EP1566325A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Vehicle pedal device having mechanism for displacing pedal pad away from steering device upon application of external force to the vehicle
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1995-12-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A pedal device (26) disposed within a passenger compartment (15) of a vehicle, including a pedal bracket (22) attached to a vehicle body, and a pedal (30) pivotally supported by the pedal bracket and having at a lower end thereof a pedal pad (42) to be depressed by a foot of an operator of the vehicle, wherein a mechanism (60, 350, 372, 452, 506, 542, 786) is provided for permitting, upon application of an external force to the vehicle, displacement of the pedal pad (42) such that an operator's leg whose foot is depressing the pedal pad is moved in a direction away from a steering device (22) disposed within the passenger compartment (15).
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshihisa c/o TOYOTA JIDOSHA KAB. KAISHA Kato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:30
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D21/00; B62D21/15; G; G05; G05G; G05G1/00; G05G1/30; G05G1/32; G05G1/327; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/09; B60T; B60T7/00; B60T7/02; B60T7/04; B60T7/06; B60T7/065; B62D25/00; B62D25/08; B62D25/14; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20528; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20888
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A pedal device (26) for a vehicle having a body (16), a
passenger compartment (15) and a steering device (22)
disposed within the passenger compartment, said pedal
device being disposed within said passenger compartment and
including (a) a pedal bracket (28) attached to said body,
and (b) a pedal (30) supported by said pedal bracket
pivotally about a first axis and having at a lower end
thereof a pedal pad (42) to be depressed by a foot of an
operator of the vehicle, wherein a pedal pad displacing
mechanism is provided for permitting, upon application of
an external force to the vehicle, said pedal pad (42) to be
displaced such that a leg of the operator whose foot is
depressing said pedal pad is moved in a direction away from
said steering device (22), characterised in that said pad displacing mechanism includes a structure
(60; 110; 130; 148; 168; 187; 212, 214; 226; 242, 244; 266,
268; 285, 290; 307, 310; 326, 334; 350, 352; 452; 477, 480,
482; 506) that causes, upon application of the external
force to the vehicle, a rotary movement of said pedal pad
(42) about a second axis which intersects said first axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
A pedal device according to claim 1, wherein said pad
displacing mechanism includes a deformable portion (60;
110; 130; 148; 168; 187; 212, 214; 226; 242, 244; 266, 268;
285, 290; 307, 310; 326, 334; 350, 352; 452; 477, 480, 482)
of said pedal bracket (28; 100; 120; 140; 160; 180; 200;
220; 240; 260; 280; 300; 320; 340; 440; 460).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
129 words
A pedal device according to claim 2, wherein said
deformable portion (60; 110; 130; 148; 168; 187; 212, 214;
226; 242, 244; 266, 268; 285, 290; 307, 310; 326)
facilitates deformation of said pedal bracket (28; 100;
120; 140; 160; 180; 200; 220; 240; 260; 280; 300; 320) into
a predetermined form, upon application of the external
force to the vehicle, to permit a pivotal movement of said
pedal (30) as a whole about a substantially vertical
straight line passing a point of said pedal bracket at
which said pedal is supported by said pedal bracket
pivotally about said first axis, said pivotal movement
causing an operating surface of said pedal pad (42) to be
rotated so as to face in a direction away from said
steering device (22).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
A pedal device according to claim 2, wherein said
deformable portion (350, 352) facilitates deformation of
said pedal bracket (340) into a predetermined form, upon
application of the external force to the vehicle, to permit
a pivotal movement of said pedal (30) as a whole about a
substantially horizontal straight line passing a center
point (PC) of an operating surface of said pedal pad (42),
said pivotal movement causing said operating surface to be
rotated so as to face in a direction away from said
steering device (22).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
A pedal device according to claim 2, wherein said
deformable portion (452) facilitates deformation of said
pedal bracket (440) into a predetermined form, upon
application of the external force to the vehicle, to permit
a pivotal movement of said pedal (30) as a whole about a
straight line which is substantially parallel to a straight
line normal to an operating surface of said pedal pad (42)
and which passes a point of said pedal bracket at which
said pedal is supported by said pedal bracket pivotally
about said first axis, said pivotal movement causing a toe
of said foot depressing said operating surface to point in
a direction away from said steering device (22).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
105 words
A pedal device according to claim 1, wherein said pedal
(30) includes a lever portion (36) pivotally connected at
one end thereof to said pedal bracket, said pedal pad (42)
being connected to the other end of said lever portion such
that said pedal pad is rotatable relative to said lever
portion, said pedal pad displacing mechanism including an
external force sensor (518) for detecting said external
force applied to the vehicle, a drive device (506) for
rotating said pedal pad relative to said lever portion, and
a controller (516) for activating said drive device to
rotate said pedal pad relative to said lever portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A pedal device according to claim 6, wherein said
external force sensor (518) comprises means for detecting
deceleration of the vehicle to thereby detect said external
force applied to the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A pedal device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said
drive device (506) includes: an ignition device (510) activated by said controller
(516); a gas generating source (512) ignited by said ignition
device to generate a gas; an actuator (514) operated by said gas; and a transmission mechanism (508) for transmitting a
rotary motion of said actuator to said pedal pad.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A pedal device according to any one of claims 6-8,
wherein said drive device (506) includes an electric motor
activated by said controller (516), and a transmission
mechanism (508) for transmitting a rotary motion of said
electric motor to said pedal pad.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPH0173464U
Cited
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