Patent US7568545B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7568545B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 0.6 years remaining
Brake pedal apparatus for automobile
Assignee: F-Tech Inc
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Filing: 2007-05-30
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Granted: 2009-08-04
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Expires: 2027-05-30
Abstract
Abstract A brake pedal apparatus for an automobile, includes: 1) a pedal bracket fixed to a dash panel; 2) a first link rotatably supported about an axis by the pedal bracket in such a configuration as to operate a push rod; 3) a vehicle body portion positioned rearward of the pedal bracket in a vehicular body; 4) a second link rotatably supported about an axis by the pedal bracket; and 5) an engagement portion disposed in the first link, and configured to securely engages with the second link when an external force caused by a collision is applied to the dash panel, followed by operations below: i) the pedal bracket moves rearward of the vehicular body relative to the vehicle body portion, ii) the second link, thereby, contacts the vehicle body portion, and iii) the first link, thereby, moves relative to the second link.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshihiko Tanigawa
- 👤 Tsuyoshi Shimizu
- 👤 Jun Sato
- 👤 Kazuo Ogawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:21
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60T; B60T7/00; B60T7/02; B60T7/04; B60T7/06; B60T7/065; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/09; G; G05; G05G; G05G1/00; G05G1/30; G05G1/32; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20528
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
A brake pedal apparatus for an automobile, comprising: a pedal bracket fixed to a dash panel; a first link rotatably supported about a first axis by the pedal bracket in such a configuration as to operate a push rod; a vehicle body portion positioned rearward of the pedal bracket in a vehicular body; a second link rotatably supported about a second axis by the pedal bracket; and an engagement portion disposed in the first link, and wherein, when an external force caused by a collision is applied to the dash panel, the brake pedal apparatus is configured to: allow the pedal bracket to move rearward of the vehicular body relative to the vehicle body portion, cause the second link to contact the vehicle body portion as a result of the pedal bracket moving rearward, cause the first link to move relative to the second link, and cause the engagement portion to go from being disengaged to securely engaged with the second link as a result of the first link moving relative to the second link, wherein the first link further includes a rotating lever connected to a pedal arm via a connecting link, wherein in an upper portion of the rotating lever, a contact portion is formed which is located in a substantially vertical direction of the vehicular body when a pedal pad fixed to the first link is not depressed, and wherein the engagement portion is substantially a concave shaped part open toward a lower side of the rotating lever.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
A brake pedal apparatus for an automobile, comprising: a pedal bracket fixed to a dash panel; a first link rotatably supported about a first axis by the pedal bracket in such a configuration as to operate a push rod; a vehicle body portion positioned rearward of the pedal bracket in a vehicular body; a second link rotatably supported about a second axis by the pedal bracket; and an engagement portion disposed in the first link, and wherein, when an external force caused by a collision is applied to the dash panel, the brake pedal apparatus is configured to: allow the pedal bracket to move rearward of the vehicular body relative to the vehicle body portion, cause the second link to contact the vehicle body portion as a result of the pedal bracket moving rearward, cause the first link to move relative to the second link, and cause the engagement portion to go from being disengaged to securely engaged with the second link as a result of the first link moving relative to the second link, wherein the first link further includes a rotating lever connected to a pedal arm via a connecting link, wherein in an upper portion of the rotating lever, a contact portion is formed which is located in a substantially vertical direction of the vehicular body when a pedal pad fixed to the first link is not depressed, and wherein the engagement portion is substantially a concave shaped part open toward a lower side of the rotating lever.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The brake pedal apparatus for the automobile according to claim 1 , wherein the second link includes: a first regulating lever configured to be rotatably supported about the second axis by the pedal bracket, and an engagement member fixed to the first regulating lever in a vehicle width direction and configured to be engaged with the engagement portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The brake pedal apparatus for the automobile according to claim 2 , wherein the first regulating lever is rotatably supported about the second axis rearward of the pedal bracket, the second axis being different in position from a rotational center of the rotating lever.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
129 words
The brake pedal apparatus for the automobile according to claim 2 , further comprising: a second regulating lever configured to face the vehicle body portion located more rearward in the vehicular body than the first regulating lever, the second regulating lever and the vehicle body portion defining therebetween a predetermined space, and the second regulating lever being fixed on an upper portion side of the first regulating lever, wherein when the external force is applied to a front portion of the vehicular body and thereby the pedal bracket is moved rearward of the vehicular body, the second regulating lever moves frontward of the vehicular body due to a reaction to a collision with the vehicle body portion, to thereby rotate the first regulating lever frontward of the vehicular body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The brake pedal apparatus for the automobile according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement portion is substantially a circular arc formed toward the lower side of the rotating lever.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
124 words
The brake pedal apparatus for the automobile according to claim 5 , wherein a lower portion of the rotating lever and an upper portion of the pedal arm are connected by the connecting link, such that an upper portion of the connecting link is supported about a third axis by a dash panel side of the lower portion of the rotating lever and that a lower portion of the connecting link is supported about a fourth axis on an opposite side of the dash panel above the pedal arm, and wherein when the pedal arm rotates around a fifth axis thereof, the rotating lever rotates around the first axis thereof due to a swinging movement of the connecting link connected to the rotating lever.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The brake pedal apparatus for the automobile according to claim 6 , wherein, on an end side of the pedal bracket, a connecting portion is integrally formed, and projecting, and wherein a lower portion side of the first regulating lever of the second link has a U shape in cross section that is rotatably supported about the second axis by the connecting portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The brake pedal apparatus for the automobile according to claim 7 , wherein, on a side surface on an end side of the first regulating lever, the engagement member which is substantially cylindrical and configured to be engaged with the engagement portion of the rotating lever is attached by insertion along the vehicle width direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
The brake pedal apparatus for the automobile according to claim 8 , wherein the second regulating lever which is substantially cylindrical is integrally formed on one end side of the engagement member, and wherein the second regulating lever is provided along the substantially vertical direction of the vehicular body in such a configuration as to be located approximately in plane with the contact portion of the rotating lever when the pedal pad is not depressed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The brake pedal apparatus for the automobile according to claim 9 , wherein the first regulating lever, the engagement member, and the second regulating lever construct a regulator for regulating the rotating lever from making such a rotation as to move to a rear side of the vehicular body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The brake pedal apparatus for the automobile according to claim 4 , wherein the first regulating lever is a member different from the second regulating lever.
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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) | 2012-08-03 | 2013-02-02 | 2013-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2016-08-03 | 2017-02-02 | 2017-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2020-08-03 | 2021-02-02 | 2021-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |