Adjustable pedal apparatus

• US 6,360,629 B2
• Filed: 04/01/1999
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Schambre, John, Forker, Michael O., Montford, L. Guy, Garber, David L., Estes, Howard A. Jr., Brooks, Dwight S., Neag, Liliana, Soullier, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): LUONG, VINH
• Application Number:
  US09/283,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20010013262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/75, 745/77.S, 745/78, 745/42, 745/77.M, 745/13, 745/60, 123/399
• 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 74/20534 Accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20582 Levers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a pedal that can be translated in a longitudinal fashion parallel to the vehicle floor. The pedal is translated by use of a screw that is threadedly attached to the pedal and also pivotally attached to a motion linkage. The position and movement of the motion linkage is uniform irrespective of the longitudinal position of the pedal. The pedal includes a pivot pin that is received by a slot formed in a body structure; translation of the pedal along screw causes longitudinal movement of the pivot pin the said slot. The pivot pin is free to translate within said slot while the pedal is not depressed, when the pedal is depressed the pivot pin becomes fixed longitudinally by a camming formation and locking element arrangement. This allows depression of the pedal to cause the pedal to pivot about the pivot pin.

Claims

1. An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle for providing rearward, a plurality of intermediate, and forward pedal position relative to an occupant, said appartus comprising:

a pedal having a pivot pin and a capable of being activated, said pedal adapted to pivot about said pivot pin in responce to the activation of said pedal;

a body structure having at least one first slot receiving said pivot pin and allowing transition of the pivot pin between rearward, a plurality of intermediate, and forward positions within the first slot;

a motion linkage pivotally attached to said body structure;

a translational structure pivotally connected to said pedal and pivotally connected to said motion linkage wherein said translational structure translates the pedal between rearward, a plurality of intermediate, and forward positions and correspondingly translates said pivot pin to slide longitudinally within said first slot while said motion linkage is stationary and said pedal is not activated; and

a pushrod attached to said motion linkage so as to provide a constant force capable of maintaining the stationary position of the motion linkage until the pedal is activated and providing a constant force and motion during activation of said pedal independent of the position of said pedal and said pivot pin.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said translational structure is a screw.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pivot pin is elevated from where said screw is pivotally and threadedly connected to said pedal.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further comprising means to rotate said screw, wherein rotation of said screw will cause the pedal to longitudinally translate between rearward, a plurality of intermediate, and forward positions.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a tie rod disposed between said motion linkage and said screw.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5, further comprising an attaching unit disposed about said screw and pivotally attached to said tie rod, attaching unit is fixed in place on said screw by a pair of flanges extending from said screw.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said body structure includes a second slot for receiving said attaching unit, said second slot includes a front and rear abutment that limits the longitudinal movement of said attaching unit thereby limiting the throw of said pedal.

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

a pedal having a pivot and a camming formation, said pedal having a static position and a plurality of depressed positions;

a body structure including a locking element disposed in a longitudinal manner;

a lever including a mating locking element adapted to cooperate with said locking element to hold said pivot of said pedal in a defined location; and

a biasing element adapted to encourage cooperation between said locking element and said mating locking element;

wherein said camming formation of said pedal is adapted to contact said lever while said pedal is in said static position to eliminate said cooperation between said between said locking element and said mating locking element while allowing cooperation between said locking element and said mating locking element while said pedal is in a depressed position;

said pedal includes a pivot pin that defines the pivot of said pedal, and said body structure includes a slot for reception of said pivot pin for limiting vertical movement of said pivot pin.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said cooperation between said locking element and said mating locking element limits longitudinal movement of said pivot pin.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said biasing element is disposed between said lever and said pedal.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said biasing element is a spring that moves longitudinally with said pedal.

12. An adjustable pedal system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a pedal having pivot pin disposed near the top end thereof and a foot pad disposed near the bottom thereof;

a body structure having a first longitudinally extending slot formed therein, said first longitudinally extending slot adapted for reception of said pivot pin so that pivot pin can freely slide within said first longitudinally extending slot, said body structure also having a second longitudinally extending slot having an end abutment, said body structure also having a locking element arrangement disposed near said first longitudinally extending slot;

a screw element pivotally attached to said pedal at a location below said pivot pin;

a spring attached to said screw element and said pedal to provide rotational force therebetween;

a motion linkage pivotally attached to said housing at one end thereof;

a tie rod pivotally engaged to said motion linkage and to said screw element, said tie rod being pivotally engaged to said screw element via a attaching unit, said second longitudinally extending slot adapted to receive said attaching unit and define the throw of said pedal;

motor means to rotate said screw element in order to translate said attaching unit along said screw element, wherein said translation causes said pedal to move in the longitudinal direction thereby causing said pivot pin of said pedal to move in the longitudinal direction within said first longitudinally extending slot;

a lever including a mating locking element pivotally connected to said pedal;

said pedal including a camming portion at said top end thereof to contact said lever while said pedal is in the static position to eliminate contact between said locking element of said body structure and said mating locking element of said lever to allow said pivot pin to slide freely within said first longitudinally extending slot of said body structure; and

a biasing element disposed between said lever and said pedal to establish contact between said locking element of said body structure and said mating locking element of said lever while said lever is depressed.