Pedal device wherein non-operated position of operating portion is adjustable

• US 6,952,980 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Iron Works Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Iron Works Company Limited
• Inventors: Kikukawa, Nobuyuki, Ishii, Hakumi, Fukase, Akihiko, Hayashihara, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannon, Thomas R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, Vicky A.
• Application Number:
  US10/394,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20040040403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 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

An adjustable pedal device including (a) a pedal including a pivotal member and a pedal member, the pivotal member being supported by a support shaft disposed on a bracket such that the pivotal member is pivotable about the support shaft, the pedal member being disposed movably relative to the pivotal member in a plane perpendicular to the support shaft, the pedal member having an operating portion at which the pedal member is operated, (b) a guiding device including (i) a pair of guides and a pair of guide pieces which are provided on one and the other of the pivotal and pedal members and which engage each other, to guide a movement of the pedal member relative to the pivotal member, and (c) an adjusting device connecting the pivotal and pedal members and operable to effect the relative movement of the pedal and pivotal members and to hold these members at a desired relative position, and wherein each guide extends linearly, and each guide piece is linearly movable in sliding surface contact with the corresponding guide, and each guide pieces is disposed rotatably about a support pin perpendicular to the sliding plane, the adjusting device being connected to the pedal and pivotal members such that the adjusting device is rotatable relative to these members about respective two connecting pins perpendicular to the sliding plane.

Claims

1. An adjustable pedal device comprising:

a support shaft fixedly disposed on a bracket;

a pedal including a pivotal member and a pedal member, said pivotal member being supported by said support shaft such that said pivotal member is pivotable about said support shaft, said pedal member being disposed movably relative to said pivotal member in a sliding plane perpendicular to said support shaft, said pedal member having an operating portion at which said pedal member is operated so that said pedal member and said pivotal member are pivoted together about said support shaft;

a guiding device including (i) a pair of guides provided on said pivotal member, and (ii) a pair of guide pieces which are movable with said pedal member and which engage said pair of guides, respectively, to guide a movement of said pedal member relative to said pivotal member along a predetermined path, each of said pair of guides extending linearly, and each of said pair of guide pieces being linearly movable in sliding surface contact with the corresponding one of said pair of guides, within a predetermined range of distance in a direction of extension of said corresponding one guide, said pair of guide pieces being supported by said pedal member through respective two support pins perpendicular to said sliding plane and disposed rotatably relative to said pedal member about axes of said respective two support pins;

a connecting plate fixed to said two support pins such that said pair of guide pieces are sandwiched by and between said pedal member and said connecting plate; and

an adjusting device arranged to operatively connect said pedal member and said pivotal member, and operable to move said pedal member relative to said pivotal member so as to establish a desired relative position between said pedal member and said pivotal member, and to hold said pedal member and said pivotal member at said desired relative position,

said adjusting device being operatively connected to said pedal member and said pivotal member such that said adjusting device is rotatable relative to said pedal member and said pivotal member about axes of respective first and second connecting pins perpendicular to said sliding plane, and rotatably connected to said connecting plate through said first connecting pin.

2. An adjustable pedal device according to claim 1, wherein said pair of guides consist of a pair of linear guide slots each having opposite flat side surfaces, while each of said pair of guide pieces consists of a generally parallelepiped member which has opposite flat side surfaces and which is linearly movable within the corresponding linear slot, with its opposite flat side surfaces held in sliding surface contact with the opposite flat side surfaces of said corresponding linear guide slot.

3. An adjustable pedal device according to claim 2, wherein said pair of linear guide slots are defined by respective first metallic bushings, and said guiding device further includes a second metallic bushing interposed between said generally parallelepiped member of said each guide piece and said support pin such that said generally parallelepiped member is rotatable about said support pin through said second metallic bushing.

4. An adjustable pedal device according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting device includes (a) an electrically operated rotary drive device connected to one of said pivotal member and said pedal member through one of said respective two connecting pins, (b) a nut member connected to the other of said pivotal member and said pedal member through the other of said respective two connecting pins, and (c) a feedscrew connected to said electrically operated rotary drive device such that said feedscrew is rotatable about its axis by said electrically operated rotary drive device and such that the axis of said feedscrew is substantially parallel to one of said pair of guides, said feedscrew being held in engagement with said nut member.

5. An adjustable pedal device according to claim 1, which is to be installed on a vehicle such that an axis of said support shaft is substantially parallel to a lateral direction of the vehicle, and such that said pedal member is movable relative to said pivotal member, so that said operating portion of said pedal member is moved in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

6. An adjustable pedal device according to claim 1, wherein said pair of guides of said guiding device extend in respective two directions intersecting each other such that the movement of said pedal member relative to said pivotal member causes a change of an attitude of said operating portion.