GB2450626A

GB2450626A - Pedal-cover device for customizing control-pedals of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2450626A
Application number: GB0811789A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marco Dei Vecchi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-29
Filing date: 2008-06-27
Publication date: 2008-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2028-06-27
Also published as: ITTV20070118A1; GB2450626B; DE202008008594U1; FR2918187B3; GB0811789D0; FR2918187A1

Abstract

Pedal-cover device (10a) for customizing pedal of a motor vehicle, comprising an adapter (20), a filling and compensation insert (30) made in rubber, metal or plastic material, and an aesthetic plate (40), said adapter (40) being joined to the base plate (101) of the pedal and securing the filling and compensation insert (30), and the aesthetic plate (40) which are interchangeable with respect to the adapter (20).

Description

PEDAL-COVER DEVICE FOR CUSTOMIZING CONTROL-PEDALS

OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

1] This invention relates to a customizing pedal-cover device, both from the aesthetic point of view and for an improved functionality of the foot-plate, in the control-pedals of a motor vehicle.

[00021 Rudder-pedals for motor vehicles are known. Conventionally, the pedals forming the rudder-pedals are three, respectively one for the clutch, one for the brake, and one for the accelerator also known as the gas pedal. The one aligned close to the other, they usually are differentiated for sizes of the foot-plate, as for example in the case of the gas pedal that has a minor or greater foot-plate surface compared to the other two foot-plates. Another difference may concern the shape of the ievers supporting the footing base plate and controlling the different controlling elements of the vehicle, in this case having to be shaped according to the space available at the leg room next to the gear-box tunnel. The foot-plate base plate, which is metallic, can have a curved or flat shape, and present a coating element known as a pedal-cover, which is a separate part from the foot-plate base plate. It sometimes happens that the car industry offers certain accessories for a series of vehicles, allowing a specific customizing of the car including the pedals, making * the car itself aesthetically closest to the taste of the final user and in some S..

way better performing. The same is possible for choices subsequent to the purchase of the vehicle, allowing the final user to customize the pedals according to a desired aesthetic which may be different from others in series, as well as providing a functionality at least apparently improved.

3] The function of the coating element or pedal-cover of the footing base plate apart from the aesthetic aims, is to offer a surface with a friction capacity or grip appropriate to the type of vehicle, able to avoid the accidental sliding of the foot. In principle, for example, a sports car required to allow an aggressive action, and therefore has a coating element or pedal-cover with an engaging design, combined with a balanced relationship between a nonslip material, such as an elastomeric material, and a metallic material.

Prior art

4] Pedal-covers in aluminium or steel are well known. In principle, they are made of an aesthetic metal plate, e.g. aluminium or steel, provided with a series of openings, to which a rubber insert, provided at least on the bottom with relieved formations, is joined. The formations of the rubber insert have the same shape and coincide with some of the openings of the aesthetic plate in such a way that, extending over them, they protrude into them at pre-established points. The fixing of said pedal-cover, in a first case, occurs by means of visible means for example screws or rivets which engage the openings left free by the formations of the rubber insert. For example US2003/0024344 (Liu) describes a nonslip pedal-cover fixed on the foot-plate interface of the base plate by means of rivets where the pedal-cover is made of steel or aluminium with a **** s.'.' plurality of coloured protrusions. In a second arrangement, a rubber insert is joined to the aesthetic plate accomplishing also the adapting function. In this specific case, the aesthetic plate is peripherally provided with a small retaining rim for the perimetrical bordering of the rubber insert, while the formations of the latter are oversized with regard to the openings of the aesthetic plate in such a way as to be induced to protrude through the same in a forced way holding the ensemble together.

DE10357166 (Edler) proposes a process to produce a pedal-cover and related pedal-cover provided with a nonslip support where the formations of the rubber insert, which are oversized, extend beyond the aesthetic plate and have the function to hold back the aesthetic plate against the rubber filling insert. The inner side of the rubber insert is provided with an under-cut perimetrical seat, that, being elastically yielding, allows the border of the base plate of the pedal to extend into it.

5] In patent literature a cap for the pedal of a motor vehicle can be found, which is applied from above and wraps around the whole base plate, also coating part of the articulated joint for movement. The aim of the solution is to avoid accidental sliding of the foot, GB166849 (Hart).

6] GB189913758 (Philarete) suggests a pedal-cover for a motor vehicle, consisting of a metallic plate whose foot-plate surface is configured like a grater, and is fixed sideways to the standard pedal by means of screws.

7] From what has been disclosed before it is therefore reasonable to consider known: An accessory pedal-cover device that is fitted over the base plate of the pedal of the control-pedals in a motor vehicle; A pedal-cover device, essentially consisting of an aesthetic plate, * S..

provided with openings, to which metallic aesthetic plate a rubber insert is joined, said rubber insert having formations coinciding with said openings in the plate and from which in this way they protrude; A pedal-cover device, whose rubber insert is provided with a :.:: 25 connection interface to the base plate of the pedal, which is peripherally shaped in such a way as to act as an adapter; A pedal-cover device the aim of which is a studied aesthetic with a nonslip function.

Drawbacks [00081 The above described solutions have, in the opinion of the applicant, some drawbacks. In particular, where lacking an adapter, the fixing of the aesthetic plate and of the relative rubber insert by means of screws, appears to offer a result that is not aesthetically pleasing. On the S other hand, concerning the solutions integrating, in a rubber insert, an adapter for fixing to the base plate, they require high manufacturing costs, above all in the case in which the style needs to be changed.

Moreover the usual securing systems for the assembly of the aesthetic plate and of the rubber insert allow a relatively easy and fast assembly, and furthermore require the management of a high number of storehouse codes.

9] A common disadvantage, finally, relates to a significant limitation the range of applicability and the obtainable design, reducing the styles' creative margin, with objective difficulties in providing pedal-cover devices which can be considered universal.

[00101 These and other aims are solved by the present invention according to the claims below, solving the abovementioned problems by means of a pedal-cover device for customizing pedals for the control-**.

pedals of a motor vehicle essentially made up of an adapter, a filling and compensation insert made in rubber, metal or plastic material, an * * * aesthetic plate, which adapter is joined to the base plate of the pedal and S..

* :. firmly holds the filling and compensation insert and the aesthetic plate which are interchangeable with respect to the adapter.

S S..

S Aims

1] In this way, by means of the considerable creative contribution, which constitutes an immediate and not negligible technical progress, various different and important aims are achieved.

2] A first aim has been to obtain a pedal-cover device, which, with the same adapter, allows the combination of innumerable variations of the aesthetic plate with the relative filling insert, significantly increasing the possibility to offer new styles, and therefore new models of aesthetic lines, favouring and not limiting the expression of the stylist.

3] A second aim, consists in contained production costs of the pedal-cover, though increasing the range of available models, with a lower management of store codes required for the corresponding range according to the teachings of traditional techniques.

4] A third aim has been also to favour a fast, more effective assembly within the reach of not expert users, which, particularly in the first embodiment, do not need special tools.

5] In conclusion, these advantages, have the not negligible advantage of providing a pedal-cover device with a good technological content.

[00161 These and other advantages will appear from the following *:::: detailed description of a preferred embodiment with the aid of enclosed schematic drawings whose embodiment details are not to be considered : limiting but only illustrative. **.

I

Content of the drawings

S

Figure 1 is an assembly side-sectional view of a first embodiment of the pedal-cover device; Figure 2 is a frontal sectional view of the pedal-cover device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded view of the pedal-cover device of the previous figures; Figure 4 is an assembly side-sectional view of a second embodiment of the pedal-cover device; Figure 5, is a frontal sectional view of the pedal-cover device of Figure 4; Figure 6, is an assembly side-sectional view of a third embodiment of the pedal-cover device; Figure 7, is a frontal sectional view of the pedal-cover device of Figure 6.

Practical embodiment of the invention [00171 The present solution, refers to a pedal-cover device, respectively proposed in three common embodiments lOa, lOb and lOc. The pedal-cover device lOa, lOb and lOc is applicable (see figs. 1, 4 and 6) to a pedal made up of a lever arm 100 supporting at its end a base-plate 101.

8] In a first embodiment, as the one illustrated in the figures 1 to 3, * I. one can observe that the pedal-cover device lOa essentially comprises an **. 0 0,* adapter 20 that can be made in rubber, metal or plastic material, a filling and compensation insert 30 also made in rubber, metal or plastic material * * * and an aesthetic plate 40 that in the specific case is metallic, for example 0u* made of aluminium or steel. The adapter 20 is joined to the base plate 101 of the pedal, embracing its border along the perimeter, and firmly holds the filling and compensation insert 30 and the aesthetic plate 40 which are interchangeable with respect to the adapter 20. More in detail, (see fig. 3) the adapter 20 is obtained by an elastic material, for example some rubber, and is provided with the lower connecting interface 21, for engagement with the base plate 101, which is peripherally shaped with an under-cut seat 22 extending along at least two opposite sides. In this way (see fig. 1) the border 102 of the base-plate 101 creeps or projects into the under-cut seat 22, retaining the adapter 20 on the base plate 101.

Over the upper surface of the base plate 101 the bottom or base 23 of the adapter 20 is arranged, which is peripherically provided with a retaining wall 24 with a second under-cut seat 25 that extends continuously along said retaining wall 24. In this way it is possible to join from above the bottom 23 of the adapter 20, respectively to a filling and compensation insert 30 for example made in rubber, but also metallic or plastic material, held by the aesthetic plate 40. More in detail, the aesthetic plate 40 is provided on at least two sides with two lowered tongues or flanges 41, in such a way as to provide between them a housing complementary or counter-shaped with respect to the filling and compensation insert 30, each of the tongues extending into the under-cut seat 25 obtained along the wall 24 of the adapter 20. in an embodiment the aesthetic plate 40 may be superficially machined with the aim to optimize the grip, or it can alternatively provide localised openings 42 such as to allow the passage through the same of relief formations 31 formed on the filling and compensation insert 30 (fig. 3).

* 20 [0019] In a second embodiment (figs. 4 and 5) the pedal-cover device lOb is essentially composed by an adapter 50 that can be made in rubber, metal or plastic material, a filling and compensation insert 60 also made in rubber, metal or plastic material and an aesthetic plate 70, that in the U. specific case is metallic, for example made of aluminium or steel. The adapter 50, in this case, is joined to the base plate 101 of the pedal in *.. . such a way as to simply be superimposed over the base plate upper surface 103, and fixed to the latter by means of rivets 110. More in detail, the rivets 110 which pass through the base plate 101, with their upper heads 111 have the purpose to retain a metal sheet 112 that is shaped in such a way as to retain on its part the adapter 50 behind the 51 to the top surface 103 of the base-plate 101. Further more in detail, the metal sheet 112 (see fig. 5), presents two side seats 113, opened upwards and lowered, inside of which the heads 111 of rivets 110 are housed. A third seat 114 is moreover present, inverted with respect of the previous ones and interposed between said two first and second seats 113, in which the base 51 is housed, kept pushed against the top surface 103 of the base-plate 101. The first and second seats 113 end with opposite and protrusive ends, forming a right and left wing 115, each of which extends into the channel seat 52 provided along the perimetrical border of the adapter 50 and opening inwardly of the pedal-cover lOb. The lowered border 61 of the filling and compensation insert 60 extends into the channel seat 52 too, first one laying on the metal sheet 112, and being counter-shaped in such a way as to house the frame defining the aesthetic plate 70 which partially extends in the same way into the channel seat 52.

0] In a third embodiment (figs. 6 and 7) the pedal-cover device lOc is essentially composed by a filling and compensation insert 80 made in rubber, metal or plastic material too and by an aesthetic plate 90 which in the specific case is metallic, for example made of aluminium or steel. The adapting function, in this embodiment, is carried out by the metal sheet 112 described with reference to the embodiment lOc, therefore being anchored behind the top surface 103 of the base plate 101 of the pedal by *S..

means of through rivets 110. The two wings 115 of the metal sheet 112 *S.S being peripherally protruding and spaced apart with respect to the base plate 101 are introduced inside the channel seat 81 placed along the border of the filling and compensation insert 80 and with the open side * inwardly-directed with respect to the pedal-cover lOc. In this way the filling and compensation insert 80 lies on the outside of the metal sheet 112 and further, by means of the oversized formations 82, in this way the aesthetic plate 90 itself is joined to the adapter sheet 112. More in detail the aesthetic plate 90 is provided with aesthetic openings 91, through which the corresponding formations 82 protrude, emerging from the filling and compensation insert 80, and which formations 82 superimpose by means of their border our the visible surface of the aesthetic plate 90. * ** * * * * *e **** * * ***. ***. * * * ** * * S..

S * S. ** S *S. S S..

Reference lOa, lOb and lOc pedal-cover device lever arm, 101 base plate adapter of the pedal-cover lOa 30 filling and compensation insert aesthetic plate 21 connecting lower interface 22 under-square seat 102 border 23 bottom 24 retaining wall second under-square seat 41 lowered tongues 42 localised openings 31 relieves adapter of the pedal-cover lOb 51 bottom 52 channel seat filling and compensation insert * *. 20 61 lowered border * * * aesthetic plate **** 103 footing interface ***.

: 110 rivets 111 upper head * *. 25 112 metal sheet * * S * 103 footing interface *.S 113 side seats 114 third seat right and left wings 80 filling and compensation insert 81 channel seat 82 relieves aesthetic plate 91 aesthetic openings * S. * * . * *. S... * S 5.5. *S.5 * S S 5. .

S S.. * .. * S * * S 55*

S

Claims

1. Pedal-cover device for customizing pedal of a motor vehicle, comprising an adapter, a filling and compensation insert made in rubber, metal or plastic material, and an aesthetic plate, said adapter being joined to the base plate of the pedal and securing the filling and compensation insert, and the aesthetic plate which are interchangeable with respect to the adapter.

2. Pedal-cover device, according to claim 1 wherein the adapter has a lower connecting interface to the base plate peripherally shaped with an under-cut seat, and in which the border of the base-plate extends into the under-cut seat holding the adapter to itself, while the base of the adapter is arranged, against the upper surface of the base plate and provided at its periphery with a retaining wall with a second under-cut seat and furthermore in which over the base, a filling and compensation insert is provided, retained by the aesthetic plate which is provided laterally with lowered tongues, each of which extends into the under-cut seat extending along the wall of the adapter. * S S...

3. Pedal-cover device for customizing pedals for the rudder-pedals of * S S a motor vehicle, according to claim 1 wherein the adapter is superimposed over the upper surface of the base plate, and fixed to the : *..* 25 latter by means of through rivets which have upper heads retaining a S.. * metal sheet shaped in such a way as to retain on its part the adapter set with its base against the upper surface of the base-plate.

4. Pedal-cover device, according to claim 1 or 3 wherein the metal sheet presents two side seats, opening upwards and lowered, inside which the heads of rivets are housed while a third seat, inverted with respect the said two seats and interposed between them, houses the base of the adapter, and in which the two seats end with opposite and protruding ends, forming wings each of which extends into the channel seat that extends along the perimeter of the adapter opening inwardly with respect to the pedal-cover, and furthermore in which the lowered border of the filling and compensation insert into the channel seat extends too, which lowered border lays on the metal sheet, and is counter-shaped in such a way as to house the frame defining the aesthetic plate which partially extends into the channel seat.

5. Pedal-cover device motor vehicle, according to claim I wherein the adapter, comprises a metal sheet that is anchored against the upper surface of the base plate of the pedal by means of through rivets, in which wings of the metal sheet protrude peripherally and are spaced apart from the base plate being introduced inside the channel seat which is placed along the border of the filling and compensation insert and which has an open side inwardly-directed with respect to the pedal-cover, so that the filling and compensation insert lays on the outside of the metal sheet.

*:*::* 20

6. Pedal-cover device according to claim 1 or 5 wherein the aesthetic plate, is provided with aesthetic openings, through which corresponding protrude, projecting from the filling and compensation insert, and which S...

formations extend over the visible surface of the aesthetic plate. *.S * S. * . S *. .

S *.S