Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Foot operated
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-09
2001-12-11
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Foot operated
C296S182100, C280S750000, C188S377000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327930
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pedal displacement-control structure for a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various counter measures have been conventionally made as a measure when an external force of a predetermined value or greater is applied from the front of a vehicle. As an example of this kind of counter measures, there can be mentioned a structure disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open (JP-U) No. 1-73464.
Briefly explained, as shown in
FIG. 19
, in the structure disclosed in this publication, a steering column
402
surrounding a steering shaft
400
goes through between an upper plate member
404
and a tilt bracket
408
comprising a pair of side plate members
406
, and these side plate members
406
, and is supported by a shaft
410
which supports the lower edge of the steering column
402
.
Furthermore, on the lower side of the above-mentioned tilt bracket
408
, there is arranged a knee protector
412
which is in a generally arc shape and is elastically deformable. This knee protector
412
is elastically supported on the lower side of the steering column
402
via an elastically deformable stay
414
.
According to the above structure, when an external force of a predetermined value or greater is applied from the front of the vehicle, the driver is caused to inertially move forward of the vehicle. In connection therewith, the driver's legs is forced to inertially move toward the same direction while bending, using the knee as the starting point. Therefore, when the knee protector
412
is not arranged, the driver's knee may come into contact with the tilt bracket
408
. As described above, however, if the knee protector
412
is arranged on the lower part of the tilt bracket
408
, the driver's knee comes into contact only with the knee protector
412
.
It seems that the structure having such a knee protector
412
is useful as measures when an external force of a predetermined value or greater is applied from the front of the vehicle. However, it is possible to approach from another point of view as said measures in relation to the driver's leg, and it is important to establish said measures multilaterally in relation to the driver's leg from the view point of multiprotection.
As a result of experiments performed from such a point of view, the present inventors have come to a conclusion that it comes as quite effective counter measures to control the displacement of vehicle pedal such as a brake pedal or the like, in view of the displacement of body panels and the like, and behaviors against the displacement when an external force of a predetermined value or greater is applied from the front of the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above situation, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pedal displacement-control structure for a vehicle which can control the displacement of the tread of the vehicle pedal, when an external force of a predetermined value or greater is applied from the front of the vehicle.
A pedal displacement-control structure for a vehicle according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a pedal bracket fixed to a first member constituting one portion of a vehicle body which is displaced to rearward of the vehicle when an external force of a predetermined value or greater is applied to the front portion of the vehicle, a suspension-type vehicle pedal whose rotation shaft which forms the center of pivot is supported by the pedal bracket, displacement control means for controlling the displacement of the tread of the vehicle pedal by applying a pressing force frontward of the vehicle about the rotation shaft to the vehicle pedal when the vehicle pedal is displaced to rearward of the vehicle in accordance with the displacement of the first member to rearward of the vehicle, the displacement control means being provided in a second member constituting another portion of on the vehicle body, the second member having a high rigidity and being arranged more rearward of the vehicle than the vehicle pedal, and means for restricting a press-reaction force of a predetermined value or greater from being transmitted to the second member via the displacement control means, when the pressing force is applied to the vehicle pedal from the displacement control means.
The pedal displacement-control structure according to the second aspect has such a structure that, in the first aspect, the vehicle pedal is kept via a coupling portion in a coupled state with means for transmitting a stepping force applied to the tread of the vehicle pedal to a braking device, and the restricting means comprises for canceling the coupled state.
The vehicle pedal displacement-control structure according to the third aspect has such a structure that, in said first aspect, said restricting means is arranged on the displacement control means, and comprises energy-absorbing means for absorbing the press-reaction force from the vehicle pedal.
According to said first aspect, when an external force of a predetermined value or greater is applied to the front portion of the vehicle, the first member is displaced to rearward of the vehicle. Therefore, the pedal bracket fixed to the first member is also displaced to rearward of the vehicle, and in connection therewith, the vehicle pedal whose rotation shaft is supported by the pedal bracket is also displaced in the same direction.
Here, in this aspect, the displacement control means is provided on the second member having a high rigidity and is arranged more rearward of the vehicle than the vehicle pedal, and when the vehicle pedal is displaced to rearward of the vehicle in accordance with the displacement of the first member to rearward of the vehicle, a pressing force toward the front portion of the vehicle about the rotation shaft is applied to the vehicle pedal by the displacement control means. Therefore, the tread of the vehicle pedal receives a rotation force toward the front portion of the vehicle about the rotation shaft and is displaced frontward of the vehicle. Thus, in this aspect, when an external force of a predetermined value or greater is applied from the front of the vehicle, the displacement of the tread of the vehicle pedal is controlled.
As described above, when the pressing force frontward of the vehicle about the rotation shaft is applied to the vehicle pedal by the displacement control means, a press-reaction force from the vehicle pedal affects the displacement control means. This press-reaction force is transmitted to the second member provided with the displacement control means. Though this second member has a high rigidity, it is desired to reduce the transmission load since it is arranged more rearward of the vehicle than the vehicle pedal. Therefore, in this aspect, in addition to the structure in which the above-mentioned displacement control means is provided, means for restricting a press-reaction force of a predetermined value or greater from being transmitted to the second member via the displacement control means is provided, hence the load transmitted to the second member is reduced.
According to the above-mentioned aspect embodiment, when the press-reaction force is applied from the vehicle pedal to the displacement control means through the above-mentioned process, the canceling means cancels the coupled state of the vehicle pedal and the means for transmitting a stepping force applied to the tread of the vehicle pedal to the braking device. Therefore, the press-reaction force after the coupled state is canceled by the canceling means is not transmitted to the second member, and only the press-reaction force before the cancel is transmitted to the second member. Therefore, the load to be transmitted to the second member is reduced. That is this aspect can reduce the load transmitted to the second member by intercepting the transmission of the press-reaction force.
According to the above-mentioned third aspect, when the press-reaction force is appli
Kato Kazuhiko
Ono Masahiro
Bucci David A.
Kim Chong H.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Toyota Jidosha & Kabushiki Kaisha
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