ADJUSTABLE CONTROL PEDALS FOR VEHICLES

• US 3,643,525 A
• Filed: 05/26/1970
• Issued: 02/22/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jack E. Gibas
• Original Assignee: Jack E. Gibas
• Inventors: Gibas, Jack E.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Dea, William F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shoemaker, F. D.
• Application Number:
  US05/040,669
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 74/512,513,519,474.8
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/30 Controlling members actuated by foot
• 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

An adjustable 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 carrier fixedly mounted on such support, each of the carriers 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 member pivotally carrying on a distal end thereof the accelerator pedal member. A tandem cable drive connects the two screws for simultaneous adjusting rotation under operation of a reversible electric motor connected with only one of the screws.

Claims

1. Adjustable control pedal apparatus for a mechanism to be operated comprising a support, an actuating member, means pivotally mounting said actuating member adjacent one end thereof on said support for movement between inoperative and mechanism operating positions in a path about the pivotal axis of said mounting means, a rigid compression bearing connecting member adapted for connection to the mechanism to be operated, means connecting one end of said connecting member to said actuating member adjacent the other end thereof, a screw, means rigidly mounting said screw on said other end of said actuating member for rotation thereon about the axis of said screw, said screw axis defining a path of fore and aft linear adjustment relative to said actuating member of a pedal member, an elongated pedal member including a foot pad on one end thereof and on the opposite end thereof a nut portion threadably engaged on said screw whereby rotation of the latter effects fore and aft adjustment of said pedal member along said path independently of movement of said actuating member between said inoperative and mechanism operating positions thereof, torque restraining means on said pedal member and said actuating member holding said pedal member against reactive rotation relative to said actuating member upon rotation of said screw, and power operated means for selectively rotating said screw in opposite directions to effect said fore and aft adjustment of said pedal member in corresponding directions.

2. The control pedal apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said torque restraining means comprises a pin on said nut engaged in a slot in said actuating member extending generally parallel the screw axis.

3. Control pedal apparatus for vehicle brake and throttle mechanisms to be operated comprising a support, a first carrier member, means mounting said first carrier member adjacent one end thereof on said support for swinging movement between inoperative and mechanism actuating positions, a brake connecting rod adapted for connection at one end thereof to a brake mechanism and pivotally connected at the other end thereof with said first carrier member adjacent the other end thereof, a first adjusting screw, means mounting said first screw on said first carrier member adjacent the other end thereof for rotation about the axis of said screw, a brake pedal member having a footpad on one end thereof and a nut portion on the other end thereof threadably mounted on said screw, a second carrier member fixedly mounted to said support, a second adjusting screw, means mounting said second screw on said second carrier member for rotation about the axis of said second screw, accelerator pedal means including a nut member threadablY mounted on said second screw, said accelerator pedal means further including an accelerator pedal member carried by said nut member and a flexible cable connected to said accelerator pedal and adapted to connect the latter with the throttle mechanism to be operated, reversible power operated means connected with one of said screws for rotation thereof in opposite directions to effect fore and aft movement of the respective nut along the axis of such screw, and rotary drive cable means connecting said first and second screws in tandem for simultaneous rotation by said power operated means whereby the nut portion of said brake pedal member is adjustable fore and aft along the axis of said first screw simultaneously with adjustment of said nut member along the axis of said second screw.

4. Control pedal apparatus for vehicle brake and throttle mechanisms to be operated comprising a support, a first carrier member, means mounting said first carrier member adjacent one end thereof on said support for swinging movement between inoperative and mechanism actuating positions, a brake connecting rod adapted for connection at one end thereof to a brake mechanism and pivotally connected at the other end thereof with said first carrier member adjacent the other end thereof, a first adjusting screw, means mounting said first screw on said first carrier member adjacent the other end thereof for rotation about the axis of said screw, a brake pedal member having a foot pad on one end thereof and a nut portion on the other end thereof rotatably mounted on said screw, torque restraining means on said first carrier member and said brake pedal member holding the latter against reactive rotation on said first screw, a second carrier member fixedly mounted to said support, a second adjusting screw, means mounting said second screw on said second carrier member for rotation about the axis of said second screw, a nut member threadably mounted on said second screw, an elongated accelerator pedal member pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof on said nut member having a foot pad on one end, a flexible cable assembly connected to the other end of said accelerator pedal member and adapted to connect the latter with the throttle mechanism to be operated, reversible power operated means mounted stationary on said support and drivingly connected with said second screw for rotating the latter in opposite directions to effect fore and aft movement of said nut member along the axis of said second screw, and rotary drive cable means connecting said first and second screws for simultaneous rotation by said power operated means whereby said brake pedal member is adjustable fore and aft along the axis of said first screw simultaneously with said adjustment of said nut member along the axis of said second screw.