Pedal support structure and pedal support system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12440725-B2
Application number	US-202318126686-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2023
Priority date	Apr 28, 2022
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

A left leg unit includes a vertical piece; a horizontal piece; a vertical guide groove; a horizontal guide groove; an outer coupling bar to which the vertical piece and the horizontal piece are rotatably coupled, thereby coupling the vertical piece and the horizontal piece to each other; and a pedal that is rotatably coupled to the outer coupling bar. The vertical guide groove and the horizontal guide groove are extended in such a way that they intersect with each other. A rotation axis of the pedal is disposed away from a rotation axis of the vertical piece and a rotation axis of the horizontal piece and is disposed away from a midpoint of a line that connects the rotation axis of the vertical piece and the rotation axis of the horizontal piece, whereby the rotation axis of the pedal moves along an elliptical trajectory.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pedal support structure comprising:
a first slider;
a second slider;
a first guide that guides the first slider in such a way that the first slider is configured to be slid linearly;
a second guide that guides the second slider in such a way that the second slider is configured to be slid linearly;
a first coupling part to which the first slider and the second slider are rotatably coupled, thereby coupling the first slider and the second slider to each other;
a pedal rotatably coupled to the first coupling part; and
load means for applying a load to a movement of the first slider or the second slider, wherein
the first guide and the second guide are extended in such a way that they intersect with each other,
a rotation axis of the pedal is disposed away from a rotation axis of the first slider and a rotation axis of the second slider and is disposed away from a midpoint of a line that connects the rotation axis of the first slider and the rotation axis of the second slider, whereby the rotation axis of the pedal moves along an elliptical trajectory, and
the load means applies a load to the movement of the first slider or the second slider when the pedal is moved in a predetermined direction and the rotation axis of the pedal is located below the major axis of the elliptical trajectory, and does not apply a load to the movement of the first slider or the second slider when the pedal is moved in a predetermined direction and the rotation axis of the pedal is positioned above the major axis of the elliptical trajectory.

2. The pedal support structure according to claim 1 , wherein the place on the first coupling part where the pedal is attached is capable of being changed.

3. A pedal support system comprising:
a pedal support structure for a left leg as the pedal support structure according to claim 1 ; and
a pedal support structure for a right leg as the pedal support structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the pedal support structure for the left leg and the pedal support structure for the right leg are disposed so as to be opposed to each other.

4. The pedal support system according to claim 3 , further comprising a linking mechanism that links the pedal of the pedal support structure for the left leg to the pedal of the pedal support structure for the right leg in such a way that the rotation axis of the pedal of the pedal support structure for the left leg and the rotation axis of the pedal of the pedal support structure for the right leg become point symmetrical with respect to the intersection of the first guide and the second guide of the pedal support structure for the left leg when the pedal support system is seen along the rotation axis of the pedal of the pedal support structure for the left leg.

5. The pedal support system according to claim 4 , wherein the linking mechanism comprises:
a left-leg-side rack fixed to the second slider of the pedal support structure for the left leg;
a right-leg-side rack fixed to the second slider of the pedal support structure for the right leg; and
a pinion that meshes with the left-leg-side rack and the right-leg-side rack.

6. The pedal support system according to claim 4 , wherein the linking mechanism comprises:
a base shaft rotatably supported;
a left-leg-side crank arm and a right-leg-side crank arm extended from the base shaft, the left-leg-side crank arm being extended from the base shaft in a direction opposite to that in which the right-leg-side crank arm is extended;
a left-leg-side second coupling part to which the first slider and the second slider of the pedal support structure for the left leg are rotatably coupled, thereby coupling the first slider and the second slider of the pedal support structure for the left leg to each other; and
a right-leg-side second coupling part to which the first slider and the second slider of the pedal support structure for the right leg are rotatably coupled, thereby coupling the first slider and the second slider of the pedal support structure for the right leg to each other, wherein
the left-leg-side crank arm is rotatably coupled to the left-leg-side second coupling part at the midpoint of the pedal support structure for the left leg, and
the right-leg-side crank arm is rotatably coupled to the right-leg-side second coupling part at the midpoint of the pedal support structure for the right leg.

7. A pedal support structure comprising:
a first slider;
a second slider;
a first guide that guides the first slider in such a way that the first slider is configured to be slid linearly;
a second guide that guides the second slider in such a way that the second slider is configured to be slid linearly;
a first coupling part to which the first slider and the second slider are rotatably coupled, thereby coupling the first slider and the second slider to each other,
a pedal rotatably coupled to the first coupling part; and
load means for applying a load to a movement of the first slider or the second slider, wherein,
the first guide and the second guide are extended in such a way that they intersect with each other,
a rotation axis of the pedal is disposed away from a rotation axis of the first slider and a rotation axis of the second slider and is disposed away from a midpoint of a line that connects the rotation axis of the first slider and the rotation axis of the second slider, whereby the rotation axis of the pedal moves along an elliptical trajectory,
the load means applies a load to a movement of the first slider or the second slider in a direction that is away from the intersection of the first guide and the second guide, and
the load means is a spring that is provided in the first guide or the second guide and biases the first slider or the second slider toward the intersection.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Aoki Eisuke
• Ikeda Tomio

Classifications

• A63B21/025

  Spiral springs with turns lying substantially in plane surfaces · CPC title

• A63B2208/0233

  in 90/90 position, like on a chair · CPC title

• A63B22/0664 Primary

  performing an elliptic movement · CPC title

• A63B2022/0688

  with cranks being substantially within the horizontal moving range of the support elements, e.g. by using planetary gearings · CPC title

• A63B2022/0611

  Particular details or arrangement of cranks · CPC title