JP2002104144A - Parking brake pedal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a parking brake pedal device capable of protecting the legs of a driver at the time of a vehicle collision. SOLUTION: This parking brake pedal device P1 is provided with a parking brake pedal 35 which is disposed on the front sides of the legs of the driver and makes a support shaft 33 support a pedal part 37 on a lower end side so as to be oscillatable in front and rear directions of a vehicle and a supporting bracket 31 which holds the support shaft 33 and is held by a body B of the vehicle. The parking brake pedal 35 is constituted so as to be movable so that at least the pedal part 37 may be deviated from the front regions of the legs of the driver at the time of the vehicle collision.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is intended to move at least a pedal portion of a parking brake pedal disposed in front of a driver's lower leg from a region in front of the driver's lower leg during a vehicle collision. And a parking brake pedal device capable of protecting a driver's lower limb from a parking brake pedal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device for protecting a lower limb including a driver's knee, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. Hei 6-32195, Hei 9-123962, European Patent Publication 0684167A1, and European Patent Publication Gazette 0818360
As is known from A1, etc., a pad is provided near the column cover below the steering wheel to protrude so as to hold down the driver's knee during operation, or the driver's knee can be protected during operation. An airbag that expands and inflates is disposed and configured.

However, at the time of a vehicle collision, there has been no one that appropriately protects the lower limb of the driver, particularly the lower side of the foot or shin, from the parking brake pedal.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a parking brake pedal device capable of protecting a driver's lower limb at the time of a vehicle collision.

[0005]

A parking brake pedal device according to the present invention is provided on a front side of a lower leg of a driver, and has a support shaft capable of swinging a pedal portion at a lower end side in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle. A parking brake pedal device, comprising: a parking brake pedal that is supported by the parking brake pedal; and a support bracket that holds the support shaft and is held by a vehicle body. At least the pedal portion is configured to be movable so as to be out of the front region of the lower leg of the driver.

The support bracket is slidably held in a left-right direction with respect to a rail disposed on a body of the vehicle, and the support bracket is actuated at the time of a vehicle collision so that the support bracket is moved. Driving means for moving to the center of the vehicle along the rail is connected, and
A lock mechanism that restricts the movement of the support bracket toward the center of the vehicle other than at the time of a vehicle collision and allows the support bracket to move toward the center of the vehicle at the time of a vehicle collision may be provided.

[0007] Alternatively, the support shaft is constituted so that the parking brake pedal can slide in the left-right direction, and the parking brake pedal is actuated at the time of a vehicle collision to move the parking brake pedal along the support shaft. Drive means for moving to the center side, coupled to the support shaft, except during a vehicle collision, restricts the movement of the parking brake pedal to the vehicle center side, at the time of vehicle collision,
A lock mechanism that allows the parking brake pedal to move toward the center of the vehicle may be provided.

[0008] Alternatively, a release means for releasing the holding of the support bracket and dropping the support bracket at the time of a vehicle collision may be provided at the holding portion of the body for holding the support bracket.

Alternatively, the parking brake pedal includes the pedal portion, and a main body portion supported by the support shaft while holding the pedal portion rotatably in the left-right direction. A driving means that operates at the time of a vehicle collision and rotates the pedal unit toward the center of the vehicle in the left-right direction, is connected to the main unit, except at the time of the vehicle collision,
A lock mechanism that regulates rotation of the pedal unit toward the center of the vehicle and permits rotation of the pedal unit toward the center of the vehicle during a vehicle collision may be provided.

[0010]

In the parking brake pedal device according to the present invention, at the time of a vehicle collision, at least the pedal portion of the parking brake pedal moves so as to be out of the front region of the lower leg of the driver. That is, the pedal portion is disposed at the lower end of the parking brake pedal and protrudes toward the rearmost end of the vehicle, and this pedal portion easily interferes with the lower leg of the driver's lower leg such as the foot or shin. But,
If the pedal part is out of the front region of the lower leg of the driver, the inertia force of moving forward acts on the driver at the time of a vehicle collision, so that even if the lower part of the foot or shin of the lower leg moves forward, Therefore, the lower leg of the driver can be protected from the brake pedal by preventing the pedal from interfering with the pedal portion most protruding backward.

Therefore, in the parking brake pedal device according to the present invention, the lower leg of the driver can be protected in the event of a vehicle collision.

In the case of the structure described in claim 2, when the vehicle collides, the lock mechanism operates to allow the support bracket to move toward the center of the vehicle, and the driving means operates. Moving the support bracket toward the center of the vehicle in the left-right direction along the rail, so that the parking brake pedal held by the support bracket using the support shaft is disengaged from the front area of the driver's lower leg. Becomes

Therefore, the driver's lower limb can be protected from the brake pedal in the event of a vehicle collision, and the support bracket including the parking brake pedal is moved. , A large space can be formed, and the protection area can be enlarged.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the event of a vehicle collision, the lock mechanism operates to allow the parking brake pedal to move toward the center of the vehicle on the support shaft. The driving means is operated to move the parking brake pedal to the center of the vehicle in the left-right direction along the support shaft, so that the parking brake pedal comes off the front region of the lower leg of the driver.

Therefore, in the event of a vehicle collision, the driver's lower limb can be protected from the brake pedal, and since only the parking brake pedal is moved, the pedal portion is included from the front region of the driver's lower limb. The parking brake pedal can be moved quickly.

Further, in the case of the structure as described in claim 4, when the vehicle collides, the release means operates and the support bracket falls from the body, so that the support bracket is held by using the support shaft. The released parking brake pedal comes off the front region of the lower leg of the driver.

Therefore, at the time of a vehicle collision, the driver's lower limb can be protected from the brake pedal, and the support bracket including the parking brake pedal is moved. , A large space can be formed, and the protection area can be enlarged. Furthermore, it is possible to cope with the problem simply by providing a release means capable of releasing the holding of the support bracket in the holding portion of the support bracket in the body, and the configuration of the apparatus can be simplified.

Further, in the case of the structure described in claim 5, in the event of a vehicle collision, the lock mechanism operates so as to allow the pedal portion to rotate toward the vehicle center with respect to the main body portion of the parking brake pedal. At the same time, the driving means is operated to rotate the pedal portion toward the center of the vehicle in the left-right direction with respect to the main body portion.
The driver will be out of the front area of the lower leg.

Therefore, in the event of a vehicle collision, the driver's lower limb can be protected from the brake pedal, and since only the pedal is moved, the pedal can be quickly moved from the front region of the driver's lower limb. Can be moved.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the parking brake pedal device P1 of the first embodiment includes a lower leg L of a driver D.
Of the lower limb protection device M together with the airbag device A.

The airbag device A is disposed below the column cover 8 on the lower surface 8a side of the column cover 8, as shown in FIGS.
6, an inflator 21 that supplies an inflation gas to the airbag 26, and a case 19 that houses the airbag 26 and the inflator 21.

The column cover 8 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin having a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape, and is disposed along the axial direction of the steering column 3 so as to cover the steering column 3 below the steering wheel 1. That is, the column cover 8 is disposed to be inclined upward and rearward such that the upper end 8b on the lower surface 8a side is disposed on the vehicle rear side and the lower end 8c on the lower surface 8a side is disposed on the vehicle front side.
Further, the lower surface 8a of the column cover 8 has a substantially rectangular shape, and is formed in a curved shape rising rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction.

The steering column 3 includes a main shaft 4 connected to the steering wheel 1 and a column tube 5 covering the periphery of the main shaft 4.

The case 19 is made of sheet metal, for example, and includes a substantially rectangular cylindrical peripheral wall 19a and a substantially rectangular bottom wall 19b for closing the bottom of the peripheral wall 19a.
The bracket 6 is connected and fixed to a portion of the steering column 3 where the column tube 5 does not move using a bracket 6. Then, the case 19 stores the stored airbag 2.
When the airbag 26 projects from the case 19, the airbag 26 projects along the lower surface 8a of the column cover 8 so that the axial direction of the peripheral wall portion 19a extends along the column cover lower surface 8a (the axial direction of the steering column 3). ).

The inflator 21 includes a cylinder-type main body 22 configured to receive an electric signal and discharge an inflation gas, and two bracket portions 23. The main body 22 includes a gas discharge port (not shown) for discharging inflation gas. In the case of the embodiment, an electric signal from a control circuit for operating an airbag device (not shown) mounted on the steering wheel 1 is transmitted to the steering wheel air. It will be activated by inputting simultaneously with the bag device. The bracket portion 23 is plastically deformed so as to reduce the diameter, and a sheet metal holding ring 23a capable of holding the main body 22, and a bolt 23b projecting from the holding ring 23a.
And is composed of The inflator 21 is constructed by assembling the bracket portion 23 to the main body 22 and
The bolt 23 b protruding from the airbag 26 is inserted into the case 19 and is fixed to the bracket 6 together with the case 19 by fastening the nut 24 to the bracket 6 in a state of being wrapped in the case.

The airbag 26 folded and housed in the case 19 is provided with an instrument panel (hereinafter abbreviated as instrument panel) 10 that covers the periphery of the column cover 8.
Is housed inside the lower panel 12 at the lower side of the lower panel 12. On the column cover lower surface 8a side of the lower panel 12, a substantially half square tube-shaped peripheral portion 13 is disposed with a gap S between the column cover lower surface 8 a and the periphery thereof. Is provided with a flat door portion 14 so as to cover the rear side of the folded and stored airbag 26. Lower panel 1 on lower edge side of door portion 14
A hinge portion 15 made of an integral hinge is provided at a boundary portion with the hinge 2.

When the airbag 26 is deployed and inflated, the door 14 is pushed by the airbag 26, and the upper edge 14a is rotated toward the rear of the vehicle with the hinge 15 as the center of rotation, and is opened. . The door portion 14 is formed so that the hinge portion 15 is curved along the peripheral edge portion 13, and the door portion 14 is not fully opened to the rear side of the vehicle, but is opened at a shallow angle to allow the airbag 26 to be inflated and deployed. Column cover lower surface 8
It plays a role as a guide plate for guiding so as to easily follow the line a. The upper panel 11 of the instrument panel 10 covers the upper surface of the column cover 8.

The airbag 26 is made of a flexible woven cloth such as polyester or polyamide, and has a substantially rectangular shape which can cover the lower surface 8a of the column cover 8 when the deployment and inflation is completed. It has a shape.

As shown in FIG. 3, the parking brake pedal device P1 of the first embodiment includes a support bracket 31 and a parking brake pedal 35. The support bracket 31 supports the left and right ends of a support shaft 33 disposed in the left-right direction, and is held on the body 1 side in front of the lower leg L of the driver D. The brake pedal 35 is disposed on the vehicle rear side of the support bracket 31 on the front side of the lower limb L of the driver D, and is supported by the support shaft 33.
And a pedal portion 37 disposed on a lower end side of the main body portion 36 on the vehicle rear end side. The brake pedal 35 is connected to a drum brake cable (not shown).
A return spring or the like is connected, and the pedal portion 37 is pressed down with the support shaft 33 as the center of rotation, and the brake pedal 35 is rotated to the front side of the vehicle (rotated clockwise in FIG. 1).
By doing so, the brake cable is pulled, and the parking brake is applied to a predetermined wheel or drive shaft of the vehicle. The release of the parking brake is performed by pulling out the release lever R shown in FIG.

In the parking brake pedal device P1 according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the support bracket 31 is mounted on the rail 2 provided on the body B of the vehicle.
9 is slidably held in the left-right direction. The rail 29 includes a base portion 29a and a guide portion 29c. The base portion 29a is configured by projecting a plurality of bolts 29b that are inserted into the body B and fastened to the nut 30 toward the front side of the vehicle. Guide part 29c
Is configured to extend in the left-right direction,
a horizontal plate portion 29d extending from the horizontal plate portion 29a and a vertical plate portion 29e vertically projecting from the rear end of the horizontal plate portion 29d.
As a character shape, it protrudes from the base portion 29a to the vehicle rear side.

The support bracket 31 has a base portion 31a having a guide groove 31b into which the guide portion 29a of the rail 29 is inserted, and protrudes from both left and right edges of the base portion 31a toward the rear side of the vehicle. And support wall portions 31c, 31c for supporting both left and right ends.

The support bracket 31 is disposed on the right side of the support bracket 31 and between the rail 29 and operates at the time of a vehicle collision to move the support bracket 31 to the guide portion 29c of the rail 29.
Drive means 41 for moving the vehicle along the center of the vehicle is connected. In the case of the first embodiment, the driving means 41 uses a pyrotechnique (pyrotechnic technique), incorporates a small inflator, discharges an inflation gas by operating the inflator, and discharges the inflation gas. The support bracket 31 is pressed toward the center of the vehicle by the pressure of the gas.

As the driving means 41, besides using an inflator as in the embodiment, an urging force of a spring, an electromagnetic actuator, a linear motor or the like can be used.

The horizontal plate 29d of the rail 29 restricts the movement of the support bracket 31 toward the center of the vehicle except during a vehicle collision.
The lock mechanism 39 which allows the movement of the vehicle 1 toward the center of the vehicle,
It is arranged. In the case of the first embodiment, the lock mechanism 39 is fitted into a fitting hole 29f provided in the horizontal plate portion 29d, and is arranged so as to contact the left edge side of the support bracket base portion 31a. 39a, the wire 39b connected to the lock pin 39a, and the wire 39b being pulled during operation to fit the lock pin 39a into the fitting hole 29f.
And an electromagnetic actuator 39c extracted from the actuator. The actuator 39c is connected to the rail 29
Is disposed on the body B in the vicinity of.

In the lower limb protection device M, the inflator 21 of the airbag device A, the inflator (not shown) of the driving means 41 in the parking brake pedal device P1, and the actuator 3 of the lock mechanism 39
9c, together with the inflator of the airbag device (not shown) of the steering wheel 1, is connected to a control circuit for detecting a vehicle collision. An operation signal from the control circuit to the inflator (not shown) of the driving means 41 is output after an operation signal to the actuator 39c of the lock mechanism 39 is output so that the lock pin 39a can be smoothly removed from the fitting hole 29f. It is output with a slight delay.

When the control circuit detects a collision of the vehicle, the inflator of the airbag device of the steering wheel 1, the inflator 21 of the airbag device A,
An operation signal is output to an inflator (not shown) of the driving means 41 of the parking brake pedal device P1 and an actuator 39c of the lock mechanism 39.

Then, the parking brake pedal device P
In FIG. 1, the actuator 39c of the lock mechanism 39 is actuated to pull the wire 39b to pull out the lock pin 39a from the fitting hole 29d as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The leftward movement on the side is allowed. Thereafter, the driving means 41 is operated to move the base 31a of the support bracket 31 to the left side of the center of the vehicle along the guide 29c of the rail 29, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Become,
The parking brake pedal 35 held by the support bracket 31 using the support shaft 33 comes off the front region of the lower leg L of the driver D.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, the foot F and the lower LL side of the shin of the lower leg L of the driver D can be protected from the brake pedal 35 at the time of a vehicle collision. In addition, since the support bracket 31 including the parking brake pedal 35 is moved, a large space can be formed in front of the lower leg L of the driver D at the time of a vehicle collision, and the protection area can be increased. it can.

Further, in the airbag device A at the time of a vehicle collision, a predetermined electric signal is input to the inflator body 22 from the control circuit, and inflation gas is discharged from a gas discharge port (not shown), so that the airbag 26 is inflated. Then, the door portion 14 of the lower panel 12 is pushed open to expand and expand along the lower surface 8a of the column cover to cover the lower surface 8a of the column cover.
Can be properly protected.

Therefore, in the lower limb protection device M of the first embodiment, at the time of a vehicle collision, the parking brake pedal 35 together with the support bracket 31 is moved from the front area of the driver's lower limb L, and the airbag 26 is moved to the column cover lower surface 8a. , The foot F of the lower limb L of the driver D
From the lower shin part LL side to the upper shin part LU side knee K,
Can be protected in a wide range.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the parking brake pedal device P2 of the second embodiment, the rail 29 of the first embodiment is not provided, and the support bracket 31A is directly
It is held by the body B. Also, the support bracket 31
A support shaft 33A supported by the support wall portions 31c 31c of A
However, the parking brake pedal 35 is configured to be slidable in the left-right direction. The parking brake pedal 35 is disposed on the right side of the parking brake pedal 35 between the parking brake pedal 35 and the right side support wall 31c.
Is connected to the vehicle center side along the support shaft 33A. This driving means 41
As in the embodiment, a pyrotechnic (pyrotechnic technique) is used, a small inflator is built in, an inflator is operated to discharge an inflation gas, and the pressure of the inflation gas causes a brake pedal to be released. 35
Is pressed toward the center of the vehicle.

The support shaft 33A is provided with a lock for restricting the movement of the brake pedal 35 to the center of the vehicle except in the event of a vehicle collision, and permitting the movement of the brake pedal 35 to the center of the vehicle in the event of a vehicle collision. A mechanism 39 is provided. The lock mechanism 39 includes a lock pin 39a fitted in the fitting hole 33a of the support shaft 33A and arranged so as to contact the left edge side of the brake pedal 35, as in the first embodiment. , And an electromagnetic actuator 39c that pulls the lock pin 39a from the fitting hole 29f by pulling the wire 39b during operation. The actuator 39c is disposed on the body B near the rail 29.

The support bracket 31A is connected to the body B
A plurality of bolts 31d that are inserted into the nut and fixed to the nut 30
31a protruding toward the front of the vehicle, and support wall portions 31c protruding rearward from the left and right edges of the base 31a to support the left and right ends of the support shaft 33A, respectively.
31c.

As in the first embodiment, the brake pedal 35 pushes down the pedal portion 37 at the lower end of the main body portion 36 and rotates the front side of the vehicle, thereby pulling a brake cable (not shown), It is configured to apply braking to a predetermined wheel or drive shaft of the vehicle.

Further, similarly to the first embodiment, the parking brake pedal device P2 of the second embodiment is mounted on a vehicle together with the airbag device A to constitute a lower limb protection device M. Therefore, together with the inflator 21 of the airbag device A and the inflator of the airbag device (not shown) of the steering wheel 1, the inflator (not shown) of the driving means 41 of the parking brake pedal device P2 and the actuator 39c of the lock mechanism 39 cause collision of the vehicle. It is connected to the control circuit to detect. Also in this embodiment, the operating signal from the control circuit to the inflator (not shown) of the driving means 41 is such that the operating signal to the actuator 39c of the locking mechanism 39 is smoothly moved out of the fitting hole 33a. It is output slightly after output.

When the control circuit detects a collision of the vehicle, the inflator of the airbag device of the steering wheel 1, the inflator 21 of the airbag device A,
An operation signal is output to an inflator (not shown) of the driving means 41 of the parking brake pedal device P2 and an actuator 39c of the lock mechanism 39.

Then, the parking brake pedal device P
In 2, the actuator 39c of the lock mechanism 39 pulls the wire 39b to insert the lock pin 39a into the fitting hole 33a.
, And the brake pedal 35 is allowed to move leftward on the vehicle center side. Thereafter, the driving means 41 is actuated to move the brake pedal 35 to the left side of the center of the vehicle along the support shaft 33A as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Will fall out of the front region of the lower leg L of the driver D.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, the foot F and the lower LL side of the shin of the lower leg L of the driver D can be protected from the brake pedal 35 at the time of a vehicle collision. Further, in the second embodiment, since only the parking brake pedal 35 is simply moved, the parking brake pedal 35 including the pedal portion 37 can be quickly moved from the front region of the lower leg L of the driver.

The lower limb protection device M having the brake pedal device P2 of the second embodiment also includes the airbag device A together with the brake pedal device P2. Since the parking brake pedal 35 moves from the area and the airbag 26 covers the lower surface 8a of the column cover, the driver D can move from the side of the foot F of the lower leg L or the lower shin LL to the upper shin L of the driver D.
It is possible to properly protect the knee K of the U side in a wide range.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the parking brake pedal device P3 of the third embodiment does not include the rail 29 of the first embodiment, and the support bracket 31B is provided with a cutting device 32 using a pyrotechnic. Intervening,
It is held by the body B. The support bracket 31B
A plurality of bolts 31d that are inserted into the dividing device 32 and fixed to the nuts 30 are protruded toward the vehicle front side.
a, and support wall portions 31c, 31c which protrude from both left and right edges of the base portion 31a toward the vehicle rear side and support both left and right ends of the support shaft 33, respectively. The brake pedal 35 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 33 and has a pedal portion 37 at a lower end of the main body portion 36.
By pushing down and rotating forward (rotating clockwise in FIG. 8), the brake cable is pulled,
It is configured to apply braking to a predetermined wheel or drive shaft of the vehicle.

The dividing device 32 is disposed on the body 1 and
At the time of operation, each of the bolts 31d of the support bracket 31B is broken, and the operation is performed so that the base portion 31a is dropped together with the support wall portions 31c. The dividing device 32 uses a pyrotechnique (pyrotechnic technique), is configured by incorporating a small amount of explosive, and is activated by inputting a signal from a control circuit at the time of a vehicle collision.

Similarly to the first and second embodiments, the parking brake pedal device P3 according to the third embodiment is mounted on a vehicle together with the airbag device A, and the lower limb protection device M is mounted.
Is composed. For this purpose, together with the inflator 21 of the airbag device A and the inflator of the airbag device (not shown) of the steering wheel 1, the dividing device 32 of the parking brake pedal device P3 is connected to a control circuit that detects a collision of the vehicle.

When the control circuit detects the collision of the vehicle, the inflator of the airbag device of the steering wheel 1, the inflator 21 of the airbag device A,
And the dividing device 3 of the parking brake pedal device P2
2 outputs an operation signal.

Then, the parking brake pedal device P
In FIG. 3, since the cutting device 32 is actuated to break the bolts 31d of the support bracket 31B, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
Is held, the support bracket 31B falls,
The parking brake pedal 35 comes off the front region of the foot F and the lower shin LL of the lower leg L of the driver D.

Therefore, in the third embodiment, the foot F and the lower LL side of the shin of the lower leg L of the driver D can be protected from the brake pedal 35 in the event of a vehicle collision. Further, in the third embodiment, it can be dealt with simply by providing the cutting device 32 as a release unit capable of releasing the holding of the support bracket 31B in the holding portion of the support bracket 31B in the body B, and the device P3 can be handled. The configuration can be simplified.

Note that the lower limb protection device M having the brake pedal device P3 of the third embodiment also includes the airbag device A together with the brake pedal device P3. Since the parking brake pedal 35 moves from the area and the airbag 26 covers the lower surface 8a of the column cover, the driver D can move from the side of the foot F of the lower leg L or the lower shin LL to the upper shin L of the driver D.
It is possible to properly protect the knee K of the U side in a wide range.

In the parking brake pedal device P4 of the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the main body portion 46 of the parking brake pedal 45 is inserted into a holding hole 46a provided at a lower portion in a substantially front-rear direction of the vehicle. A holding shaft 47 arranged in the axial direction is provided. The pedal portion 48 provided below the main body portion 46 is provided with the holding hole 4 provided in the upper portion.
The holding shaft 47 is fitted into the main body 8a so as to be rotatable in the left-right direction about the holding shaft 47 as a rotation center.

The main body 46 includes a support bracket 31B.
The support shaft 33 held by the support wall portions 31c
It is rotatably supported on the front side of the vehicle so that the parking brake can be operated. The support bracket 31B
A base portion 31a in which a plurality of bolts 31d inserted into the body B and fixed to the nut 30 are projected forward of the vehicle;
Projecting rearward from both left and right edges of the base portion 31a,
Support wall portions 3 that support the left and right ends of the support shaft 33, respectively.
1c and 31c.

The pedal unit 48 is connected with a driving means 51 which operates in the event of a vehicle collision and rotates the pedal unit 48 toward the center of the vehicle in the left-right direction. A lock mechanism 49 that restricts rotation of the pedal portion 48 toward the vehicle center side except during a vehicle collision and permits rotation of the pedal portion 48 toward the vehicle center side during a vehicle collision is provided in the main body portion 46. Has been established. In the case of the fourth embodiment, the driving means 51 is constituted by a torsion coil spring 51 disposed from the main body 46 to the pedal 48, and the lock mechanism 49
A lock pin 49a fitted into the lower fitting hole 46b of the main body 46 via the upper fitting hole 48b of the pedal portion 48;
A wire 49b connected to the lock pin 49a and an electromagnetic actuator 49 which pulls the lock pin 49a from the fitting holes 46b and 48b by pulling the wire 49b during operation.
c. Actuator 49c
Are disposed on the body B near the support bracket 31B.

Similarly to the first to third embodiments, the parking brake pedal device P4 of the fourth embodiment is mounted on a vehicle together with the airbag device A, and the lower limb protection device M is mounted.
Is composed. Therefore, together with the inflator 21 of the airbag device A and the inflator of the airbag device (not shown) of the steering wheel 1, the actuator 49c of the lock mechanism 49 of the parking brake pedal device P4 is connected to a control circuit that detects a collision of the vehicle. .

When the control circuit detects a collision of the vehicle, the inflator of the airbag device of the steering wheel 1, the inflator 21 of the airbag device A,
Then, an operation signal is output to the actuator 49c of the parking brake pedal device P3.

Then, the parking brake pedal device P
In 4, the actuator 49c of the lock mechanism 49 pulls the wire 49b to insert the lock pin 49a into the fitting hole 46b.
The pedal portion 48 is operated to be pulled out from the 48b.
To the left of the vehicle on the vehicle center side. Then, the biasing force of the spring 51 as the driving means causes the pedal portion 48 to rotate and rotate clockwise toward the center of the vehicle around the holding shaft 47 as shown in FIG. The pedal portion 48 of the pedal 45 comes off the front region of the lower leg L of the driver D.

Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, the foot portion F of the lower leg L of the driver D and the lower LL side of the shin can be protected from the pedal portion 48 in the event of a vehicle collision. Further, since only the pedal portion 48 is simply moved, the pedal portion 48 can be quickly moved from the front region of the lower leg L of the driver.

The lower limb protection device M including the brake pedal device P4 of the fourth embodiment also includes the airbag device A together with the brake pedal device P4. Since the pedal portion 48 of the parking brake pedal 45 moves from the area and the airbag 26 covers the lower surface 8a of the column cover, the foot F of the lower leg L and the lower shin LL of the driver D are obtained.
From the side to the knee K on the upper shin LU side, it is possible to appropriately and widely protect.

In the first, second and fourth embodiments, the case where the electromagnetic actuators 39c and 49c are used as the driving sources of the lock mechanisms 39 and 49 has been described. Hole 29f ・ 33a ・ 46b
If the gas exits from 48b, the gas pressure discharged from a small inflator by the pyrotechnique may be used, or the biasing force of a spring may be used. Further, FIG.
-As shown in 13, the airbag device A may be used.

The lock mechanism 49A shown in FIG. 12 uses the airbag 26 of the airbag device A as a drive source 49c.
When the airbag 26 is inflated, the wire 49b is pulled so that the lock pin 49a is inserted into the predetermined fitting hole 29f / 33a.
It will be pulled out from 46b and 48b.

A lock mechanism 49B shown in FIG. 13 uses a piston 49c, which is moved by inflation gas discharged from the inflator 21 of the airbag device A, as a drive source 49c. Disposed in the cylinder 19c. When the inflator 21 operates, the piston 49c allows the inflation gas to flow into the cylinder 19c, is moved, pulls the wire 49b connected to the piston 49c, and inserts the lock pin 49a into the predetermined fitting hole 29f.・ 33a ・ 46b ・
48b.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a use state of a lower limb protection device provided with a parking brake pedal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the left side of a steering column.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing a usage state of the lower limb protection device of the embodiment, and is a front view in which a steering wheel is omitted.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the parking brake pedal device of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken along a line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of an airbag device used for the lower limb protection device of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing a parking brake pedal device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing a parking brake pedal device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing the parking brake pedal device of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view showing a parking brake pedal device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view of a part XX in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of the lock mechanism.

FIG. 13 is a view showing still another example of the lock mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

29: rail, 31 / 31A / 31B: support bracket, 32: (release means) cutting device, 33 / 33A: support shaft, 35/45: parking brake pedal, 36/46: main body, 37/48 ... pedal 39, 49: locking mechanism, 41, 51: driving means, B: body, D: driver, L: lower limb, P1, P2, P3, P4: parking brake pedal device.

Claims (5)

[Claims] A parking brake pedal disposed on a front side of a lower limb of a driver and supporting a pedal portion on a lower end side of the driver on a support shaft so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction of the vehicle; A parking brake pedal device comprising: a support bracket held on a body of a vehicle, wherein at the time of a vehicle collision, at least a pedal portion of the parking brake pedal is moved from a forward region of a lower leg of the driver. A parking brake pedal device, which is configured to be movable so as to be disengaged. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the support bracket is slidably held in a left-right direction with respect to a rail disposed on a body of the vehicle. Driving means for moving the vehicle to the center of the vehicle along the rail is connected to the rail, and restricts the movement of the support bracket to the center of the vehicle except for a vehicle collision.
2. A lock mechanism for allowing the support bracket to move toward the center of the vehicle is provided.
A parking brake pedal device according to claim 1. 3. The parking brake pedal is configured to be able to slide the parking brake pedal in the left-right direction. The parking brake pedal is actuated at the time of a vehicle collision to move the parking brake pedal along the support shaft. A driving means for moving the parking brake pedal to the center side is connected to the support shaft, except for the time of a vehicle collision, to restrict the movement of the parking brake pedal to the center of the vehicle. The parking brake pedal device according to claim 1, wherein a lock mechanism that allows the movement to the side is provided. 4. A release means for releasing the holding of the support bracket and dropping the support bracket at the time of a vehicle collision is provided at a holding portion of the support bracket in the body. The parking brake pedal device according to claim 1. 5. The parking brake pedal, comprising: the pedal portion; and a body portion that holds the pedal portion so as to be rotatable in the left-right direction and is supported by the support shaft. A drive unit that is operated in the event of a vehicle collision and rotates the pedal unit toward the center of the vehicle in the left-right direction is connected to the unit. A lock mechanism that regulates rotation and allows the pedal to rotate toward the center of the vehicle during a vehicle collision,
The parking brake pedal device according to claim 1, wherein the parking brake pedal device is provided.