Pedal assembly with pyrotechnic release

A pedal assembly, for actuating a rigid actuator of a functional system in a motor vehicle, comprising

• a mounting bracket for mounting the assembly in the vehicle, the mounting bracket having spaced apart support members defining a pedal receiving space therebetween;
• a pedal arm having a pedal pad at a distal end thereof for engagement by a driver's foot, the pedal arm also having an actuator connector between the distal end and a proximal end for connection to the rigid actuator;
• at least one support pin coupled to the mounting bracket;
• a pair of retainer brackets on opposing sides of the proximal end of the pedal arm, each retainer bracket normally being in a retaining position retained on the at least one support pin against movement in a front-rear direction with respect to the mounting bracket;
• at least one pivot pin pivotally connecting the proximal end of the pedal arm to the pair of retainer brackets;
• a pyrotechnic actuator having an input for receiving an actuating signal to trigger the pyrotechnic actuator;
• the pyrotechnic actuator being arranged with respect to the retainer brackets such that the pyrotechnic actuator when triggered enables deformation of the retainer brackets to a releasing position wherein the retainer brackets permit the at least one pivot pin and the proximal end of the pedal arm to move rearwardly with respect to the mounting bracket;
• wherein each of the retainer brackets is configured such that, when the pyrotechnic actuator is triggered to enable deformation of the retainer brackets to the releasing position, the retainer brackets are released from the at least one support pin to permit the retainer brackets, the at least one pivot pin, and the proximal end of the pedal arm to move rearwardly with respect to the mounting bracket.

A pedal assembly for actuating a rigid actuator of a functional system in a motor vehicle, comprising

• a mounting bracket for mounting the assembly in the vehicle, the mounting bracket having spaced apart support members defining a pedal receiving space therebetween;
• a pedal arm having a pedal pad at a distal end thereof for engagement by a driver's foot, the pedal arm also having an actuator connector between the distal end and a proximal end for connection to the rigid actuator;
• a pair of retainer brackets on opposing sides of the proximal end of the pedal arm;
• a releasable connector connecting forward ends of the retainer brackets to secure the retainer brackets normally against movement in a front-rear direction with respect to the mounting bracket;
• at least one pivot pin pivotally connecting the proximal end of the pedal arm to the pair of retainer brackets;
• a pyrotechnic actuator having an input for receiving an actuating signal to trigger the pyrotechnic actuator;
• the pyrotechnic actuator being arranged with respect to the releasable connector such that the pyrotechnic actuator when triggered drives the releasable connector to disconnect from the retainer brackets to permit the retainer brackets, the at least one pivot pin and the proximal end of the pedal arm to move rearwardly with respect to the mounting bracket.

A pedal assembly for actuating a rigid actuator of a functional system in a motor vehicle, comprising

• a mounting bracket for mounting the assembly in the vehicle, the mounting bracket having spaced apart support members defining a pedal receiving space therebetween;
• a pedal arm having a pedal pad at a distal end thereof for engagement by a driver's foot, the pedal arm also having an actuator connector between the distal end and a proximal end for connection to the rigid actuator;
• a pair of retainer brackets on opposing sides of the proximal end of the pedal arm;
• a pair of restraining connectors connecting forward ends of the retainer brackets to secure the retainer brackets normally against movement in a front-rear direction with respect to the mounting bracket;
• at least one pivot pin pivotally connecting the proximal end of the pedal arm to the pair of retainer brackets;
• a pyrotechnic actuator having an input for receiving an actuating signal to trigger the pyrotechnic actuator;
• the pyrotechnic actuator being arranged with respect to the pair of restraining connectors such that the pyrotechnic actuator when triggered permits movement of the pair of restraining connectors apart from one another to permit the pair of retainer brackets, the at least one pivot pin and the proximal end of the pedal arm to move rearwardly with respect to the mounting bracket.