Pedal position indicator and image display medium

Abstract

To enable an operator to check a position of a pedal of a motor vehicle by visual observation more reliably than conventional arts.SOLUTION: A pedal position indicator 1 is placed on a dash board of a motor vehicle and used to allow an operator to check positions of a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal of the motor vehicle. The pedal position indicator 1 has: a first sign board 51 corresponding to the brake pedal; a second sign board 52 corresponding to the accelerator pedal; and a body 10 for holding the first sign board 51 and the second sign board 52.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for preventing a driver from accidentally stepping on an accelerator pedal instead of a brake pedal of an automobile. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, driving errors have become a social problem. One of the most problematic driving errors is misstepping on the accelerator instead of the brake when driving an AT (automatic transmission). In particular, misstepping on the accelerator instead of the brake can easily lead to an accident. In an MT (manual transmission) vehicle, the clutch is always disengaged when the brake pedal is pressed, so the vehicle will not accelerate even if the accelerator is accidentally pressed. However, an AT vehicle will accelerate. Therefore, misstepping on the accelerator in an AT vehicle is more dangerous than in an MT vehicle.

[0003] In view of this, techniques have been proposed to prevent drivers from mistaking the accelerator pedal for the brake pedal in an automatic transmission vehicle, or to prevent accidents caused by such misapplication.

[0004] The pedal misapplication acceleration suppression device described in Patent Document 1 is a pedal misapplication acceleration suppression device that can be retrofitted to a vehicle equipped with an automatic brake system whose operation is cancelled when the accelerator opening is equal to or greater than a predetermined cancellation judgment opening for a predetermined reference period of time, and includes an opening input unit configured to input an actual accelerator opening, which is an accelerator opening based on an accelerator operation, an opening change unit configured to be able to selectively output the actual accelerator opening inputted by the opening input unit and a pseudo accelerator opening, which is a pseudo accelerator opening, and when it is determined that a predetermined acceleration suppression condition is established based on the actual accelerator opening inputted by the opening input unit, an opening change unit changes the pseudo accelerator opening, which is less than the actual accelerator opening, to the opening change unit. The automatic braking system includes an acceleration suppression unit configured to execute an acceleration suppression process to output an acceleration suppression condition to an opening change unit, and an operation state detection unit configured to detect the operation state of the automatic braking system, and the acceleration suppression unit is configured to execute a cancellation process in place of the acceleration suppression process to output the actual accelerator opening, or the pseudo accelerator opening that is greater than or equal to the cancellation judgment opening and less than the actual accelerator opening, as a cancellation sufficient opening to the opening change unit, when the operation state detection unit detects that the automatic braking system is in operation, even if it is determined that the acceleration suppression condition is satisfied, until the operation state detection unit detects that the operation of the automatic braking system has been canceled.

[0005] The warning sticker described in Patent Document 2 is a pedal misapplication warning sticker that warns the driver of a vehicle not to confuse the brake pedal with the accelerator pedal. The warning sticker comprises a sticker-like sheet portion which is a sticker-like backing that can be affixed to a surface inside the vehicle, and a part of the sticker-like sheet portion is a peelable warning display sticker portion, which has the word "brake" or a design featuring a brake pedal displayed on the left side of the warning display sticker portion and the word "accelerator" or a design featuring an accelerator pedal displayed on the right side of the warning display sticker portion, and the warning display sticker portion can be peeled off from the sticker-like sheet portion and affixed in a position inside the vehicle that is easily visible to the driver. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-28370 A [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3183672 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The invention of the misapplication of pressure (acceleration suppression device) described in Patent Document 1 can be realized by applying a program for suppressing acceleration caused by misapplication of pressure to an automatic brake system. Therefore, there is no need to modify the mechanical structure.

[0008] However, this can only be applied to automobiles equipped with an automatic braking system. Alternatively, an acceleration suppression device must be newly installed in the automobile. In addition, since it is not easy to apply a program to an existing automatic braking system or to newly install an acceleration suppression device, when a driver drives a different automobile than usual (e.g., a rental car), the driver cannot benefit from the invention described in Patent Document 1.

[0009] On the other hand, the invention described in Patent Document 2 (attention warning sticker) seems to be usable in any automobile, regardless of whether it has an automatic braking system or not. However, the attention warning sticker has the following problems.

[0010] On the driver's side of the dashboard of a car, especially directly in front of the driver's seat, there is an instrument panel (so-called instrument panel) that contains the speedometer, tachometer, fuel meter, etc. However, from a safety standpoint, it is not desirable to attach a warning sticker to the instrument panel. Therefore, it is considered to attach the warning sticker below the instrument panel.

[0011] However, the view below the instrument panel is blocked by the steering wheel, making it difficult for the driver to see the warning sticker.

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to enable a driver to visually confirm the position of an automobile pedal more reliably than ever before. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] A pedal position indicator according to one embodiment of the present invention is a pedal position indicator that is placed on the dashboard of a vehicle to allow a driver to visually confirm the positions of the vehicle's brake pedal and accelerator pedal, and has a first medium corresponding to the brake pedal, a second medium corresponding to the accelerator pedal, and a main body for holding the first medium and the second medium.

[0014] Preferably, the first medium is a medium for drawing or pasting a first image representing or reminiscent of the brake pedal, and the second medium is a medium for drawing or pasting a second image representing or reminiscent of the accelerator pedal.

[0015] Alternatively, the first medium has two intersecting display surfaces for drawing or pasting the first image, and the second medium has two intersecting display surfaces for drawing or pasting the second image.

[0016] Alternatively, the first medium and the second medium can be attached to and detached from the main body at any position in the width direction.

[0017] Alternatively, it has a support portion that supports the main body at at least three points on the rear side of the main body and on one end side and the other end side of the main body in the width direction when the main body is placed on the dashboard.

[0018] Alternatively, the main body has a front part where the first medium and the second medium are arranged so that they are visible from the driver's seat when in use, and a base part supporting the front part, and the support part has a first flexible arm, a second flexible arm, a third flexible arm, a first rubber foot, a second rubber foot, and a third rubber foot, one end of the first flexible arm is connected to the back side of the main body and the other end is connected to the first rubber foot, one end of the second flexible arm is connected to the one end side in the width direction of the main body and the other end is connected to the second rubber foot, and one end of the third flexible arm is connected to the other end side in the width direction of the main body and the other end is connected to the third rubber foot. Or, the support part has an adjustment means for adjusting an angle between the front part and the base part. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the present invention, a driver can visually confirm the position of the pedals of an automobile more reliably than in the past. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pedal position indicator as viewed from the front right. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pedal position indicator as viewed from the rear left. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a pedal position indicator installed in a vehicle. [Figure 4] 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the pedal position indicator when the first sign and the second sign are not attached. FIG. [Diagram 5] 11 is a rear cross-sectional view of the pedal position indicator when the first sign and the second sign are not attached. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a side view of the first sign and the second sign. [Figure 7] 1A to 1C are diagrams showing examples of a first brake guide sheet, a second brake guide sheet, a first accelerator guide sheet, and a second accelerator guide sheet. [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing schematic examples of arrangements of pedal position indicators in a private car and a rental car as viewed from the driver's seat. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a side view showing a modified example of the pedal position indicator. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an attachment board. [Figure 11] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing an example of attaching an attachment board to a front portion. [Figure 12] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing an example of attaching an attachment board to a front portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] [1. Configuration] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the pedal position indicator 1 as viewed from the front right. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pedal position indicator 1 as viewed from the rear left. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of setting the pedal position indicator 1 to an automobile 7. FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the pedal position indicator 1 when the first sign 51 and the second sign 52 are not attached. FIG. 5 is a rear cross-sectional view of the pedal position indicator 1 when the first sign 51 and the second sign 52 are not attached. FIG. 6 is a side view of the first sign 51 and the second sign 52. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing examples of the first brake guide sheet 61, the second brake guide sheet 62, the first accelerator guide sheet 63, and the second accelerator guide sheet 64.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1 or 2, the pedal position indicator 1 is composed of a main body 10, a first arm 41, a second arm 42, a third arm 43, a first rubber foot 44, a second rubber foot 45, a third rubber foot 46, a first signboard 51, a second signboard 52, a first brake guide sheet 61, a second brake guide sheet 62, a first accelerator guide sheet 63, and a second accelerator guide sheet 64, etc.

[0023] The pedal position indicator 1 is a device for allowing a driver to visually confirm the positions of a brake pedal 71 and an accelerator pedal 72 of an automobile 7, and is used by placing it on a dashboard 73 of the automobile 7 as shown in FIG.

[0024] The main body 10 is composed of a housing 2, an arm stand 3, and the like. The housing 2 is composed of a front section 21, a base section 22, and an intermediate section 23, and as shown in FIG. 4(A) or FIG. 4(B), is substantially L-shaped when viewed from the side. A first signboard 51 and a second signboard 52 can be attached to the front section 21 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The first signboard 51 and the second signboard 52 can also be removed from the front section 21.

[0025] The front portion 21 has a horizontally long plate shape, and the upper surface 21c is inclined so that the rear surface 21b side is higher than the front surface 21a side. ac is 120 to 160 degrees, and the angle θ between the rear surface 21b and the upper surface 21c is bc is (180-θ ac ).

[0026] The base portion 22 has a horizontally long plate shape, and when the pedal position indicator 1 is set on the dashboard 73 of the automobile 7, at least a portion of the lower surface 22a comes into contact with an upper surface 73a of the dashboard 73.

[0027] The intermediate portion 23 is located between the front portion 21 and the base portion 22, and has a groove 231 in the longitudinal direction. The two edges 231a, 231b of the groove 231 are close to each other with a distance of about 1 mm, or are in contact with each other. This results in an acute angle between the front portion 21 and the base portion 22. Note that this angle is preferably set so that the driver's line of sight and the front surface 21a of the front portion 21 are as perpendicular as possible, and is specifically set to 50 to 85 degrees.

[0028] Furthermore, when the rear surface 21b of the front portion 21 is pressed, the edges 231a, 231b move away from each other by up to about 10 mm, increasing the angle slightly, but when the pressure is stopped, the edges 231a, 231b move closer to each other again, within about 1 mm, or come into contact.

[0029] The front portion 21, the base portion 22, and the intermediate portion 23 are made of a non-slip material such as hard rubber. It is preferable that the front portion 21, the base portion 22, and the intermediate portion 23 are integrally formed. If they are not integrally formed, it is preferable that at least the base portion 22 is made of a non-slip material, or that the surface of the front portion 21 or the lower surface 22a of the base portion 22 is treated to have a non-slip property.

[0030] Alternatively, the front portion 21, the base portion 22, and the intermediate portion 23 may be formed from plastic, and the surface of the front portion 21 or the lower surface 22a of the base portion 22 may be treated to provide an anti-slip effect.

[0031] The width of the front part 21 is equal to or greater than the distance from the left end 71a of the brake pedal 71 to the right end 72a of the accelerator pedal 72 of the automobile 7. For example, when the width of the brake pedal 71, the width of the accelerator pedal 72, and the distance between the brake pedal 71 and the accelerator pedal 72 are 50 mm, 45 mm, and 70 mm, respectively, the width of the front part 21 is equal to or greater than the sum of these three lengths, that is, 165 mm. In order to increase the versatility of the pedal position indicator 1, it is desirable to design the width of the front part 21 to be longer. However, in order to make it easier to carry, it is not desirable to make it too long. Therefore, for example, it is sufficient to design the width of the front part 21 to be about 100 to 200 mm longer than the distance (190 mm) from the left end of the brake pedal to the right end of the accelerator pedal of a typical automobile.

[0032] The thickness of the front portion 21 is equal to the thickness (height) of the base portion 22, and is, for example, 5 to 10 mm.

[0033] The width and depth of the base portion 22 are long enough to allow the housing 2 to be placed on the upper surface 73a of the dashboard 73 and to allow the housing 2 to stand on a horizontal surface. For example, the width of the base portion 22 may be the same as the width of the front portion 21, or may be shorter on both the left and right sides by 20 to 30 mm. However, it is preferable that the housing 2 is configured so that a line dividing the front portion 21 in half in the width direction and a line dividing the base portion 22 in half in the width direction intersect, that is, so that the housing 2 is configured symmetrically on the left and right. The depth of the base portion 22 is, for example, 30 to 60 mm.

[0034] The height of the housing 2 is preferably about 35 to 60 mm. If it is too low, it becomes difficult to guide the positions of the brake pedal 71 and the accelerator pedal 72, whereas if it is too high, it may block the driver's view or the pedal position indicator 1 may easily fall over.

[0035] The arm stand 3 is a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped member, and is fixed to the upper surface 22b of the base portion 22 with an adhesive or screws. As shown in FIG. 5, the first side surface 31, the second side surface 32, and the back surface 33 are provided with a first hole 31a for fitting the first arm 41, a second hole 32a for fitting the second arm 42, and a third hole 33a for fitting the third arm 43, respectively. The depths of the first hole 31a and the second hole 32a are equal and are 20 to 40 mm. The depth of the third hole 33a is 15 to 18 mm.

[0036] The arm base 3 is made of a hard material, for example hardwood such as cedar or pine, or it may be made of reinforced plastic or metal.

[0037] The width of the arm stand 3 is equal to the width of the base portion 22. Alternatively, it may be shorter than the width of the base portion 22 by 20 to 30 mm on each side. However, it is preferable that the arm stand 3 is disposed so that a line dividing the arm stand 3 in half in the width direction intersects with a line dividing the base portion 22 in half in the width direction. In other words, it is preferable that the main body 10 is configured symmetrically.

[0038] The height and depth of arm stand 3 are shorter than the height of housing 2 and the depth of base portion 22, respectively, and are, for example, 25 to 35 mm and 20 to 30 mm, respectively.

[0039] The arm base 3 and the front part 21 may be in contact with each other or may be slightly separated from each other. Even if they are in contact with each other, pressing the rear surface 21b of the front part 21 will separate the arm base 3 and the front part 21 as described above.

[0040] The first arm 41, the second arm 42, and the third arm 43 are rod-shaped arms that can change to any posture determined by the driver and maintain that posture. As the first arm 41, the second arm 42, and the third arm 43, a commercially available flexible arm or the flexible arm disclosed in JP 2017-108331 A is used.

[0041] The first arm 41 and the second arm 42 have the same length, both of which are 90 to 120 mm. The third arm 43 has a length of 80 to 110 mm. The first arm 41, the second arm 42, and the third arm 43 each have a diameter (thickness) of 7 to 10 mm.

[0042] The first rubber foot 44 and the second rubber foot 45 are cylindrical rubber feet with a height of 20 to 30 mm and a diameter (thickness) of 20 to 30 mm. The third rubber foot 46 is an octagonal rubber foot with a height of 20 to 30 mm and a diameter (thickness) of 25 to 35 mm.

[0043] The first rubber foot 44, the second rubber foot 45, and the third rubber foot 46 may be chamfered. Alternatively, the first rubber foot 44, the second rubber foot 45, and the third rubber foot 46 may have a shape other than a cylinder or an octagonal prism, for example, a spherical shape.

[0044] The first rubber foot 44, the second rubber foot 45, and the third rubber foot 46 are provided with holes 44a, 45a, and 46a for inserting the first arm 41, the second arm 42, and the third arm 43, respectively. The depth of the hole 44a and the depth of the hole 45a are equal and are 15 to 18 mm. The depth of the hole 46a is 15 to 18 mm.

[0045] Of the two ends of the third arm 43, a first end 43a is inserted deep into and fixed in a hole 33a of the arm base 3. A second end 43b is inserted deep into and fixed in a hole 46a of a third rubber foot 46.

[0046] Similarly, one end 41a of the two ends of the first arm 41 is inserted deep into and fixed to the hole 31a of the arm base 3, and the other end 41b is inserted deep into and fixed to the hole 44a of the first rubber foot 44. Similarly, one end 42a of the two ends of the second arm 42 is inserted deep into and fixed to the hole 32a of the arm base 3, and the other end 42b is inserted deep into and fixed to the hole 45a of the second rubber foot 45.

[0047] Therefore, the first arm 41 and the second arm 42 have an exposed portion of 32 to 85 mm in the middle, and the third arm 43 has an exposed portion of 44 to 80 mm in the middle.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 6, the first signboard 51 is made up of a front portion 511, a rear portion 512, and a middle portion 513, and has a substantially U-shaped shape when viewed from the side.

[0049] The first signboard 51 is produced by bending a rectangular plate made of a material to which a magnet will stick, such as a steel plate, a tin plate, a galvanized iron plate, or a stainless steel plate, and by rounding off the corners of the front portion 511.

[0050] The angle between the front part 511 and the middle part 513 is equal to the angle between the front surface 21a and the top surface 21c of the front part 21, and the angle between the rear part 512 and the middle part 513 is equal to the angle between the back surface 21b and the top surface 21c of the front part 21. In addition, the distance between the front part 511 and the rear part 512 is equal to the thickness of the front part 21, that is, the distance between the front surface 21a and the back surface 21b. Therefore, the first signboard 51 is attached so as to fit the front part 21.

[0051] The width of the first signboard 51 is approximately equal to the width of the brake pedal 71. The height of the front part 511 is approximately equal to the height of the front part 21 or slightly shorter than that, for example, about 40 mm. The height of the rear part 512 is such that the first signboard 51 is unlikely to come off the front part 21, for example, about 30 mm.

[0052] 7(A) or 7(B), a first brake guide sheet 61, which is a magnetic sheet on which an image expressing or reminiscent of braking (for example, an illustration of a brake pedal being pressed with the right foot, an illustration of a car slowing down, an illustration of a red traffic light, the characters "safe brake", the characters "slow down", a combination of the characters "safe brake" and an illustration of a downward arrow, etc.) is drawn. Alternatively, such an image can be drawn directly on the front portion 511 with a pen.

[0053] The width and height of the first brake guide sheet 61 are approximately equal to or slightly shorter than the width and height of the front portion 511, respectively.

[0054] A second brake guide sheet 62, which is a magnetic sheet on which an image expressing or reminiscent of a brake is drawn, such as in FIG. 7(C) or (D), is attached to the intermediate portion 513. Alternatively, such an image can be drawn with a pen. Alternatively, a magnetic sheet of a color reminiscent of a brake (e.g., red) can be attached to the intermediate portion 513 as the second brake guide sheet 62, or the intermediate portion 513 can be painted in such a color in advance or colored with a pen as appropriate. The width and height of the second brake guide sheet 62 are approximately equal to or slightly shorter than the width and height of the intermediate portion 513, respectively.

[0055] The second sign 52 has a structure basically similar to that of the first sign 51. However, the width of the second sign 52 may be approximately equal to the width of the accelerator pedal 72. In other words, since the width of an accelerator pedal is generally shorter than the width of a brake pedal, the width of the second sign 52 may be shorter than the width of the first sign 51.

[0056] 7(E) or 7(F), a first accelerator information sheet 63 is attached to the front part 521 of the second signboard 52. The first accelerator information sheet 63 is a magnetic sheet on which an image expressing or reminiscent of an accelerator (for example, an illustration of a car accelerating, an illustration of an accelerator pedal being stepped on with the right foot, an illustration of a green traffic light, the word "accelerate", etc.) is drawn. Alternatively, such an image can be drawn with a pen.

[0057] A second accelerator guide sheet 64, which is a magnetic sheet on which an image expressing or reminiscent of an accelerator is drawn, as shown in Fig. 7(G) or (H), is attached to the middle portion 523. Alternatively, such an image can be drawn with a pen. Alternatively, a magnetic sheet of a color reminiscent of an accelerator (e.g., yellow or blue) can be attached to the middle portion 523 as the magnetic sheet 64, or the middle portion 523 can be painted in such a color in advance or colored with a pen as appropriate.

[0058] The width and height of the first accelerator guide sheet 63 are approximately equal to or slightly shorter than the width and height of the front portion 521. The width and height of the second accelerator guide sheet 64 are approximately equal to or slightly shorter than the width and height of the middle portion 523.

[0059] [2. How to use] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic example of the arrangement of the pedal position indicator 1 in each of a private car 7X and a rental car 7Y as viewed from the driver's seat.

[0060] Next, a method of using the pedal position indicator 1 will be described taking as examples the cases where a driver is driving a personal car 7X and a rental car 7Y.

[0061] 8(A), the driver places the pedal position indicator 1 on the upper surface 73a of the dashboard 73 of the vehicle 7A. That is, the pedal position indicator 1 is placed so that the front surface 21a of the front part 21 faces the driver, one end of the front part 21 in the width direction is located to the left of the left end 71a of the brake pedal 71, and the other end is located to the right of the right end 72a of the accelerator pedal 72.

[0062] Then, the lower surface 22a of the base portion 22 comes into contact with the upper surface 73a. However, if the upper surface 73a is not flat, the pedal position indicator 1 may become wobbly.

[0063] Therefore, in order to stabilize the pedal position indicator 1, the driver adjusts the position of the first arm 41, the second arm 42, and the third arm 43 so that the first rubber foot 44, the second rubber foot 45, and the third rubber foot 46 are all in contact with the upper surface 73a.

[0064] Incidentally, in order to further stabilize the pedal position indicator 1 or to prevent displacement due to vibration, an anti-slip sheet may be laid on the upper surface 73a in advance.

[0065] It is not necessary to exactly match the vehicle width direction of the private vehicle 7X with the width direction of the pedal position indicator 1. In order to make the pedal position indicator 1 more stable, the pedal position indicator 1 may be placed at a slight angle in accordance with the shape of the upper surface 73a of the dashboard 73.

[0066] The driver further attaches the first sign 51 in a position that appears to be directly above the brake pedal 71 when seated in the driver's seat. Similarly, the driver attaches the second sign 52 in a position that appears to be directly above the accelerator pedal 72. At this time, it is desirable that the plane that bisects the first sign 51 in the width direction and the plane that bisects the brake pedal 71 in the width direction coincide with each other or are as close as possible to each other. Similarly, it is desirable that the plane that bisects the second sign 52 in the width direction and the plane that bisects the accelerator pedal 72 in the width direction coincide with each other or are as close as possible to each other.

[0067] Then, the driver attaches a first brake guide sheet 61 and a second brake guide sheet 62 to the front part 511 and the middle part 513 of the first signboard 51, respectively, and attaches a first accelerator guide sheet 63 and a second accelerator guide sheet 64 to the front part 521 and the middle part 523 of the second signboard 52, respectively.

[0068] However, it is not necessary to attach a guide sheet to the front portions 511, 521 and the intermediate portions 513, 523 on which images are drawn. Alternatively, an image may be drawn instead of attaching a guide sheet.

[0069] When the driver drives the rental car 7Y after driving the private car 7X, the driver places the pedal position indicator 1 on the upper surface 73a of the dashboard 73 of the rental car 7Y in the same manner as when it is used in the private car 7X, as shown in Figure 8 (B), and attaches the first sign 51 and the second sign 52.

[0070] That is, the driver adjusts the postures of the first arm 41, the second arm 42, and the third arm 43 so that the first rubber foot 44, the second rubber foot 45, and the third rubber foot 46 contact the upper surface 73a of the dashboard 73 of the rental car 7Y. Furthermore, the first signboard 51 and the second signboard 52 are attached to match the positions of the brake pedal 71 and the accelerator pedal 72 of the rental car 7Y. Therefore, as can be seen by comparing with FIG. 8(A), the postures of the first arm 41, the second arm 42, and the third arm 43, the positions of the first rubber foot 44, the second rubber foot 45, and the third rubber foot 46, and the positions of the first signboard 51 and the second signboard 52 are different from the case where the pedal position indicator 1 is used in the private car 7X.

[0071] Thereafter, when driving the private vehicle 7X again, the driver positions the pedal position indicator 1 as shown in FIG. 8(A) and adjusts each arm, each rubber foot, each sign, and the like.

[0072] When carrying or storing the pedal position indicator 1, the first arm 41 and the second arm 42 can be bent so that the first rubber foot 44 and the second rubber foot 45 come into contact with the back surface 21b of the front portion 21, and the third rubber foot 46 can be bent so that the third rubber foot 46 comes into contact with the upper surface 22b of the base portion 22 or the back surface 33 of the arm stand 3. This allows the pedal position indicator 1 to be made more compact than when it is not in use.

[0073] [3. Effect of Pedal Position Indicator 1] According to this embodiment, the driver of an automobile 7 such as a private car 7X or a rental car 7Y can visually confirm the positions of the brake pedal 71 and the accelerator pedal 72 more reliably than ever before.

[0074] By the way, the older a person is, the less likely they are to be able to make quick decisions in an emergency, but even young people can be unable to make quick decisions. Therefore, pedal misapplication can occur not only among older drivers but also among younger drivers.

[0075] Drivers often only vaguely recognize the locations of the brake and accelerator pedals due to familiarity. Therefore, in an emergency, they may become confused and easily press the wrong pedal, or they may hesitate to press the pedal.

[0076] However, according to the present embodiment, the driver can visually confirm the positions of the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal at all times. If the driver knows that he can rely on his vision, he can operate the pedals instantly and accurately through his vision in the event of an emergency.

[0077] In addition, when a driver is driving slowly on a road with a tendency for traffic congestion, the driver's concentration may drop and the driver may lose track of whether his / her foot is on the brake pedal or the accelerator pedal. However, according to this embodiment, even in such a case, the driver can instantly recognize through vision which pedal his / her foot is on.

[0078] It is advisable to make it a habit to install and adjust the pedal position indicator 1 before starting to drive, just as you would adjust your rearview and side mirrors and fasten your seat belt.

[0079] By continuing to use the pedal position indicator 1 on a daily basis, the driver learns to instantly visually confirm the positions of the brake pedal 71 and the accelerator pedal 72. This makes it possible to prevent misapplication even more reliably. Furthermore, by repeatedly simulating pedal operation in an emergency, it becomes possible to prevent misapplication even more reliably.

[0080] Even if an image is drawn or a guide sheet (first brake guide sheet 61 or second brake guide sheet 62) is attached to only one of the front portion 511 and the intermediate portion 513, the driver can visually confirm the position of the brake pedal 71 more reliably than in the past. However, by drawing an image or attaching a guide sheet to both, the position can be confirmed more reliably. The same applies to confirmation of the position of the accelerator pedal 72.

[0081] Furthermore, since the postures of the first arm 41, the second arm 42, and the third arm 43 can be freely changed, and the positions of the first signboard 51 and the second signboard 52 can be changed, the versatility of the pedal position indicator 1 can be improved. In other words, drivers can use the pedal position indicator 1 not only in their own cars but also in various automobiles. Also, when multiple drivers take turns driving one automobile, the pedal position indicator 1 can be adjusted and used according to each driver's preference.

[0082] 4. Modifications Fig. 9 is a side view showing a modified example of the pedal position indicator 1. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an attachment board 47. Figs. 11 and 12 are diagrams showing examples of attachment of the attachment board 47 to the front portion 21.

[0083] In this embodiment, the first brake guide sheet 61, the second brake guide sheet 62, the first accelerator guide sheet 63, and the second accelerator guide sheet 64 are each provided with an image drawn on them or painted in a predetermined color, but these guide sheets may be provided with blank white magnetic sheets. The driver may then freely draw an image or color the guide sheets.

[0084] Also, four or five guide sheets with different images may be prepared as the first brake guide sheet 61 so that the driver can use the one he or she likes. The same applies to the second brake guide sheet 62, the first accelerator guide sheet 63, and the second accelerator guide sheet 64.

[0085] In this embodiment, a first signboard 51 and a second signboard 52 are attached to the front portion 21 of the housing 2, a first brake guide sheet 61 and a second brake guide sheet 62 are attached to the first signboard 51, and a first accelerator guide sheet 63 and a second accelerator guide sheet 64 are attached to the second signboard 52. However, the front portion 21 may be made of a material to which a magnet can be attached, such as steel or tinplate, so that these guide sheets can be attached directly to the front portion 21.

[0086] In this embodiment, three pairs of arms and rubber feet (first arm 41, first rubber foot 44, second arm 42, second rubber foot 45, third arm 43, and third rubber foot 46) are provided on pedal position indicator 1 to further stabilize main body 10, but four or more pairs of arms and rubber feet may be provided. For example, in addition to the three pairs in this embodiment, one pair of arms and rubber feet may be provided at each of the left and right ends of rear surface 21b of front portion 21.

[0087] The pedal position indicator 1 may be configured so that the angle of the front part 21 with respect to the base part 22 can be adjusted. For example, as shown in FIG. 9(A), an adjuster 221 whose end 221a can contact the back surface 21b of the front part 21 is provided on the upper surface 22b of the base part 22. At least one of the back surface 21b and the end 221a is made of a material with a large friction coefficient (e.g., rubber). The driver can adjust the angle of the front part 21 by changing the contact position of the end 221a with the back surface 21b as shown in FIG. 9(B) and (C) so that the first signboard 51 and the second signboard 52 can be easily seen while sitting in the driver's seat. In addition, the versatility of the pedal position indicator 1 can be further improved.

[0088] The method for adjusting the angle of the front portion 21 is not limited to the example shown in Fig. 9. For example, a torque hinge used for opening and closing the display of a notebook personal computer may be provided on the intermediate portion 23.

[0089] In this embodiment, the first sign 51 and the second sign 52 are attached to the front part 21, an image representing or reminiscent of the brake pedal 71 is displayed on the first sign 51, and an image representing or reminiscent of the accelerator pedal 72 is displayed on the second sign 52. However, instead of attaching the first sign 51 and the second sign 52, these images may be displayed directly on the front surface 21a and the top surface 21c of the front part 21. For example, the front surface 21a and the top surface 21c may be treated like a whiteboard so that images can be drawn on them with a water-based pen.

[0090] Alternatively, a material to which a magnet can be attached (such as a steel plate or a stainless steel plate) may be attached to the front surface 21a and the top surface 21c, and the first brake guide sheet 61, the second brake guide sheet 62, the first accelerator guide sheet 63, or the second accelerator guide sheet 64 may be directly attached thereto.

[0091] For example, an attachment board 47 as shown in Fig. 10 is prepared. A first ear 471, a second ear 472, and a third ear 473 are provided on the upper, left, and right parts of the attachment board 47. The first ear 471, the second ear 472, and the third ear 473 are then folded at the positions shown by dotted lines, and attachment board 47 is attached so as to wrap around the upper end, left end, and right end of front part 21 as shown in Fig. 11 or 12, thereby making attachment board 47 a part of the main body.

[0092] In the case where an image is drawn directly on the first signboard 51, the first signboard 51 may be formed of a material to which a magnet does not stick, such as plastic or resin. The same applies to the second signboard 52.

[0093] The pedal position indicator 1 may be configured so that the left and right portions of the front portion 21 can be folded towards the center.

[0094] The pedal position indicator 1 can also be used in manual transmission vehicles. A sign and guide sheet for indicating the position of the clutch pedal may further be provided and attached to the front portion 21.

[0095] In addition, the configuration, size, and images displayed of the pedal position indicator 1 as a whole or each part thereof may be appropriately changed in accordance with the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 1 Pedal position indicator 10. Main Unit 21 Front section 22 Base 221 Adjuster (adjustment means) 3 Arm stand (support part) 41 First arm (support part) 42 Second arm (support part) 43 Third arm (support part) 44 First rubber foot (support part) 45 Second rubber foot (support part) 46 Third rubber foot (support part) 47 Adhesive Board 51 First Signboard (First Media) 511 Front section (display surface) 513 Middle section (display surface) 52 Second Signboard (Second Media) 521 Front section (display surface) 523 Middle section (display surface) 7. Automobiles 7X Private car (automobile) 7Y Rental car (car) 71 Brake pedal 72 Accelerator pedal 73 Dashboard

Claims

1. A pedal position indicator to be placed on a dashboard of a vehicle to allow a driver to confirm the positions of a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal, a first medium corresponding to the brake pedal; a second medium corresponding to the accelerator pedal; a body for holding the first medium and the second medium; A pedal position indicator comprising:

2. the first medium is a medium for drawing or pasting a first image representing or reminiscent of a brake; The second medium is a medium for drawing or pasting a second image expressing or reminiscent of an accelerator.

2. A pedal position indicator according to claim 1.

3. the first medium has two intersecting display surfaces for drawing or pasting the first image; The second medium has two intersecting display surfaces for drawing or pasting the second image.

3. A pedal position indicator according to claim 2.

4. The main body can attach and detach the first medium and the second medium at any position in the width direction.

4. A pedal position indicator according to claim 1.

5. a support portion that supports the main body at at least three locations on a rear side of the main body and one end side and the other end side in a width direction of the main body when the main body is placed on the dashboard; having 4. A pedal position indicator according to claim 1.

6. the main body has a front part in which the first medium and the second medium are arranged so as to be visible from a driver's seat during use, and a base part supporting the front part; the support portion includes a first flexible arm, a second flexible arm, a third flexible arm, a first rubber foot, a second rubber foot, and a third rubber foot; the first flexible arm has one end connected to the rear side of the main body and the other end connected to the first rubber foot; the second flexible arm has one end connected to the one end side in the width direction of the main body and the other end connected to the second rubber foot; one end of the third flexible arm is connected to the other end side of the main body in the width direction, and the other end is connected to the third rubber foot; 6. A pedal position indicator according to claim 5.

7. an adjustment means for adjusting the angle between the front portion and the base portion; having 7. A pedal position indicator according to claim 6.

8. A pedal position indicator to be placed on a dashboard of a vehicle to allow a driver to confirm the positions of a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal, a body for holding a first medium corresponding to said brake pedal and a second medium corresponding to said accelerator pedal; A pedal position indicator comprising:

9. An image display medium attached to a pedal position indicator placed on a dashboard of a vehicle to allow a driver to confirm the positions of a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal, A first image representing or evocative of a brake or a second image representing or evocative of an accelerator is depicted; An image display medium comprising:

Images