Adjustable brake, clutch and accelerator pedals

• US 6,367,348 B1
• Filed: 05/01/2000
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dura Automotive Properties, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dura Global Technologies Incorporated (Dura Automotive Systems)
• Inventors: Depotter, Michael William, Allen, James, Reynolds, Dean William, Toelke, Steven Allen, Smith, Gordon Lloyd
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Mary Ann
• Application Number:
  US09/564,355
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/13, 745/14, 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 74/20534 Accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

An adjustable control pedal for a motor vehicle includes a first member having a slot formed therein, a pin laterally extending into the slot and having an abutment facing the first member on a side of the first member opposite the second member, and a second member rigidly secured to the pin and movable relative to the first member along the slot. A plastic bushing encircles the pin and extends into the slot. The bushing has a flange engaging the first member on a side of the first member opposite the second member. A plastic washer encircles the pin and is located between the first and second members. A spring washer such as a wave or Belleville washer is located between the abutment and the flange and resiliently biases the second member relative to the first member to resist relative lateral movement between the first and second members to reduce lash therebetween. The pin can be either a guide pin or a drive pin of the control pedal. Various embodiments are disclosed wherein the first and second members are upper and lower pedal arms respectively and are a mounting bracket and an upper pedal arm respectively.

Claims

1. An adjustable control pedal comprising, in combination:

a first member having a slot formed therein;

a pin laterally extending into the slot;

a second member secured to the pin and movable relative to the first member along the slot;

a spring member at the pin, the spring member resiliently biasing the second member relative to the first member to resist relative lateral movement between the first and second members; and

wherein the spring member allows relative lateral movement between the first and second members when one of the first and second members overcomes the resilient bias of the spring member.

2. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 1, wherein the spring member is a spring washer.

3. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 2, wherein the spring washer is one of a Belleville washer and a wave washer.

4. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 1, further comprising a bushing encircling the pin and extending into the slot.

5. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 4, wherein the bushing is comprised of plastic.

6. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 4, wherein the bushing has a flange engaging the first member.

7. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 6, further comprising a washer encircling the pin and engaging the first member on a side opposite the bushing flange.

8. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 7, wherein the washer is comprised of plastic.

9. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 1, wherein the pin is rigidly secured to the second member by spin forming.

10. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 1, wherein the pin has an abutment facing the second member on a side opposite the first member.

11. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 10, wherein the spring member is located between the abutment and the second member.

12. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 11, further comprising a bushing encircling the pin and extending into the slot and having a flange engaging the first member, and wherein the spring member is located between the abutment and the bushing flange.

13. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 12, further comprising a washer encircling the pin and engaging the first member on a side opposite the bushing flange.

14. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 13, wherein the pin is rigidly secured to the second member.

15. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 1, wherein the first member has another slot substantially parallel to the slot.

16. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 1, wherein the first member has another slot non-parallel with the slot.

17. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 1, wherein the second member is a rigid pedal arm carrying a pedal at a lower end thereof.

18. An adjustable control pedal comprising, in combination:

a first member having a slot formed therein;

a pin laterally extending into the slot;

a second member rigidly secured to the pin and movable relative to the first member along the slot;

wherein the pin has an abutment facing the first member on a side of the first member opposite the second member;

a bushing encircling the pin and extending into the slot, the bushing having a flange engaging the first member on a side of the first member opposite the second member;

a washer encircling the pin and located between the first and second members;

a spring washer located between the abutment and the flange, wherein the spring washer resiliently biases the second member relative to the first member to resist relative lateral movement between the first and second members; and

wherein the spring washer allows relative lateral movement between the first and second members when one of the first and second members overcomes the resilient bias of the spring washer.

19. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 18, wherein the second member is a rigid pedal arm carrying a pedal at a lower end thereof.

20. A The adjustable control pedal according to claim 18, wherein the spring washer is one of a wave washer and a Belleville washer.