DE102008025839B4 - Device for supporting people's feet - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for supporting the feet of people in the footwell of motor vehicles, with a footrest (6) fastened to the side parts (2) and the floor (1) of the body (4), the support plate (7) thereof facing the vehicle interior vertically or diagonally from top to bottom is aligned and adjoins the base (1), characterized in that a deformation element (10) receiving the heel area of the supported foot is connected to the support plate (7), which is supported on the base (1), that the deformation element (10) has a plate (11) that supports the heel area of the supported foot and runs parallel to the floor (1) and at least one flexible deformation part (15) inserted between the plate (11) and the floor (1), and that the deformation part (15) is designed as a damping element (15) provided between the plate (11) and the base (1) and made of a foamed plastic.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for supporting the feet of people in the footwell of motor vehicles, with a footrest attached to the side parts and to the floor of the body of the motor vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a device shows, for example DE 198 60 428 B4 , in which the tabs connecting the footrest or its footrest plate with the adjacent body parts, as well as areas of the footrest plate, are designed as inherently flexible deformation parts that absorb impact energy in the event of a frontal crash of the motor vehicle or largely keep impermissible acceleration forces and deformations away from the footrest plate. As a rule, the hook area of the supported foot is also supported on the floor of the body of the motor vehicle, floor coverings being used to a certain extent.

From the US 2001/0 003 399 A1 a generic device for foot support is known. Further devices for foot support are from the US 2003/0 222 478 A1 , from the US 2002/0 096 904 A1 and from the DE 102 03 055 A1 known.

The object of the invention is to develop the generic device with structurally simple and easy-to-assemble means in such a way that a further improved foot support can be realized in the event of a crash.

This object is achieved according to the invention with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

According to the invention, it is proposed that a deformation element which receives the heel area of the supported foot and which is supported on the floor is connected to the footrest plate of the footrest. This makes it possible to expand the function of the footrest with structurally simple means so that crash-induced deformations on the body of the motor vehicle that affect the floor area are absorbed or largely kept away from the supported foot.

In a particularly preferred manner, the deformation element has a plate that supports the heel area of the supported foot and runs parallel to the floor, and at least one flexible deformation part inserted between the plate and the floor. The plate can thus be designed and arranged in an ergonomically favorable manner and supported on the floor via the deformation part.

In particular, in a structurally simple configuration, two spaced-apart support walls that rest on the floor and are inherently flexible can be provided on the plate.

In this case, to achieve a simple deformation effect that is easily manageable from a manufacturing point of view, the support walls can be arranged converging or diverging obliquely away from the plate and thus reliably evade deformation when deformation forces act on the support walls.

At least one damping element made of foamed plastic is provided between the plate and the floor, by means of which a specific damping behavior can also be set when deformation forces occur.

The at least one damping element can be structurally favorable and be arranged between the support walls arranged on the plate, creating a wide support base.

Furthermore, to simplify the assembly of the deformation element, the damping element can be held by clips and / or retaining lugs which are molded onto the plate. Alternatively or additionally, the damping element provided with flat contact surfaces can be firmly connected to the plate via an adhesive connection.

A further simplification of assembly of the entire footrest can be achieved in that the deformation element is connected to the footrest via connecting means to form an assembly unit. The connecting means can preferably be formed by at least two tabs connecting the plate to the footrest.

Finally, the deformation element can be made from plastic, which means that considerable cost savings can be achieved compared with a design made from sheet steel, particularly in the case of series production with higher numbers of items.

• 1 eine raumbildliche Teilansicht eines Fußraumes für Kraftfahrzeuge, mit einer an einem Seitenteil und einem Boden der Karosserie angeordneten Fußstütze und einem im Bodenbereich an die Fußstütze anschließenden Deformationselement; und
• 2 das Deformationselement gemäß 1 als Einzelheit Z.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing. Show it:

• 1 a three-dimensional partial view of a footwell for motor vehicles, with a footrest arranged on a side part and a floor of the body and an im Floor area adjoining the footrest deformation element; and
• 2 the deformation element according to 1 as a detail Z.

the 1 shows a floor in sections 1 , a side part 2 and a front wall sloping forward 3 a body 4th for passenger vehicles that have a footwell on the inside 5 enclose. In the footwell 5 For example, the operating pedals (not shown) of the motor vehicle are arranged in a known manner.

Left (or right, passenger side) of the footwell 5 is a footrest 6th arranged that a foot rest plate 7th has, which is oriented substantially vertically with a slight downward inclination to the rear.

The footrest 6th is as can be seen on the side molded tabs 8th and a strut 9 on the side part 2 and on the upward sloping front wall 3 attached by means of indicated screw connections. The footrest 6th can also be used on the floor 1 be attached.

To the bottom 1 extending footplate 7th closes approximately parallel to the ground 1 aligned and on the ground 1 supporting deformation element 10 at.

The deformation element 10 is made of plastic by injection molding and has one to the bottom 1 parallel, roughly rectangular plate 11 on, which is then attached to the footrest plate 7th the hook area of a supported foot of an operator of the motor vehicle receives or supports.

To the plate 11 are acting as a deformation part two approximately in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle and sloping downwardly, mutually diverging support walls 12th , 13th integrally formed with their free end faces facing the floor 12a , 13a on the ground 1 prop up.

The retaining walls 12th , 13th are designed in such a way that in the event of a frontal crash of the motor vehicle they are connected to the footwell 5 impact energy deform and thus absorb impact energy or keep impact forces and harmful accelerations away from the supported foot in the hook area. The resilience of the retaining walls 12th , 13th is significantly supported by their inclined arrangement.

The plate 11 of the deformation element 10 is via molded tabs 14th for producing an assembly unit from a footrest 6th and deformation element 10 with the footrest plate 7th firmly connected. This can be done, for example, by means of a clip connection, not shown in detail.

Between the retaining walls 12th , 13th is a cushion-like damping element as a further deformation part 15th arranged, as can be seen with flat contact surfaces between the floor 1 and the plate 11 of the deformation part 10 is inserted.

The roughly cuboidal damping element 15th is made of closed-cell plastic foam.

The damping element 15th is by means of several, to the plate 11 molded brackets 16 and about at least one in the plate 11 molded retaining lug 17th form-fit on the plate 11 held.

Alternatively or additionally, the damping element 15th with its the bottom of the plate 11 facing, approximately rectangular support surface with the plate 11 Be connected via a non-visible adhesive connection.

The damping element forms accordingly 15th with the deformation element 10 a pre-assembly unit, which is then attached to the footrest 6th can be combined accordingly to form an assembly unit that can be installed overall in the power vehicle.

The retaining walls 12th , 13th and the cushion-shaped damping element 15th are structurally coordinated so that the required energy absorption of the deformation element 10 is reached in the hook area of the supported foot.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

For example, the deformation element 10 only a lower support structure with molded support walls 12th , 13th have, or the deformation element 10 can alternatively only with one or more, between plate 11 and soil 1 inserted damping elements 15th be executed.

The deformation element 10 can optionally also be made in several parts from appropriately designed, thin-walled metal sheets and joined together, for example, by welded joints.

Finally, the footrest could 6th with the footrest plate 7th and the deformation element 10 with the hook support plate 11 can also be made in one piece and made of the same material from plastic or metal.

List of reference symbols

1

floor

2

Side part

3

sloping front wall

4th

body

5

Footwell

6th

Footrest

7th

Footplate

8th

Tabs

9

strut

10

Deformation element

11

plate

12th

Retaining wall

12a

free face

13th

Retaining wall

13a

free face

14th

Tabs

15th

Damping element

16

Brackets

17th

Retaining lug

Claims (9)

Device for supporting the feet of people in the footwell of motor vehicles, with a footrest (6) fastened to the side parts (2) and the floor (1) of the body (4), the support plate (7) thereof facing the vehicle interior vertically or diagonally from top to bottom is aligned and adjoins the base (1), characterized in that a deformation element (10) receiving the heel area of the supported foot is connected to the support plate (7), which is supported on the base (1), that the deformation element (10) has a plate (11) that supports the heel area of the supported foot and runs parallel to the floor (1) and at least one flexible deformation part (15) inserted between the plate (11) and the floor (1), and that the deformation part (15) is designed as a damping element (15) provided between the plate (11) and the base (1) and made of a foamed plastic. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that two spaced-apart support walls (12, 13) resting on the floor (1) and yielding in themselves are provided on the plate (11). Device according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the support walls (12, 13) are arranged converging or diverging obliquely away from the plate (11). Device according to one of the Claims 2 or 3 , characterized in that the at least one damping element (15) is arranged between the support walls (12, 13) arranged on the plate (11). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the damping element (15) is held via clips (16) and / or retaining lugs (17) which are molded onto the plate (11). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the damping element (15), which is preferably provided with flat contact surfaces, is firmly connected to the plate (11) via an adhesive connection. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the deformation element (10) is connected to the footrest (6) via connecting means (14) to form an assembly unit. Device according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the connecting means are formed by at least two tabs (14) connecting the plate (11) to the footrest (6). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the deformation element (10) is made of plastic.

Images