Abstract: Various adjustable pedal assemblies (10, 110 and 210) are disclosed and each include a pedal support (16, 116 or 216) slidably supported on a guide rod (12) with a pedal lever (18, 118 or 218) mounted on the support (16, 116 or 216). A screw (22) extends from a bracket (14 or 214) for driving the pedal support (16, 116 or 216) along the guide rod (12). The adjustable pedal assemblies (10, 110 and 210) are characterized by the screw (22) being external to and parallel to the guide rod (12). In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the pedal lever (18 or 118) is pivotally attached to the support (16) or (116) whereas in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the pedal lever (218) and the support (216) are defined by an integral member and the bracket (214) includes a connection (34) for rotatably supporting the bracket (214) on a vehicle.

Abstract: An adjustable pedal assembly (12) includes a mounting bracket (14) for attachment to a vehicle structure (16), a pedal lever (18), a pedal pad (26), and a driving mechanism (28). The pedal lever (18) has an upper end (22) and a lower end (24) with the upper end (22) being pivotally supported with respect to the mounting bracket (14). The pedal pad (26) is connected to the lower end (24) of the pedal lever (18) and the driving mechanism (28) is operative to move the pedal pad (26) between an extended position and a retracted position. The assembly is characterized by including a control linkage (30) interconnecting the driving mechanism (28) and the pedal pad (26). The driving mechanism (28) drives the control linkage (30) along a guide path defined by the pedal lever (18) to move the pedal pad (26) between the extended and retracted positions.

Abstract: An adjustable pedal assembly (110) is disclosed for maintaining a constant ratio between the movement of the pad (142) and the movement of the output core element (132) in all adjusted operational positions of the pad (142). A support (112) is included for attachment to a vehicle structure and a pedal lever (120) is rotatably supported by the support structure (112) for rotation about a pivot axis (122) and including an actuator arm (138) extending in a first direction from the pivot axis (122) and a pad arm (140) extending in a second direction from the pivot axis (122). A slide member (114) is slidably supported by the support (112) for adjustment between various operational positions. A conduit (124) has a first end (126) attached to the slide member (114) for movement therewith during the adjustment between the operational positions and a second end (128) for attachment to the vehicle support structure.

Abstract: Two embodiments (10 and 110) of an adjustable pedal assembly are characterized by a first component (34 or 134) surrounding one half of a worm gear (30 or 130) and a first length of the worm (32 or 132) and a second component (36 or 136) surrounding the other one half of the worm gear (30 or 130) and a second length of the worm (32 or 132). A support (12 or 112) includes a pocket holding the first (34 or 134) and second (36 or 136) components in abutting relationship with one another. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the pocket (46) is defined by and within the support (12) and the support (12) includes flexible tabs (48) for snapping the first (34 or 134) and second (36 or 136) components into the pocket (46). In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the pocket (146) is defined by a box-like clamp (146) extending about the first (38 or 138) and second (42 or 142) covers and attached to the support (112) by a fastener (160).

Abstract: A pedal assembly (10) for use in a vehicle (11) comprising a pedal arm that moves in a normal operating range between a rest position and an applied position under a normal operating load and includes a rebound mechanism for moving the pedal arm to an extended position in response to an applied load greater than the normal operating load. The rebound mechanism rebounds the pedal arm to the normal operating range when the applied load is reduced to the normal operating load. In one embodiment, the break away and rebound pedal assembly (10) includes a first arm (20) having a first end (22) with a first pivotal connection (24) to the vehicle (11) for actuating an automotive system and extending to a second end (26). The assembly (10) also comprises a second arm (30) having third (32) and fourth (34) ends with a pad (36) supported on the fourth end (34).

Abstract: A pedal carrier (14) is movably supported by the support (12) for adjustment between various operational positions. The support (12) includes a rod (16) and the pedal carrier (14) is slidably supported on the rod (16). The carrier (12) includes an arm (30) extending from the support (12) and a fitting defining a first end (26) of a conduit (24) is retained in an aperture in the arm (30). A pedal lever (20) includes an actuator portion (38) extending upwardly from a pivotal pin (22) and a first end (34) of a core element (32) is attached to the actuator portion (38). The pedal lever (20) also includes a pedal portion (40) extending downwardly from the pivotal pin (22) so that the pin (22) acts as a fulcrum in response to a pedal force applied to the pedal portion (40) to place the core element (32) in tension.

Abstract: An electronic adjustable control pedal assembly for a motor vehicle including a carrier, a guide rod adapted to be secured to the dash panel of the vehicle and mounting the carrier for fore and aft movement along the guide rod, a power drive operative to move the carrier along the guide rod, and a pedal structure including a pedal arm pivotally mounted on the carrier and a potentiometer mounted on the carrier and operative to generate an output electrical signal proportioned to the extent of pivotal movement of the pedal arm.

Abstract: An electronic adjustable control pedal assembly for a motor vehicle including a carrier, a guide rod adapted to be secured to the dash panel of the vehicle and mounting the carrier for fore and aft movement along the guide rod, a power drive operative to move the carrier along the guide rod, and a pedal structure including a pedal arm pivotally mounted on the carrier and a potentiometer mounted on the carrier and operative to generate an output electrical signal proportioned to the extent of pivotal movement of the pedal arm. The pedal assembly further includes a feedback apparatus for generating a feel in response to pivotal movement of the pedal arm.

Abstract: An adjustable control pedal assembly for a motor vehicle. The pedal assembly includes an upper hub structure and a pedal arm extending downwardly from the hub structure and mounting the pedal pad. The hub structure is slidably mounted on a single hollow guide rod extending rearwardly from a transmission housing which in turn is rigidly secured to a pivot arm. The pivot arm is pivotally mounted to a bracket secured to the firewall of the vehicle. A nut is positioned slidably within the hollow guide rod and a screw shaft extends rearwardly from the transmission housing for threaded engagement with the nut. The upper end of the pedal arm extends upwardly through a slot in the bottom of the hub structure and through a slot in the bottom of the guide rod and the nut is positioned on the upper end of the pedal arm within the hub so that linear movement of the nut within the hollow rod as generated by rotation of the screw shaft results in forward and rearward movement of the pedal assembly along the guide rod.

Abstract: An adjustable control pedal assembly for a motor vehicle. The assembly includes an extensible module positioned on the lower end of the pedal arm of the pedal assembly and carrying the pedal pad. The module includes two screw jacks which may be selectively extended or contracted to vary the distance to the pedal pad from the lower end of the pedal arm and thereby accommodate drivers of various statures. The lower screw jack includes a coarser thread than the upper screw jack so that as the pedal pad is moved away from the lower end of the pedal arm in response to extension of the screw jacks the pedal pad is also pivoted upwardly to further accommodate drivers of small stature.

Abstract: An electronic adjustable control pedal assembly for a motor vehicle including a carrier, a guide rod adapted to be secured to the dash panel of the vehicle and mounting the carrier for fore and aft movement along the guide rod, a power drive operative to move the carrier along the guide rod, and a pedal structure including a pedal arm pivotally mounted on the carrier and a potentiometer mounted on the carrier and operative to generate an output electrical signal proportioned to the extent of pivotal movement of the pedal arm.

Abstract: The pedal assembly includes an upper hub structure and a pedal arm extending downwardly from the hub structure and mounting the pedal pad. The hub structure is slidably mounted on a single hollow guide rod extending rearwardly from a transmission housing which in turn is rigidly secured to a pivot arm. The pivot arm is pivotally mounted to a bracket secured to the firewall of the vehicle. A nut is positioned slidably within the hollow guide rod and a screw shaft extends rearwardly from the transmission housing for threaded engagement with the nut. The upper end of the pedal arm extends upwardly through a slot in the bottom of the hub structure and through a slot in the bottom of the guide rod and the nut is positioned on the upper end of the pedal arm within the hub so that linear movement of the nut within the hollow rod as generated by rotation of the screw shaft results in forward and rearward movement of the pedal assembly along the guide rod.

Abstract: An electronic adjustable control pedal assembly for a motor vehicle including a carrier, a guide rod adapted to be secured to the dash panel of the vehicle and mounting the carrier for fore and aft movement along the guide rod, a power drive operative to move the carrier along the guide rod, a pedal arm pivotally mounted on the carrier, a potentiometer mounted on the carrier and operative to generate an output electrical signal proportioned to the extent of pivotal movement of the pedal arm, and a resistance assembly to provide feedback or "feel" to the operator. The resistance assembly includes an annular friction surface defined on the carrier, a sleeve positioned over the friction surface, and a coil spring encircling the sleeve and arranged to be tightened in response to pivotal movement of the pedal arm to squeeze the sleeve against the friction surface and generate a friction resistance force.

Abstract: An adjustable control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle. The pedal assembly is slidably mounted at its upper end on a single hollow guide rod extending rearwardly from a transmission housing which in turn is pivotally mounted to a bracket secured to the firewall of the vehicle. A nut is positioned slidably within the hollow guide rod and a screw shaft extends rearwardly from the transmission housing for threaded engagement with the nut. A key extends from the nut to the pedal assembly so that linear movement of the nut within the hollow rod as generated by rotation of the screw shaft results in forward and rearward movement of the pedal assembly along the guide rod. The screw shaft is driven by a transmission positioned in the transmission housing and the transmission is in turn driven by a cable driven by an electric motor.

Abstract: An adjustable control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle including an accelerator control pedal assembly and a brake control pedal assembly. A motor is positioned between the control pedal assemblies and includes a motor drive shaft driving first and second cables secured to the opposite ends of the drive shaft. The cables extend respectively to the brake and accelerator pedal assemblies so as to provide rotary cable movement at each pedal assembly. A transmission at each pedal assembly converts the rotary cable movement to rotary movement of a screw member which slidably adjusts a pedal arm along an adjuster member. As the pedal arm moves along the adjuster member, the pivot axis of the assembly is moved so as to maintain a substantially constant feel for the pedal irrespective of the adjusted position of the pedal arm. The pivot axis is moved by a cam pin driven by the pedal arm and received in a slot in a cam member carrying the pivot axis pin.