US 4,875,385 A · Control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A control pedal apparatus for adjusting a control pedal of a motor vehcile such for example as a brake pedal or an accelerator pedal. The mechanism includes a pedal arm, an adjustor member, and a bracket secured to the fire wall of the vehicle. The mechanism allows the position of the pedal pad to be adjusted slidably on the adjustor member without disturbing the position of the particular control element actuated by the pedal assembly, and selectively moves the pivot axis of the pedal assembly to maintain a fixed mechanical advantage of the pedal assembly irrespective of the position of adjustment of the pedal arm on the adjustor member. Coacting, intersecting slots in the adjustor member and pedal arm allow the pivot axis to selectively move during adjustment of the assembly and fix the position of the pivot axis in any adjusted position of the pedal arm so that the pedal assembly pivots positively about the instantaneous assembly axis in any adjusted position of the pedal arm. One disclosed embodiment is intended for control of the push rod of the brake master cylinder and another disclosed embodiment is intended to control the throttle cable of the throttle mechanism. In each case, the adjustment of the pedal arm is accomplished by the rotation of a screw engaging a nut on the pedal arm with the screw being driven by a motor mounted on the bracket of the pedal assembly.

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Claims18

Dependent claims

A control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

(A) a mounting bracket adapted to be mounted on a fixed structure of the vehicle;
(B) a pedal assembly including an elongated pedal arm and an adjacent member;
(C) pivot means mounting the upper end of said pedal assembly for pivotal movement on said bracket about a pivot axis;
(D) a pedal pad mounted on the lower end of said pedal arm;
(E) attachment means on said adjustor member defining an attachment point for attachment of a control member for operation of a control system of the vehicle in response to pivotal movement of said pedal assembly upon the application of operator pressure to said pedal pad;
(F) a pair of pins on said pedal arm spaced longitudinally along the length of said pedal arm;
(G) a pair of parallel tracks on said adjustor member respectively slidably receiving said pins;
(H) a nut carried b said pedal arm at a location therealong between said pins;
and
(I) a screw positioned between said tracks and extending generally in a direction of said tracks, threadably engaging said nut, and operative in response to rotation of said screw to cause said pins to slide in said tracks to slidably adjust said pedal arm on said adjustor member so as to selectively move said pedal pad relative to said bracket without moving said attachment point relative to said bracket.

7 more elements

A control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:

(A) a mounting bracket adapted to be mounted on a fixed structure of the vehicle;
(B) a pedal assembly including a pedal arm and an adjustor member;
(C) pivot means mounting the upper end of said pedal assembly for pivotal movement on said bracket about a pivot axis;
(D) a pedal pad mounted on the lower end of said pedal arm;
(E) attachment means on said adjustor member defining an attachment point for attachment of a control member for operation of a control system of the vehicle in response to pivotal movement of said pedal assembly upon the application of operator pressure to said pedal pad;
(F) pedal adjustor means operative to selectively move said pedal pad relative to said bracket without moving said attachment point relative to said bracket, said adjustor means comprising a pair of spaced pins on said pedal arm, a pair of parallel tracks on said adjustor member respectively slideably receiving said pins, a nut carried by said pedal arm, and a screw extending generally in the direction of said tracks, threadably engaging said nut and operative in response to rotation of said screw to cause said pins to slide in said tracks to slideably adjust said pedal arm on said adjustor member;
(F) a slot in the upper end of said pedal arm;
(G) matching slots in said adjustor member and in said bracket intersecting said pedal arm slot and extending in a direction at an angle to the direction of said pedal arm slot;
and
(H) a pivot pin constituting said pivot means and slideably received in said pedal arm slot and in said matching slots.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description3,262 words

Summary1,209 words

#This invention relates to control pedal apparatuses and more particularly to adjustment means for selectively adjusting the position of one or more of the control pedals of a motor vehicle.

#In a conventional automotive vehicle, pedals are provided for controlling brakes and engine throttle. If the vehicle has a manual transmission, a clutch pedal is also provided. These pedals are foot operated by the driver. In order for the driver to obtain the most advantageous position for working these controls, the vehicle front seat is usually slidably mounted on a seat track with means for securing the seat along the track in a plurality of adjustment positions.

#The adjustment provided by moving the seat along the seat track does not accommodate all vehicle operators due to differences in anatomical dimensions. Further, there is growing concern that the use of seat tracks, and especially long seat tracks, constitutes a safety hazard in that the seat may pull loose from the track during an accident with resultant injuries to the driver and/or passengers. It is therefore desirable to either eliminate the seat track entirely or shorten the seat track to an extent that it will be strong enough to retain the seat during an impact. Shortening or eliminating the seat track requires that means be provided to selectively move the various control pedals to accommodate the various size drivers.

Brief description of the drawings5 figures

#FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the invention control pedal apparatus suitable for use with a brake pedal;

#FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the control pedal apparatus of FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the control pedal apparatus of the invention suitable for use with an accelerator pedal;

Detailed description1,955 words

#The brake pedal apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, broadly considered, comprises a bracket 10, an adjustor member 12, a pedal arm 14, and a screw assembly 16.

#Bracket 10 is formed of a suitable metallic material and includes a flange portion 10a for attachment of the bracket to the fire wall of the motor vehicle and a main body portion 10b. A generally vertical slot 10c is formed in the upper portion of main body portion 10b adjacent its forward edge 10d. An actuate slot 10e is formed in main body portion 10b adjacent its lower edge 10f. Although bracket 10 is shown for simplicity as comprising a single plate member, in actuality bracket 10 would be fabricated as two laterally spaced identical plate members suitably rigidly joined together.

#Adjustor member 12 is formed of a suitable metallic material and includes a main body portion 12a, a lug portion 12b, and a pin 18. Main body portion 12a is generally planar and defines an upper generally vertically extending slot 12c corresponding to slot 10c in bracket 10, and a pair of parallel generally horizontally extending straight slots 12d and 12e. Pin 18 extends normally from main body portion 12a between slots 12d and 12e and is sized to fit slidably in slot 10e in bracket 10. A brake master cylinder push rod 20 is pivotally mounted on pin 18 so that pin 18 defines an attachment point for the brake master cylinder control rod. Whereas adjustor member 12 is shown for simplicity as a single plate member, adjustor member 12 in actuality would be formed of two spaced identical members rigidly joined together and sized to fit in sandwich fashion between the two spaced plates of bracket 10.

Control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle

Life of this patent

Control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims18

Description3,262 words

Drawings

Classification8 codes

Life of this patent

Description3,262 words