ADJUSTABLE LINKAGE

• US 3,765,264 A
• Filed: 11/19/1971
• Issued: 10/16/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JSJ Corporation
• Original Assignee: Max R.C. Bruhn Jr
• Inventors: Bruhn, Max R. C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhre, Charles J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lazarus, R. H.
• Application Number:
  US05/200,357
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 74/512,513
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/04 foot actuated
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated

Abstract

The present invention discloses an adjustable linkage mechanism adapted for use with foot-operated pedals, i.e., brake, accelerator and clutch, of a motor vehicle. The spacing between the seat of a motor vehicle and the pedals may be varied to suit the requirements of an individual operator through use of an actuator mechanism operatively connected between the pedal arm and the associated linkage mechanisms. Basically, the invention provides a powered means for automatically lengthening or shortening the associated linkage to pivot the pedal either toward or away from the seat to vary the spacing therebetween.

Claims

1. An adjustable actuating mechanism for actuating control means for a vehicle having a seat, said mechanism including an operating pedal and support means for mounting said pedal in spaced relationship from said seat, a pivotally mounted arm member supporting said pedal for movement toward and away from said seat and means adapted to connect said arm member to said control means, the improvement comprising:

said arm member being a continuous unitary member extending between its two ends, one end being pivotally secured to said support means and the other end having said pedal attached thereto;

linkage means separate and apart from said arm and operatively connected between said arm and adapted to be operatively connected to said control means for transmitting movement of said arm to said control means, said linkage means including an actuator means having a pair of connecting members operatively connected together, one of said connecting members being operatively connected to said arm and the other of said connecting members being adapted to be operatively connected to said control means;

said connecting members being adjustable linearly with respect to each other to vary the effective length of said linkage means between said control means and said arm, and means for linearly adjusting said connecting members thereby lengthening and shortening said linkage means to move said arm and said pedal toward and away from said seat to thereby adjust the position of said pedal with respect to said seat without affecting the control means.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said one of said pair of connecting members includes:

a housing operatively connected to said one of said control means or arm for movement therewith; and

the other of said pair of connecting members includes a screw mounted in said housing extending outwardly therefrom operatively connected to the other said control means or arms; and

further including a gear having an internally threaded hub portion rotatably supported in said housing engaging said screw; and

means connected to said gear to rotate same about said screw to extend and retract said screw to thereby lengthen and shorten said actuator causing said arm to pivot in an arc with respect to said seat.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said pair of connecting members comprises a screw member and a gear, said gear having an internally threaded hub surrounding said screw member, one of said screw and gear operatively connected to said pedal for movement therewith, the other of said screw and gear operatively connected to said control means.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said screw is operatively connected to said control means and said gear is operatively connecTed to said pedal.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said screw is a push rod having one end thereof operatively connected to said control means, the other end having a threaded portion extending into said internally threaded hub of said gear.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said drive means includes a second gear in mesh with said first mentioned gear and powered means driving said second gear.

7. The adjustable actuating mechanism of claim 1 in which at least a pair of operating pedal are provided extending toward the seat from the dash panel of the vehicle.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said control means for the vehicle includes acceleration control means and brake control means for said vehicle, one of said pair of operating pedals operatively connected to said acceleration control means, the other of said pair of operating pedals operatively connected to said brake control means, said other of said pair having a secondary operating arm member associated therewith mounted on said shaft for pivotable movement with said first mentioned arm member, said connecting member being operatively connected to said secondary arm and to said brake control means.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 and further including a bellcrank pivotally mounted on said dash panel, said bellcrank having a pair of outwardly extending arm members, one of said arm members operatively connected to said acceleration control means and the other of said arm members connected to one of said pair of connecting members, the other of said pair of connecting members being operatively connected to said arm member of said one of said pair of operating pedals.