Patent ID: 6658963
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: F16H,G05G,Y10T

Abstract:
A pedal mechanism comprising a pedal arm mounted on a base for rotation about a pivot axis, and a friction mechanism mounted between the pedal arm and the base for resisting movement about the pivot axis in one rotational direction and for assisting movement in the other rotational direction, the friction mechanism comprising: a friction member on the pedal arm, and a friction surface mounted on the base, the friction member being biased into contact with the friction surface and being mounted on the pedal arm for movement across the friction surface against the biasing force, wherein the friction member comprises a cylinder open at one end, a piston slideable inside the cylinder and projecting through the open end of the cylinder into frictional contact with a friction surface on the base, and means for biasing the piston in a direction towards the friction surface, the position of the piston and cylinder relative to the pivot axis being such that as the pedal arm rotates about the pivot axis, the piston is moved either into the cylinder by pressure between the piston and the surface of the base or out of the cylinder by the biasing means, to provide a resistance to rotational movement of the pedal in one rotational direction, and a restoring force assisting rotational movement of the pedal in the other rotational direction.