Adjustable pedal assembly

• US 20030192394A1
• Filed: 05/28/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KSR IP Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: KSR International Company
• Inventors: Soteros, Rob, Kelloway, Dave, Burton, Pat, OʼNeill, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 7,051,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/512
• 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

Abstract

An adjustable pedal assembly for a vehicle includes an adjustment bracket adapted for mounting on a vehicle, and the adjustment bracket includes a pair of outwardly extending side portions having a vertically extending arcuate slot. The adjustable pedal assembly also includes a pedal arm pivotally attached to the adjustment bracket using a pivot pin, such that an end of the pivot pin is slidably disposed within the arcuate slot in the adjustment bracket. The adjustable pedal assembly further includes a pedal pad mounted to the pedal arm, and a pedal adjustment mechanism operatively attached to the pedal arm, for adjusting the position of the pedal arm along a predetermined path, such that the pivot pin is slidably positioned in the arcuate slot relative to the predetermined path of the pedal arm to ergonomically position the pedal pad.

Claims

1. An adjustable pedal assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a support bracket for attaching the pedal assembly to the vehicle;

an adjustment bracket pivotally mounted to said support bracket at a fixed pivot point, wherein the adjustment bracket includes a pair of outwardly extending side portions having a vertically extending arcuate slot;

a one piece pedal arm, wherein an upper end of said pedal arm is pivotally attached to said adjustment bracket using a pivot pin such that an end of said pivot pin is slidably disposed within the arcuate slot in said adjustment bracket;

a pedal pad mounted to a lower end of said pedal arm; and

a pedal adjustment mechanism operatively attached to said pedal arm, for adjusting the position of said pedal arm along a predetermined path, wherein said pivot pin is slidably positioned in the arcuate slot relative to the predetermined path of the pedal arm to ergonomically position the pedal pad.

2. A pedal assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a support bracket for attaching the pedal assembly to the vehicle, wherein the support bracket includes a mounting surface and a support arm extending from the mounting surface.

3. A pedal assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said adjustment bracket is a channel-shaped member and said side portions extend outwardly from an upper portion of said channel-shaped member.

4. A pedal assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein an end of said pivot pin is elongated so that the pedal arm is slidably supported in the arcuate slot.

5. The pedal assembly of claim 1, wherein said pedal adjusting mechanism includes a motor, a screw member operatively connected to said motor and a jack screw operatively connected to said screw member at one end and said pedal arm at an other end.

6. An adjustable accelerator pedal assembly for a vehicle for ergonomically adjusting the position of the accelerator pedal assembly relative to an operator of the vehicle comprising:

an adjustment bracket adapted for pivotal mounting on a vehicle, wherein the adjustment bracket includes a pair of outwardly extending side portions having a vertically extending arcuate slot;

a one piece pedal arm, wherein an upper end of said pedal arm is pivotally attached to said adjustment bracket using a pivot pin, such that an end of said pivot pin is slidably supported in the arcuate slot in said adjustment bracket;

a pedal pad mounted to a lower end of said pedal arm; and

an accelerator pedal adjustment mechanism operatively attached to said pedal arm, for adjusting the position of said pedal arm along a predetermined path, wherein said pivot pin is slidably positioned in the arcuate slot relative to the predetermined path of the pedal arm to ergonomically position the pedal pad.

7. An accelerator pedal assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said adjustment bracket is a vertically oriented channel-shaped member and said side portions extend outwardly from an upper portion of said channel-shaped member.

8. An accelerator pedal assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said pedal adjusting mechanism includes a motor, a screw member operatively connected to said motor and a jack screw operatively connected to said screw member at one end and said pedal arm at an other end.