Adjustable vehicle control pedals

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6178847
  • Patent Number
    6,178,847
  • Date Filed
    Monday, August 17, 1998
    26 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, January 30, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
An adjustable control pedal apparatus is used in a motor vehicle. The brake and/or clutch pedal apparatus includes a driven pedal arm rotatably and operatively mounted to the vehicle about a rotation axis substantially parallel to the pitch axis. An inner pedal arm is adjustably mounted to the driven pedal arm, and a pedal is attached to the inner pedal arm. The brake and/or clutch pedal apparatus further comprises a mechanism disposed within the driven pedal arm for varying the proximity of the pedal to the operator. The accelerator pedal apparatus of the present invention comprises an inner pedal arm rotatably and operatively mounted to the vehicle about a rotation axis substantially parallel to the pitch axis. An driven pedal arm is adjustably mounted to the inner pedal arm, and a pedal is attached to the driven pedal arm. The accelerator pedal apparatus also comprises a mechanism, substantially disposed within the inner pedal arm and the outer pedal arm, for varying the proximity of the pedal to the operator.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates generally to adjustable vehicle control pedals, and more particularly to such pedals which can conveniently fit into existing motor vehicle design packages.




For many years, vehicle manufacturers and/or designers have been aware of ergonomic considerations for drivers of different stature. In an effort to accommodate different sizes of drivers, vehicle controls (steering wheels, etc.) have been designed with adjustability to accommodate this wide range of driver size. The importance of creating a harmony for the occupant, whereby all vehicle controls adjust to the driver has been increasingly more important from an ergonomic and safety point of view. However, package space, functional safety and cost have historically excluded pedals from adjustability.




Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable vehicle control pedal apparatus which ergonomically accommodates drivers of different stature, yet advantageously substantially fits into current vehicle design packages. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which performs reliably, and can be incorporated in a vehicle at a relatively low cost. Yet further, it is an object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which operates much like a standard pedal and advantageously allows for carryover hardware and switches.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention addresses and solves the problems/drawbacks enumerated above, and encompasses other features and advantages as well. The present invention comprises an adjustable control pedal apparatus for use in a vehicle having a pitch axis. The brake and/or clutch pedal apparatus comprises a driven pedal arm rotatably and operatively mounted to the vehicle about a rotation axis substantially parallel to the pitch axis. An inner pedal arm is adjustably mounted to the driven pedal arm, and a pedal is attached to the inner pedal arm. The brake and/or clutch pedal apparatus further comprises means, substantially disposed within the driven pedal arm and the inner pedal arm, for varying the proximity of the pedal to the operator.




A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a jack screw which moves a block member having pins which travel in slots in the inner and driven pedal arms to vary the proximity of the pedal.




The accelerator pedal apparatus of the present invention comprises an inner pedal arm rotatably and operatively mounted to the vehicle about a rotation axis substantially parallel to the pitch axis. A driven pedal arm is adjustably mounted to the inner pedal arm, and a pedal is attached to the driven pedal arm. The accelerator pedal apparatus also comprises means, substantially disposed within the inner pedal arm and the driven pedal arm, for varying the proximity of the pedal to the operator.




A second alternative preferred embodiment of the invention includes a driven pedal arm having a pair of slots for receiving a clevis mounted to a jack screw rod. The clevis is connected to the inner pedal arm connected to the clevis by a pin. The inner pedal arm has a slot receiving for a slide block. A pinion gear is moved around the jack screw to position the pedal arm and pedal.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and to the drawings, in which:





FIG. 1

is a cutaway perspective view showing the adjustable brake pedal apparatus and accelerator pedal apparatus of the present invention mounted to the body of the vehicle;





FIG. 2

is a back perspective view of the adjustable brake pedal apparatus of the present invention;





FIG. 3

is an enlarged perspective view of the gear and screw pin-translating assembly shown in

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 4

is a side perspective view of the adjustable brake pedal of the present invention, showing the angular offset between a slot in the driven pedal arm and an adjacent slot in the inner pedal arm;





FIG. 5

is a back perspective view of an adjustable accelerator pedal apparatus of the present invention;





FIG. 6

is an enlarged perspective view of the gear and screw pin-translating assembly shown in

FIG. 5

;





FIG. 7

is a side view of the adjustable accelerator pedal of the present invention showing the angular offset between a slot in the driven pedal arm and an adjacent slot in the inner pedal arm;





FIG. 8

is an enlarged schematic view showing a typical motor to drive cable to worm gear connection;





FIG. 9

is an isometric view of a motor vehicle showing the pitch, roll and yaw axes;





FIG. 10

is a side perspective view of a first alternative preferred embodiment of the brake pedal apparatus of the present invention;





FIG. 11

is a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of a brake pedal adjustment mechanism in accordance with the invention;





FIG. 12

is a sectional side view showing inner and driven pedal arms of the second alternative preferred embodiment of the brake pedal adjustment mechanism of the present invention;





FIG. 13

is a top view of the second alternative preferred embodiment of the brake pedal adjustment mechanism of the present invention; and





FIG. 14

is an enlarged view of a portion of the second embodiment.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Referring now to

FIG. 1

, the two adjustable control pedal apparatuses of the present invention are designated generally as


10


and


10


′. Adjustable control pedal apparatus


10


depicts a brake pedal apparatus. However, it is to be understood that this apparatus may work equally well as a clutch pedal apparatus. Adjustable control pedal apparatus


10


′ depicts an accelerator pedal apparatus. However, it is to be understood that any of the pedal apparatuses


10


disclosed herein may be useful for any vehicle control. Also, although a motor vehicle V is shown, it is to be understood that any of the embodiments of the vehicle control pedals


10


described herein may be equally useful in any type of vehicle, including but not limited to trucks, airplanes, and the like.




Referring first to the brake and/or clutch pedal apparatus, the adjustable control pedal apparatus


10


of the present invention comprises a driven pedal arm


12


rotatably and operatively mounted to the vehicle V about a rotation axis


14


substantially parallel to the pitch axis P. The pitch axis P, roll axis R and yaw axis Y are shown in FIG.


9


. Driven pedal arm


12


may be operatively connected to the vehicle V by any suitable, conventionally known means. For example, shaft


16


may attach to a standard brake booster push rod and stop light switch and be retained by a clevis pin (not shown).




An inner pedal arm


18


is adjustably mounted to driven pedal arm


12


. A pedal


20


is attached to inner pedal arm


18


. The brake and/or clutch pedal apparatus


10


may be rotatably mounted to the vehicle V by any suitable means. However, in the preferred embodiment, the apparatus


10


is mounted in a support bracket


64


which is similar to the support of a conventional pedal. Both the inner pedal arm


18


and the driven pedal arm


12


are mounted on the same pivot shaft


66


.




The brake pedal


20


includes a cam face which accommodates different foot sizes at varying points of adjustment. The pad


21


is preferably cast as part of the pedal


20


; thus, the pad


21


would be “as cast” and provide for marketing/styling inputs such as molding in a trade name which could provide driver awareness of the adjustable pedal feature. However, it is to be understood that a standard rubber/elastomeric or the like conventionally known material may be disposed on the pedal


20


to provide the pad


21


.




Although it is to be understood that any suitable material may be used, in the preferred embodiment the driven pedal arm


12


and the inner pedal arm


18


are cast from a magnesium alloy. This is advantageous in that the cast magnesium alloys allow for integration of the complex shape to both house the gearing and screw (described further hereinbelow) and integrate the pad


21


. It is further advantageous in that the cast magnesium alloys provide suitable strength while being light in weight. It is estimated that the weight of the brake pedal apparatus


10


, including the motor M (described hereinbelow) is 2.20 kilograms.




The adjustable control pedal apparatus


10


further comprises means, substantially disposed within the driven pedal arm


12


and the inner pedal arm


18


, for varying the proximity of the pedal


20


to the operator. It is to be understood that this varying means may comprise any suitable means, however, in the preferred embodiment, the varying means comprises a first pair of opposed slots


22


,


24


defined in the driven pedal arm


12


. A second pair of opposed slots


26


,


28


are defined in the inner pedal arm


18


, the second pair of slots


26


,


28


being angularly offset from the first pair of slots


22


,


24


(as best seen in FIG.


2


), whereby there are two opposed sets


30


,


32


of angularly offset slots, one set


30


comprising one of the driven pedal arm slots


22


and an adjacent inner pedal arm slot


26


, the other set


32


comprising the other driven pedal arm slot


24


and the other inner pedal arm slot


28


.




It is to be understood that the angular offset may be at any angle suitable to provide for desired pin


34


,


34


′ translation and a subsequent predetermined pedal


20


movement with reasonable torque requirements for the motor M. In the preferred embodiment, the angle θ between a set


30


,


32


of angularly offset slots is approximately


15


°. It is to be further understood that the slot sets


30


,


32


in either or beth of the apparatuses


10


,


10


′,


10


″ may be disposed either above or below the respective pivot point on the pedal apparatus


10


,


10





10


″.




The varying means may further comprise two pins


34


,


34


′ operatively mounted within the inner pedal arm


18


, one of the pins


34


extending outwardly through one of the opposed sets


30


of angularly offset slots, and the other pin


34


′ extending outwardly through the other


32


opposed set of angularly offset slots.




The varying means may further comprise means for translating the pins


34


,


34


′ in a first


36


or a second


38


direction, whereby when the pin


34


,


34


′ is translated in the first direction


36


, the pedal


20


is moved toward the operator, and when the pin


34


,


34


′ is translated in the second direction


38


, the pedal


20


is moved away from the operator. However, it is to be understood that, although first direction


36


is depicted in

FIG. 4

as being in a generally upward direction, first direction


36


may be in any direction suitable to move pedal


20


toward the operator. Similarly, it is to be understood that second direction


38


may be in any direction suitable to move pedal


20


away from the operator. When the pedal apparatus


10


is rotated, the pad


21


on the inner pedal arm


18


provides a normal contact with the ball of the operator's foot through the adjustment.




In the preferred embodiment, each pin


34


,


34


′ comprises an inner bearing member


40


,


40


′ and an outer bearing member


42


,


42


′, the members being rotatable with respect to each other (see FIG.


6


). Each bearing member


40


,


40


′,


42


,


42


′ has at least two opposed load bearing surfaces


41


,


43


. The inner bearing member


40


is translatable within the inner pedal arm slot


28


in one of the sets


32


, and the outer bearing member


42


is translatable within the driven pedal arm slot


24


in the same set


32


. The inner bearing member


401


is translatable within the inner pedal arm slot


26


in the other set


30


, and the outer bearing member


42


′ is translatable within the driven pedal arm slot


22


in the same set


30


. The squared pins/bearing members


40


,


40


′,


42


,


42


′ provide a load bearing area on both arms


12


,


18


. This provides some area to transfer the load.




Although the slots


22


,


24


,


26


,


28


are shown as being rectangular or oblong in shape, it is to be understood that these slots may be of any suitable geometric configuration.




It is to be understood that the pin translating means may comprise any suitable means, however, in the preferred embodiment, this pin translating means comprises a block member


44


having two opposed ends


46


,


48


and being disposed between the two opposed sets


30


,


32


of angularly offset slots, the block member


44


having the pins


34


,


34


′ extending outwardly from each of the two ends


46


,


48


, the block member


44


further having a threaded bore


50


extending therethrough, as seen in FIG.


3


.




The pin translating means may further comprise a jack screw


52


threadingly engaged within the threaded bore


50


and longitudinally oriented about an axis


54


substantially parallel to a line perpendicular to the pitch axis P. A pinion gear


56


is attached to the jack screw


52


. A worm gear


58


is meshingly engaged with the pinion gear


56


. The screw


52


may be axially constrained by any suitable means; however, in the preferred embodiment, this means includes a thrust bearing


88


into which the screw


52


may be press fit at one end. At the end distal from the thrust bearing


88


, a suitable plug


92


receives screw


52


in plug bore


90


. Plug


92


has suitable external threads


94


for threading engagement within plate


96


.




Alternatively, block member


44


may be more square like in shape, being substantially the same length and height as bearing members


40


,


40


′,


42


,


42


′. The axis


54


about which screw


52


is longitudinally oriented would then be approximately centered between bearing member


40


and bearing member


40


′.




The pin translating means may further comprise means for driving the worm gear


58


. It is to be understood that this driving means may comprise any suitable means. However, in the preferred embodiment, the worm gear driving means comprises a motor M and a rotating drive cable


60


operatively mounted to the motor M and to the worm gear


58


. Although motor M is shown schematically apart from the pedal apparatus


10


, it is to be understood that motor M may be pedal mounted in the brake and/or accelerator pedal apparatus; motor M may be mounted by support bracket


64


; and/or motor M may be mounted by a separate bracket. Upon rotation of the worm gear


58


in a first direction, the block member


44


will be translated along the longitudinal axis


54


of the jack screw


52


and away from the pinion gear


56


, and upon rotation of the worm gear


58


in a second direction, the block member


44


will be translated along the longitudinal axis


54


of the jack screw


52


and toward the pinion gear


56


. As the end of block member


44


travel in each direction, the motor M will automatically shut down. The motor M will do so by any suitable means, including but not limited to a limit switch for detecting amp overload (overload limit switch); by automatically stalling at a predetermined torque value; a potentiometer; or an encoder wheel.




The cable


60


may be any suitable drive cable. However, in the preferred embodiment, cable


60


is a square end, rotating drive cable. It is to be understood that cable


60


may be operatively attached to worm gear


58


and motor M by any suitable means, such as by a suitable snap fit connecting assembly. However, in the preferred embodiment, as can be seen in

FIG. 8

, the cable


60


is attached to motor M and then extends through a bore


70


in a plug


62


which has external threads


72


. A collar


74


is press fitted to cable


60


and retains cable


60


in plug


62


. A portion of the inner pedal arm


18


has an internal threaded bore


76


to threadingly engage with plug


62


. The square end cable


60


end fits into a square detent or socket


78


in the worm gear


58


. The plug


62


having the cable


60


and collar


74


therewithin is then engaged with bore


76


to retain cable


60


in worm gear


58


.




A first alternative preferred embodiment of the adjustable brake pedal apparatus of the present invention is depicted generally as


10


″ in FIG.


10


. In this embodiment, the driven pedal arm


12


′ encompasses more of the inner pedal arm


18


′. A slot


68


for worm gear


58


is defined in driven pedal arm


12


′ in order to compensate for movement of inner pedal arm


18


′ and insure that the connection of cable


60


to worm gear


58


will not be compromised during pedal apparatus


10


″ adjustment. Further, the sets


30


,


32


of opposed slots are rectangular in configuration, and the pins


34


,


34


′ are the squared pins/inner, outer bearing members


40


,


42


, etc. as described above in relation to FIG.


6


. The shaft


16


(which is attachable to the standard brake booster push rod as described above) is fixedly attached by a suitable means to each of the opposed sides of driven pedal arm


12


′. A slot


86


is defined in each of the opposed sides of inner pedal arm


18


′ in order to prevent actuation of the brakes during pedal


20


adjustment. The remainder of the apparatus


10


″is as described hereinabove in relation to apparatus


10


.




A second alternative preferred embodiment of the adjustable brake pedal apparatus


110


is shown in

FIGS. 11

,


12


, and


13


. The brake pedal apparatus


110


is similar to control apparatus


10


and like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals and characters as set forth above. The brake control apparatus


110


includes an inner pedal arm


118


and a driven pedal arm


112


pivotally mounted to the support bracket


114


by pin


66


in the same fashion as discussed above. However, a different mechanism for varying the position of the inner pedal arm


118


with respect to the driven pedal arm


112


is utilized.




As shown in

FIG. 12

, the inner pedal arm


118


has a throughbore


114


at an upper end


115


for receiving pin


66


. The pedal


20


is formed at a lower end


120


of the pedal arm as discussed above. A slot


122


is formed transversely through a center portion of the inner pedal arm


118


. The slot


122


is angled at an angle of approximately 75° with respect to the axis of translation of the jack screw to prevent friction from holding the side block


124


. As discussed below, the slot


122


permits movement of a slide block


124


. The slide block


124


has a throughbore


126


for receiving a pin


128


.




As shown in

FIGS. 11

,


12


, and


13


, the driven pedal arm


112


has a pair of spaced apart side portions


130


. The side portions


130


are spaced apart to receive the inner pedal arm


118


therebetween. A throughbore


132


is formed at an upper corner


134


of each of the side portions


130


to receive pin


66


. Thus, the inner pedal arm


118


and driven pedal arm


112


pivot about pin


66


in the same fashion disclosed above.




As shown in

FIGS. 11 and 12

, stud


138


is mounted to a lower corner


140


of the side portions


130


to pivotally attach the shaft


16


which is attached to the standard brake rod. The side portions are formed to permit location of the stud


138


in the same position relative to the bracket as with a conventional brake pedal. Thus, the brake pedal mechanism of the invention may be substituted for a conventional brake pedal arm as an after market accessory. A slot


142


is formed in each side portion


130


to guide a jack screw


146


as it moves the inner pedal. The slots


142


extend in a direction between the lower corner


140


and a rearward corner


144


.




As shown in

FIGS. 11

,


12


, and


13


, the jack screw


146


has a connector


148


extending at one end from a threaded portion


150


. The connector


148


has a pair of arms


152


which are spaced apart to receive the inner pedal arm


118


and slide block


124


therebetween. Each of the arms


152


has a hole


154


to receive pin


128


to connect the jack screw rod


146


to the slide block


124


and inner pedal arm


118


. A pair of cotter keys


156


are positioned through the ends of the pin


128


to hold the pin


128


in place. The arms


152


of the connector


148


have a rectangular profile and are received in the respective slots of the driven pedal arm to maintain the alignment of the jack screw.




A drive mechanism


160


is mounted at the rear corner


144


of the driven pedal arm. The drive mechanism


160


has a housing


162


which is mounted to extend between the side portions


130


. The housing supports the pinion gear


56


and worm gear


58


. The pinion gear


56


is centered with respect to the side portions


130


to receive the jack screw


146


in a threaded bore


164


. The pinion gear


58


is mounted in meshing contact with the pinion gear


56


to be driven by drive cable


60


and motor M as discussed above. The slots


142


of the driven pedal arm


112


maintain the alignment of the connector and the jack screw with the axis of the pinion gear


56


during the operation of the drive mechanism


160


.




As shown in

FIG. 11

, the slide block


124


is free to move within the slot


126


of the inner pedal arm


118


when the jack screw


146


is moved. Because the inner pedal arm pivots about the pivot axis and the connector is guided along a chord which moves with respect to the pivot axis, the slot


126


in the inner pedal arm


118


permits the slide block


124


and pin


128


to move along the chord as the radial distance to the pivot axis varies.




Referring now to the accelerator pedal apparatus, and more particularly to FIGS.


1


and


5


-


7


, the adjustable control pedal apparatus


10


′ of the present invention comprises an inner pedal arm


18


′ rotatably and operatively mounted to the vehicle V about a rotation axis


14


′ substantially parallel to the pitch axis P. Inner pedal arm


18


′ may be operatively connected to the vehicle V by any suitable, conventionally known means. For example, the throttle cable (not shown) may operatively attach through bore


80


.




A driven pedal arm


12


′ is adjustably mounted to inner pedal arm


18


′. A pedal


20


′ is attached to driven pedal arm


12


′. The accelerator pedal apparatus


10


′ may be rotatably mounted to the vehicle V by any suitable means. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus


10


′ is mounted on a pivot shaft


84


in a support bracket


82


(most of which is shown broken away in

FIG. 1

) which is similar to the support of a conventional pedal, including standard nut, bolt and plastic bearings. However, it is preferred that the accelerator pivot (as at rotation axis


14


′) will be moved rearward (as compared to conventional accelerator pedals) to help maintain ratio integrity (ie. accelerator pedal travel to throttle angle ratio) during the various points of adjustment of pedal apparatus


10


′. Further, power transmission may be synchronized through the cable


60


from the worm gear


58


on the brake pedal apparatus


10


,


10


″.




The current vehicle design packages provide acceptable space to adjust both pedals


20


,


20


′ about 63.5 mm rearward (toward the operator) and about 10 mm downward. Modifications to the dash may be required to move the pedals


20


,


20


′ forward (away from the operator) about 12 mm. It is to be understood that these adjustments are exemplary only, and that the pedals


20


,


20


′ may be made to adjust within a smaller or wider range.




Although it is to be understood that any suitable material may be used, in the preferred embodiment, the driven pedal arm


12


′ is cast from a magnesium alloy. The inner pedal arm


18


′ is preferably injection molded from a suitably rigid polymeric material. The advantages above with regard to the brake pedal apparatus


10


materials apply equally here; however, the accelerator pedal apparatus


10


′ may be even lighter in weight, due to the use of polymeric material(s) for the inner pedal arm


18


′. The driven pedal arm


12


′ is preferably cast from a magnesium alloy to provide styling harmony with the brake pedal apparatus


10


. The weight of the accelerator is estimated to be about 0.67 kilograms.




The pedal pad


21


′ may also include a cam face (as with brake pedal apparatus


10


) to accommodate different foot sizes at varying points of adjustment. The cam face in both pads


21


,


21


′ includes an elongated face (as compared to conventional pads) such that as the pedal apparatus


10


,


10


′,


10


″is adjusted, (as stated above) the pads


21


,


21


′ maintain normal contact with the ball of the operator's foot through the adjustment.




Thus, additional adjustability is gained through the geometry of the cam faced pedal pads


21


,


21


′.




The remainder of the accelerator pedal apparatus


10


′ is as described above in relation to the brake pedal apparatus


10


,


10


″. For example, the pin translating assembly also operates through two diverging slots (


22


,


26


) and (


24


,


28


), one set


30


being on one side of the apparatus


10


′, and the other set


32


being on the opposed side of the apparatus


10


′.




The present invention may also include means for providing a memory option to “remember” and re-set the pedals


20


,


20


′ according to a preprogrammed operator preference. This memory option means may be provided by any suitable means, such as, for example, a location transducer such as a potentiometer or encoder. This memory option means may be in a computer module, which module may be integral with the motor M, but may also be separate from it. The motor M may sense the position of the pedals


20


,


20


′ and send the signal to the computer module.




It is to be understood that the motor M may be any suitable motor having any desired specifications, as required and/or necessitated by a particular end use. An exemplary motor is commercially available from DAEWOO, and preferably has a power rating of approximately {fraction (1/20)} horsepower; however, the power rating may be up to between about ¼ horsepower and ⅓ horsepower.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, each of the apparatuses


10


,


10


′,


110


may be driven by the same driving means (eg. one cable


60


interconnecting the worm gear


58


in accelerator pedal apparatus


10


′ to the worm gear


58


in brake pedal apparatus


10


,


110


to the motor M). The apparatuses


10


,


10


′, and


110


should be set up in order to synchronize the percentage of pedal travel for each of the apparatuses


10


,


10


′, and


110


. it is to be further understood that each of the apparatuses


10


,


10


′, and


110


may be driven independently by separate motors and/or may be driven by separate motors but by the same control device; and/or by any combination or subcombination of the above.




The apparatuses of the present invention are further quite quiet in operation-squeaks and/or rattles are substantially prevented by standard plastic bushings for the pedal pivots; and by bronze thrust bearings for the gear drive.




While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be modified. Therefore, the foregoing description is to be considered exemplary rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. An adjustable control pedal apparatus for varying the position of a pedal with respect to the user, said apparatus comprising:a pedal arm having one end mounted to a bracket to pivot on a pin about a pivot axis, said pedal arm having a slot having a slide block; said pedal mounted to an other end of said pedal arm; a driven arm mounted to said pin to pivot about said pivot axis; a means for selective positioning said pedal arm with respect to said driven arm, said means including a screw rod and a drive mechanism, said drive mechanism mounted to said driven arm, said screw rod having one end threadably connected to said drive mechanism and a connector connected to said slide block in said pedal arm, whereby said pedal arm position is adjusted as said pedal arm is pulled to and pushed away from said drive mechanism by rotation of said screw rod to pivot said pedal arm about said pin such that said pedal maintains a fixed predetermined distance from said pin.
  • 2. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein said driven arm further comprises a pair of spaced apart side portions, each side portion having a slot for receiving said connector of said jack screw for guiding said screw rod.
  • 3. The control apparatus of claim 2, wherein said jack screw extends between said side portions.
  • 4. The control apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of said side portions has a slot for receiving said portion of said screw rod.
  • 5. The control apparatus of claim 4, wherein said portion of said screw rod received in said slot of each of said side arms is an arm portion of a connector.
  • 6. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pedal arm has a slot for receiving a slide block.
  • 7. The control apparatus of claim 6, wherein one end of said jack screw is connected to said slide block.
  • 8. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein said jack screw has a longitudinal axis and said slot in said pedal arm is angled at generally 75° to said longitudinal axis.
Parent Case Info

This is a continuation-in-part application of patent application Ser. No. 08/947,563, filed Oct. 9, 1997.

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Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 08/947563 Oct 1997 US
Child 09/135346 US