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US 9,746,874 B2Granted
Ergonomically symmetric pedal control system
AssigneeJohnson Technologies Corporation
InventorsRobert E. Johnson, Paul R. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An industrial symmetric pedal control system is provided which allows for ergonomically favorable operation by paired reciprocal control pedals which mirror an operator's right and left limbs. The reciprocal mirror control pedals allow operation of the same predetermined function within designated machinery by either the left or right foot of an operator, thus reducing fatigue while maintaining proper position at a particular workstation. Also included in the system is an ergonomically designed floor mat to provide the operator with more comfort and less fatigue while operating machinery.
Claims23
An ergonomic sewing machine pedal control system, comprising:
- a) a base including a control tower;
- b) a control pedal assembly connected to said base including:
- a first pair of reciprocally matched pedals comprising a first pedal and a second pedal pivotally connected and mechanically linked to a second pair of reciprocally matched pedals comprising a third pedal and a fourth pedal, said first pair of reciprocally matched pedals are connected to said second pair of reciprocally matched pedals, whereby said first pair of reciprocally matched pedals is returned to a selected position when said second pair of reciprocally matched pedals is depressed;
- said control tower including a symmetric pedal control system for generating a control signal to and receiving a signal from said first pair of reciprocally matched pedals comprising said first pedal and said second pedal, and said second pair of reciprocally matched pedals comprising said third pedal and said fourth pedal, such that said control signal from said first pair of reciprocally matched said first pedal and said second pedal sends a corresponding control signal to a selected one of said third pedal or said fourth pedal of said second pair of reciprocally matched pedals;
- means for communicating said control signal to a sewing machine,
- said first pedal, said second pedal, said third pedal, and said fourth pedal each have having a selected position with respect to said control tower;
- c) a platform contiguous to and cooperatively engaging said base for supporting an operator, wherein said first pair of reciprocally matched pedals and said second pair of reciprocally matched pedals are disposed adjacent to and about said platform in a mirrored image fashion;
- d) said first pedal, said second pedal, said third pedal, and said fourth pedal of said first pair of reciprocally matched pedals and said second pair of reciprocally matched pedals, respectively, are arranged so that when operated a top surface of said first pedal, said second pedal, said third pedal, and said fourth pedal of said first pair of reciprocally matched pedals and said second pair of reciprocally matched pedals is aligned approximately even with a support surface of said platform allowing for pedal actuation with an operator's foot in a flat position supporting his or her weight on said support surface of said platform and a pedal step surface during a predominant pedal actuation position which is full speed forward sewing.
5 more elements
A symmetric pedal control system for a sewing machine, comprising:
- a base having a support structure that supports a standing operator and a pedal control system mounting on said base;
- said pedal control system having an inner pedal set of reciprocally matched pedals and an outer pedal set of reciprocally matched pedals mounted to said base in a mirrored image fashion;
- a said inner pedal set of said reciprocally matched pedals pivotally connecting to said outer pedal set of reciprocally matched pedals so that said inner pedal set is returned to a selected position when said outer pedal set is depressed and vice versa;
- a control tower mounted to said base;
- said pedal control system mounting to said control tower for generating a control signal to and receiving a signal from depression of each pedal of said inner pedal set and said outer pedal set whereby said inner pedal set and said outer pedal set send and received said control signal to said sewing machine;
- said inner pedal set and said outer pedal set are disposed equi-distant from the center of said control tower, said inner pedal set including a left inner pedal and a right inner pedal, and said outer pedal set including a left outer pedal and a right outer pedal;
- said control signal sent or receive from depression of said left outer pedal and said left inner pedal are operable with either an operator's left foot or right foot standing on a left side of said control tower, and said control signal sent or received from depression of said right outer pedal and said right inner pedal are operable with either an operator's left foot or right foot standing on a right side of said control tower providing said operator an option of operating said sewing machine while standing on either the left or right side of said control tower;
- said left outer pedal and said right outer pedal of said outer pedal set are mechanically linked to one another each one controlling back tack reversing a sewing direction, and a cut of a sewing thread;
- said left inner pedal and said right inner pedal of said inner pedal set are mechanically linked to one another for controlling a variable forward speed;
- said inner pedal set remaining in a flat position supporting the weight of an operator's foot on a pedal step during a pedal actuation position;
- said inner pedal set controlling said variable forward speed control providing a range of forward sewing speeds from an initial engagement to a predetermined full-speed rate of sewing;
- a platform contiguous to and cooperatively engaging said base for supporting an operator, wherein said first pair of reciprocally matched pedals and said second pair of reciprocally matched pedals are disposed adjacent to and about said platform in a mirrored image fashion;
- said platform having a surface generally even with a fully engaged inner pedal set step surface or a fully engaged outer pedal set step surface during operation providing a generally coplanar surface between said top surface of said platform and said inner pedal set step surface and said outer pedal set step surface.
10 more elements
A symmetric pedal control system for a sewing machine, comprising:
- a base having a support structure that supports a standing operator and a pedal control system mounting on said base, said pedal control system having an inner pedal set of reciprocally matched pedals and an outer pedal set of reciprocally matched pedals mounted to said base in a mirrored image fashion;
- a reciprocal pedal control for operation of the sewing machine;
- said inner pedal set of reciprocally matched pedals pivotally connecting to said outer pedal set of reciprocally matched pedals so that said inner pedal set of reciprocally matched pedals is returned to a selected position when said outer pedal set of reciprocally matched pedals are is depressed and vice versa;
- a control tower mounted to said base;
- said control tower including a symmetric pedal control system for generating a control signal to and receiving a signal from each pedal of said inner pedal set and said outer pedal set such that a corresponding pedal in the reciprocally matched pairs of said inner pedal set and said outer pedal set send and received said same control signal to a means for communicating said control signal to said sewing machine;
- said inner pedal set and said outer pedal set are disposed equi-distant from the center of said control tower, said inner pedal set comprising a left inner pedal and a right inner pedal and said outer pedal set comprising a right outer pedal and a left outer pedal;
- said control signal sent or received from said left outer pedal and said left inner pedal are operable with either an operator's left foot or right foot standing on a left side of said control tower, and said control signal sent or received from said right outer pedal and said right inner pedal are operable with either an operator's left foot or right foot standing on a right side of said control tower providing said operator an option of operating said sewing machine while standing on either the left or right side of said control tower;
- said left outer pedal and said right outer pedal of said outer pedal set are mechanically linked to one another each one controlling back tack reversing a sewing direction for a predetermined direction, and a cut of a sewing thread by engaging either said left outer pedal or said right outer pedal;
- said left inner pedal and said right inner pedal of said inner pedal set are mechanically linked to one another, each one controlling a variable forward speed control;
- said inner pair of pedals remaining in a flat position supporting the weight of an operator's foot on a pedal step surface during a pedal actuation position, said inner pair of pedals controlling said variable forward speed control providing a range of forward sewing speeds from an initial engagement to a full-speed rate of sewing;
- said base having a platform surface providing a generally even top surface between a left inner pedal step surface and a right inner pedal step surface when said left inner pedal or said right inner pedal is fully engaged during operation.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.