Abstract:
The present invention provides a door assist pedal assembly including a housing member that is mountable to a vehicle floor panel. A pedal is pivotably secured to the housing member, and a cam is also rotatably secured to the housing member such that the cam is engaged by the pedal. A spring configured to bias the pedal into a fully depressed position is disposed between the pedal and the housing member. A cable couples the cam with a vehicle door. Actuation of the pedal by a vehicle occupant causes the cam to rotate and thereby retract the cable such that the vehicle door is pulled toward a closed position.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention pertains generally to a pedal assembly configured to provide assistance in closing a vehicle door. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    When the doors of a conventional vehicle are fully opened, they may be difficult to reach from a seated position within the vehicle. Therefore, after entering a vehicle, it may be difficult for some occupants to reach and thereafter close the vehicle door while remaining seated. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The door assist pedal assembly of the present invention includes a housing member that is mountable to a vehicle floor panel. A pedal is pivotably secured to the housing member, and a cam is also rotatably secured to the housing member such that the cam is engaged by the pedal. A spring configured to bias the pedal into a fully depressed position is disposed between the pedal and the housing member. A cable couples the cam with a vehicle door. Actuation of the pedal by a vehicle occupant causes the cam to rotate and thereby retract the cable such that the vehicle door is pulled toward a closed position. 
         [0004]    The door assist pedal assembly may also include a cosmetic cover attached to the housing member. 
         [0005]    The door assist pedal assembly may also include a first pivot pin disposed between the housing member and the pedal to facilitate the rotation of the pedal. 
         [0006]    The door assist pedal assembly may also include a second pivot pin disposed between the housing member and the cam to facilitate the rotation of the cam. 
         [0007]    According to an alternate embodiment of the present, the door assist pedal assembly may be electronic. The electronic door assist pedal assembly includes a manually actuatable device which is mountable to the vehicle. The manually actuatable device may include, for example, a pedal; a button; or a switch. A sensor is configured to identify actuation of the manually actuatable device and thereafter transmit a signal. An actuator operatively connected to a vehicle door is configured to receive the signal from the sensor and thereafter apply a force to the vehicle door such that the vehicle door is pulled toward a closed position. The actuator may include, for example, a solenoid; a hydraulic actuator; or a pneumatic actuator. 
         [0008]    The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded illustration of a door assist pedal assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of the door assist pedal assembly of  FIG. 1  installed in a vehicle with the vehicle door closed; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2   b  is a perspective view of the door assist pedal assembly of  FIG. 1  installed in a vehicle with the vehicle door open; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a door assist pedal assembly in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components,  FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of a door assist pedal assembly  10  in accordance with the present invention. The door assist pedal assembly  10  preferably includes a housing member  12 , a cam  14 , a cable  16 , a pedal  18 , and a cover  20 . 
         [0014]    The housing member  12  is configured to retain at least some of the other pedal assembly components and to facilitate attachment to the vehicle  70  (shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b ). The housing member defines generally opposing end portions  22 , and generally opposing side portions  24 . The housing member  12  includes two pedal support towers  26  positioned near an end portion  22 . The pedal support towers  26  each include a pedal attachment aperture  28  near a terminal end portion thereof. The housing member  12  also includes two cam support towers  30  positioned approximately halfway between the end portions  22 . The cam support towers  30  each include a cam attachment aperture  32  near a terminal end portion thereof. 
         [0015]    The pedal  18  is generally rectangular defining a top end portion  36 , a bottom end portion  37 , and generally opposing side portions  38 . The pedal  18  includes two mounting brackets  40  near the bottom end portion  37 . The mounting brackets  40  each include a mounting aperture  42 . The pedal  18  is pivotably secured to the housing member  12  by aligning the mounting apertures  42  with the pedal attachment apertures  28  and then inserting a pivot pin  44  therethrough. The pedal  18  is pivotable about the pivot pin  44  between a fully depressed position (shown in  FIG. 2   a ) wherein the pedal is generally flush with the cover  20 , and a fully released position (shown in  FIG. 2   b ). A spring  46  is preferably disposed about the pivot pin  44 . The spring includes a first terminal end  48  configured to engage one of the pedal support towers  26  and a second terminal end  50  configured to engage the pedal  18 . The spring  46  biases the pedal  18  into the fully depressed position shown in  FIG. 2   a.    
         [0016]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cam  14  is generally semi-circular, and defines a pedal engagement end portion  51 , a mounting aperture  54 , and a cable retention notch  58 . The cam  14  is pivotably secured to the housing member  12  by aligning the mounting aperture  54  with the cam attachment apertures  32  and then inserting a pivot pin  52  therethrough. The cam  14  also defines a cable guide track  56  on a radially outer portion thereof. 
         [0017]    The cable  16  includes a cam engagement end  60  and a generally opposite door engagement end  62 . The cam engagement end  60  is secured within the cable retention notch  58  such that a portion of the cable  16  is disposed within and guided by the cable guide track  56 . The door engagement end  62  is secured to the vehicle door  76  (shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b ) as will be described in detail hereinafter. 
         [0018]    The cover  20  is generally rectangular and defines a central generally rectangular aperture  64 . The cover  20  is attached to the housing member  12  and the aperture  64  allows clearance for the pedal  18 . The cover  20  is preferably implemented for cosmetic purposes. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 2   a - 2   b,  a perspective view of the door assist pedal assembly  10  installed into a vehicle  70  is shown. The vehicle  70  includes a floor panel  72  mounted to a hinge pillar  74 . A door  76  is pivotably mounted to the hinge pillar  74  via one or more door hinges  75  (shown in  FIG. 2   b ). Accordingly, the door  76  is pivotable about the one or more door hinges  75  between a fully closed position (shown in  FIG. 2   a ) and a fully open position (shown in  FIG. 2   b ). The door assist pedal assembly  10  of  FIGS. 2   a - 2   b  is shown applied to the drivers side front door of the vehicle  70 ; however it should be appreciated that the door assist pedal may also be provided for any other vehicle doors. 
         [0020]    The housing member  12  of the door assist pedal assembly  10  is mounted to the floor panel  72 . The cable  16  extends from the cam  14  through the hinge pillar  74  such that door engagement end  62  of the cable  16  is secured to the door  76 . As will be described in detail hereinafter, the door assist pedal assembly  10  is actuatable by an occupant within the vehicle  70  to pull the door  76  inward toward its closed position (shown in  FIG. 2   a ). 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 2   a,  the vehicle  70  is shown with the door  76  in its fully closed position. When the door  76  is closed, the pedal  18  is biased into its depressed position via the spring  46  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) so that the pedal  18  is generally flush with the cover  20 . More precisely, the spring  46  pivots the pedal  18  in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin  44  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) into its depressed position shown in  FIG. 2   a.  As the spring  46  is pivoting the pedal  18  about the pivot pin  44 , the pedal engages and rotates the cam  14  in a clockwise direction about the cam pivot pin  52 . When the door  76  is closed, there is slack in the cable  16  which is primarily located within the door  76 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 2   b,  the vehicle  70  is shown with the door  76  in its fully open position. As the door is being opened, the slack in the cable  16  is initially taken up and thereafter the cable  16  pulls the cam  14  such that the cam  14  is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivot pin  52 . When the cam  14  is rotated in this manner, the pedal engagement end  51  of the cam  14  engages and pivots the pedal  18  in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivot pin  44  into its released position (shown in  FIG. 2   b ). 
         [0023]    When an occupant opens the door  76  to enter the vehicle  70 , the pedal  18  is pivoted from its fully depressed position (shown in  FIG. 2   a ) to its fully released position (shown in  FIG. 2   b ) in the manner described hereinabove. From a seated position within the vehicle  70 , the occupant can manually depress the pedal  18  which engages and rotates the cam  14  in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin  52 . This rotation of the cam  14  retracts or pulls the cable  16  coupling the cam  14  and the door  76  such that the door  76  is drawn toward its closed position (shown in  FIG. 2   b ). According to the preferred embodiment, when the occupant manually depresses the pedal  18 , the door  76  is only partially closed to bring the door  76  to within reach of the occupant. Thereafter, the occupant can conveniently close the door  76  in a conventional manner. Alternatively, however, a door assist pedal assembly configured to fully close the door  76  may also be envisioned. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a schematic illustration of an electronically controlled door assist pedal assembly  90  in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown. The door assist pedal assembly  90  is operatively connected to a sensor  92  which is configured to selectively transmit a signal to an actuator  94 . The actuator  96  is operatively connected to a vehicle door  96  and is configured to apply a force to at least partially close the door  96 . 
         [0025]    The door assist pedal assembly  90  may include a pedal similar to the pedal  18 , or alternatively may include any selectively actuatable device such as a button or a switch. The sensor  92  is preferably a conventional device adapted to identify an occupant&#39;s actuation of the door assist pedal assembly  90  and thereafter transmit a signal to the actuator  94 . The actuator  94  is preferably also a conventional device configured to apply a force to at least partially close the door  96 . The actuator  94  may include, for example, a solenoid; a hydraulic actuator; or a pneumatic actuator. 
         [0026]    A manual override device  98  may be connected to the actuator  94  to ensure the door  96  can be manually opened in the event of an emergency, even if the electrical system is disabled. The override device  98  may be configured to disable the actuator  94  or to de-couple the actuator  94  from the door  96 , depending on the specific type of actuator. 
         [0027]    While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.