Pedal with tongued connection for improved torsional strength
First Claim
1. An article comprising:
- a foot pedal lever and a lever mount including abutting mounting sections forming a fixed joint, one section having a channel and the other section having a ridge interference fit into the channel, one of the ridge and channel having sharp edges that shave marginal material from sides of the other of the ridge and channel when the ridge is forced into the channel, but at least one of the mounting sections having depressions located on the sides and positioned to receive the shaved marginal material when the ridge is forced into the channel so that the ridge can be fully seated in the channel; and
at least one fastener holding the ridge in the channel, with the ridge and channel defining a plane and forming a primary mechanical structure providing torsional strength in the plane.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pedal construction includes an adjustable pedal subassembly having a lower pedal member adjustably supported on an upper pedal member by an adjustment device. The lower pedal member includes a pedal lever and a lever mount including abutting mounting sections forming a fixed joint. The mounting section of the lever mount has a channel with sharp edges and the mounting section of the lever has a ridge interference fit into the channel. The sharp edges shave marginal material from sides of the ridge when the ridge is forced into the channel, but the ridge has depressions adjacent its bottom that receive the shaved marginal material when the ridge is forced into the channel. Fasteners extend through the ridge and channel to hold the assembly together, with the ridge and channel interface forming a primary mechanical structure providing torsional strength to the joint.
61 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An article comprising:
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a foot pedal lever and a lever mount including abutting mounting sections forming a fixed joint, one section having a channel and the other section having a ridge interference fit into the channel, one of the ridge and channel having sharp edges that shave marginal material from sides of the other of the ridge and channel when the ridge is forced into the channel, but at least one of the mounting sections having depressions located on the sides and positioned to receive the shaved marginal material when the ridge is forced into the channel so that the ridge can be fully seated in the channel; and
at least one fastener holding the ridge in the channel, with the ridge and channel defining a plane and forming a primary mechanical structure providing torsional strength in the plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An article comprising:
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a foot pedal lever and a lever mount including abutting mounting sections forming a fixed joint, one section having a channel and the other section having a ridge interference fit into the channel, one of the ridge and channel having sharp edges that shave marginal material from sides of the other of the ridge and channel when the ridge is forced into the channel, but at least one of the mounting sections having depressions positioned to receive the shaved marginal material when the ridge is forced into the channel so that the ridge can be frilly seated in the channel; and
at least one fastener holding the ridge in the channel, with the ridge and channel defining a plane and forming a primary mechanical structure providing torsional strength in the plane, wherein the at least one fastener includes at least three mechanical fasteners spaced apart in a non-linear arrangement and further includes a mechanical fastener extended through the abutting mounting sections.
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13. An article comprising:
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a foot pedal lever and a lever mount including abutting mounting sections forming a fixed joint, one section having a channel and the other section having a ridge interference fit into the channel, one of the ridge and channel having sharp edges that shave marginal material from sides of the other of the ridge and channel when the ridge is forced into the channel, but at least one of the mounting sections having depressions positioned to receive the shaved marginal material when the ridge is forced into the channel so that the ridge can be fully seated in the channel; and
at least one fastener holding the ridge in the channel, with the ridge and channel defining a plane and forming a primary mechanical structure providing torsional strength in the plane, wherein the channel is formed on the mounting section of the pedal lever.
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14. An article comprising:
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a foot pedal lever and a lever mount including abutting mounting sections forming a fixed joint, one section having a channel and the other section having a ridge interference fit into the channel, one of the ridge and channel having sharp edges that shave marginal material from sides of the other of the ridge and channel when the ridge is forced into the channel, but at least one of the mounting sections having depressions positioned to receive the shaved marginal material when the ridge is forced into the channel so that the ridge can be fully seated in the channel;
at least one fastener holding the ridge in the channel, with the ridge and channel defining a plane and forming a primary mechanical structure providing torsional strength in the plane, wherein the lever mount includes elongated flanges, molded or otherwise adapted to form a linear bearing; and
a lever support defining a track shaped to linearly engage the elongated flanges to form a linearly adjustable bearing. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An article comprising:
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a foot pedal lever and a lever mount including abutting mounting sections forming a fixed joint, one section having a channel and the other section having a ridge interference fit into the channel, one of the ridge and channel having sharp edges that shave marginal material from sides of the other of the ridge and channel when the ridge is forced into the channel, but at least one of the mounting sections having depressions positioned to receive the shaved marginal material when the ridge is forced into the channel so that the ridge can be fully seated in the channel; and
at least one fastener holding the ridge in the channel, with the ridge and channel defining a plane and forming a primary mechanical structure providing torsional strength in the plane, wherein the depressions are elongated recesses, and wherein the one section having the ridge includes the elongated recesses on areas adjacent side surfaces of the ridge, with the recesses extending parallel the ridge.
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17. A torsionally strong joint for connecting a lever and a lever mount, the lever and the lever mount including abutting mounting sections, the joint comprising:
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one mounting section having a channel and the other mounting section having a ridge interference fit into the channel, one of the channel and the ridge having sharp edges that shave marginal material from sides of the other of the channel and the ridge when the ridge is forced into the channel, but the one of the channel and the ridge also having depressions located on the sides and positioned to receive the shaved marginal material when the ridge is forced into the channel; and
at least one fastener holding the ridge in the channel, with the ridge and channel defining a plane and forming a primary mechanical structure providing torsional strength to the joint in the plane. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A torsionally strong joint for connecting a lever and a lever mount, the lever and the lever mount including abutting mounting sections, the joint comprising:
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one mounting section having a channel and the other mounting section having a ridge interference fit into the channel, one of the channel and the ridge having sharp edges that shave marginal material from sides of the other of the channel and the ridge when the ridge is forced into the channel, but the one of the channel and the ridge also having depressions positioned to receive the shaved marginal material when the ridge is forced into the channel; and
at least one fastener holding the ridge in the channel, with the ridge and channel defining a plane and forming a primary mechanical structure providing torsional strength to the joint in the plane, wherein the channel is formed on the mounting section of the pedal lever. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A torsionally strong joint for connecting a lever and a lever mount, the lever and the lever mount including abutting mounting sections, the joint comprising:
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one mounting section having a channel and the other mounting section having a ridge interference fit into the channel, one of the channel and the ridge having sharp edges that shave marginal material from sides of the other of the channel and the ridge when the ridge is forced into the channel, but the one of the channel and the ridge also having depressions positioned to receive the shaved marginal material when the ridge is forced into the channel; and
at least one fastener holding the ridge in the channel, with the ridge and channel defining a plane and forming a primary mechanical structure providing torsional strength to the joint in the plane, wherein the depressions include elongated recesses, and wherein the one section having the ridge includes the elongated recesses on areas adjacent side surfaces of the ridge, with the recesses extending parallel the ridge.
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27. A pedal apparatus comprising:
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a support;
a pedal subassembly including an upper pedal member pivoted to the support, a lower pedal member; and
an adjustment device adjustably supporting the lower pedal member on the upper pedal member for translational adjustment;
the lower pedal member including a pedal lever and a lever mount with abutting mounting sections forming a torsionally-strong fixed joint, the mounting section of the pedal lever having a channel and the mounting section of the lever mount having a ridge interference fit into the channel;
one of the ridge and channel having depressions located on sides thereof for receiving shaved marginal material from the other of the ridge and channel; and
at least one fastener extending through and holding the ridge in the channel with the ridge and channel defining a plane and forming a primary mechanical structure providing torsional strength to the joint in the plane. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification