WO2001025869A1

WO2001025869A1 - Adjustable toepan assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2001025869A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/027891
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chantal S. Parenteau; Raj S. Roychoudhury; Minoo Jaswantlal Shah; Brian Norman Orr
Original assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-10-07
Filing date: 2000-10-06
Publication date: 2001-04-12

Abstract

An adjustable toepan assembly (10) for a vehicle (12) includes a movable toepan (28) and a drive mechanism (36) connected to the movable toepan (28) and a source of power to move the movable toepan (28) longitudinally. The adjustable toepan assembly (10) also includes a displacement pad (54) mounted on a right side of the movable toepan (28) to act as a gas pedal and a pressure pad (56) mounted on a left side of the movable toepan (28) to act as a brake pedal. An occupant (26) can activate the drive mechanism (36) to move the movable toepan (28) toward and away from the occupant (26) to allow the occupant (26) to press on the displacement pad (54) and the pressure pad (56).

Description

ADJUSTABLE TOEPAN ASSEMBLY

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to toepans for vehicles and, more particularly, to an adjustable toepan assembly for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a vehicle body of a vehicle with a floorpan and a fixed toepan extending upwardly at an angle from the floorpan. It is also known to provide the vehicle with movable pedals operatively connected to the toepan. In most vehicles, a gas pedal is mounted on a right side of the toepan and a brake pedal mounted on a left side of the toepan. Also, the vehicle includes a seat spaced longitudinally from the pedals in which a driver of the vehicle sits. In some vehicles, the seat is adjustable longitudinally relative to the pedals and toepan. In other vehicles, the pedals are adjustable longitudinally relative to a fixed seat of the vehicle.

It is also known that driver occupants of vehicles may have different statures ranging from short to tall. In general, short stature driver occupants may tend to sit closer to a steering wheel because of the distance to pedals.

It is desirable to provide an adjustable toepan to increase a distance between the driver occupant and the steering wheel in a vehicle. It is also desirable to provide an adjustable toepan that may help to improve the driver occupant foot position in a vehicle and support the foot better in some instances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide an adjustable toepan assembly for a vehicle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide pressure sensitive brake pedal and displacement sensitive gas pedal for a vehicle.

It is yet another object to provide an adjustable toepan assembly for a vehicle with non- mechanical pedals. To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is an adjustable toepan assembly for a vehicle including a movable toepan and a drive mechanism connected to the movable toepan and a source of power to move the movable toepan longitudinally. The adjustable toepan assembly also includes a displacement pad mounted on a right side of the movable toepan to act as a gas pedal and a pressure pad mounted on a left side of the movable toepan to act as a brake pedal. An occupant can activate the drive mechanism to move the movable toepan toward and away from the occupant to allow the occupant to press on the gas displacement pad and the brake pressure pad.

One advantage of the present invention is that an adjustable toepan assembly is provided for a vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that the adjustable toepan assembly combines the features of an adjustable toepan with pressure/displacement sensitive pedals for a vehicle. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the adjustable toepan assembly increases the distance between a driver occupant and a steering wheel in a vehicle. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the adjustable toepan assembly may permit better positioning of the foot for certain driver occupants to rest their heel on the floorpan while braking and accelerating. A further advantage of the present invention is that the adjustable toepan assembly may help to alter the occupant foot position such that loads can be transmitted through the forefoot and the heel for certain driver occupants . Yet a further advantage of the present invention is that the adjustable toepan assembly removes linkages of the pedals from being located directly behind the pedal in front of the toepan to behind the toepan. Another advantage of the present invention is that the vertical dimension of the gas pedal may be increased to accommodate more foot sizes.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an adjustable toepan assembly, according to the present invention, illustrated in operational relationship with an occupant in a vehicle.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the adjustable toepan assembly of Figure 1 illustrating a first position and a second position.

Figure 3 is a front view of the adjustable toepan assembly of Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings and in particular

Figures 1 and 2, one embodiment of an adjustable toepan assembly 10, according to the present invention, is shown for a vehicle (partially shown) , generally indicated at 12. The vehicle 12 includes a vehicle body, generally indicated at 14, forming an occupant compartment 15. The vehicle body 14 includes a floorpan 16 and a toepan 18 extending upwardly at an angle from the floorpan 16 and fixed relative thereto. The vehicle 12 also includes an instrument panel 20 extending laterally from the toepan 18 and spaced from the floorpan 16. The vehicle 12 includes a steering wheel 22 mounted to the instrument panel 20. The vehicle 12 also includes a seat 24 mounted by suitable means to the floorpan 16 in the occupant compartment 15 of the vehicle body 14. In this embodiment, the seat 24 is a driver occupant seat of the vehicle 12. A driver occupant 26 is seated in the seat 24 and grasps the steering wheel 22 to operate the adjustable toepan assembly 10 to be described. It should be appreciated that, except for the adjustable toepan assembly 10, the vehicle 12 is conventional and known in the art.

Referring to Figures 1 through 3, the adjustable toepan assembly 10, according to the present invention, includes an adjustable or movable toepan 28 spaced from the fixed toepan 18 of the vehicle body 14. The adjustable toepan 28 is generally planar and rectangular in shape but many other shapes are possible. The pressure sensitive adjustable toepan assembly 10 also includes at least one, preferably a plurality of guides 30, 32 and 34 to support the adjustable toepan 28 and stabilize its trajectory as it moves longitudinally. It should be appreciated that the guides 30,32,34 act as a track to guide the translational movement of the adjustable toepan 28. It should also be appreciated that the guides 30,32,34 are fixed by suitable means to the fixed toepan 18 of the vehicle body 14.

The adjustable toepan assembly 10 includes a drive mechanism, generally indicated at 36, to move the adjustable toepan 28 along the guides 30,32,34. The drive mechanism 36 includes a telescoping screw 38 extending longitudinally between the adjustable toepan 28 and the fixed toepan 18 of the vehicle body 14. The drive mechanism 36 includes a revolute joint 40 interconnecting one end of the telescoping screw 38 and the adjustable toepan 28. The drive mechanism 36 also includes a rotatable nut 42 disposed about and cooperating with the other end of the telescoping screw 38 to convert rotational motion into translational motion. The drive mechanism 36 includes a motor 44 and a cable 46 interconnecting the motor 44 and the nut 42 to rotate the nut 42. The drive mechanism 36 also includes a pin joint member 48 connected to the nut 42. The drive mechanism 36 further includes a pin 50 connecting the pin joint member 48 to the fixed toepan 18 of the vehicle body 14. The drive mechanism 36 includes an actuator 52 connected to the pin 50 for releasing the pin 50 from the pin joint member 48 to disconnect the pin joint member 48 from the fixed toepan 18 of the vehicle body 14. It should be appreciated that the motor 44 and actuator 52 are connected to a source of power in the vehicle 12. It should also be appreciated that the actuator 52 is triggered by an electrical signal from an impact sensor (not shown) to release the pin 50. It should further be appreciated that, as the telescoping screw 38 moves out of the nut 42, the adjustable toepan 28 moves longitudinally closer to the occupant 26.

The adjustable toepan assembly 10 also includes at least a pair of pedals or pads 54 and 56 mounted to the adjustable toepan 28. A first or gas displacement pad 54 is mounted on a right side of the adjustable toepan 28 to act as a gas pedal and a second or brake pressure pad 56 is mounted on a left side of the adjustable toepan 28 to act as a brake pedal. The gas displacement pad 54 is preferably longer than the brake pressure pad 56 and the brake pressure pad 56 is preferably thicker than the gas displacement pad 54 so that they are similar to existing gas and brake pedals. The pads 54 and 56 are interconnected by a potentiometer or Hall effect switch (not shown) to activate a signal which is fed to throttle or brake computer modules (not shown) , respectively. It should be appreciated that the pads 54 and 56 are pressure sensitive and can identify the pressure applied by the occupant 26 irrespective of the location of application by the occupant 26. It should also be appreciated that a vertical dimension of the pads 54 and 56 may be increased or decreased to accommodate a variety of foot sizes such that the heel of the foot can rest on the floorpan 16 of the vehicle body 14.

In operation, the adjustable toepan assembly 10 is illustrated in a first or current position in solid lines in Figure 1. In this position, the occupant 26 can press either the gas displacement pad 54 or the brake pressure pad 56 with their foot. When this occurs, the pressure is transformed into control signals, such as voltage or digital waveform, which, in turn, is used to activate either the throttle or brake computer modules.

When a different toepan position is desired, the occupant 26 actuates a switch (not shown) to activate the motor 44 of the drive mechanism 36 to move the adjustable toepan 28 from the first position to a second position in phantom lines in Figure 2. It should be appreciated that the occupant 26 can activate the switch to move the adjustable toepan 26 away from the occupant 26. The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) for a vehicle (12) comprising: a movable toepan (28) ; a drive mechanism (36) connected to said movable toepan (28) and a source of power to move said movable toepan (28) longitudinally; and a displacement pad (54) mounted on a right side of said movable toepan (28) to act as a gas pedal and a pressure pad (56) mounted on a left side of said movable toepan (28) to act as a brake pedal, wherein an occupant

(26) can activate said drive mechanism (36) to move said movable toepan (28) toward and away from the occupant (26) to allow the occupant (26) to press on said displacement pad (54) and said pressure pad (56) .

2. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1 including at least one guide (30,32,34) connected to a fixed toepan (18) of the vehicle (12) to guide said movable toepan (28) longitudinally.

3. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive mechanism (36) comprises a telescoping screw (38) operatively connected to said movable toepan (28) and a motor (44) operatively connected to said telescoping screw (38) .

4. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) as set forth in claim 3 wherein said drive mechanism (36) includes a cable (46) interconnecting said motor (44) and said telescoping screw (38) .

5. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) as set forth in claim 3 including a revolute joint (40) connecting one end of said telescoping screw (38) to said movable toepan (28) .

6. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) as set forth in claim 4 including a rotatable nut (42) connected to another end of telescoping screw (38) and said cable (46) .

7. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) as set forth in claim 6 including a pin joint member (48) connected to said nut (42) and the fixed toepan (18) .

8. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) as set forth in claim 7 including a pin (50) releasably connecting said pin joint member (48) to the fixed toepan (18) .

9. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) as set forth in claim 8 including an actuator (52) to disconnect said pin (50) from said pin joint member (48) and the fixed toepan (18) .

10. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pressure pad (56) is thicker than said displacement pad (54) .

11. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said displacement pad (54) is longer than said pressure pad (56) .

12. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) for a vehicle (12) comprising: a movable toepan (28) ; at least one guide (30,32,34) connected to a fixed toepan (18) of the vehicle (12) to guide said movable toepan (28) longitudinally; a drive mechanism (36) connected to said movable toepan (28) and a source of power to move said movable toepan (28) longitudinally; and a displacement pad (54) mounted on a right side of said movable toepan (28) to act as a gas pedal and a pressure pad (56) mounted on a left side of said movable toepan (28) to act as a brake pedal, said pressure pad (56) having a thickness greater than said displacement pad

(54) , wherein an occupant (26) can activate said drive mechanism (36) to move said movable toepan (28) toward and away from the occupant (26) to allow the occupant (26) to press on said displacement pad (54) and said pressure pad (56) .

13. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) as set forth in claim 12 wherein said drive mechanism (36) comprises a telescoping screw (38) operatively connected to said movable toepan (28) and a motor (44) operatively connected to said telescoping screw (38) .

14. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) as set forth in claim 13 wherein said drive mechanism (36) includes a cable (46) interconnecting said motor (44) and said telescoping screw (38) .

15. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) as set forth in claim 14 including a rotatable nut (42) interconnecting said cable (46) and said telescoping screw (38) .

16. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) as set forth in claim 15 including a pin joint member (48) connected to said nut (42) and the fixed toepan (18) .

17. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) as set forth in claim 16 including a pin (50) releasably connecting said pin joint member (48) and the fixed toepan (18) .

18. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) as set forth in claim 17 including an actuator (52) to disconnect said pin (50) from said pin joint member (48) and the fixed toepan (18) .

19. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) as set forth in claim 18 including a revolute joint (40) connecting said telescoping screw (38) to said movable toepan (28) .

20. An adjustable toepan assembly (10) for a vehicle (12) comprising: a movable toepan (28) ; at least one guide (30,32,34) connected to a fixed toepan (18) of the vehicle (12) to guide said movable toepan (28) longitudinally; a drive mechanism (36) connected to said movable toepan (28) and a source of power to move said movable toepan (28) longitudinally, said drive mechanism (36) comprising a telescoping screw (38) , a motor (44) , a cable (46) interconnecting said motor (44) and said telescoping screw (38), and a rotatable nut (42) interconnecting said cable (46) and said telescoping screw (38) ; and a gas displacement pad (54) mounted on a right side of said movable toepan (28) to act as a gas pedal and a brake pressure pad (56) mounted on a left side of said movable toepan (28) to act as a brake pedal, said brake pressure pad (56) having a thickness greater than said gas displacement pad (54) , said gas displacement pad (54) being longer than said brake pressure pad (56) , wherein an occupant (26) can activate said drive mechanism (36) to move said movable toepan (28) toward and away from the occupant (26) to allow the occupant (26) to press on said gas displacement pad (54) and said brake pressure pad (56) .