# US 12,109,884 B2 · Pedal apparatus for vehicle

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- Number: US 12,109,884 B2
- Document ID: US12109884B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/134,691
- Filed: 2023-04-14
- Published: 2024-06-06
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2022-12-06
- Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation; Kyung Chang Industrial Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation; Kyung Chang Industrial Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Eun Sik Kim; Kyung Nam Kim; Dae Yeon Kim; Hyeon Uk Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109884B2

## CPC

- B60K 26/02: of initiating means or elements
- B60N 3/06: of footrests
- B60T 7/06: Disposition of pedal
- B60K 2026/026: {Adjusting of accelerator pedal positions}
- B60W 60/005: {Handover processes (Handing over between remote control and on-board control or handing over between remote control arrangements G05D1/227)}
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT

## Abstract

A pedal apparatus for a vehicle, may include a brake pedal assembly, an accelerator pedal assembly, and a footrest panel are assembled to one another to form a single module component, and the completely assembled module component is supplied to an assembling line for a vehicle and assembled to a dash panel which is a vehicle body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pedal apparatus for a vehicle, the pedal apparatus comprising:
a brake pedal assembly, an accelerator pedal assembly, and a footrest panel that are assembled to one another to form a single module component,
wherein the single module component is provided by being assembled to a vehicle body,
wherein the brake pedal assembly includes:
a brake pedal housing to which a brake pedal arm is coupled, wherein the brake pedal housing includes an accelerator pedal seating portion provided at one side of the brake pedal housing; and
a brake pedal pad coupled to an end of the brake pedal arm,
wherein the accelerator pedal assembly includes:
an accelerator pedal housing to which an accelerator pedal arm is coupled,
wherein the accelerator pedal housing is positioned on the accelerator pedal seating portion, and assembled to the brake pedal housing; and
an accelerator pedal pad coupled to an end of the accelerator pedal arm, and
wherein the brake pedal assembly implements a foldable function by operation of a brake pedal foldable mechanism fixed to the brake pedal housing and connected to the brake pedal arm.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The pedal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the footrest panel is assembled to the brake pedal assembly and the accelerator pedal assembly.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The pedal apparatus of claim 1, wherein first and second opposite end portions of the footrest panel are assembled to the brake pedal housing and the accelerator pedal housing so that the footrest panel simultaneously covers the brake pedal housing and the accelerator pedal housing in a state in which the accelerator pedal housing is accommodated on the accelerator pedal seating portion and assembled to the brake pedal housing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The pedal apparatus of claim 1, wherein a width of the accelerator pedal seating portion in a leftward and rightward direction is greater than a width of the accelerator pedal housing in the leftward and rightward direction so that the accelerator pedal housing is provided to be accommodated in the accelerator pedal seating portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The pedal apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of vehicle body coupling portions protrudes from the brake pedal housing in a leftward and rightward direction thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The pedal apparatus of claim 5, wherein a plurality of reinforcement ribs extends from the accelerator pedal seating portion in the leftward and rightward direction and is connected to the vehicle body coupling portions.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The pedal apparatus of claim 1,
wherein a plurality of coupling protrusions is provided on a sidewall of the brake pedal housing that defines the accelerator pedal seating portion, and
wherein protrusion assembling grooves, into which the coupling protrusions are inserted, are formed in one side surface of the accelerator pedal housing that faces the sidewall.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The pedal apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of coupling holes, which is matched with one another, is formed in the accelerator pedal seating portion and the accelerator pedal housing, and the brake pedal housing and the accelerator pedal housing are assembled by coupling members fastened to the coupling holes.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The pedal apparatus of claim 1,
wherein a plurality of assembling protrusions is provided on one side surface of the brake pedal housing and one side surface of the accelerator pedal housing in a state in which the accelerator pedal housing is positioned on the accelerator pedal seating portion,
wherein a plurality of panel protrusions, which is matched with the assembling protrusions, is formed at first and second opposite end portions of the footrest panel, and
wherein the footrest panel is assembled to simultaneously cover the brake pedal housing and the accelerator pedal housing by coupling members fastened to the assembling protrusions while penetrating the panel protrusions.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The pedal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the accelerator pedal assembly implements a foldable function by operation of an accelerator pedal foldable mechanism fixed to the accelerator pedal housing and connected to the accelerator pedal arm.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The pedal apparatus of claim 10, wherein the brake pedal foldable mechanism and the accelerator pedal foldable mechanism are disposed to be positioned between the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The pedal apparatus of claim 10,
wherein the brake pedal foldable mechanism includes:
an actuator configured to generate power; and
a gear member configured to engage the actuator and the brake pedal arm, and
wherein the accelerator pedal foldable mechanism includes:
an actuator configured to generate power; and
a gear member configured to engage the actuator and the accelerator pedal arm.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The pedal apparatus of claim 12,
wherein by operations of the actuator and the gear member of the brake pedal foldable mechanism, a brake pedal switches to a hidden state in which the brake pedal is hidden in the brake pedal housing so that a driver cannot operate the brake pedal in an autonomous driving mode and a pop-up state in which the brake pedal protrudes from the brake pedal housing so that the driver operates the brake pedal in a manual driving mode, and
wherein by operations of the actuator and the gear member of the accelerator pedal foldable mechanism, an accelerator pedal switches to a hidden state in which the accelerator pedal is hidden in the accelerator pedal housing so that the driver cannot operate the accelerator pedal in the autonomous driving mode and a pop-up state in which the accelerator pedal protrudes from the accelerator pedal housing so that the driver operates the accelerator pedal in the manual driving mode.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The pedal apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the footrest panel is assembled in a state in which the accelerator pedal housing is accommodated on the accelerator pedal seating portion and assembled to the brake pedal housing, and
wherein the footrest panel is provided to be in surface-contact with the brake pedal housing and the accelerator pedal housing while simultaneously covering the brake pedal housing and the accelerator pedal housing so that the brake pedal housing and the accelerator pedal housing support the footrest panel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The pedal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the brake pedal housing and the brake pedal arm are coupled and assembled, the accelerator pedal housing and the accelerator pedal arm are coupled and assembled, the accelerator pedal housing is accommodated on the accelerator pedal seating portion, the accelerator pedal housing and the brake pedal housing are assembled, the footrest panel is assembled to the brake pedal housing and the accelerator pedal housing to simultaneously cover the brake pedal housing and the accelerator pedal housing, and the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad are assembled to the brake pedal arm and the accelerator pedal arm so that the brake pedal assembly, the accelerator pedal assembly, and the footrest panel are assembled to one another to form the single module component.

### Claim 16

A pedal apparatus for a vehicle, the pedal apparatus comprising:
a brake pedal assembly, an accelerator pedal assembly, and a footrest panel that are assembled to one another to form a single module component,
wherein the single module component is provided by being assembled to a vehicle body,
wherein the brake pedal assembly includes:
a brake pedal housing to which a brake pedal arm is coupled, wherein the brake pedal housing includes an accelerator pedal seating portion provided at one side of the brake pedal housing; and
a brake pedal pad coupled to an end of the brake pedal arm,
wherein the accelerator pedal assembly includes:
an accelerator pedal housing to which an accelerator pedal arm is coupled,
wherein the accelerator pedal housing is positioned on the accelerator pedal seating portion, and assembled to the brake pedal housing; and
an accelerator pedal pad coupled to an end of the accelerator pedal arm,
wherein a plurality of vehicle body coupling portions protrudes from the brake pedal housing in a leftward and rightward direction thereof, and
wherein a plurality of reinforcement ribs extends from the accelerator pedal seating portion in the leftward and rightward direction and is connected to the vehicle body coupling portions.

### Claim 17

A pedal apparatus for a vehicle, the pedal apparatus comprising:
a brake pedal assembly, an accelerator pedal assembly, and a footrest panel that are assembled to one another to form a single module component,
wherein the single module component is provided by being assembled to a vehicle body,
wherein the brake pedal assembly includes:
a brake pedal housing to which a brake pedal arm is coupled, wherein the brake pedal housing includes an accelerator pedal seating portion provided at one side of the brake pedal housing; and
a brake pedal pad coupled to an end of the brake pedal arm,
wherein the accelerator pedal assembly includes:
an accelerator pedal housing to which an accelerator pedal arm is coupled,
wherein the accelerator pedal housing is positioned on the accelerator pedal seating portion, and assembled to the brake pedal housing; and
an accelerator pedal pad coupled to an end of the accelerator pedal arm,
wherein a plurality of coupling protrusions is provided on a sidewall of the brake pedal housing that defines the accelerator pedal seating portion, and
wherein protrusion assembling grooves, into which the coupling protrusions are inserted, are formed in one side surface of the accelerator pedal housing that faces the sidewall.

### Claim 18

A pedal apparatus for a vehicle, the pedal apparatus comprising:
a brake pedal assembly, an accelerator pedal assembly, and a footrest panel that are assembled to one another to form a single module component,
wherein the single module component is provided by being assembled to a vehicle body,
wherein the brake pedal assembly includes:
a brake pedal housing to which a brake pedal arm is coupled, wherein the brake pedal housing includes an accelerator pedal seating portion provided at one side of the brake pedal housing; and
a brake pedal pad coupled to an end of the brake pedal arm,
wherein the accelerator pedal assembly includes:
an accelerator pedal housing to which an accelerator pedal arm is coupled, wherein the accelerator pedal housing is positioned on the accelerator pedal seating portion, and assembled to the brake pedal housing; and
an accelerator pedal pad coupled to an end of the accelerator pedal arm,
wherein a plurality of assembling protrusions is provided on one side surface of the brake pedal housing and one side surface of the accelerator pedal housing in a state in which the accelerator pedal housing is positioned on the accelerator pedal seating portion,
wherein a plurality of panel protrusions, which is matched with the assembling protrusions, is formed at first and second opposite end portions of the footrest panel, and
wherein the footrest panel is assembled to simultaneously cover the brake pedal housing and the accelerator pedal housing by coupling members fastened to the assembling protrusions while penetrating the panel protrusions.
