An electrically retractable footrest

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of electric telescopic pedal, comprising: drive assembly, telescopic support assembly, transmission assembly and working pedal;Drive assembly includes power output piece;Telescopic support assembly includes support shell, telescopic piece and transmission piece, support shell has accommodating cavity, and telescopic piece and transmission piece are all set in accommodating cavity, and transmission piece drives telescopic piece to retractably move in accommodating cavity, and transmission piece is equipped with input piece, and input piece is worn out support shell;Power output piece is connected with input piece by transmission assembly, and power output piece and input piece are coaxially or parallelly oppositely arranged, and drive assembly drives telescopic piece to extend or retract in support shell;Telescopic piece is equipped with pedal fixed end at one end away from accommodating cavity, and pedal fixed end is located outside accommodating cavity, and is fixedly connected with working pedal.Working, electric telescopic pedal will not appear jamming etc., guarantee the synchronism of telescopic piece, reduce driving resistance, and small installation difficulty, high universality.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of automotive parts technology, specifically relating to an electric telescopic pedal. Background Technology

[0002] For vehicles with higher chassis, such as SUVs, jeeps, and commercial vehicles, installing foot pedals at the bottom of the doors can provide drivers with a better experience when getting in and out of the vehicle.

[0003] Currently, electric retractable running boards, as a type of foot pedal, automatically extend when the car door is opened, functioning as a foot pedal; when not in use, they retract under the vehicle, maintaining the overall aesthetics and harmony of the vehicle's appearance without affecting its size or driving safety. Therefore, electric retractable running boards are widely used in high-chassis vehicles.

[0004] However, most electric telescopic pedals on the market use a master-slave drive system. This means that a power unit drives one telescopic support assembly, which in turn indirectly drives the remaining telescopic support assemblies via a four-bar linkage or other drive structure, thus extending or retracting the pedal. Due to structural limitations, the power transmission process is uneven. This results in poor synchronization and high operating resistance between the driving and driven telescopic support assemblies during extension and retraction. Consequently, the pedal is prone to twisting, generating significant vibration and noise, and may even cause motor jamming, burnt-out drive circuits, and pedal deformation.

[0005] To address these issues, common solutions include increasing the design coefficient, boosting drive power, reinforcing structural components, or adjusting the powertrain layout. However, while current solutions reduce the negative impacts, they also increase the overall size and cost of electric retractable pedals, hindering their use and widespread adoption. Utility Model Content

[0006] To address the shortcomings of the existing technology, this utility model provides an electric telescopic pedal. The power output component and input component are coaxially or parallelly arranged opposite each other. A transmission assembly transmits driving force from the power output component to the input component, and then the transmission assembly drives the telescopic component to achieve the final extension and retraction of the working pedal. During operation, problems such as jamming will not occur, ensuring the overall synchronization of the electric telescopic pedal, reducing driving resistance, and preventing uneven deformation of the working pedal.

[0007] The technical effect to be achieved by this utility model is realized through the following technical solution: This utility model provides an electric telescopic pedal, including: a drive assembly, a telescopic support assembly, a transmission assembly, and a working pedal; The drive assembly includes a power output component; The telescopic support assembly includes a support housing, a telescopic component, and a transmission component. The support housing has a receiving cavity, and both the telescopic component and the transmission component are disposed in the receiving cavity. The transmission component drives the telescopic component to telescopically move within the receiving cavity. The transmission component is provided with an input component that extends out of the support housing. The power output component is connected to the input component through the transmission assembly, and the power output component and the input component are coaxially or parallel to each other. The drive assembly drives the telescopic component to extend or retract into the bracket housing. The end of the telescopic component away from the receiving cavity is provided with a pedal fixing end, which is located outside the receiving cavity and is fixedly connected to the working pedal.

[0008] In some implementations, the power output element passes through the drive assembly and extends outward from the drive assembly.

[0009] In some implementations, multiple sets of the telescopic support assembly are provided, and the drive assembly is disposed between any two sets of the telescopic support assembly.

[0010] In some implementations, both the receiving cavity and the telescopic member are arc-shaped structures, and the transmission member is located on the convex side of the arc-shaped structure.

[0011] In some implementations, a toothed surface is provided on one side of the protrusion of the telescopic member, and the transmission member is a gear or a meshing gear set. The transmission member meshes with the toothed surface and drives the telescopic member to move telescopically within the support housing.

[0012] In some implementations, the transmission assembly includes a drive shaft and a connector. The connector has a first connecting end and a second connecting end arranged opposite to each other. The power output component is fixedly connected to the first connecting end, and the input component is fixedly connected to the first connecting end of another connector. The two ends of the drive shaft are respectively inserted and fixed between the two second connecting ends.

[0013] In some implementations, the connecting element is a universal joint coupling.

[0014] In some implementations, the drive shaft is a splined shaft or a hollow splined shaft, and the second connecting end is provided with a slot that matches the cross-section of the drive shaft.

[0015] In some implementations, the input element is disposed through the bracket housing.

[0016] In some implementations, multiple sets of the telescopic support assembly are provided, and the drive assembly is located at one end of the multiple sets of the telescopic support assembly; the transmission assembly connects the adjacent input components.

[0017] In summary, this utility model has at least the following advantages: 1. The electric telescopic pedal provided by this utility model has the power output component and the input component arranged coaxially or parallel to each other. The driving force is transmitted from the power output component to the input component through a transmission component, and then the telescopic component is driven by the transmission component to achieve the final extension and retraction of the working pedal. During operation, there will be no problems such as structural jamming caused by the power being concentrated on one telescopic component. The drive component can drive multiple telescopic support components simultaneously through the transmission component, ensuring the synchronization of multiple telescopic components, reducing driving resistance, and avoiding uneven deformation of the working pedal.

[0018] 2. The electric telescopic pedal provided by this utility model has an independent drive component and telescopic bracket component that can be assembled during the production stage. When it needs to be installed on the bottom of the vehicle, the drive component, telescopic bracket component, transmission component and working pedal are fixed and connected respectively, which reduces the installation difficulty. The independent drive component and telescopic bracket component can be adapted to different types of vehicles, with high versatility, which can achieve mass production and reduce production costs. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is an axonometric view of the electric telescopic pedal of Example 1.

[0020] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the electric telescopic pedal of Example 1.

[0021] Figure 3 This is an axonometric view of the drive component in Example 1.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a side view of the electric telescopic pedal in Example 1 when the telescopic component is extended.

[0023] Figure 5 For Example 1, the telescopic support assembly is in Figure 1 A sectional view at section AA.

[0024] Figure 6 This is an axonometric view of the electric telescopic pedal in Example 2.

[0025] Figure 7 This is an exploded view of the transmission assembly in Example 2.

[0026] Figure 8 for Figure 7 Enlarged view at point B in the middle.

[0027] Figure 9 This is an axonometric view of the electric telescopic pedal of Example 3.

[0028] Figure 10 for Figure 9 Enlarged view at point C.

[0029] Marked in the image: 100. Electric telescopic pedal; 200. Underside of the vehicle; 1. Drive components; 11. Power output components; 2. Telescopic bracket assembly, 21. Bracket housing, 211. Receiving cavity, 22. Telescopic component, 221. Pedal fixing end, 222. Toothed surface, 23. Transmission component, 231. Input component; 3. Transmission assembly; 31. Drive shaft; 32. Connector; 321. First connecting end; 322. Second connecting end; 3221. Slot; 4. Working pedal. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To facilitate understanding of this utility model, a more comprehensive description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of this utility model. However, this utility model can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure of this utility model.

[0031] It should be noted that when a component is said to be "fixed to" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there may be an intervening component. When a component is said to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intervening component.

[0032] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product of this utility model is in use. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model. In addition, the terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., are only used to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0033] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.

[0034] Example 1: Please see Figures 1-5This embodiment provides an electrically retractable step 100 for use on the bottom 200 of a vehicle with a high chassis, providing a retractable step function. The electrically retractable step 100 includes a drive assembly 1, a telescopic bracket assembly 2, a transmission assembly 3, and a working step 4.

[0035] Specifically, the drive assembly 1 provides power to the electric telescopic pedal 100, and can be a motor, a geared motor, or a power kit with a multi-stage reduction mechanism. The drive assembly 1 includes a power output component 11 for outputting power outward. The telescopic support assembly 2 includes a support housing 21, a telescopic member 22, and a transmission component 23. The support housing 21 has a receiving cavity 211, in which both the telescopic member 22 and the transmission component 23 are disposed. The transmission component 23 drives the telescopic member 22 to telescopically move within the receiving cavity 211. The transmission component 23 is provided with an input component 231, which extends out of the support housing 21.

[0036] Furthermore, the power output component 11 is connected to the input component 231 via the transmission assembly 3, and the power output component 11 and the input component 231 are coaxially or parallel to each other. The drive assembly 1 drives the telescopic component 22 to extend or retract into the bracket housing 21. The end of the telescopic component 22 away from the receiving cavity 211 is provided with a pedal fixing end 221, which is located outside the receiving cavity 211 and is fixedly connected to the working pedal 4.

[0037] The telescopic support assembly 2 can be one or more sets. When using a smaller working pedal 4, a wider telescopic support assembly 2 can meet the usage requirements. However, when a longer working pedal 4 is required to meet the usage requirements, at least two telescopic support assemblies 2 are needed to drive the working pedal 4 simultaneously.

[0038] When the power output component 11 and the input component 231 are coaxially or parallelly opposite each other, the smooth movement of the working pedal 4 and the low resistance are ensured. The driving force is transmitted from the power output component 11 to the input component 231 through the transmission component 3, and then the telescopic component 22 is driven by the transmission component 23. The drive component 1 drives away from the telescopic bracket assembly 2, allowing the drive component 1 to simultaneously drive multiple telescopic bracket assemblies 2 through the transmission component 3. When the telescopic bracket assembly 2 is a set, the working pedal 4 moves smoothly. However, when multiple telescopic bracket assemblies 2 drive the same working pedal 4, the power output component 11 of one drive component 1 can be one or more, with each input component 231 connected to the power output component 11 through the transmission component 3. This ensures that each telescopic bracket assembly 2 receives power, preventing structural jamming caused by power concentration in one telescopic component 22. The simultaneous driving of multiple telescopic bracket assemblies 2 by the transmission component 3 ensures the synchronicity between the telescopic components 22, further reducing driving resistance and preventing uneven deformation of the working pedal 4.

[0039] Both the drive assembly 1 and the telescopic bracket assembly 2 are independently configured and can be directly assembled in the production workshop. When assembly to the vehicle bottom 200 is required, the independent drive assembly 1 and telescopic bracket assembly 2 can be fixed to the bottom of the vehicle respectively, and then connected by the transmission assembly 3. At the same time, the working pedal 4 is fixed to the pedal fixing end 221, completing the assembly. Compared with existing technical solutions, its assembly difficulty is significantly reduced and its assembly efficiency is higher.

[0040] The independent drive assembly 1 and telescopic bracket assembly 2 can adapt to different types of vehicle needs. For example, for vehicles with longer bodies, using the same type of drive assembly 1 and telescopic bracket assembly 2, only the lengths of the transmission assembly 3 and the working pedal 4 need to be adjusted to meet the requirements. Due to its high versatility, both drive assembly 1 and telescopic bracket assembly 2 can be mass-produced, thereby reducing the production cost of a single drive assembly 1 and telescopic bracket assembly 2, and facilitating the widespread use of the electric telescopic pedal 100.

[0041] Because of the lower driving resistance, the power parameter requirements of the drive component 1 are correspondingly reduced. During design and selection, a drive component 1 with lower power and smaller size can be chosen, thereby reducing the overall volume of the electric telescopic pedal 100 and minimizing its impact on the vehicle's undercarriage space. Furthermore, because there are no structural issues such as uneven load distribution, the overall vibration and noise of the electric telescopic pedal 100 will be significantly reduced during the movement of the working pedal 4, resulting in a better user experience.

[0042] In this embodiment, as Figure 3 As shown, the power output component 11 passes through the drive assembly 1 and extends outward from the drive assembly 1. Because it passes through and extends outward, both ends of the power output component 11 can be connected to the input component 231 via the transmission assembly 3. This simplifies the structure of the drive assembly 1 and makes connection easier.

[0043] Furthermore, multiple sets of telescopic support assemblies 2 are provided, and the drive assembly 1 is positioned between any two sets of telescopic support assemblies 2. (Continue reading...) Figures 1-5 In this embodiment, there are two sets of telescopic bracket assemblies 2. The drive assembly 1 is set between the telescopic bracket assemblies 2. The input components 231 of the two telescopic bracket assemblies 2 are set coaxially or parallel with the power output component 11. The two sides of the power output component 11 are connected to the input components 231 on both sides respectively, so as to achieve the purpose of one power output component 11 driving two telescopic bracket assemblies 2 at the same time, simplifying the transmission connection structure.

[0044] In some embodiments, both the receiving cavity 211 and the telescopic member 22 are arc-shaped structures, and the transmission member 23 is located on the protruding side of the arc-shaped structure. For example... Figures 4-5As shown, the transmission component 23 drives the telescopic component 22 to move along the arc-shaped receiving cavity 211, and the movement trajectory of the telescopic component 22 is also arc-shaped. During the movement, the working pedal 4 moves away from the bottom of the door along the arc-shaped trajectory, eventually creating a certain distance in height from the door. Compared with the linkage structure, the movement trajectory of the telescopic component 22 is more compact and will not bump into obstacles under the vehicle, making the electric telescopic pedal 100 applicable to a wider range of working conditions.

[0045] Furthermore, such as Figure 5 As shown, a toothed surface 222 is provided on one side of the protrusion of the telescopic member 22. The transmission member 23 is a gear or a meshing gear set. The transmission member 23 meshes with the toothed surface 222 and drives the telescopic member 22 to move telescopically within the support housing 21. The telescopic member 22 with the toothed surface 222 is equivalent to a part of a large gear, meshing with the gear of the smaller transmission member 23 to achieve a larger reduction ratio. The telescopic member 22 moves more smoothly and with lower noise during movement.

[0046] Of course, the telescopic component 22 and the receiving cavity 211 can be limited and guided by a guide rail slider or by using rollers and guide grooves, which reduces the moving resistance of the telescopic component 22 and achieves a more stable and accurate moving effect. The transmission component 3 can be connected by a flexible shaft such as a flexible shaft.

[0047] In summary, the electric telescopic pedal provided in this embodiment has the power output component and input component coaxially or parallelly arranged opposite each other. The driving force is transmitted from the power output component to the input component via a transmission assembly, and then the transmission assembly drives the telescopic components to achieve the final extension and retraction of the working pedal. During operation, problems such as structural jamming due to power concentration on one telescopic component are avoided. Furthermore, the drive assembly can simultaneously drive multiple telescopic support assemblies via the transmission assembly, ensuring the synchronization of multiple telescopic components, reducing driving resistance, and preventing uneven deformation of the working pedal.

[0048] Secondly, the independent drive assembly and telescopic bracket assembly can be assembled during the production stage. When it needs to be installed on the bottom of the vehicle, the drive assembly, telescopic bracket assembly, transmission assembly, and working pedal are then fixed and connected separately, reducing installation difficulty. Furthermore, the independent drive assembly and telescopic bracket assembly can be adapted to different types of vehicles, offering high versatility, enabling mass production, and reducing production costs.

[0049] Example 2: This embodiment makes further structural optimizations based on Embodiment 1. Please refer to... Figures 1-5 Based on the above, refer to Figures 6-8The difference between this embodiment and embodiment 1 is that in this embodiment, the electric telescopic pedal 100 includes a transmission assembly 3 including a transmission shaft 31 and a connector 32. The connector 32 has a first connecting end 321 and a second connecting end 322 arranged opposite to each other. The power output component 11 is fixedly connected to the first connecting end 321, and the input component 231 is fixedly connected to the first connecting end 321 of the other connector 32. The two ends of the transmission shaft 31 are respectively inserted and fixed between the two second connecting ends 322.

[0050] Two connectors 32 are fixedly connected to the power output component 11 and the input component 231, respectively, and then connected via a drive shaft 31. During installation, the connectors 32 are installed on the drive assembly 1 and the telescopic bracket assembly 2, respectively, and then the drive assembly 1 and the telescopic bracket assembly 2 are installed in sequence according to their installation positions. After installing any one of the components, the drive shaft 31 can be inserted into the second connecting end 322 on the fixed side first, and then the other end of the drive shaft 31 can be inserted into the second connecting end 322 on the unfixed side. This ensures that the drive assembly 1 and the telescopic bracket assembly 2 are coaxial.

[0051] Furthermore, to reduce the increase in driving resistance caused by assembly errors, the connecting member 32 adopts a universal joint coupling. The deflection of the universal joint drives the drive shaft 31 to swing, eliminating problems such as uneven rotation caused by assembly errors and reducing driving resistance. In other embodiments, the connecting member 32 can also be a helical spring type coupling or a diaphragm coupling, or it can be achieved by combining a universal joint coupling with other couplings.

[0052] Furthermore, the drive shaft 31 is a splined shaft or a hollow splined shaft, and the second connecting end 322 is provided with a slot 3221 that matches the cross-section of the drive shaft 31. In this embodiment, the drive shaft 31 is a hollow splined shaft. Using a splined shaft or a hollow splined shaft for connection and transmission is convenient for installation and fixing, and ensures that, under the same cross-sectional outer diameter, the drive shaft 31 can transmit a large torque and has a small rotational error. Using a hollow splined shaft can reduce the weight of the drive shaft 31, reduce the inertia of the drive shaft 31, and ensure that the input component 231 obtains higher rotational accuracy.

[0053] In some embodiments, the drive shaft 31 can be made of cold-drawn metal or high-strength plastic, or other materials of moderate strength. The drive shaft 31 can also be implemented with other structures, such as milling the optical shaft flat to fit the screws on the connector 32, or by setting a flat key or pin between the drive shaft 31 and the connector 32. Since there are many ways to implement this, they will not be described in detail here.

[0054] Example 3: This embodiment, based on Embodiments 1 and 2 above, provides an electrically retractable pedal 100. Please refer to... Figures 1-8 Based on this, refer to Figures 9-10 The difference lies in that the input component 231 is disposed through the bracket housing 21. The through-type input component 231 extends away from the bracket housing 21, so that both sides of the same input component 231 can be connected to the transmission assembly 3, making the installation more flexible.

[0055] In a further embodiment, multiple sets of telescopic support assemblies 2 are provided, and the drive assembly 1 is located at one end of each set of telescopic support assemblies 2. The power output component 11 is connected to the nearest input component 231 via the transmission assembly 3. Other telescopic support assemblies 2 are aligned with the drive assembly 1, and all input components 231 and power output components 11 are arranged coaxially or parallel. Since the input component 231 passes through the support housing 21, the transmission assembly 3 can connect adjacent input components 231. The input components 231 are integrated through the transmission assembly 3, and a single power output component 11 transmits power from one end to the nearest input component 231, which then drives the other multiple input components 231 to rotate, thereby smoothly moving the working pedal 4. This method is suitable for electric telescopic pedals 100 where the position of the drive assembly 1 is strictly required. In this embodiment, there are two sets of telescopic support assemblies 2, which are more suitable for driving the relatively short working pedal 4.

[0056] Multiple telescopic bracket assemblies 2 can be respectively arranged on both sides of the drive assembly 1. When the power output component 11 passes through the drive assembly 1 and extends outward from the drive assembly 1, the telescopic bracket assemblies 2 on both sides of the drive assembly 1 are connected through the transmission assembly 3, and the other telescopic bracket assemblies 2 on the outer side can be connected in pairs through the transmission assembly 3. This enables the drive of the longer working pedal 4.

[0057] In some embodiments, a single electric telescopic pedal 100 may have multiple drive components 1, and by achieving a synchronization effect of multiple drive components 1 in electrical control, each electric telescopic pedal 100 is driven to achieve synchronous extension and retraction.

[0058] In other embodiments, the input component 231 is provided with a drive hole (not labeled) that passes through the rotation axis, and the transmission component 3 is a shaft (not labeled) with a cross-sectional shape that matches the drive hole. Multiple telescopic bracket components 2 are placed side by side, and the transmission component 3 is inserted into the drive hole of each input component 231. One end of the transmission component 3 is connected and fixed to the power output component 11, thereby realizing that a single power output component 11 synchronously drives multiple telescopic components 22, ensuring that the working pedal 4 extends and retracts smoothly.

[0059] The above description is merely an example and illustration of the structure of this utility model, and while the description is quite specific and detailed, it should not be construed as limiting the scope of this utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these obvious substitutions all fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. An electric telescopic pedal, characterized in that, It includes a drive assembly (1), a telescopic bracket assembly (2), a transmission assembly (3), and a working pedal (4). The drive assembly (1) includes a power output component (11); The telescopic support assembly (2) includes a support housing (21), a telescopic member (22), and a transmission member (23). The support housing (21) has a receiving cavity (211). The telescopic member (22) and the transmission member (23) are both disposed in the receiving cavity (211). The transmission member (23) drives the telescopic member (22) to telescopically move within the receiving cavity (211). The transmission member (23) is provided with an input member (231), which extends out of the support housing (21). The power output component (11) is connected to the input component (231) through the transmission component (3), and the power output component (11) and the input component (231) are coaxially or parallel to each other. The drive component (1) drives the telescopic component (22) to extend or retract into the bracket housing (21). The end of the telescopic component (22) away from the receiving cavity (211) is provided with a pedal fixing end (221). The pedal fixing end (221) is located outside the receiving cavity (211) and is fixedly connected to the working pedal (4).

2. The electric telescopic pedal according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power output component (11) passes through the drive assembly (1) and extends outward from the drive assembly (1).

3. The electric telescopic pedal according to claim 2, characterized in that, The telescopic support assembly (2) is provided in multiple sets, and the drive assembly (1) is located between any two sets of the telescopic support assembly (2).

4. The electric telescopic pedal according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the receiving cavity (211) and the telescopic member (22) are arc-shaped structures, and the transmission member (23) is located on the protruding side of the arc-shaped structure.

5. The electric telescopic pedal according to claim 4, characterized in that, A toothed surface (222) is provided on one side of the protrusion of the telescopic member (22). The transmission member (23) is a gear or a meshing gear set. The transmission member (23) meshes with the toothed surface (222) and drives the telescopic member (22) to move telescopically in the bracket housing (21).

6. The electric telescopic pedal according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission assembly (3) includes a transmission shaft (31) and a connector (32). The connector (32) has a first connecting end (321) and a second connecting end (322) arranged opposite to each other. The power output component (11) is fixedly connected to the first connecting end (321). The input component (231) is fixedly connected to the first connecting end (321) of the other connector (32). The two ends of the transmission shaft (31) are respectively inserted and fixed between the two second connecting ends (322).

7. The electric telescopic pedal according to claim 6, characterized in that, The connecting component (32) is a universal joint coupling.

8. The electric telescopic pedal according to claim 7, characterized in that, The drive shaft (31) is a spline shaft or a hollow spline shaft, and the second connecting end (322) is provided with a slot (3221) that matches the cross section of the drive shaft (31).

9. The electric telescopic pedal according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The input component (231) is disposed through the bracket housing (21).

10. The electric telescopic pedal according to claim 9, characterized in that, The telescopic support assembly (2) is provided in multiple sets, and the drive assembly (1) is located at one end of the multiple sets of the telescopic support assembly (2); the transmission assembly (3) connects the adjacent input components (231).

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