Patent Application
20130239737
It is known to make pedal assemblies with electronic throttle control (ETC) having parts molded from plastic. These known systems typically include a molded plastic housing which supports a pedal arm for pivotal movement and a position sensor for determining the amount of depression of the pedal. Typically these housings also include some sort of hysteresis or feedback device which resists depression of the pedal to simulate the feel of a mechanical pedal system. The housing typically has tabs or other features which permit mounting to a vehicle. However, each vehicle has different surfaces for mounting the pedal assembly. The surface may be broken into different areas or angle according to different needs. Thus, each housing must be designed to meet the space and packaging requirements for the vehicle. Each pedal assembly must be designed from scratch. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a pedal assembly which would be easily adapted for use in different models of vehicles.
The present invention provides for a method of manufacturing and installing an electronic throttle control pedal to a bracket within a vehicle. The method includes the steps of making a customized pedal mounting bracket for a vehicle wherein the customized pedal mounting bracket has universal connecting features. The method further includes mounting the customized pedal mounting bracket to a vehicle and attaching the universal pedal housing to the customized pedal mounting bracket by means of the universal connecting features. The pedal housing is then secured to the customized pedal mounting bracket by means of the universal connecting features. An apparatus of the present invention including a universal pedal housing having a rear surface wherein the rear surface includes at least one locating protrusion. The pedal housing further including a plurality of compression tabs. The apparatus further including a pedal mounting bracket having a front surface wherein the rear surface of the pedal housing connects to the front surface of the pedal mounting bracket. The front surface of the pedal mounting bracket having at least one aperture operable to connect to the at least one protrusion and the plurality of compression tabs.
The pedal assembly utilizes a standardized housing module mounted to a bracket wherein the bracket is customized for a particular vehicle model. The housing includes tabs and features which interact with the bracket to compressibly mount the housing to the bracket. A single screw is used to secure the housing to the bracket. The housing and the bracket are molded of a suitable plastic.
A method and apparatus for a two component pedal assembly utilizing a standardized housing module mounted to a bracket which is customized for a particular vehicle model. The vehicle housing includes tabs and features which interact with the bracket to compressibly mount the housing to the bracket. A single screw is used to secure the housing to the bracket. The housing and the bracket are molded of a suitable plastic. The bracket is customized from vehicle to vehicle but includes standardized attachment features corresponding to attachment features on the pedal housing.
The bracket 14 includes a rear surface 22. The bracket 14 further includes an upper end 23 and a lower end 25. The rear surface 22, in the present embodiment, is generally planar.
The housing 12 includes the upper end 16 and the lower end 18. An aperture 50 is disposed at the upper end of the housing 12. Various other protrusions, apertures, and the like are provided having various configurations. A protrusion 52 is provided extending away from the rear surface 20. The protrusion 52 is generally planar having rounded edges.
A plurality of compression tabs 54 are further provided extending away from the rear surface 20. The tabs 54 are generally L-shaped. Further provided is protrusion 56 extending away from the rear surface 20 of the housing 12. The lower end 18 of the housing 12 further includes the protrusion 58. The protrusion 58 extends away from the main body of the housing 12.
The bracket 14 includes the upper portion 23 and the lower portion 25. The upper portion 23 includes an aperture 60 operable to connect with the aperture 50 of the housing 12. A bolt 70 is used to secure the housing 12 to the bracket 14 through the aperture 50 and then through the aperture 60.
The rear surface 22 of the bracket 14 further includes the aperture 62 operable to connect and interact with the protrusion 52. Furthermore, apertures 64 are provided on the front surface 22 of the bracket 14. The apertures 64 are adapted to interact with the protrusions or tabs 54. The apertures 64 include an upper portion 64a and a lower portion 64b. The upper portions 64a of the apertures 64 are wider in dimension as compared to the lower portions 64b of the apertures 64. The lower portion 64a being shorter in width creates the extra space 65. As the compression tabs 54 are inserted into the upper portion 64a of the aperture 64, they are then slid downwards as shown in
The front surface 22 of the bracket 14 further includes aperture 66 operable to connect and interact with the protrusion 56. The lower end 25 of the bracket 14 further includes a cup or aperture 68 operable to connect with the large protrusion 58 of the housing 12. The protrusion 58 of the housing 12 sits within the cup 68 of the bracket 14. The mounting portions and surfaces 22, 20 are generally rectangular in profile with a generally outer planar surface.
The compression tabs 54 include an extended portion 90 connected to extension member 92. The extended portion 90 and the extension member 92 are connected in a generally L-shaped configuration forming a 90 degree angle. In the present embodiment, the compression tabs 54 include an aperture 94. The compression tabs 54 further include an upper surface 96. In the present embodiment, the upper surface is generally L-shaped. The compression tabs 54 further include an inner surface 98 operable to connect with and interact with the inner surface 67 of the aperture 64.
The compression tabs 54 of the housing 12 are slid into place in the apertures 64. As the user inserts 102 the housing 12 into the bracket 14 and slides downward 104 the housing 12 into the bracket 14, the inner surface 98 of the compression tabs 54 comes into contact with the inner surface 67 of the apertures 64. The compression against the inner surface 67 of the apertures 54 further secures the housing 12 to the bracket 14.
The method of the present invention provides for creating a customized mounting bracket for each vehicle while keeping the specifics and design of the housing of the pedal assembly standardized. The method includes the steps of creating a customized pedal mounting bracket for a vehicle wherein the customized pedal mounting bracket includes universal connecting features. These universal connecting features include the various apertures and protrusions and tabs discussed above. The customized pedal mounting bracket varies from vehicle make and model. As shown in
The housing 12 of the present invention includes an outer portion having the mounting portion or cavity 8. The cavity 8 includes a pivot pin 100 for supporting the pedal arm 4 and a chamber for a hysteresis device. Any type of hysteresis device may be utilized, however a suitable type is shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/697,333. The cavity and chamber are covered with a cover which includes a position sensor. In the preferred embodiment, the position sensor is a noncontacting position sensor such as those manufactured by the assignee of the application and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,191,759.
The protrusion 58 located on the lower end 18 of the housing 12 has a generally rectangular profile which is adapted to be received within a correspondingly shaped opening or cup 68 on the bracket 14. The various protrusions 52, 56 are used for guiding the housing 12 during assembly. These protrusions are used to align and assist in assembly.
As shown in
Thus is disclosed a pedal assembly having mounting features which permit easy assembly, proper alignment, and permit a base bracket assembly which may be easily modified for different vehicle model applications.
Having thus disclosed the invention with respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that there are many different variations of the invention within the scope of the invention.
The invention is not restricted to the illustrative examples and embodiments described above. The embodiments are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Methods, apparatus, compositions, and the like described herein are exemplary and not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application 61/610,619 filed Mar. 14, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61610619 | Mar 2012 | US |
