Patent ID: 6089342
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: B60R,B60T,G05G,Y10T

Abstract:
A motor vehicle body structure including a deformable passenger compartment front wall, longitudinal frame members connected to said front wall in a connecting area thereof and extending forwardly therefrom, a deformation-resistant transverse frame member extending across said front wall above said connecting area at a distance therefrom, said front wall extending from said transverse frame member downwardly to the bottom of said vehicle structure and defining a leg space above the bottom of said vehicle structure, a pedal support block mounted on said front wall between said connecting area and said transverse frame member, said front wall having a bendable portion above said pedal support block, at least one pedal pivotally supported on said pedal support block and having a pedal arm extending downwardly therefrom into said leg space, said pedal arm having a guide projection extending therefrom backwardly and said body structure including a body beam structure extending in a transverse direction and being spaced rearwardly from said support block, said transverse body beam structure having a slide surface abutted by said guide projection and being shaped such that when, upon frontal impact, said front wall is deformed backwardly by said longitudinal frame members and said pedal support block is thereby tilted backwardly about said bendable portion in one direction, said guide projection is engaged by said slide surface so as to pivot said pedal arm in an opposite direction whereby the end of the downwardly extending pedal arm is prevented from moving backwardly into said leg space in order to reduce the chances of accidental injuries to the driver of the motor vehicle.