Claims:We claim:
1. A stopper assembly (200) for restraining movement of a clutch pedal arm (103), the stopper assembly (200) comprising of:
a primary stopper bracket (300);
a primary stopper stay (400); and
a secondary stopper (103),
wherein the primary stopper bracket (300) is fixed to a clutch pedal mounting bracket (301) and the primary stopper stay (400) is provided on an upper portion of the clutch pedal arm (101) and the secondary stopper (103) is provided on a lower portion of the clutch pedal arm (101),
wherein the primary stopper bracket (300) has a first side (306) and a second side (307), wherein the first side (306) is perpendicular to the second side (307), and wherein both ends (303a, 303b) of the second side (307) are protruded outwards in a direction of the clutch pedal mounting bracket (301), and
wherein the primary stopper stay (400) has a U-shaped flat plate (401) and an adjoining L-shaped flat plate (402) projecting out of the U-shaped flat plate (401).

2. The stopper assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprises a cushion (305) provided in the primary stopper bracket (300).

3. The stopper assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first side (306) of the primary stopper bracket (300) is welded to the clutch pedal mounting bracket (301).

4. The stopper assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cushion (305) is provided on the second side (307) of the primary stopper bracket (300).

5. The stopper assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lower surface of each of the both ends (303a, 303b) of the second side (307) that are protruded outwards, is welded to the clutch pedal mounting bracket (301).

6. The stopper assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a locating hole (308) is provided on the second side (307) of the primary stopper bracket (300).

7. The stopper assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the U-shaped flat plate (401) of the primary stopper stay (400) has a first face (403a), a second face (403b) and a third face (403c).

8. The stopper assembly (200) as claimed in claim 7, wherein ends of the first face (403a) and the second face (403b) of the U-shaped flat plate (401) are welded to the upper portion (203) of the clutch pedal arm (101).

9. The stopper assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein one side of the L-shaped flat plate (402) on the primary stopper stay (400) is welded to the upper portion (203) of the clutch pedal arm (101).

10. The stopper assembly (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third face (403c) has a flat surface configured to come in contact with the cushion (305) provided on the primary stopper bracket (300).
, Description:A STOPPER ASSEMBLY FOR A CLUTCH PEDAL ARM

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter described herein relates to a clutch pedal of a vehicle. In particular, the present subject matter relates to a stopper assembly for restraining the unwanted movement of the clutch pedal arm of the vehicle during abusive loading by driver.

BACKGROUND
[0002] In a vehicle, a clutch pedal is used during shifting of gear in order to match the driving speed of the vehicle. The clutch pedal has a clutch pedal arm that is mounted on to a clutch pedal mounting bracket where the clutch pedal arm is supported by the clutch pedal mounting bracket while rotating.
[0003] In a conventional clutch pedal, a stopper is provided on the lower back of the clutch pedal arm that faces towards the vehicle body. During normal pedal operation, or when the driver presses the clutch pedal, the stopper hits the body side-dash panel to control stroke.
[0004] In an existing design, as provided in FIG. 1, the clutch pedal arm (101) is positioned in an ideal condition and a full press condition. The clutch pedal arm (101) has a stopper (103) that is located on the lower back of the clutch pedal arm (101) where a pedal pad (104) is located. The pedal pad (104) is where the driver pushes the clutch pedal arm (101) in a depressing motion for gear shifting purposes.
[0005] In an ideal condition (101), the stopper (103) that is welded on the pedal arm (101) does not touch the vehicle body (105), whereas in the full press condition, when the driver presses the clutch pedal arm (101) in a fast motion, the stopper (103) hits the vehicle body (105) which is thin and hollow. When the stopper (103) hits the vehicle body (105), it creates a hitting noise which provides inconvenience for the driver.
[0006] The prior art discloses a cable clutch control for a motor vehicle. It discloses a clutch control device that is connected to a clutch pedal by a cable for returning the pedal to its rest position, and for stopping the clutch pedal in a predetermined position.
[0007] However, the above prior art does not disclose a cost-effective way of controlling the stroke of the clutch pedal.
[0008] Therefore, it is required to provide a cost-effective way to design a clutch pedal that is able to restrain and control the movement of the clutch pedal arm so as to reduce generation of hitting noise.

OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0009] It forms an object of the present disclosure to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks/limitations in the existing solutions available in the form of related prior arts.
[0010] It is a primary object of the present disclosure to provide a primary stopper bracket, a primary stopper stay, and a secondary stopper to restrain and control the movement of the clutch pedal arm.
[0011] It is another object of the present disclosure to prevent hitting noise on the vehicle body caused due to excessive load during pressing of the clutch pedal arm.
[0012] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide a cost-effective way of controlling the movement of the clutch pedal arm.
[0013] These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taken into consideration with accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.

SUMMARY
[0014] A solution to one or more drawbacks of existing technology and additional advantages are provided through the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be a part of the claimed disclosure.
[0015] The present disclosure provides a solution in the form of a stopper assembly for restraining the movement of a clutch pedal arm. It has a primary stopper bracket, a primary stopper stay, and a secondary stopper, wherein the primary stopper bracket is fixed to a clutch pedal mounting bracket and the primary stopper stay is provided on an upper portion of the clutch pedal arm and the secondary stopper is provided on a lower portion of the clutch pedal arm, wherein the primary stopper bracket has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is perpendicular to the second side, and wherein both ends of the second side are protruded outwards in a direction of the clutch pedal mounting bracket, and wherein the primary stopper stay has a U-shaped flat plate and an adjoining L-shaped flat plate projecting out of the U-shaped flat plate.
[0016] In an aspect, a cushion is provided in the primary stopper bracket.
[0017] In an aspect, the first side of the primary stopper bracket is welded to the clutch pedal mounting bracket.
[0018] In an aspect, the cushion is provided on the second side of the primary stopper bracket.
[0019] In an aspect, a lower surface of each of both ends of the second side that are protruded outwards, is welded to the clutch pedal mounting bracket
[0020] In an aspect, a locating hole is provided on the second side of the primary stopper bracket.
[0021] In an aspect, the U-shaped flat plate of the primary stopper stay has a first face, a second face and a third face.
[0022] In an aspect, the ends of the first face and the second face of the U-shaped flat plate are welded to the upper portion of the clutch pedal arm.
[0023] In an aspect, one side of the L-shaped flat plate on the primary stopper stay is welded to the upper portion of the clutch pedal arm.
[0024] In an aspect, the third face has a flat surface configured to come in contact with the cushion provided on the primary stopper bracket.
[0025] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0026] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the present disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0027] Fig. 1 illustrates stopper assembly according to the prior art;
[0028] Fig. 2(A) and 2(B) illustrate stopper assembly according to the present disclosure;
[0029] Fig. 3 illustrates a primary stopper bracket according to the present disclosure;
[0030] Fig. 4 illustrates a primary stopper stay according to the present disclosure;
[0031] Fig. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the primary stopper bracket and primary stopper stay according to the present disclosure.
[0032] Fig. 6 illustrates a side view of the primary stopper bracket and primary stopper stay according to the present disclosure.
[0033] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0034] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0035] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0036] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0037] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0038] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0039] Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0040] The present invention discloses a stopper assembly for restraining the movement of the clutch pedal arm. The stopper assembly comprises a primary stopper bracket, a primary stopper stay, and a secondary stopper. The present invention focuses on the primary stopper bracket and the primary stopper stay to restrain the movement of the clutch pedal arm such that the primary stopper stay comes in contact with the primary stopper bracket and reduces the movement speed of clutch pedal arm during abusive loading by the driver. Ultimately, the noise that is generated by the secondary stopper when it hits the vehicle body is reduced.
[0041] Referring to FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), it shows the stopper assembly (200) for restraining the movement of the clutch pedal arm (101). The stopper assembly (200) includes a primary stopper bracket (300) and the primary stopper stay (400) positioned on an upper portion of the clutch pedal arm (101) and a secondary stopper (103) positioned on a lower portion of the clutch pedal arm (101) on the opposite surface where the pedal pad (104) is located.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the primary stopper bracket (300) is connected to a clutch pedal mounting bracket (301). The primary stopper bracket (300) consists of a first side (306) and a second side (307). The ends (303a, 303b) along with legs (303) are projected out from the second side (307) of the primary stopper bracket (300).
[0043] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the primary stopper stay (400) is connected to the upper portion of the clutch pedal arm (101) that faces the primary stopper bracket (300). The primary stopper stay (400) includes a U-shaped flat plate (401) along with a L-shaped flat plate (402) that adjoins and projects out of the U-shaped flat plate (401). The primary stopper stay (400) gets in contact with the primary stopper bracket (300) during full press condition. Further, a cushion (305) is provided on the primary stopper bracket (300) to eliminate metal-to-metal contact and hence preventing noise generation during clutch pedal operation.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 3 illustrates a detailed view of the primary stopper bracket (300) that is fixed to the clutch pedal mounting bracket (301). The clutch pedal mounting bracket (301) is eventually mounted on the vehicle body (105).
[0045] The primary stopper bracket (300) has the first side (306) and the second side (307). The first side (306) is perpendicular to the second side (307), where the first side (306) of the primary stopper bracket (300) is welded to the clutch pedal mounting bracket (301) and the second side (307) has the cushion (305) and the locating hole (308).
[0046] The ends (303a, 303b) of the second side (307) are projected downwards from the second side (307). The ends (303a, 303b) are extended in the downwards direction towards the clutch pedal mounting bracket (301) and are further welded on the clutch pedal mounting bracket (301).
[0047] Referring to FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed view of the primary stopper stay (400). The primary stopper stay (400) is welded to the upper portion of the clutch pedal arm (101) and the primary stopper stay (400) moves along with the clutch pedal arm (101). The primary stopper stay (400) has the U-shaped flat plate (401) and the adjoined L-shaped flat plate (402).
[0048] The U-shaped flat plate (401) on the primary stopper stay (400) has a first face (403a), a second face (403b), and a third face (403c). The first face (403a) and the second face (403b) of the U-shaped flat plate (401) are extended and curved at the ends and the ends of the first face (403a) and the second face (403b) of the U-shaped flat plate (401) are welded to the clutch pedal arm (101).
[0049] Furthermore, the side of the L-shaped flat plate (402) is perpendicular to the U-shaped flat plate (401) and the L-shaped flat plate (402) is also welded to the clutch pedal arm (101). The L-shaped flat plate (402) is provided on the primary stopper stay (400) for providing additional rigidity.
[0050] Lastly, the U-shaped flat plate (401) of the primary stopper stay (400) has the third face (403c) that is facing the primary stopper bracket (300) and the cushion (305). The third face (403c) on the U-shaped flat plate (401) provides a flat surface so that a flat surface of the cushion (305) accommodates the flat surface of the U-shaped flat plate (401).
[0051] Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the primary stopper stay (400) is connected to the upper portion of the clutch pedal arm (101). So basically, the primary stopper stay (400) moves along with the clutch pedal arm (101).
[0052] The primary stopper stay (400) has the U-shaped flat plate (401). The first face (403a) and the second face (403b) of the U-shaped flat plate (401) are welded to the clutch pedal arm (101).
[0053] Further, the primary stopper stay (400) has the L-shaped flat plate (402) that is adjoined at one end to the U-shaped flat plate (401). One side of the L-shaped flat plate (402) is adjoined to the U-shaped flat plate (401) and the other side is welded to the clutch pedal arm (101). Furthermore, the L-shaped flat plate (402) is provided on the primary stopper stay (400) for giving additional rigidity to the primary stopper stay (400).
[0054] The U-shaped flat plate (401) of the primary stopper stay (400) has the third face (403c) that is facing the primary stopper bracket (300) and the cushion (305). The third face (403c) on the U-shaped flat plate (401) provides a flat surface so that the flat surface easily presses against the flat surface of the cushion (305). Therefore, the load exerted on the clutch pedal arm (101) is further transferred to the cushion (305) from the third face (403c) of the primary stopper stay (400).
[0055] The primary stopper bracket (300) is a fixed bracket that is mounted on the clutch pedal mounting bracket (301), where the clutch pedal mounting bracket (301) is eventually mounted on the vehicle body (105).
[0056] The primary stopper bracket (300) is composed of the first side (306) and the second side (307). The first side (306) is perpendicular to the second side (307). The second side (307) has a provision for mounting and fixing the cushion (305) and also has the locating hole (308) that is positioned beside the cushion (305).
[0057] Further, the ends (303a, 303b) are projected downwards from the sides of the second side (307) of the primary stopper bracket (300). The ends (303a, 303b) are extended in the downwards direction towards the clutch pedal mounting bracket (301) and are further welded on the clutch pedal mounting bracket (301).
[0058] Therefore, the forces that are transferred by the primary stopper stay (400) to the cushion (305) on the primary stopper bracket (300) are further transferred from the cushion (305) to the first side (306) and the second side (307), and down to the ends (303a, 303b) extending from the second side (307) towards the clutch pedal mounting bracket (301) which absorbs the load and therefore noise is reduced.
[0059] In case of abusive loading by driver, the primary stopper bracket (300) and the primary stopper stay (400) comes in contact with each other first and reduces the movement speed of clutch pedal arm (101). As a result, the speed at which the secondary stopper (103) hits the vehicle body (105) is lowered, thus reducing the noise generated.

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0060] With the help of the solution as proposed herein in the context of the present disclosure, in case of abusive loading, when the drives press the clutch pedal arm, the primary stopper stay hits the primary stopper bracket first and then the secondary stopper hits the vehicle body at reduced speed, thereby reducing the noise that was earlier observed in case of existing design.
[0061] In the present disclosure, the movement speed of clutch pedal arm is reduced as compared to the existing design.
[0062] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to disclosures containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. Also, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0063] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present disclosure contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the disclosure, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Also, while a feature of the present disclosure may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present disclosure. The present disclosure also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature.