JP2007238035A - Vehicular footrest structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the number of component parts to be reduced, facilitate their assembly work and further perform an efficient absorption of shock load applied to a driver's heel side. <P>SOLUTION: The base part side of a base bracket 22 fixed to a toe board 2 and the base part side of a foot-rest 23 on which the occupant's foot 41 is placed are integrally formed through a bent part 21 and at the same time a force limiter 24 is formed at the base part side of the base bracket 22. The base bracket 22 and the foot rest 23 are oppositely faced to each other while the bent part 21 is being bent and at the same time the base bracket 22 and the foot rest 23 are connected to each other through cushions 12 placed at the extremity ends of both parts 22, 23. Heights of both parts 22, 23 oppositely faced to each other at their base sides are restricted with the force limiter 24, and when a large shock load is applied, the force limiter 24 is deformed or broken to absorb the shock load. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle footrest structure in which a base bracket portion fixed to a vehicle body side and a footrest portion opposed to the base bracket portion are integrally formed via a bent portion.

  Generally, on a toe board of a vehicle such as an automobile, a footrest for placing a foot of a passenger seated in a front seat is provided. By setting the footrest surface to an appropriate angle, the footrest stabilizes the seating posture of the passenger, and it is comfortable to sit on for a long time. it can.

  By the way, when a strong impact is applied from the front part of the vehicle body to the toe board due to a frontal collision and the toe board rises and deforms, the footrest also rises on the toe side starting from the heel side. When the footrest rises, an angle formed by the occupant's foot and shin, that is, the so-called ankle angle, is pressed in an acute angle direction, which places a heavy burden on the ankle.

  As a countermeasure, for example, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-345478), a footrest is divided into a base bracket portion that is attached to a toe board and a footrest portion on which a passenger's foot is placed. A technique is disclosed in which a flange structure is connected via a pin, and a rubber cushion is interposed between opposing surfaces of a base bracket portion and a footrest portion facing the toe side. .

In the technique disclosed in this document, the seating posture can be maintained in a stable state because the inclination angle of the footrest portion is held constant by the drag force of the cushion during normal operation. On the other hand, when the toe board is deformed in the rising direction due to an impact caused by a front collision, the cushion is elastically deformed, and the base bracket portion and the footrest portion are rotated relative to each other on the heel side pin to allow elastic deformation of the cushion. To do. As a result, the impact deformation transmitted from the toe board side is reduced by the elastic deformation of the cushion, and further, the pressing of the ankle in the acute angle direction is reduced.
JP 2004-345478 A

  However, in the technique disclosed in the above-described document, there are problems that the components constituting the footrest are at least four points, that is, the base bracket portion, the footrest portion, the pin, and the cushion, and the number of components is large.

  In addition, the base bracket portion and the footrest portion must be connected to each other via pins, which increases the number of assembly steps.

  Furthermore, the base side of the base bracket part and the footless stopper body connected via the pin becomes a rigid body, so it is difficult to deform and the impact load at the time of the front impact is easily transmitted to the passenger's heel part. There is a problem that the impact load cannot be absorbed efficiently.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a footless structure for a vehicle that can reduce the number of components and facilitate manufacturing and assembly, and can also efficiently absorb an impact load applied to the heel side of the foot. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided between a base bracket portion fixed to the vehicle body side, a footrest portion opposed to the base bracket portion, and the base bracket portion and the footrest portion. The base portion of the base bracket portion and the base portion of the footrest portion are integrally formed via a bent portion, and the base bracket portion and the base bracket portion are deformed by bending deformation of the bent portion. The footrest portion is disposed to face the footrest portion.

  In this case, preferably, the bases facing each other when the base bracket part and the footrest part are bent via the bent part between the base part side of the base bracket part and the base part side of the footrest part. A force limiter for defining a height between the base side of the bracket portion and the base side of the footrest portion is interposed.

  According to the present invention, since the base bracket portion and the footrest portion are integrally formed via the bent portion, the number of parts can be reduced, and manufacturing and assembly are facilitated.

  In addition, since a force limiter that regulates the height between both bases is interposed between the base side of the base bracket part and the base side of the footrest part, when a large impact load is applied to the footrest The force limiter is deformed or broken, and can efficiently absorb the impact load applied to the heel side of the foot.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a driver's seat in which a footrest is provided, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the footrest. In this embodiment, the case where the footrest is disposed on the driver's seat side is illustrated. Therefore, in this embodiment, the passenger is described as a driver.

  Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 denotes a floor panel of a vehicle, and the front end of the floor panel 1 is connected to the lower end of a toe board 2 that partitions an engine room (not shown) provided at the front of the vehicle body and a vehicle compartment. It is installed. In FIG. 1, only the driver's seat side is shown, and the passenger seat side is omitted. Furthermore, the arrows in FIG. 1 indicate front, rear, left, and right of the vehicle body.

  A floor tunnel 3 is formed in the center of the front portion of the floor panel 1 in the vehicle width direction so as to surround the transmission extending from the engine body disposed in the engine room to the rear of the vehicle body. Further, an accelerator pedal 5, a brake pedal 6, and an impact absorbing footrest 7 are disposed on the driver's seat side from the right side in the vehicle width direction, and one side of the impact absorbing footrest 7 is in contact with the floor tunnel 3. Yes. The shock absorbing footrest 7 may be disposed on the passenger seat side. However, the footrest disposed on the passenger seat side is symmetrical with the shock absorbing footrest 7 on the driver seat side.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the shock absorbing footrest 7 includes a footrest body 11, a cushion 12 that is an example of a shock absorber, and a footrest cover 13 as main components. The footrest body 11 is a resin molded product made of PP (polypropylene) or the like. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the bent portion 21 is formed in a bellows shape that can expand and contract at the center portion. A base portion of the base bracket portion 22 is continuously formed at one end, and a base portion of the footrest portion 23 is continuously formed at the other end. The footrest body 11 is used in a state in which the bent portion 21 is bent and deformed so that the base bracket portion 22 and the footrest portion 23 are disposed to face each other. In the following, for convenience, the surfaces of the base bracket portion 22 and the footrest portion 23 facing each other are referred to as inner surfaces 22a and 23a.

  Further, flange portions 22b and 23b extending in the direction of the inner surfaces 22a and 23a are formed around the base bracket portion 22 and the footrest portion 23, respectively. Further, the base end portions 22d and 23d of the flange portions 22b and 23b are chamfered.

  Further, a screw insertion hole 22c is formed on one side of the flange portion 22b formed on the base bracket portion 22 side, and a fastening member 31 such as a tapping screw that is inserted into the screw insertion hole 22c is formed on the toe board 2. The footrest body 11 is fixed to the vehicle body by being screwed into the footrest mounting portion 2a.

  In addition, a force limiter 24 is formed on the base side of the inner surface 22a of the base bracket portion 22, and a cushion mounting portion 25 is formed on the distal end side of the inner surface 22a. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the cushion mounting portion 25 is formed to be slightly raised from the inner surface 22 a, and the mounting hole 25 a is opened at the center thereof. The cushion 12 is attached to the cushion attachment portion 25. The configuration of the cushion 12 will be described later.

  On the other hand, the force limiter 24 is formed in an arch shape that protrudes upward in FIG. 4 from the base side toward the distal end, and the bases on both side end surfaces are connected to the inner surfaces of the flange portions 22b facing each other and integrally formed. Has been. The internal space of the force limiter 24 can be formed by using a plurality of nests divided in a predetermined manner when resin molding is performed using a mold, for example.

  Further, a cushion receiving portion 26 is formed so as to protrude from the inner surface 23 a of the footrest portion 23. The cushion receiving portion 26 is formed at a portion substantially opposite to the cushion mounting portion 25 when the footrest portion 23 is bent toward the base bracket portion 22 side, and a hole portion 26a is opened at the center thereof. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in a normal use state, the top portion of the force limiter 24 abuts on the inner surface 23 a of the footrest portion 23, and the height of the driver's foot portion 41 on the heel portion 41 a side is defined. Further, the cushion 12 is attached to the cushion attachment portion 25, and the cushion receiving portion 26 formed on the inner surface 23a of the footrest portion 23 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the cushion 12, whereby the inclination angle of the footrest portion 23 is defined. .

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cushion 12 is formed in a cup shape having a predetermined thickness that expands downward using an elastic material such as rubber as a raw material. The thickness and hardness of the cushion 12 are set so as to be elastically deformed at a predetermined load or more. Therefore, there is almost no deformation in the range of normal external force. On the other hand, when a relatively large external force is applied to the cushion 12, the external force is absorbed by elastic deformation.

  A bottom surface 12a of the cushion 12 is formed in a flat surface shape that is placed on a cushion mounting portion 25 formed on the base bracket portion 22, and a fitting portion 12b is projected from the center of the bottom surface 12a. The fitting portion 12b is formed with a larger diameter than the attachment hole 25a drilled in the cushion attachment portion 25, and an annular groove fitted to the periphery of the attachment hole 25a at the base portion of the fitting portion 12b. 12c is formed.

  Furthermore, the contact surface 12d of the cushion 12 is formed flat, and an attachment hole 12e is opened at the center thereof. A clip (not shown) is attached to the mounting hole 12e and the hole 26a opened in the cushion receiving portion 26, and the contact surface 12d of the cushion 12 is fixed to the cushion receiving portion 26 via the clip. Established.

  Further, the footrest cover 13 described above is formed in a substantially bag shape from an elastic material such as rubber, and the footrest cover 13 is formed with respect to the footrest body 11 bent around the bent portion 21 as shown in FIG. It is mounted from the part 23 side.

  A footrest surface 13 a is formed on the upper surface of the footrest cover 13, and the footrest surface 13 a is covered on the footrest portion 23. Further, the side surface side of the footrest body 11 is covered with the side surface portion 13b. Further, two insertion holes 13c are formed in the footrest surface 13a, and a clip 32 inserted through the insertion hole 13c is a locking hole (not shown) formed in the footrest portion 23 of the footrest body 11. The footrest cover 13 is fixed to the footrest main body 11. 6 and 7 is the driver's foot 41, 41a is the shoe heel, 41b is the toe of the shoe, and θ is the angle formed by the passenger's shin and foot (hereinafter referred to as the foot). Referred to as “ankle angle”).

  Next, the assembly procedure of the shock absorbing footrest 7 having such a configuration will be described. First, the fitting portion 12b protruding from the bottom surface 12a of the cushion 12 with respect to the mounting hole 25a of the cushion mounting portion 25 formed on the inner surface 22a of the base bracket portion 22 of the footrest body 11 which is a resin molded product. , And the annular groove 12c formed in the base of the fitting portion 12b is fitted to the peripheral edge of the attachment hole 25a, and the cushion 12 is positioned and fixed to the cushion attachment portion 25.

  Next, the bellows-like bent portion 21 formed at the substantially central portion of the footrest body 11 is bent. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the cushion receiving portion 26 formed on the inner surface 23 a of the footrest portion 23 is pressed against the abutting surface 12 d of the cushion 12 attached to the inner surface of the base bracket portion 22. 12 d is brought into contact with the cushion receiving portion 26. Next, a clip (not shown) is attached to the hole 26a opened in the cushion receiving portion 26 and the mounting hole 12e opened in the contact surface 12d of the cushion 12, and the cushion 12 is contacted by this clip. The surface 12d and the cushion receiving part 26 are connected.

  Then, the top portion of the force limiter 24 formed on the inner surface of the base bracket portion 22 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the base portion side of the footrest portion 23, and the base bracket portion 22 and the footrest portion are brought together by the force limiter 24 and the cushion 12. The taper-shaped angle which spreads from the base part side to the front-end | tip direction with 23 is controlled. At the same time, the top portion of the force limiter 24 is brought into contact with the inner surface 23a of the footrest portion 23, whereby the height on the base side between the base bracket portion 22 and the footrest portion 23 is defined.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the base bracket portion 22 and the footrest portion 23 are formed as an integrally molded product via the bent portion 21, and both the parts 22 and 23 can be provided to each other simply by bending the bent portion 21. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the conventional case where the base bracket portion and the footrest portion are divided into two parts, and manufacturing and assembly are facilitated and workability is improved.

  Further, in this embodiment, since the footrest body 11 is a resin molded product, it is possible to reduce the weight as compared with a conventional sheet metal product.

  When the footrest body 11 assembled in this way is assembled to the vehicle body, first, the base bracket portion 22 of the footrest body 11 is set on the footrest mounting portion 2a formed on the toe board 2, and the base bracket portion 22 is then set. The fastening member 31 inserted through the screw insertion hole 22c formed in the flange portion 22b is screwed into the footrest mounting portion 2a, and the footrest body 11 is fixed to the footrest mounting portion 2a.

  Next, the footrest body 13 is covered with the footrest body 11, the clip 32 is attached to the insertion hole 13 c formed in the footrest surface 13 a formed on the upper surface, and the clip 32 is attached to the footrest body 11. The footrest cover 13 is fixed to the footrest body 11 by being hooked in a locking hole (not shown) formed in the portion 23. Then, the entire footrest body 11 is covered with the footrest cover 13.

  In this way, in a state where the shock absorbing footrest 7 is attached to the toe board 2, the footrest portion 23 rises obliquely forward as shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the shock absorbing footrest 7 attached to the vehicle body will be described. 6 to 7, the footrest cover 13 is indicated by a one-dot chain line for convenience.

  When the driver who is driving the vehicle normally puts the foot 41 of the left leg on the shock absorbing footrest 7, he / she supports the heel 41 a of the shoe worn on the foot 41 on the floor panel 1. The toe portion 41 b side of the shoe is placed on the footrest surface 13 a of the footrest cover 13 attached to the footrest body 11.

  The inclination angle of the footrest body 11 in this state is set so that the ankle angle θ falls within a preset angle range. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, in a normal operation, with the load P <b> 1 such that the driver puts the toe part 41 b on the footrest part 23, the cushion 12 and the force limiter 24 maintain the retaining part 41 a. Can keep.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, during traveling, the vehicle collides with a front three-dimensional object (so-called front collision), and a large impact load F <b> 1 is applied to the toe board 2 from the front part of the vehicle. When it is deformed in the direction of starting up from the side, the footrest mounting portion 2a formed on the toe board 2 moves in the same direction. At that time, the impact load F <b> 1 due to the front collision is applied to the base bracket portion 22 of the footrest body 11. On the other hand, a pressing force P3 is applied from the driver's foot 41 to the footrest portion 23 of the footrest body 11 by a reaction force due to inertia.

  As a result, both the impact load F1 and the pressing force P3 are applied to the force limiter 24 and the cushion 12 interposed between the base bracket portion 22 and the footrest portion 23. At this time, in the range in which the cushion 12 can be elastically deformed, the impact load F1 is relieved by the elastic deformation of the cushion 12, and the ankle of the driver is prevented from being abnormally bent by the elastic deformation of the cushion 12. be able to. In other words, the pressing force in the direction that makes the ankle angle θ an acute angle is reduced.

  When a larger load is applied between the base bracket portion 22 and the footrest portion 23, as shown in FIG. 7, the force limiter 24 is deformed or destroyed to absorb the impact, and the driver's collar 41a is absorbed. The transmitted shock is reduced.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the flange 41a side of the footrest portion 23 is supported by the force limiter 24, and the force limiter 24 is deformed or deformed when a large load such as an impact load at the time of a front collision is applied. Since the impact load is absorbed by the destruction, the impact transmitted to the driver's collar 41a can be reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the force limiter 24 may be formed on the inner surface 23 a side of the footrest portion 23.

Perspective view of the main part of the driver's seat where the footrest is installed Exploded perspective view of footrest (A) is a plan view of the cushion, (b) is a bb cross-sectional view of (a) Cross-sectional side view of the footrest body Cross-sectional side view of the footrest body assembled and bent Cross-sectional side view showing how the footrest is used during normal operation 6 is a side view corresponding to FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Floor panel,
2 ... toe board,
2a ... Footrest mounting part,
7 ... Shock absorbing footrest,
11 ... the footrest body,
12 ... Cushion,
13 ... Footrest cover,
21 ... bent portion,
22 ... Base bracket part,
22a, 23a ... inner surface,
23 ... Footrest part,
24 ... Force limiter,
25. Cushion mounting part,
26 ... cushion receiving part,
41 ... foot,
41a ... buttocks,
41b ... toe part,
F1 ... impact load,
P1, P2, P3 ... Load

Claims (3)

A vehicle footrest comprising a base bracket portion fixed to the vehicle body side, a footrest portion opposed to the base bracket portion, and an impact absorber interposed between the base bracket portion and the footrest portion In structure
A base portion of the base bracket portion and a base portion of the footrest portion are integrally formed via a bent portion, and the base bracket portion and the footrest portion are disposed to face each other by bending deformation of the bent portion. The vehicle footrest structure. The base side of the base bracket part facing each other when the base bracket part and the footrest part are bent via the bent part between the base side of the base bracket part and the base side of the footrest part 2. A footrest structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a force limiter for defining a height between the base and the base of the footrest. The footrest structure for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bent portion is formed in a bellows shape that can be expanded and contracted.

Images