Adjustable accelerator pedal

• US 5,996,438 A
• Filed: 06/23/1998
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Strattec Power Access LLC (Strattec Security Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Elton, Robert Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): LUONG, VINH
• Application Number:
  US09/103,013
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 74/512, 74/513, 74/560, 74/522, 74/561, 74/562
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/40 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20534 Accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

An adjustable pedal mechanism for automotive vehicles includes a pedal lever with a pivot near its center between its ends. An upper end of the lever is connected with a throttle cable that extends through a conduit to an operated device, such as a throttle valve or other power control. A lower end of the lever carries a foot pedal engagable by a driver'"'"'s foot to operate the pedal. The central pivot is carried in a bracket having a slot or other form of track along which the pivot is movable generally longitudinally of the vehicle. As the pivot is moved rearward along the slot, the pedal is moved closer to the driver. The slot is positioned or configured so that the height of the pedal remains constant or is slightly lowered as the pedal is moved rearward. If the vehicle is provided with an electronic throttle control, or similar device, the upper end of the lever may be omitted and a position controller may be mounted at or adjacent the location of the pivot. In either case, pedal adjustment may be powered by a screw driven by an electric motor through a cable and worm gear drive or other suitable means.

Claims

1. An adjustable pedal mechanism in an automotive vehicle having a body, said mechanism comprising:

a support fixed to the body and including a track extending generally longitudinally of the vehicle;

an adjustable pivot movable along said track between forward and rear adjustment positions;

adjustment means separately connecting said pivot with said support and adjustable to selectively vary the position of the pivot between the forward and rear adjustment positions; and

a pedal lever having upper and lower pedal arms and a mount intermediate said arms and mounted on said pivot, said lower arm mounting a foot pedal at a lower end thereof and said upper arm having an upper end engaging a power control element;

wherein actuation of the foot pedal forward rotates the pedal lever about the pivot, moving the power control element in a power increasing direction, relaxation of foot pressure on the foot pedal allowing return of the mechanism to an idle position, movement of the adjustment means along the track pivoting the pedal lever about the power control element to selectively position the foot pedal for actuating movement in any of a range of operating positions between forward and rear positions corresponding to the forward and rear adjustment positions of the pivot;

said arms extending at an angle and said track guiding the pivot along a path that coacts with said angle to maintain a limited variation in height of the foot pedal during adjustment between its forward and rear positions.

2. An adjustable pedal mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said track is configured to maintain an essentially constant height of the foot pedal.

3. An adjustable pedal mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said track is configured to slightly lower the height of the foot pedal during movement from the forward to the rear position.

4. An adjustable pedal mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said support is a bracket mounted on a wall of an associated body, and said track includes at least one slot in said bracket.

5. An adjustable pedal mechanism as in claim 4 wherein said pivot is carried by a nut retained in said slot and slidably movable therealong.

6. An adjustable pedal mechanism as in claim 5 wherein said adjustment means includes a screw engagable with said nut and pivotally connected with said bracket.

7. An adjustable pedal mechanism as in claim 6 and including driving means for rotating the screw, the driving means including a worm gear connected with the screw and mounted in a housing pivotally connected with said bracket and a drive motor operatively connected for rotating said gear.

8. An adjustable pedal mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said control element is a cable connectable through a conduit with a power control.

9. An adjustable pedal mechanism in an automotive vehicle having a body, said mechanism comprising:

a support fixed to the body and including a track extending generally longitudinally of the vehicle;

an adjustable pivot movable along said track between forward and rear adjustment positions;

adjustment means separately connecting said pivot with said support and adjustable to selectively vary the position of the pivot between the forward and rear adjustment positions; and

a pedal lever having a lower pedal arm and a mount at an upper end of said arm and mounted on said pivot, said lower arm mounting a foot pedal at a lower end thereof and said upper end engaging a power control element;

wherein actuation of the foot pedal forward rotates the pedal lever about the pivot, moving the power control element in a power increasing direction, relaxation of foot pressure on the foot pedal allowing return of the pedal lever to an idle position, movement of the adjustment means along the track positioning the foot pedal for actuating movement in any of a range of operating positions between forward and rear positions corresponding to the forward and rear adjustment positions of the pivot;

said track guiding the pivot along a path that maintains a limited variation in height of the foot pedal during adjustment between its forward and rear positions.

10. An adjustable pedal mechanism as in claim 9 wherein said track is configured to maintain an essentially constant height of the foot pedal.

11. An adjustable pedal mechanism as in claim 9 wherein said track is configured to slightly lower the height of the foot pedal during movement from the forward to the rear position.

12. An adjustable pedal mechanism as in claim 9 wherein said support is a bracket mounted on a wall of an associated body, and said track includes at least one slot in said bracket.

13. An adjustable pedal mechanism as in claim 12 wherein said pivot is carried by a nut retained in said slot and slidably movable therealong.

14. An adjustable pedal mechanism as in claim 13 wherein said adjustment means includes a screw engagable with said nut and pivotally connected with said bracket.

15. An adjustable pedal mechanism as in claim 14 and including driving means for rotating the screw, the driving means including a worm gear connected with the screw and mounted in a housing pivotally connected with said bracket and a drive motor operatively connected for rotating said gear.