Electronic adjustable pedal assembly

Patent 5697260 Issued on December 16, 1997. Estimated Expiration Date:

October 31, 2016. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3151499

3319487

3359821

3643525

Unitary pedal apparatus for selectively accelerating and braking a vehicle
Patent #: 3958677
Issued on: 05/25/1976
Inventor: Spanelis

Double coil throttle return spring
Patent #: 4582653
Issued on: 04/15/1986
Inventor: Blanchard , et al.

Failsafe drive-by-wire engine controller
Patent #: 4640248
Issued on: 02/03/1987
Inventor: Stoltman

Accelerator control apparatus
Patent #: 4869220
Issued on: 09/26/1989
Inventor: Imoehl

Adjustable accelerator and brake pedal mechanism
Patent #: 4870871
Issued on: 10/03/1989
Inventor: Ivan

Control pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle
Patent #: 4875385
Issued on: 10/24/1989
Inventor: Sitrin

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Inventors

Application

No. 741981 filed on 10/31/1996

US Classes:

74/514, Signal74/513, Accelerator74/560Pedals

Examiners

Primary: Marmor, Charles A.
Assistant: Battista, Mary Ann

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Howard & Howard

Foreign Patent References

4128519 JP. 04/13/1992

International Class

G05G 001/14

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. The friction resistance force adds to the torsional resistance force of the spring during application of the pedal and subtracts from the torsional resistance force of the spring upon release of the pedal, whereby to create a hysteresis effect.