Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Rixon

Christopher J. Rixon has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6314831
    Abstract: Various adjustable pedal assemblies (10, 110 and 210) 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) 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Teleflex Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rixon, Christopher Bortolon
  • Patent number: 6298745
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Comfort Pedals, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rixon, Christopher Bortolon
  • Patent number: 6298748
    Abstract: An adjustable pedal assembly is adapted to be mounted on a body structure of a motor vehicle and is operative to control a vehicle system, such as a braking system or engine throttle control system, for example. The assembly includes a carrier, a support structure mounting the carrier for fore and aft movement relative to the vehicle body structure, and a drive assembly for providing the fore and aft movement of the carrier along the support structure. A pedal is operatively connected to the carrier for movement relative to the carrier that is independent of the fore and aft movement of the carrier along the support structure. The assembly is characterized by a generator having an input associated with the pedal and an output adapted to be associated with the vehicle system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Teleflex Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rixon, Christopher Bortolon
  • Patent number: 6295890
    Abstract: An adjustable pedal assembly is adapted to be mounted on a body structure of a motor vehicle and is operative to control a vehicle system, such as a braking system or engine throttle control system, for example. The assembly includes a carrier, a support structure mounting the carrier for fore and aft movement relative to the vehicle body structure, and a drive assembly for providing the fore and aft movement of the carrier along the support structure. A pedal is operatively connected to the carrier for movement relative to the carrier that is independent of the fore and aft movement of the carrier along the support structure. The assembly is characterized by a generator having an input associated with the pedal and an output adapted to be associated with the vehicle system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Teleflex Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rixon, Christopher Bortolon
  • Patent number: 6289763
    Abstract: An adjustable pedal assembly is adapted to be mounted on a body structure of a motor vehicle and is operative to control a vehicle system, such as a braking system or engine throttle control system for example. The assembly includes a carrier, a support structure mounting the carrier for fore and aft movement relative to the vehicle body structure, and a drive assembly for providing the fore and aft movement of the carrier along the support structure. A pedal is operatively connected to the carrier for movement relative to the carrier that is independent of the fore and aft movement of the carrier along the support structure. The assembly is characterized by generator having an input associated with the pedal and an output adapted to be associated with the vehicle system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Teleflex Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rixon, Christopher Bortolon
  • Publication number: 20010015111
    Abstract: An adjustable pedal assembly is adapted to be mounted on a body structure of a motor vehicle and is operative to control a vehicle system, such as a braking system or engine throttle control system, for example. The assembly includes a carrier, a support structure mounting the carrier for fore and aft movement relative to the vehicle body structure, and a drive assembly for providing the fore and aft movement of the carrier along the support structure. A pedal is operatively connected to the carrier for movement relative to the carrier that is independent of the fore and aft movement of the carrier along the support structure. The assembly is characterized by a generator having an input associated with the pedal and an output adapted to be associated with the vehicle system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rixon, Christopher Bortolon
  • Publication number: 20010002556
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Publication date: June 7, 2001
    Applicant: HOWARD & HOWARD ATTORNEYS, P.C.
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER J. RIXON, CHRISTOPHER BORTOLON
  • Patent number: 6070489
    Abstract: A pedal assembly (12) for a vehicle (10) includes a bracket (16), a pedal arm (20) and a support mechanism (26). The bracket (16) is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle structure (18) such as firewall or vehicle dashboard assembly. The pedal arm (20) extends downwardly from the bracket (16) to a distal end (22) for supporting a pedal pad (24). The support mechanism (26) interconnects the pedal arm (20) and the bracket (16) for allowing pivotal movement of the pedal arm (20) in an operating plane (28) relative to the bracket (16) during normal operation and for guiding the pedal arm (20) out of the operating plane (28) in response to a predetermined force between the pedal arm (20) and the bracket (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Teleflex Incorporated
    Inventors: Sundar Ananthasivan, Christopher J. Rixon
  • Patent number: 5964125
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Teleflex Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rixon, Christopher Bortolon
  • Patent number: 5937707
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Technology Holding Company II
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rixon, Christopher Bortolon
  • Patent number: 5890399
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Technology Holding Company II
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rixon, Christopher Bortolon
  • Patent number: 5884532
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Tecnology Holding Company II
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rixon, Christopher Bortolon
  • Patent number: 5819593
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Comcorp Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rixon, Christopher Bortolon
  • Patent number: 5722302
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Teleflex, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rixon, Christopher Bortolon
  • Patent number: 5697260
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Teleflex Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rixon, Christopher Bortolon
  • Patent number: 5632183
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Comfort Pedals, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rixon, Christopher Bortolon