Adjustable pedal assembly (banana rod)

• US 6,662,677 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2001
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Drivesol Worldwide Holding Corporation (Sun Capital Partners Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Teleflex Incorporated
• Inventors: Markham, Anthony, Rixon, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): LUONG, VINH
• Application Number:
  US10/034,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20020053254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/13, 745/60, 745/22
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/06 Disposition of pedal
• 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

Four embodiments of an adjustable pedal assembly wherein a pedal lever is adjustable along a rod. Each assembly is characterized by the rod (116, 216, 316 and 416) being arcuate or curved, e.g., in an arc, between its connection to a support (112, 212, 312 and 412) and its distal end for changing the angle of the longitudinal axis of the pedal lever (118, 218, 318 and 418) relative to the support (112, 212, 312 and 412) during the adjustment of the pedal lever (118, 218, 318 and 418) along the rod (116, 216, 316 and 416). Consequently, the angle of the pedal pad (120, 220, 320 and 420) is changed to accommodate different operators

Claims

1. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising;

a support (112, 212, 312 and 412) for mounting said assembly;

an arcuate male rod (116, 216, 316 and 416) cantilevered from and extending in an arcuate path from said support (112, 212, 312 and 412) to a distal end,

a pedal lever (118, 218, 318 and 418) having a longitudinal axis (A) extending between an upper end and a lower end for operational movement from an operational position in response to a force,

a female mechanism (122, 222, 322 and 422) surrounding said rod for movement along said rod (116, 216, 316 and 416),

said pedal lever (118, 218, 318 and 418) depending from said female mechanism with said longitudinal axis (A) thereof extending through said mechanism for changing the angle of said longitudinal axis (A) of said pedal lever (118, 218, 318 and 418) relative to said support (112, 212, 312 and 412) during movement of said mechanism (122, 212, 312, and 412) and said operational position of said lever (118, 218, 318 and 418) in said arcuate path along said rod (116, 216, 316 and 416) independently of said operational movement.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mechanism (122, 222, 322 and 422) includes a drive system for adjusting said operational position of said pedal lever (118, 218, 318 and 418) in said arcuate path along said rod (116, 216, 316 and 416).

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said drive system includes a threaded screw (124, 224 and 424) and a threaded nut (126, 226 and 426) threadedly engaging said screw (124, 224 and 424) and a power unit (128, 228 and 428) for rotating said screw (124, 224 and 424) to move said nut (126, 226 and 426), said nut (126, 226 and 426) being connected to said pedal lever (118, 218 and 418) for moving said pedal lever (118, 218 and 418) along said rod (116, 216 and 416) in response to rotation of said screw (124, 224 and 424).

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 including a rotational connection (130, 230 and 430) between said nut (126, 226 and 426) and said pedal lever (118, 218 and 418) for accommodating said changing angle of said longitudinal axis (A) of said pedal lever (118, 218 and 418) relative to said screw (124, 224 and 424) during said adjustment of said pedal lever (118, 218 and 418) along said rod (116, 216 and 416).

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said screw (124, 224 and 424) is straight and including a lost motion connection (131, 231 and 431) between said nut (126, 226 and 426) and said pedal lever (118, 218 and 418) for accommodating the change in distance between said screw (124, 224 and 424) and said rod (116, 216 and 416) as said nut (126, 226 and 426) moves along said screw (124, 224 and 424).

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said drive system includes at least one gear (324) in meshing engagement with said rod (316) and a power unit (328) for rotating said gear (324) for moving said pedal lever (318) along said rod (316) in response to rotation of said gear (324).

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said rod (316) comprises a plate with top and bottom edges and rack teeth (326) disposed along at least one of said edges and in said meshing engagement with said gear (324).

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a pivotal connection (132, 232 and 332) for pivotally mounting said support (112, 212 and 312) so that said rod (116, 216 and 316) pivots about said pivotal connection (132, 232 and 332) during said operational movement in response to the force from an operator.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a pivotal connection (432) for pivotally connecting said pedal lever (418) to said mechanism (422) so that said pedal lever (418) pivots relative to said rod (416) about said pivotal connection (432) during said operational movement in response to the force from an operator.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 including a signal generating device (433) for generating an electronic signal in response to said pedal lever (418) pivoting relative to said mechanism (422).

11. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising:

a support (112, 212, 312 and 412) for mounting said assembly;

a rod (116, 216, 316 and 416) extending from said support (112, 212, 312 and 412) to a distal end,

a pedal lever (118, 218, 318 and 418) having a longitudinal axis (A) extending between an upper end and a lower end for operational movement from an operational position in response to a force,

a mechanism (122, 222, 322 and 422) supporting said pedal lever (118, 218, 318 and 418) on said rod (116, 216, 316 and 416) and being the control of movement of said operational position of said pedal lever (118, 218, 318 and 418) along said rod (116, 216, 316 and 416),

said rod (116, 216, 316 and 416) being arcuate to establish an arcuate path for changing the angle of said longitudinal axis (A) of said pedal lever (118, 218, 318 and 418) relative to said support (112, 212, 312 and 412) during movement of said mechanism (122, 212, 312 and 412) and said operational position of said lever (118, 218, 318 and 418) in said arcuate path along said rod (116, 216, 316 and 416) independently of said operational movement,

said mechanism (122, 222, 322 and 422) including a drive system for adjusting said operational position of said pedal lever (118, 218, 318 and 418) along said rod (116, 216, 316 and 416),

said drive system including a threaded screw (124, 224 and 424) and a threaded nut (126, 226 and 426) threadedly engaging said screw (124, 224 and 424) and a power unit (128, 228 and 428) for rotating said screw (124, 224 and 424) to move said nut (126, 226 and 426), said nut (126, 226 and 426) being connected to said pedal lever (118, 218 and 418) for moving said pedal lever (118, 218 and 418) along said rod (116, 216 and 416) in response to rotation of said screw (124, 224 and 424), and

a pivotal connection (132 and 232) for pivotally connecting said support (112 and 212) so that said rod (116 and 216) pivots about said pivotal connection (132 and 232) during said operational movement in response to the force from an operator.