US7195091B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Crash relief pedal assembly
Assignee: Drivesol Worldwide Inc
•
Filing: 2003-08-06
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Granted: 2007-03-27
•
Expires: 2023-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A fluid relief device ( 40 ) is responsive to a sensor ( 38 ) for relieving the hydraulic fluid pressure in hydraulic line ( 30 ) in response to the crash conditions. A fuseable link ( 52 ) abuts the distal end of a shaft ( 46 ) and holds the piston ( 42 ) in the normal operating position until a crash where the fuseable link ( 52 ) is consumed or removed to allow movement of the shaft ( 46 ) and the piston ( 42 ) to the accumulator position to relieve pressure in the hydraulic system. A resilient curved leaf spring member ( 60 ) reacts between the cross beam ( 16 ) and the pedal arm ( 20 ) in the event of rearward movement of the pedal arm ( 20 ) out of the normal operating range due to a crash to limit movement of the pedal arm ( 20 ) toward the operator space. The resilient spring ( 60 ) and the fluid relief device ( 40 ) are reusable.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher Rixon
- 👤 Sundar Ananthasivan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:18
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G1/00; G05G1/30; G05G1/32; G05G1/323; B; B60; B60T; B60T7/00; B60T7/02; B60T7/04; B60T7/06; B60T7/065; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20528; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20582; Y10T74/2063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A vehicle comprising; an operator space, a cross beam ( 16 ), a pedal arm ( 20 ), a support bracket ( 18 ) supported by the vehicle ( 24 ) and pivotally supporting said pedal arm ( 20 ) forward of said operator space for operational movement in an operating range between a forward brake applying position and a rearward release position, and a crash control device ( 60 ) including a spring member having resilient characteristics mounted to said cross beam ( 16 ) and disposed between said cross beam ( 16 ) and said pedal arm ( 20 ) for interacting between said cross beam ( 16 ) and said pedal arm ( 20 ) in the event of rearward movement of said pedal arm ( 20 ) out of said range to limit movement of said pedal arm ( 20 ) toward said operator space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A vehicle comprising; an operator space, a cross beam ( 16 ), a pedal arm ( 20 ), a support bracket ( 18 ) supported by the vehicle ( 24 ) and pivotally supporting said pedal arm ( 20 ) forward of said operator space for operational movement in an operating range between a forward brake applying position and a rearward release position, and a crash control device ( 60 ) including a spring member having resilient characteristics mounted to said cross beam ( 16 ) and disposed between said cross beam ( 16 ) and said pedal arm ( 20 ) for interacting between said cross beam ( 16 ) and said pedal arm ( 20 ) in the event of rearward movement of said pedal arm ( 20 ) out of said range to limit movement of said pedal arm ( 20 ) toward said operator space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring member includes a curved portion disposed between said cross beam ( 16 ) and said pedal arm ( 20 ).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring member comprises a plastic member consisting of an organic polymeric material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein said plastic member includes a honeycombed ( 62 , 64 ) structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
177 words
A crash relief system for a vehicle having an operator space and a cross beam ( 16 ), said system comprising; a pedal arm ( 20 ), a support bracket pivotally supporting said pedal arm ( 20 ) for operational movement in an operating range between a forward brake applying position and a rearward release position, and a crash control device ( 60 ) including a spring member having resilient characteristics for mounting to the cross beam ( 16 ) forward of said pedal arm ( 20 ) to interact between the cross beam ( 16 ) and said pedal arm ( 20 ), said spring member being spaced from said pedal arm ( 20 ) as said pedal arm ( 20 ) moves in said operating range between said forward and rearward positions and said spring member engaging said pedal arm ( 20 ) in the event of rearward movement of said pedal arm ( 20 ) out of said operating range to limit movement of said pedal arm ( 20 ) toward the operator space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
177 words
A crash relief system for a vehicle having an operator space and a cross beam ( 16 ), said system comprising; a pedal arm ( 20 ), a support bracket pivotally supporting said pedal arm ( 20 ) for operational movement in an operating range between a forward brake applying position and a rearward release position, and a crash control device ( 60 ) including a spring member having resilient characteristics for mounting to the cross beam ( 16 ) forward of said pedal arm ( 20 ) to interact between the cross beam ( 16 ) and said pedal arm ( 20 ), said spring member being spaced from said pedal arm ( 20 ) as said pedal arm ( 20 ) moves in said operating range between said forward and rearward positions and said spring member engaging said pedal arm ( 20 ) in the event of rearward movement of said pedal arm ( 20 ) out of said operating range to limit movement of said pedal arm ( 20 ) toward the operator space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said spring member includes a curved portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said spring member is further defined as a curved leaf spring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said spring member comprises a plastic member consisting of an organic polymeric material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said plastic member includes a honeycombed ( 62 , 64 ) structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
138 words
A vehicle comprising; an operator space, a cross beam ( 16 ), a pedal arm ( 20 ), a support bracket ( 18 ) supported by the vehicle ( 24 ) and pivotally supporting said pedal arm ( 20 ) forward of said operator space for operational movement in an operating range between a forward brake applying position and a rearward release position, and a crash control device ( 60 ) including a curved leaf spring disposed between said cross beam ( 16 ) and said pedal arm ( 20 ) for interacting between said cross beam ( 16 ) and said pedal arm ( 20 ) in the event of rearward movement of said pedal arm ( 20 ) out of said range to limit movement of said pedal arm ( 20 ) toward said operator space.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
A vehicle comprising; an operator space, a cross beam ( 16 ), a pedal arm ( 20 ), a support bracket ( 18 ) supported by the vehicle ( 24 ) and pivotally supporting said pedal arm ( 20 ) forward of said operator space for operational movement in an operating range between a forward brake applying position and a rearward release position, and a crash control device ( 60 ) including a curved leaf spring disposed between said cross beam ( 16 ) and said pedal arm ( 20 ) for interacting between said cross beam ( 16 ) and said pedal arm ( 20 ) in the event of rearward movement of said pedal arm ( 20 ) out of said range to limit movement of said pedal arm ( 20 ) toward said operator space.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 10 wherein said curved leaf spring comprises a plastic member consisting of an organic polymeric material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein said plastic member includes a honeycombed ( 62 , 64 ) structure.
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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) | 2010-03-26 | 2010-09-25 | 2011-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-03-26 | 2014-09-25 | 2015-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-03-26 | 2018-09-25 | 2019-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |