Adjustable pedal with constant ratio cable assembly

Details Adjustable pedal with constant ratio cable assembly Adjustable pedal with constant ratio cable assembly

1999-09-28

2001-04-03

Marmor, Charles A (Department: 3682)

Machine element or mechanism

Control lever and linkage systems

Foot operated

C074S560000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06209417

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention relates to an adjustable pedal assembly for use in automotive vehicles wherein the pedal position may be changed to accommodate various drivers.
Description of the Prior Art
The concept of an adjustable pedal for automotive vehicles has been known for some time but is just recently being accepted. Such assemblies include a support for attachment to the vehicle and a carrier supporting a pedal lever for pivotal movement during normal operation, e.g., applying the brakes. The pedal lever is attached to a mechanism for transmitting the pedal lever movement to some component of the vehicle, such as the brakes. A problem is that of the mechanism being capable of maintaining the movement of the vehicle component in proportion or a constant ratio to the movement of the pedal lever regardless of the adjusted position of the carrier on the support. One such assembly for adjusting the pad position while adjusting the position of a cable output is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,946 to Ewing. That assembly includes a complex parallel linkage for adjustment of the operational position of the pad. Other systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,643,524 to Herring and U.S. Pat. No. 3,643,525 to Gibas. However, there remains a need for a simple system wherein a pedal lever supports the pad at one end and actuates the cable assembly at the other end, i.e., a simplified connection between the cable and the pedal lever.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES
An adjustable pedal assembly comprising a support for attachment to a vehicle structure and a pedal lever rotatably supported by the support structure for rotation about a pivot axis and including an actuator arm extending in a first direction from the pivot axis and a pad arm extending in a second direction from the pivot axis. A slide member is slidably supported by the support for adjustment between various operational positions. A conduit has a first end attached to the slide member for movement therewith during the adjustment between the operational positions and a second end for attachment to support structure. A motion transmitting core element is slidably supported by said conduit and has a first end extending from the first end of the conduit and operatively attached to the pedal lever and a second end extending from the second end of the conduit for attachment to a control member for transmitting motion from the pedal lever to the control member. The assembly is characterized by the slide member being slidably supported by the support and including an extension extending in transverse relationship to the actuator arm with the first end of the core element extending from the first end of the conduit and in sliding engagement with the actuator arm of the pedal lever.
Accordingly, the subject invention provides an adjustable pedal assembly which may be adjusted between various operating positions while maintaining the operative and proportional connection between the pedal pad and the vehicle component to be controlled. This is accomplished in a simple and inexpensive assembly which may be easily installed into the vehicle.


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patent: 6014910 (2000-01-01), Oda et al.
patent: 0919902 (1999-06-01), None

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