Adjustable pedal with cable assembly

• US 6,164,154 A
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Drivesol Worldwide Holding Corporation (Sun Capital Partners Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Teleflex Incorporated
• Inventors: Bortolon, Christopher A., Munger, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Lorence, Richard M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, SAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/335,112
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 74/502.4, 74/502.5, 74/478.5, 74/512, 74/560, 74/566, 74/513, 74/519
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/22 Adjusting; Compensating length
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2370/00 Apparatus relating to physics, e.g. instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2045 and sheath support, connector, or anchor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20456 Specific cable or sheath structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated

Abstract

A pedal carrier (14) is movably supported by the support (12) for adjustment between various operational positions. The support (12) includes a rod (16) and the pedal carrier (14) is slidably supported on the rod (16). The carrier (12) includes an arm (30) extending from the support (12) and a fitting defining a first end (26) of a conduit (24) is retained in an aperture in the arm (30). A pedal lever (20) includes an actuator portion (38) extending upwardly from a pivotal pin (22) and a first end (34) of a core element (32) is attached to the actuator portion (38). The pedal lever (20) also includes a pedal portion (40) extending downwardly from the pivotal pin (22) so that the pin (22) acts as a fulcrum in response to a pedal force applied to the pedal portion (40) to place the core element (32) in tension. A boot (46) is disposed between the conduit (24) and the bulkhead (52) through which the conduit passes to seal the conduit (24) to the bulkhead as the conduit (24) is allowed to move longitudinally relative to the bulkhead (52).

Claims

1. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising;

a support (12) for attachment to a vehicle structure,

a pedal carrier (14) movably supported by said support (12) for adjustment along a path between various operational positions,

a pedal lever (20) slidably supported by said carrier (14) at a pivotal connection (22) for operational movement relative to said carrier (14) in anyone of said operational positions,

said pivotal connection (22) being below said path of movement of said carrier (14) between said adjusted positions,

said pedal lever (20) including an actuator portion (38) extending in an upward direction from said pivotal connection (22) and upwardly from said path of movement of said carrier (14),

said carrier (14) including an arm (30) extending upwardly from said path of movement of said carrier (14) and in spaced and generally parallel relationship to said actuator portion (38),

a conduit (24) having a first end (26) attached to said arm (30) for movement therewith during said adjustment between said operational positions and a second end (28) for attachment to support structure, and

a motion transmitting core element (32) slidably supported by said conduit (24) and having a first end (34) extending from said first end (26) of said conduit (24) and attached to said actuator portion (38) a first predetermined distance from said pivotal connection (22) and a second end (36) extending from said second end (28) of said conduit (24) for transmitting motion from said pedal lever (20).

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pedal lever (20) includes a pedal portion (40) extending in a second direction from said pivotal connection so that said pivotal connection acts as a fulcrum in response to a pedal force applied to said pedal portion (40) to place said core element (32) in tension.

3. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising;

a support (12) for attachment to a vehicle structure,

a pedal carrier (14) movably supported by said support (12) for adjustment between various operational positions,

a pedal lever (20) movably supported by said carrier (14) for operational movement relative to said carrier (14) in anyone of said operational positions,

a conduit (24) having a first end (26) attached to said carrier (14) for movement therewith during said adjustment between said operational positions and a second end (28) for attachment to support structure,

a motion transmitting core element (32) slidably supported by said conduit (24) and having a first end (34) extending from said first end (26) of said conduit (24) and attached to pedal lever (20) and a second end (36) extending from said second end (28) of said conduit (24) for transmitting motion from said pedal lever (20), a boot collar (44) disposed on said conduit (24) for attachment to a boot (46), and a boot (46) having a collar end attached to said boot collar (44) and a bulkhead end for attachment to the periphery of an aperture in a bulkhead.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said boot (46) includes bellows between said ends thereof for longitudinal extension and collapse.