FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2003
Complete Specification
(See section 10 and rule 13)
ADJUSTABLE PEDAL SYSTEM
Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd.
An Indian company registered under the Indian Companies Act, 1956.
Gateway Building, Apoffo Bunder, Mumbai - 400001, Maharashtra, India.
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

ADJUSTABLE PEDAL SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates pedal operated systems including the floor mounted system such as accelerators or breaks. In particular the present invention relates to provision of a mechanism by which such pedal systems, for example those used for accelerator and breaks are made adjustable for ease of operation by users of different sizes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
The majority of the currently available automotive vehicles including off road vehicle and tractors are provided with accelerator and break which are located in fixed positions with a fixed extent of operating motion. They cannot be adjusted closer to or farther away from the operator, particularly in their non-operative position.
In automotive applications, especially in tractors, floor mounted fixed type accelerator system is very common. These systems have the shortcoming that they cannot be adjusted in their non-operative positions. The efficacy of these systems depends upon their relative positioning in respect of the operator. Given the variation in the leg length of operators, there's a serious risk of skidding of the foot from the pedals during their operation if the operator doesn't have a leg length suitable to the pedal's original non-operative position.

There is therefore a need to provide a pedal system which can be adjusted in its non-operative position to suit the leg length of an operator. Such pedal system should also be simple, cost effective and efficient, suitable for all motor vehicles which have accelerator and break systems. A further need exists to provide an adjustable pedal system that may be used on any existing automotive vehicles without significant modification.
OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION:
Accordingly, one of the key objectives of the present invention is to provide a pedal system which can be adjusted in its non-operative position to suit the leg length of an operator.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a simple, cost effective and efficient adjustable foot pedal mechanism suitable for all vehicles in use with accelerator and break systems.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable pedal system that may be used on any existing automotive vehicles without significant modification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention is an adjustable pedal system for use in accelerator or break systems. The preferred embodiment is described in terms of a foot operated pedal system used for the accelerator system. It comprises two separable assemblies joined together by a hinged pin. One assembly is a foot accelerator lever assembly comprising a foot lever, a sleeve and a foot actuator assembly. The Foot actuator assembly and the foot accelerator lever are welded on the sleeve at desired angle. This assembly rotates along operating axis i.e. center line of the sleeve.
The other assembly is a foot pedal assembly, comprising a foot accelerator plate, an L bracket and a U Type hinged bracket. The L Bracket and the U type hinged bracket are welded to the foot accelerator plate. The foot pedal assembly rotates along the axis of the U bracket. The L bracket is provided with a slot or a set of holes through which a sway arrest pin which is positioned on the lever is passed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING:
Figure 1 shows the foot pedal assembly
Figure 1A shows the alternative arrangement for the foot pedal assembly
Figure 2 shows the foot accelerator lever assembly.
Figures 3 and 3 A show the combined assembly of the foot pedal assembly and the
foot accelerator lever assembly

Figure 4 shows the entire foot accelerator assembly
Figure 4 A shows the alternative view of the entire foot accelerator assembly of the
invention
LIST OF PARTS
Foot accelerator plate (1) Mounting bracket or part of
L bracket (2), Slot 2A, lock nut 2B automotive vehicle body to hold the
Sway Arrest pin (3) pedal (10)
Hinged pin (4) Pin for mounting of entire foot
U bracket (5) accelerator system (11)
Foot Accelerator lever (6) Spring holder plate (12)
Stopper pin (7) Cable holder pin (13)
Sleeve (8) Pedal assembly (14)
Actuator rod (9) Foot actuator assembly (15)
Foot accelerator lever assembly (16) Entire accelerator assembly (17)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
A detailed description of the present invention is now provided. The invention comprises an adjustable pedal assembly that may be used in the accelerator or brake systems of an automotive vehicle. The preferred embodiment is described in

terms of the accelerator system, however, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the invention is easily applied to brake systems of automotive vehicles.
As shown in Figure 1, the foot pedal assembly 14 comprises a foot accelerator plate 1, an L bracket 2 and a U bracket 5. The L Bracket 2 and U Bracket 5 are affixed on to a foot accelerator plate 1.
As shown in Figure 2, the foot accelerator lever assembly 16 comprises a foot accelerator lever 6, a stopper pin 7, a sleeve 8, and a foot actuator assembly 15.
Figures 3 shows the foot pedal assembly 14 attached to the foot accelerator lever assembly 16. The two assemblies together form the entire accelerator assembly 17 (see Figure 4). A mounting bracket 10 is used to affix the entire accelerator assembly 17 to the vehicle (not shown). This has been achieved by rotatably connecting the foot accelerator lever assembly 16 with the mounting bracket 10 using a main mounting pin 11 (see Figure 4).
Figures 3 and 4 also show a hinge pin 4 that is used to rotatably connect or pivot-connect the foot pedal assembly 14 to the foot accelerator lever 6. In the L bracket 2, a slot 2A is provided (see Figure 1) through which a sway arrest pin 3 is passed. The sway arrest pin is affixed to the foot accelerator lever 6. This arrangement allows the foot pedal assembly 14 to rotate within angular limits which are defined by the extent

of the slot 2A around the axis of hinge pin 4. Alternatively, the sway arrest pin may be affixed to the slot at a certain angular position with the help of a lock nut.
As an alternative to the slot 2A, a number of holes is provided (see Figure 1A) in the L-bracket 2. The sway arrest pin 3 would pass through any one of these holes and fixed thereto using a locknut. This arrangement provides a number of initial adjustment positions to suit the leg length of the operator. The sway arrest pin 3, could be either welded, press fitted or bolted on the foot accelerator lever 6. The length of the arm (with holes or the slot) of the L-bracket is dependent on the desired extent of adjustability.
As shown in Figure 3, the foot actuator assembly 15 in turn comprises a spring holder plate 12, an actuator rod 9, and a cable holder pin 13. The spring holder plate 12 and the cable holder pin 13 are affixed at appropriate positions on the actuator rod 9. The foot actuator assembly 15 and the foot accelerator lever 6 are affixed to the sleeve 8 at such position so as to facilitate the desired function of the entire foot accelerator assembly 17, The stopper pin 7 is affixed on to the foot accelerator lever 6 at required position to stop the pedal at its initial position. The entire foot accelerator assembly is positioned in such way that part of it is above the vehicle floor and a part underneath. The stopper pin is positioned beneath the floor such that in the initial position it rests against the underside of the vehicle floor. When the foot pedal is pressed while operating the accelerator assembly 17,

the stopper pin moves away from the floor and returns back once the foot is lifted off the foot pedal.
OPERATION OF THE INVENTION:
The purpose of the invention is to provide adjustability to the pedal operated systems such as the accelerator system (or the brake system) depending on the operator preference. The initial position of the foot pedal 1 is adjusted using the lock nut arrangement provided on the sway arrest pin or alternatively, by fixing the sway arrest pin into one of the number of holes provided in the L bracket 2.
The entire foot accelerator assembly 17 thus, comprises the pedal assembly 14, foot accelerator lever assembly 16, hinge pin 4, the main mounting pin 11, and the sway arrest pin 3. When the foot pedal assembly 14, which is mounted on one of the end of foot accelerator lever 6 through a hinged pin 4, rotates along the axis of the U bracket 5, its rotational motion is restricted by sway arrest pin 3 passing through slot/holes on the L bracket 2. The entire foot accelerator assembly 17, which is mounted on the mounting bracket 10 of vehicle body through a main mounting pin 11, rotates along the operating axis i.e. axis of main mounting pin 11.

As the original position of the foot pedal 1 is adjusted to suit the leg length of the operator, it has been found that the possibility of the operator's foot slipping over the foot pedal is completely eliminated.
The system of the present invention is also used in floor mounted breaks.
It should be noted that although the preferred embodiment has been described in reference to a foot pedal, the invention disclosed here is useful for any hand operated system used in similar applications.
It is evident from the foregoing description that the present invention comprises the following embodiments.
1. An adjustable pedal system for a vehicle comprising a pedal assembly and an accelerator lever assembly, said two assemblies being rotatably connected to each other characterized in that said pedal assembly has an adjustable orientation and that said accelerator lever assembly, with the use of a main mounting pin, is rotatably connected to a mounting bracket which in turn is affixed to the vehicle.
2. An adjustable pedal system as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said pedal assembly comprises an accelerator plate, an L-bracket, and a U bracket; said accelerator lever assembly comprises an accelerator lever, a

stopper pin, a sleeve, and an actuator assembly, and said actuator assembly in turn comprises a spring holder plate, an actuator rod, and a cable holder pin,
wherein said U-bracket is fixedly connected to said foot accelerator plate and one arm of said L-bracket is securely connected to said accelerator plate, wherein the other arm of said L-bracket has a longitudinal slot through which a sway arrest pin is inserted at any location along the length of said slot, said pin being securely fixed into a first hole placed in said foot accelerator lever to receive it, and wherein
said accelerator lever and said actuator rod are fixedly connected to said sleeve, and wherein
said stopper pin is fixedly attached to said accelerator lever at a position such that in its initial position it rests against the underside of the vehicle floor, and
said cable holder pin is fixedly attached to said actuator rod and receives cable from the vehicle accelerator, and said spring holder plate is fixedly attached to said actuator rod and receives a spring which is attached to the vehicle body.

3. An adjustable pedal system as described in embodiment 2 characterised in that said L-bracket has a series of adjustability holes instead of said slot such that said sway arrest pin is inserted in any one of the adjustability holes and securely fixed into said first hole.
4. An adjustable pedal assembly as described in embodiments 1 to 3 which is operated by foot.
While the above description contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limitation in the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of the preferred embodiments thereof. It must be realized that modifications and variations are possible based on the disclosure given above without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims:
1. An adjustable pedal system for a vehicle comprising a pedal assembly and an accelerator lever assembly, said two assemblies being rotatably connected to each other characterized in that said pedal assembly has an adjustable orientation and that said accelerator lever assembly, with the use of a main mounting pin, is rotatably connected to a mounting bracket which in turn is affixed to the vehicle.
2. An adjustable pedal system as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said pedal assembly comprises an accelerator plate, an L-bracket, and a U bracket; said accelerator lever assembly comprises an accelerator lever, a stopper pin, a sleeve, and an actuator assembly, and said actuator assembly in turn comprises a spring holder plate, an actuator rod, and a cable holder pin,
wherein said U-bracket is fixedly connected to said foot accelerator plate and one arm of said L-bracket is securely connected to said accelerator plate, wherein the other arm of said L-bracket has a longitudinal slot through which a sway arrest pin is inserted at any location along the length of said slot, said pin being securely fixed into a first hole placed in said foot accelerator lever to receive it, and wherein
said accelerator lever and said actuator rod are fixedly connected to said sleeve, and wherein

said stopper pin is fixedly attached to said accelerator lever at a position such that in its initial position it rests against the underside of the vehicle floor, and
said cable holder pin is fixedly attached to said actuator rod and receives cable from the vehicle accelerator, and said spring holder plate is fixedly attached to said actuator rod and receives a spring which is attached to the Vehicle body.
3. An adjustable pedal system as claimed in claim 2 characterised in that said L-bracket has a series of adjustability holes instead of said slot such that said sway arrest pin is inserted in any one of the adjustability holes and securely fixed into said first hole.
4. An adjustable pedal assembly as claimed in claims 1 to 3 which is operated by foot.