Adjustable pedal assembly

#This invention relates to pedals, and more particularly to an adjustable pedal assembly for a vehicle.

#Vehicles, such as motor vehicles, typically contain foot-actuated devices or pedals for controlling various functions of the vehicle. These functions are known to include acceleration, controlled by an accelerator pedal; braking controlled by a brake pedal; and shifting controlled by a clutch pedal. These pedals are positioned in the vehicle so that they are accessible by the driver. However, drivers come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and a pedal positioned to accommodate a large driver with a large foot will generally be unreachable by a small driver with a small foot. In the past, the pedals were fixedly positioned to accommodate the majority of drivers, from a functional and ergonomic perspective. The functionality of the pedal relates to the ability of the driver to reach and actuate the pedal. Another functional factor is clearance between pedals. The ergonomics of the pedal relates to factors such as the driver's comfort while actuating the pedal, as measured by foot angle. Another example of an ergonomic factor is foot fatigue from maintaining the foot in a fixed position for a period of time.

#More recently, adjustable pedals have been used in vehicles to accommodate a greater number of drivers. The driver can modify the position of the pedal relative to the floor of the vehicle. An example of such an adjustable pedal is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,986 to KSR Industrial Corporation entitled “Adjustable Vehicle Control Pedals,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. While this type of adjustable pedal works by adjusting the relative position of the pedal along a predetermined arc of travel, after the pedal position has been adjusted, the pedal pad may not be aligned ergonomically with respect to the foot of the operator. Thus, there is a need in the art for an ergonomically beneficial adjustable pedal assembly that adjusts the position of both the pedal and pedal pad.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable pedal assembly for braking, according to the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a side view of the adjustable brake pedal assembly of FIG. 1 showing the range of adjustment, according to the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an adjustable pedal assembly for accelerating, according to the present invention.

#Vehicles, including a motor vehicle (not shown) utilize foot-actuated devices, referred to as pedals, to control a particular function of the vehicle, such as accelerating, braking and shifting. These pedals are referred to in the art as an accelerator pedal, brake pedal and clutch pedal. The pedals are aligned in a predetermined manner relative to each other, and fixed portions of the vehicle, including the vehicle dash panel, floor, seat and instrument panel. The pedal assembly travels in a predetermined path, which in the past was an arc. Thus, to increase the height of the pedal pad (to be described) with respect to the floor, the pedal pad moves rearward along an arc, or into the vehicle. An adjustable pedal assembly includes a pedal pad disposed on an arm. The arm is supported by a bracket, and the bracket is mounted to a portion of the vehicle. The adjustable pedal assembly also includes an actuating mechanism for controlling the position of the pedal pad.

#Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an adjustable brake pedal assembly 10 for translating a signal between a vehicle operator or driver (not shown) and a brake actuating mechanism (not shown), as is known in the art for slowing down the vehicle, is illustrated. The brake pedal assembly 10 includes a support bracket 12 for attaching the brake pedal assembly 10 to a portion of the vehicle, such as the dash panel. In this example, the support bracket 12 includes a generally planar mounting surface 14 having apertures 16 for attaching the support bracket 12 to the vehicle, such as by bolting. The support bracket 12 includes a channel-shaped support arm 18 extending outwardly from the mounting surface 14. An outer end 20 of the support arm includes at least one, and preferably two apertures 22 for pivotally attaching an adjustment bracket 24, in a manner to be described.

#The adjustment bracket 24 supports a pedal arm 26 and includes a pair of generally planar sides 28 that are spaced a predetermined distance apart. An upper end of each side 28 includes an upper aperture (not shown) for forming a pedal travel pivot point shown at 30. It should be appreciated that the brake pedal assembly 10 travels between a resting position and a fully extended position to operatively control a braking mechanism (not shown) for the vehicle. A pivot pin 32 is disposed within the support arm aperture 22 and adjustment bracket upper aperture, pivotally interconnecting the support bracket 12 and adjustment bracket 24, such that the adjustment bracket 24 pivots about the support bracket 12, which is fixed at the pedal travel pivot point 30. It should be appreciated that the end of the pivot pin 32 may include a fastener, such as a nut 36, for retaining the pivot pin 32. Preferably, the brake pedal assembly includes a torsion spring 34 operatively disposed on the pivot pin 32 for controlling the movement of the brake pedal assembly 10 between a resting and braking position, as is known in the art.