Claims:CLAIMS
We claim
1. An automotive pedal support structure 100 in automotive vehicles,
said pedal support structure 100 comprising:
a pedal mounting bracket 102 supporting at least one operating pedal 116;
a first portion 104 of the pedal mounting bracket 102 connected to a vehicle dash panel;
a second portion 106 of the pedal mounting bracket 102 connected to at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and at least one right bracket brake booster member 110; and
a first vehicular structure 112 attached to said at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and to said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110.

2. The pedal support structure 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
first portion 104 of the pedal mounting bracket 102 includes a plurality of openings to mount the pedal mounting bracket 102 to the dash panel of the vehicle.

3. The pedal support structure 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
first vehicular structure 112 is a cross car beam structure having a plurality of predefined mounting positions to attach said at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110.

4. An automotive pedal support structure 100 in automotive vehicles,
said pedal support structure 100 comprising:
a pedal mounting bracket 102 supporting at least one operating pedal;
a first portion 104 of the pedal mounting bracket 102 connected to a vehicle dash panel;
a second portion 106 of the pedal mounting bracket 102 connected to at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and at least one right bracket brake booster member 110; and
a first vehicular structure 112 attached to said at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and to said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110;
wherein
said at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110 are connected by at least one connecting member 114.

5. The pedal support structure 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one connecting member 114 is a bracket stiffener.

6. A method 200 of providing an automotive pedal support structure in automotive vehicles, said method comprising steps of:
providing a pedal mounting bracket 102 supporting at least one operating pedal 116;
connecting a first portion 104 of the pedal mounting bracket 102 to a vehicle dash panel;
connecting a second portion 106 of the pedal mounting bracket 102 to at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and at least one right bracket brake booster member 110; and
attaching a first vehicular structure 112 to said least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and to said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110.

7. A method 201 of providing an automotive pedal support structure in automotive vehicles, said method comprising steps of:
providing a pedal mounting bracket 102 supporting at least one operating pedal 116;
connecting a first portion 104 of the pedal mounting 102 bracket to a vehicle dash panel;
connecting a second portion 106 of the pedal mounting bracket 102 to at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and at least one right bracket brake booster member 110; and
attaching a first vehicular structure 112 to said least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and to said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110;
wherein
said at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110 are connected by at least one connecting member 114.

8. The method 201 as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first vehicular structure 112 is a cross car beam structure having a plurality of predefined mounting positions for attaching said at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110.

9. The method 201 as claimed in claim 7, wherein said at least one connecting member 114 is a bracket stiffener.

10. The method 201 as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first portion 104 of the pedal mounting bracket 102 includes a plurality of openings to mount the pedal mounting bracket to the dash panel of the vehicle.
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to an automotive pedal support structure, and more particularly, but not exclusively to an automotive pedal support structure having a pedal assembly mounted jointly to a dash panel and a cross car beam structure of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND
[002] It is noted that vehicle brake pedals undergo a high number of low-stress cycles of use during normal braking, and further periodically undergo a significant number of high stress incidents, such as during emergency braking. During brake and clutch load on the pedals, there are more possibilities of dash and pedal deflection since the pedal box is completely mounted on the dash panel. During frontal collision, occupants may suffer injuries to their lower extremities due to the rearward intrusion of the pedal relative to the vehicle. Generally, pedal assemblies are mounted to either dash or floor panel which poses a risk in case of pedal deflection as there are not enough load paths to absorb the operation load.
[003] Further conventional systems use an adjustable pedal system where a linear adjustment device is introduced between the pedal lever and the pedal pivot, the adjustment device is made of a first track component attached to the pedal lever and a second track component attached to the pedal pivot, all of which is attached and adjustably interconnected in a manner that does not become loose over time under either low-cycle high stress or high-cycle intermediate stress. Further, all components in aforementioned system consistently provides high bending or torsional strength, despite dimensional and other manufacturing variations. Main subtle problem with existing adjustable pedals is that while they are able to effectively withstand the forces applied directly for and after when applying the brake, they are often relatively weak when a load or force is applied in a cross-car (side-to-side) direction. The pedals typically have excess and undesirable lash or looseness in the side-to-side direction and are subject to failure under relatively low loads.
[004] Therefore, there exists a need for a need for an automotive pedal support structure having an optimized design to minimize pedal deflection in vehicles. Further, there exists a need for an automotive pedal support structure that eliminates the aforementioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS
[005] The principle object of an embodiment herein is to provide an automotive pedal support structure having an optimized design to minimize pedal deflection in vehicles.
[006] Another object of an embodiment herein is to provide an automotive pedal support structure having a pedal assembly mounted jointly to a dash panel and a cross car beam structure of a vehicle.
[007] Yet another object of an embodiment herein is to provide an automotive pedal support structure having an optimized design to provide smooth and even load distribution on pedal assembly thereby improving structural durability of the pedal assembly.
[008] Still another object of an embodiment herein is to provide a method of providing an automotive pedal support structure in vehicles by mounting a pedal assembly jointly to a dash panel and a cross car beam structure of a vehicle.
[009] The objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which
[0011] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a pedal support structure having a pedal assembly connected to a dash panel and to a cross car beam (CCB) of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0012] FIG. 2 depicts perspective view of the dash panel with the CCB and the pedal assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[0013] FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting a method of providing an automotive pedal support structure in automotive vehicles, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of known components are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0015] The embodiments herein achieve an automotive pedal support structure having an optimized design to minimize pedal deflection in vehicles. Further, the embodiments herein achieve an automotive pedal support structure having a pedal assembly mounted jointly to a dash panel and a cross car beam structure of a vehicle. Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through FIGS. 3 where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments.
[0016] In an embodiment, the automotive pedal support structure 100 includes a pedal mounting bracket 102, a first portion 104 defined on pedal mounting bracket, a second portion 106 defined on pedal mounting bracket, a left bracket brake booster member 108, a right bracket booster member 110, a first vehicular structure 112, a connecting member 114 and an operating pedal 116.
[0017] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a pedal support structure 100 having a pedal assembly connected to a dash panel and to a cross car beam (CCB) of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the pedal support structure 100 includes the pedal mounting bracket 102 defining the first portion 104 and the second portion 106. The first portion 104 of the pedal mounting bracket 102 includes a plurality of openings to mount the pedal mounting bracket 102 to a dash panel of the vehicle.
[0018] In an embodiment the pedal mounting bracket 102 is connected to the dash panel using bolts as shown in FIG. 2. Further, in an embodiment, the pedal mounting bracket 102 is fastened to the dash panel at three predetermined mounting positions. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any type of attachment (such as bolt and nut, coupling, fastening and the like) between the pedal mounting bracket 102 and the dash panel without otherwise deterring the intended function of the connecting as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings.
[0019] In an embodiment, the pedal mounting bracket 102 includes the second portion 106 which is defined at predetermined angular position from the first portion 104. Further, the second portion 106 of the pedal mounting structure 102 is configured to be connected to at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and at least one right bracket brake booster member 110.
[0020] In an embodiment the pedal mounting bracket 102 is connected to said at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and to said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110 using bolts. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any type of attachment (such as bolt and nut, welding, coupling, fastening and the like) between the pedal mounting bracket 102 and said at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and to said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110 without otherwise deterring the intended function of the connecting as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings.
[0021] In an embodiment, said at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110 are connected by the connecting member 114. In an embodiment, the connecting member 114 is a bracket stiffener. Further, in an embodiment, said at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110 are connected to the connecting member 114 by carbon-di-oxide (CO2) welding. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any type of attachment between said at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110 without otherwise deterring the intended function of the connecting as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings.
[0022] In an embodiment, the pedal support structure 100 includes a first vehicular structure 112 which is attached to said at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and to said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110. The first vehicular structure 112 is a cross car beam (CCB) structure having a plurality of predefined mounting positions to attach said at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110. The additional mounting is provided to the CCB to avoid the pedal defection while panic braking.
[0023] In an embodiment, the cross car beam structure is attached to said at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110 by carbon-di-oxide (CO2) welding. Further, in an embodiment, the cross car beam structure is welded to said at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110 at four predetermined mounting positions. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any type of attachment (such as bolt and nut, coupling, fastening and the like) between cross car beam structure and said at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110 without otherwise deterring the intended function of the connecting as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings.
[0024] In an embodiment, the pedal assembly for operating at least one pedal 116 (clutch and brake) is assembled to the first portion 104 of the pedal mounting bracket 102. The pedal is operated in a normal range between a forward position and a rearward position.
[0025] In an embodiment, the pedal assembly is mounted on the dash panel and the CCB structure of the vehicle, to avoid intrusion of the pedal to a driver during frontal crash. Further, the pedal support structure 100 provides a smooth and even load flow on the pedal, thereby increasing structural durability and reducing the pedal deflection of the pedal assembly. In an embodiment, the dash panel deflection is improved from 4.3mm to 1.67 mm and stresses are improved from 100MPa+ to 400MPa.
[0026] In one embodiment, according to method 201 provided is an automotive pedal support structure in automotive vehicles. The method includes steps of providing a pedal mounting bracket 102 supporting at least one operating pedal 116 (step 202). Further, the method includes connecting a first portion 104 of the pedal mounting bracket 102 to a vehicle dash panel (step 203). Furthermore, the method includes, connecting a second portion 106 of the pedal mounting bracket 102 to at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and at least one right bracket brake booster member 110 (step 204). Said at least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110 are connected by at least one connecting member 114. In addition the method includes, attaching a first vehicular structure 112 to said least one left bracket brake booster member 108 and to said at least one right bracket brake booster member 110 (step 205).
[0027] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

Referral Numerals
Pedal mounting bracket 102
First portion on pedal mounting bracket 104
Second portion on pedal mounting bracket 106
Left bracket brake booster member 108
Right bracket brake booster member 110
First vehicular structure 112
Connecting member 114
Pedal 116