US5937707A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle pedal assembly including a hysteresis feedback device
Assignee: Technology Holding Co II
•
Filing: 1998-04-08
•
Granted: 1999-08-17
•
Expires: 2018-04-08
Abstract
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. The feedback apparatus includes a spring to exert a spring force against the pedal arm that varies in response to the pivotal movement of the pedal arm, a first friction surface on the pedal arm, and a second friction surface on the spring for wiping coaction with the first friction surface in response to the pivotal movement of the pedal arm to provide a hysteresis effect for the pedal assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher J. Rixon
- 👤 Christopher Bortolon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:43
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; Y10T74/20534; Y10T74/2054; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20888
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A control pedal assembly adapted for use on a motor vehicle including a pedal arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof to a support structure mounted on the motor vehicle and a feedback apparatus for generating a feel in response to pivotal movement of the pedal arm, characterized in that the feedback apparatus comprises: a spring mounted on the support structure and arranged to exert a spring force against the pedal arm that varies in response to pivotal movement of the pedal arm; a first friction surface defined by a first friction plate secured to the pedal arm; and a second friction surface defined by a second friction plate secured to the spring and arranged for wiping coaction with the first friction surface in response to pivotal movement of the pedal arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A control pedal assembly adapted for use on a motor vehicle including a pedal arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof to a support structure mounted on the motor vehicle and a feedback apparatus for generating a feel in response to pivotal movement of the pedal arm, characterized in that the feedback apparatus comprises: a spring mounted on the support structure and arranged to exert a spring force against the pedal arm that varies in response to pivotal movement of the pedal arm; a first friction surface defined by a first friction plate secured to the pedal arm; and a second friction surface defined by a second friction plate secured to the spring and arranged for wiping coaction with the first friction surface in response to pivotal movement of the pedal arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
A pedal assembly according to claim 1 wherein: the friction surfaces undergo relative wiping movement in a first direction, and generate a friction force augmenting the spring force, in response to pivotal movement of the pedal arm in a pedal applying direction and undergo relative wiping movement in a second opposite direction, and generate a friction force opposing the spring force, in response to pivotal movement of the pedal arm in a pedal releasing direction, whereby to provide a hysteresis effect for the pedal assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A pedal assembly according to claim 2 wherein: the spring comprises a leaf spring fixedly secured at one end thereof to the support structure and defining a free end; and the second friction surface is defined on the free end of the leaf spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A pedal assembly according to claim 3 wherein: the first friction surface is defined on an upper end of the pedal arm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A pedal assembly according to claim 4 wherein said one end of said leaf spring comprises an upper end of the leaf spring and the free end of the leaf spring comprises a lower end of the leaf spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A pedal assembly according to claim 5 wherein the first and second friction plates are of dissimilar materials.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A pedal assembly according to claim 3 wherein: the first friction surface is defined by the first friction plate secured to an upper edge of the pedal arm; and the second friction surface is defined by the second friction plate secured to the free end of the leaf spring for wiping engagement with the first friction plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A pedal assembly according to claim 7 wherein the leaf spring comprises a laminated leaf spring and the second friction plate includes a working portion wipingly engaging the first friction plate and a tab portion positioned between laminations of the spring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
166 words
A control pedal assembly adapted for use on a motor vehicle including: a support structure adapted to be mounted on a body structure of the motor vehicle; a pedal structure including a pedal arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof to the support structure on a pivot axis; a cam surface defined on the pedal arm that is eccentric with respect to the pivot axis of the pedal arm; a leaf spring fixedly secured at an end thereof to said support structure and having a free end biased against said cam surface so that pivotal movement of the pedal arm generates a wiping action between the cam surface and the free end of the spring and varies the extent of flexing of the spring about its fixed end; and the cam surface is defined by a first friction plate secured to the pedal arm; and a second friction plate is secured to the free end of the spring for wiping engagement with the first friction plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
166 words
A control pedal assembly adapted for use on a motor vehicle including: a support structure adapted to be mounted on a body structure of the motor vehicle; a pedal structure including a pedal arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof to the support structure on a pivot axis; a cam surface defined on the pedal arm that is eccentric with respect to the pivot axis of the pedal arm; a leaf spring fixedly secured at an end thereof to said support structure and having a free end biased against said cam surface so that pivotal movement of the pedal arm generates a wiping action between the cam surface and the free end of the spring and varies the extent of flexing of the spring about its fixed end; and the cam surface is defined by a first friction plate secured to the pedal arm; and a second friction plate is secured to the free end of the spring for wiping engagement with the first friction plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A pedal assembly according to claim 9 wherein the first and second friction plates are of dissimilar materials.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A pedal assembly according to claim 9 wherein: the leaf spring comprises a laminated leaf spring and the second friction plate includes a working portion wipingly engaging the first friction plate and a tail portion positioned between laminations of the spring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1164637A
Cited
US3643525A
Cited
US3643524A
Cited
DE2529578A1
Cited
US4356471A
Cited
US5078024A
Cited
US4875385A
Cited
US4989474A
Cited
US4869220A
Cited
US4976166A
Cited
US4958607A
Cited
JPH0367315A
Cited
US4944269A
Cited
US5233882A
Cited
JPH04128519A
Cited
JPH04331652A
Cited
US5241936A
Cited
US5408899A
Cited
US5460061A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-16 | 2003-02-15 | 2003-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-16 | 2007-02-15 | 2007-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-16 | 2011-02-15 | 2011-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |