Daimlerchrysler Corporation

L Guy Montford

John E Schambre

Michael O Forker

David L Garber

Liliana Neag

Dwight S Brooks

Jack Soullier

Howard A Estes, Jr

Raymond C Deyonker

Joseph P Holland

Paul A Lowis

Darrell Ferraiuolo

An active vehicle front structure for energy management including a bumper movable from a retracted position during low speed maneuvering and parking to an extended position during operation of the vehicle over a pre-defined threshold speed. The bumper in the extended position serves to extend the crumple zone, reducing overall vehicle damage, and to increase the time over which vehicle decelerates during a collision, reducing the likelihood and severity of injuries to occupants of the vehicle.

Active vehicle front structure for energy management

An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a pedal that can be translated in a longitudinal fashion parallel to the vehicle floor. The pedal is translated by use of a screw that is threadedly attached to the pedal and also pivotally attached to a motion linkage. The position and movement of the motion linkage is uniform irrespective of the longitudinal position of the pedal. The pedal includes a pivot pin that is received by a slot formed in a body structure; translation of the pedal along screw causes longitudinal movement of the pivot pin the said slot. The pivot pin is free to translate within said slot while the pedal is not depressed, when the pedal is depressed the pivot pin becomes fixed longitudinally by a camming formation and locking element arrangement. This allows depression of the pedal to cause the pedal to pivot about the pivot pin.

Adjustable pedal apparatus

An adjustable pedal apparatus for a motor vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a pedal that can be translated in a longitudinal fashion parallel to the vehicle floor. The apparatus includes a pedal pivotally attached to a pivot pin. The pivot pin is threadedly attached to a powered screw to allow translation thereon in response to rotation of the screw. The pivot pin is received in a second longitudinal slot formed in a base formation. An attachment link is pivotally attached to the pivot pin and includes an elongated opening for receiving a driving pin and a pushrod attachment. Driving pin and pushrod attachment are free to slide and pivot with their attachment to the attachment link. A power link is also provided. The power link is pivotally attached to the pedal at an elevation lower than the pivot pin. The power link also includes an elongated opening. The power link opening is adapted to receive the driving pin as well as a stationary pin disposed at an elevation comparable with the pivot pin of the pedal. Both the driving pin and the stationary pin are capable of sliding and rotating within the elongated opening of the power link. As the pedal is depressed the power link forces the driving link rearward, and the driving pin in connection with the attachment link and pivot pin drive the pushrod to activate the desired function of the vehicle. This operation of the pushrod holds true irrespective of the location of the pivot pin on the powered screw.

A hinge assembly for a motor vehicle having an upper joint, a middle joint and a lower joint. The upper joint pivotally interconnects a door to a body. The middle joint pivotally interconnects the door to a rod. A door axis of rotation is defined by the upper and middle joints. A lower joint pivotally interconnects the body to the rod. A control linkage pivotally interconnects the door and the body defining a conical path for the door axis of rotation to follow.

Hinge assembly for a vehicle door

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Novi, MI, United States of America

L Guy Montford