CONTROL PEDALS FOR VEHICLES

• US 3,643,524 A
• Filed: 05/26/1970
• Issued: 02/22/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lloyd D. Herring
• Original Assignee: Lloyd D. Herring
• Inventors: Herring, Lloyd D.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Dea, William F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shoemaker, F. D.
• Application Number:
  US05/040,668
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 74/512,513,519,474.8
• 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 74/20582 Levers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

Control pedal apparatus including brake and accelerator pedals adapted for connection with the brake and throttle mechanisms of an automotive vehicle further includes a pivoted brake pedal carrier member suitably swingably mounted on support structure of the vehicle and an accelerator pedal bracket fixedly mounted on such support, each carrier and bracket having mounted for rotation thereon an Acme screw. One such screw carries an integrally formed nut end portion of the brake pedal member while the other rotatably mounts an elongated nut or throttle pedal carrier member pivotally carrying on a distal end thereof a lowpivoted accelerator pedal member. Linkage between the support structure, the accelerator carrier and the pedal thereon adjusts the vertical attitude of the pedal on the carrier during rotation of the corresponding screw. The accelerator pedal connects with the vehicle throttle through push-pull cable means arranged to transfer actuation through flexure of a loop portion thereof within the passenger compartment.

Claims

1. In a vehicle including a passenger compartment separated by a firewall from the engine compartment thereof, which latter contains a mechanism to be operated, control foot pedal apparatus comprising, a support located within said passenger compartment, a pedal carrier, means mOunting said pedal carrier from said pedal support for selected positional adjustment relative thereto between a plurality of positions, an actuating member movably mounted on said carrier and responsive to foot pressure applied thereto to move between a normal unactuated position and a fully actuated position, a push-pull connecting cable assembly including a core and a sheath, said push-pull cable being looped within said passenger compartment at least singly in a direction rearwardly thereof and then forwardly thereof and extending through an aperture in said firewall to within said engine compartment, means connecting the one end of said sheath in the passenger compartment to said actuating member and the corresponding end of said core fixedly to said carrier, and means connecting the other end of said core to a movable element of the mechanism to be operated and mounting the corresponding end of said sheath fixedly to a stationary portion thereof, whereby said looped push-pull cable accommodates positional adjustment of said carrier relative to said support without relative displacement between the portion of said cable within the engine compartment and the firewall and whereby actuating foot pressure moving said actuating member from the normal position thereof results in flexure of the looped portion of said cable to cause actuation of said mechanism to be operated without relative displacement between the portion of said sheath within the engine compartment and the firewall.

2. In a vehicle including a passenger compartment separated by a firewall from the engine compartment thereof, which latter contains a mechanism to be operated, control foot pedal apparatus comprising, a support located within said passenger compartment, an elongated actuating member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said support, means on one end of said actuating member responsive to foot pressure applied thereto to cause movement of said actuating member between a normal unactuated position and a fully actuated position, a push-pull connecting cable assembly including a core and a sheath, said push-pull cable being looped within said passenger compartment firstly rearwardly thereof and then forwardly thereof and extending through an aperture in said firewall to within said engine compartment, means for connecting the one end of said sheath in the passenger compartment to the other end of said actuating member and the corresponding end of said core to said support, and means in said engine compartment connecting the other end of said core to a movable element of the mechanism to be operated and mounting the corresponding end of said sheath fixedly to a stationary portion thereof, whereby actuating foot pressure moving said actuating member from the normal position thereof results in flexure of the looped portion of said cable to cause actuation of said mechanism to be operated without relative displacement between the portion of said sheath within the engine compartment and the firewall.

3. In automotive vehicle adjustable control foot pedal apparatus for a mechanism to be operated, a support, a pedal carrier, means mounting said pedal carrier pendently from said support for selected adjustment positionally relative thereto between a plurality of positions including a forwardmost and a rearwardmost position, a foot pedal, means mounting said foot pedal adjacent the lower end thereof on the distal end of said carrier for pivotal movement of the portion of said pedal above said lower end mounting thereof in an actuating path between a normal nonactuated position and a fully actuated position, motion transmitting means connecting said upper portions of said pedal with the mechanism to be operated so that the latter responds to movement of the former in said actuating path thereof, biasing means applied through said motion transmitting means to urge said pedal to the normal position thereof, means operative to selectively move said pedal carrier together with said pedal and said motion tranSmitting means positionally relative to said support, and means responsive to operation of said moving means to cause positional adjustment of the normal position of said pedal angularly with respect to said carrier between a plurality of attitudes including a first limit angular attitude in the forwardmost position of said carrier suitable to operator ankle comfort therein, and a second angular limit attitude in the rearwardmost position of said carrier suitable to operator ankle comfort therein.

4. In automotive vehicle adjustable control foot pedal apparatus for a mechanism to be operated, a support, a pedal carrier, means mounting said pedal carrier pendently from said support for selected adjustment positionally relative thereto between a plurality of positions including a forwardmost and a rearwardmost position, a foot pedal, means mounting said foot pedal at the lower end thereof on the distal end of said carrier for pivotal movement of said pedal thereabout in an actuating path between a normal nonactuated position and a fully actuated position, motion transmitting means including a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said carrier and connecting said pedal with the mechanism to be operated so that the latter responds to pivoting of said lever under movement of said pedal in said actuating path thereof, biasing means urging said pedal to the fully actuated position thereof, biasing means applied through said motion transmitting lever and operative to normally overcome the first-mentioned biasing means to urge said pedal to the normal position thereof, means operative to selectively move said pedal carrier together with said pedal and said motion transmitting lever positionally relative to said support, and means responsive to operation of said moving means to positionally adjust said motion transmitting lever independently of the influence of the last-mentioned biasing means whereby to cause positional adjustment of the normal position of said pedal angularly with respect to said carrier between a plurality of attitudes including a first limit angular attitude in the forwardmost position of said carrier suitable to operator ankle comfort therein, and a second angular limit attitude in the rearwardmost position of said carrier suitable to operator ankle comfort therein.

5. Adjustable control foot pedal apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said responsive means includes an attitude lever connected by pin and slot means with said carrier and further with a link connected to a cable core support pivoted to said carrier, relative motion between said carrier and said support and attitude lever causing relative motion between said cable core support, said actuating lever and said carrier.

6. Control foot pedal apparatus for automotive vehicles having passenger and engine compartments spaced by a firewall and a mechanism to be operated within the engine compartment, comprising, a support located within the passenger compartment, a pedal carrier mounted on said support for positional adjustment selectively relative thereto, an actuating member movably mounted on said carrier for movement between a normal unactuated position and a fully actuated position, a foot pedal pivotally mounted at one end thereof on the distal end of said carrier and engaged with said actuating member whereby foot pressure applied to said pedal moves the latter from said normal position thereof, a push-pull connecting cable assembly including a core and a sheath and being looped within said passenger compartment at least singly in a direction rearwardly thereof and then forwardly thereof and extending through an aperture in said firewall to within said engine compartment, means connecting the one end of said sheath in the passenger compartment to said actuating member and the corresponding end of said core fixedly to said carrier, means connecting the other end of said core to the movable element of the mechanism to be operated and mounting the corresponding end of said sheath fixedly To a stationary portion thereof, means operative to selectively move said carrier together with said pedal and said looped portion of said cable assembly positionally relative to said support, and means responsive to operation of said moving means to cause positional adjustment of the normal position of said pedal angularly with respect to said distal end of said carrier between a plurality of attitudes relative thereto.