Patent Publication Number: US-8973462-B2

Title: Pedal assembly having a pedal arm release

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/611,275 filed Mar. 15, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to pedal assemblies. More particularly, the invention relates to pedal assemblies having pedal arms which release during vehicle collisions. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the event that a vehicle is involved in a frontal crash, a driver often has a foot on or near the brake and/or clutch pedal. However, if the frontal vehicular crash is of sufficient magnitude, the impact force of the crash will often push the front portion of the vehicle towards the rear portion. In these situations the mechanically connected brake or clutch pedal acts as a rigid member and transfers the force of the crushing impact to the foot and leg of the driver. Such force transfer is often able to injure the driver due to the impact force or trapping a portion of the driver due to the reduction in space caused by the rearward movement of the brake pedal. 
     Although it is known to provide assemblies that disengage the pedal from the mechanical connection so as to avoid these injuries, the previously known disengagement mechanisms are complex. Due to the complexity, the previously known disengagement mechanisms are often heavy and require additional time and expense to assembly and install. As such, the overall weight and cost of the vehicle is increased. 
     Thus, there exists a need for an improved pedal assembly operable to disengage the pedal during a vehicle collision, which provides a reduction in weight and installation time and expense. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a pedal release assembly having a releasable pedal arm, which overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages of the previously known disengageable pedal assemblies. The present invention provides a pedal assembly with a releasable pedal arm which reduces overall weight and complexity of the pedal assembly. 
     In brief, the pedal assembly is provided for an automotive vehicle having a mounting bracket and a stationary cross member. The pedal assembly includes a swing bracket, a striker plate, and a pedal arm. The swing bracket is pivotally mounted to the mounting bracket about a pedal pivot axis. The striker plate is pivotally connected to the swing bracket. The pedal arm includes a primary pivotal connection to the swing bracket at a first pivot axis. The pedal arm having a secondary connection to at least one of the striker plate and the swing bracket to allow the entire pedal assembly to pivot about the pedal pivot axis upon depression of the pedal pad. During a vehicle collision of sufficient magnitude, the cross member collides against and forcibly rotates the striker plate which disengages the secondary connection to allow the pedal arm to freely pivot about the first pivot axis. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the pedal assembly mounted to the vehicle; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the pedal assembly; 
         FIG. 3A  is a front perspective view of the pedal assembly; 
         FIG. 3B  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the pedal assembly with a transparent striker plate; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the inventive pedal assembly; 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  are side views illustrating the operation of the pedal assembly during a vehicle collision; 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of an alternative configuration of the pedal assembly; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective partial cross-sectional view of the alternative pedal assembly; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear view of the alternative pedal assembly; and 
         FIGS. 9A-9C  are side views illustrating the operation of the alternative pedal assembly during a vehicle collision. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has utility as a pedal assembly that releases the pedal arm upon a vehicle collision of sufficient magnitude. By providing a striker plate that has a secondary connection to a pedal arm, which prevents free rotation of the pedal arm about a first pivot axis while allowing rotation of the entire pedal assembly about the pedal pivot axis, to rotate upon application of a predetermined force by a cross member to disengages the secondary connection allows for a reduction in complexity and a decrease in overall weight of the pedal assembly. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , an improved pedal assembly which overcomes the above described disadvantages of the previously known brake pedals is generally illustrated at  10 . The pedal assembly  10  includes a mounting bracket  12  that is attached to a portion of a vehicle such as a dash panel or a firewall FW. The mounting bracket  12  includes a mounting plate  14  having one side mounted to the firewall FW, and a pair of arms  16  extending outwardly from an opposite side of the mounting plate  14 . As will be described in greater detail below, a pivoting member  18 , such as a pin or rod, extends through apertures formed in each of the pair of mounting arms  16 . It is appreciated, of course, that the mounting bracket  12  may be a bracket to mount a single pedal or multi-pedals in which case several pairs of arms  16  extend outwardly from the mounting plate  14 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the mounting bracket  12  includes a strut  20  that extends outwardly from the mounting plate  14 . A break tab  22  is provided at an end of the strut  20 . As will be described in greater detail below, the break tab  22  is designed to rupture and fracture from the strut  20  during a vehicle collision of sufficient magnitude. The break tab  22  optionally includes a cross-member CM which that extends in a vehicle width direction and is provided rearwardly of the pedal assembly  10  in a vehicle longitudinal direction. After the mounting bracket  12 , either with or without the pedal assembly  10 , is mounted to the firewall FW, the cross-member CM is the bolted, welded, or otherwise fixedly secured to a structural component SC of the vehicle. The structural component SC is a structural component of the vehicle separate from the either the mounting bracket  12  or the pedal assembly  10 , such as the instrument panel. 
     By initially providing the cross-member CM as a portion of the mounting bracket  12 , the entire assembly can be easily installed in various vehicles which otherwise lacks a structural component SC and cross-member CM in a required position aligned with the pedal assembly  10  and mounting bracket  12 . During a vehicle collision of sufficient magnitude, the forceful displacement of the front end of the vehicle towards the rear end of the vehicle, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, ruptures the break tab  22  such that the cross-member CM remains relatively stationary, with respect to the pedal assembly  10  and mounting bracket  12 , and fixedly secured to the structural component SC. 
     It is appreciated, of course, that the pedal assembly  10  is not limited to such a configuration. The cross member CM is optionally entirely separated from either the pedal assembly  10  and the mounting bracket  12 , during normal operation, with the cross-member extending directly from the structural component SC, as best seen in  FIGS. 5A-5C . Specifically, the cross-member CM is optionally fixedly secured, such being bolting or welding directly to the structural component SC, with no connection to the mounting bracket  12 , or the cross-member CM is integrally formed as a one piece monolithic structure with the structural component SC. 
     The pedal assembly  10  is pivotally mounted to the between the pair of arms  16  by pivoting member  18  about a pedal pivot axis PP. The pedal assembly  10  includes a pedal arm  24 , a swing bracket  26 , and a striker plate  28 . The swing bracket  26  includes a connector  30  which mechanically connects the pedal assembly  10  to a push rod  32 , as best seen in  FIGS. 5A-5C . The push rod  32  is attached to either a brake booster or a clutch operating mechanism depending on whether the pedal assembly  10  is a brake pedal assembly or a clutch pedal assembly, respectively. 
     The pedal arm  24  includes a pedal pad  34  at a lower distal end. The pedal arm  24  is pivotally connected to the swing bracket  26  at a primary connection  36 , such that the pedal arm  24  is pivotal about a first pivot axis P 1 . The striker plate  28  is pivotally connected to an upper portion of the swing bracket  26  such that the striker plate  28  is pivotal about a second pivot axis P 2 . The striker plate  28  provides a secondary connection  38  between an upper end  25  of the pedal arm  24  and the swing bracket  26 . As will be described in greater detail below, the secondary connection  38  is a fracturable connection which is in an engaged position during normal pedal operation and during vehicle collisions of sufficient magnitude the fracturable connected fractures and disengages the secondary connection  38 . 
     During normal pedal operation, with the secondary connection  38  in an engaged position, the pedal arm  24  is provided with two points of connection with the swing bracket  38 , and the upper end  25  of the pedal arm  24  is restrained at the secondary connection  38  such that the pedal arm  24  is prevented from pivoting about the first pivot axis P 1  upon depression of the pedal pad  34 . As such, during normal pedal operation depression of the pedal pad  35  causes the entire pedal assembly  10  to pivot about the pedal pivot axis PP. As the push rod  32  is connected to the swing bracket  26  through the connector  30 , the pivotal movement of the pedal assembly  10  about pedal pivot axis PP transfers depression of the pedal pad  34  into operation of the brake booster or clutch operation mechanism, thereby, controlling operation of the brake and clutch mechanisms. 
     However, during a vehicle collision of sufficient magnitude the fracturable connected fractures and disengages the secondary connection  38 . With the secondary connection  38 , between the upper end  25  of the pedal arm  24  and the swing bracket  26 , in the disengaged position, the upper end  25  of the pedal arm  24  is unrestrained and the pedal arm  24  is able to freely pivot about the first pivot axis P 1  upon depression of the pedal pad  34 . Specifically, as the secondary connection  38  is in the disengaged position, the pedal arm  24  is only connected to the swing bracket  26  at the primary connection  36 , depression of the pedal pad  34  pivots the pedal arm  24  about the first pivot axis P 1 . As the pedal arm  24  pivots freely at the first pivot axis P 1 , the movement of the pedal arm  24  is prevented from being transferred to brake and clutch mechanisms as the push rod  32  is connected to the swing bracket  26 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2-4 , additional details of the structural configuration of the pedal assembly  10  will be provided. The swing bracket  26  includes a pair of swing plates  26 A and  26 B each of which having an aperture  40 A and  40 B. Bushings  42 A and  42 B are provided in each of the swing plates  26 A and  26 B and a hub  44  extends therethrough. The pivoting member  18  extends through the apertures  40 A and  40 B of the swing plates  26 A and  26 B and the bushings  42 A and  42 B, and hub  44  to pivotally mount the pedal assembly  10  to the pair of arms  16  of the mounting bracket  12  about pedal pivot axis PP. 
     The pedal arm  24  is provided between the pair of swing plates  26 A and  26 B. The primary connection  36  includes a pivot pin  46  and bushings  48 A and  48 B that extends through a generally central portion of the pedal arm  24  and apertures  50 A and  50 B formed in a lower portion of each of the swing plates  26 A and  26 B such that the pedal arm  24  pivots about a first pivot axis P 1 . The primary connection  36  and the first pivot axis P 1  is positioned on the pedal arm  24  at a point between the pedal pad  34  and the upper end  25 . 
     The striker plate  28  is formed having a generally U-shaped cross-section with a pair of side walls  28 A and  28 B and an impact or traversing wall  28 C extending between the pair of side walls  28 A and  28 B. The pair of side walls  28 A and  28 B are formed having a generally triangular shape. The striker plate  28  is pivotally attached to the swing bracket  26  about the second pivot axis P 2  by a pivot pin  52  which extends through apertures  54  formed in each of the pair of side walls  28 A and  28 B and apertures  56  formed in each of the pair of swing plates  26 A and  26 B. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  4 , the swing bracket  26  is positioned within the striker plate  28 . Specifically, the pair of side walls  28 A and  28 B are positioned on an exterior surface of each of the swing plates  26 A and  26 B. The positioning of the swing bracket  26  within the channel formed by the U-shaped cross section of the striker plate  28  allows the striker plate  28  to rotate or pivot about the second pivot axis P 2 . 
     The secondary connection  38  between the pedal arm  24 , the swing bracket  26  and the striker plate  28  is formed as a fracturable or frangible connection between the pedal arm  24  and the striker plate  28 . Specifically, the upper end  25  of the pedal arm  24  is formed with a notch  58 . Each of the swing plates  26 A and  26 B are formed with a recess  60 A and  60 B which correspond with the notch  58 . As best seen in  FIG. 3B , a pin  62  extends through apertures  64  formed in each of the pair of side walls  28 A and  28 B. The pin  62  is press fit into the notch  58  and received within the recesses  60 A and  60 B to provide the secondary connection  38  between the pedal arm  24 , the swing bracket  26 , and the striker plate  28 . 
     As stated above, the two points of connection between the pedal arm  24  and the swing bracket  26  prevent the pedal arm  24  from freely pivoting about the first pivot axis P 1 . Thus, driver is operable to actuate the brake or clutch mechanism by depressing the pedal pad  34  such that the pedal arm  24 , swing bracket  26 , and striker plate  28  pivot around pedal pivot axis P 1 . The engagement between the pin  62  within the notch  58  and the recesses  60 A and  60 B is an interference fit such that during normal operation of the pedal arm  24 , the pin  62  prohibits the pivoting of the pedal arm  24  about the first pivot axis P 1  and maintains a two point connection between the pedal arm  24 , the swing plate  26 , and the striker plate  28 . It is appreciated, of course, that the pin  62  is optionally press fit into recesses  60 A and  60 B of the swing bracket  26  in a similar manner as the notch  58 . 
     The secondary connection  38  is a frangible connection due to the interference fit between the notch  58 , the recesses  60 A and  60 B, and the pin  62 . The notch  58  is optionally formed as an opening in the upper end  25  of the pedal arm  24  with a diameter generally equal to the diameter of the pin  62 . A slot extends from the opening to the exterior of the upper end  25  of the notch  58 , with the slot having a length less than the diameter of either the notch  58  or the pin  62 . Upon press fitting the pin  62  within the notch  58 , the secondary connection  38  is in an engaged position until a force exceeding a predetermined fracture or disengagement force is applied wall  28 C of the striker plate  28  which urges the striker plate  28  to rotate about the second pivot axis P 2  thereby stressing the engagement of the notch  58  and pin  62 . As an example the predetermined fracture or disengagement force is e.g. 2000 N; however, the predetermined fracture or disengagement force is variable depending upon each vehicle application or and prevailing governmental standards 
     The connector  30  includes a cover  64 , an end cap  66 , and a clip member  68 . The clip member  68  receives a distal end of the push rod  32  having a ball-shaped protrusion which is restrained within the end cap  66  and the cover  64  during pivoting of the pedal assembly  10  about the pedal pivot axis PP. The cover  64  is secured to the swing bracket  26  and the end cap  66  is positioned between the cover  64  and the clip member  68 . The clip member  68  is secured to the cover  64  through a plurality of external snap tabs. The distal end of the push rod  32  is restrained within the clip member through a plurality of internal snap tabs. Once the pedal assembly  10  has been pivotally attached to the mounting bracket  12 , the connector  30  is secured to the push rod  32  merely by depressing the pedal pad  34  as the distal end of the push rod  32  enters the clip member  68  and is restrained by the internal snap tabs. As the clip member  68  is secured to the pedal assembly  10  by the attachment of the clip member  68  to the cover  64 , the push rod  32  mechanically connected to the pedal assembly  10 . 
     In order to facilitate a better understanding of the pedal assembly, the operation of the pedal assembly  10  during normal operation and during a vehicle collision of sufficient magnitude will now be discussed in relation to  FIGS. 5A-5C . 
     As seen in  FIG. 5A , during normal operation of the pedal assembly  10 , when a driver depresses the brake pad  34  of the pedal arm  24 , which is rigidly connected to the swing plate  26  by the primary connection  36  and the secondary connection  38 , the pedal arm  24  will rotate about the pedal pivot axis PP in the direction of arrow A 1 , thereby forcing the push rod  32 , which is received within the connector  30 , forwardly in the vehicle longitudinal direction. As such, depression of the pedal pad  34  will actuate the brake or clutch mechanism in order to control the operation of the vehicle. In normal operation, the secondary connection  38  is in the engaged position and the cross-member CM is spaced apart from an impact surface of the wall  28 C of the striker plate  28 . In the alternative, the cross-member CM is optionally positioned adjacent the impact surface of the wall  28 C of the striker plate  28  without imparting a force. 
     In the event of a front vehicle collision of sufficient magnitude, in which the front portion of the vehicle is pushed towards the rear portion of the vehicle, firewall FW including the mounting bracket  12  and the pedal assembly  10  will be forcibly displaced rearward in the direction of arrow A 2 . The movement of the pedal assembly  10  the rearwardly facing impact surface of wall  28 C of the striker plate  28  to impact the cross member CM. 
     It is appreciated, of course, in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the forcible displacement of the firewall FW including the mounting bracket  12  and the pedal assembly  10 , will rupture the break tab  22  from the strut  20  of the mounting bracket  12 , thereby providing the cross-member CM to remain stationary with respect to the pedal assembly during a front vehicle collision of sufficient magnitude. 
     The force of the impact between the impact wall  28 C of the striker plate  28  and the cross member CM, the striker plate  28  will be urged to rotate about the second pivot axis P 2  in the direction of arrow A 3 . When the impact force is less than the predetermined fracture or disengagement force of the secondary connection  38 , the fracturable connection between the notch  58  and the pin  62  is maintained and the two point connection of the pedal arm  24  is maintained such that pedal arm  24  is prevented from pivoting about the first pivot axis P 1 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 5B , when the impact force of the cross-member CM against the impact wall  28 C of the striker plate  28  equals or exceeds the predetermined fracture or disengagement force, the moment acting on the secondary connection  38  will cause the disengagement of the interference fit of the notch  58  and the pin  62  and the recesses  60 A and  60 B of the swing bracket  26 . As such, the striker plate  28  pivots about the second pivot axis P 2  in the direction of arrow A 3  and the secondary connection  38  is moved from the engaged position ( FIG. 5A ) to the disengaged position ( FIGS. 5B and 5C ). 
     The disengagement of the pin  62  from the notch  58  of the upper end  25  of the pedal arm  24 , due to the rotation of the striker plate  28  about second pivot axis P 2 , releases the two-point connection of the pedal arm  24  and the upper end  25  of the pedal arm  24  is no longer retrained by the secondary connection  38 . As such, the pedal arm  24  is merely attached to the swing bracket  26  at the pivotal primary connection  36  by pin  46  and the pedal arm  24  is allowed to freely pivot about the first pivot axis P 1  in the direction of arrow A 4 , as best seen in  FIG. 5C , due to the driver&#39;s depression of the brake pad  34 . As the pedal arm  24  is allowed to freely pivot about the first pivot axis P 1 , the pedal assembly  10  is prevented from acting as a rigid member and the impact force of the vehicle collision is prevented from being transferred to the foot of the driver on the pedal pad  34 . 
     An alternative configuration of the pedal assembly is generally disclosed at  110  in  FIG. 6 . The pedal assembly  110  is mounted to a mounting bracket (not shown) mounted to the vehicle, as described above, about a pedal pivot axis PP. The pedal assembly includes a pedal arm  124 , a swing bracket  170  having a connector  130 , and a striker plate  172 . The pedal arm  124  includes a pedal pad  134  positioned at a distal end thereof. 
     The connector  130  is similar to the connector  30  described above and mechanically connects the pedal assembly  110  to a push rod thereby providing a mechanical connection between the pedal assembly  110  and either a brake mechanism or a clutch mechanism. 
     The pedal arm  124  is pivotally connected to the swing bracket  170  at a primary connection  136 , such that the pedal arm  124  is pivotal about a first pivot axis P 1 . The swing bracket  170  is formed having a generally U-shaped cross-section. The swing bracket  170  includes a pair of side walls  170 A and  170 B, a traversing wall  170 C. The traversing wall  170 C and the pair of side walls  170 A and  170 B defines a channel  170 D which receives a portion of the pedal arm  124 , as best seen in  FIG. 7 . 
     The upper end  125  of the pedal arm  124  is positioned within the rearwardly facing, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, channel  170 D of the swing bracket  170 . The striker plate  172  is pivotally connected to the swing bracket  170  about hub  144  for pivotal movement about the pedal pivot axis PP. The striker plate  172  includes a pair of generally triangular shaped sides  172 A and  172 B and an impact or traversing wall  172 C extending between the pair of sides  172 A and  172 B. The traversing wall  172 C includes an exterior impact surface  188  and an opposite interior abutment surface  190 . 
     The striker plate  172  provides a secondary connection  138  between an upper end  125  of the pedal arm  124  and the swing bracket  26 . As will be described in greater detail below, the secondary connection  138  is an abutment connection which is in an engaged position during normal pedal operation and during vehicle collisions of sufficient magnitude the striker plate  172  rotates freeing the upper end  125  of the pedal arm  124  and disengages the secondary connection  138 . 
     As clearly shown in  FIG. 7 , the striker plate  172 , specifically the side walls  172 A and  172 B, are positioned on the exterior of the side walls  170 A and  170 B of the swing bracket  170 . In the engaged position the secondary connection  136  is provided between the abutment of the upper portion of the pedal arm  124  and the striker plate  172 . Specifically, the secondary connection  138  is provided by the abutment of a cover  174  at the upper portion  125  of the pedal arm  112  and the interior abutment surface  190  of the traversing wall  172 C of the striker plate  172 . 
     The cover  174  is formed of a polymeric material so as to provide an interference fit between the upper end  125  of the pedal arm  124  and the interior surfaces of the side walls  170 A and  170 B of the swing bracket  170  and the interior abutment surface  190  of the traversing wall  172 C of the striker plate  172 . The cover  174  absorbs space tolerances to prevent rattling of the pedal arm  124  within the swing bracket  170  and the striker plate  172  thereby decreasing noise and vibration. 
     In order to secure the secondary connection  138  in the engaged position, i.e. to position the striker plate  172  and the swing bracket  120  in the engaged positions, as shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  8 , a fracturable or frangible connection  176  is provided between the striker plate  172  and the swing bracket  170 . Specifically, the frangible connection  176  is in the form of a shearable pin  178  extending through aperture  180  in the side wall  172 B of the striker plate  172  and aperture  182  in the side wall  170 B in the swing bracket  116 , respectively. The shearable pin  178  is designed to shear upon the application of a predetermined fracture or disengagement force impacting on the impact surface  188  of the striker plate  172  due to the urging of the striker plate  172  to rotate about the pedal pivot axis PP. 
     The engagement of shearable pin  178  acting as the fracturable connection  176  and the abutment of the upper end  125  of the pedal arm and the abutment surface  190  of the traversing wall  172 C of the striker plate  172  acting as the secondary connection  138 , provides a rigid connection between the pedal arm  124 , the swing bracket  170 , and the striker plate  172  that restrains the pedal arm  124  from freely pivoting about the first pivot axis P 1 . The primary connection  136  and the secondary connection  138 , which is retained in the engaged position by the frangible connection  176 , provides the two-point connection of the pedal arm  124  to depression of the pedal pad  134  to pivot the pedal assembly  110  about the pedal pivot axis PP. 
     The striker plate  172  includes guides edges  186  which are formed as portions of the each of the pair of side walls  172 A and  172 B. The guide edges extend  186  downwardly beyond of the traversing wall  172 C of the striker plate  172 . The upper end  125  of the pedal arm  124  includes a traversely extending rod  184 . The rod  184  has a width greater than the width of the striker plate  172  and the pedal arm  124 . During rotation of the striker plate  172 , as will be described in greater detail below, the guide edges  186  abut the rod  184  and force the rotation of the upper end  125  of the pedal arm  124  about the first pivot axis P 1 . 
     In order to facilitate a better understanding of the pedal assembly  110 , the operation of the pedal assembly  110  during normal operation and during a vehicle collision of sufficient magnitude will now be discussed in relation to  FIGS. 9A-9C . 
     As seen in  FIG. 9A , during normal operation of the pedal assembly  110 , when a driver depresses the brake pad  134  of the pedal arm  124 , which is rigidly connected to the swing bracket  170  and the striker plate  172  by the two-point connections of the primary connection  136  and the secondary connection  138 , the pedal arm  124  will rotate about the pedal pivot axis PP in the direction of arrow A 1 , thereby forcing the push rod, which is received within the connector  130 , forwardly in the vehicle longitudinal direction. As such, depression of the pedal pad  134  will actuate the brake or clutch mechanism in order to control the operation of the vehicle. 
     In normal operation, the secondary connection  138  is in the engaged position and the cross-member CM is spaced apart from an impact surface  188  of the traversing wall  172 C of the striker plate  172 . In the alternative, the cross-member CM is optionally positioned adjacent the impact surface  188  of the wall  172 C of the striker plate  172  without imparting a force. 
     In the event of a front vehicle collision of sufficient magnitude, in which the front portion of the vehicle is pushed towards the rear portion of the vehicle, firewall FW including the mounting bracket  12  and the pedal assembly  110  will be forcibly displaced rearward in the direction of arrow A 2 . The movement of the pedal assembly  110  causes the rearwardly facing impact surface  188  of wall  172 C of the striker plate  172  to impact the cross member CM. 
     The force of the impact between the impact surface  188  of wall  172 C of the striker plate  172  and the cross member CM, the striker plate  172  will be urged to rotate about the pedal pivot axis PP in the direction of arrow A 3 . When the impact force is less than the predetermined fracture or disengagement force of the fracturable connection  176  between shearable pin  178  and the side wall  172 B and  170 B, the shearable pin  176  is not fractured and the two point connection of the pedal arm  124  is maintained such that pedal arm  124  is prevented from pivoting about the first pivot axis P 1 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 9B , when the impact force of the cross-member CM against the impact surface  188  of wall  172 C of the striker plate  172  equals or exceeds the predetermined fracture or disengagement force, the shear stress acting on the shearable pin  176  will rupture the shearable pin  178  fracturing the fracturable connection  176 . As such, the striker plate  172  pivots about the pedal pivot axis PP in the direction of arrow A 3  and the secondary connection  138  is moved from the engaged position ( FIG. 9A ) to the disengaged position ( FIG. 9B ). 
     The rupture of the shearable pin  178 , due to the rotation of the striker plate  172  about pedal pivot axis PP, releases the two-point connection of the pedal arm  124  and the upper end  125  of the pedal arm  124  is no longer retrained by the secondary connection  38 . Specifically, the rotation of the striker plate  172  removes the abutment between the cover  174  (upper end  125  of the pedal arm  124 ) and the inner abutment surface  190  of the traversing wall  172 C of the striker plate  172 . 
     Due to the rotation of the striker plate  118 , the guide edges  186  of the striker plate  172  come into contact with the rod  184  of the pedal arm  124 . The further rotation of the striker plate  172  causes the guide edges  186  to push the rod  184  and the upper end  125  of the pedal arm  124  in the direction of arrow A 4  so as to rotate the pedal arm  124  about the first pivot axis P 1 . 
     As such, the pedal arm  124  is merely attached to the swing bracket  170  at the pivotal primary connection  136  by pin  146  and the pedal arm  124  is allowed to freely pivot about the first pivot axis P 1  in the direction of arrow A 4 , as best seen in  FIG. 9C , due to the driver&#39;s depression of the brake pad  134 . As the pedal arm  124  is allowed to freely pivot about the first pivot axis P 1 , the pedal assembly  110  is prevented from acting as a rigid member and the impact force of the vehicle collision is prevented from being transferred to the foot of the driver on the pedal pad  134 . 
     The present invention is not restricted to the illustrative examples and embodiments described above. The embodiments are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Methods, apparatus, compositions, and the like described herein are exemplary and not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.