Control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle

• US 5,078,024 A
• Filed: 02/05/1991
• Issued: 01/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Drivesol Worldwide Holding Corporation (Sun Capital Partners Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Comfort Pedals, Inc.
• Inventors: Cicotte, Edmond B., Sitrin, Gabriel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsey, Rodney M.
• Application Number:
  US07/650,928
• Time in Patent Office: 336 Days
• Field of Search: 74/512, 74/560, 74/513, 74/522
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20534 Accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

A control pedal apparatus for adjusting a control pedal of a motor vehicle such for example as a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal, or a clutch pedal. The mechanism includes a pedal arm, an adjustor member, and a bracket secured to the fire wall of the vehicle. The mechanism allows the position of the pedal pad to be adjusted slidably on the adjustor member without disturbing the position of the particular control element actuated by the pedal assembly, and selectively moves the pivot axis of the pedal assembly to maintain a fixed mechanical advantage of the pedal assembly irrespective of the position of adjustment of the pedal arm on the adjustor member. Coacting slots allow the pivot axis to be selectively moved during adjustment of the assembly but coact in response to depression of the pedal to fix the position of the pivot axis in any adjusted position of the pedal arm so that the pedal assembly pivots positively about the instantaneous assembly axis in any adjusted position of the pedal arm. The adjustment of the pedal arm is accomplished by the rotation of a screw engaging a nut on the pedal arm with the screw being driven by an electric motor.

Claims

1. A control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

a pedal assembly including an adjustor member and an elongated pedal arm;

means mounting said pedal arm on said adjustor member for adjustable movement on said adjustor member;

pivot means mounting the upper end of said pedal assembly on the associated vehicle structure for pivotal movement about a pivot axis;

a pedal pad mounted on the lower end of said pedal arm;

attachment means on said adjustor member defining an attachment point for attachment of a control member for operation of a control system of the vehicle in response to pivotal movement of said pedal assembly upon the application of operator pressure through said pedal pad; and

pedal adjustor means operative to selectively adjust the position of said pedal arm on said adjustor member and thereby adjust the position of said pedal pad relative to the associated vehicle structure and operative during such adjustment to selectively vary both the distance from said pivot axis to said pedal pad and the distance from said pivot axis to said attachment point.

2. A control pedal apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

said pedal adjustor means are operative during such adjustment to maintain a substantially fixed ratio between the distance from said pivot axis to said pedal pad and the distance from said pivot axis to said attachment point.

3. A control pedal apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

said pedal adjustor means operates to selectively vary the distances from said pivot axis to said attachment point and to said pedal pad by selectively moving said pivot axis relative to the associated vehicle structure during such adjustment.

4. A control pedal apparatus according to claim 3 wherein:

the associated vehicle structure comprises a mounting bracket;

said control pedal apparatus includes said mounting bracket; and

said mounting bracket is adapted to be mounted on a fixed structure of the vehicle.

5. A control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

a pedal assembly including an adjustor member and an elongated pedal arm;

means mounting said pedal arm on said adjustor member for adjustable movement on said adjustor member;

pivot means mounting the upper end of said pedal assembly on the associated vehicle structure for pivotal movement about a pivot axis;

a pedal pad mounted on the lower end of said pedal arm;

attachment means on said adjustor member defining an attachment point for attachment of a control member for operation of a control system of the vehicle in response to pivotal movement of said pedal assembly upon the application of operator pressure through said pedal pad; and

pedal adjustor means operative to selectively adjust the position of said pedal arm on said adjustor member and thereby adjust the position of said pedal pad relative to the associated vehicle structure and operative during such adjustment to vary the distance from said pivot axis to said pedal pad and the distance from said pivot axis to said attachment point while maintaining a substantially fixed ratio between said distances.

6. A control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

a pedal assembly including an adjustor member and an elongated pedal arm mounted on said adjustor member;

pivot means mounting the upper end of said pedal assembly on the associated vehicle structure for pivotal movement about a pivot axis;

a pedal pad mounted on the lower end of said pedal arm;

attachment means on said adjustor member defining an attachment point for attachment of a control member for operation of a control system of the vehicle in response to pivotal movement of said pedal assembly upon the application of operator pressure through said pedal pad; and

pedal adjustor means operative to selectively adjust the position of said pedal pad relative to the associated vehicle structure and operative during such adjustment to selectively vary both the distance from said pivot axis to said pedal pad and the distance from said pivot axis relative to the mounting bracket during such adjustment;

said pedal assembly being slidably moved on said adjustor member by said pedal adjustor means;

said pivot means including a pivot pin;

said pedal adjustor means including a cam member engaging said pivot pin and mounted for pivotal movement in response to sliding adjustment of said pedal assembly on said adjustor member to selectively move said pivot pin and thereby selectively move said pivot axis;

said pedal arm including guide means slidably guiding on said adjustor member and engaging said cam member in response to adjustment of said pedal assembly on said adjustor member to pivot said cam member and move said pivot pin an thereby said pivot axis.

7. A control pedal apparatus according to claim 6 wherein:

said cam member comprises a plate including a slot and an aperture;

said guide means comprises a guide pin;

said guide pin is received in said slot and said pivot pin passes through said aperture.

8. A control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

an adjuster member adapted to be pivotally secured to a fixed structure of the motor vehicle and defining spaced upper and lower tracks;

a pedal assembly including a pedal arm, a pedal pad secured to the lower end of said pedal arm, and a pair of guide members secured to the upper end of said arm and respectively slidably engaging said upper and lower tracks; and

means operative to adjustably move said pedal assembly relative to said adjuster member with said guide members respectively sliding along said upper and lower tracks;

said adjustor member comprising a tubular member open at its upper and lower ends and including spaced side walls;

said upper and lower tracks being defined respectively proximate the upper and lower portions of said side walls; and

said guide members comprising upper and lower pin assemblies carried on the upper end of said pedal arm in vertically spaced relation and extending laterally on opposite sides of said pedal arm for respective sliding engagement with said upper and lower tracks.

9. A control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

means defining a vertically extending slot;

an adjustor member including a vertically extending slot and defining an attachment point for attachment of a control member for operation of a control system of the vehicle;

a pivot pin passing through said slots;

a pedal arm mounted on said adjustor member proximate its upper end and having a pedal pad at its lower end; and

pedal adjustor means operative to selectively adjust the position of said pedal arm relative to said adjustor member and operative during such adjustment to move said pivot pin in said slots;

said slots being aligned with said pedal arm in its rest position to allow movement of said pivot pin in said slots during adjustment of the pedal arm relative to said adjustor member but assuming an intersecting relative disposition upon pivotal movement of said pedal arm toward its working position to lock said pivot pin in its instantaneous position of adjustment in said slots.

10. A control pedal apparatus according to claim 9 wherein:

said pedal adjustor means includes cam means operative in response to adjustment of said pedal arm on said adjustor member to move said pivot pin in said slots.

11. A control pedal apparatus according to claim 10 wherein:

said cam means comprises a slot in the upper end of said pedal arm receiving said pivot pin and obliquely disposed with respect to said vertically extending slots.

12. A control pedal apparatus according to claim 10 wherein:

said cam means comprises a cam plate pivotally mounted on said adjustor member, receiving said pivot pin at a location spaced from the pivot axis of said cam plate, and moved pivotally in response to adjustment of said pedal arm on said adjustor member.

13. A control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

an adjustor member defining spaced upper and lower tracks;

a pedal assembly including a pedal arm, a pedal pad secured to the lower end of said pedal arm, and a pair of guide pins secured to the upper end of said arm and respectively slidably engaging said upper and lower tracks; and

means operative to adjustably move said pedal assembly relative to said adjustor member with said guide pins respectively sliding along said upper and lower tracks.

14. A control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

a mounting bracket adapted to be mounted on a fixed structure of the vehicle;

a pedal assembly including an elongated pedal arm and an adjustment member;

a pivot member mounting the upper end of said pedal assembly for pivotal movement on said bracket about a pivot axis;

a pedal pad mounted on the lower end of said pedal arm;

attachment means on said adjustor member defining an attachment point for attachment of a control member for operation of a control system of the vehicle in response to pivotal movement of said pedal assembly upon the application of operator pressure to said pedal pad;

a pair of pins on said pedal arm spaced longitudinally along the length of said pedal arm;

a pair of parallel tracks on said adjustor member respectively slidably receiving said pins;

a nut carried by said pedal arm at a location therealong between said pins; and

a screw positioned between said tracks and extending generally in a direction of said tracks, threadably engaging said nut, and operative in response to rotation of said screw to cause said pins to slide in said tracks to slidably adjust said pedal arm on said adjustor member so as to selectively move said pedal pad relative to said bracket.

15. A control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

a mounting bracket adapted to be mounted on a fixed structure of the vehicle;

a pedal assembly including an elongated pedal arm and an adjustor member;

pivot means on said pedal arm mounting the upper end of said pedal arm for pivotal movement on said bracket about a pivot axis;

a pedal pad mounted on the lower end of said pedal arm;

attachment means on said adjustor member defining an attachment point for attachment of a control member for operation of a control system of the vehicle in response to pivotal movement of said pedal assembly upon the application of operator pressure to said pedal pad;

guide means on said pedal arm spaced longitudinally along the length of said pedal arm from said pivot axis;

track means on said adjustor member slidably receiving said guide means;

an ut carried by said pedal arm; and

a screw extending generally in the direction of said track means, threadably engaging said nut, and operative in response to rotation of said screw to cause said guide means to slide in said track means, to slidably adjust said pedal arm on said adjustor member so as to selectively move said pedal pad relative to said bracket.

16. A control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

a mounting bracket adapted to be mounted on a fixed structure of the vehicle;

a pedal assembly pivotally mounted on said bracket and including a pedal arm and an adjustor member;

a pedal pad secured to the lower end of said pedal arm; and

means mounting said pedal arm for sliding adjustment on said adjustor member and mounting said pedal arm and adjustor member for joint pivotal movement on said bracket in any position of sliding adjustment of said pedal arm on said adjustor member in response to operator pressure on said pedal pad, said mounting means comprising a pair of spaced pins on said pedal arm slidably guiding in spaced tracks on said adjustor member.