Adjustable pedal assembly

• US 5,632,183 A
• Filed: 08/09/1995
• Issued: 05/27/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: KSR IP Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Comfort Pedals, Inc.
• Inventors: Bortolon, Christopher, Rixon, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GREEN, MARY ANN
• Application Number:
  US08/513,017
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 74/478, 74/512, 74/513, 74/514, 74/560, 403/109, 403/377
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/021 with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/586 the retarders being of the electric type
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/042 by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/06 Disposition of pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/3255 Systems in which the braking action is dependent on brake pedal data
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

An adjustable control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle. The pedal assembly is slidably mounted at its upper end on a single hollow guide rod extending rearwardly from a transmission housing which in turn is pivotally mounted to a bracket secured to the firewall of the vehicle. A nut is positioned slidably within the hollow guide rod and a screw shaft extends rearwardly from the transmission housing for threaded engagement with the nut. A key extends from the nut to the pedal assembly so that linear movement of the nut within the hollow rod as generated by rotation of the screw shaft results in forward and rearward movement of the pedal assembly along the guide rod. The screw shaft is driven by a transmission positioned in the transmission housing and the transmission is in turn driven by a cable driven by an electric motor.

Claims

1. An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

a pedal support assembly including a forward mounting structure and a hollow guide rod extending rearwardly and rigidly from the mounting structure;

a screw shaft positioned within the hollow of the guide rod and extending parallel to said guide rod;

drive means for driving the screw shaft; and

a pedal assembly including a hub structure defining a smooth guide bore slidably receiving said guide rod, a nut positioned within the hollow rod and defining a threaded bore threadably receiving said screw shaft, a pedal arm extending downwardly from said hub structure, and means drivingly interconnecting the nut and the hub structure whereby rotation of the screw shaft moves the nut within the hollow rod and the drive means translates the nut movement into movement of the hub structure and the pedal arm.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

the apparatus further includes a mounting bracket; and

the forward mounting structure is pivotally secured to the mounting bracket.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

the guide rod and the guide bore have a circular cross sectional configuration.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

an elongated slot is provided in the hollow guide rod; and

the interconnecting means comprises rigid structure passing through the slot and rigidly interconnecting the nut and the hub structure.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

the forward mounting structure includes a transmission housing forwardly of the guide rod;

the drive means includes a transmission positioned in the transmission housing and including a first transmission member driving the screw shaft and a second transmission member driving the first transmission member; and

the drive means further includes a cable driving the second transmission member.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the drive means further includes an electric motor driving the cable.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein:

the pedal support assembly further includes a mounting bracket; and

the forward mounting structure further includes a pivot arm fixed to the transmission housing and pivotally mounted on the mounting bracket.

8. An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

a mounting bracket;

a hollow guide rod;

means pivotally mounting the guide rod on the mounting bracket with the guide rod extending rearwardly;

a pedal structure including an upper hub structure slidably mounted on the guide rod and a pedal arm extending downwardly from the hub structure;

a nut positioned slidably in the hollow of the guide rod;

a screw positioned within the guide rod and threadably engaging the nut;

drive means interconnecting the nut and the pedal structure; and

means for rotating the screw.

9. A pedal apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the rotating means are positioned forwardly of the screw.

10. A pedal apparatus according to claim 8 wherein:

the guide rod includes an elongated axial slot; and

the drive means includes a key fixed to the nut and passing through the elongated slot for securement to the pedal structure.

11. A pedal apparatus according to claim 8 wherein:

the apparatus includes a housing positioned forwardly of the guide rod; and

the rotating means includes transmission means positioned in the housing and including a first transmission member driving the screw and a second transmission member driving the first transmission member.

12. A pedal apparatus according to claim 11 wherein:

the rotating means further includes an electric motor and a cable driven by the electric motor and driving the second transmission member.

13. An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

a pedal support assembly including a forward mounting structure and a hollow guide rod extending rearwardly and rigidly from the mounting structure and including an elongated slot;

a screw shaft positioned concentrically within the hollow of the guide rod and extending proximate and parallel to the guide rod;

drive means for driving the screw shaft; and

a pedal assembly including an upper guide structure and a pedal arm extending downwardly from said upper guide structure;

the upper guide structure including an outer hub structure slidably mounted on the guide rod and including an aperture, a nut positioned slidably within the hollow of the guide rod and threadably receiving the screw shaft, and means drivingly interconnecting the pedal assembly and the nut;

the interconnecting means comprising a key secured at one end thereof to the nut, passing through the slot in the rod and through the aperture in the hub structure, and secured at its other end to the pedal arm.

14. An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

a mounting bracket;

a hollow guide rod including an elongated axial slot;

means pivotally mounting the guide rod on the mounting bracket with the guide rod extending rearward;

a pedal structure including an upper hub structure slidably mounted on the guide rod and including an aperture and a pedal arm extending downwardly from the hub structure;

a nut positioned slidably in the hollow of the guide rod;

a screw positioned within the guide rod and threadably engaging the nut;

means for rotating the screw; and

a key fixed to the nut and passing through the elongated slot and through the aperture for securement to the pedal structure.

15. An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

a pedal support assembly including a forward mounting structure and a hollow guide rod extending rearwardly and rigidly from the mounting structure;

a screw shaft positioned within the hollow of the guide rod and extending parallel to the guide rod;

drive means for driving the screw shaft; and

a pedal assembly including an upper guide structure defining a smooth guide bore slidably receiving said guide rod, a nut positioned within the hollow rod and defining a threaded bore threadably receiving said screw shaft, a pedal arm extending downwardly from said upper guide structure, and means drivingly interconnecting the nut and the guide structure whereby rotation of the screw shaft moves the nut within the hollow rod and the drive means translates the nut movement into movement of the guide structure and the pedal arm.