Adjustable foot pedal apparatus

• US 6,536,300 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2001
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Gonring, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bucci, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Julie K.
• Application Number:
  US09/908,357
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/13, 745/60, 745/61, 745/62, 745/625, 743/95, 844/221, 844/222, 844/223, 180/334, 403/93, 403/96, 403/97, 403/98, 403/103, 403/359.1
• US Class Current: 74/513
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20534 Accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

A foot pedal apparatus is provided with a stationary support structure and a shaft supported by the support structure. A bracket and an actuator are attachable to each other for synchronous rotation about an axis of the shaft. A rotational connector is moveable to selectively connect and disconnect the bracket and actuator to allow coordinated rotation about the axis or independent rotation about the axis, respectively. The structure of the foot pedal apparatus allows the “at rest” position of the foot pedal to be easily adjusted.

Claims

1. A foot pedal apparatus, comprising:

a stationary support structure which is attachable to a vehicle;

a shaft supported by said stationary support structure concentric with an axis;

a bracket, said shaft extending through an opening formed in said bracket, said bracket being rotatable about said axis and axially movable in a direction parallel to said axis;

a plate attached to said bracket for rotation with said bracket about said axis, said plate being shaped to be movable in response to foot movements of an operator of said vehicle

an actuator attachable to said bracket for rotation with said bracket, said bracket being axially movable relative to said actuator in a direction parallel to said axis;

an angular position sensor attached to said actuator and to said stationary support structure; and

a rotational connector which is movable to selectively connect said bracket and said actuator together for coordinated rotation about said axis or disconnect said bracket from said actuator to allow relative rotation between said bracket and said actuator about said axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

axial movement of said bracket in said direction parallel to said axis and relative to said actuator causes said rotational connector to disconnect said bracket from said actuator to allow relative rotation between said bracket and said actuator about said axis with said shaft extending through said opening formed in said bracket.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said rotational connector comprises first and second gear portions, said first gear portion being attached to said actuator and said second gear portion being attached to said bracket.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

said second gear portion is movable out of meshing relation with said first gear portion when said bracket is moved axially away from said actuator in a direction parallel to said axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

said first gear portion is a toothed cavity and said second gear portion is a toothed protrusion, said toothed cavity being shaped to receive said toothed protrusion in meshing relation.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an axially resilient member associated with said bracket to resist movement of said bracket away from said actuator in a direction parallel to said shaft.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a rotationally resilient member associated with said shaft for urging said shaft to a preselected position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

said rotationally resilient member is a coil spring.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said bracket is rotationally attachable with said shaft.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said angular position sensor is a potentiometer.

11. A foot pedal apparatus, comprising:

a stationary support structure which is attachable to a vehicle;

a shaft supported by said stationary support structure concentric with an axis;

a bracket, said shaft extending through an opening formed in said bracket, said bracket being axially movable relative to said stationary support structure in a direction parallel to said axis and rotatable about said axis;

an actuator attached to said shaft for rotation with said shaft, said bracket being axially movable relative to said actuator in a direction parallel to said axis;

an angular position sensor having a first portion attached to said actuator and a second portion attached to said stationary support structure; and

a rotational connector which is movable to selectively connect said bracket and said actuator together for coordinated rotation about said axis or disconnect said bracket from said actuator to allow relative rotation between said bracket and said actuator about said axis, wherein axial movement of said bracket in a direction parallel to said shaft and relative to said actuator causes said rotational connector to disconnect said bracket from said actuator to allow relative rotation between said bracket and said actuator about said axis.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a plate attached to said bracket, said plate being shaped to be movable in response to foot movements of an operator of said vehicle.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

said rotational connector comprises first and second gear portions, said first gear portion being attached to said actuator and said second gear portion being attached to said bracket, said second gear portion being movable out of meshing relation with said first gear portion when said bracket is moved axially away from said actuator in a direction parallel to said axis, said first gear portion being a toothed cavity and said second gear portion is a toothed protrusion, said toothed cavity being shaped to receive said toothed protrusion in meshing relation.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

an axially resilient member associated with said bracket to resist movement of said bracket away from said actuator in a direction parallel to said shaft.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a rotationally resilient member associated with said shaft for urging said shaft to a preselected position.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

said rotationally resilient member is a coil spring, said bracket is rotationally attachable with said shaft and said angular position sensor is a potentiometer.

17. A foot pedal apparatus, comprising:

a stationary support structure which is attachable to a vehicle;

a shaft supported by said stationary support structure concentric with an axis;

a bracket, said shaft extending through an opening formed in said bracket, said bracket being axially movable relative to said stationary support structure in a direction parallel to said axis and rotatable about said axis;

an actuator attached to said shaft for rotation with said shaft, said bracket being axially movable relative to said actuator in a direction parallel to said axis;

an angular position sensor having a first portion attached to said actuator and a second portion attached to said stationary support structure;

a rotational connector which is movable to selectively connect said bracket and said actuator together for coordinated rotation about said axis or disconnect said bracket from said actuator to allow relative rotation between said bracket and said actuator about said axis, wherein axial movement of said bracket in a direction parallel to said shaft and relative to said actuator causes said rotational connector to disconnect said bracket from said actuator to allow relative rotation between said bracket and said actuator about said axis;

a plate attached to said bracket, said plate being shaped to be movable in response to foot movements of an operator of said vehicle;

an axially resilient member associated with said bracket to resist movement of said bracket away from said actuator in a direction parallel to said shaft; and

a rotationally resilient member associated with said shaft for urging said shaft to a preselected position.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

said rotational connector comprises first and second gear portions, said first gear portion being attached to said actuator and said second gear portion being attached to said bracket, said second gear portion being movable out of meshing relation with said first gear portion when said bracket is moved axially away from said actuator in a direction parallel to said axis, said first gear portion being a toothed cavity and said second gear portion is a toothed protrusion, said toothed cavity being shaped to receive said toothed protrusion in meshing relation.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

said rotationally resilient member is a coil spring, said bracket is rotationally attachable with said shaft and said angular position sensor is a potentiometer.