Modular pedal assembly for vehicles
First Claim
1. A modular pedal assembly for use with a vehicle, the vehicle including a motor, a control circuit operatively connected with the motor, and a brake assembly, the pedal assembly comprising:
- a base removably connectable with the vehicle;
a brake pedal movably coupled with the base and operatively coupleable with the brake assembly;
an accelerator pedal movably coupled with the base so as to be displaceable between a first position and a second position and operatively coupleable with one of the motor and the control circuit; and
a sensor configured to sense displacement of the accelerator pedal and electrically connectable with the control circuit such that the circuit at least one of regulates the motor and operates the motor when the sensor senses displacement of the accelerator pedal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In some embodiments, a vehicle or utility vehicle pedal assembly and method are disclosed. The pedal assembly may be modular and readily adaptable for use on vehicles and utility vehicles having either an electric motor drive system or an internal combustion engine drive system. Thus, in some embodiments the module includes a base, a plurality of pedals coupled to the base, and an output regulator coupled to the base. Other embodiments disclose a parking brake engagement assembly comprising a toothed element, an engagement element selectively engageable with the toothed element, and an arm to the control the engagement between the toothed element and the engagement element. Yet other embodiments disclose a non-contact sensor coupled to the brake system to selectively illuminate the brake lamps of a vehicle or utility vehicle. Further embodiments disclose a timer coupled to the brake system to selectively illuminate the brake lamps.
51 Citations
57 Claims
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1. A modular pedal assembly for use with a vehicle, the vehicle including a motor, a control circuit operatively connected with the motor, and a brake assembly, the pedal assembly comprising:
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a base removably connectable with the vehicle;
a brake pedal movably coupled with the base and operatively coupleable with the brake assembly;
an accelerator pedal movably coupled with the base so as to be displaceable between a first position and a second position and operatively coupleable with one of the motor and the control circuit; and
a sensor configured to sense displacement of the accelerator pedal and electrically connectable with the control circuit such that the circuit at least one of regulates the motor and operates the motor when the sensor senses displacement of the accelerator pedal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A modular pedal assembly mountable as a module upon a vehicle having a brake assembly and adaptable for use on a 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 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 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; and
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 the drive in the mounted state of the modular pedal assembly. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of making a vehicle, comprising:
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fabricating a vehicle body;
selecting a type of drive system for the vehicle, including selecting one of an electric motor and a gas engine;
coupling one of an electric motor and gas engine to the body corresponding to the type of drive system selected;
coupling a brake system to the body;
assembling a modular pedal assembly, including the steps of;
providing a base;
coupling a brake pedal to the base;
coupling an accelerator pedal to the base, the accelerator pedal having an unactuated state and an actuated state;
selecting a control output regulator corresponding to the type of drive system selected, including selecting one of a gas control output regulator and a motor control output regulator; and
coupling the control output regulator selected to the accelerator pedal, the control output regulator having a sensor to sense the state of the accelerator pedal;
coupling the modular pedal assembly to the body; and
coupling the modular pedal assembly to the drive system and to the brake system. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A vehicle manufactured by:
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fabricating a vehicle body;
selecting a type of drive system for the vehicle, including selecting one of an electric motor and a gas engine;
coupling one of an electric motor and gas engine to the body corresponding to the type of drive system selected;
coupling a brake system to the body;
assembling a modular pedal assembly, including the steps of;
providing a base;
coupling a brake pedal to the base;
coupling an accelerator pedal to the base, the accelerator pedal having an unactuated state and an actuated state;
selecting a control output regulator corresponding to the type of drive system selected, including selecting one of a gas control output regulator and a motor output regulator; and
coupling the control output regulator selected to the accelerator pedal, the control output regulator having a sensor to sense the state of the accelerator pedal;
coupling the modular pedal assembly to the body; and
coupling the modular pedal assembly to the drive system and to the brake system. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A modular pedal assembly mountable as a module in a vehicle, 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 brake pedal pivotally coupled to the base in the unmounted state of the modular pedal assembly;
an accelerator pedal pivotally coupled to the base in the unmounted state of the modular pedal assembly; and
a parking brake assembly coupled to the base in the unmounted state of the modular pedal assembly, the parking brake assembly moveable between a coupled and uncoupled position with respect to the brake pedal, the parking brake assembly having;
an engagement element, on the engagement element at least one of a projection and a recess;
at least one of the other of the projection and the recess on the brake pedal, the at least one of the projection and the recess on the engagement element selectively engageable with the at least one of the other of the projection and the recess on the brake pedal, engagement of the at least one of the projection and the recess on the engagement element with the at least one of the other of the projection and the recess on the brake pedal defining the coupled position of the parking brake assembly; and
an arm coupled to the brake pedal and having a first position and a second position with respect to the engagement element, the first position of the arm restricting engagement of the engagement element with the brake pedal and defining the uncoupled position of the parking brake assembly, the second position of the arm allows engagement of the engagement element with the brake pedal defining the coupled position of the parking brake assembly. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A parking brake assembly for a vehicle having a chassis, a brake pedal coupled to the chassis, and an accelerator pedal coupled to the chassis, the brake pedal and the accelerator each having an unactuated state and an actuated state, the parking brake assembly having a coupled position with respect to the brake pedal in which movement of the vehicle is restricted and an uncoupled position with respect to the brake pedal in which movement of the vehicle is enabled, the parking brake assembly comprising:
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an engagement element coupled to the chassis and moveable between an engaged and disengaged position with respect to the brake pedal, the engagement element having at least one of a projection and a recess;
a portion of the brake pedal having at least one of the other of the projection and the recess, the at least one of the projection and the recess on the engagement element selectively engageable with the at least one of the other of the projection and the recess on the brake pedal, engagement of the at least one of the projection and the recess on the engagement element with the at least one of the other of the projection and the recess on the brake pedal to partially define the coupled position of the parking brake assembly; and
an arm coupled to the brake pedal and having a first position and a second position with respect to the engagement element, the first position of the arm restricting engagement of the engagement element with the portion of the brake pedal and defining the uncoupled position of the parking brake assembly, the second position of the arm allowing engagement of the engagement element with the portion of the brake pedal to partially define the coupled position of the parking brake assembly. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method of assembling a vehicle having a modular pedal assembly, the method comprising:
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fabricating a vehicle chassis;
coupling a drive system to the chassis;
coupling a brake system to the chassis;
assembling a parking brake assembly, including the steps of;
providing a carriage; and
coupling a pawl to the carriage;
assembling a modular pedal assembly, including the steps of;
providing a base;
coupling a brake pedal to the base, the brake pedal having a toothed portion for selective engagement with the pawl and an arm pivotally coupled to the brake pedal, the arm selectively engageable with a portion of the parking brake assembly;
coupling an accelerator pedal to the base, the accelerator pedal having an unactuated state and an actuated state;
positioning the parking brake assembly adjacent the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal for selective engagement with the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal; and
coupling the parking brake assembly to the base for movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position with respect to the brake pedal;
coupling the modular pedal assembly to the body as a module; and
coupling the modular pedal assembly to the drive system and to the brake system. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. A method of controlling the movement of a vehicle with respect to the ground, the method comprising:
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depressing a service brake pedal;
actuating a parking brake pedal;
moving an arm coupled to the parking brake pedal responsive to actuating the parking brake pedal with respect to the service brake pedal, the arm moved from a first position in which the arm prevents engagement of a pawl with a gear to a second position in which the arm does not prevent engagement of the pawl with the gear;
moving the pawl towards the service brake pedal responsive to moving the arm;
engaging the pawl with the service brake pedal to prevent rolling motion of the vehicle;
depressing the accelerator pedal to enable rolling motion;
pivoting the pawl with respect to the brake pedal responsive to depressing the accelerator pedal; and
disengaging the pawl from the service brake pedal responsive to pivoting the pawl. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 47, 48)
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46. A brake lamp illumination system for a vehicle having a braking system operable with a brake pedal, the brake pedal having an actuated state and an unactuated state, the brake lamp illumination system comprising:
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a circuit having an open state corresponding to the unactuated state of the brake pedal and a closed state corresponding to the actuated state of the brake pedal;
a non-contact switch coupled to the circuit and adjacent the brake pedal, the non-contact switch having a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter capable of communicating with the receiver with the brake pedal in the unactuated state and incapable of communicating with the receiver with the pedal in the actuated state; and
a brake lamp coupled to the circuit, the light having a non-illuminated state when the circuit is open and an illuminated state when the circuit is closed.
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49. A brake lamp illumination system for a vehicle having a braking system operable with brake pedal, the brake pedal having an actuated state and an unactuated state, the brake lamp illumination system comprising:
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a switch adjacent the brake pedal, the switch having an open state corresponding to one of the actuated state and the unactuated state of the brake pedal and a closed state corresponding to the other of the actuated state and the unactuated state of the brake pedal, movement of the brake pedal between states changes the state of the switch;
a circuit having an open state corresponding to the open state of the switch and a closed state corresponding to the closed state of the switch;
a brake lamp coupled to the circuit, the light having a non-illuminated state when the circuit is open and an illuminated state when the circuit is closed; and
a timer coupled to the brake lamp and able to change the state of the brake lamp from the illuminated state to the non-illuminated state while the circuit is closed for a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51)
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52. A method of controlling the illumination of a brake lamp on a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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providing a circuit between a brake lamp and a non-contact switch adjacent a brake pedal;
sending a signal within a non-contact switch from a transmitter to a receiver;
actuating a brake pedal;
preventing the signal from reaching the receiver;
closing the circuit responsive to preventing the signal from reaching the receiver; and
illuminating the brake lamp responsive to closing the circuit. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55)
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56. A method of controlling the illumination of a brake lamp on a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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providing a circuit between a brake lamp and a switch adjacent a brake pedal;
actuating a brake pedal;
closing the switch by actuating the brake pedal;
closing the circuit responsive to closing the switch;
illuminating the brake lamp responsive to closing the circuit;
timing the period of illumination for the brake lamp; and
preventing illumination of the brake lamp after a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (57)
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Specification