Footboard for a motorized vehicle

Abstract

Motor-driven vehicle with at least one footboard (8, 11) which extends in the area of ​​the vehicle chassis (1) substantially between the area of ​​a vehicle seat (5) and a cockpit area (7) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein the footboard (8, 11) consists of a first section (9) sloping slightly downwards at the height of the front end of the driver's seat area (5) and a second section (10) adjoining it, rising upwards towards the cockpit area (7), wherein the footboard (8, 11) is designed in the direction of travel as an extension of a rear wheel carrier (2) forming part of the chassis (1), characterized in that the first section (9) of the footboard (8, 11) is arranged rising in the direction of travel at an angle between 3 degrees and 12 degrees and the second section of the footboard (10) is arranged at an angle between 10 degrees and 15 degrees relative to the first section (9), wherein the footboard (8, 11) is used on a scooter-like two-wheeled vehicle and the two-wheeled vehicle is foldable.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor-driven vehicle having at least one footboard which extends in the region of the vehicle chassis essentially between the region of a driver's seat and a cockpit region in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, according to the combination of features of patent claim 1.

[0002] In motor-driven two- or three-wheeled vehicles, the footboard for the rider's feet is usually arranged as part of the chassis in an area that extends from approximately the height of the front end of the driver's seat in the direction of travel to approximately the height of the cockpit area of ​​the vehicle. The surface of the footboard usually extends horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is largely flat. Depending on the seating position chosen by the rider, this horizontal and largely flat arrangement of the footboard can be disadvantageous or unfavorable in terms of posture. For example, DE 694 08 824 T2 shows a conventional scooter, wherein the footboard consists of a first section that slopes slightly downwards in the direction of travel at the height of the front end of the driver's seat area, and an adjoining second section that rises upwards towards the cockpit area.EP 1 088 750 A2 also discloses a scooter, the footboard of which is formed at least in part by the leg protection of the scooter.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of offering an ergonomically favorable construction of a footboard for a motor-driven vehicle which counteracts discomfort and, for example, fatigue, etc. and is safe for placing the feet.

[0004] This object is achieved with regard to a motor-driven vehicle by the subject matter of patent claim 1.

[0005] The footboard consists of a first section that slopes slightly downwards in the direction of travel at approximately the height of the front end of the driver's seat area, and a second section that rises upwards towards the cockpit area.

[0006] Ideally, the footboard and chassis essentially form a single unit. The footboard is designed as an extension of the rear wheel carrier, which is part of the chassis, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0007] A particularly preferred solution according to the invention is one in which a correspondingly molded footboard is attached to the left and right of the central area of ​​the vehicle chassis. The left and right footboards can be separated by parts of the intermediate chassis.

[0008] The footboards can be attached to the chassis as separate components; however, a solution in which the footboards are molded integrally with the chassis or parts of the chassis is particularly preferred. For weight reasons, it is particularly advantageous for the overall vehicle to manufacture the footboards and chassis or chassis parts from fiber-reinforced plastic or a similar lightweight and robust composite material. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic are particularly suitable due to their extremely high tensile strength and low density.

[0009] The first section of the footboard, which slopes slightly in the direction of travel, has an inclination of between 3 degrees and 12 degrees; for ergonomic reasons, an inclination of approximately 5 degrees relative to the horizontal has proven particularly advantageous.

[0010] The second section of the footboard, which rises upwards towards the cockpit area, has an inclination of between 5 degrees and 20 degrees; here, an inclination of approximately 10 to 15 degrees compared to the first section has proven particularly advantageous.

[0011] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, the transition area between the first and second sections of the footboard is designed to be gently rounded. This provides a comfortable and secure foot position for the rider.

[0012] A footboard constructed according to the invention is used in a scooter-like two-wheeled vehicle, wherein the two-wheeled vehicle is designed to be foldable. The two-wheeled vehicle can be designed as a foldable vehicle via one or more folding mechanisms.

[0013] The drawing illustrates an embodiment of the invention. The features and details of the subject matter of the invention will be explained in more detail below using this embodiment.

[0014] It shows: Fig. 1 is a side view of a two-wheeled vehicle with a footboard according to the invention; and Fig. 2 a perspective view from the front obliquely above of a two-wheeled vehicle with left and right arranged footboards according to the invention.

[0015] In Fig. 1 shows the chassis of a motor-driven two-wheeled vehicle. Connected to the chassis 1 are a rear wheel carrier 2, a central unit 3, which houses the vehicle's drive, etc., and a driver's seat 5 via a seat support 4. The front wheel carrier 6 and the entire cockpit structure 7 are mounted in the front area of ​​the chassis 1.

[0016] Footboards 8 and 11 are preferably constructed as part of the chassis 1 and integrally with the chassis 1 or with parts of the chassis 1 in fibre-reinforced plastic material (see Fig. 2). These footboards 8 and 11 essentially form a structural unit with the chassis 1 and represent - as in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is clearly visible - represents an extension of the rear wheel carrier 2 in the direction of travel, which is also a one-piece part of the chassis construction 1.

[0017] The footboards 8 and 11, which in their width (in the transverse direction of the vehicle) essentially only slightly exceed the width of normal street shoes of average size or should be approximately equal to this, are in area X (see Fig. 1) In the direction of travel, a first section 9 initially slopes slightly downwards, followed by a second section that slopes slightly upwards. Depending on the vehicle, the area X extends from approximately the height of the front end of the vehicle seat to approximately the middle area of ​​the cockpit structure 7, at the height of the driver's feet.

[0018] The slightly sloping first section 9 can have an incline of between approximately 3 degrees and approximately 12 degrees relative to the vehicle's horizontal; it has been shown to be advantageous for a comfortable and safe position if the incline is designed to be approximately 5 degrees lower than the horizontal.

[0019] The second section 10 of the footboard 8, which adjoins the first section 9 with a gentle rounding, can preferably be designed with an upward slope of between approximately 5 degrees and approximately 20 degrees relative to the first section; in this case, it has proven particularly advantageous if the slope is between approximately 10 degrees and approximately 15 degrees.

[0020] Fig. 2 shows the subject matter of the invention according to Fig. 1 in a different view. It is clearly visible that the footboards 8 and 11 on both sides of the chassis 1 are integrally formed on the chassis 1 or attached to it. Parts of the chassis 1 can form a separation area aligned vertically of the vehicle between the two footboards 8 and 11 on the left and right.

[0021] It is entirely conceivable, however, that the chassis construction in this area is not designed as such a consistent separation between the two footboards 8 and 11, but rather as a continuous structure. In this respect, it is also entirely conceivable that chassis 1 and footboards 8 and 11, with the corresponding slant of the first (section 9) and the second section 10, could be designed as a substantially structurally uniform unit, with a largely flat transverse design throughout.

[0022] The design of the footboard, with a downward slope in a first section 9 followed by a slightly upward slope in a second section 10, has proven particularly effective in numerous tests. This ergonomic design counteracts fatigue or other discomfort in the driver by ensuring a largely natural and, above all, secure foot position—e.g., preventing slipping. List of reference symbols 1 chassis 2 Rear wheel carrier 3 Central unit 4 seat supports 5 Driver's seat 6 Front wheel carrier 7 Cockpit structure 8 Footboard 9 First section of the footboard 10 Second section of the footboard 11 Footboard X = Area between the height of the front edge of the driver's seat and the height approximately in the middle of the cockpit structure

Claims

[1] Motor-driven vehicle with at least one footboard (8, 11) which extends in the region of the vehicle chassis (1) essentially between the region of a vehicle seat (5) and a cockpit region (7) in the vehicle longitudinal direction, wherein the footboard (8, 11) consists of a first section (9) which slopes slightly downwards in the direction of travel at the level of the front end of the driver's seat area (5) and a second section (10) which adjoins it and rises upwards towards the cockpit area (7), the footboard (8, 11) being designed in the direction of travel as an extension of a rear wheel carrier (2) forming part of the chassis (1), characterized by , that the first section (9) of the footboard (8, 11) is arranged between 3 degrees and 12 degrees and the second section of the footboard (10) is arranged between 10 degrees and 15 degrees relative to the first section (9) rising in the direction of travel, wherein the footboard (8, 11) is used in a scooter-like two-wheeled vehicle and the two-wheeled vehicle is designed to be foldable. [2] Motor-driven vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by that the footboard (8, 11) and chassis (1) essentially form a structural unit. [3] Motor-driven vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by that a correspondingly shaped and / or attached footboard (8, 11) can be arranged to the left and right of a central area of ​​the vehicle chassis (1). [4] Motor-driven vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the footboards on the left and right (8, 11) are separated by parts of the intermediate chassis (1). [5] Motor-driven vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the footboards (8, 11) can be attached to the chassis (1). [6] Motor-driven vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the footboards (8, 11) are formed in one piece with the chassis (1) or with parts of the chassis. [7] Motor-driven vehicle according to claim 6, characterized by that footboards (8, 11) and chassis (1) are made of fiber-reinforced plastic. [8] Motor-driven vehicle according to claim 7, characterized by that footboards (8, 11) and chassis (1) are made of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). [9] Motor-driven vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by that the first section (9) of the footboard (8, 11) is designed to slope approximately 5 degrees in the direction of travel. [10] Motor-driven vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the transition area of ​​the first (9) into the second section (10) of the footboard (8, 11) is gently rounded.

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