Electronically controlled pedal assembly having a hysteresis generating structure
First Claim
1. A pedal assembly (10) comprising:
- a housing (12) having at least one inner surface (28);
a pedal arm (14) pivotally connected to said housing (12) for movement between a rest position and an operative position, said pedal arm (14) having a first end (16) and a second end (20);
a cap (60) at least partially disposed over said second end (20) of said pedal arm (14);
a resilient member (38) partially received within said housing (12) and having a first distal end (42) seated against said housing (12) and a second distal end (44) engaging said cap (60) to provide resistance during said movement of said pedal arm (14); and
said assembly characterized by said cap (60) including a first portion (62) and a second portion (64) with said first (62) and second (64) portions moving relative to each other during said movement of said pedal arm (14) and with said second distal end (44) of said resilient member (38) engaging said first portion (62) of said cap (60) for moving at least one of said first (62) and second (64) portions into engagement with said inner surface (28) of said housing (12) in response to said pedal arm (14) moving between said rest and operative positions such that said engagement provides increased resistance during said movement of said pedal arm (14).
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pedal assembly (10) having a housing (12) and a pedal arm (14) pivotally connected to the housing (12) for movement between a rest position and an operative position. A pair of springs (38, 40) are mounted within the housing (12). The springs (38, 40) have first distal ends (42, 46) seated against the housing (12) and second distal ends (44, 48) engaging a second end (20) of the pedal arm (14) to provide resistance during the movement of the pedal arm (14). A cap (60) is disposed over the second end (20) of the pedal arm (14). The pedal assembly (10) is characterized by the cap (60) including a first portion (62) and a second portion (64) with the second distal ends (44, 48) of the springs (38, 40) engaging the cap (60). The second portion (64) of the cap (60) is movable relative to the first portion (62) of the cap (60) when the pedal arm (14) moves between the rest and operative positions such that the first (62) and second (64) portions engage an inner surface (28) of the housing (12) to provide increased resistance during the movement of the pedal arm (14).
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A pedal assembly (10) comprising:
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a housing (12) having at least one inner surface (28);
a pedal arm (14) pivotally connected to said housing (12) for movement between a rest position and an operative position, said pedal arm (14) having a first end (16) and a second end (20);
a cap (60) at least partially disposed over said second end (20) of said pedal arm (14);
a resilient member (38) partially received within said housing (12) and having a first distal end (42) seated against said housing (12) and a second distal end (44) engaging said cap (60) to provide resistance during said movement of said pedal arm (14); and
said assembly characterized by said cap (60) including a first portion (62) and a second portion (64) with said first (62) and second (64) portions moving relative to each other during said movement of said pedal arm (14) and with said second distal end (44) of said resilient member (38) engaging said first portion (62) of said cap (60) for moving at least one of said first (62) and second (64) portions into engagement with said inner surface (28) of said housing (12) in response to said pedal arm (14) moving between said rest and operative positions such that said engagement provides increased resistance during said movement of said pedal arm (14). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A pedal assembly (10) comprising:
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a housing (12) having at least one inner surface (28);
a pedal arm (14) pivotally connected to said housing (12) for movement between a rest position and an operative position, said pedal arm (14) having a first end (16) and a second end (20);
a cap (60), having a first portion (62) and a second portion (64), at least partially disposed over said second end (20) of said pedal arm (14) with said first (62) and second (64) portions moving relative to each other during said movement of said pedal arm (14) and each of said first (62) and second (64) portions including a bearing wall (66);
a resilient member (38) partially received within said housing (12) and having a first distal end (42) seated against said housing (12) and a second distal end (44) engaging said first portion (62) of said cap (60) to provide resistance during said movement of said pedal arm (14); and
a movement device disposed between said bearing walls (66) of said first (62) and second (64) portions for moving at least one of said bearing walls (66) into engagement with said inner surface (28) of said housing (12) in response to said pedal arm (14) moving between said rest and operative positions such that said engagement provides increased resistance during said movement of said pedal arm (14). - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification