Adjustable pedal apparatus

• US 20040003675A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert D. Brock
• Original Assignee: Robert D. Brock
• Inventors: Brock, Robert D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,925,905 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: G05G 1/44 pivoting
• 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 an upper section, a lower section, and an adjustment mechanism adjustably connecting the two sections. The adjustment mechanism includes a track defining a channel, and a follower having a flange-supported bearing shoe that slidably engages the channel. The bearing shoe includes partially-compressed resilient portions and crush ribs that provide a consistent and stable connection that takes up slack to prevent a sloppy connection. The shoe also facilitates manufacture and assembly of the arrangement.

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 defining at least one guide channel extending horizontally, and a follower slidably engaging the track, the follower including a bearing shoe made of bearing material that is located in and slidably engages the channel, the bearing shoe including a body and a resilient portion spaced from the body and engaging the track, the resilient portion being flexed and at least partially compressed so that the bearing shoe takes up any slack and sloppiness between the track and follower;

an adjuster for adjusting the pedal construction along the track mechanism; and

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

2. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one guide channel defines a path of movement, and wherein the bearing shoe is elongated parallel the path of movement.

3. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the resilient portion includes at least one band of material separated from a remaining portion of the bearing shoe and elongated in a direction parallel the path of movement.

4. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the resilient portion includes at least one cavity elongated in a direction parallel the path of movement.

5. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the resilient portion includes at least one crush rib.

6. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein the resilient portion includes at least one band of material separated from a remaining portion of the bearing shoe and elongated in a direction parallel the path of movement.

7. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the resilient portion includes at least one cavity elongated in a direction parallel the path of movement.

8. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 6, wherein the resilient portion includes at least one crush rib.

9. In an adjustable pedal apparatus that includes a pedal-supporting subassembly with an upper portion adapted to pivotally engage a 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 defining at least one guide channel, and a follower slidably engaging the track, an improvement comprising:

the follower including a bearing shoe made of bearing material that is located in and slidably engages the track, the bearing shoe including a body and a resilient portion engaging the track that is at least partially compressed toward the body so that the bearing shoe takes up any slack and sloppiness between the track and follower.

10. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein the at least one guide channel defines a path of movement, and wherein the bearing shoe is elongated parallel the path of movement.

11. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein the resilient portion includes at least one band of material separated from a remaining portion of the bearing shoe and elongated in a direction parallel the path of movement.

12. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein the resilient portion includes at least one cavity elongated in a direction parallel the path of movement.

13. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein the resilient portion includes at least one crush rib.

14. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 10, wherein the resilient portion includes at least one band of material separated from a remaining portion of the bearing shoe and elongated in a direction parallel the path of movement.

15. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein the resilient portion includes at least one cavity elongated in a direction parallel the path of movement.

16. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 15, wherein the resilient portion includes at least one crush rib.

17. A bearing construction for use in a pedal-supporting subassembly having an upper portion, 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 defining at least one guide channel extending horizontally, and a follower slidably engaging the track, the follower including a bearing shoe made of bearing material that is located in and slidably engages the channel, the bearing construction comprising:

a stiff portion engaging the follower; and

a resilient portion engaging the track that is adapted to be and that is at least partially compressed into the channel so that the bearing shoe takes up any slack and sloppiness between the track and follower.

18. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 17, wherein the at least one guide channel defines a path of movement, and wherein the bearing shoe is elongated parallel the path of movement.

19. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 17, wherein the resilient portion includes at least one band of material separated from a remaining portion of the bearing shoe and elongated in a direction parallel the path of movement.

20. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 17, wherein the resilient portion includes at least one cavity elongated in a direction parallel the path of movement.

21. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 17, wherein the resilient portion includes at least one crush rib.

22. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 18, wherein the resilient portion includes at least one band of material separated from a remaining portion of the bearing shoe and elongated in a direction parallel the path of movement.

23. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein the resilient portion includes at least one cavity elongated in a direction parallel the path of movement.

24. The adjustable pedal apparatus defined in claim 22, wherein the resilient portion includes at least one crush rib.