VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS

• US 3,754,480 A
• Filed: 05/08/1972
• Issued: 08/28/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alfred D. Bodnar, Edward J. Rudaitis
• Original Assignee: Alfred D. Bodnar, Edward J. Rudaitis
• Inventors: Rudaitis, Edward J., Bodnar, Alfred D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaufman, Milton
• Assistant Examiner(s): McKenzie, Jr., Frank H.
• Application Number:
  US05/251,399
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 74/512,519,560
• 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 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

Adjustable control apparatus particularly adapted for control of automobile operating systems normally actuated by the foot of the vehicle operator, the apparatus including a pair of pivot bars supported on the vehicle body for pivotal movement about a common fixed axis, a pair of pedal support members slidably mounted on respective ones of the pivot bars, pedals rigidly connected to each of the pedal support members and defining pressure application surfaces oriented to direct forces applied thereto along lines extending obliquely to the pivot bars so that bodily shiftable movement of the pedal support members alters the lever arms of the applied forces about the fixed axis, an adjusting member supported on the vehicle body for selective bodily shiftable movement and motion transmitting cable assemblies between the adjusting member and the pedal support member adapted to effect movement of the latter synchronously with movement of the former.

Claims

1. In a vehicle body, control pedal apparatus for effecting actuation of operating systems of said vehicle body comprising, in combination, a first pivot bar, a second pivot bar, means mounting each of said first and said second pivot bars on said vehicle body for pivotal movement about a common fixed axis of the latter between first positions corresponding to an unactuated condition of each of a pair of operating systems of said vehicle body and second positions corresponding to an actuated condition of each of said pair of operating systems, means operatively connecting said first pivot bar to one of said pair of operating systems, means operatively connecting said second pivot bar to the other of said pair of operating systems, a first pedal support member, a second pedal support member, means mounting each of said first and said second pedal support members on respective ones of said first and said second pivot bars for bodily shiftable movement relative thereto between a plurality of positions disposed at various finite distances from said fixed axis, first pedal means defining a pressure application surface, second pedal means defining a pressure application surface, means rigidly attaching each of said first and said second pedal means to respective ones of said first and said second pedal support members, an adjusting member, means mounting said adjusting member on said vehicle body for bodily shiftable movement relative to the latter, a first flexible and inextensible connecting member, a second flexible and inextensible connecting member, means rigidly attaching said first pedal support member to said first connecting member, means rigidly attaching said second pedal support member to said second connecting member, and means rigidly attaching each of said first and said second connecting members to said adjusting member so that bodily shiftable movement of the latter effects synchronous bodily shiftable movement of each of said first and said second pedal support members.

2. Control pedal apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including selectively operable control means associated with said adjusting member and adapted to effect bodily shiftable movement of the latter.

3. In a vehicle body, control pedal apparatus for effecting actuation of operating systems of said vehicle body comprising, in combination, a first pivot bar, a second pivot bar, means mounting each of said first and said second pivot bars on said vehicle body for pivotal movement about a common fixed axis of the latter between first positions corresponding to an unactuated condition of each of a pair of operating systems of said vehicle body and second positions corresponding to an actuated condition of each of said pair of operating systems, means operatively connecting said first pivot bar to one of said pair of operating systems, means operatively connecting said second pivot bar to the other of said pair of operating systems, a first pedal support member, a second pedal support member, means mounting each of said first and said second pedal support members on respective ones of said first and said second pivot bars for bodily shiftable movement relative thereto between a plurality of positions disposed at various finite distances from said fixed axis, first pedal means defining a pressure application surface, second pedal means defining a pressure application surface, means rigidly attaching each of said first and said second pedal means to respective ones of said first and said second pedal support members, an adjusting member, means mounting said adjusting member on said vehicle body for bodily shiftAble movement relative to the latter, a first flexible and inextensible connecting member, a second flexible and inextensible connecting member, means rigidly attaching said first pedal support member to said first connecting member, means rigidly attaching said second pedal support member to said second connecting member, means rigidly attaching each of said first and said second connecting members to said adjusting member so that bodily shiftable movement of the latter effects synchronous bodily shiftable movement of each of the said first and said second pedal support members, a support bracket, means rigidly attaching said support bracket to said adjusting member, a third pedal means pivotally supported on said support bracket, cable control means disposed between said third pedal means and a third operating system of said vehicle adapted to effect actuation of said third system in response to pivotal movement of said third pedal means, a threaded actuator rotatably supported on said vehicle body and threadedly received in said adjusting member so that rotation of said actuator effects bodily shiftable movement of said adjusting member and synchronous bodily shiftable movement of said first and said second pedal support members, and manually operable control means disposed on said actuator and adapted to effect selective rotation of said actuator.