JPH04358931A - Safety device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a parking state from being inadvertently released by a rotational state in a driver's seat as well as to make the driver's seat rotatable in safely by prohibiting any release of the parking state in the case where the driver's seat is rotated from a driving position. CONSTITUTION:A control unit 21 controls a rod clamping actuator 16 or a seat clamping state release inhibiting means so as to make its rod part advance forward when a position of a shift level to be detected by an inhibiter switch 19 is out of a parking position, by way of example. Therefore, a driver's seat is locked to a forward-directed driving position in a state of being inhibited of its rotation. In addition, the control unit 21 controls so as to do a shift lock means of a shift lock solenoid 20 or a parking state release inhibiting means when a driving position detecting switch 11 is turned to OFF, by way of example. Accordingly, such a possibility that the parking state might be inadvertently released by a rotational state of the driver's seat in thus eliminated.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a safety device for a vehicle equipped with a rotatable driver's seat.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventional vehicles include
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2, some vehicles are equipped with a rotatable seat in order to improve the entertainment value of the vehicle. This type of rotating seat is used, for example, in a one-box type vehicle to make the two rear rows of seats face each other in order to facilitate conversation.

0003

However, in order to further improve the entertainment value of the vehicle, it is desirable to make the driver's seat rotatable when the vehicle is stopped. However, if the driver's seat is simply made rotatable when the vehicle is stopped, the driver will not be able to respond immediately when the vehicle moves unexpectedly, which poses a safety problem. Therefore, there is a need for a device that allows the driver's seat to rotate in a safe manner.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to solve the above problem, the vehicle safety device of the invention of claim 1 sets the vehicle in a parked state where movement is restricted, as shown in FIG. A safety device for a vehicle equipped with a parking state setting means and a rotatable driver's seat includes a seat fixing means for fixing the driver's seat in a forward-facing driving position, and a mechanism for releasing the fixed state of the driver's seat by the seat fixing means. a means for prohibiting release of the seat fixation state; a seat rotation state detection means for detecting a state in which the driver's seat is rotated from the driving position;
The parking state detection means detects the parking state of the vehicle by the parking state setting means, the parking state release prohibition means prevents the parking state setting means from canceling the parking state, and the parking state detection means detects the non-parked state of the vehicle. is detected, the seat fixing state release inhibiting means is controlled so as to prohibit the seat fixing means from releasing the fixed state of the driver's seat, and when the parking state of the vehicle is detected, the seat fixing means In addition, when the seat rotation state detection means detects that the driver's seat is in the driving position, The parking state cancellation prohibition means is controlled so that the parking state setting means can cancel the parking state, and when the rotation state of the driver's seat from the driving position is detected, the parking state setting means can cancel the parking state. The vehicle is characterized by comprising a control means for controlling the parking state release prohibition means so that release of the parking state is prohibited.

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the vehicle safety device of the invention of claim 2 is provided, as shown in FIG. A safety device for a vehicle with a rotatable driver's seat, which is provided with a seat fixing means for fixing the driver's seat in a forward-facing driving position, and a seat that prohibits release of the fixed state of the driver's seat by the seat fixing means. A locking state release inhibiting means, a parking state detecting means for detecting the parking state of the vehicle due to the operation of the parking brake lever, and a parking state detecting means for detecting a non-parked state of the vehicle by the parking state detecting means; The seat fixing state release prohibiting means is controlled so as to prohibit release of the fixed state of the driver's seat, while the seat fixing means can release the fixed state of the driver's seat when the parking state of the vehicle is detected. So that
and a control means for controlling a means for inhibiting release of the fixed state of the seat. It is characterized by being set eccentrically.

[0006]

According to the structure of claim 1, when the vehicle is not set to the parked state by the parking state setting means and this state is detected by the parking state detection means, the seat is fixed by the control of the control means. The state release prohibition means prohibits the seat fixing means from releasing the fixed state of the driver's seat seat. Therefore, for example, a situation in which the driver's seat is inadvertently released from being fixed by the seat fixing means and the driver's seat is rotated while the vehicle is running is prevented. On the other hand, when the vehicle is set in the parked state by the parking state setting means and this state is detected by the parking state detection means, the seat fixed state release prohibition means prevents the seat fixing means from releasing the fixed state of the driver seat. enable. Therefore, it is possible to release the fixed state of the driver's seat by the seat fixing means and rotate the driver's seat, for example, in a direction facing the rear seat.

Furthermore, when the driver's seat is rotated from the driving position as described above and this state is detected by the seat rotation state detection means, the parking state release prohibition means prevents the parking state from being canceled by the parking state setting means. Prohibits cancellation of . Therefore, when the driver's seat is rotated from the driving position, there is no risk of the vehicle being unintentionally released from the parked state. On the other hand, when the driver's seat is returned to the driving position and this state is detected by the seat rotation state detection means, the parking state cancellation prohibition means enables the parking state setting means to cancel the parking state.

According to the structure of claim 2, when the vehicle is not set in the parking state by operating the parking brake lever and this state is detected by the parking state detection means, the effect according to the structure of claim 1 is performed. Similarly, under the control of the control means, the seat fixed state release prohibiting means prohibits the seat fixing means from releasing the fixed state of the driver's seat seat.

On the other hand, when the vehicle is set in the parking state by operating the parking brake lever and this state is detected by the parking state detection means, the seat fixation state release prohibition means prevents the driver's seat from being fixed by the seat fixation means. Allows release of the condition.

Further, when the driver's seat is released from being fixed by the seat fixing means and the driver's seat is rotated from the driving position, the operating area of the parking brake lever is covered by the driver's seat. Therefore, when the driver's seat is rotated from the driving position, there is no risk that the parking brake lever will be inadvertently operated and the vehicle will be released from the parked state.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle 1 has a driver's seat 2 and a passenger's seat 3 at the front of the vehicle interior. It is possible to rotate backward from the operating position shown in the figure.

The above driver's seat 2 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
As shown in FIG. 2, a seat mounting board 5, a lower frame 6 connected to the seat mounting board 5, an upper frame 7 rotatable with respect to the lower frame 6, and a seat mounting board 5 connected to the upper frame 7 and the driver's seat 2. It is provided on the floor panel 9 via the seat receiving plate 8 which is attached to the floor panel 9.

The above-mentioned seat mounting board 5 has leg portions 5a...
The leg portions 5a are fastened to the floor panel 9 with bolts 10. A contact-type operating position detection switch 11 is provided on the upper surface of the seat mounting board 5 and is turned on/off by the forward/backward movement of the forward/backward moving part 11a. This operating position detection switch 1
1 is provided at the same radius position as the driving position detection hole 8a in the seat receiving plate 8 with respect to the rotation center of the driver's seat 2, that is, the seat rotation center O shown in FIG. 11a is inserted, and is turned OFF at other times, that is, when the advance/retreat portion 11a is in contact with the lower surface of the sheet receiving plate 8.

The lower frame 6 has a ring shape, and includes a lower horizontal wall portion 6a connected to the seat mounting board 5, an inner vertical wall portion 6b extending upward from the lower horizontal wall portion 6a, and an inner vertical wall portion 6b extending upward from the lower horizontal wall portion 6a. Upper side wall portion 6c extending outward in the radial direction
, and an outer vertical wall portion 6d extending downward from the upper horizontal wall portion 6c. This outer vertical wall portion 6d includes a notch-shaped rod insertion portion 6e into which a rod portion 13a of a seat fixing rod 13, which will be described later, can be inserted, and a rod portion 13a into which the rod portion 13a is inserted when the driver's seat 2 is in the rearward position. The insertable notch-shaped rod insertion portion 6f is at a temperature of 180°C with respect to each other.
It is formed in the position where it was placed. The above rod insertion part 6e
constitutes a seat fixing means together with the seat fixing rod 13.

The upper frame 7 is ring-shaped like the lower frame 6, and includes an upper horizontal wall portion 7a connected to the seat receiving plate 8, an outer vertical wall portion 7b extending downward from the upper horizontal wall portion 7a, and an outer vertical wall portion 7b extending downward from the upper horizontal wall portion 7a. It has a lower horizontal wall portion 7c extending radially inward from the wall portion 7b, and an inner vertical wall portion 7d extending upward from the lower horizontal wall portion 7c. A rod insertion hole 7e through which the rod portion 13a of the seat fixing rod 13 can be inserted is formed in the outer vertical wall portion 7b when the driver's seat 2 is in the driving position.

[0017]The outer vertical wall portion 7b and the inner vertical wall portion 7d
The outer vertical wall portion 6d of the lower frame 6 is inserted between the upper frame 7 and the lower frame 6, so that the upper frame 7 and the lower frame 6 are fitted, and the upper frame 7 is rotatable with respect to the lower frame 6.

The seat receiving plate 8 has a rectangular flat plate shape, and a hanging portion 8b is formed at the front edge. A U-shaped bracket 12 is provided on the lower surface of the seat receiving plate 8, as shown in FIG. 5 when the seat receiving plate 8 is viewed from below. A seat fixing rod 13 is provided through the seat so that it can move forward and backward. This seat fixing rod 13 has a handle portion 1 at the end of the rod portion 13a for pulling and operating the rod portion 13a.
3b. The seat fixing rod 13 is pulled toward the rotation center of the driver's seat 2 by a spring 14 provided between the opposing walls 12a and 12a of the bracket 12, and the tip of the rod portion 13a is attached to the driver's seat, for example. 2 is in the operating position, it passes through the rod insertion hole 7e of the upper frame 7 and the rod insertion part 6e of the lower frame 6. Also, seat fixing rod 1
The rod portion 13a of No. 3 is provided with an engagement piece 15 that protrudes laterally from the rod portion 13a, and a rod fixed actuator 16 having a rod portion 16a that can move forward and backward is provided on the side of the rod portion 13a. There is. This rod fixing actuator 16 and the above-mentioned engagement piece 15 constitute means for inhibiting release of the seat fixation state. The rod fixing actuator 16 is controlled by the control unit 21 to move the rod part 16a forward and backward, and the rod part 13a of the seat fixing rod 13 is inserted into the rod insertion hole 7e of the upper frame 7 and the rod insertion part 6e of the lower frame 6. When the rod part 16a is advanced while penetrating through the rod part 16a, the rod part 16a engages with the engagement piece 15, and the pulling out operation of the rod part 13a from the rod insertion part 6e of the lower frame 6 is prohibited. It looks like this.

The driver's seat 2 is attached to the upper surface of the seat receiving plate 8 so that the center of rotation of the driver's seat 2 coincides with the center of the seat.

The vehicle 1 is also equipped with an automatic transmission, and as shown in FIG. The position is detected by an inhibitor switch 19 serving as parking state detection means. In addition, near the shift lever 17, the position of the shift lever 17 is set to the parking position (hereinafter referred to as P).
A shift lock solenoid 20 is provided as means for inhibiting release of the parking state for fixing the vehicle in the parking position.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, this vehicle 1 has a driving position detection switch 11 and an inhibitor switch 19.
A control unit 21 is provided as a control means for controlling the rod fixing actuator 16 and the shift lock solenoid 20 based on the detection operation by. That is, the control unit 21 determines that the position of the shift lever 17 detected by the inhibitor switch 19 is P.
When the shift lever 17 is in a position other than the position, the rod fixed actuator 16 is controlled to advance the rod portion 16a, and when the shift lever 17 is in the P position, the rod fixed actuator 16 is controlled to retract the rod portion 16a. It is meant to be controlled. Also,
The control unit 21 includes the operation position detection switch 1
1 is ON, the shift lock solenoid 20 is controlled to release the shift lock state, and when the driving position detection switch 11 is OFF, the shift lock solenoid 20 is controlled to lock the shift. It has become.

In the above configuration, when the shift lever 17 is in a position other than the P position while the vehicle 1 is running, this state is detected by the inhibitor switch 19, and the control unit 21 controls the rod fixed actuator 16. The rod portion 16a is controlled to advance. Therefore, in this state, when the handle part 13b of the seat fixing rod 13 is pulled, the engagement piece 1 provided on the rod part 13a of the seat fixing rod 13 is attached to the rod part 16a of the rod fixing actuator 16.
5 gets caught, and the rod part 13a cannot be pulled out from the rod insertion part 6e of the lower frame 6. As a result, the driver's seat 2 is fixed in the forward-facing driving position with rotation prohibited.

Meanwhile, the vehicle 1 has stopped and the shift lever 17
is shifted to the P position, this state is detected by the inhibitor switch 19, and the control unit 21 controls the rod fixing actuator 16 so that its rod portion 16a retracts. Therefore, by pulling the handle part 13b of the seat fixing rod 13, the rod part 13a of the seat fixing rod 13 can be moved to the lower frame 6.
can be pulled out from the rod insertion part 6e. Thereby, the driver's seat 2 can be rotated from the forward-facing driving position to any desired position. Here, driver seat 2
For example, when the seat fixing rod 13 is rotated to a rearward position, the rod portion 13a of the seat fixing rod 13 is fitted into the rod fitting portion 6f of the lower frame 6, and the driver's seat 2 is fixed in that position. The rotation of the driver's seat 2 from this position is also
This can be easily done by pulling the seat fixing rod 13 and pulling out the rod part 13a with the rod fitting part 6f.

Further, as described above, when the driver's seat 2 is rotated from the driving position, the driving position detection switch 1
1, the advancing/retracting portion 11a contacts the lower surface of the seat receiving plate 8,
Since it is OFF, the control unit 21 controls the shift lock solenoid 20 to lock the shift. Therefore, the shift lever 17 is
When the driver's seat 2 is fixed in the driving position and rotated from the driving position, there is no possibility that the parking state by the shift lever 17 will be inadvertently released.

On the other hand, when the driver's seat 2 is returned to the driving position, the driving position detection switch 11
a is inserted into the operating position detection hole 8a of the seat receiving plate 8,
Since it is turned ON, the control unit 21 controls the shift lock by the shift lock solenoid 20 to be released. Therefore, the shift lever 17 can be operated.

In this embodiment, the shift lever 17 that operates the transmission is used as the parking state setting means, but the parking brake lever that operates the parking brake can also be used as the parking state setting means. good.

Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2, 5, and 8 to 11. For convenience of explanation, means having the same functions as the means shown in the drawings of the above-mentioned embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In the vehicle 31 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the driver's seat 2 includes a seat mounting board 5 and a lower frame 6 connected to the seat mounting board 5, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. , is provided on the floor panel 9 via an upper frame 7 that is rotatable with respect to the lower frame 6 and a seat receiving plate 32 that is connected to the upper frame 7 and the driver's seat 2. However, when the driver's seat 2 is rotated from the driving position shown by the solid line in FIG. 8 to the rearward facing position shown by the two-dot chain line in the same figure, the driver's seat 2 will move downward on the side of the driver's seat 2 as shown in FIG. The mounting center is eccentric with respect to the rotation center of the driver's seat 2 so as to cover the operating area of the parking brake lever (hereinafter referred to as P brake lever) 33 as a parking state setting means provided.
It is attached to the seat receiving plate 8. The P brake lever 33 is provided with a P brake lever operation detection switch 34, which will be described later, as a parking state detection means for detecting whether or not the P brake lever 33 has been operated to operate the P brake. .

It should be noted that the lower frame 6 has a rod fitting portion 6e.
6f is formed, and a rod insertion hole 7e is formed in the upper frame 7.
is formed, and the seat fixing rod 13 and the rod fixing actuator 1 are attached to the seat receiving plate 32, as shown in FIG.
The structure in which 6 and other members are provided is the same as in the previous embodiment.

The vehicle 31 also includes a control unit 35 as a control means for controlling the rod fixed actuator 16 based on the detection operation by the P brake lever operation detection switch 34, as shown in FIG. That is, when the P brake lever operation detection switch 34 detects a state of the P brake lever 33 that does not operate the P brake, the control unit 35 detects
While controlling the rod fixed actuator 16 to advance the rod portion 16a, the P brake is actuated.
When the operating state of the brake lever 33 is detected, the rod fixing actuator 16 is controlled to retract the rod portion 16a.

In the above configuration, for example, while the vehicle 31 is running, the P brake lever 33 is in a state in which the P brake is not operated. When this state is detected by the P brake lever operation detection switch 34, the control unit 35 controls the rod fixed actuator 16 so that its rod portion 16a advances. Therefore,
As mentioned above, the rod portion 13a of the seat fixing rod 13
cannot be pulled out from the rod insertion portion 6e of the lower frame 6, and the driver's seat 2 is fixed in the forward driving position with rotation prohibited.

On the other hand, when the vehicle 31 is stopped and the P brake lever 33 is operated to activate the P brake lever, this state is detected by the P brake lever operation detection switch 34, and the control unit 35
The rod fixed actuator 16 is controlled so that its rod portion 16a retracts. Therefore, the seat fixing rod 1
3 into the rod fitting portion 6 of the lower frame 6.
e, and the driver's seat 2 can be rotated from the forward-facing driving position to any desired position.

Further, when the driver's seat 2 is rotated, for example, backward from the driving position, as shown in FIG.
The operation area of the P brake lever 33 is covered by the driver's seat 2. Therefore, in this state, the P brake lever 33 cannot be operated, and there is no possibility that the P brake lever 33 will be inadvertently operated and parking by the P brake will be released.

On the other hand, when the driver's seat 2 is returned to the driving position, the operation area of the P brake lever 33 is opened, so that the P brake lever 33 can be operated.

[0035]

Effects of the Invention As described above, the vehicle safety device of the invention of claim 1 includes a seat fixing means for fixing the driver's seat in a forward-facing driving position, and a fixing state of the driver's seat by the seat fixing means. Seat fixed state release prohibition means for prohibiting release, seat rotation state detection means for detecting the state in which the driver's seat is rotated from the driving position, and parking state detection means for detecting the parking state of the vehicle by the parking state setting means. and a parking state release prohibition means for prohibiting the parking state setting means from canceling the parking state, and a parking state detection means.
The seat fixing state release inhibiting means is controlled to prohibit release of the fixed state of the driver's seat by the seat fixing means when the non-parked state of the vehicle is detected, and when the parked state of the vehicle is detected. In order to enable release of the fixed state of the driver's seat by the seat fixing means, the seat fixing state release inhibiting means is controlled, and the state in which the driver's seat is in the driving position is detected by the seat rotation state detecting means. The parking state setting means controls the parking state cancellation inhibiting means so that the parking state setting means can release the parking state when the driver's seat is rotated from the driving position. This configuration includes a control means for controlling the parking state cancellation prohibition means so that cancellation of the parking state by the setting means is prohibited.

Accordingly, when the driver's seat is rotated from the driving position, the parking state cancellation prohibiting means prohibits the parking state setting means from canceling the parking state. Therefore, when the driver's seat is rotated from the driving position, there is no risk that the parked state of the vehicle will be inadvertently released, and the driver's seat can be rotated safely.

As described above, the vehicle safety device of the invention of claim 2 includes a seat fixing means for fixing the driver's seat in the forward driving position, and a release of the fixed state of the driver's seat by the seat fixing means. When the non-parked state of the vehicle is detected by the means for inhibiting the release of the seat fixed state, the parking state detecting means for detecting the parked state of the vehicle due to the operation of the parking brake lever, and the parking state detecting means,
The seat fixing state release prohibiting means is controlled to prohibit release of the fixed state of the driver's seat by the seat fixing means, and when the parking state of the vehicle is detected, the fixing state of the driver's seat by the seat fixing means is controlled. and control means for controlling the means for inhibiting release of the fixed state of the seat so that the driver's seat can be released from the fixed state, and when the driver's seat is rotated from the driving position, the center of rotation is set so as to cover the operating area of the parking brake lever. is set eccentrically with respect to the center of the seat.

Accordingly, when the driver's seat is rotated from the driving position, the operating area of the parking brake lever is covered by the driver's seat. Therefore, when the driver's seat is rotated from the driving position, there is no risk that the parking brake lever will be inadvertently operated and the vehicle will be released from the parked state, and similarly, the driver's seat can be rotated in a safe manner. This has the effect of making it possible to

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram of a control circuit in a vehicle safety device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a main part of a vehicle equipped with the control circuit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a structure for attaching the driver's seat shown in FIG. 1 to a floor panel.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure for attaching the driver's seat shown in FIG. 1 to a floor panel.

5 is an enlarged view showing the rod fixing actuator and the seat fixing rod support structure provided on the lower surface side of the seat receiving plate shown in FIG. 3, viewed from below the seat receiving plate; FIG.

6 is a schematic perspective view showing a structure near a shift lever of an automatic transmission included in the vehicle shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram corresponding to the configuration of claim 1.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention, with the driver's seat in a driving position and in a rearward facing state.

9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a structure for attaching the driver's seat shown in FIG. 8 to a floor panel.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure for attaching the driver's seat shown in FIG. 9 to a floor panel.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a control circuit of a vehicle safety device in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram corresponding to the configuration of claim 2.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Vehicle 2 Driver seat 6 Lower frame 6e Rod insertion part (seat fixing means) 6f Rod insertion part 7 Upper frame 7e Rod insertion hole 8 Seat receiving plate 8a Driving position detection hole 11 Driving position detection switch 13 Seat fixing rod (seat fixing means) means) 15
Engagement piece (means for inhibiting release of seat fixed state) 16 Rod fixing actuator (means for inhibiting release of seat fixed state) 17 Shift lever (parking state setting means) 19 Inhibitor switch (parking state detection means) 20 Shift lock solenoid (prohibiting release of parking state 21 Control unit (control means) 31 Vehicle 33 Parking brake lever (parking state setting means) 34 Parking brake lever operation detection switch (parking state detection means)

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: A safety device for a vehicle in which the driver's seat is rotatable and includes a parking state setting means for setting the vehicle in a parking state where movement is restricted, the seat fixing the driver's seat in a forward-facing driving position. a fixing means, a seat fixing state release inhibiting means for prohibiting release of the fixed state of the driver's seat by the seat fixing means, and a seat rotation state detecting means for detecting a state in which the driver's seat is rotated from a driving position; The parking state detection means detects the parking state of the vehicle by the parking state setting means, the parking state release prohibition means prevents the parking state setting means from canceling the parking state, and the parking state detection means detects the non-parked state of the vehicle. is detected, the seat fixing state release inhibiting means is controlled to prohibit the seat fixing means from releasing the fixed state of the driver's seat, and when the parking state of the vehicle is detected, the seat fixing means In addition, when the seat rotation state detection means detects that the driver's seat is in the driving position, The parking state cancellation prohibition means is controlled so that the parking state setting means can cancel the parking state, and when the rotation state of the driver's seat from the driving position is detected, the parking state setting means can cancel the parking state. 1. A vehicle safety device comprising: a control means for controlling a parking state release prohibition means so that release of the parking state is prohibited. Claim 2: A safety device for a vehicle in which a parking brake lever for operating a parking brake is provided below on the side of a driver's seat, and the driver's seat is rotatable, the driver's seat being moved to a forward-facing driving position. A seat fixing means for fixing the seat; a seat fixing state release prohibiting means for prohibiting release of the fixed state of the driver's seat by the seat fixing means; and a parking state detecting means for detecting the parking state of the vehicle by operating the parking brake lever. When the non-parked state of the vehicle is detected by the parking state detection means, the seat fixing state release prohibiting means is controlled to prohibit the seat fixing means from releasing the fixed state of the driver's seat; When the parking state of
and a control means for controlling a means for inhibiting release of the fixed state of the seat so that the fixed state of the driver's seat by the seat fixing means can be released, and when the driver's seat is rotated from the driving position, A vehicle safety device characterized in that the center of rotation is set eccentrically with respect to the center of the seat so as to cover the operating area of the parking brake lever of the vehicle.