Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080276749 | Accelerator pedal for a vehicle - A pedal assembly for a vehicle including a pedal housing and a pedal arm coupled to the housing. A friction generating assembly associated with the housing includes at least an actuator which is engaged by the pedal arm, a brake pad engaged by the actuator, and springs which engage against the brake pad. Arms on the brake pad are adapted to engage with either an interior central wall or interior peripheral wall of the friction generating assembly. In one embodiment, the friction generating assembly defines a separate module which is snap fitted into a cavity defined in the pedal housing. A magnet is coupled to the pedal arm. A sensor is coupled to the pedal housing and positioned in proximity to the magnet. The sensor is responsive to movement of the magnet to generate an electrical signal that is representative of the position of the pedal arm. | 11-13-2008 |
20100186546 | Mounting Assembly and Insert for a Pedal or the Like - A mounting assembly which, in one embodiment, is for a pedal assembly including a plate with at least a first mounting bracket including an interior wall which, in one embodiment, defines an aperture and a pair of slots. A sleeve is fitted in the opening and, in one embodiment, is generally U-shaped and includes both an arcuate base and a pair of arms. The base is fitted in the aperture and at least the distal end of the pair of arms is fitted in the pair of slots respectively. The interior wall is configured so that, in one embodiment, a generally circular aperture is defined in the bracket when the sleeve is fitted therein; and, in another embodiment, a generally oval-shaped aperture is defined in the bracket when the sleeve is fitted therein. | 07-29-2010 |
20110056326 | Resistance Mechanism for a Pedal Assembly - A resistance mechanism and module for generating and applying a resistance force to a pedal. The resistance module includes a plunger adapted for movement in the interior of the module between rest and depressed positions in response to the application by the pedal of a compression force against the plunger. The plunger includes an exterior camming surface. An actuator is also located in the interior of the module and includes an exterior camming surface which abuts and is adapted to slide against the camming surface on the plunger in response to the movement of the plunger. A spring in the module abuts and is adapted to apply a biasing force against the actuator. The interaction between the camming surfaces on the plunger and the actuator generates a resistance force which is applied to the pedal. | 03-10-2011 |
20130087009 | VEHICLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH HYSTERESIS ASSEMBLY - A vehicle pedal assembly with a rotatable pedal. A hysteresis assembly includes a friction device and plunger, and first and second springs that are all separate and decoupled from each other and the pedal. The first spring exerts a force against the friction plunger that forces the friction device into frictional contact with the housing to generate and transfer a resistance force to the pedal. The first spring also exerts a force against the pedal when a foot force is removed from the pedal to return the pedal to idle with and without the movement of the friction device and without the force of the second spring. The second spring exerts a force against the friction device when the foot force is removed to return the pedal to idle without the force of the first spring. Barriers block the entry of debris into the housing. | 04-11-2013 |
20130283961 | VEHICLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH TUBULAR PEDAL SHAFT - A vehicle pedal assembly comprising a pedal housing that receives the drum of a pedal arm. An elongate tubular hollow shaft which, in one embodiment, may be made of metal extends through a through-hole defined in the drum and into the side walls of the pedal housing. The pedal shaft may be secured in the pedal housing with lips on the respective side walls that are heat staked against the ends of the pedal shaft. Alternatively, the pedal shaft can include flared distal ends that abut against the exterior surface of the respective side walls, or slots can be formed in the interior surface of the respective side walls of the pedal housing for receiving the respective distal ends of the pedal shaft. The through-hole of the drum and the shaft may include regions of varying diameter. | 10-31-2013 |
20140090512 | Vehicle Pedal with Index Assembly for Contacting Sensor - A vehicle pedal comprising a housing for a pedal arm with a drum, a rotor coupled to the drum and including a contactor that slides against a strip of resistive material in the housing, and an assembly for setting and locking the index position of the rotor. In one embodiment, the rotor extends through a window that is defined in the housing and limits the movement of the rotor during the index setting operation. In one embodiment, a plastic pin that is either separate from or unitary with the rotor is fitted into a slot defined in the drum. In another embodiment, a potting material is deposited and cured in the slot in the drum for locking the pin in the slot. In another embodiment, the pin is unitary with the drum of the pedal arm and is press-fitted into a slot in the rotor. In a further embodiment, the drum and rotor include respective plates and the pin is a clip that locks the plates together. | 04-03-2014 |
20140290425 | Pedal Assembly with Mounting Insert - A vehicle pedal assembly comprising a housing for a pedal, the housing being made of a molded plastic material and including a mounting flange with a nut type metal mounting insert that has been insert molded into the plastic material. In one embodiment, the mounting insert is a T-nut type including a radial collar with a plurality of tabs each terminating in a distal barb. In one embodiment, the distal barb is rounded and insert molded into the plastic material of the mounting flange and in another embodiment the distal barb is arrow-shaped and press-fitted into a slot defined in the mounting flange. In another embodiment, the mounting insert is a slotted flange T-nut type. | 10-02-2014 |
20140352485 | Vehicle Pedal Assembly with Hysteresis Assembly - A vehicle pedal assembly with a rotatable pedal. A hysteresis assembly includes a friction device and plunger, and first and second springs that are all separate and decoupled from each other and the pedal. The first spring exerts a force against the friction plunger that forces the friction device into frictional contact with the housing to generate and transfer a resistance force to the pedal. The first spring also exerts a force against the pedal when a foot force is removed from the pedal to return the pedal to idle with and without the movement of the friction device and without the force of the second spring. The second spring exerts a force against the friction device when the foot force is removed to return the pedal to idle without the force of the first spring. Barriers block the entry of debris into the housing. | 12-04-2014 |