Patent EP1179461A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP1179461A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automotive pedal support structure and automotive vehicle provided therewith
Assignee: Mazda Motor Corp
•
Filing: 2001-08-13
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2021-08-13
Abstract
Abstract To avoid a steering shaft (61) changing its orientation during a frontal collision in an automotive pedal support structure equipped with an operating pedal (21) disposed behind a dash panel (11) of an automotive vehicle and the steering shaft (61) comprising a universal joint (64) disposed in the proximity of the operating pedal (21). Provided are a first bracket (3) comprising a first and second side wall portions (31, 35) and a connecting portion (36) and a second bracket pivoted to the first bracket (3) so as to be rotated during the frontal collision. The operating pedal (21) is pivoted to the second bracket (4). During the frontal collision, the universal joint (64) is longitudinally moved relatively with respect to the first bracket (3) while contacting with side surfaces of the first and second side wall portions (31, 35).
Inventors
- 👤 Keisuke Miyoshi
- 👤 Hiroyuki Utsumi
- 👤 Masamitsu Tanaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:03
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G1/00; G05G1/30; B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/09; B60T; B60T7/00; B60T7/02; B60T7/04; B60T7/06; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/16; B62D1/18; B62D1/19; B62D1/197; G05G1/32; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20528
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
An automotive pedal support structure equipped with an operating pedal (21)
disposable behind a dash panel (11) of an automotive vehicle and in the proximity
of a steering shaft (61) having a universal joint (64), comprising a first bracket (3)
having at least one side wall portion (31; 35) mountable to said dash panel (11) so
as to extend rearwardly; said operating pedal (21) being positionable in front of said universal joint (64) and
rotatably pivoted to said first bracket (3) oppositely to said universal joint (64) with
respect to said first bracket (3); and said universal joint (64) being arranged so that during an automotive frontal
collision said universal joint (64) moves in the longitudinal direction relatively to
said first bracket (3) while contacting with said side wall portion (31, 35) of first
bracket accompanied with a rearward movement of said dash panel (11).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
An automotive pedal support structure of claim 1, wherein said first bracket (21)
comprising a pair of side wall portions (31, 35) spaced apart with each other in the
vehicular width direction and at least one connecting portion (32; 36) which
connects said pair of side walls (31, 35) in the vehicular width direction, said operating pedal (21) being rotatably pivoted to said first bracket (3) between
said pair of side wall portions (31, 35), and said universal joint (64) being positionable oppositely to said operating pedal (21)
with respect to either one of said side walls (31, 35) of said first bracket (3).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
An automotive pedal support structure as claimed in any one of the preceding
claims, comprising: a second bracket (4) with its front end lower portion being pivoted to said first
bracket and its upper portion being detachably attached to a vehicular body
member (32) so as to move rearwardly during an automotive frontal collision; and said operating pedal (21) being pivoted to said second bracket (4).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
An automotive pedal support structure as claimed in any one of the preceding
claims, further comprising a pivot portion (92) which can pivot said steering shaft (61) with respect to a
vehicular body member at a front position of said steering shaft (61) and a variable support portion (81, VSP) which can support said steering shaft
(61) variably in its position in the substantially vertical direction with respect to said
vehicular body member at a rear position of said steering shaft (61).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
An automotive pedal support structure of claim 4, further comprising a support
portion (9) having a first engaging portion (91a) for engaging an intermediate
portion of a steering column (63) of the steering shaft (61) and an arm portion
(91b) extending forwardly along the shaft axis direction, wherein the pivot point
(92) is provided on the arm portion (91b).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
An automotive pedal support structure as claimed in any one of the preceding
claims, further comprising a steering bracket (7) mountable to an instrument panel
member (12) of the vehicle for supporting the steering shaft (61), wherein a
portion (73) of the steering bracket (7) comprises an interference preventing
portion (74) for preventing an interference of the first bracket (3) and the steering
bracket (7) in the case of a frontal collision.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
An automotive pedal support structure of claim 6, wherein the steering bracket
(7) comprises a pair of reinforcement portions (72, 73), the interference preventing
portion (74) comprising a cutout portion (74) provided at least in one (73) of the
reinforcement portions (72, 73).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
An automotive pedal support structure as claimed in any one of the preceding
claims, wherein the operating pedal (21) is biased by at least one biasing means
(44) to be rearwardly inclined in case of an automotive frontal collision.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
164 words
An automotive vehicle having at least one pedal support structure equipped
with an operating pedal (21) according to one of the preceding claims disposed
behind a dash panel (11) of an automotive vehicle and a steering shaft (61)
comprising a universal joint (64) disposed in the proximity of said operating pedal
(21), whereinthe first bracket (3) having the at least one side wall portion (31; 35)
is mounted to said dash panel (11) so as to extend rearwardly; said operating pedal (21) is positioned in front of said universal joint (64) and is
rotatably pivoted to said first bracket (3) oppositely to said universal joint (64) with
respect to said first bracket (3); and said universal joint (64) is arranged so that during an automotive frontal collision
said universal joint (64) moves in the longitudinal direction relatively to said first
bracket (3) while contacting with said side wall portion (31; 35) of first bracket
accompanied with a rearward movement of said dash panel (11).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPH10175492A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.