Adjustable pedal system with ratio modifier

• US 7,568,406 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2007
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DUS Operating, Inc. (Dura Automotive Topco Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Dura Global Technologies Incorporated (Dura Automotive Systems)
• Inventors: Eckerle, Brian John, Allen, James Robert, Booher, Jason Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Fenstermacher; David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Murphy; Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US11/782,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20090025505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/13, 745/22, 745/60, 745/625, 180/320, 180/334, 180/335
• 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 74/206 Adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/209 Extension

Abstract

An adjustable control pedal includes an upper arm and a lower arm carrying a pedal. The lower arm can be selectively moved relative to the upper arm to adjust the position of the pedal between a forward position and a rearward position. A control pin is operably connected to the upper arm for rotation with the upper arm to supply a control signal when force is applied to the pedal. An adjuster is operably connected to the control pin to adjust the position of the control pin relative to the pivot axis so that a ratio of a distance between the pivot axis and the pedal and a distance between the pivot axis and the control pin remains constant as the pedal is adjusted between the forward position and the rearward position.

Claims

1. An adjustable control pedal comprising, in combination:

a fixed position mounting bracket;

an upper arm pivotably secured to the mounting bracket at a stationary pivot axis;

wherein the stationary pivot axis does not move relative to the mounting bracket;

a lower arm carrying a pedal and operably connected to the upper arm so that the lower arm pivots the upper arm about the pivot axis when force is applied to the pedal;

a drive assembly operatively connected to said lower arm for moving the lower pedal arm relative to the upper pedal arm to adjust the position of the pedal between the forward and rearward positions;

a control pin operably connected to the upper arm for rotation with the upper arm as the upper arm pivots about the pivot axis when force is applied to the pedal;

an adjuster operably connected to the control pin to adjust the position of the control pin relative to the pivot axis so that a ratio of a distance between the pivot axis and the pedal and a distance between the pivot axis and the control pin remains constant as the pedal is adjusted between the forward position and the rearward position; and

wherein the adjuster includes a link pivotably attached to the upper arm, the control pin is secured to the link and moves with the link relative to the upper arm as the link pivots relative to the upper arm, and movement of the lower arm relative to the upper arm pivots the link so that the ratio remains constant.

2. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 1, wherein the upper arm has first and second spaced-apart slots formed therein and guides operably secured to the lower arm that extend into the first and second slots respectively, and the guides move along the first and second slots of the upper arm as the lower arm is selectively moved relative to the upper arm.

3. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 2, wherein the link has first and second spaced-apart slots formed therein, the guides extend into the first and second slots of the link respectively, and the guides move along the first and second slots of the link as the lower arm is selectively moved relative to the upper arm.

4. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 3, wherein the slots in the link are adapted so that the link pivots relative to the upper arm as the guides move along the slots of the upper arm and the slots of the link.

5. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 1, wherein the upper arm includes first and second spaced-apart members each having first and second slots therein, guides are operably secured to the lower arm that extend into the first and second slots respectively, the lower arm extends between the first and second members with the guides extending between the first and second members, and the guides move along the first and second slots of the upper arm as the lower arm is selectively moved relative to the upper arm.

6. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 5, wherein the link includes an inner link and an outer link rigidly secured together, the inner link extends between the first and second members, and the outer link is located outside the first and second members.

7. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 6, wherein the outer link is pivotably attached to the upper arm, the inner link has first and second spaced-apart slots formed therein, the guides extend into the first and second slots of the inner link respectively, and the guides move along the first and second slots of the inner link as the lower arm is selectively moved relative to the upper arm.

8. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 7, wherein the slots in the inner link are adapted so that the link pivots relative to the upper arm as the guides move along the slots of the upper arm and the slots of the inner link.

9. An adjustable control pedal comprising, in combination:

a fixed position mounting bracket;

an upper arm pivotably secured to the mounting bracket at a stationary pivot axis;

wherein the stationary pivot axis does not move relative to the mounting bracket;

a lower arm carrying a pedal and operably connected to the upper arm so that the lower arm pivots the upper arm about the pivot axis when force is applied to the pedal;

a drive assembly operatively connected to said lower arm for moving the lower pedal arm relative to the upper pedal arm to adjust the position of the pedal between the forward and rearward positions;

a link pivotally attached to the upper arm;

a control pin secured to the link for providing a control signal and moving with the link relative to the upper arm as the link pivots relative to the upper arm; and

wherein movement of the lower arm relative to the upper arm pivots the link to adjust the position of the control pin relative to the pivot axis so that a ratio of a distance between the pivot axis and the pedal and a distance between the pivot axis and the control pin remains constant as the pedal is adjusted between the forward position and the rearward position.

10. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 9, wherein the upper arm has first and second spaced-apart slots formed therein and guides operably secured to the lower arm that extend into the first and second slots respectively, and the guides move along the first and second slots of the upper arm as the lower arm is selectively moved relative to the upper arm.

11. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 10, wherein the link has first and second spaced-apart slots formed therein, the guides extend into the first and second slots of the link respectively, and the guides move along the first and second slots of the link as the lower arm is selectively moved relative to the upper arm.

12. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 11, wherein the slots in the link are adapted so that the link pivots relative to the upper arm as the guides move along the slots of the upper arm and the slots of the link.

13. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 9, wherein the upper arm includes first and second spaced-apart members.

14. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 13, wherein the link includes an inner link and an outer link rigidly secured together.

15. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 14, wherein the inner link extends between the first and second members and the outer link is located outside the first and second members.

16. The adjustable control pedal according to claim 15, wherein the outer link is pivotably attached to the upper arm.

17. An adjustable control pedal comprising, in combination:

a fixed position mounting bracket;

an upper arm pivotably secured to the mounting bracket at a stationary pivot axis;

a lower arm carrying a pedal and operably connected to the upper arm so that the lower arm pivots the upper arm about the pivot axis when force is applied to the pedal;

a drive assembly operatively connected to said lower arm for moving the lower pedal arm relative to the upper pedal arm to adjust the position of the pedal between the forward and rearward positions;

wherein the upper arm includes first and second spaced-apart members each having first and second slots therein;

guides operably secured to the lower arm that extend into the first and second slots of the upper arm respectively that move along the first and second slots of the upper arm as the lower arm is selectively moved relative to the upper arm;

wherein the lower arm extends between the first and second members with the guides extending between the first and second members, and the guides;

a link pivotally attached to the upper arm;

a control pin secured to the link for providing a control signal;

wherein movement of the lower arm relative to the upper arm pivots the link to adjust the position of the control pin relative to the pivot axis so that a ratio of a distance between the pivot axis and the pedal and a distance between the pivot axis and the control pin remains constant as the pedal is adjusted between the forward position and the rearward position;

wherein the link includes an inner link and an outer link rigidly secured together;

wherein the outer link is located outside the first and second members and is pivotably attached to the upper arm;

wherein the inner link extends between the first and second members and has first and second spaced-apart slots formed therein; and

wherein the guides extend into the first and second slots of the inner link respectively, and the guides move along the first and second slots of the inner link as the lower arm is selectively moved relative to the upper arm to rotate the link relative to the upper arm.