Abstract: Apparatus (1) for permitting release of a motor vehicle foot pedal, in a frontal crash, having a primary pedal arm (12) carrying a foot pad (14) and a secondary pedal arm (2) linked to the primary pedal arm (12) and provided at its lower end an open aperture (5) to receive a portion of a linkage pin (17). A trigger lever (6) is mounted on the secondary pedal arm (15) to be struck in a crash situation, and displaced, by a non-deformable portion (20) of a motor vehicle. The trigger lever (6) is provided at its other end with an open aperture (10) also to receive the linkage pin (17) and, in normal operation of the arrangement, to captivate the linkage pin (17) within the open aperture (5). A shearable rivet (7) connects the trigger lever (6) and the secondary pedal arm (2), restraining displacement of the trigger lever (6) with respect to the secondary pedal arm (2) so as to retain captivation of the linkage pin (17) until a crash occurs.

Abstract: A motor vehicle brake or clutch pedal comprising a two part blade with a first blade part (1) adapted at one end to carry a foot pad, and a second blade part (2) adapted to be connected to a push rod of an operating mechanism of either a brake booster or a clutch, with means to disconnect, or to render ineffective, the connection between the second blade part (2) and the push rod in a frontal crash situation of sufficient magnitude. The invention also includes a motor vehicle incorporating at least one such pedal.

Abstract: An arrangement (1) for permitting release of a motor vehicle foot pedal, in a frontal crash of sufficient magnitude, comprising a primary pedal arm (12) carrying a foot pad (14) and a secondary pedal arm (2) linked to the primary pedal arm (12) and provided at its lower end an open aperture (5) to receive a portion of a linkage pin (17). A trigger lever (6) mounted on the secondary pedal arm (15) (struck in a crash situation), and displaced, by a portion (20) of a motor vehicle designed not to deform. The trigger lever (6) is provided at its other end with an open aperture (10) also to receive the linkage pin (17) and, in normal operation of the arrangement, to captivate the linkage pin (17) within the open aperture (5). A shearable rivet (7) connects the trigger lever (6) and the secondary pedal arm (2), restraining displacement of the trigger lever (6) with respect to the secondary pedal arm (2) so as to retain captivation of the linkage pin (17) until a crash occurs.

Abstract: A motor vehicle brake or clutch pedal comprising a two part blade with a first blade part (1) adapted at one end to carry a foot pad, and a second blade part (2) adapted to be connected to a push rod of an operating mechanism of either a brake booster or a clutch, with means to disconnect, or to render ineffective, the connection between the second blade part (2) and the push rod in a frontal crash situation of sufficient magnitude. The invention also includes a motor vehicle incorporating at least one such pedal.

Abstract: A pedal box for a vehicle (V), comprises a pedal (E) pivotally mounted intermediate its end on a pedal pin (PP) carried by the pedal box, so as to have, beyond each side of the pedal pivot (PP), a lower pedal part carrying a footpad (FP), and an upper pedal part; an abutment surface (S) provided in or on the upper pedal part and so located with respect to the pedal pivot axis (PP) that the abutment surface (S) is beyond a top dead center position of the pedal pivot (PP) at the driver/passenger compartment (PC) side; and an activation device (C, D) adapted, in use, to be secured between a portion (Q) of the vehicle (V) designed to deform upon frontal impact, and a portion (P) of the vehicle (V) designed for minimal deformation upon frontal impact and, upon activation, to engage the abutment surface (S) such that the upper pedal part is rotated towards the driver/passenger compartment (PC), and the lower pedal part is rotated away from the driver/passenger compartment (PC).