Adjustable automobile pedal system

• US 6,701,799 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2001
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edmond B. Cicotte
• Original Assignee: Edmond B. Cicotte
• Inventors: Cicotte, Edmond B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannon, Thomas R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, Vicky A.
• Application Number:
  US10/045,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20020073800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/13, 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 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

A pedal adjustment system for an automobile having an accelerator cable and a master cylinder pushrod with a free end, the system having a brake pedal secured to a lower end of a brake pedal arm and an accelerator pedal secured to a lower end of an accelerator pedal arm. The adjustment of the brake pedal arm is effected by pivoting about the free end of the master cylinder pushrod, which pivotally engages the brake pedal arm between its ends, the pivoting being done by imposing a reversible force from an electric motor and gearbox assembly attached to an upper end of the brake pedal arm. The accelerator pedal arm, an upper end of which engages the accelerator cable, is adjusted in unison with the brake pedal arm by providing an accelerator pedal adjustment link, an upper end of which is coaxial with the brake pedal arm and a lower end of which is pivotally attached to the accelerator pedal arm at a location between the upper and lower ends of the accelerator pedal arm.

Claims

1. An automobile pedal system comprising:

a pedal arm having one end, an opposite end terminating with a pedal attached thereto, and a pedal arm pivot axis positioned between said one end and said opposite end; and

means for oscillating said pedal arm about said pedal arm pivot axis, said means for oscillating producing a force applied to said one end of said pedal arm such that as said means for oscillating moves from one end position to an opposite end position said pedal arm pivots about said pedal arm pivot axis and said opposite end of said pedal arm adjusts from a first adjustment position to a second opposite adjustment position.

2. The automobile pedal system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for oscillating said pedal arm further comprises:

a housing having a closed end and opposing walls extending in a direction away from said closed end;

a pivot shaft extending between said opposing walls of said housing;

a pushrod support bracket mounted between said opposing walls of said housing, said pushrod support bracket having an aperture therein;

means for traversing said pivot shaft from a first beginning of travel position to a second end of travel position;

means for attaching said housing to said vehicle; and

means for mounting said one end of said pedal arm to said pivot shaft whereby as said means for traversing moves said pivot shaft from said first beginning of travel position to said second end of travel position said pedal arm pivots about said pedal arm pivot axis to adjust said pedal from said first adjustment position to said second opposite adjustment position.

3. The automobile pedal system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising:

an accelerator pedal arm having one end and an opposite end;

an accelerator pedal secured to said accelerator pedal arm at said opposite end of said accelerator pedal arm;

an accelerator link having one end pivotably attached to said accelerator pedal arm between said one end and said opposite end of said accelerator pedal arm, and an opposite end having a slot therein pivotably attached to said pivot shaft for movement relative thereto;

means for mounting said accelerator link to said housing for rotation of said accelerator link relative to said housing; and

means for attaching said one end of said accelerator link to said accelerator pedal arm and said opposite end of said accelerator link to said pivot shaft.

4. The automobile pedal system of claim 2, wherein said means for traversing said pivot shaft further comprises:

a clevis housing member located between said opposing walls of said housing, said clevis housing member having one end attached to said pivot shaft and an opposite end extending in a direction away from said pivot shaft, said opposite end comprising a body portion, said body portion having a threaded aperture therein; and

means for translating said clevis housing member from said first beginning of travel position to said second end of travel position, said translating means being mounted to said closed end of said housing, said translating means further comprising;

an electric motor;

a gearbox integral with said electric motor; and

a threaded shaft extending from said gearbox in a direction towards said body portion of said clevis housing member and engaging said threaded aperture therein such that as said electric motor is energized said gearbox is driven to turn said threaded shaft extending therefrom into said threaded aperture of said clevis housing member and cause said clevis housing member to translate along said threaded shaft to traverse said pivot shaft from said first beginning of travel position to said second end of travel position such that said pedal arm pivots about said pedal arm pivot axis to adjust said pedal from said first adjustment position to said second opposite adjustment position.

5. The automobile pedal system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said closed end of said housing further comprises:

a spherical projection having an aperture therein for receiving said threaded shaft extending from said gearbox; and

means for mounting said threaded shaft to said spherical projection whereby as said clevis housing member translates along said threaded shaft said electric motor and said gearbox pivot about said spherical projection.

6. The automobile pedal system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said automobile pedal system mounts within a vehicle and said means for oscillating said pedal arm further comprises:

a housing having a closed end and opposing walls extending in a direction away from said closed end;

a slot having one end and an opposite end located in each wall of said opposing walls;

a pivot shaft having one end mounted in one of said slots of said opposing walls and an opposite end mounted in the other of said slots of said opposing walls;

means for traversing said pivot shaft from said one end of each of said slots in said opposing walls to said opposite end of each said slots in said opposing walls;

means for attaching said housing to said vehicle; and

means for mounting said one end of said pedal arm to said pivot shaft whereby as said means for traversing moves said pivot shaft from said one end of said slots to said opposite end of said slots said pedal arm pivots about said pedal arm pivot axis to adjust said pedal from said first adjustment position to said second opposite adjustment position.

7. The automobile pedal system as claimed in claim 6 further comprising:

an accelerator pedal arm having one end and an opposite end;

an accelerator pedal secured to said accelerator pedal arm at said opposite end of said accelerator pedal arm;

an accelerator link having one end pivotably attached to said accelerator pedal arm between said one end and said opposite end of said accelerator pedal arm, and an opposite end having a slot therein pivotably attached to said pivot shaft for movement relative thereto;

means for mounting said accelerator link to said housing for rotation of said accelerator link relative to said housing; and

means for attaching said one end of said accelerator link to said accelerator pedal arm and said opposite end of said accelerator link to said pivot shaft.

8. The automobile pedal system of claim 6, wherein said means for traversing said pivot shaft further comprises:

a clevis housing member located between said opposing walls of said housing, said clevis housing member having one end attached to said pivot shaft and an opposite end comprising a body portion, said body portion having a threaded aperture therein; and

means for translating said clevis housing member from a first start of travel position to a second end of travel position, said translating means being mounted to said closed end of said housing, said translating means further comprising;

an electric motor,

a gearbox integral with said electric motor; and

a threaded shaft extending from said gearbox in a direction towards said body portion of said clevis housing member and engaging said threaded aperture therein such that as said electric motor is energized said gearbox is driven to turn said threaded shaft extending therefrom into said threaded aperture of said clevis housing member and cause said clevis housing member to translate along said threaded shaft to traverse said pivot shaft from said one end of each of said slots in said opposing walls of said housing to said opposite end of each of said slots in said opposing walls such that said pedal arm pivots about said pedal arm pivot axis to adjust said pedal from said first adjustment position to said second opposite adjustment position.

9. The automobile pedal system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said closed end of said housing further comprises:

a spherical projection having an aperture therein for receiving said threaded shaft extending from said gearbox; and

means for mounting said threaded shaft to said spherical projection whereby as said clevis housing member translates along said threaded shaft said electric motor and said gearbox pivot about said spherical projection.

10. A method of adjusting a pedal arm having one end and an opposite end having a pedal attached thereto, said method being for a vehicle having a reaction member with a free end, said method comprising the steps of:

pivotably attaching said pedal arm to said free end of said reaction member at a location between said one end and said opposite end of said pedal arm; and

imposing an oscillating force on said pedal arm at said one end of said pedal arm, such that said one end of said pedal arm oscillates from one end position to an opposite end position about said free end of said reaction member, whereby said opposite end of said pedal arm adjusts from a first position to a second opposite position.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

providing a generally U-shaped bracket with a spaced apart pair of legs, each leg of said spaced apart pair of legs having a slot therein;

supporting said pedal arm with a pivot shaft traversing said U-shaped bracket and engaging said slot of said each leg of said U-shaped bracket; and

oscillating said pivot shaft with respect to said U-shaped bracket.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said step of imposing an oscillating force comprises:

securing a reversible electric motor and gear assembly to an end of said U-shaped bracket and extending an externally threaded output shaft therefrom; and

rotating said externally threaded output shaft of said electric motor and gear assembly to cause said one end of said pedal arm to oscillate with respect to said U-shaped bracket.