Unpowered pedal assist device and vehicular clutch assembly including the same

An unpowered pedal assist device for use in conjunction with a vehicular control pedal movable between a non-depressed position and a depressed position, the unpowered pedal assist device comprising:

• a four bar linkage configured to be coupled to the vehicular control pedal and, when so coupled, to move from a start position, through an over-center position, and to a finish position as the vehicular control pedal moves from the non-depressed position to the depressed position, the four bar linkage comprising:
• a frame link;
• a first grounded link pivotally coupled to the frame link;
• a second grounded link;
• and
• a coupler link pivotally coupled between the first grounded link and the second grounded link;
• and
• at least one resilient element coupled to the four bar linkage and configured to bias the four bar linkage:
• (i) toward the start position when the four bar linkage resides between the over-center position and the start position to bias the vehicular control pedal toward the non-depressed position, and (ii) toward the finish position when the four bar linkage resides between the over-center position and the finish position to bias the vehicular control pedal toward the depressed position;
• wherein the at least one resilient element comprises:
• a main spring, the second grounded link coupled between the frame link and the main spring;
• and
• a return spring coupled to one of the group consisting of the coupler link and the first grounded link, the return spring biasing the four bar linkage toward the start position.

An unpowered pedal assist device for use in conjunction with a vehicular control pedal movable between a non-depressed position and a depressed position, the unpowered pedal assist device comprising:

• a multi-bar linkage configured to be coupled to the vehicular control pedal and, when so coupled, to move from a start position to a finish position as the vehicular control pedal moves from the non-depressed position to the depressed position, the multi-bar linkage comprising:
• a frame link;
• first and second grounded links each pivotally coupled to the frame link;
• and
• a coupler link pivotally coupled between the first and second grounded links;
• at least one resilient element coupled to the multi-bar linkage and configured to bias the multi-bar linkage:
• (i) toward the start position over an initial range of travel of the vehicular control pedal, and (ii) toward the finish position over a primary range of travel of the vehicular control pedal;
• and
• a force apply rod having a first end portion coupled to the first grounded link and having a second end portion configured to be coupled to the vehicular control pedal.