GB2610265A - Comfortable door inner lining for a driver's door of a right-hand drive motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A door inner lining 14 for a driver's door 12 of a right-hand drive motor vehicle 10 is provided with a base body 18 which may be connected to a door console in order to cover the door console and a lower limb (leg) support 20 which is connected to the base body so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis 16, in order to support a right lower limb 24 of a driver 26 which leads toward an accelerator pedal. The pivot axis of the support may be inclined in the Z-direction (vertical) and Y-direction (transverse) so as to be directed towards the accelerator pedal (figure 1). The support may have a recess 22 for partially receiving the lower limb. An electric motor may be provided for pivoting the support within a pivot angle range (figure 3). It is intended to provide a motor vehicle which is comfortable for drivers of different builds, made possible by the pivotable lower limb support, without impairing the visual appearance in the interior of the motor vehicle.

Description

Comfortable door inner lining for a driver's door of a right-hand drive motor vehicle The invention relates to a door inner lining, a driver's door of a right-hand drive motor vehicle being able to be covered thereby.

It is disclosed in JP 2015 105040 A to provide on the door inner lining of a driver's door for a right-hand drive motor vehicle a flat, circular disc which is linearly displaceable in the transverse direction of the right-hand drive motor vehicle, a driver being able to lean a lower limb of the right leg thereagainst.

There is a continual need to design a motor vehicle to be comfortable for a plurality of drivers of different build.

The present invention seeks to disclose measures which permit a motor vehicle which is comfortable for a plurality of drivers of different build.

This may be achieved according to the invention by a door inner lining having the features of Claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention, which in each case may represent one aspect of the invention individually or in combination, are specified in the subclaims and the following description.

One aspect relates to a door inner lining for a driver's door of a right-hand drive motor vehicle with a base body, which may be connected to a door console in order to cover the door console, and a lower limb support which is connected to the base body so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis, in order to support a right lower limb of a driver which leads toward an accelerator pedal.

In the case of a left-hand drive motor vehicle in which the steering wheel is provided on the left-hand side of the motor vehicle, the driver is able to support the right leg, which pushes down on the accelerator pedal, on a centre console in order to avoid cramp in the right leg during long journeys and to increase the driving comfort. In the case of a right-hand drive motor vehicle, however, in which the steering wheel is provided on the right-hand side of the motor vehicle, the accelerator pedal is also pushed down by the right leg of the driver but the centre console would be on the left-hand side so that in order to support the right leg a lower leg support, which is configured from the door inner lining of the driver's door, which is provided on the right-hand side, and which may be adapted to the individual needs of the respective driver, is provided in order to achieve a comfortable support of the right lower limb of the driver.

However, a motor vehicle is designed to be comfortable for a plurality of different drivers. Different drivers of a motor vehicle, however, may differ significantly relative to their physical makeup. For example, different drivers may have different heights, different length legs and/or different leg diameters in the longitudinal direction of the lower limb, whereby completely different individually adjustable seat positions may be produced on a driver's seat. However, it has been found by means of tests using test persons that in spite of the different physical makeup of the drivers, the respective lower limbs which lead toward the accelerator pedal are oriented substantially in the same manner, at least in a very similar manner, to one another. It has been recognized that, after locating a seat position which is perceived as particularly comfortable, the test persons have placed their right foot substantially flat on the accelerator pedal and with certain variations the lower limb protrudes substantially at right angles to the foot and thus also to the accelerator pedal. The general orientation of the lower limb was substantially the same in the test persons. It has been recognized that, as a result, it is possible to provide a particularly comfortable three-dimensional, for example recess-shaped, design for the lower limb support which is equally comfortable for a plurality of different drivers with a significantly different physique. However, an offset in the Y-direction caused by lower limbs of different bulk should be compensated by an adjustability of the lower limb support in order to permit a particularly high degree of comfort. However, a pivotability of the lower limb support about a pivot axis, in particular offset relative to the lower limb, is already sufficient for this purpose, so that the lower limb support may be integrated in a particularly cost-effective and stable manner in the door inner lining of the driver's door of the right-hand drive motor vehicle.

In comparison with a linearly adjustable lower limb support, the pivotable lower limb support may be integrated in a visually more attractive manner in the external appearance of the door inner lining and permit a more visually attractive overall impression. For example, the pivotable lower limb support may be deflected in an articulated manner on the base body of the door inner lining, on an upper edge in the region of the pivot axis, so that via the pivot angle of the lower limb support only the orientation of the surface of the lower limb support facing the vehicle interior changes and a join or a projection in the surface path may be avoided or minimized, whereby the overall visual impression is improved.

An offset at the lower end of the lower limb support, via the pivot angle of the lower limb support, may be concealed in principle by the material of the lower limb support so that a potentially occurring gaping hole at the lower end of the lower limb support may be concealed and may not be visible in a manner which impairs the visual appearance. A motor vehicle which is comfortable for a plurality of drivers of different build is made possible by the pivotable lower limb support, without impairing the visual appearance in the interior of the motor vehicle.

The lower limb support may be produced, in particular, from the same material as the base body of the door inner lining or comprise the same material. Preferably, the lower limb support is covered with a material, cloth, leather, synthetic leather or other textile knitted fabric as a flexible cover. The lower limb support is, in particular, upholstered, wherein for example an upholstery material, in particular a foam material, may be provided between the flexible cover and a harder moulded body produced, in particular, from plastics material. The upholstery material may have, in particular, a shape memory functionality, wherein preferably shapes stored for different drivers may be adjusted by an actuatable actuator.

The base body of the door inner lining may have fastening elements, for example clips, via which the base body may be connected to the door console of the driver's door provided for transferring loads. The lower limb support may be pivotably mounted on the base body, in particular via bearing pins. In principle, it is also possible to design the lower limb support or at least a moulded body of the lower limb support integrally with the base body and to provide the pivotability via an integral film hinge between the base body and the lower limb support.

In particular, the pivot axis of the lower limb support runs in a manner which is inclined in the Z-direction, in particular toward the accelerator pedal. Due to the path of the pivot axis, it is possible to ensure that, with correspondingly different pivot angles of the lower limb support relative to the base body, different sizes of lower limb may bear substantially over a large surface area against the lower limb support. The pivot axis may face downwardly on the front side and upwardly on the rear side. As a result, the pivot axis may run approximately parallel to the orientation of the lower limb. In particular, the pivot axis is provided offset upwardly in the Z-direction relative to the path of the lower limb. An upper limb of large bulk may pivot the lower limb support away from a centre line of the motor vehicle toward the motor vehicle door, whilst in the case of a lower limb of small bulk the lower limb support may be pivoted toward the centre line of the motor vehicle and away from the vehicle door. For example, the lower limb support is supported via a spring element on the base body so that the lower limb support may be automatically pushed by the spring force of the spring element toward the centre line of the motor vehicle.

An X-direction is understood to mean a coordinate direction along a longitudinal axis of a motor vehicle when the door inner lining is installed in the motor vehicle.

The X-direction runs substantially horizontally when the motor vehicle is parked on a flat, horizontally running substrate. A Y-direction is understood to mean a coordinate direction along a transverse axis of a motor vehicle when the door inner lining is installed in the motor vehicle. The Y-direction runs substantially horizontally when the motor vehicle is parked on a flat, horizontally running substrate. A Z-direction is understood to mean a coordinate direction along a vertical axis of a motor vehicle when the door inner lining is installed in the motor vehicle. The Z-direction runs substantially vertically when the motor vehicle is parked on a flat, horizontally running substrate. The X-direction, the Y-direction and the Z-direction are oriented at right-angles to one another.

Preferably, the pivot axis of the lower limb support runs in a manner which is inclined in the Y-direction, in particular toward the accelerator pedal. As a result, the lower limb support may guide the lower limb from outside to inside toward the accelerator pedal in a funnel-shaped manner. As a result, the accelerator pedal may be positioned comfortably for the driver and ergonomically advantageously relatively close to the centre line of the motor vehicle running in the longitudinal direction. As a result, a space-saving and cost-effective pedal system for the right-hand drive motor vehicle may be achieved.

Particularly preferably, the lower limb support has a recess for partially receiving the right lower limb of the driver. Since the orientation of the lower limb differs only slightly in different drivers, a three-dimensional design of the lower limb support which is adapted to the shape of the lower limb may be achieved by the recess. If the lower limb support is pivoted about the pivot axis, in order to adapt the lower limb support to differently shaped lower limbs, the peripheral angular range of the recess bearing against the lower limb may be slightly displaced in the peripheral direction of the lower limb, whereby an adaptation of the lower limb support in the Y-direction may be carried out without the comfort being impaired thereby when the lower limb is supported in the recess of the lower limb support.

In particular, it is provided that an opening cross section of the recess, which is open in the Y-direction, tapers toward the accelerator pedal. The recess may be open toward the vehicle interior in the Y-direction, whilst the bottom of the recess in the Y-direction is oriented away from the vehicle interior, so that in the Y-direction the lower limb of the driver may be partially immersed in the recess and comfortably supported therein. Depending on the adjusted seat height of a motor vehicle seat, the orientation of the lower limb may be slightly changed depending on the leg length of the driver, whereby the offset in the Z-direction is less in the vicinity of the accelerator pedal than in the vicinity of the motor vehicle seat.

Since the recess is designed to be narrower toward the accelerator pedal than toward the motor vehicle seat, due to the tapering of the recess toward the accelerator pedal, a high degree of comfort for the driver may be achieved in different seat positions.

Preferably, a centre line of the recess running along the lowest point of the opening cross section runs substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the lower limb support. As a result, both in the case of different seat heights for the same driver and in the case of differently sized lower limbs of different drivers with the same seat height, a high degree of comfort may be achieved when the lower limb is supported in the recess.

Particularly preferably, the lower limb support is able to be blocked in different pivot angle positions. As a result, forces applied onto the lower limb support from the lower limb may be transferred via the blocking, so that the lower limb support may provide a sufficient lateral support of the lower limb. The blocking of the lower limb support may be carried out, in particular, by the base body of the door inner lining. Preferably, the blocking may provide a releasable positive connection. To this end, for example, a toothing may cooperate with a counter-toothing, so that the lower limb support may be fixed, for example, in defined angular spacings which correspond to the tooth spacing of the toothing and/or the counter-toothing.

In particular, the lower limb support has a guide projection which is spaced apart from the pivot axis and which protrudes toward the base body and/or toward the door console for insertion in a guide slot which is formed by the base body and/or by the door console. A gaping hole between the lower limb support and the base body of the door inner lining may be avoided thereby or at least concealed in a visually attractive manner. Additionally, a tilting of the part of the lower limb support which is significantly spaced apart from the pivot axis may be avoided. In particular, the guide projection may provide a support surface for an object inserted below the pivot axis between the lower limb support and the base body, for example an umbrella, whereby the functionality and the support options are increased.

Preferably, an electric motor is provided for pivoting the lower limb support, wherein the electric motor is connected to an operating unit which may be actuated by the driver. As a result, the lower limb support may be pivoted in a very simple manner into an angular position which is particularly comfortable for the respective driver.

A further aspect relates to an interior arrangement for a right-hand drive motor vehicle with an accelerator pedal for regulating the speed of the right-hand drive motor vehicle, said accelerator pedal being arranged in a foot well for a driver, and with a driver's door, wherein the driver's door has a door inner lining which may be configured and developed as described above. In particular, it is provided that the pivot axis of the lower limb support runs substantially parallel to a surface normal of a surface of the accelerator pedal which is able to be pushed down by the driver or runs at an angle to the surface normal by an angle a of 0° s a s 300, in particular 3° s a s 150 and preferably 5° s a s 100. A motor vehicle which is comfortable for a plurality of drivers of different build is made possible by the pivotable lower limb support, without impairing the visual appearance in the interior of the motor vehicle.

The invention is described by way of example hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, by way of preferred exemplary embodiments, wherein the features shown hereinafter may represent one aspect of the invention both in each case individually and in combination. In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a door inner lining, Fig. 2: shows a schematic sectional view of the door inner lining of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3: shows a schematic detailed view of the door inner lining of Fig. 2.

The driver's door 12 shown in an internal view in Fig. 1 in a right-hand drive motor vehicle 10 has an inner lining 14. The inner lining 14 has a lower limb support 20 which is pivotable about a pivot axis 16 relative to a base body 18 and which has a recess 22 adapted to the contour of a lower limb 24 of a driver 26. The recess 22 runs substantially parallel to the pivot axis 16 and tapers slightly toward an accelerator pedal provided in the foot well.

As shown in Fig. 2, the lower limb support 20 has a guide projection 28 which is guided in a guide slot 30 of the base body 18. The guide projection 28 and the ao remaining lower limb support 20 may define together with the base body 18 a cavity 32 into which, for example, an umbrella or a different object may be inserted.

As shown in Fig. 3, the pivot axis of the lower limb support 20 may be provided below an armrest 34 of the base body 18. For example, the guide projection 28 has a toothed rod 36 which may be displaced relative to the guide slot 30 by means of a toothed adjusting wheel 38 which comprises only a partial angular range of a circle, in order to pivot the lower limb support 20 within a deliberately defined pivot angle range. The adjusting wheel 38 may be rotated, in particular, by means of an electric motor.

Claims (10)

1. Claims 1. Door inner lining for a driver's door of a right-hand drive motor vehicle with a base body which may be connected to a door console in order to cover 5 the door console and a lower limb support which is connected to the base body so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis, in order to support a right lower limb of a driver which leads toward an accelerator pedal.
2. 2. Door inner lining according to Claim 1, wherein the pivot axis of the lower limb support runs in a manner which is inclined in the Z-direction, in particular toward the accelerator pedal.
3. 3. Door inner lining according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the pivot axis of the lower limb support runs in a manner which is inclined in the Y-direction, in particular toward the accelerator pedal.
4. 4. Door inner lining according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the lower limb support has a recess for partially receiving the right lower limb of the driver.
5. 5. Door inner lining according to Claim 4, wherein an opening cross section of the recess, which is open in the Y-direction, tapers toward the accelerator pedal.
6. 6. Door inner lining according to Claim 4 or 5, wherein a centre line of the recess running along the lowest point of the opening cross section runs substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the lower limb support.
7. 7. Door inner lining according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the lower limb support is able to be blocked in different pivot angle positions.
8. 8. Door inner lining according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the lower limb support has a guide projection which is spaced apart from the pivot axis and which protrudes toward the base body and/or toward the door console for insertion in a guide slot which is configured by the base body and/or by the door console.
9. 9. Door inner lining according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein an electric motor is provided for pivoting the lower limb support, wherein the electric motor is connected to an operating unit which may be actuated by the driver.
10. 10. Interior arrangement for a right-hand drive motor vehicle with an accelerator pedal for regulating the speed of the right-hand drive motor vehicle, said accelerator pedal being arranged in a foot well for a driver, and with a driver's door, wherein the driver's door has a door inner lining according to any one of Claims 1 to 9.