Patent ID: 7428856

Claim:
An assist mechanism for a control pedal for an automotive vehicle, the assist mechanism comprising: a body having a first end pivotally connected to a pedal arm and having a second end with an open-ended slot to slidably receive a pin mounted to the vehicle, the first end defining a first shoulder and the second end defining a second shoulder; a moveable stop slidably mounted to the body; and a biasing means acting between the first shoulder and the moveable stop on the body, wherein the body is mounted between the pedal arm and the pin such that when the pedal arm is in an at rest position, the pin acts against the moveable stop to compress the biasing means thereby urging the moveable stop away from the second shoulder and as the pedal arm is moved from the at rest position, the biasing means exerts force between the pedal arm and the pin to assist the movement of the pedal arm along its stroke until the moveable stop abuts the second shoulder, after which further movement of the pedal arm is unassisted.