Adjustable pedal assembly

Abstract

An adjustable pedal assembly includes a mounting arrangement ( 1 ) for attachment to a vehicle structure ( 37 ), an accelerator pedal ( 6 ), a brake pedal ( 7 ), and a clutch pedal ( 8 ). The pedals ( 6, 7, 8 ) are pivotally supported with respect to the mounting arrangement ( 1 ) and define a first pivot axis ( 9 ). An adjustment element ( 5 ) is pivotally supported with respect to the mounting structure ( 1 ) and defines a second pivot axis ( 4 ). The adjustment element ( 5 ) selectively moves the pedals ( 6, 7, 8 ) between a plurality of operable positions. The adjustable pedal assembly is characterized by the pedals ( 6, 7, 8 ) being pivotally supported with respect to the adjustment element ( 5 ) wherein the second pivot axis ( 4 ) is generally parallel to the first pivot axis ( 9 ). A driving mechanism with an electric motor ( 11 ) and gear assembly ( 12 ) is used to rotate the adjustment element ( 5 ) about the second pivot axis ( 4 ). The pedals ( 6, 7, 8 ) are pivotally mounted within the adjustment element ( 5 ) to pivot about the first pivot axis ( 9 ), thus the first pivot axis ( 9 ) moves with respect to the second pivot axis ( 4 ) when the adjustment element ( 5 ) is rotated.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An adjustable pedal assembly for a vehicle comprising: 
 a mounting arrangement ( 1 ) for attachment to a vehicle structure ( 37 );    a plurality of pedals ( 6 ,  7 ,  8 ) pivotally supported relative to said mounting arrangement and defining a first pivot axis ( 9 ); and    characterized by said pedals ( 6 ,  7 ,  8 ) being pivotally supported in an adjustment element ( 5 ) that is secured to said mounting arrangement ( 1 ) and which is pivotal about a second pivot axis ( 4 ), said second pivot axis ( 4 ) being spaced apart from and generally parallel to said first pivot axis ( 9 ).    
     
     
         2 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said second pivot axis ( 4 ) is located in an aft direction from said first pivot axis ( 9 ) and said second pivot axis ( 4 ) is located vertically above said first pivot axis ( 9 ).  
     
     
         3 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1  including a drive mechanism ( 11 ,  12 ) supported by said mounting arrangement ( 1 ) for pivoting said adjustment element ( 5 ) about said second pivot axis ( 4 ).  
     
     
         4 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said drive mechanism includes a gear assembly with a rotor element ( 12 ) that is driven by an electric motor ( 11 ).  
     
     
         5 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each of the pedals ( 6 ,  7 ,  8 ) is connected to an actuator that is supported on the adjustment element ( 5 ), said actuators having movable connections to the vehicle structure ( 37 ) that move said respective pedals ( 6 ,  7 , 8 ) in a generally forward direction, away from a vehicle driver, when a predetermined load limit is achieved.  
     
     
         6 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein an angle formed between a connection line ( 35 ) extending between said first ( 9 ) and second ( 4 ) pivot axes and a vertical line ( 34 ) extending perpendicular to said second pivot axis ( 4 ) is in the range of 30° to 40°.  
     
     
         7 . An adjustable pedal assembly comprising: 
 a mounting arrangement ( 1 ) for attachment to a vehicle structure ( 37 );    at least one pedal ( 6 ,  7 , or  8 ) pivotally supported with respect to said mounting arrangement ( 1 ) and defining a first pivot axis ( 9 ); and    an adjustment element ( 5 ) pivotally supported with respect to said mounting arrangement ( 1 ) and defining a second pivot axis ( 4 ), said adjustment element ( 5 ) for selectively moving said pedal ( 6 ,  7 , or  8 ) between a plurality of operable positions;    said assembly characterized by said pedal ( 6 ,  7 , or  8 ) being pivotally supported with respect to said adjustment element ( 5 ) wherein said second pivot axis ( 4 ) is generally parallel to said first pivot axis ( 9 ).    
     
     
         8 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 7  including a drive mechanism operably connected to said adjustment element ( 5 ) for selectively rotating said adjustment element ( 5 ) about said second pivot axis ( 4 ).  
     
     
         9 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said drive mechanism includes a gear assembly with a rotor element ( 12 ) that is driven by an electric motor ( 11 ).  
     
     
         10 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said pedal ( 6 ,  7 , or  8 ) is connected to an actuator for activating a vehicle system, said actuator having a deformable connection to the vehicle structure ( 37 ) that deforms and prevents said pedal ( 6 ,  7 , or  8 ) from moving toward a vehicle driver when a predetermined load is achieved.  
     
     
         11 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein at least one pedal ( 6 ,  7 ,  8 ) is a plurality of pedals ( 6 ,  7 ,  8 ) that are pivotally supported with respect to said mounting arrangement ( 1 ), with each pedal ( 6 ,  7 ,  8 ) having a respective pedal pivot axis.  
     
     
         12 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said pedal pivot axes are generally parallel to said second pivot axis ( 4 ).  
     
     
         13 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said pedal pivot axes are non-collinear with respect to said second pivot axis ( 4 ).  
     
     
         14 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said pedal pivot axes are collinear forming said first pivot axis ( 9 ).  
     
     
         15 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said adjustment element ( 5 ) includes a connector ( 15 ) extending between a first ear ( 13 ) and a second ear ( 14 ), said first ( 13 ) and second ( 14 ) ears having pivotal connections with respect to said mounting arrangement ( 1 ) such that said connector ( 15 ) can pivot about said second pivot axis ( 4 ).  
     
     
         16 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said pivotal connection for said first ear ( 13 ) is a connection to a drive mechanism and said pivotal connection for said second ear ( 14 ) is an articulated connection to a fixed mounting element ( 3 ).  
     
     
         17 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein at least one pedal is an accelerator pedal ( 6 ) extending downwardly from said adjustment element ( 5 ) and terminating at an accelerator pedal pad ( 30 ), said accelerator pedal ( 6 ) being pivotal about said first pivot axis ( 9 ).  
     
     
         18 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 17  including a potentiometer ( 36 ) mounted adjacent to said accelerator pedal ( 6 ) and which emits an electric signal that varies with the position of said accelerator pedal ( 6 ) around said first pivot axis ( 9 ).  
     
     
         19 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 17  including a brake pedal ( 7 ) extending downwardly from said adjustment element ( 5 ) and terminating at a brake pedal pad ( 31 ), said brake pedal ( 7 ) being pivotal about said first pivot axis ( 9 ).  
     
     
         20 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 19  including a clutch pedal ( 8 ) extending downwardly from said adjustment element ( 5 ) and terminating at a clutch pedal pad ( 32 ), said clutch pedal ( 8 ) being pivotal about said first pivot axis ( 9 ).  
     
     
         21 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 20  wherein said clutch ( 8 ) and brake ( 7 ) pedals are pivotally mounted to said adjustment element ( 5 ) on a pivot pin ( 16 ).  
     
     
         22 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 19  wherein said adjustment element ( 5 ) simultaneously adjusts longitudinal positions of said accelerator ( 6 ) pedal and said brake pedal ( 7 ) when selectively activated by a driving mechanism.  
     
     
         23 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 22  wherein said adjustment element ( 5 ) simultaneously adjusts angular positions of said accelerator pedal pad ( 3 ) and said brake pedal pad ( 31 ) when selectively activated by said driving mechanism.  
     
     
         24 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said first ( 9 ) and second ( 4 ) pivot axes are non-collinear.  
     
     
         25 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said first pivot axis ( 9 ) moves with respect to said second pivot axis ( 4 ) as said adjustment element ( 4 ) rotates about said second pivot axis ( 4 ).