Device for preventing vehicle accidents

Abstract

Device for preventing traffic accidents when an external object penetrates the space under the pedal assembly, comprising at least one cutting element designed to pierce a voluminous external object, characterized in that it has the form of a shaped cover plate, which is a semicircle with an outer and an inner edge, wherein the outer edge has the shape of the at least one cutting element and the inner edge is provided for mounting on the pedal lever of the vehicle.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a device for preventing vehicle accidents when an external object enters the space under the pedal assembly, more precisely the gap between the pedal lever and the floor, while the vehicle is moving, thereby preventing fatal traffic accidents.

[0002] In some cases, an external object in the form of a hard and large object, such as a drinking cup, a water bottle, or a car floor mat, may move freely while the vehicle is driving, accelerating, suddenly stopping, turning, etc., and may thereby enter the gap provided for the operation of the pedal assembly, including the brake and accelerator pedals and clutch, i.e., the space (gap) formed between the underside of the pedal assembly and the inner surface of the vehicle floor.

[0003] Small cats and dogs running around in a car while it's moving can cause an accident and lead to the death of their owners. All they have to do is get under the driver's feet and become stuck in the pedal assembly. In this case, the vehicle won't stop as intended, even if the driver applies the brakes, leading to unexpected and serious accidents.

[0004] A device is known that prevents an external object from penetrating under the pedal assembly of a vehicle [RU2574102 C2, published on 10 February 2016], comprising a main body made of an elastically deformable material located in the space between the vehicle floor and the pedal assembly. The pedal assembly includes a pedal lever that allows rotation of the pedal lever relative to the mounting point and a pedal connected to its end. The front of the main body is designed to contact the driver's foot. The top of the main body is concave for the pedal lever and convex for the pedal. The bottom of the main body is designed to rest on the vehicle floor and prevents an external object from penetrating the space under the pedal lever and under the pedal.The disadvantage of this device is that the elasticity of the device material changes under the influence of external factors (frost, high temperatures, time), which leads to a change in the pedal pressure required to reduce speed or to stop the vehicle completely.

[0005] From EP 1106416, published on April 14, 2004, a device is known that includes a control unit with a foot pedal for a vehicle, including a support structure, a pedal connected to the support structure, and means that respond to the movement of the pedal to generate a signal corresponding to the position and / or change in position of the pedal, wherein the pedal is designed as an elastic body. Designing the vehicle control unit as an elastic body eliminates the risk of a foreign object penetrating under the pedal lever, which in turn minimizes the risk of accidents. However, the disadvantage of such a device is its design complexity and its inability to prevent or minimize the risk of accidents in vehicles with the conventional existing design of the pedal assembly in the form of levers and a pedal for contact with the driver's foot.

[0006] The closest technical solution to the claimed one is a device disclosed in KR 10-2500468, published on February 16, 2023, which is a cutting element in the form of a pyramid with edges, designed for piercing / cutting a large external object. Several elements in the form of individual pyramids with cutting edges are arranged on the surface of the lever and the underside of the brake pedal; these can be attached by screwing them into pre-drilled holes.

[0007] The disadvantage of such a device is its limited use due to the complexity of manufacturing a pedal assembly with such a device, which requires preparatory work to drill holes on the lever and on the underside of the pedal, as well as direct installation of the device by the user or the driver of the vehicle.

[0008] The problem to be solved by the claimed utility model is to create a device for preventing vehicle accidents, characterized by simple mounting on the pedal lever and having a simple design suitable for piercing / cutting an external object that has entered the space under the vehicle's pedal assembly.

[0009] The problem of the device for preventing traffic accidents when an external object penetrates the space under the pedal assembly, comprising at least one cutting element designed to pierce a large external object, is solved by having it in the form of a shaped cover plate, which is a semicircle with an outer and an inner edge, wherein the outer edge has the shape of the at least one cutting element and the inner edge is provided for mounting on the pedal lever of the vehicle.

[0010] Preferably, the cutting element is manufactured in the form of teeth or pins or a sharpened outer edge of the semicircle or a combination thereof.

[0011] Even more preferably, the device is designed so that it can be attached to a pedal lever of the vehicle by means of gluing, welding or retaining clamps.

[0012] Even more preferable, it also includes a slotted mounting plate for covering the edge of the pedal lever, which is connected to the inner edge of the semicircle.

[0013] The device can be made of plastic, solid polymer materials, or metal and alloys.

[0014] The claimed invention is illustrated by exemplary embodiments in the drawings, which do not claim to be exhaustive and show: Fig. 1. Overall view of the product Fig. 2. Example of a device with a sharp outer edge Fig. 3. Example of a device with teeth and pins Fig. 4. Example of a device with an additional mounting plate Fig. 5. Example of a device that is attached to the pedal lever with retaining clips. Fig. 6. Example of a device with holes

[0015] All drawings are schematic and do not represent the actual physical data of the product.

[0016] The claimed device for preventing vehicle accidents ( Fig. 1) consists of a shaped plate which is a semicircle 1, on the outer edge 2 of which teeth 3 are located in this example and the inner edge 4 is designed for attachment to the pedal lever of the vehicle (not shown). Fig. Figure 2 shows the outer edge 2 of the semicircle 1 as a sharp edge 5. Teeth 3 and pins 6 can be arranged on the outer edge 2 of the semicircle 1 of the device for preventing vehicle accidents ( Fig. 3) The inner edge 4 of the semicircle 1 can be welded to the vehicle's pedal lever. In special cases, the inner edge 4 of the semicircle 1 can also be attached to the pedal lever of the device under stress with adhesive (e.g., epoxy adhesive of various brands). Fig. 4 to Fig. Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the device, which is fastened by means of two retaining clips 7 and an additional mounting plate 8 with a slot 9 for covering the edge of the foot pedal lever, which is connected to the inner edge 4 of the semicircle 1 shown. The additional plate 8 can be connected to the inner edge 4 of the semicircle 1 in any manner known to those skilled in the art, for example, by being inserted into a slot, glued, welded, or soldered. In other embodiments, the device can also be fastened with retaining clips 7 that pass through holes 10 formed along the inner edge 4 of the semicircle 1 ( Fig. 6) guide and cover the foot pedal lever on the other side.

[0017] The device can be manufactured from one or more suitable materials, including, but not limited to, solid polymers (polyamide, polyacetal, polyamide-imide, etc.), plastics, and metals and alloys such as stainless steel. Examples of such steels are AISI 304, AISI 321, and AISI 430.

[0018] An example of how to manufacture the device from steel.

[0019] Depending on the size of the raw part and the quantity of the product, a 5 mm thick stainless steel sheet is cut. Then, using a laser tool, the semicircular contour is cut into the plane, and teeth or pins are cut out. Next, using a specific technological tool, the outer edge 2 of the semicircle 1 is sharpened to form edge 5, or teeth 3 and pins 6 are sharpened on the outer edge 2 of the semicircle 1 to effectively bore / cut through a large external object.

[0020] The device is manufactured from solid polymers by mechanically machining a piece of material using CNC machines or hand tools. 3D printing is also possible in its production.

[0021] Use of the device.

[0022] The driver of the vehicle must attach the device to all or some of the brake, clutch, or accelerator pedal levers before driving, for example, using retaining clips. To do this, one end of the retaining clip is inserted into the holes on the inner edge 4 of the semicircle 1, the other end covers the pedal lever and is clamped firmly, whereby the outer edge 2 of the semicircle 1, with teeth 3 and / or pins 6, comes into contact with the vehicle floor in the area into which the outer object falls when a corresponding pedal is depressed to its stop.

[0023] Anticipating a collision, braking to a standstill, or acceleration, the driver presses hard on the brake or accelerator pedal, depending on the situation. An external object, such as a plastic water bottle, rolling into the gap between the floor and the pedal assembly, comes into contact with the teeth 3 and / or pins 6 of the outer edge 2 of the semicircle 1. Under the influence of the pressure exerted by the driver's foot on the pedal, the teeth 3 and / or pins 6 pierce and crumple the bottle, allowing the vehicle to either stop or accelerate when the driver presses the brake or accelerator pedal, thus preventing a collision.

[0024] Thus, the claimed device has a simple design, is suitable for piercing / cutting an external object that has fallen into the space under the pedal assembly, is characterized by easy installation on the pedal lever and prevents accidents. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] RU 2574102 C2

[0004] EP 1106416

[0005] KR 10-2500468

[0006]

Claims

[1] Device for preventing traffic accidents when an external object penetrates the space under the pedal assembly, comprising at least one cutting element designed to pierce a bulky external object, characterized by that it has the form of a shaped cover plate which is a semicircle with an outer and an inner edge, wherein the outer edge has the shape of the at least one cutting element and the inner edge is provided for mounting on the pedal lever of the vehicle. [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that the cutting element is manufactured in the form of teeth or pins or a sharpened outer edge of the specified semicircle or a combination thereof. [3] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that the device can be attached to a pedal lever by means of gluing, welding or clamping. [4] Device according to claim 1, characterized by, that it additionally includes a slotted mounting plate for covering the edge of the pedal lever, which is connected to the inner edge of the specified semicircle. [5] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that it consists of plastics or solid polymer materials or metals and alloys.

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