Vehicle pedal device wherein non-operated position of operating portion is adjustable in longitudinal direction of vehicle

• US 7,047,837 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Iron Works Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Iron Works Company Limited
• Inventors: Hayashihara, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): LUONG, VINH
• Application Number:
  US10/872,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20040226399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/13, 745/60, 745/61, 745/62, 745/14
• 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 74/20534 Accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2054 Signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

Pedal device mounted on a bracket fixed to a vehicle body, and including a pedal arm having an operating portion, and a position adjusting device to adjust the non-operated position of the operating portion in vehicle longitudinal direction, the position adjusting device includes a first member having a pair of guides, a second member disposed movably relative to the first member in a substantially vertical plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction, and having a pair of guide pieces are movable in engagement with the respective, and a positioning device to establish a desired relative position between the first and second members, by moving the guides and the guide pieces relative to each other, wherein one of the first and second members has the operating portion and is movable relative to the other to move the operating position, and the guides are formed such that an attitude of the operating portion changes as the operating portion is moved in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

Claims

1. A pedal device mounted on a bracket fixed to a body of an automotive vehicle, and including a pedal arm having an operating portion at a lower end thereof and being pivotal about a support shaft in accordance with a depressing operation thereof, and a position adjusting device operable to adjust a position of said operating portion in a longitudinal direction of the automotive vehicle where said pedal arm is placed in a non-operated state thereof, said pedal device comprising:

a first member having a guide;

a second member disposed movably relative to said first member in said longitudinal direction, and having a guide piece which is movable in engagement with said guide, respectively; and

a positioning device operable to establish a desired relative position between said first and second members, by moving said guide and said guide piece relative to each other, said positioning device permitting said first and second members to maintain said desired relative position after said desired relative position is established,

wherein one of said first and second members has said operating portion and is movable relative to the other of said first and second members, to move said operating portion in said longitudinal direction, and

wherein said other of said first and second members is operatively connected to a power transmitting member such that an operating force acting on said operating portion of said pedal arm is transmitted to said power transmitting member, said pedal device further including a lever-ratio changing mechanism interconnected between said other of said first and second members and said power transmitting member, said lever-ratio changing mechanism being operable to change a lever ratio of said pedal device with a change in an operating stroke of said operating portion of said pedal arm, and

wherein said lever-ratio changing mechanism indicates a non-linear pattern of change of the lever ratio with the change in the operating stroke of said operation portion while said pedal arm is pivoted about the support shaft.

2. The pedal device according to claim 1, wherein said bracket has a mounting shaft perpendicular to approximately vertical plane approximately parallel to said longitudinal direction, and said lever-ratio changing mechanism includes

a lever member disposed on said bracket pivotally about said mounting shaft and connected to said power transmitting member pivotally about a first connecting shaft parallel to said mounting shaft, and

a connecting link connected at one of opposite ends to said lever member pivotally about a second connecting shaft parallel to said mounting shaft, and at the other end to said other of said first and second members pivotally about a third connecting shaft parallel to said second connecting shaft,

wherein said operating force is transmitted from said pedal arm to said power transmitting member through said other of said first and second members, said connecting link and said lever member.

3. The pedal device according to claim 1, wherein said guide is formed and positioned such that an attitude of said operating portion changes as said operating portion is moved in said longitudinal direction.

4. The pedal device according to claim 1, wherein said guide is formed and positioned such that a vertical position of said operating portion changes as said operating portion is moved in said longitudinal direction.

5. The pedal device according to claim 1, wherein said first member has a pair of guides and said second member has a pair of guide pieces, and

wherein said pair of guides consist of a pair of straight guides which are positioned such that extension lines of said straight guides intersect each other such that an attitude of said operating portion changes as said operating portion is moved in said longitudinal direction as a result of a relative movement of said first and second members with said pair of guide pieces being moved in engagement with said pair of straight guides, respectively.

6. The pedal device according to claim 5, wherein said pair of straight guides are positioned such that the vertical position of said operating portion is lowered while an operating surface of said operating portion is gradually inclined upwards as said operating portion is moved in a rearward direction of the vehicle parallel to said longitudinal direction.

7. The pedal device according to claim 5, wherein said second member has said operating portion and is movable relative to said first member, and said positioning device comprises a relative-movement device including a feedscrew disposed on said first member such that said feedscrew is parallel to one of said pair of straight guides and rotatable about an axis thereof, and an internally threaded member connected to one of said guide pieces which engages said one of said pair of straight guides, said internally threaded member being held in engagement with said feedscrew and pivotable relative to said second member about an axis perpendicular to an approximately vertical plane approximately parallel to said longitudinal direction, and wherein said relative-movement device is operable to rotate said feedscrew to move said second member relative to said first member and maintain said desired relative position between said first and second members after a rotary motion of said feedscrew is terminated.

8. The pedal device according to claim 1, wherein said pedal arm includes said one of said first and second members, and said other of said first and second members which does not have said operating portion is a pivotal arm which is disposed pivotally about a support shaft supported by said bracket, said pedal arm being pivoted about said support shaft when said pedal arm is operated at said operating portion.

9. A pedal device mounted on a bracket fixed to a body of an automotive vehicle, and including a pedal arm having an operating portion at a lower end thereof, and a position adjusting device operable to adjust a position of said operating portion in a longitudinal direction of the automotive vehicle where said pedal arm is placed in a non-operated state thereof, said pedal device comprising:

a first member having a guide;

a second member disposed movably relative to said first member in said longitudinal direction, and having a guide piece which is movable in engagement with said guide, respectively; and

a positioning device operable to establish a desired relative position between said first and second members, by moving said guide and said guide piece relative to each other, said positioning device permitting said first and second members to maintain said desired relative position after said desired relative position is established,

wherein one of said first and second members has said operating portion and is movable relative to the other of said first and second members, to move said operating portion in said longitudinal direction,

wherein said other of said first and second members is operatively connected to a power transmitting member such that an operating force acting on said operating portion of said pedal arm is transmitted to said power transmitting member, said pedal device further including a lever-ratio changing mechanism interconnected between said other of said first and second members and said power transmitting member, said lever-ratio changing mechanism being operable to change a lever ratio of said pedal device with a change in an operating stroke of said operating portion of said pedal arm, and

wherein said bracket has a mounting shaft perpendicular to approximately vertical plane approximately parallel to said longitudinal direction, and said lever-ratio changing mechanism includes

a lever member disposed on said bracket pivotally about said mounting shaft and connected to said power transmitting member pivotally about a first connecting shaft parallel to said mounting shaft, and

a connecting link connected at one of opposite ends to said lever member pivotally about a second connecting shaft parallel to said mounting shaft, and at the other end to said other of said first and second members pivotally about a third connecting shaft parallel to said second connecting shaft,

wherein said operating force is transmitted from said pedal arm to said power transmitting member through said other of said first and second members, said connecting link and said lever member.