Multipartite pedal of plastic material for vehicles

A multipartite drive pedal of synthetic plastic material for vehicles whose members are hinge-like connected with each other by way of material-integrated film hinges, whereby within the area of the upper end of the foot plate of the drive pedal, a connecting member for the pivotal connection of the foot plate with a pivotal lever projecting into the leg space is arranged on the back side thereof; a bore which is provided in the connecting member for receiving the end of the lever facing the drive pedal is arranged in a clamping member pivotal relative to the connecting member within the same plane and coupled thereto by way of a film hinge; the bore is arranged transversely to the film hinges and the clamping member is adapted to be fixed axially on the at least approximately rectilinearly extending end of the lever in various positions to compensate for relatively large manufacturing tolerances.

The present invention relates to a multipartite drive pedal of plastic 
material for vehicles, whose members are hinge-like connected with each 
other by way of material-integrated film hinges, whereby within the area 
of the upper end of the main member of the pedal--of the foot plate--, a 
connecting member is arranged on the back side thereof for the complete 
form-locking pivotal connection of the foot plate with a pivotal lever 
suspended into the leg space, and whereby a bore is provided in the 
connecting member for receiving the end of the lever facing the drive 
pedal. 
Such a pedal is disclosed, for example, in the German Auslegeschrift No. 
1,913,024. The intermediate member connected with the pedal foot plate by 
way of a film hinge represents a form-locking pivotal connection between 
the pivotal lever of the gas linkage hanging into the leg space and the 
pedal foot plate which is form-lockingly pivotal in both movement 
directions of the pedal. By reason of such a positive connection between 
the pedal and the lever of the gas linkage which is characterized by ease 
of motion, an excessive play, jamming, disengagement of the transmission 
linkage, rapid wear as well as squeak and rattle noises are avoided. In 
the prior art arrangement, the end of the lever constructed as round rod 
is cranked or offset at right angle in such a manner that the offset or 
cranked part comes to lie parallel to a hinge edge. A corresponding bore 
is provided in the intermediate member into which the cranked lever end is 
inserted. The bore and the cranked portion cooperate as hinge joint. 
However, it is disadvantageous with this prior art arrangement that a 
compensation of larger manufacturing tolerances is not possible with such 
a connection of the intermediate member at the drive pedal and of the 
lever. 
It is the aim of the present invention to so construct the positive movable 
connection between the drive pedal and the gas linkage that with a 
construction of the drive pedal that is favorable from a manufacturing 
point of view, also larger manufacturing tolerances can be compensated for 
without difficulties in the relative position between the drive pedal and 
the lever. 
The underlying problems are solved according to the present invention in 
that the bore is arranged in a further member--a clamping member--that is 
pivotal in the same plane in relation to the connecting member and is 
connected therewith also by way of a film hinge, and in that the bore is 
disposed at right angle to the film hinges, whereby the clamping member is 
adapted to be axially fixed in different position on the at least 
approximately rectilinearly extending end of the lever. 
Owing to the rectilinear construction of the end of the lever and owing to 
the additional pivotally coupled clamping member, a coupling between the 
lever and drive pedal in every desired longitudinal position can be 
established without difficulty by clamping action. As a result thereof, 
also larger manufacturing tolerances can be compensated for during the 
assembly. The pivotal connection between the lever and the drive pedal can 
operate in all installed cases within the optimum angular range. 
The clamping of the clamping member to the end of the lever may be realized 
by the use of a slotted bore which is pressed together transversely to the 
slot with the aid of a clamping screw to thereby axially fix the clamping 
member in any desired longitudinal position on the lever. This, however, 
requires a through bore as well as a threaded bore in the clamping member 
transversely to the slot. Moreover, it requires the insertion and 
tightening of a screw, thereby involving certain manufacturing-, material- 
and assembly-expenditures. Additionally, during the tightening of the 
clamping screw, the clamping member due to inattention may be displaced on 
the lever during the assembly of the clamping device. 
Consequently, the present invention also proposes a particular construction 
of the clamping member according to which the clamping member is more 
simple in manufacture and can be installed more rapidly. 
This task is solved according to the present invention in that the clamping 
member includes a clamping spring immovably secured thereon, which 
consists essentially of two tongue-like leaf spring legs elastically 
spreading away from one another, with its plane of extension arranged 
respectively parallel to the pivot axis of the nearest film hinge, which 
legs each include a bore surrounding the end of the lever and are adapted 
to be clamped fast on the lever by a canting of the bore. The clamping 
spring used for the present invention involves a mass-production part 
which can be manufactured in an inexpensive manner and which can be 
connected with the clamping member by a simple riveting operation. By 
merely manually pressing together the legs, the clamping spring can be 
slipped over the lever and the lever can be automatically clamped in any 
desired position by merely releasing the spring legs. Consequently, the 
assembly of this type of clamping member becomes particularly simple and 
can be undertaken particularly rapidly. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 
multipartite drive pedal of plastic material which avoids by simple means 
the aforementioned shortcomings and drawbacks encountered in the prior 
art. 
Another object of the present invention resides in a multipartite drive 
pedal of plastic material which combines the advantages of the prior art 
drive pedal of this type with the feature of an easy compensation for 
relatively larger structural tolerances. 
A still further object of the present invention resides in a multipartite 
drive pedal of synthetic plastic material which enables a compensation of 
larger manufacturing tolerances at the drive pedal and/or the lever by 
extremely simple means. 
Another object of the present invention resides in a drive pedal of the 
type described above which enables a favorable construction of the drive 
pedal from a manufacturing point of view while enabling compensation of 
larger manufacturing tolerances in the relative position between the drive 
pedal and the gas linkage lever without any difficulties. 
A further object of the present invention resides in a drive pedal of the 
type described above in which the pivotal connection between the lever and 
the drive pedal can be made in all installed conditions in such a manner 
that an operation within the optimum angular range is possible. 
Still another object of the present invention resides in a multipartite 
drive pedal of synthetic resinous material which greatly simplifies the 
manufacture and in particular the assembly thereof while entailing certain 
material as well as manufacturing savings. 
A further object of the present invention resides in a multipartite drive 
pedal of plastic material of the type described above which minimizes the 
danger of unintentional displacement during the assembly due to improper 
care or lack of proper attention. 
Still a further object of the present invention resides in a multipartite 
drive pedal of the type described above which utilizes parts that can be 
manufactured by simple mass-production techniques while permitting an 
assembly that is as simple and rapid as can be expected.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are used 
throughout the various views to designate like parts, in the leg space 
formed by the floor 1 of the vehicle and the so-called fire wall or 
dashboard 2, are arranged, among others, the drive pedal generally 
designated by reference numeral 5 and a lever 3 pivotal about the point of 
rotation 4 and hanging into the leg space, which lever 3 is form-lockingly 
but pivotally coupled to the drive pedal 5. 
The drive pedal 5 consists of synthetic plastic material and is constructed 
of several members, whereby the individual members of the drive pedal are 
pivotally connected with each other by way of material-integrated film 
hinges. The essential part of the drive pedal 5 is the foot plate 6, at 
the lower end of which is supported a fastening part by way of a film 
hinge 9. The fastening part can be mounted over the mounting bracket 8 
welded to the floor 1 and secured thereto by means of a cross screw or by 
any other known fastening means. Within the area of the upper end of the 
foot plate 6, an intermediate member 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2) or 10a (FIG. 3) is 
pivotally coupled to the back side thereof by way of a second film hinge 
11. A further member, namely, the clamping member 12 is pivotally 
connected to the intermediate member 10, respectively, 10a in its turn by 
way of a third film hinge 13. A bore 15 extending transversely to the 
hinges 11 and 13 and in the longitudinal direction of the pedal 5 is 
provided in the clamping member 12, into which the rectilinearly extending 
end of the lever 3 can be inserted and clamped fast. For that purpose, a 
clamping slot 17 is provided radially to the bore axis and a clamping 
screw 16 transversely to the slot 17. 
By reason of this arrangement, also larger manufacturing tolerances can be 
compensated for because the clamping member 12 can be fastened in any 
desired axial position of the lever 3. The intermediate member 10, 
respectively, 10a, and the clamping member 12 may therefore operate in 
each individual vehicle, i.e., with different spacings of the mounting 
bracket 8 with respect to the point of rotation 4 of the lever 3 in the 
optimum relative angular position to one another. This means the 
compensation of manufacturing tolerances no longer needs to take place by 
way of the movability of the individual members of the multi-member drive 
pedal 5. 
In the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the intermediate member 10 
is recessed frame-like so that the clamping member 12 can be accommodated 
on the inside of this recess or aperture. The film hinge 13 between the 
clamping member 12 and the intermediate member 10 has therefore a larger 
distance from the foot plate 6 than the bore 15 or the clamping member 12. 
In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the intermediate member 10a is 
relatively short and the clamping member 12 extends toward the other side 
of the film hinge 13. 
In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, an abutment 14 for the lever 
3 is provided. The function of this abutment 14, however, can also be 
assumed by the intermediate member 10 in connection with the modified 
embodiment of the intermediate member 10 illustrated in these figures, 
because with this modification the clamping member 12 is disposed inside 
of the intermediate member 10 and only one film hinge would be loaded or 
stressed in this manner by the abutment. 
In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the intermediate member 10, the 
clamping member 12, a hinge edge 18 coordinated to the intermediate member 
10 as well as the two film hinges 11 and 13 are constructed as a part 
separate with respect to the remaining part of the drive pedal, which can 
be fastened subsequently to the back side of the foot plate 6. This 
two-partite construction of the drive pedal can have manufacturing 
advantages under certain circumstances insofar as the molding tool for the 
manufacture of the parts of this drive pedal can be constructed more 
simple than with a one-piece manufacture of the entire drive pedal. 
In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 through 10, in which similar reference 
numerals are again used to designate like parts, the drive pedal 5 again 
consists of synthetic plastic material and is constructed of several 
members, whereby the individual members of the drive pedal 5 are pivotally 
connected with each other by way of material-integrated film hinges. The 
foot plate 6 is again connected with the bracket 8 by way of the fastening 
part 7, itself connected with the foot plate 6 by way of the film hinge 9. 
A cross screw or other securing means may again be utilized to securely 
mount the fastening part 7 over the bracket 8. Within the area of the 
upper end of the foot plate 6, an intermediate member 10b is pivotally 
connected to the back side of the foot plate 6 by way of a second film 
hinge 11. A further member, namely, the clamping member 12' is pivotally 
connected in its turn to the intermediate member 10b by way of a third 
film hinge 13. A clamping spring 24 is riveted to this clamping member 
12', which is adapted to be clamped fast in any desired longitudinal 
position onto the end of the lever 3. 
The clamping spring 24 essentially consists of two leaf spring legs 26 
arranged V-shaped to one another, which are connected U-shaped with one 
another at the leg base by way of a narrow intermediate web 27. Securing 
lugs 28 are arranged at the end faces of the intermediate web 27, which 
are placed at right angle between the leaf spring legs 26. The clamping 
spring 24 is immovably fastened at the clamping member 12' by means of 
these fastening lugs 28 and a fastening rivet 29 extending parallel to the 
film hinge 13. 
Bores 25 are provided in the leaf spring legs 26 as close as possible to 
the intermediate web 27, which are slightly larger than the diameter of 
the lever 3. Additionally, the leaf spring legs 26 are extended beyond the 
bores 25 by a distance corresponding approximately to the bore diameter. 
This extension 30 offers the possibility to press together substantially 
parallel the leg ends either manually or by means of an auxiliary tool. 
The operation of the clamping spring 24 is now as follows: 
By pressing together the leaf spring legs 26, the two bores 25, 
respectively, the axes thereof are brought into a common line of alignment 
so that the clamping spring can be slipped over the lever end. In the 
desired relative position of the clamping member 12'/24, on the one hand, 
and the lever 3, on the other, one will release the leaf spring legs 26 so 
as to spring outwardly. The bore edges thereby cant on the lever 3 and 
hold the clamping spring 24 axially fast on the lever safe against 
slippage or sliding movement. For purposes of adjusting the axial relative 
position, the extensions 30 only have to be compressed, whereby the 
clamping action is again lifted. In the new desired position, the clamping 
spring can again be released and can thereby again become automatically 
clamped fast. 
The advantages of this construction are an inexpensive manufacture, a 
far-reachingly mechanizable pre-assembly of the drive pedal, and a very 
rapid assembly possibility of the connection of the drive pedal with the 
lever 3. Furthermore, subsequent re-adjustments are possible very rapidly. 
While we have shown and described several embodiments in accordance with 
the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited 
thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known 
to those skilled in the art, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to 
the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such 
changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended 
claims.