Adjustable automobile pedal system

• US 6,324,939 B1
• Filed: 02/14/1999
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edmond B. Cicotte
• Original Assignee: Edmond B. Cicotte
• Inventors: Cicotte, Edmond B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Mary Ann
• Application Number:
  US09/250,476
• Time in Patent Office: 1,024 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/13, 745/60
• 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

A pedal adjustment system for an automobile having an accelerator cable and a master cylinder pushrod with a free end, the system having a brake pedal secured to a lower end of a brake pedal arm and an accelerator pedal secured to a lower end of an accelerator pedal arm. The adjustment of the brake pedal arm is effected by pivoting about the free end of the master cylinder pushrod, which pivotally engages the brake pedal arm between its ends, the pivoting being done by imposing a reversible force from an electric motor and gearbox assembly attached to an upper end of the brake pedal arm. The accelerator pedal arm, an upper end of which engages the accelerator cable, is adjusted in unison with the brake pedal arm by providing an accelerator pedal adjustment link, an upper end of which is coaxial with the brake pedal arm and a lower end of which is pivotally attached to the accelerator pedal arm at a location between the upper and lower ends of the accelerator pedal arm.

Claims

1. An automobile pedal system comprising:

a brake pedal arm having one end, an opposite end, and a pedal arm pivot axis therebetween;

a brake pedal secured to said brake pedal arm near said opposite end of said brake pedal arm;

means for pivoting said brake pedal arm, said means for pivoting attached to said one end of said brake pedal arm to pivot said brake pedal arm about said pedal arm pivot axis;

an accelerator pedal arm having one end and an opposite end;

an accelerator pedal secured to said accelerator pedal arm near said opposite end of said accelerator pedal arm; and

an accelerator adjustment link having one end coextending with said one end of said brake pedal arm and further having an opposite end pivotally attached to said accelerator pedal arm at a location between said one end of said accelerator pedal arm and said opposite end of said accelerator pedal arm, whereby as said means for pivoting pivots said brake pedal arm about said pedal arm pivot axis, said accelerator adjustment link pivots said accelerator pedal arm, such that said brake pedal arm and said accelerator adjustment link pivot from a first position to a second position such that said brake pedal and said accelerator pedal move from a first adjusted position to a second adjusted position.

2. An automobile pedal system according to claim 1 wherein said means for pivoting comprises:

a generally U-shaped bracket with a spaced apart pair of legs, each of said pair of legs having a slot therein;

means traversing said U-shaped bracket and engaging said slot of each of said pair of legs of said U-shaped bracket for supporting said one end of said brake pedal arm and said accelerator adjustment link, said means for supporting being pivotable with respect to said U-shaped bracket; and

drive means for oscillating said supporting means with respect to said U-shaped bracket.

3. An automobile pedal system according to claim 2 wherein said drive means comprises:

a reversible electric motor and gear assembly secured to an end of said U-shaped bracket and having an externally threaded output shaft extending therefrom, said means for supporting having an internally threaded opening for receiving said externally threaded output shaft;

whereby rotation of said externally threaded output shaft of said electric motor and gear assembly causes said means for supporting to oscillate with respect to said U-shaped bracket.

4. An automobile pedal system according to claim 1 wherein said accelerator adjustment link comprises:

an upper portion;

a lower portion; and

fastening means for releasably securing said one end of said accelerator adjustment link to said means for pivoting said brake pedal arm;

said accelerator adjustment link being extensible by moving said lower portion downward relative to said upper portion when said fastening means is released to adjust the position of said accelerator pedal relative to said brake pedal.

5. An automobile pedal system comprising:

a pedal arm having one end, an opposite end terminating with a pedal attached thereto, and a pedal arm pivot axis positioned between said one end and said opposite end;

means for oscillating said pedal arm about said pedal arm pivot axis, said means for oscillating being attached to said one end of said pedal arm for displacing said one end of said pedal arm, such that as said means for oscillating moves from one end position to an opposite end position said pedal arm pivots about said pedal arm pivot axis, and said opposite end of said pedal arm adjusts from a first adjustment position to a second opposite adjustment position;

a housing having a closed end and opposing walls extending in a direction away from said closed end, each of said opposing walls having a slot therethrough, each of said opposing walls defining one end and an opposite end of each said slot respectively;

a pivot shaft having one end mounted in one of said slots of said opposing walls and an opposite end mounted in the other of said slots of said opposing walls; and

means for traversing said pivot shaft within each said slot between each said one end of each said slot and each said opposite end of each said slot; and

means for mounting said one end of said pedal arm to said pivot shaft whereby as said means for traversing moves said pivot shaft from said one end of said slots to said opposite end of said slots said pedal arm pivots about said pedal arm pivot axis to adjust said pedal from said first adjustment position to said second opposite adjustment position.

6. The automobile pedal system as claimed in claim 5 further comprising:

an accelerator pedal arm having one end and an opposite end;

an accelerator pedal secured to said accelerator pedal arm at said opposite end of said accelerator pedal arm;

an accelerator link having one end pivotably attached to said accelerator pedal arm between said one end and said opposite end of said accelerator pedal arm, and an opposite end having a slot therein pivotably attached to said pivot shaft for movement relative thereto;

means for mounting said accelerator link to said housing for rotation of said accelerator link relative to said housing; and

means for attaching said opposite end of said accelerator link to said accelerator pedal arm and said one end of said accelerator link to said pivot shaft.

7. The automobile pedal system of claim 5 wherein said means for traversing said pivot shaft further comprises:

a clevis housing member located between said opposing walls of said housing, said clevis housing member having one end attached to said pivot shaft and an opposite end comprising a body portion, said body portion having a threaded aperture therein; and

means for translating said clevis housing member from a first start of travel position to a second end of travel position, said translating means being mounted to said closed end of said housing, said translating means further comprising;

an electric motor,

a gearbox integral with said electric motor; and

a threaded shaft extending from said gearbox in a direction towards said body portion of said clevis housing member and engaging said threaded aperture therein such that as said electric motor is energized said gearbox is driven to turn said threaded shaft extending therefrom into said threaded aperture of said clevis housing member and cause said clevis housing member to translate along said threaded shaft to traverse said pivot shaft, such that said pedal arm pivots about said pedal arm pivot axis to adjust said pedal from said first adjustment position to said second opposite adjustment position.

8. The automobile pedal system as claim in claim 7 wherein said closed end of said housing further comprises:

a spherical projection having an aperture therein for receiving said threaded shaft extending from said gearbox; and

means for mounting said threaded shaft to said spherical projection whereby as said clevis housing member translates along said threaded shaft said electric motor and said gearbox pivot about said spherical projection.

9. An automobile pedal system comprising:

a pedal arm having one end, an opposite end terminating with a pedal attached thereto, and a pedal arm pivot axis positioned between said one end and said opposite end;

means for oscillating said pedal arm about said pedal arm pivot axis, said means for oscillating being attached to said one end of said pedal arm for displacing said one end of said pedal arm such that as said means for oscillating moves from one end position to an opposite end position said pedal arm pivots about said pedal arm pivot axis, and said opposite end of said pedal arm adjusts from a first adjustment position to a second opposite adjustment position;

a reaction member;

a housing having a closed end and opposing walls extending in a direction away from said closed end;

a pivot shaft extending between said opposing walls of said housing;

a support bracket mounted between said opposing walls of said housing, said support bracket having an aperture therein and a sliding bearing mounted in said aperture adapted to receive said reaction member;

means for traversing said pivot shaft from a first beginning of travel position to a second end of travel position; and

means for mounting said one end of said pedal arm to said pivot shaft whereby as said means for traversing moves said pivot shaft from said first beginning of travel position to said second end of travel position said pedal arm pivots about said pedal arm pivot axis to adjust said pedal from said first adjustment position to said second opposite adjustment position.

10. The automobile pedal system as claimed in claim 9 further comprising:

an accelerator pedal arm having one end and an opposite end;

an accelerator pedal secured to said accelerator pedal arm at said opposite end of said accelerator pedal arm;

an accelerator link having one end pivotably attached to said accelerator pedal arm between said one end and said opposite end of said accelerator pedal arm, and an opposite end having a slot therein pivotably attached to said pivot shaft for movement relative thereto;

means for mounting said accelerator link to said housing for rotation of said accelerator link relative to said housing; and

means for attaching said opposite end of said accelerator link to said accelerator pedal arm and said one end of said accelerator link to said pivot shaft.

11. The automobile pedal system of claim 9 wherein said means for traversing said pivot shaft further comprises:

a clevis housing member located between said opposing walls of said housing, said clevis housing member having one end attached to said pivot shaft and an opposite end extending in a direction away from said pivot shaft, said opposite end comprising a body portion, said body portion having a threaded aperture therein; and

means for translating said clevis housing member from said first beginning of travel position to said second end of travel position, said translating means being mounted to said closed end of said housing, said translating means further comprising;

an electric motor;

a gearbox integral with said electric motor; and

a threaded shaft extending from said gearbox in a direction towards said body portion of said clevis housing member and engaging said threaded aperture therein such that as said electric motor is energized said gearbox is driven to turn said threaded shaft extending therefrom into said threaded aperture of said clevis housing member and cause said clevis housing member to translate along said threaded shaft to traverse said pivot shaft from said first beginning of travel position to said second end of travel position such that said pedal arm pivots about said pedal arm pivot axis to adjust said pedal from said first adjustment position to said second opposite adjustment position.

12. The automobile pedal system as claim in claim 11 wherein said closed end of said housing further comprises:

a spherical projection having an aperture therein for receiving said threaded shaft extending from said gearbox; and

means for mounting said threaded shaft to said spherical projection whereby as said clevis housing member translates along said threaded shaft said electric motor and said gearbox pivot about said spherical projection.

13. A method for adjusting the positions of a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal of a pedal system for an automobile having a master cylinder pushrod with a free end and an accelerator cable, said positions of said brake pedal and said accelerator pedal being adjusted in unison, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a brake pedal arm having an uppermost end and a lowermost end, said brake pedal being secured to said brake pedal arm at a location near said lowermost end of said brake pedal arm;

pivoting said brake pedal arm about said free end of said master cylinder pushrod at a location between said uppermost end of said brake pedal arm and said lowermost end of said brake pedal arm, said step of pivoting said brake pedal arm being performed by imposing an oscillating force on said brake pedal arm at a location near said uppermost end of said brake pedal arm;

providing an accelerator pedal arm, said accelerator pedal being secured to a lowermost end of said accelerator pedal arm, an uppermost end of said accelerator pedal arm engaging said accelerator cable; and

providing an accelerator pedal adjustment link having an uppermost end coextensive with said uppermost end of said brake pedal arm and a lowermost end pivotally secured to said accelerator pedal arm at a location between said uppermost end of said accelerator pedal arm and said lowermost end of said accelerator pedal arm.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of imposing an oscillating force on said brake pedal arm is performed by a reversible electric motor and gearbox assembly, a rotation of an output shaft of said reversible electric motor and gearbox assembly acting to advance or retract a pivot shaft about which said brake pedal arm is pivotally attached and about which said accelerator pedal adjustment link is pivotally attached.