The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 01, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 30, 1999
Jiamu Hu, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Lisa Marie Van Wynsberghe, Clarkston, MI (US);
Bryan M Stevens, Clinton Township, MI (US);
David Charles Peterson, Brandon, MI (US);
Keith V Leigh-Monstevens, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Automotive Products (USA), Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
A pushrod assembly for use in association with a vehicle clutch control system of the type including a slave cylinder having an output member adapted for control of the clutch mechanism of the vehicle, a master cylinder for supplying hydraulic fluid to the slave cylinder, and a clutch control pedal assembly for actuating the master cylinder via the pushrod assembly. The pushrod assembly is connected at a forward end thereof to the master cylinder piston and is adapted for connection at a rearward end thereof to the clutch pedal arm and includes an isolator member of resilient material carried by the pushrod and interposed between the rearward pushrod end and the clutch pedal in a position to be resiliently distorted in response to movement of the control pedal in a release direction relative to the pushrod. When the operator's foot inadvertently slips off of the clutch pedal and the pushrod assembly flies back forcefully toward a pedal release position, the isolator member isolates the pedal arm assembly from the pushrod to reduce the impact on the pushrod and avoid system failures resulting from the impact loading.