US5632183A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable pedal assembly
Assignee: Technology Holding Co II
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Filing: 1995-08-09
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Granted: 1997-05-27
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Expires: 2015-08-09
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher J. Rixon
- 👤 Christopher Bortolon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:02
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G1/00; G05G1/30; G05G1/40; G05G1/405; B; B60; B60K; B60K26/00; B60K26/02; B60K26/021; B60T; B60T13/00; B60T13/10; B60T13/58; B60T13/585; B60T13/586; B60T7/00; B60T7/02; B60T7/04; B60T7/042; B60T7/06; B60T8/00; B60T8/32; B60T8/321; B60T8/3255; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20528; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20888
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising: a pedal support assembly including a forward mounting structure and a hollow guide rod extending rearwardly and rigidly from the mounting structure; a screw shaft positioned within the hollow of the guide rod and extending parallel to said guide rod; drive means for driving the screw shaft; and a pedal assembly including a hub structure defining a smooth guide bore slidably receiving said guide rod, a nut positioned within the hollow rod and defining a threaded bore threadably receiving said screw shaft, a pedal arm extending downwardly from said hub structure, and means drivingly interconnecting the nut and the hub structure whereby rotation of the screw shaft moves the nut within the hollow rod and the drive means translates the nut movement into movement of the hub structure and the pedal arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising: a pedal support assembly including a forward mounting structure and a hollow guide rod extending rearwardly and rigidly from the mounting structure; a screw shaft positioned within the hollow of the guide rod and extending parallel to said guide rod; drive means for driving the screw shaft; and a pedal assembly including a hub structure defining a smooth guide bore slidably receiving said guide rod, a nut positioned within the hollow rod and defining a threaded bore threadably receiving said screw shaft, a pedal arm extending downwardly from said hub structure, and means drivingly interconnecting the nut and the hub structure whereby rotation of the screw shaft moves the nut within the hollow rod and the drive means translates the nut movement into movement of the hub structure and the pedal arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the apparatus further includes a mounting bracket; and the forward mounting structure is pivotally secured to the mounting bracket.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the guide rod and the guide bore have a circular cross sectional configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: an elongated slot is provided in the hollow guide rod; and the interconnecting means comprises rigid structure passing through the slot and rigidly interconnecting the nut and the hub structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the forward mounting structure includes a transmission housing forwardly of the guide rod; the drive means includes a transmission positioned in the transmission housing and including a first transmission member driving the screw shaft and a second transmission member driving the first transmission member; and the drive means further includes a cable driving the second transmission member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the drive means further includes an electric motor driving the cable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein: the pedal support assembly further includes a mounting bracket; and the forward mounting structure further includes a pivot arm fixed to the transmission housing and pivotally mounted on the mounting bracket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising: a mounting bracket; a hollow guide rod; means pivotally mounting the guide rod on the mounting bracket with the guide rod extending rearwardly; a pedal structure including an upper hub structure slidably mounted on the guide rod and a pedal arm extending downwardly from the hub structure; a nut positioned slidably in the hollow of the guide rod; a screw positioned within the guide rod and threadably engaging the nut; drive means interconnecting the nut and the pedal structure; and means for rotating the screw.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising: a mounting bracket; a hollow guide rod; means pivotally mounting the guide rod on the mounting bracket with the guide rod extending rearwardly; a pedal structure including an upper hub structure slidably mounted on the guide rod and a pedal arm extending downwardly from the hub structure; a nut positioned slidably in the hollow of the guide rod; a screw positioned within the guide rod and threadably engaging the nut; drive means interconnecting the nut and the pedal structure; and means for rotating the screw.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A pedal apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the rotating means are positioned forwardly of the screw.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A pedal apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: the guide rod includes an elongated axial slot; and the drive means includes a key fixed to the nut and passing through the elongated slot for securement to the pedal structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A pedal apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: the apparatus includes a housing positioned forwardly of the guide rod; and the rotating means includes transmission means positioned in the housing and including a first transmission member driving the screw and a second transmission member driving the first transmission member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A pedal apparatus according to claim 11 wherein: the rotating means further includes an electric motor and a cable driven by the electric motor and driving the second transmission member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
169 words
An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising: a pedal support assembly including a forward mounting structure and a hollow guide rod extending rearwardly and rigidly from the mounting structure and including an elongated slot; a screw shaft positioned concentrically within the hollow of the guide rod and extending proximate and parallel to the guide rod; drive means for driving the screw shaft; and a pedal assembly including an upper guide structure and a pedal arm extending downwardly from said upper guide structure; the upper guide structure including an outer hub structure slidably mounted on the guide rod and including an aperture, a nut positioned slidably within the hollow of the guide rod and threadably receiving the screw shaft, and means drivingly interconnecting the pedal assembly and the nut; the interconnecting means comprising a key secured at one end thereof to the nut, passing through the slot in the rod and through the aperture in the hub structure, and secured at its other end to the pedal arm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
169 words
An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising: a pedal support assembly including a forward mounting structure and a hollow guide rod extending rearwardly and rigidly from the mounting structure and including an elongated slot; a screw shaft positioned concentrically within the hollow of the guide rod and extending proximate and parallel to the guide rod; drive means for driving the screw shaft; and a pedal assembly including an upper guide structure and a pedal arm extending downwardly from said upper guide structure; the upper guide structure including an outer hub structure slidably mounted on the guide rod and including an aperture, a nut positioned slidably within the hollow of the guide rod and threadably receiving the screw shaft, and means drivingly interconnecting the pedal assembly and the nut; the interconnecting means comprising a key secured at one end thereof to the nut, passing through the slot in the rod and through the aperture in the hub structure, and secured at its other end to the pedal arm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
116 words
An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising: a mounting bracket; a hollow guide rod including an elongated axial slot; means pivotally mounting the guide rod on the mounting bracket with the guide rod extending rearward; a pedal structure including an upper hub structure slidably mounted on the guide rod and including an aperture and a pedal arm extending downwardly from the hub structure; a nut positioned slidably in the hollow of the guide rod; a screw positioned within the guide rod and threadably engaging the nut; means for rotating the screw; and a key fixed to the nut and passing through the elongated slot and through the aperture for securement to the pedal structure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
116 words
An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising: a mounting bracket; a hollow guide rod including an elongated axial slot; means pivotally mounting the guide rod on the mounting bracket with the guide rod extending rearward; a pedal structure including an upper hub structure slidably mounted on the guide rod and including an aperture and a pedal arm extending downwardly from the hub structure; a nut positioned slidably in the hollow of the guide rod; a screw positioned within the guide rod and threadably engaging the nut; means for rotating the screw; and a key fixed to the nut and passing through the elongated slot and through the aperture for securement to the pedal structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
143 words
An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising: a pedal support assembly including a forward mounting structure and a hollow guide rod extending rearwardly and rigidly from the mounting structure; a screw shaft positioned within the hollow of the guide rod and extending parallel to the guide rod; drive means for driving the screw shaft; and a pedal assembly including an upper guide structure defining a smooth guide bore slidably receiving said guide rod, a nut positioned within the hollow rod and defining a threaded bore threadably receiving said screw shaft, a pedal arm extending downwardly from said upper guide structure, and means drivingly interconnecting the nut and the guide structure whereby rotation of the screw shaft moves the nut within the hollow rod and the drive means translates the nut movement into movement of the guide structure and the pedal arm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
143 words
An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising: a pedal support assembly including a forward mounting structure and a hollow guide rod extending rearwardly and rigidly from the mounting structure; a screw shaft positioned within the hollow of the guide rod and extending parallel to the guide rod; drive means for driving the screw shaft; and a pedal assembly including an upper guide structure defining a smooth guide bore slidably receiving said guide rod, a nut positioned within the hollow rod and defining a threaded bore threadably receiving said screw shaft, a pedal arm extending downwardly from said upper guide structure, and means drivingly interconnecting the nut and the guide structure whereby rotation of the screw shaft moves the nut within the hollow rod and the drive means translates the nut movement into movement of the guide structure and the pedal arm.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-05-26 | 2000-11-25 | 2001-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-26 | 2004-11-25 | 2005-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-26 | 2008-11-25 | 2009-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |