Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Foot operated
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-27
2001-06-19
Green, Mary Ann (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Foot operated
C074S560000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247381
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to an improved control pedal for a motor vehicle and, more particularly, to a control pedal for a motor vehicle which is selectively adjustable to desired positions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Control pedals are typically provided in a motor vehicle, such as an automobile, which are foot operated by the driver. Separate control pedals are provided for operating brakes and an engine throttle. When the motor vehicle has a manual transmission, a third control pedal is provided for operating a transmission clutch. A front seat of the motor vehicle is typically mounted on tracks so that the seat is forwardly and rearwardly adjustable along the tracks to a plurality of positions so that the driver can adjust the front seat to the most advantageous position for working the control pedals.
This adjustment method of moving the front seat along the tracks generally fills the need to accommodate drivers of various size, but it raises several concerns. First, this adjustment method still may not accommodate all drivers due to very wide differences in anatomical dimensions of drivers. Second, the position of the seat may be uncomfortable for some drivers. Therefore, it is desirable to have an additional or alternate adjustment method to accommodate drivers of various size.
Many proposals have been made to selectively adjust the position of the control pedals relative to the steering wheel and the front seat in order to accommodate drivers of various size. It would be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that these adjustable control pedals can actuate both conventional cable controls and electronic throttle controls (ETC), because the ETC is a function separate from adjustability and the ETC module would typically be positioned remote from the mechanism for adjustment of the control pedals. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,632,183, 5,697,260, 5,722,302, 5,819,593, 5,937,707, and 5,964,125, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein in their entirety by reference, each disclose an example of an adjustable control pedal assembly. The control pedal assembly disclosed by these patents includes a hollow guide tube, a rotatable screw shaft coaxially extending within the guide tube, a nut in threaded engagement with the screw shaft and slidable within the guide tube, and a control pedal rigidly connected to the nut. The control pedal is moved forward and rearward when an electric motor rotates the screw shaft to translate the nut along the screw shaft within the guide tube. While this control pedal assembly may adequately adjust the position of the control pedal to accommodate drivers of various size, this control pedal assembly is relatively complex and expensive to produce. The relatively high cost is particularly due to the quantity of high-precision machined parts such as, for example, the guide tube and due to the quantity of welded joints. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an adjustable control pedal which selectively adjusts the position of the pedal to accommodate drivers of various size, is relatively simple and inexpensive to produce, and is highly reliable operate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an adjustable control pedal for a motor vehicle which overcomes at least some of the above-noted problems of the related art. According to the present invention, a control pedal includes an upper arm having a vertically extending planar portion and a generally horizontal slot at the planar portion. A screw is secured to the upper arm and is spaced apart from the planar portion. A nut threadably engages the screw and is adapted to move axially along the screw upon rotation of the screw. A motor is operatively connected to the screw to selectively rotate the screw. A lower arm has a pedal at a lower end and a guide extending into the slot. The guide is operatively connected to the nut for movement of the guide along the slot and linear fore aft movement of the pedal upon rotation of the screw.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a control pedal includes an upper arm and a screw secured to the upper arm. A nut threadably engages the screw and is adapted to move axially along the screw upon rotation of the screw. A motor is operatively connected to the screw to selectively rotate the screw. A lower arm is carried by the upper arm and has a pedal at a lower end. The lower arm is operatively connected to the nut for fore and aft movement of the pedal relative to the upper arm upon rotation of the screw. The screw is secured to the upper arm through a pivotable joint to align the screw and the nut for the axial movement of the nut along the screw. The pivotable joint is preferably adapted to allow the screw to freely pivot about a plurality of axes perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the screw such as, for example, a ball/socket joint so that the screw and the nut self align. The pivotable joint is also preferably adapted to be a snap-fit connection.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a control pedal includes an upper arm and a screw secured to the upper arm. A nut threadably engages the screw and is adapted to move axially along the screw upon rotation of the screw. A motor is operatively connected to the screw to selectively rotate the screw. A lower arm is carried by the upper arm and has a pedal at a lower end. The lower arm is operatively connected to the nut for fore and aft movement of the pedal relative to the upper arm upon rotation of the screw. The lower arm is connected to the nut through a pivotable joint to align the nut and the screw for the axial movement of the nut along the screw. The pivotable joint is preferably adapted to allow the screw to freely pivot about a plurality of axes perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the screw such as, example, a ball/socket joint so that the screw and the nut self align. The pivotable joint is also preferably adapted to be a snap-fit connection.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a control pedal includes an upper arm, a screw, and an attachment secured to the upper arm and supporting the screw. A nut threadably engages the screw and is adapted to axially move along the screw upon rotation of the screw. A motor is operatively connected to the screw to selectively rotate the screw. A lower arm is carried by the upper arm and has a pedal at a lower end. The lower arm is operatively connected to the nut for fore and aft movement of the pedal relative to the upper arm upon rotation of the screw. Either the upper arm or the attachment has an opening and the other has a protrusion extending into the opening which is adapted to allow insertion of the protrusion into the opening but to deny undesired withdrawal of the protrusion from the opening so that the attachment is secured to the upper arm without use of fasteners. Preferably, there is a snap-fit connection between the attachment and the upper arm.
From the foregoing disclosure and the following more detailed description of various preferred embodiments it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a significant advance in the technology and art of control pedal assemblies. Particularly significant in this regard is the potential the invention affords for providing a high quality, feature-rich, low cost assembly. Additional features and advantages of various preferred embodiments will be better understood in view of the detailed description provided below.
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patent: 5697260
Bigham Richard Scott
DePotter Michael William
Smith Gordon Lloyd
Toelke Steven Allen
Dura Global Technologies Inc.
Green Mary Ann
Porter Wright Morris & Arthur
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