US6571900B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arrangement for permitting vehicle foot pedal retraction and vehicle incorporating same
Assignee: KSR IP Holdings LLC
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Filing: 2001-03-15
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Granted: 2003-06-03
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Expires: 2021-03-15
Abstract
Abstract An arrangement is provided for permitting retraction of a vehicle foot pedal, operable on a push rod, in a frontal crash of sufficient magnitude. The push rod is of low ductability material, having a zone of weakness. A rotary member is attached to, and mounted on the blade for free rotation about a pivot, by which rotary member the blade is operably coupled to the push rod; and an activation arm is provided to cause partial rotation of the rotary member upon a frontal impact of sufficient magnitude, to apply a bending moment to the push rod to snap the push rod at its zone of weakness. This disconnects the push rod from the blade permitting free blade/pedal movement, and hence permitting retraction of the foot pedal away from the feet of the driver.
Inventors
- 👤 John Thistleton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:21
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G1/00; G05G1/30; G05G1/32; G05G1/323; B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/09; B60T; B60T7/00; B60T7/02; B60T7/04; B60T7/06; B60T7/065; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20528
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
An arrangement for disconnecting a pivotally mounted motor vehicle foot pedal operable on a push rod, in a frontal crash of sufficient magnitude, said arrangement being characterised in that: (i) said push rod is of low ductability material, and has a zone of weakness; (ii) said foot pedal comprises a blade provided with a pivot on which pivot a rotary member is freely rotatable, and via which rotary member of said blade is operationally coupled to said push rod; and (iii) activation arm engageable with the conventionally provided cross beam of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of a frontal impact of sufficient magnitude, said activation arm serving to initiate said disconnection, by causing partial rotation of said rotary member to apply a bending moment to said push rod to snap said push rod at said zone of weakness, thereby totally disconnecting said push rod from said blade.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
An arrangement for disconnecting a pivotally mounted motor vehicle foot pedal operable on a push rod, in a frontal crash of sufficient magnitude, said arrangement being characterised in that: (i) said push rod is of low ductability material, and has a zone of weakness; (ii) said foot pedal comprises a blade provided with a pivot on which pivot a rotary member is freely rotatable, and via which rotary member of said blade is operationally coupled to said push rod; and (iii) activation arm engageable with the conventionally provided cross beam of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of a frontal impact of sufficient magnitude, said activation arm serving to initiate said disconnection, by causing partial rotation of said rotary member to apply a bending moment to said push rod to snap said push rod at said zone of weakness, thereby totally disconnecting said push rod from said blade.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said push rod comprises a main length of a first diameter, and an integral, second length of reduced diameter, with said zone of weakness provided at the transition between said two diameters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said rotary member has a through hole through which said reduced diameter length of said push rod passes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said through hole of said rotary member is a circular hole.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
144 words
A motor vehicle comprising an arrangement for disconnecting a vehicle foot pedal operable on a push rod, in a frontal crash of sufficient magnitude, said arrangement being characterised in that: (i) said push rod is of low ductability material, and has a zone of weakness; (ii) said foot pedal comprises a blade provided with a pivot on which pivot a rotary member is freely rotatable and via which rotary member said blade is operationally coupled to said push rod; and (iii) activation arm to initiate disconnection upon occurrence of a frontal impact of sufficient magnitude, said activation arm engaging the conventionally provided cross beam of a motor vehicle and causing partial rotation of said rotary member to apply a bending moment to said push rod to snap said push rod at said zone of weakness, thereby totally disconnecting said push rod from said blade.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
144 words
A motor vehicle comprising an arrangement for disconnecting a vehicle foot pedal operable on a push rod, in a frontal crash of sufficient magnitude, said arrangement being characterised in that: (i) said push rod is of low ductability material, and has a zone of weakness; (ii) said foot pedal comprises a blade provided with a pivot on which pivot a rotary member is freely rotatable and via which rotary member said blade is operationally coupled to said push rod; and (iii) activation arm to initiate disconnection upon occurrence of a frontal impact of sufficient magnitude, said activation arm engaging the conventionally provided cross beam of a motor vehicle and causing partial rotation of said rotary member to apply a bending moment to said push rod to snap said push rod at said zone of weakness, thereby totally disconnecting said push rod from said blade.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-06-02 | 2006-12-02 | 2007-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-02 | 2010-12-02 | 2011-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-02 | 2014-12-02 | 2015-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |