Patent US5588338A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5588338A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snap-in pedal with end caps
Assignee: BWI Co Ltd SA
•
Filing: 1994-11-30
•
Granted: 1996-12-31
•
Expires: 2014-11-30
Abstract
Abstract A mounting for a control pedal in a motor vehicle includes a mounting bracket fixed relative to the vehicle having apertures defining an axis of rotation. The pedal has a hub defining a pivot axis. Spring loaded bearings in the hub are adapted to automatically snap axially outward from a first position to a second position, thereby rotatably connecting the pedal with the bracket, when the pivot axis is aligned with the axis of rotation. The axes are aligned by manipulating the pedal. Pedal end caps are snapped onto the hub and interposed between the hub and the bracket.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Carr
- 👤 Mark A. Lindsey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:14
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60T; B60T7/00; B60T7/02; B60T7/04; B60T7/06; F; F16; F16C; F16C11/00; F16C11/02; G; G05; G05G; G05G1/00; G05G1/30; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32606; Y10T403/32861; Y10T403/32885; Y10T403/32893; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20528; Y10T74/20534; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20888; Y10T74/209; Y10T74/20906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
In a mounting for a control pedal on a motor vehicle for rotation about an axis, the combination comprising: a mounting bracket fixed relative to the vehicle and having first and second apertures defining the axis of rotation; the pedal having first and second bearings defining a pivot axis and a spring, wherein the first and second bearings are biased by the spring to axially outer positions and wherein the spring is compressible such that opposing forces on the bearings axially moves the bearings into axially compressed positions; wherein the spring forces the bearings in the axially outer positions when the pedal is positioned so that the bearings are exterior of the bracket; wherein the bracket forces the bearings in the axially compressed positions when the bearings are located within the bracket and not within the first and second apertures; wherein the spring forces the bearings in the axially outer positions when the bearings are in the first and second apertures, whereby the pedal snaps into the bracket; and a pair of pedal end caps disposed between the pedal and the bracket when the bearings are in the first and second apertures.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
In a mounting for a control pedal on a motor vehicle for rotation about an axis, the combination comprising: a mounting bracket fixed relative to the vehicle and having first and second apertures defining the axis of rotation; the pedal having first and second bearings defining a pivot axis and a spring, wherein the first and second bearings are biased by the spring to axially outer positions and wherein the spring is compressible such that opposing forces on the bearings axially moves the bearings into axially compressed positions; wherein the spring forces the bearings in the axially outer positions when the pedal is positioned so that the bearings are exterior of the bracket; wherein the bracket forces the bearings in the axially compressed positions when the bearings are located within the bracket and not within the first and second apertures; wherein the spring forces the bearings in the axially outer positions when the bearings are in the first and second apertures, whereby the pedal snaps into the bracket; and a pair of pedal end caps disposed between the pedal and the bracket when the bearings are in the first and second apertures.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket includes first and second channels for axially aligning the pivot axis with the axis of rotation and for forcing the bearings into the axially compressed position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bearings are rotatively fixed with respect to the bracket and the pedal end caps are rotatively fixed with respect to the pedal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a mounting for a pedal in a motor vehicle for rotation about an axis, the combination comprising: a mounting bracket including two apertures defining the axis of rotation; and a pedal assembly having: a pedal, a hub having two radially outwardly flared ends, the hub rigidly fixed to the pedal and defining a pivot axis; two spring loaded bearings disposed within the hub, wherein the bearings automatically snap outward into the apertures of the bracket from a compressed first position to an extended second position when the bearings are aligned with the apertures, wherein the bearings rotatably connect the pedal with the mounting bracket; and two annular pedal end caps, the pedal end caps snap-fittedly engaging the ends of the hub and disposed between the hub and the mounting bracket when the bearings are aligned with the apertures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a mounting for a pedal in a motor vehicle for rotation about an axis, the combination comprising: a mounting bracket including two apertures defining the axis of rotation; and a pedal assembly having: a pedal, a hub having two radially outwardly flared ends, the hub rigidly fixed to the pedal and defining a pivot axis; two spring loaded bearings disposed within the hub, wherein the bearings automatically snap outward into the apertures of the bracket from a compressed first position to an extended second position when the bearings are aligned with the apertures, wherein the bearings rotatably connect the pedal with the mounting bracket; and two annular pedal end caps, the pedal end caps snap-fittedly engaging the ends of the hub and disposed between the hub and the mounting bracket when the bearings are aligned with the apertures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination as claimed in claim 4, further characterized by the bracket having facing guide channels for forcing the bearings into the compressed first position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination as claim in claim 4, wherein the bearings comprise plastic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bearings are rotatively fixed with respect to the bracket and the pedal end caps are rotatively fixed with respect to the hub.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination as claimed in claim 4 further comprising: spring pockets in facing surfaces of the bearings, and a coil spring disposed between the bearings and having ends disposed within the spring pockets of the bearings, wherein the spring loads the bearings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a mounting for a pedal in a motor vehicle for rotation about an axis, the combination comprising: a mounting bracket including two laterally spaced apertures defining the axis of rotation; and a pedal assembly having: a pedal, a hub having radially outwardly flared end portions, the hub rigidly fixed to the pedal and defining a pivot axis, means disposed within the hub for rotatably connecting the pedal with the mounting bracket, and two annular pedal end caps having a conical head portion and a flexible skirt portion extending from the head portion, the head portions of the pedal end caps being disposed between the flared end portions of the hub and the mounting bracket when the pedal is rotatably connected with the mounting bracket, the skirt portions including radially reduced portions for snap-fitted engagement onto the flared end portions of the hub, and the hub with the snapped-on pedal end caps having a length less than the lateral spacing between the apertures of the mounting bracket.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a mounting for a pedal in a motor vehicle for rotation about an axis, the combination comprising: a mounting bracket including two laterally spaced apertures defining the axis of rotation; and a pedal assembly having: a pedal, a hub having radially outwardly flared end portions, the hub rigidly fixed to the pedal and defining a pivot axis, means disposed within the hub for rotatably connecting the pedal with the mounting bracket, and two annular pedal end caps having a conical head portion and a flexible skirt portion extending from the head portion, the head portions of the pedal end caps being disposed between the flared end portions of the hub and the mounting bracket when the pedal is rotatably connected with the mounting bracket, the skirt portions including radially reduced portions for snap-fitted engagement onto the flared end portions of the hub, and the hub with the snapped-on pedal end caps having a length less than the lateral spacing between the apertures of the mounting bracket.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination as in claim 9, wherein the means is rotatively fixed with respect to the bracket, the hub is rotatively fixed with respect to the pedal, and the pedal end caps are rotatively fixed with respect to the hub.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination as in claim 9 wherein the pedal end caps include a plurality of longitudinal slots extending partially through the head portions and entirely through the skirt portions to define flexible spring segments.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination as in claim 11 wherein the flexible spring segments have radially outwardly tapered ends.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination as in claim 11 wherein the pedal end caps comprise plastic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination as in claim 9 wherein the pedal end caps comprise plastic.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1742457A
Cited
US1152876A
Cited
US1587752A
Cited
US1478733A
Cited
US1511135A
Cited
US1824021A
Cited
FR1418958A
Cited
US3451288A
Cited
FR2222890A5
Cited
SU476382A1
Cited
JPS5012824A
Cited
US3954160A
Cited
US4299137A
Cited
US4564308A
Cited
US4528590A
Cited
US4512600A
Cited
US4597499A
Cited
US4819500A
Cited
US4909537A
Cited
US4995492A
Cited
EP0433702A2
Cited
DE4013284A1
Cited
US5233882A
Cited
US5168771A
Cited
US5165708A
Cited
US5289758A
Cited
US5398569A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-12-31 | 2000-07-01 | 2000-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-31 | 2004-07-01 | 2004-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-31 | 2008-07-01 | 2008-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |