Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Foot operated
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-23
2001-02-06
Wright, Dirk (Department: 3681)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Foot operated
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182526
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to vehicle control pedals, and is particularly useful in connection with vehicle brake pedals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is desirable that, when a vehicle is involved in a frontal impact, the control pedals, and particularly the brake pedal, do not move rearwards too far into the passenger compartment. Various mechanisms have been devised to ensure that, on frontal impact, the brake pedal is retracted away from the driver. For example it is known from WO 98/49030 to provide a link pivotably mounted at one end on the vehicle body to the rear of the pedal and having the other end connected to the pedal so that it can slide and pivot relative to the pedal. However, this arrangement is somewhat complex in view of pivoting and sliding connections, which must be able to withstand movement with every operation of the pedal whilst not interfering with that operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly the present invention provides a vehicle comprising a driver operated foot pedal pivotably supported at its upper end on mounting member by means of a pivot and having a lower end adapted to be acted on by a driver's foot, and a solid member positioned to the rear of the mounting member towards which the mounting member will tend to move on deformation of the vehicle on a frontal impact, wherein the pedal includes a deflecting means rigidly fixed relative to said lower end, and projecting rearwards from the rear side of the pedal below the pivot such that, if the mounting member is moved rearwards in the event of a frontal impact, the solid member will act on the deflecting means to causing at least partial depression of the pedal.
Preferably the deflecting means is, when the pedal is in a fully released position, spaced from the solid member so that it will only start to deflect the pedal after a certain amount of rearward movement of the mounting member.
Preferably the deflecting means has a deflecting surface on its rear side arranged such that, if the top of the pedal in the region of the pivot engages the solid member, the pedal will be depressed by an amount approximately equal to its full travel in normal use.
Preferably the deflecting means is deformable so that it can apply a load to the pedal which increases as the mounting member moves rearwards towards the solid member.
Preferably the deflecting means is arranged so that the load it applies to the pedal is arranged to increase to a maximum level and then to remain substantially constant or decrease as the mounting member moves towards the solid member. The maximum level is desirably that which is required to fully depress the pedal, and may be of the order of 3 kN.
The solid member can conveniently comprise part of a steering column assembly.
The present invention further provides a vehicle comprising a driver operated brake pedal having an upper end and a lower end adapted to be acted on by a driver's foot and a rear side facing rearwards of the vehicle, a mounting bracket, a pivot pivotably supporting said upper end on the mounting bracket, and a solid member positioned to the rear of the mounting bracket towards which the mounting bracket will tend to move on deformation of the vehicle on a frontal impact, wherein the pedal includes a deflecting block rigidly fixed relative to said lower end, and projecting rearwards from the rear side of the pedal below the pivot such that, if the mounting bracket is moved rearwards in the event of a frontal impact, the solid member will act on the deflecting block to causing at least partial depression of the pedal.
The present invention still further provides a vehicle comprising a driver operated brake pedal having an upper end and a lower end adapted to be acted on by a driver's foot and a rear side facing rearwards of the vehicle, a mounting bracket, a pivot pivotably supporting said upper end on the mounting bracket, and a solid member positioned to the rear of the mounting bracket towards which the mounting bracket will tend to move on deformation of the vehicle on a frontal impact, wherein the pedal includes a deflecting bracket rigidly fixed relative to said lower end, and projecting rearwards from the rear side of the pedal below the pivot such that, if the mounting bracket is moved rearwards in the event of a frontal impact, the solid member will act on the deflecting bracket to causing at least partial depression of the pedal.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings
REFERENCES:
patent: 5531135 (1996-07-01), Dolla
patent: 6089342 (2000-07-01), Muller et al.
patent: 43 35 511 A1 (1994-05-01), None
patent: 0 805 079 A2 (1997-11-01), None
patent: 0805079 A2 (1997-11-01), None
patent: 0 847 900 A1 (1998-06-01), None
patent: 0 893 310 A1 (1999-01-01), None
patent: 98/49030 (1998-11-01), None
Davis and Bujold
Rover Group Limited
Wright Dirk
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