Footswitch assembly with position memory

• US 20080067046A1
• Filed: 09/20/2006
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Dacquay, Bruno, Mezhinsky, Victor B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,381,917 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/86.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/14 adapted for operation by a part of the human body other than the hand, e.g. by foot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated

Abstract

A footswitch assembly with a position memory includes adjustable mounting mechanisms. A first adjustable mounting mechanism moves the heel cup portion on the treadle pedal assembly to a predetermined position to accommodate the length of a user'"'"'s foot. A second adjustable mounting mechanism moves the side wing assembly to predetermined position to accommodate the width of a user'"'"'s foot. A third adjustable mounting mechanism adjusts the force needed to move the treadle pedal assembly.

Claims

1. A footswitch assembly enabling position memory comprising:

a base housing portion having a center line;

a pivotably mounted side wing assembly positioned on either side of said base housing portion, said pivotably mounted side wing assembly having a switch mounted therein;

a movable treadle pedal assembly;

a heel cup located on said treadle pedal assembly;

a first movement mechanism constructed and arranged to move said pivotably mounted side wing assemblies substantially perpendicular to said center line of said base housing portion;

a second movement mechanism constructed and arranged to move said heel cup substantially parallel to said center line of said base housing portion;

a third movement mechanism constructed and arranged to adjust the amount of force needed to move said movable treadle pedal assembly;

said first movement mechanism and said second movement mechanism each including a positionable servo motor for enabling a user to place said side wing assemblies and said heel cup in a predetermined position;

said third movement mechanism including a positionable servo motor for enabling a user to adjust the force needed to move said movable treadle pedal assembly.

2. The footswitch assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said first movement mechanism includes a pinion gear mounted to said positionable servo motor and a rack mounted to said base housing portion.

3. The footswitch assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said second movement mechanism includes a pinion gear, a rack, and a set of bevel gears mounted to said positionable servo motor.

4. The footswitch assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said third movement mechanism includes a set of bevel gears mounted to said positionable servo motor and a lead screw for changing the force exerted by a spring.

5. The footswitch assembly as defined in claim 1 further including a computer memory for enabling changing the position of said first movement mechanism, said second movement mechanism and said third movement mechanism to a predetermined position.

6. A footswitch assembly with position memory, said footswitch assembly with position memory including a base housing, at least one side wing assembly, and a treadle pedal assembly with a heel cup mounted thereon, said footswitch assembly comprising:

a mounting for the heel cup enabling remote initiation of the movement of the heel cup substantially parallel to the center line of the base housing to a predetermined position;

a mounting for the at least one side wing assembly enabling remote initiation of the movement of the at least one side wing assembly substantially perpendicular to the center line of the base housing to a predetermined position;

a mounting for the movable treadle pedal assembly enabling remote initiation of the adjustment of the force required to move the movable treadle pedal assembly to a predetermined amount of force.

7. The footswitch assembly with position memory as defined in claim 6 wherein said mounting for the heel cup includes a positionable servo motor and a gear mechanism to position the heel cup to said predetermined position.

8. The footswitch assembly with position memory as defined in claim 6 wherein said mounting for the at least one side wing assembly includes a positionable servo motor and a gear mechanism to position the at least one side wing assembly to said predetermined position.

9. The footswitch assembly with position memory as defined in claim 6 wherein said mounting for the pivotable treadle pedal assembly includes a positionable servo motor and a gear mechanism to adjust the amount of force to move the treadle pedal assembly to a predetermined amount.

10. The footswitch assembly with position memory as defined in claim 6 further including a computer memory for said remote initiation of said enabling of the movement of the mounting for the heel cup, the movement of the mounting for the side wing assembly, and the adjustment of the force required to move the pivotable treadle pedal assembly.

11. A method for changing the size and variable control input of a footswitch assembly having a treadle pedal assembly with a heel cup, at least one side wing assembly on either side of said treadle pedal assembly, and a bias spring controlling the force required to move said treadle pedal assembly, said method comprising the steps of:

mounting the heel cup to a gear disposed in a rack, wherein said gear which is movable by a positionable servo motor;

mounting the at least one side wing assembly to a second gear disposed in a second rack, wherein said second gear is movable by a second positionable servo motor; and

mounting the bias spring to a lead screw, wherein said lead screw is coupled to a third gear and said third gear is movable by a positionable servo motor.