Break away pedal

Details Break away pedal Break away pedal

1999-03-24

2001-02-13

Luong, Vinh T. (Department: 3682)

Machine element or mechanism

Control lever and linkage systems

Foot operated

C074S513000, C074S514000, C074S560000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06186025

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to vehicle pedal assemblies.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Traditional vehicle pedal assemblies may cause injuries to the lower extremities of a driver of a vehicle during a collision. To avoid or mitigate these injuries, pedal assemblies have been developed which break away during excessive loading to absorb the high forces that are generated by the driver hitting the pedal assembly. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,184 to Callicut et al. issued May 27, 1997. The Callicut patent discloses an assembly that has two linkages slidable relative to one another along an axis which collapses when excessive loading occurs during a collision. However, the load must be applied along the axis in order for the linkages to collapse. Therefore, what is needed is a more effective non-destructible break away pedal assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES
The invention provides a pedal assembly for use in a vehicle comprising a pedal arm that moves in a normal operating range between a rest position and an applied position under a normal operating load and includes a rebound mechanism for moving the pedal arm to an extended position in response to an applied load greater than the normal operating load. The rebound mechanism rebounds the pedal arm to the normal operating range when the applied load is reduced to the normal operating load. The invention provides a pedal assembly for use in a vehicle comprising a pedal arm supported on a vehicle structure at a first pivot to define a first pivot axis and includes a resilient mechanism operably connected to the pedal arm at a second pivot to define a second pivot axis that is spaced apart from and generally parallel to the first pivot axis. The pedal arm pivots about the first pivot axis under a normal operating load and pivots about the second pivot axis in response to a predetermined load greater than the normal operating load.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a break away pedal assembly that breaks away, absorbing and mitigating high injury causing loads when a driver is thrust into the pedal assembly during a vehicle collision. The invention accomplishes this through non-destructive means so that the pedal assembly will not have to be replaced after a collision has occurred. A pivotal connection between the first and second arm is utilized so that a force may be applied along any portion of the second arm and the second arm will still break away.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1
is a partial view of an interior of a vehicle;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the break away pedal assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 3
is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6A
is a side view of the pedal assembly of
FIG. 5
shown in the rest position;
FIG. 6B
is a side view of the pedal assembly of
FIG. 5
shown in the applied position; and
FIG. 6C
is a side view of the pedal assembly of
FIG. 5
shown in the extended position


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