EP4452694A1

EP4452694A1 - Vehicle cabin with a right foot support

Info

Publication number: EP4452694A1
Application number: EP22830325.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arnoldus Johannes Ignatius Maria ROIJACKERS; Haro VAN GALEN; Martinus Wilhelmina Paulus Kuijpers
Original assignee: DAF Trucks NV
Current assignee: DAF Trucks NV
Priority date: 2021-12-23
Filing date: 2022-12-22
Publication date: 2024-10-30
Also published as: WO2023121456A1; NL2030274B1

Abstract

A vehicle cabin has a right foot support provided in an engine tunnel of the cabin, which has a recessed area for placement of the right foot. The engine tunnel comprises an upstanding lead wall part provided directly adjacent the accelerator pedal. The lead wall part extends, in the length direction of the vehicle adjacent the accelerator pedal along its length and beyond the accelerator pedal, at a first lateral distance of the accelerator pedal and recedes, beyond the accelerator pedal, in lateral direction, to a second lateral distance to provide a foot support recess for placing and supporting of the right foot. The foot support recess comprises a foot support floor preferably elevated from the cabin floor, and tilted with its floor front area at a first height higher than a floor rear area, at a second height relative to the cabin floor, and wherein the first height is at or below a horizontal plane of the accelerator pedal of a third height. The foot support recess is further designed to comfortably accommodate a driver's right leg in upstanding direction from the foot support floor.

Description

Title: Vehicle cabin with a right foot support

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to vehicle cabin having a right foot support.

When driving for long time, a driver has a need to move his feet in different positions for better comfort and health. Especially for automatic gear vehicles, the left foot has more space for different positions (examples: position of clutch pedal, on the left foot support, in front of driver seat). The right foot usually has a more limited space (position accelerator pedal, in front of driver seat). A driver in vehicle with mechanical gearshift has also need for different positions but is limited by clutch pedal. Furthermore, in a cabin for a truck, the steering wheel console typically separates footrests of left and right feet, where the brake and accelerator pedals are always present to be operated by the right foot. This further limits a comfortable room for changing a position of the right foot.

Since drivers of vehicles have a large variety of body sizes and driver preferences, there is a desire in the field to be able to move the feet, in particular, the right foot, but also place the feet at a safe place that comfortably and safely provides a rest while being able to easily access the pedals in a situation that fast operation is required. In the art, it is known to provide a ‘dead pedal’ or a right foot rest position in the cabin, but there still is a need for improvement, especially for being able to swiftly and accurately placing the feet in the right position. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is the provision of a footrest adapted to be positioned adjacent the accelerator pedal of an automobile equipped with an automatic speed regulating device, and so positioned as to provide a comfortable rest for the driver's right foot whenever said foot cannot be rested on said accelerator pedal, while at the same time maintaining his foot in a position permitting instant movement of his foot to either pedal with no danger of said movement being interfered with or slowed by said pedals.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, and efficiency of operation.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention a vehicle cabin comprises a right foot support provided in an engine tunnel of the cabin, which has a recessed area for placement of the right foot. The engine tunnel comprises an upstanding lead wall part provided directly adjacent to the accelerator pedal. The lead wall part extends beyond the accelerator pedal in the rearward direction of the vehicle adjacent to the accelerator pedal along its length at a first lateral distance of the accelerator pedal and recedes in lateral direction, over a range beyond the accelerator pedal to a second lateral distance to provide a foot support recess for placing and supporting of the right foot. The lead wall provides a safe lead for stopping a lateral movement of the feet, in order to quickly operate the accelerator pedal, when changing between brake and accelerator pedal. At the same time, the lead wall provides sufficient room for providing a foot support recess by receding to the second lateral distance.

Advantageously, the foot support recess comprises a foot support floor elevated from the cabin floor, and tilted with its floor front area at a first height higher than a floor rear area, at a second height relative to the cabin floor, and wherein the first height is at or below a horizontal plane of the accelerator pedal of a third height. In this way, the foot is placed in a position that can rapidly find the accelerator pedal, by a small upward tilting movement of the foot, while moving it towards the accelerator pedal, almost without having to lift it. Thus, the accelerator pedal can be safely reached, both in a laterally outward foot movement from the brake pedal towards the accelerator pedal, and in a laterally inward movement wherein the right foot finds the accelerator pedal instantaneously without having to lift it. In the same way, the brake pedal can also be reached in a quick and safe without any obstacles when moving from right foot support to brake pedal.

The foot support recess is further designed to comfortably accommodate a driver’s right leg in upstanding direction from the foot support floor.

Accordingly, a driver now also has improved footspace for the right foot, which also gives support to place the foot on accelerator pedal. The surface on right side of accelerator foot is used as a support for holding the foot steady. The space on the right hand foot rest gives room for the right foot when driving on cruise control.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the relevant art(s) to make and use the invention.

Figure 1 shows a front sectional view of a cabin having a right foot support. Figure 2 shows a first side view of a right foot support with a right foot supported according an embodiment;

Figure 3 shows a second side view of a right foot support with a right foot placed on the accelerator pedal;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the right foot support with a right foot changing between the right foot support and the accelerator pedal; and Figure 5 shows a third side view of the right foot support with exemplary height indications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs as read in the context of the description and drawings. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. In some instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices and methods may be omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present systems and methods. The term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising" specify the presence of stated features but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control.

In Figure 1, a schematic sectional front view is shown of an embodiment of the invention, having a vehicle cabin pats 10-1 and 10-2 wherein an engine tunnel 15 is provided, a driver’s seat 16 and a steer wheel console 18. Engine tunnel 15, which is an upstanding part of the cabin floor defining room for engine parts, for example air ducts 30-1 and 30-2, together with the steer wheel console define a leg space 17 for a driver, in particular for the right leg. Accordingly, a vehicle cabin 10 is provided with an engine tunnel 15 having a side wall 110 that defines a leg zone 17 for operating, by the driver, a vehicle’s accelerator pedal and brake pedal. More in particular, a foot support recess 20 is provided, by having the upstanding wall part 110 of engine tunnel 15 formed with a recessed dimension D2 as will be further illustrated in subsequent figures. A mid console 60 is formed above engine tunnel 15, extending wall part 110 into side wall 150 and further defining the foot support recess 20. While in the example air ducts 30-1 and 30-2 are used as engine parts, other engine parts may be present which may also be electric vehicle engine parts, in particular, air ducts 30-1 and 30-2 are not essential, especially not for electric vehicles.

More in particular also, in Figure 1, schematically in engine tunnel 15 an air duct 30-1 is illustrated that is adjusted by lowering duct 30-1 over a vertical distance Si and placing it more central over a lateral distance S2, all relative to its counterpart duct 30-2 provided on opposite side of console 15. Without being limited in scope, illustrative ranges for first vertical distance Si may be about 10-20 cm; and for lateral distance S2 may be 5-20 cm. Accordingly, in the engine tunnel, air ducts 30-1 and 30-2 are provided, with air duct 30-1 being lowered and placed more central in the cabin relative to the other air duct 30-2, to accommodate the receding upstanding wall 150, beyond the accelerator pedal, in lateral direction, to the second lateral distance D2 for providing said foot support recess 20. Thus an asymmetric air duct configuration is provided to accommodate for foot rest 20. The width of footrest 20, i.e. the difference between said two lateral distances may be in the order of an adult foot plus a few centimeters, e.g. about 8-20 cm.

In Figure 2 an exemplary distance D3 ranging between 0-5 cm mm is shown of a lead wall part 150-1 of an upstanding wall 150 of engine tunnel 15, to illustrate the inventive aspect of a vehicle cabin provided. Side wall 150, together with the cabin floor and steering console, defines a leg zone for operating, by the driver, a vehicle’s accelerator pedal 19. The side wall has an upstanding lead wall part 150-1 extending in forward direction of the cabin and provided directly adjacent the accelerator pedal 19.

The upstanding lead wall part 150-1 extends, in the rearward direction of the vehicle adjacent the accelerator pedal 19 along its length and beyond the accelerator pedal, at a first lateral distance DI (See Figure 1) and recedes, beyond the accelerator pedal 19, in lateral direction, to a second lateral distance D2; see Figure 1, to provide a foot support recess 20 for placing and supporting of the right foot R.

The function of this extended lead wall part 150-1 is not obvious: when no restrictions in longitudinal direction are provided for a foot rest recess 20 a problem arises when quickly changing from the brake to the accelerator pedal 19. In absence of the lead wall part 150, a right part of the right foot R may not only touch the accelerator pedal 19 but may also hit a left hand side of the footrest 20, which would then extend alongside the accelerator pedal 19, leading to uncontrolled accelerator pedal control. Thus, preferably recess 20 is formed in rearward direction, beyond pedal 19, over a range D3 which, in exemplary cases could be 0-5 cm. Accordingly, lead wall part 150-1 provides a safe lead function for stopping a foot movement of the right foot R when changing pedals, while at the same time providing a comfortable recess 20, preventing problems of operating the accelerator pedal 19 under any condition of driving.

Figure 3 shows a second side view of a right foot support with a right foot placed on the accelerator pedal, to illustrate the relative position of lead wall part 150 to the front of foot R, effectively inhibiting that foot R would be placed inadvertently on foot rest 20. The front of foot R extends beyond an exemplary heel- to- gas distance D4 of about 15 -20 cm with right foot R placed on cabin floor 10-4. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the right foot support 20 with a right foot R changing between the right foot support 20 (R’) and the accelerator pedal 19 (R).

Figure 5 shows a third side view of the right foot support with exemplary height indications of recess part 20. In particular lowest height, relative to cabin floor 10-4 is indicated at Hl, for example ranging between 4 and 18 cm, wherein preferably A vehicle cabin according to claim 1, wherein the foot support recess comprises a foot support floor elevated from the cabin floor, and tilted with its floor front area at a first height higher than a floor rear area, at a second height relative to the cabin floor, and wherein the first height is at or below a horizontal plane of the accelerator pedal of a third height.

Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

8 Claims

1. A vehicle cabin provided with a engine tunnel having a side wall that defines a leg zone for a operating, by the driver, a vehicle’s a accelerator pedal and brake pedal, wherein the side wall has an upstanding lead wall part extending in forward direction and provided directly adjacent the accelerator pedal, wherein the upstanding lead wall part extends beyond the accelerator pedal, in the rearward direction of the vehicle adjacent the accelerator pedal along its length at a first lateral distance of the accelerator pedal and recedes in lateral direction, over a range beyond the accelerator pedal to a second lateral distance to provide a foot support recess for placing and supporting of the right foot.

2. A vehicle cabin according to claim 1, wherein the foot support recess comprises a foot support floor elevated from the cabin floor, and tilted with its floor front area at a first height higher than a floor rear area, at a second height relative to the cabin floor, and wherein the first height is at or below a horizontal plane of the accelerator pedal of a third height.

3. A vehicle cabin according to any preceding claim, wherein, in the engine tunnel, at least two air ducts are provided, with one air duct being lowered and placed more central relative to the other air duct, to accommodate the receding upstanding wall, beyond the accelerator pedal, in lateral direction, to the second lateral distance for providing said foot support recess.