Safety footrest on a bulkhead of a motor vehicle

Abstract

Safety footrest (1) for a motor vehicle (20), comprising a footplate (5) which can be attached with its upper region (30) to a motor vehicle front wall (10) by means of an upper joint device (35), and which in normal operation has a footrest angle (α) relative to a virtual plane (80) parallel to a road surface, and in which a lower joint device (50) can be attached between a lower region (45) of the footplate (5) and a motor vehicle floor (15) such that the footrest angle (α) outside of normal operation corresponds to the footrest angle (α) in normal operation, wherein the lower joint device (50) has a joint section (65) which is designed to pivot with an upper section on the lower region (45) of the footplate (5) and with a lower section on the motor vehicle floor (15), characterized in thatthat the material thickness of a contact area of ​​the footplate (5) and the joint section (65) and / or of a contact area of ​​the joint section (65) and the vehicle floor (15) is less than the material thickness of the footplate (5).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a safety footrest on an end wall of a motor vehicle according to claim 1 and to a motor vehicle equipped with such a safety footrest according to claim 4.

[0002] Footrests installed in the interior of a motor vehicle, and particularly in the driver's footwell, have proven to be valuable comfort features. Under normal operating conditions, i.e., when the vehicle is used as intended and without accidents, they feature a footplate inclined relative to a virtual plane parallel to the road surface. The corresponding footrest angle is typically 55° to 60°. However, outside of normal operating conditions, such as in the event of a collision, and especially in a crash, an intrusion into the footwell can occur, in which a rapid change in the footrest angle is detrimental.

[0003] To avoid this adverse effect, a safety footrest for a motor vehicle is provided according to DE 199 15 240 A1, comprising a footplate whose upper section is attached to the vehicle's front wall by means of an upper hinge mechanism and whose lower section merely rests on the vehicle floor. According to this prior art, a fixed connection of the footplate to the vehicle's front wall is thus provided solely at the hinge mechanism. In the event of a crash, the footplate is moved by a support attached to the front wall in such a way that the footrest angle intended for normal operation is maintained even in a crash by rotating the footplate around the upper hinge mechanism.

[0004] From DE 198 58 636 A1 and DE 602 14 784 T2, a safety footrest for a motor vehicle is known, comprising a footplate which is attached with its upper area to a motor vehicle front wall by means of an upper joint device and which is slidably mounted with its lower area on a motor vehicle floor by means of a rail construction or skid in order to maintain a desired footrest angle even in a crash.

[0005] From JP H10-305 746 A a safety footrest for a motor vehicle is known, with a footplate, the upper part of which is indirectly attached to a motor vehicle front wall via a lever system and the lower part of which is slidably mounted with a bolt in a rail running laterally along the motor vehicle floor in order to maintain a desired footrest angle even in a crash.

[0006] Finally, from KR 10 2005 0 049 005 A a safety footrest for a motor vehicle is known, with a footplate whose upper area is indirectly attached to a motor vehicle front wall via two rods and whose lower area is slidably mounted relative to the motor vehicle floor by means of a cam-like guide in order to maintain a desired footrest angle even in a crash.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to create a safety footrest that is an alternative to the prior art.

[0008] This problem is solved by a safety footrest for a motor vehicle, comprising a footplate whose upper region can be attached to the front wall of the motor vehicle by means of an upper hinge device and which, in normal operation, has a footrest angle relative to a virtual plane parallel to the road surface. A lower hinge device can be attached between a lower region of the footplate and the vehicle floor such that the footrest angle outside of normal operation corresponds to the footrest angle in normal operation. In the safety footrest according to the invention, not only is the footrest angle maintained even in the event of a crash, but the footplate is also guided securely in both its upper region by means of the upper hinge device and in its lower region facing the vehicle floor.

[0009] Furthermore, the safety footrest according to the invention is provided in that the lower joint device has a joint section which is designed to pivot with an upper section on the lower area of ​​the footplate and with a lower section on the vehicle floor.

[0010] The lower joint device can be designed using hinges. However, according to the invention, the material thickness of a contact area between the footplate and the joint section and / or a contact area between the joint section and the vehicle floor is less than the material thickness of the footplate. This advantageously avoids the comparatively complex construction of safety footrests known from the prior art.

[0011] The material thickness differences provided according to the invention, which can also be designed in the form of material thickness jumps, advantageously enable a one-piece or integral design of the footplate and joint section.

[0012] If the footplate has a higher stiffness than the joint device, it is advantageously ensured that, in both one-piece and multi-piece designs of the safety footrest according to the invention, a deformation of the footplate caused by a crash only occurs after a deformation of the lower joint device, and a foot located on the footplate is protected.

[0013] The aforementioned task is also accomplished by a motor vehicle equipped with a safety footrest of the type shown. The previously mentioned advantages apply accordingly.

[0014] The features of the present invention described above can be combined with one another as far as possible, even if this is not explicitly described above.

[0015] The following is a brief description of figures of the present invention. Fig. Figure 1 shows a safety footrest according to the invention in a motor vehicle according to the invention in normal operation in side view. Fig. 2 represents the safety footrest according to the invention. Fig. 1 after a crash.

[0016] The following is made with reference to the non-scale and symbolic representations. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. A detailed, non-prejudicative, and in particular limiting, description of an embodiment of the present invention. Identical elements are designated with identical reference numerals unless otherwise specified.

[0017] The safety footrest 1 has a footplate 5, the area of ​​which facing a front wall 10 and a vehicle floor 15 of a motor vehicle 20 is provided with a vibration-damping foam or similar plastic 25 in a manner known per se. On its upper area 30 adjacent to the front wall 20, the footplate has an upper hinge 35, which is attached to the front wall 10 by means of fasteners 40 known per se, in particular screws. In the event of a collision or crash, the front wall 10 can pivot about the footplate 5.

[0018] The safety footrest 1 has a lower hinge 50 on its lower section 45 adjacent to the vehicle floor 15, which is attached to the vehicle floor 15 by means of fasteners 55 known per se, in particular screws. For aesthetic and acoustic reasons, the lower section 45 can be covered by a carpet 60, as is known per se.

[0019] The lower joint device 50 has a joint section 65 which is pivotably mounted on the footplate 5 and the section attached by means of fasteners 55, respectively, by means of two hinges 70 and 75. In the event of a collision or crash, the vehicle floor can pivot about the two hinges 70 and 75.

[0020] It should be noted that any or all joint devices 35 or 50 need not be designed as rotary hinges as shown in this exemplary embodiment. Rather, the invention provides for a relative pivotability of the joint devices 35 or 50 by means of material-reduced sections (not shown here) similar to film hinges. In such a case, the safety footrest according to the invention could be formed in one piece.

[0021] How Fig. As can be seen from Figure 1, the footplate 5 is inclined during normal operation relative to a virtual plane 80 parallel to the (not shown) road surface at a footrest angle α, which can be, for example, 55° to 60°. This magnitude is maintained even in the event of a crash, as shown in Figure 1. Fig.2 can be seen: The lower joint device 50 provided according to the invention, in conjunction with the upper joint device 35, enables movement or compression of the front wall 10 and the vehicle floor 15 in the direction of the running board 5 such that the latter is displaced essentially parallel to its position in normal operation. This advantageously reduces or even completely avoids injuries to a person involved in an accident in the vehicle 20. Reference symbol list 1 safety footrest 5 Footplate 10 Front wall 15 Motor vehicle floor 20 motor vehicles 25 foam 30 Upper area 35 Upper joint device 40 Fasteners 45 Lower area 50 Lower joint device 55 Fasteners 60 carpet 70 hinge 75 hinge 80 Virtual Plane x, y, z Cartesian vehicle-oriented coordinate system α Footrest angle

Claims

[1] Safety footrest (1) for a motor vehicle (20), comprising a footplate (5) which can be attached with its upper region (30) to a motor vehicle front wall (10) by means of an upper joint device (35), and which in normal operation has a footrest angle (α) relative to a virtual plane (80) parallel to a road surface, and in which a lower joint device (50) can be attached between a lower region (45) of the footplate (5) and a motor vehicle floor (15) such that the footrest angle (α) outside of normal operation corresponds to the footrest angle (α) in normal operation, wherein the lower joint device (50) has a joint section (65) which is designed to pivot with an upper section on the lower region (45) of the footplate (5) and with a lower section on the motor vehicle floor (15), characterized by, that the material thickness of a contact area of ​​footplate (5) and joint section (65) and / or of a contact area of ​​joint section (65) and vehicle floor (15) is less than the material thickness of the footplate (5). [2] Safety footrest (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the footplate (5) and the joint section (65) are formed in one piece. [3] Safety footrest (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the footplate (5) has a higher stiffness than the lower joint device (50). [4] Motor vehicle (20), characterized by a safety footrest (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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