Compact pedal assembly with improved noise control

• US 8,069,750 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2007
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KSR IP Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: KSR Technologies Co.
• Inventors: Willemsen, Larry, O'Neill, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): LUONG, VINH
• Application Number:
  US11/836,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20090038431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 74512-514, 745/60, 188/73.1
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/02 for main transmission clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/065 with means to prevent injuries in case of collision for vehicle pedals in general by moving them from an operative to an out-of-the way position B60R21/09
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/38 comprising means to continuously detect pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/506 Controlling members for foot-actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 25/02 Inhibiting the generation or transmission of noise suppression of noise or vibrations in selector apparatus for gearings F16H59/0208
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

A compact vehicle pedal includes a mounting bracket having a lower arm with guide slot. A swing plate having a mounting face and upper arm with guide slot is pivotally interconnected to a mounting bracket upper arm at a first axis by a pivot pin disposed within the swing plate guide slot, and the swing plate upper end has a first degree of freedom. An electronically controlled pedal arm assembly is mounted on the swing plate. A screw member connected to a drive apparatus has an end connected to the swing plate and operatively connected to the mounting bracket slot at the second axis, and the swing plate lower end has a second degree of freedom that is greater than the first. Activation of the drive apparatus displaces the screw member to pivotally constrain movement of the swing plate about the first axis and the second axis.

Claims

1. A compact pedal assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a mounting bracket adapted for mounting to the vehicle, wherein the mounting bracket is an F-shaped bracket having a mounting face that is adapted for mounting on the vehicle and an upper arm extending radially from an upper end of the mounting face to a free end, and a lower arm extending radially from a lower end of the mounting face to a free end that includes a longitudinally extending guide slot;

a swing plate having a mounting face with an upper end and a lower end, and an upper arm extending radially from an upper edge of the mounting face upper end to a free end that includes a guide slot, wherein the swing plate upper arm is pivotally connected to the mounting bracket upper arm by a pivot pin slidingly disposed within the swing plate guide slot at a first pivot axis, so that the upper end of the swing plate has a first degree of freedom of movement during pedal adjustment, and the first pivot axis is fixed during pedal actuation;

a pedal arm assembly mounted to the swing plate mounting face, wherein the pedal arm assembly includes a pedal arm member having a pedal pad mounted to a lower end of the pedal arm member and an upper end operatively connected to an electronic position sensing device;

a drive apparatus mounted to the mounting bracket mounting face; and

a screw member having one end operatively connected to the drive apparatus, and an opposite end that is connected to the swing plate lower end and slidingly disposed within the mounting bracket lower arm guide slot at a second pivot axis that is below the third pivot axis, so that the swing plate lower end has a second degree of freedom of movement relative to the mounting bracket during pedal adjustment, wherein activation of the drive apparatus to adjust the position of the pedal pad along a predetermined path between a non-adjusted position and a fully adjusted position displaces the screw member within the mounting bracket lower arm guide slot and the pivot pin in the swing plate guide slot to pivot the swing plate and the pedal arm assembly together as a unit without relative movement between the pedal arm member and the pedal pad about the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis, and the first degree of freedom is less than the second degree of freedom to constrain the pivotal movement of the swing plate.

2. The compact pedal assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the swing plate guide slot has a substantially vertical orientation, with an upper end inclined towards the free end of the swing plate upper arm.

3. The compact pedal assembly of claim 2 wherein the mounting bracket lower arm guide slot has a substantially horizontal orientation.

4. The compact pedal assembly of claim 3 wherein the mounting bracket lower arm guide slot is inclined in a downwardly direction, with an upper edge of the lower arm guide slot adjacent the mounting face and a lower edge of the lower arm guide slot adjacent the free end of the mounting bracket lower arm.

5. The compact assembly of claim 1 further comprising a guide pin slidingly disposed within the mounting bracket lower arm guide slot for slidingly connecting the swing plate, screw member, and mounting bracket lower arm, such that the pin is guided through the mounting bracket lower arm guide slot as the screw member is displaced.

6. A compact pedal assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a mounting bracket adapted for mounting to the vehicle, wherein the mounting bracket is an F-shaped bracket having a mounting face that is adapted for mounting on the vehicle and an upper arm extending radially from an upper end of the mounting face to a free end, and a lower arm extending radially from a lower end of the mounting face to a free end that includes a longitudinally extending guide slot having a generally horizontal orientation;

a swing plate having a mounting face with an upper end and a lower end, and an upper arm extending radially from an upper edge of the mounting face upper end to a free end that includes a guide slot having a generally vertical orientation, wherein the swing plate upper arm is pivotally connected to the mounting bracket upper arm by a pivot pin slidingly disposed within the swing plate guide slot at a first pivot axis, so that the upper end of the swing plate has a first degree of freedom of movement during pedal adjustment, and the first pivot axis is fixed during pedal actuation;

a pedal arm assembly mounted to the swing plate mounting face, wherein the pedal arm assembly includes a pedal arm member having a pedal pad mounted to a lower end of the pedal arm member and an upper end operatively connected to an electronic position sensing device;

a drive apparatus mounted to the mounting bracket mounting face; and

a screw member having one end operatively connected to the drive apparatus, and an opposite end operatively connected to the swing plate lower end and the mounting bracket at a second pivot axis that is below the third pivot axis by a guide pin slidingly disposed within the mounting bracket lower arm guide slot, and the guide pin is guided through the mounting bracket lower arm guide slot as the screw member is displaced, and the swing plate lower end has a second degree of freedom of movement relative to the mounting bracket during pedal adjustment, wherein activation of the drive apparatus to adjust the position of the pedal pad along a predetermined path between a non-adjusted position and a fully adjusted position displaces the screw member and guide pin within the mounting bracket lower arm guide slot and the pivot pin in the swing plate guide slot, to pivot the swing plate and the pedal arm assembly together as a unit without relative movement between the pedal arm member and the pedal pad about the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis, and the first degree of freedom is less than the second degree of freedom to constrain the pivotal movement of the swing plate.

7. The compact pedal assembly of claim 6 wherein the swing plate guide slot has an upper end inclined towards the free end of the swing plate upper arm.

8. The compact pedal assembly of claim 7 wherein the mounting bracket lower arm guide slot is inclined in a downwardly direction and has an upper edge adjacent the mounting face and a lower edge adjacent the free end of the mounting bracket lower arm.

9. A compact pedal assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a mounting bracket adapted for mounting to the vehicle, wherein the mounting bracket is an F-shaped bracket having a mounting face that is adapted for mounting on the vehicle and an upper arm extending radially from an upper end of the mounting face to a free end that includes a guide slot having a generally vertical orientation, and a lower arm extending radially from a lower end of the mounting face to a free end that includes a guide slot having a generally horizontal orientation;

a swing plate having a mounting face with an upper end and a lower end, and an upper arm extending radially from an upper edge of the mounting face upper end to a free end, wherein the swing plate upper arm is pivotally interconnected to the mounting bracket upper arm by a pivot pin slidingly disposed within the mounting bracket upper arm guide slot at a first pivot axis, so that the upper end of the swing plate has a first degree of freedom of movement during pedal adjustment, and the first pivot axis is fixed during pedal actuation;

a pedal arm assembly mounted to the swing plate mounting face, wherein the pedal arm assembly includes a pedal arm member having a pedal pad mounted to a lower end of the pedal arm member and an upper end operatively connected to an electronic position sensing device;

a drive apparatus mounted to the mounting bracket mounting face; and

a screw member having one end operatively connected to the drive apparatus, and an opposite end that is connected to the swing plate lower end and the mounting bracket at a second pivot axis that is below the third pivot axis by a guide pin slidingly disposed within the mounting bracket lower arm guide slot that is guided through the mounting bracket lower arm guide slot as the screw member is displaced, so that the swing plate lower end has a second degree of freedom of movement relative to the mounting bracket during pedal adjustment, wherein activation of the drive apparatus to adjust the position of the pedal pad along a predetermined path between a non-adjusted position and a fully adjusted position displaces the screw member and guide pin within the mounting bracket lower arm guide channel and the pin within the mounting bracket upper arm guide channel to pivot the swing plate and the pedal arm assembly together as a unit without relative movement between the pedal arm member and the pedal pad about the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis, and the first degree of freedom is less than the second degree of freedom to constrain to constrain the pivotal movement of the swing plate.

10. The compact pedal assembly of claim 9 wherein the mounting bracket upper arm guide slot has an upper end inclined towards the mounting bracket mounting face.