Adjustable pedal assembly

• US 6,305,239 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2000
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Drivesol Worldwide Holding Corporation (Sun Capital Partners Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Teleflex Incorporated
• Inventors: Johansson, Mattias, Fornell, Gunnar
• Primary Examiner(s): Bucci, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANSEN, COLBY M
• Application Number:
  US09/655,159
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/13, 745/14, 745/60, 180/334
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/323 means disconnecting the connection between pedal and controlled member, e.g. by breaking or bending the connecting rod
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/36 Mounting units comprising an assembly of two or more pedals, e.g. for facilitating mounting
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/38 comprising means to continuously detect pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/44 pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2054 Signal

Abstract

An adjustable pedal assembly includes a mounting arrangement (1) for attachment to a vehicle structure (37), an accelerator pedal (6), a brake pedal (7), and a clutch pedal (8). The pedals (6, 7, 8) are pivotally supported with respect to the mounting arrangement (1) and define a first pivot axis (9). An adjustment element (5) is pivotally supported with respect to the mounting structure (1) and defines a second pivot axis (4). The adjustment element (5) selectively moves the pedals (6, 7, 8) between a plurality of operable positions. The adjustable pedal assembly is characterized by the pedals (6, 7, 8) being pivotally supported with respect to the adjustment element (5) wherein the second pivot axis (4) is generally parallel to the first pivot axis (9). A driving mechanism with an electric motor (11) and gear assembly (12) is used to rotate the adjustment element (5) about the second pivot axis (4). The pedals (6, 7, 8) are pivotally mounted within the adjustment element (5) to pivot about the first pivot axis (9), thus the first pivot axis (9) moves with respect to the second pivot axis (4) when the adjustment element (5) is rotated.

Claims

1. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising:

a mounting arrangement (1) for attachment to a vehicle structure (37);

a pedal (6, 7, or 8) pivotally supported for rotation about a first pivot axis with respect to said mounting arrangement (1);

an adjustment element (5) pivotally supported for rotation about a second pivot axis with respect to said mounting arrangement (1) for selectively moving said pedal (6, 7, or 8) between a plurality of operable positions, said second pivot axis (4) being generally parallel to said first pivot axis (9); and

an electrical generator (36) mounted adjacent to said pedal (6) for emitting an electric signal that varies with the position of said pedal (6) around said first pivot axis (9) and independently of movement of said pedal (6) between said plurality of operable positions about said second pivot axis.