Apparatus for preventing brake pedal of vehicle from being pushed rearward

Abstract

An apparatus for preventing the brake pedal of a vehicle from being pushed rearward when an impact is externally applied to the brake pedal is provided. The apparatus includes a first bracket fastened to a cowl, a second bracket coupled to the first bracket and a master vac positioned beyond a dash panel, a brake pedal arm connected to a pushrod which is connected to the master vac, and rotatably installed on the second bracket, and push-prevention means hingedly coupled to the second bracket for rotating the brake pedal arm in a predetermined direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an apparatus for preventing the brake pedal of a vehicle from being pushed rearward in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the apparatus for preventing the brake pedal of a vehicle from being pushed rearward in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a seventh coupling hole and movement restraining protrusions in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a first bracket in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a second bracket assembled with the first bracket in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a push-prevention means in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an apparatus for preventing the brake pedal of a vehicle from being pushed rearward in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating the apparatus for preventing the brake pedal of a vehicle from being pushed rearward in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a push-prevention means in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an apparatus for preventing the brake pedal of a vehicle from being pushed rearward in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating the apparatus for preventing the brake pedal of a vehicle from being pushed rearward in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a push-prevention means in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a side view illustrating the normal positions of the push-prevention means and a brake pedal arm in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a side view illustrating the positions of the push-prevention means and the brake pedal arm after a head-on collision occurs in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention immediately;

FIG. 15 is a side view illustrating the position of a brake pedal after the second bracket is decoupled from the first bracket in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a side view illustrating normal positions of the push-prevention means and a brake pedal arm in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a side view illustrating the positions of the push-prevention means and the brake pedal arm immediately after a head-on collision occurs in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a side view illustrating the position of a brake pedal after the second bracket is decoupled from the first bracket in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a side view illustrating normal positions of the push-prevention means and a brake pedal arm in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a side view illustrating the positions of the push-prevention means and the brake pedal arm in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention immediately after a head-on collision occurs; and

FIG. 21 is a side view illustrating the position of a brake pedal after the second bracket is decoupled from the first bracket in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preventing a brake pedal of a vehicle from being pushed rearward, the apparatus comprising: a first bracket fastened to a cowl;a second bracket coupled to the first bracket and a master vac positioned beyond a dash panel;a brake pedal arm connected to a pushrod which is connected to the master vac, and rotatably installed on the second bracket; andpush-prevention means hingedly coupled to the second bracket for rotating the brake pedal arm in a predetermined direction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first bracket has a first insertion groove through which a flange bolt to be connected to the second bracket is inserted, and coupling surfaces of the first and second brackets are inclined to a predetermined angle so that, when an impact force is transmitted from the dash panel, as the second bracket is rotated in a preselected direction, the flange bolt can be released from the first insertion groove.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the push-prevention means comprises: a first through-hole through which a pipe hinge passes to hingedly couple the push-prevention means to the second bracket; andfirst and second arms formed to extend in different directions when viewed from the first through-hole.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising first and second support brackets positioned on both sides of the brake pedal arm and hingedly coupled to the push-prevention means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first and second support brackets comprise: first and second coupling holes through which the pipe hinge passes to hingedly couple the first and second support brackets to the push-prevention means;third and fourth coupling holes through which a coupling pin passes to couple the brake pedal arm to the pushrod; andfifth and sixth coupling holes through which a support pin for supporting the brake pedal arm passes.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the brake pedal arm comprises: a second insertion groove into which the pipe hinge is fitted; anda third insertion groove into which the support pin is fitted.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the brake pedal arm comprises: a seventh coupling hole through which the coupling pin for passing through the third and fourth coupling holes passes and which is defined to be elongate in a lengthwise direction of the brake pedal arm; andmovement-restraining projections formed in the seventh coupling hole to restrain movement of the coupling pin.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the coupling pin is positioned in one end of the seventh coupling hole during normal operation, and in the other end of the seventh coupling hole upon occurrence of a collision.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising first and second support brackets positioned on both sides of the brake pedal arm and defined with first and second fastening grooves into which a fastening pin for supporting the push-prevention means is fitted.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the push-prevention means further comprises a second through-hole through which the fastening pin passes.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first and second support brackets comprise: first and second coupling holes through which the pipe hinge passes to hingedly couple the first and second support brackets to the push-prevention means; andthird and fourth coupling holes through which a coupling pin passes to couple the brake pedal arm and the pushrod to each other.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the brake pedal arm comprises: a second insertion groove into which the pipe hinge is fitted;a third insertion groove into which the fastening pin is fitted; anda seventh coupling hole through which a coupling pin passes to couple the brake pedal arm to the pushrod.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein, when an impact force is transmitted from the dash panel, the fastening pin is removed from the first and second fastening grooves and the third insertion groove.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the push-prevention means comprises a recess defined adjoining the distal end of one of the first and second arms which extends toward the brake pedal arm to prevent contact between the push-prevention means and the brake pedal arm.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a portion of the push-prevention means that is rounded is brought into contact with the brake pedal arm in order to smoothly rotate.

16. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the push-prevention means further comprises an insertion projection formed to extend in a different direction from the first and second arms when viewed from the first through-hole.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the insertion projection is formed such that it extends from a position of the first through-hole toward the inside of a vehicle and then a distal end portion thereof is bent toward the brake pedal arm.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the brake pedal arm comprises a fourth insertion groove into which the insertion projection is fitted.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the push-prevention means comprises a recess defined adjoining the distal end of one of the first and second arms which extends toward the brake pedal arm to prevent contact between the push-prevention means and the brake pedal arm.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein a portion of the push-prevention means that is brought into contact with the brake pedal arm is rounded in order to smoothly rotate.

21. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first arm is positioned to face the first bracket, and the second arm is positioned to face the brake pedal arm.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein, when an impact force is transmitted from the dash panel, the push-prevention means is rotated in a direction opposite to a direction in which the first arm collides against the first bracket to transmit the impact force.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein, when the push-prevention means is rotated, the second arm collides against the brake pedal arm and rotates the brake pedal arm.