ADJUSTABLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY

• US 20070204717A1
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Drivesol Worldwide Holding Corporation (Sun Capital Partners Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Drivesol Worldwide Holding Corporation (Sun Capital Partners Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rixon, Christopher, Markham, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US11/695,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20070204717A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/06 Disposition of pedal
• 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

Four embodiments of an adjustable pedal assembly are disclosed wherein a pedal lever is adjustable along a rod. Each assembly is characterized by the rod (116, 216, 316 and 416) being arcuate or curved, e.g., in an arc, between its connection to a support (112, 212, 312 and 412) and its distal end for changing the angle of the longitudinal axis of the pedal lever (118, 218, 318 and 418) relative to the support (112, 212, 312 and 412) during the adjustment of the pedal lever (118,218,318 and 418) along the rod (116, 216, 316 and 416). Consequently, the angle of the pedal pad (120, 220, 320 and 420) is changed to accommodate different operators.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising;

a support (412) for mounting said assembly,

a pedal lever (418) having a longitudinal axis (A) extending between an upper end and a lower end,

a mechanism (422) pivotally supporting (432) said pedal lever (418) for allowing pivotal movement of said pedal lever (418) relative to said support (412) in response to a force and for adjustment of said pedal lever (418) relative to said support (412),

said support (412) including an arcuate guide (416) supporting said mechanism (422) and defining an arcuate path with said mechanism (422) remaining substantially parallel with said arcuate path during adjustment of said mechanism (422) along said arcuate guide (416) and said pedal lever (418) moving along said arcuate path in unison with said mechanism (422) during said adjustment for changing the angle of said longitudinal axis (A) of said pedal lever (418) relative to said support (412).

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 further including a signal generating device (433) for generating an electric signal in response to said pedal lever (418) pivoting relative to said mechanism (422).

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said signal generating device (433) is mounted to said mechanism (422) and moves with said mechanism (422) during said adjustment relative to said support (412).

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 further including a pivotal connection (432) for pivotally connecting said pedal lever (418) to said mechanism (422) so that said pedal lever (418) pivots relative to said arcuate guide (416) about said pivotal connection (432) during said operational movement in response to the force from an operator.

16. An assembly as set forth in claim 15 further including a signal generating device (433) mounted to said mechanism (422) about said pivotal connection (432) for generating an electric signal in response to said pedal lever (418) pivoting relative to said mechanism (422).

17. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said mechanism (422) includes a plurality of contact points engaging said arcuate guide (416) such that said mechanism (422) moves in direct proportion to said arcuate path.

18. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said plurality of contact points include a first set of contact points engaging a top of said arcuate guide (416) and a second set of contact points engaging a bottom of said arcuate guide (416).

19. An assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said mechanism (422) is slidably mounted to said arcuate guide (416) through said contact points for moving in said arcuate path during said adjustment.

20. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said support (412) further includes a single arcuate guide (416) defining said single arcuate path supporting said mechanism (422).

21. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 further including a drive system for adjusting said mechanism (422) and said pedal lever (418) along said arcuate guide (416).

22. An assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein said drive system includes a threaded screw (424) and a threaded nut (426) threadedly engaging said screw (424) and a power unit (428) for rotating said screw (424) to move said nut (426) with said nut (426) being coupled to said mechanism (422) for moving said pedal lever (418) along said arcuate guide (416) in response to rotation of said screw (424).

23. An assembly as set forth in claim 22 further including a rotational connection (430) between said nut (426) and said mechanism (422) for accommodating said changing angle of said longitudinal axis (A) of said pedal lever (418) relative to said screw (424) during said adjustment of said pedal lever (418) along said arcuate guide (416).

24. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said arcuate guide (416) is cantilevered from and extends in said arcuate path from said support (412) to a distal end.