Adjustable pedal-parallel screw and rod

• US 6,314,831 B2
• Filed: 08/24/1999
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corporation (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Teleflex Incorporated
• Inventors: Bortolon, Christopher, Rixon, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, CHONG HWA
• Application Number:
  US09/379,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20010002556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/13, 745/60, 745/22, 180/315, 180/334
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

Various adjustable pedal assemblies (10, 110 and 210) include a pedal support (16, 116 or 216) slidably supported on a guide rod (12) with a pedal lever (18, 118 or 218) mounted on the support (16, 116 or 216) along the guide rod (12). The adjustable pedal assemblies (10, 110 and 210) are characterized by the screw (22) being external to and parallel to the guide rod (12). In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the pedal lever (18 or 118) is pivotally attached to the support (16 or 116) whereas in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the pedal lever (218) and the support (216) are defined by an integral member and the bracket (214) includes a connection (34) for rotatably supporting the bracket (214) on a vehicle.

Claims

1. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising;

a guide rod (12),

a pedal support (16, 116 or 216) surrounding and slidably supported on said guide rod (12),

a pedal lever mounted on said support (16, 116 or 216) for movement in a plane parallel to said rod (12) independent of movement of said pedal support (16, 116, or 216) along said guide rod (12),

a screw (22) for driving said pedal support (16, 116 or 216) along said guide rod (12) to adjust the position of said pedal lever in said plane,

said adjustable pedal assembly (10, 110 and 210) characterized by said screw (22) being external to and parallel to said guide rod (12),

said pedal lever being movable about a pivot, said pivot being independent of said screw whereby said screw is free of loads at said pivot resulting from pivotal movement of said pedal lever about said pivot.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a bracket (14 or 214) for attachment to a motor vehicle, said guide rod (12) being fixed to and extending from said bracket (14 or 214).

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pedal lever is pivotally attached to said support (16 or 116).

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 including a signal generator (32 or 132) supported by said pedal support (16 or 116) and responsive to movements of said pedal lever for generating an electrical signal.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bracket (214) includes a connection (34) for rotatably supporting said bracket (214) on a vehicle in response to pivotal movement of said pedal lever.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said pedal lever and said support (216) are defined by an integral member threadedly engaging said screw (22) and in sliding engagement with said guide rod (12) and extending downwardly from said guide rod (12) to a pedal end.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a drive mechanism (24, 124 or 224) for rotating said screw (22).

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said drive mechanism (24 or 124) is disposed on said guide rod (12) adjacent said bracket (14).

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said bracket (214) is defined by a housing and said drive mechanism (224) is disposed in said housing of said bracket (214).

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said screw (22) and said guide rod (12) extend from said bracket (142 or 242) to distal ends, and including a cap or (142 or 242) interconnecting said distal ends.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide rod (12) is larger in the transverse direction than said screw (22).