Patent ID: 6539823
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: B60R,B60T,G05G,Y10T

Abstract:
A pedal assembly for connection to a dash panel of an automobile, said pedal assembly comprising:a support structure for connecting said pedal assembly to the dash panel, said support structure including: a first bracket having a first end and a second end, said first end being fixedly connected to the dash panel, and having right and left vertical support walls spaced apart in the widthwise direction of the automobile; a second bracket having a first end fixedly connected to an automobile body member and a second end disengageably connected to said second end of said first bracket, and having right and left vertical support walls positioned, in a spaced apart widthwise direction of the automobile, to have portions of each right and left vertical support wall in overlapping relation to respective portions of the right and left vertical support walls of the first bracket wherein the second end of the second bracket is disengageably connected to said second end of said first bracket at the overlapped portions of the right and left vertical support walls; and a coupling member for disengageably connecting in a widthwise direction of the automobile said second end of said second bracket to said second end of said first bracket at the overlapped portions of the right and left vertical support walls, said coupling member being adapted to permit said second bracket to travel a distance less than a distance traveled by said first bracket during a collision of the automobile yet permit said first bracket to disengage from said second bracket upon said first bracket receiving a load above a predetermined level during the collision of the automobile; a pedal mechanism including a pedal arm having an upper end pivotally mounted to said first bracket for pivotal motion relative to the dash panel, and a pedal member mounted at a distal end of said pedal arm for manipulation by a driver of the automobile, wherein each of said spaced apart right and left vertical support walls of the second end of the second bracket includes a lower end portion beneath the coupling member and wherein a pedal lever stop formed by a member extending between the spaced apart lower end portions of the right and left vertical support walls of the second bracket is adapted to be engaged by said pedal arm only during a collision of the automobile to prevent movement of said pedal mechanism in a backward direction relative to the dash panel.