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

• US 7,069,810 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• 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: Hayashihara, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, CHONG HWA
• Application Number:
  US10/394,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20040040404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/60, 180/274, 180/275, 180/320, 180/334, 180/335, 244/235
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated

Abstract

An adjustable pedal device including (a) a support shaft fixedly disposed on a bracket, (b) a pedal including a pivotal member and a pedal member, and a return spring interposed between the bracket and the pedal member, and wherein the pivotal member is pivotable about the support shaft, while the pedal member is movable relative to the pivotal member to a selected one of a plurality of relative positions, and has at its lower end an operating portion at which the pedal member is operated so that the pedal member and the pivotal member are pivoted together about the support shaft, the return spring biasing the pedal member so as to pivot the pedal about the support shaft in a first direction toward a non-operated position of the pedal, and producing a force of resistance to a pivotal motion of the pedal in a second direction away from the non-operated position when the pedal is operated, and wherein the positions of opposite end portions of the return spring at which the spring is fixed to the bracket and the pedal member are determined such that a length of an arm of a moment produced by the spring to bias the pedal in the first direction changes so as to reduce an amount of change of the force of resistance, as the pedal member is moved relative to the pivotal member.

Claims

1. An adjustable pedal device to be installed on an automotive vehicle 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 to a selected one of a plurality of relative positions and having at a lower end thereof 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; and

a return spring interposed between said bracket and said pedal member and biasing said pedal member so as to pivot said pedal about said support shaft in a first direction toward a non-operated position of said pedal, said return spring producing a force of resistance to a pivotal motion of said pedal in a second direction away from said non-operated position when said pedal is operated at said operating portion,

and wherein said return spring is fixed at opposite fixing end portions to said bracket and said pedal member, respectively, positions of said opposite fixing end portions of said return spring relative to said bracket and said pedal member being determined such that a length of a moment arm produced by said return spring to bias said pedal in said first direction increases with an increase of a lever length of said pedal as a result of a movement of said pedal member relative to said pivotal member, to change said non-operated position of said pedal in a longitudinal direction of the automotive vehicle, whereby an amount of change of said force of resistance as a result of a change of said non-operated position in said longitudinal direction is reduced, said lever length being a distance between an axis of said support shaft and said operating portion of said pedal member,

wherein said length of the moment arm changes with a movement of the fixing end portion of said return spring fixed to said pedal member, in said longitudinal direction of the automotive vehicle as said pedal member is moved relative to said pivotal member to change said non-operated position of said pedal.

2. An adjustable pedal device according to claim 1, wherein said return spring is a tension coil spring.

3. An adjustable pedal device according to claim 1, wherein said positions of said opposite fixing end portions of said return spring are determined such that the length of the arm of said moment produced by said return spring changes with a change of a length of said return spring, so a to hold said force of resistance substantially constant irrespective of a movement of said pedal member relative to said pivotal member.

4. An adjustable pedal device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a guiding device operable to guide a movement of said pedal member relative to said pivotal member along a predetermined path; and

an adjusting device interposed between said pedal member and said pivotal member and operable to move said pedal member relative to said pivotal member along said predetermined path, for establishing a desired relative position between said pedal member and said pivotal member, while said pedal member is guided by said guiding device.

5. An adjustable pedal device according to claim 4, wherein said guiding device includes at least one guide piece each which is fixed to said pivotal member and said pedal member such that said each guide piece is slidably movable within an elongate slot formed through the other of said pivotal member and said pedal member.

6. An adjustable pedal device according to claim 4, wherein said adjusting device includes an electric motor fixed to one of said pivotal member and said pedal member, a feedscrew connected to and rotated by said electric motor, and a nut member engaging said feedscrew and fixed to the other of said pivotal member and said pedal member.

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

8. An adjustable pedal device according to claim 7, wherein said positions of said opposite fixing end portions of said return spring relative to said bracket and said pedal member are determined such that the length of the moment arm produced by said return spring increases with the increase of the lever length of said pedal as a result of a rearward movement of said operating portion of said pedal member toward a rear side of the automotive vehicle, which rearward movement is caused by the movement of said pedal member relative to said pivotal member.