supported on the other of the track and the pedal construction for operably engaging the rack to adjust the pedal construction along the track.

14. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 13

, wherein the virtual pivot is spaced between 350 mm to 800 mm from the pedal pad.

15. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 14

, wherein the virtual pivot is spaced between 400 mm and 700 mm from the pedal pad.

16. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 15

, wherein the virtual pivot is spaced between 500 mm and 600 mm from the pedal pad.

17. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 13

, wherein the ratio of the distance of the virtual pivot from the pedal pad, divided by the distance of the virtual pivot to the centerline of the curved track, is in a range of 1.3:

1 to 3.5;

1.

18. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 17

, wherein the ratio of the distance of the virtual pivot from the pedal pad, divided by the distance of the virtual pivot to the centerline of the curved track, is in a range of 1.5:

1 to 2.5;

1.

19. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 18

, wherein the ratio of the distance of the virtual pivot from the pedal pad, divided by the distance of the virtual pivot to the centerline of the curved track, is in a range of 1.5:

1 to 2.0;

1.

20. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 13

, wherein the curved track is a curved shaft and the follower is a collar which, slides over the track.

21. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 13

, wherein the curved track is a curved shaft and the follower is a collar, which slides inside the track.

22. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 13

, wherein the curved track has a cross section with an elongated vertical dimension and has upper and lower flanges that stiffen the curved track.

23. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 13

, further including a second pedal-supporting subassembly including an upper portion with a second curved track having a cross section with an elongated vertical dimension and having upper and lower second flanges that stiffen the second track;

the subassembly further including a second pedal construction including a downwardly hanging pedal and a second follower slidably engaging the second curved track; and

a second adjuster for adjusting the second pedal construction including a second rack oriented along the second track and attached to one of the second track and the pedal construction, and further including a second drive gear operably supported on the other of the second track and the second pedal construction for operably engaging the second rack to adjust the second pedal construction along the second track, and further including a second drive cable operably connected to the first-mentioned driven gear and to the second driven gear for rotating the second driven gear.

24. An adjustable pedal apparatus comprising:

an upper portion adapted to pivotally engage a vehicle support; and

a lower lever portion supporting a pedal pad; and

an adjustment mechanism connecting the upper and lower portions, the adjustment mechanism including a curved track and a follower slidably engaging the track to define a virtual pivot spaced away from the track so that the pedal pad follows a predetermined arcuate path as the follower is slidably adjusted along the curved track.

25. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 24

, wherein the curved track is elongated and comprises a curved channel.

26. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 25

, wherein the follower is hat-shaped and also elongated to define a curve complementary to the curved track.

27. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 26

, wherein the hat-shape of the follower defines a longitudinally extending recess, and including a row of teeth formed along the recess.

28. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 27

, including a gear box adapted to receive and engage an actuator cable, the gear box including a gear operably engaged with the row of teeth and including a driving member configured to rotate the gear and to be rotated by the actuator cable.

29. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 24

, where the virtual pivot is spaced between 350 mm to 800 mm from the pedal pad.

30. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 29

, where the virtual pivot is spaced between 400 mm and 700 mm from the pedal pad.

31. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 30

, where the virtual pivot is spaced between 500 mm and 600 mm from the pedal pad.

32. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 24

, where the ratio of the distance of the virtual pivot from the pedal pad, divided by the distance of the virtual pivot to the centerline of the curved track, is in a range of 1.3:

1 to 3.5;

1.

33. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 32

, where the ratio of the distance of the virtual pivot from the pedal pad, divided by the distance of the virtual pivot to the centerline of the curved track, is in a range of 1.5:

1 to 2.5;

1.

34. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in

claim 33

, where the ratio of the distance of the virtual pivot from the pedal pad, divided by the distance of the virtual pivot to the centerline of the curved track, is in a range of 1.5:

1 to 2.0;

1.