Floor structure of a vehicle

Abstract

To provide a floor structure around an accelerator pedal which can stabilize a position of a foot operating the accelerator pedal.SOLUTION: A vehicle floor structure 10 includes: an accelerator pedal 12; an impact absorption pad 38 placed on the floor panel; and a pedal pedestal 18 which is fixed to the floor panel, coupled to the accelerator pedal 12 by a hinge, and supports the accelerator pedal 12. A space 40 is formed at the back side relative to the impact absorption pad 38 on the floor panel and a front side edge part of the pedal pedestal 18 overlaps with a back side edge part of the impact absorption pad 38 from above to cover the space 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a floor structure of a vehicle, and particularly to a floor structure around an accelerator pedal.

Background Art

[0002] A so-called organ-type accelerator pedal hinged to the floor of a vehicle is known. Patent Document 1 below shows an accelerator pedal (12) hinged to a pedal pedestal (pad pedestal 17) fixed to a bracket (32) integral with a floor panel (28). Further, an impact absorption pad (tibia pad 30) is disposed on the floor panel (28), and a floor carpet (20) is laid thereon. Note that the member names and reference numerals in the above ( ) are the member names and reference numerals used in Patent Document 1 below, and are not related to the member names and reference numerals used in the description of the embodiments of the present application.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The heel of the driver's shoe may bend the floor carpet between the pedal pedestal that supports the accelerator pedal and the impact absorption pad, and the position of the driver's foot may become unstable. The present invention provides a floor structure of a vehicle, particularly a floor structure around an accelerator pedal, which can improve the operation stability of the accelerator pedal.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The floor structure of the vehicle according to the present invention includes an accelerator pedal disposed on the floor of the vehicle, a shock-absorbing pad placed on the floor panel of the floor in front of the accelerator pedal, which is crushed during a collision to absorb the impact applied to the lower limbs of the driver, and a pedal pedestal fixed to the floor panel, hinge-coupled to the accelerator pedal, and supporting the accelerator pedal. The front edge of the pedal pedestal overlaps the rear edge of the shock-absorbing pad from above, and the pedal pedestal covers the space above the space behind the rear edge of the shock-absorbing pad.

[0006] By the pedal pedestal covering the space behind the shock-absorbing pad from above, the deflection of the floor carpet can be suppressed.

[0007] In the floor structure of the vehicle described above, the thickness of the front edge of the pedal pedestal can be made thinner than the thickness of the portion of the pedal pedestal where the accelerator pedal is hinge-coupled. It is possible to prevent the bottom surface of the heel of the driver's shoe from hitting the front edge of the pedal pedestal.

[0008] Furthermore, in the floor structure of the vehicle described above, a step extending left and right with the front side being lower can be provided on the upper surface of the pedal pedestal in front of the position where the accelerator pedal is hinge-coupled to the pedal pedestal. The step can prevent the heel of the driver's shoe from entering the hinge portion.

[0009] Furthermore, in the floor structure of the vehicle described above, a notch extending left and right can be provided on the lower surface of the pedal pedestal in front of the position where the accelerator pedal is hinge-coupled to the pedal pedestal. Also, the notch can be provided at a position on the lower surface of the pedal pedestal opposite to the step. When a load is input from the lower limb of the driver, the overhanging edge is broken by the notch, and the shock-absorbing function of the shock-absorbing pad is more easily exerted.

[0010] Furthermore, in the floor structure of the vehicle described above, another aspect of the pedal pedestal is provided. The pedal pedestal of the other aspect has a base to which an accelerator pedal is hinge-coupled, and a protruding edge portion that protrudes forward from the base, is thinner than the thickness of the base, and forms a step at the boundary with the base. The front edge of the protruding edge portion overlaps the rear edge of the shock-absorbing pad from above. The step at the boundary between the base and the protruding edge portion suppresses the driver's heel from entering the hinge portion.

[0011] Furthermore, in the floor structure of a vehicle provided with the pedal pedestal of the other aspect described above, a notch extending horizontally may be provided on the lower surface of the protruding edge portion. Also, the notch can be provided at a position opposite to the step at the boundary between the base and the protruding edge portion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] By suppressing the deflection of the floor carpet on the back side of the shock-absorbing pad, the foot of the driver operating the accelerator pedal is stabilized.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a floor structure 10 of a vehicle, and particularly shows an accelerator pedal 12 and the structure around it. The accelerator pedal 12 is operated by the foot of a driver seated in the driver's seat. Hereinafter, the side closer to the seated driver will be referred to as the front, and the far side as the rear. Therefore, in FIG. 1, the right side is the front and the left side is the rear. Also, unless otherwise specified, the direction orthogonal to the depth direction connecting the front and the rear, that is, the left-right direction for the driver, will be referred to as the lateral direction. Furthermore, left and right represent the directions for the driver.

[0015] The accelerator pedal 12 is hinged to a pedal pedestal 18 fixed to a floor panel 16 of a vehicle floor 14, and together with the pedal pedestal 18, constitutes an accelerator pedal device 20. The accelerator pedal 12 has a pedal pad 22 having a substantially rectangular plate shape when viewed from the driver's side, and a guide member 24 provided on the back surface of the pedal pad 22, that is, the rear surface. One end 26a of a pedal rod 26 having a fulcrum (not shown) on the vehicle body side is engaged with the guide member 24. One end 26a of the pedal rod is formed by bending the tip of the pedal rod 26 so as to extend in a direction penetrating the plane of FIG. 1.

[0016] A hinge portion 28 extending in the lateral direction is provided integrally with the pedal pad 22 at the lower edge of the pedal pad 22, constituting a so-called integral hinge. The accelerator pedal 12 rotates about the hinge portion 28. As the accelerator pedal 12 rotates, one end 26a of the pedal rod is guided by the guide member 24 and moves along the back surface of the pedal pad 22. By the movement of one end 26a of this pedal rod, the pedal rod 26 rotates around the fulcrum on the vehicle body side, and by detecting this amount of rotation, the operation amount of the accelerator pedal, that is, the driver's acceleration / deceleration request, is detected.

[0017] The floor panel 16 includes a pedestal fixing bracket 30 to which the accelerator pedal device 20, particularly the pedal pedestal 18, is fixed. The pedal pedestal 18 is fastened and fixed to the pedestal fixing bracket 30 by a bolt 32 passing through the bottom of the pedal pedestal 18 and a nut 34 screwed to the bolt 32. The nut 34 may be a welding nut fixed to the pedestal fixing bracket 30 by welding. A countersink for receiving the head of the bolt 32 is formed in the pedal pedestal 18, and the opening of the countersink is closed by a cover 36.

[0018] The vehicle floor 14 includes a shock-absorbing pad 38 placed on the floor panel 16 in front of the accelerator pedal device 20. The shock-absorbing pad 38 is crushed during a frontal collision of the vehicle to relieve or absorb the impact applied to the lower limbs of the driver, particularly the lower legs and feet, when the vehicle floor 14 is lifted, or the impact applied to the lower legs or the like by the deployment of the knee airbag. The shock-absorbing pad 38 is made of a foamed resin material, for example, foamed polypropylene or a polystyrene-polyolefin composite resin foam. The shock-absorbing pad 38 has a certain thickness to absorb the impact, and a space 40 for assembling the pedal pedestal 18 on the floor panel 16 exists behind the front edge of the shock-absorbing pad 38. A floor carpet 42 is laid on the shock-absorbing pad 38, and the floor carpet 42 extends further beyond the rear edge of the shock-absorbing pad 38. The portion of the floor carpet 42 extending behind the shock-absorbing pad 38 is not supported from below. The front edge of the pedal pedestal 18 overlaps the rear edge of the floor carpet 42.

[0019] Figs. 2 and 3 are views showing the hinge portion 28 connecting the accelerator pedal 12 and the pedal pedestal 18 and the surrounding configuration, Fig. 2 being a sectional view and Fig. 3 being a perspective view.

[0020] The hinge portion 28 extends along the lower edge of the pedal pad 22 and is integrally formed with the pedal pad 22. The hinge portion 28 has an engaging portion 44 that engages with the pedal pedestal 18, and a bendable bending portion 46 that connects the engaging portion 44 and the pedal pad 22. The engaging portion 44 is inserted into an engaging groove 18a formed to extend in the left - right direction on the upper surface of the pedal pedestal 18 from the left or the right. Thereby, the pedal pad 22 and the pedal pedestal 18 are coupled. The bending portion 46 is a thin - plate - shaped portion that extends along the lower edge of the pedal pad 22. When the bending portion 46 bends, the accelerator pedal 12 rotates about the hinge portion 28 with respect to the pedal pedestal 18.

[0021] The front edge of the pedal pedestal 18 extends forward beyond the rear edge of the shock - absorbing pad 38 and overlaps the shock - absorbing pad 38 from above through the floor carpet 42. The front edge 18b of the pedal pedestal 18 is located in front of the rear edge 38a of the shock - absorbing pad 38. The pedal pedestal 18 covers the space 40 behind the shock - absorbing pad 38. The thickness of the front edge of the pedal pedestal 18 may be thinner than the thickness of the portion where the hinge portion 28 is coupled. Further, a step 48 with a lower front side may be formed between the position where the hinge portion is coupled and the front edge of the pedal pedestal 18. Also, a notch 49 extending left - right may be provided on the lower surface of the pedal pedestal 18 in front of the position where the hinge portion is coupled.

[0022] A more specific shape of the pedal pedestal 18 will be described. The pedal pedestal 18 has a base portion 50 to which the hinge portion 28 is coupled, and an overhanging edge portion 52 that is thinner than the base portion 50 and projects from the front edge of the base portion 50. The overhanging edge portion 52 extends forward beyond the rear edge of the shock - absorbing pad 38 and overlaps the rear edge portion of the shock - absorbing pad 38 from above. Since the front edge of the overhanging edge portion 52 is thin, when the driver places the corner behind the heel of the shoe on the floor carpet 42 in front of the pedal pedestal 18 and operates the accelerator pedal 12, the pedal pedestal 18 does not hit the bottom surface of the heel, and the pedal operation feeling is not impaired.

[0023] Since the overhanging edge portion 52 extends above the shock absorption pad 38, the pedal pedestal 18 covers the space 40 behind the shock absorption pad 38 from above, and the floor carpet 42 overhanging above the space 40 is prevented from being deflected by the heel of the driver's shoe. Thereby, the position of the foot operating the accelerator pedal 12 can be stabilized.

[0024] At the boundary between the base portion 50 of the pedal pedestal and the overhanging edge portion 52, the aforementioned step 48 is formed. The step 48 is a steep step and may have a vertical surface 48a that intersects the upper surface of the overhanging edge portion 52 at an angle of 80 to 90°. The step 48 stops the heel of the driver's shoe here and suppresses intrusion deeper than the step 48. Thereby, the heel of the shoe does not slip deeper and is not pinched in the gap between the pedal pad 22 around the hinge portion 28 and the pedal pedestal 18.

[0025] By making the overhanging edge portion 52 thinner than the base portion 50, the strength of the overhanging edge portion 52 can be reduced compared to the case where it has the same thickness as the base portion 50. When the shock absorption pad 38 is crushed by the input from the driver's lower limb during a frontal collision, if the heel of the shoe hits the overhanging edge portion 52, the overhanging edge portion 52 breaks or deforms, enabling the shock absorption pad 38 to function sufficiently. Further, a notch 49 extending in the left - right direction may be formed on the lower surface of the overhanging edge portion 52, particularly at a position opposite to the step 48. Thereby, the strength of the overhanging edge portion 52 can be further reduced, making it more likely to break or deform when there is an input from the lower limb during a frontal collision, and enabling the shock absorption function of the shock absorption pad 38 to be more effectively exerted.

[0026] Instead of providing the overhanging edge portion 52 thinner than the base portion 50, the pedal pedestal 18 may be extended from the edge on the back side of the shock absorption pad 38 to in front of it with substantially the same thickness as the base portion and cover the space 40. Also, the thickness of the pedal pedestal 18 extending to the edge on the back side of the shock absorption pad 38 may be gradually reduced toward the front.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0027] 10 Floor structure of a vehicle, 12 Accelerator pedal, 16 Floor panel, 18 Pedal pedestal, 22 Pedal pad, 28 Hinge part, 30 Pedestal fixing bracket, 38 Shock absorbing pad, 40 Space, 42 Floor carpet, 44 Engaging part of the hinge part, 46 Bent part of the hinge part, 48 Step, 49 Notch, 50 Base of the pedal pedestal, 52 Overhanging part of the pedal pedestal.

Claims

1. An accelerator pedal disposed on the floor of a vehicle, a shock-absorbing pad placed on the floor panel of the floor in front of the accelerator pedal, which is crushed during a collision to absorb the impact applied to the driver's lower limbs, a pedal pedestal fixed to the floor panel, hinge-coupled to the accelerator pedal, and supporting the accelerator pedal, wherein the front edge of the pedal pedestal overlaps the rear edge of the shock-absorbing pad from above, and the pedal pedestal covers the space above the space behind the rear edge of the shock-absorbing pad, comprising the position where the accelerator pedal is hinge-coupled to the pedal pedestal is behind the rear edge of the shock-absorbing pad, a step extending left and right with the front side being lower on the upper surface of the pedal pedestal in front of the position where the accelerator pedal is hinge-coupled to the pedal pedestal, and a vertical surface extending left and right intersecting the upper surface of the pedal pedestal in front of the step at an angle of 80 to 90° is provided, a floor structure of a vehicle.

2. The floor structure of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the front edge of the pedal pedestal is thinner than the thickness of the portion of the pedal pedestal where the accelerator pedal is hinge-coupled.

3. The floor structure of a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a groove-shaped notch extending left and right is provided on the lower surface of the pedal pedestal in front of the position where the accelerator pedal is hinge-coupled to the pedal pedestal.

4. The floor structure of a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the notch is provided at a position on the lower surface of the pedal pedestal opposite to the step.

5. An accelerator pedal disposed on the floor of a vehicle, a shock-absorbing pad placed on the floor panel of the floor in front of the accelerator pedal, which is crushed during a collision to absorb the impact applied to the driver's lower limbs, a pedal pedestal fixed to the floor panel, hinge-coupled to the accelerator pedal, and supporting the accelerator pedal, wherein the front edge of the pedal pedestal overlaps the rear edge of the shock-absorbing pad from above, and the pedal pedestal covers the space above the space behind the rear edge of the shock-absorbing pad, comprising the position where the accelerator pedal is hinge-coupled to the pedal pedestal is behind the rear edge of the shock-absorbing pad, the pedal pedestal is a base to which the accelerator pedal is hinge-coupled; a projecting edge portion that projects forward from the base, is thinner than the thickness of the base, and forms a step at the boundary with the base; having the step formed at the boundary between the base and the projecting edge portion has a vertical plane extending left and right that intersects the upper surface of the projecting edge portion at an angle of 80 to 90°; a floor structure of a vehicle, wherein the front edge of the projecting edge portion is the front edge of the pedal pedestal that overlaps the rear edge of the shock-absorbing pad from above. **Claim 6** A floor structure of a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein a groove-shaped notch extending left and right is provided on the lower surface of the projecting edge portion. **Claim 7** A floor structure of a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the notch is provided at a position on the lower surface of the pedal pedestal opposite to the step.

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