Adjustable control vehicle pedal

• US 7,353,729 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: KSR IP Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: KSR Technologies Co.
• Inventors: Jeong, David, Willemsen, Larry G., Shon, Chong W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson; Vicky A.
• Application Number:
  US10/488,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20040217726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,412 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 74/2054 Signal

Abstract

An adjustable control pedal assembly (10) for a vehicle includes a bracket (12) adapted for mounting on the vehicle, an adjustment member (30) pivotally attached to the bracket (12), and a control mechanism (14) mounted to the adjustment member (30), for pivotal movement of the adjustment member (30) about a first axis (34) generally horizontal and transverse to the vehicle, and a pedal arm (16) attached to the control mechanism (14) for pivotal movement relative thereto about a second axis (52) parallel to the first axis (34). The control mechanism (14) includes an electronic control means (66) responsive to the degree of relative movement of the adjustment member (30) and the pedal arm (16) to produce a control signal proportional to such movement, and a motor (18) mounted on the bracket (12) adjacent the control mechanism (14), and a drive means (20) connecting the motor (18) to the control mechanism (14) for moving the control mechanism (14) and pedal arm (16) as a unit.

Claims

1. An adjustable control pedal assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a bracket adapted for mounting on the vehicle;

an adjustment member pivotally attached to said bracket;

a control mechanism mounted to said adjustment member, for pivotal movement of said adjustment member about a first axis generally horizontal and transverse to the vehicle;

a pedal operatively attached to said control mechanism for pivotal movement relative thereto about a second axis parallel to said first axis;

wherein said control mechanism includes an electronic control means responsive to the degree of relative movement of said adjustment member and said pedal to produce a control signal proportional to such movement; and

a motor mounted on said bracket adjacent said control mechanism, and a drive means connecting said motor to said control mechanism for moving said adjustment member, control mechanism and pedal as a unit.

2. The pedal assembly of claim 1 wherein said drive means connecting said motor and said control mechanism includes a threaded drive screw operatively connected to said control member by a complementary threaded member.

3. The pedal assembly of claim 2 wherein said control mechanism includes a link having a slot, and said complementary threaded member is slidably supported within the slot.

4. The pedal assembly of claim 1 wherein the bracket includes a generally planar support surface, a support arm extending from the support surface, and a raised portion adjacent the support arm for mounting said motor thereto.

5. An adjustable control pedal assembly for adjusting the position of a pedal relative to the operator of a vehicle comprising:

a bracket adapted to be supported on the vehicle in a generally vertical position;

an adjustment member having a control mechanism mounted thereto, wherein said adjustment member is pivotally mounted to said bracket and said control mechanism operatively controls the pivotal movement of said adjustment member about a first axis;

a pedal, wherein said pedal includes a pedal arm having a pedal pad mounted thereto, wherein said pedal arm is operatively connected to said control mechanism for pivotal movement about a second axis parallel to said first axis;

wherein said control mechanism includes a signal means that is responsive to the movement of said control mechanism and pedal arm to produce an electrical signal proportional to the degree of movement of said control mechanism and pedal arm; and

a motor mounted to said bracket in a position adjacent said control mechanism, wherein said motor is connected to said control mechanism by a drive means for movement of said control member and pedal as a unit to selected angular positions relative to said bracket.

6. The pedal assembly of claim 5 wherein said drive means connecting said motor and said control mechanism includes a threaded drive screw operatively connected to said control member by a complementary threaded member.

7. The pedal assembly of claim 6 wherein said control mechanism includes a link having a slot, and said complementary threaded member is slidably supported within the slot.

8. The pedal assembly of claim 6 wherein the bracket includes a generally planar support surface, a support arm extending from the support surface, and a raised portion adjacent the support arm for mounting said motor thereto.

9. An adjustable pedal control assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:

a bracket adapted to be supported in a motor vehicle, wherein said bracket includes a generally planar support surface, a support arm extending perpendicular to the support surface and a raised portion adjacent the support arm;

an adjustment member, wherein said adjustment member includes a generally planar support surface and an arm extending from an upper edge of said support surface, and a free end of said arm is pivotally attached to said support arm of said bracket member at a first pivot axis;

a control mechanism mounted to said adjustment member;

a pedal having a pedal arm operatively connected to said control mechanism for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis, said pedal arm having a pad at one end for engagement by the foot of an operator;

wherein said control mechanism includes an electronic signal means that produces a signal proportional to the movement of said pedal arm relative to said control mechanism and said adjustment member, about said second pivot point, for all angular positions of said pedal;

a motor supported on said bracket, wherein said motor is attached to said raised portion; and

a drive means connecting said motor to said control mechanism to pivot the control mechanism, adjustment member and said pedal as a unit about said first pivot point, to position said pedal pad relative to an operator of the vehicle.

10. The pedal assembly of claim 9 wherein said drive means connecting said motor and said control mechanism includes a threaded drive screw operatively connected to said control member by a complementary threaded member.

11. The pedal assembly of claim 10 wherein said control mechanism includes a link having a slot, and said complementary threaded member is slidably supported within the slot.