Break-away pedal assembly

Claim 2

A vehicle comprising, in combination: a first vehicle structure; a pedal pivotably connected to the first vehicle structure for pivoting movement in a normal operating range between a rearward position and a forward position; a control attachment operably connecting the pedal to a vehicle system to be controlled for transmitting normal operating loads therebetween; a second vehicle structure located rearward of the pedal; an engagement bracket operably connected to the pedal and sized and shaped to engage the second vehicle structure upon rearward movement of the pedal in a rearward direction during a vehicle frontal collision; wherein there is a constant distance between the engagement bracket and the second vehicle structure in the forward-rearward direction as the pedal pivots between the rearward position and the forward position; wherein the control attachment operably connected to the engagement bracket to disengage the control attachment from the pedal so that the pedal pivots independent of the control attachment when the engagement bracket strikes the second vehicle structure with a predetermined force; and wherein the engagement bracket is secured to the pedal with a frangible connection that breaks at the predetermined force.

Claim 3

The control pedal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement bracket is generally arcuate.

Claim 4

The control pedal assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the engagement bracket has a center of curvature substantially at a pivot axis of the pedal.

Claim 5

The control pedal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement bracket is secured to the pedal for pivoting motion therewith during normal operation.

Claim 6

The control pedal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the frangible connection comprises a shear pin.

Claim 7

The control pedal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the control attachment moves downward relative to the pedal when the frangible connection breaks.

Claim 8

The control pedal assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the control attachment is pivotably connected to the engagement bracket and pivots downward relative to the pedal when the frangible connection breaks.

Claim 9

The control pedal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the control attachment carries a pin which engages a notch of the pedal so that the control attachment pivots with the pedal under normal operation, and wherein the control attachment moves to disengage the pin from the notch so that the pedal pivots independent of the control attachment when the frangible connection breaks.

Claim 10

The control pedal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement bracket is pivotably connected to the pedal when the frangible connection breaks.

Claim 11

A vehicle comprising, in combination: a first vehicle structure; a pedal pivotably connected to the first vehicle structure for pivoting movement in a normal operating range between a rearward position and a forward position; a control attachment operably connecting the pedal to a vehicle system to be controlled for transmitting normal operating loads therebetween; a second vehicle structure located rearward of the pedal; an engagement bracket operably connected to the pedal and sized and shaped to engage the second vehicle structure upon rearward movement of the pedal in a rearward direction during a vehicle frontal collision; wherein the control attachment is operably connected to the engagement bracket to disengage the control attachment from the pedal so that the pedal pivots independent of the control attachment when the engagement bracket strikes the second vehicle structure with a predetermined force; wherein the engagement bracket is secured to the pedal with a frangible connection that breaks at the predetermined force; wherein the control attachment engages the pedal so that the control attachment pivots with the pedal under normal operation; and wherein the control attachment moves to disengage from the pedal so that the pedal pivots independent of the control attachment when the frangible connection breaks.

Claim 12

A vehicle comprising, in combination: a first vehicle structure; a pedal pivotably connected to the first vehicle structure for pivoting movement in a normal operating range between a rearward position and a forward position; a control attachment operably connecting the pedal to a vehicle system to be controlled for transmitting normal operating loads therebetween; a second vehicle structure located rearward of the pedal; an engagement bracket operably connected to the pedal and sized and shaped to engage the second vehicle structure upon rearward movement of the pedal in a rearward direction during a vehicle frontal collision; wherein the control attachment is operably connected to the engagement bracket to disengage the control attachment from the pedal so that the pedal pivots independent of the control attachment when the engagement bracket strikes the second vehicle structure with a predetermined force; wherein the engagement bracket is secured to the pedal with a frangible connection that breaks at the predetermined force; wherein the control attachment engages the pedal so that the control attachment pivots with the pedal under normal operation; and wherein the control attachment moves to disengage from the pedal so that the pedal pivots independent of the control attachment when the frangible connection breaks.

Claim 13

The control pedal assembly according to claim 10 , wherein there is a constant distance between the engagement bracket and the second vehicle structure in the forward-rearward direction as the pedal pivots between the rearward position and the forward position.

Claim 14

The control pedal assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the engagement bracket is generally arcuate.

Claim 15

The control pedal assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the engagement bracket has a center of curvature substantially at a pivot axis of the pedal.

Claim 16

The control pedal assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the engagement bracket is secured to the pedal for pivoting motion therewith during normal operation.

Claim 17

The control pedal assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the frangible connection comprises a shear pin.

Claim 18

The control pedal assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the control attachment moves downward relative to the pedal when the frangible connection breaks.

Claim 19

The control pedal assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the control attachment is pivotably connected to the engagement bracket and pivots downward relative to the pedal when the frangible connection breaks.

Claim 20

The control pedal assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the control attachment carries a pin which engages a notch of the pedal so that the control attachment pivots with the pedal under normal operation, and wherein the control attachment moves to disengage the pin from the notch so that the pedal pivots independent of the control attachment when the frangible connection breaks.

Claim 21

A vehicle comprising, in combination: a first vehicle structure; a pedal pivotably connected to the first vehicle structure for pivoting movement in a normal operating range between a rearward position and a forward position; a control attachment operably connecting the pedal to a vehicle system to be controlled for transmitting normal operating loads therebetween; a second vehicle structure located rearward of the pedal; an engagement bracket operably connected to the pedal and sized and shaped to engage the second vehicle structure upon rearward movement of the pedal in a rearward direction during a vehicle frontal collision; wherein there is a constant distance between the engagement bracket and the second vehicle structure in the forward-rearward direction as the pedal pivots between the rearward position and the forward position; wherein the control attachment is pivotably connected to the engagement bracket to disengage the control attachment from the pedal so that the pedal pivots independent of the control attachment when the engagement bracket strikes the second vehicle structure with a predetermined force; wherein the engagement bracket is secured to the pedal with a frangible connection that breaks at the predetermined force and is pivotably connected to the pivot pedal when the frangible connection breaks; wherein the control attachment carries a pin which engages a notch of the pedal so that the control attachment pivots with the pedal under normal operation; and wherein the control attachment pivots downward to disengage the pin from the notch so that the pedal pivots independent of the control attachment when the frangible connection breaks.

Claim 22

A vehicle comprising, in combination: a first vehicle structure; a pedal pivotably connected to the first vehicle structure for pivoting movement in a normal operating range between a rearward position and a forward position; a control attachment operably connecting the pedal to a vehicle system to be controlled for transmitting normal operating loads therebetween; a second vehicle structure located rearward of the pedal; an engagement bracket operably connected to the pedal and sized and shaped to engage the second vehicle structure upon rearward movement of the pedal in a rearward direction during a vehicle frontal collision; wherein there is a constant distance between the engagement bracket and the second vehicle structure in the forward-rearward direction as the pedal pivots between the rearward position and the forward position; wherein the control attachment is pivotably connected to the engagement bracket to disengage the control attachment from the pedal so that the pedal pivots independent of the control attachment when the engagement bracket strikes the second vehicle structure with a predetermined force; wherein the engagement bracket is secured to the pedal with a frangible connection that breaks at the predetermined force and is pivotably connected to the pivot pedal when the frangible connection breaks; wherein the control attachment carries a pin which engages a notch of the pedal so that the control attachment pivots with the pedal under normal operation; and wherein the control attachment pivots downward to disengage the pin from the notch so that the pedal pivots independent of the control attachment when the frangible connection breaks.