Patent ID: 7219576
Filing Date: 2007-05-22
Classification: B60T,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A brake pedal actuating assembly for installation in a vehicle to operate a brake booster input element on the vehicle, the actuating assembly comprising: a pedal mount constructed to mount the actuating assembly in the vehicle in an operative position; a pedal arm with a guide slot, the pedal arm being pivotally connected to the mount for movement in an applying direction from an initial position to a fully stroked position, and in a releasing direction from the fully stroked position to the initial position; an input portion provided as a pedal pad on a distal end portion of the arm for engagement by a user's foot to allow the user to move the arm in the applying direction; and an input connector constructed to be connected to the brake booster input element on the vehicle when the actuating assembly is installed in the operative position; the input connector being operatively connected to the arm for movement relative to the arm such that, when the actuating brake pedal assembly is mounted in the operative position and the input connector is connected to the brake booster input element of the vehicle, a ratio of A/B varies as the arm is moved in the applying direction from the initial position to the fully stroked position, wherein A is a distance from the pivotal mounting of the arm to the input portion and B is a distance from the pivotal mounting of the arm to the input connector; the variance of the ratio as the arm is moved in the applying direction being such that (a) the ratio increases as the arm is moved from the initial position and reaches a maximum peak prior to moving 30% of a distance to the fully stroked position, and (b) then decreases as the arm moves to the fully stroked position; a link member pivotally connected to the pedal arm, the link member having (a) a first guide element spaced apart from the pivotal connection of the link member and received in the guide slot of the pedal arm, and (b) a second guide element spaced apart from the first guide element and the pivotal connection of the link member, the input connector being provided on the link member; a cam guide structure providing a contoured cam surface, the second guide element on the link member being engaged with the cam surface of the cam guide structure; and a configuration of the contoured cam surface, a configuration of the guide slot, and a configuration of the link member being such that, when the pedal assembly is mounted in the operative position and the input connector is connected to the brake booster input element of the vehicle, the second guide element engages the contoured cam surface so as to pivot the link member and move the input connector to vary the ratio as the pedal arm is moved in the applying direction.