Pedal device

Abstract

To prevent deterioration of pedal pad depressing operation due to intrusion and accumulation of foreign matter in an organ type pedal device.SOLUTION: A pedal device is an organ-type pedal device in which an upper end of a pedal is located higher in a vehicle compared to a lower end of the pedal when a plate portion 11 is not depressed by a driver. This pedal device has a gap between a housing 40 and the lower end of the pedal. A protection plate 15 is formed of an elastic member that can be elastically deformed by depressing force applied to a pedal pad 10 due to depressing operation by the driver.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a pedal device mounted on a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an organ-type pedal device is known in which a portion of the pedal pad stepped on by a driver is disposed above the vehicle mounting direction with respect to the axis of rocking. The organ-type pedal device is used as an accelerator pedal device or a brake pedal device.

[0003] In the organ-type pedal device described in Patent Document 1, a hinge portion provided at an end portion on the vehicle lower side of the pedal pad is inserted into and connected to an insertion groove provided in a support body extending rearward of the vehicle from a housing. This pedal device is configured such that the diameter of a virtual circle that contacts the pedal pad, the housing, and the support body in the maximum depressed state is larger than the diameter of a virtual circle that contacts the pedal pad and the housing in the non-depressed state. Note that the non-depressed state is a state in which no depressing operation by the driver is performed on the pedal pad, and the maximum depressed state is a state in which the depressing operation by the driver is maximized on the pedal pad.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0005] However, in the organ-type pedal device described in Patent Document 1, there is no gap between the hinge portion provided at the end portion on the vehicle lower side of the pedal pad and the support body. Therefore, there is a concern that if foreign matter such as small stones or sand that has entered the space between the housing, the support body, and the pedal pad accumulates without being discharged, the depressing operation of the pedal pad may be impossible due to the accumulated foreign matter.

[0006] The present disclosure aims to prevent the depression operation of a pedal pad from deteriorating due to the intrusion and accumulation of foreign matter in an organ-type pedal device.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a pedal device includes a pedal pad, a shaft member, a housing, a connecting portion, a connecting structure, and a protective plate. The pedal pad has a plate portion that has a thickness in the plate thickness direction and forms a plate shape extending in the extending direction. When the driver depresses the plate portion from one side in the plate thickness direction, the pedal pad rotates about an axis perpendicular to the extending direction. The shaft member is provided at a position farther below the vehicle than the plate portion and extends in the axial direction of the axis about the axis. The housing rotatably supports the shaft member. The connecting portion connects the pedal pad and the shaft member. The connecting structure projects from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing and is connected to the pedal pad. The protective plate extends from the pedal pad toward the housing side and is provided at a position overlapping at least a part of the portion where the connecting structure projects to the outside of the housing in the axial direction of the axis. This pedal device is an organ-type pedal device in which, in a non-depressed state where the driver's depressing operation is not performed on the plate portion, the upper pedal end portion located on one side in the extending direction of the pedal pad is located above the vehicle compared to the lower pedal end portion located on the other side in the extending direction. And this pedal device has a gap between the housing and the lower pedal end portion. The protective plate is formed of an elastic member that can be elastically deformed by the depressing force applied to the pedal pad by the driver's depressing operation.

[0008] According to this, when foreign matter that has entered between the housing and the pedal pad moves rearward of the vehicle along the surface of the housing facing the pedal pad side, it is discharged from the gap between the lower pedal end portion and the housing. Therefore, in this pedal device, foreign matter does not accumulate between the housing and the pedal pad, so there will be no problem that the pedal pad cannot be depressed due to foreign matter. Therefore, this pedal device can prevent the depression operation of the pedal pad from deteriorating due to the intrusion and accumulation of foreign matter.

[0009] Note that the reference numerals in parentheses attached to each component etc. indicate an example of the correspondence relationship between the component etc. and the specific components etc. described in the embodiments described later.

Brief Explanation of Drawings

[0010]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the vehicle vertical direction, the vehicle front-rear direction, and the vehicle left-right direction in a state where the pedal device is mounted on the vehicle are shown in three-dimensional coordinates. Note that the vehicle vertical direction may be referred to as the vehicle top-bottom direction. In the following respective embodiments, parts that are identical or equivalent to each other are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0012] (First Embodiment) The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In the first embodiment, as an example of a pedal device mounted on a vehicle, a brake pedal device will be described. The brake pedal device can be used, for example, in a brake-by-wire system.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the pedal device is an organ-type pedal device and includes a pedal pad 10, a shaft member 20, a connecting portion 30, a housing 40, and the like. The organ-type pedal device means a configuration in which the portion of the pedal pad 10 stepped on by the driver is arranged above (i.e., above the vehicle) in the vertical direction when the vehicle is mounted with respect to the axis CL of the swing of the pedal pad 10. In the organ-type pedal device, as the stepping force of the driver applied to the pedal pad 10 increases, the portion of the pedal pad 10 above the axis CL in the vehicle upper direction rotates toward the floor side or the dash panel side in the vehicle interior. In the following description, the axial direction of the axis CL of the swing of the pedal pad 10 is referred to as the "pedal axis direction". Note that when the pedal device is mounted on the vehicle, the pedal axis direction and the vehicle left-right direction substantially coincide.

[0014] The pedal pad 10 has a plate portion 11 that has a thickness in the plate thickness direction Dt and forms a plate shape extending in the extending direction Ds. In a non-pressed state where no stepping operation by the driver is performed on the plate portion 11 of the pedal pad 10, the pedal pad 10 is obliquely arranged such that a part on one side in the extending direction Ds of the pedal pad 10 is positioned above the vehicle compared to a part on the other side. And, when the driver steps on the plate portion 11 from one side in the plate thickness direction Dt, the pedal pad 10 swings within a predetermined angle range around an axis CL perpendicular to the extending direction Ds. In the first embodiment, even in a maximum stepped state where the driver's stepping operation on the pedal pad 10 is maximized, a part on one side in the extending direction Ds of the pedal pad 10 is above the vehicle compared to a part on the other side. In the following description, a part located on one side in the extending direction Ds of the pedal pad 10 is referred to as a pedal upper end portion 12, and a part located on the other side in the extending direction Ds of the pedal pad 10 is referred to as a pedal lower end portion 13.

[0015] The shaft member 20 is a cylindrical member and is provided at a position farther below the vehicle than the plate portion 11 of the pedal pad 10. The shaft member 20 is provided so as to extend in the pedal axis direction around the axis CL and is rotatably supported around the axis CL by a housing 40. An end portion of the shaft member 20 in the pedal axis direction protrudes from the right side surface 41 of the housing 40. Note that the right side surface 41 of the housing 40 is a surface facing one side (the right side of the vehicle in the first embodiment) in the pedal axis direction of the housing 40. A connecting portion 30 connects an end portion of the shaft member 20 protruding from the right side surface 41 and the back surface of the pedal pad 10. Therefore, the pedal pad 10 is provided at a position separated upward from the vehicle from the housing 40 across the pedal upper end portion 12 to the pedal lower end portion 13.

[0016] The connecting portion 30 is a plate-shaped member and is provided outside the right side surface 41 of the housing 40. A part of the connecting portion 30 is fixed to the end portion of the shaft member 20, and a part on the pedal bat side of the connecting portion 30 is fixed to the back surface of the pedal pad 10. The connecting portion 30 moves parallel along the right side surface 41 of the housing 40 as the pedal pad 10 swings.

[0017] A recess 42 is provided in a part of the right side surface 41 of the housing 40. The recess 42 is provided at a portion of the right side surface 41 of the housing 40 that faces the connecting portion 30 when the pedal pad 10 swings. Further, the recess 42 is provided at a portion of the right side surface 41 of the housing 40 that is in front of the vehicle with respect to the shaft member 20. On the other hand, the connecting portion 30 has a restricting portion 31 at a position corresponding to the recess 42 provided in the housing 40. The restricting portion 31 is a portion where a part of the connecting portion 30 is bent and enters the inside of the recess 42. In the non-pressed state of the pedal pad 10, the restricting portion 31 provided on the connecting portion 30 is locked to a locking portion 43 provided at the upper end of the recess 42 of the housing 40. Thereby, in the non-pressed state of the pedal pad 10, movement of the connecting portion 30 and the pedal pad 10 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the pedal pad 10 moves due to an increase in the driver's stepping force is restricted.

[0018] Although not shown, inside the housing 40, there are provided a bearing that rotatably supports the shaft member 20, a sensor that detects the swing angle of the pedal pad 10, and a reaction force generating mechanism that generates a reaction force against the stepping force applied from the driver to the pedal pad 10.

[0019] A wall portion 46 that extends above the vehicle with respect to the surface 45 of the housing 40 facing the pedal pad 10 side is provided on the left side surface 44 of the housing 40. By providing the wall portion 46 on the left side surface 44 of the housing 40, it is possible to prevent relatively large foreign objects from entering the space between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 from the other side in the pedal axis direction (in the first embodiment, the left side of the vehicle).

[0020] The surface 45 of the housing 40 facing the pedal pad 10 side is inclined downward toward the rear of the vehicle from the front side of the vehicle when mounted on the vehicle. Therefore, even when relatively small foreign objects such as pebbles and sand enter the space between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40, the foreign objects roll down along the surface 45 of the housing 40 facing the pedal pad 10 side toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0021] In the first embodiment, the inclination angle formed between the surface 45 of the housing 40 facing the pedal pad 10 side and the vehicle floor varies for each part of the housing 40, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the inclination angle formed between the surface 45 of the housing 40 facing the pedal pad 10 side and the vehicle floor may be the same from the front end 47 of the housing 40 on the vehicle front side to the rear end 48 on the vehicle rear side. Also, in the first embodiment, the surface 45 of the housing 40 facing the pedal pad 10 side is parallel to the pedal axis direction, but it is not limited thereto. For example, as described in the second embodiment and the like, a part of the surface 45 of the housing 40 facing the pedal pad 10 side may be inclined with respect to the pedal axis direction.

[0022] As described above, in the pedal device of the first embodiment, the shaft member 20 is provided at a position farther below the vehicle than the pedal pad 10, and the connecting portion 30 connects the end of the shaft member 20 and the back surface of the pedal pad 10. Therefore, the pedal device has a gap S1 between the pedal lower end portion 13, which is the end portion on the vehicle lower side of the pedal pad 10, and the housing 40. The gap S1 between the pedal lower end portion 13 and the housing 40 and the space between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 are continuous in the vehicle front-rear direction. Also, the distance H1 in the vehicle up-down direction in the gap S1 between the pedal lower end portion 13 and the housing 40 is a height at which relatively small foreign objects such as small stones and sand can be discharged. In FIG. 3, when relatively small foreign objects F1 such as small stones and sand enter the space between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40, the behavior of the foreign objects F1 is indicated by the broken-line arrow A1. As indicated by the broken-line arrow A1, the foreign objects F1 roll down along the surface 45 of the housing 40 facing the pedal pad 10 side toward the vehicle rear side and are discharged out of the pedal device through the gap S1 between the pedal lower end portion 13 and the housing 40.

[0023] Note that, on a part of the surface 45 of the housing 40 facing the pedal pad 10 side, protrusions 49 protruding upward of the vehicle are provided on the left and right in the pedal axis direction at the portion corresponding to the shaft member 20. A gap S2 is also provided between the protrusion 49 and the pedal pad 10. The gap S2 between the protrusion 49 and the pedal pad 10 and the shape of the protrusion 49 will be described in detail in the seventh embodiment described later. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the protrusion 49 is not provided on the housing 40.

[0024] The pedal device according to the first embodiment described above has a configuration in which a gap S1 is provided between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40. According to this, when a foreign object enters between the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10, the foreign object rolls down along the surface 45 of the housing 40 facing the pedal pad 10 side toward the rear side of the vehicle. Then, the foreign object is discharged by gravity from the gap S1 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40. Therefore, in this pedal device, no foreign object accumulates between the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10, so that there is no problem that the pedal pad 10 cannot be depressed due to the foreign object. Therefore, this pedal device can prevent the depression operation of the pedal pad 10 from deteriorating due to the intrusion and accumulation of foreign objects. As a brake pedal device, this pedal device can further improve the safety of vehicle braking.

[0025] (Second Embodiment) The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. The second embodiment is obtained by changing a part of the shape of the housing 40 with respect to the first embodiment, and since the other parts are the same as those of the first embodiment, only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the housing 40 of the pedal device according to the second embodiment has left and right inclined surfaces 50 that incline downward of the vehicle toward the pedal axis direction (that is, the left - right direction of the vehicle) on a part of the surface 45 facing the pedal pad 10 side. In FIG. 5, in order to clearly show the left and right inclined surfaces 50, although it is not a cross - section, cross - hatching is added.

[0027] In the second embodiment, the left and right inclined surfaces 50 incline downward toward the vehicle from the left side surface 44 side to the right side surface 41 side. A wall portion 46 extending upward from the left side surface 44 is provided on the left side surface 44 to which the portion above the vehicle of the left and right inclined surfaces 50 is connected. On the other hand, the connection point 51 between the portion below the vehicle of the left and right inclined surfaces 50 and the right side surface 41 is located forward of the vehicle with respect to the connecting portion 30 and the restricting portion 31.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 7, in the second embodiment, when a relatively large foreign object F2 is sandwiched between the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10, when the driver steps on the pedal pad 10, a stepping force acts on the foreign object F2 from the pedal pad 10. Then, as shown by the broken-line arrow A2 in FIG. 7, the foreign object moves downward along the left and right inclined surfaces 50 and is pushed out to the right side of the housing 40 from the connection point 51 between the portion below the vehicle of the left and right inclined surfaces 50 and the right side surface 41.

[0029] In the second embodiment described above, the connection point 51 between the portion below the vehicle of the left and right inclined surfaces 50 and the right side surface 41 is located forward of the vehicle with respect to the connecting portion 30 and the restricting portion 31. Therefore, when a foreign object sandwiched between the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10 receives a stepping force from the pedal pad 10, it moves downward along the left and right inclined surfaces 50 and is pushed out to the right side of the housing 40 without interfering with the restricting portion 31 and the connecting portion 30. Thus, even when a relatively large foreign object is sandwiched between the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10, this pedal device can discharge the foreign object by stepping on the pedal pad 10. Therefore, this pedal device can improve the dischargeability of foreign objects from between the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10 and prevent problems such as the pedal pad 10 becoming unable to be stepped on due to the accumulation of foreign objects.

[0030] (Third to Fifth Embodiments) The third to fifth embodiments are modifications of the second embodiment in terms of the configurations of the left and right inclined surfaces 50 and the wall portions 46. Since other aspects are the same as those of the second embodiment, only the differences from the second embodiment will be described. Note that FIGS. 8 to 10 referred to in the third to fifth embodiments are cross-sectional views of the corresponding portions in FIG. 6 referred to in the second embodiment.

[0031] (Third Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 8, in the third embodiment, the left and right inclined surfaces 50 provided on a part of the surface 45 of the housing 40 facing the pedal pad 10 side are inclined downward toward the vehicle from the right side surface 41 side to the left side surface 44 side. A wall portion 461 extending upward from the right side surface 41 is provided on the right side surface 41 where the upper part of the left and right inclined surfaces 50 on the vehicle upper side is connected.

[0032] Although illustration is omitted, in the third embodiment, it is assumed that the connecting portion 30 connecting the end of the shaft member 20 and the back surface of the pedal pad 10 is provided on the left side surface 44 side of the housing 40. In that case, the connection portion 52 between the lower part of the left and right inclined surfaces 50 on the vehicle lower side and the left side surface 44 is located at a position shifted forward of the vehicle from the connecting portion 30 and the restricting portion 31.

[0033] Also in the third embodiment, when a relatively large foreign object is caught between the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10, when the driver steps on the pedal pad 10, a stepping force acts on the foreign object from the pedal pad 10. Then, when the foreign object receives the stepping force from the pedal pad 10, it moves downward along the left and right inclined surfaces 50 and is pushed out to the left side of the housing 40 without interfering with the restricting portion 31 and the connecting portion 30. Therefore, the pedal device can improve the dischargeability of foreign objects from between the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10 and prevent problems such as the pedal pad 10 becoming inoperable due to the accumulation of foreign objects. In the following description, among the wall portions 46 and 461, the wall portion 46 extending upward from the left side surface 44 may be referred to as the "left wall portion 46", and the wall portion 461 extending upward from the right side surface 41 may be referred to as the "right wall portion 461".

[0034] (Fourth Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 9, in the fourth embodiment, the housing 40 has a right wall portion 461 extending upward from the right side surface 41 of the vehicle and a left wall portion 46 extending upward from the left side surface 44 of the vehicle. In this case, the left and right inclined surfaces 50 have a first inclined surface 501 inclined downward from the right side surface 41 side toward the central portion 401 of the housing 40 and a second inclined surface 502 inclined downward from the left side surface 44 side toward the central portion 401 of the housing 40. Note that the central portion 401 of the housing 40 refers to the central portion 401 in the pedal axis direction of the housing 40. Thus, the left and right inclined surfaces 50 of the fourth embodiment are shaped to be inclined downward from the left side surface 44 side and the right side surface 41 side toward the central portion 401.

[0035] In the fourth embodiment, since the housing 40 has the right wall portion 461 and the left wall portion 46, entry of a relatively large foreign object into the space between the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10 is prevented. On the other hand, relatively small foreign objects such as pebbles and sand that have entered the space between the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10 gather at the central portion 401 of the housing 40 by the first inclined surface 501 and the second inclined surface 502. Then, as described in the first embodiment, the foreign object rolls toward the rear side of the vehicle along the surface 45 of the housing 40 facing the pedal pad 10 side and is discharged from the gap S1 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40. Therefore, the pedal device of the fourth embodiment can also prevent a problem that the pedal pad 10 cannot be depressed due to accumulation of foreign objects.

[0036] (Fifth Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 10, in the fifth embodiment, no wall portion is provided on either the right side surface 41 or the left side surface 44 of the housing 40. In this case, the left and right inclined surfaces 50 have a third inclined surface 503 that inclines downward toward the vehicle from the central portion 401 of the housing 40 toward the right side surface 41, and a fourth inclined surface 504 that inclines downward toward the vehicle from the central portion 401 of the housing 40 toward the left side surface 44. Thus, the left and right inclined surfaces 50 of the fifth embodiment are shaped to incline downward toward the vehicle from the central portion 401 toward the right side surface 41 and the left side surface 44.

[0037] Although not shown, in the fifth embodiment as well, it is assumed that the connecting portion 30 that connects the end of the shaft member 20 and the back surface of the pedal pad 10 is provided on the left side surface 44 side of the housing 40. In that case, the connection point 51 between the portion on the vehicle lower side of the third inclined surface 503 and the right side surface 41 is located shifted forward of the vehicle from the connecting portion 30 and the restricting portion 31.

[0038] In the fifth embodiment, when a relatively large foreign object is caught between the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10, when the driver steps on the pedal pad 10, a stepping force acts on the foreign object from the pedal pad 10. Then, when the foreign object receives the stepping force from the pedal pad 10, it moves along the third inclined surface 503 or the fourth inclined surface 504 toward the right side surface 41 side or the left side surface 44 side, and is pushed out to the right or left side of the housing 40 without interfering with the restricting portion 31 and the connecting portion 30. Therefore, the pedal device can improve the dischargeability of foreign objects from between the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10, and prevent problems such as the pedal pad 10 becoming inoperable due to the accumulation of foreign objects.

[0039] (Sixth Embodiment) Next, the sixth embodiment will be described. Before that, the configuration of the pedal device of the reference example and its problems will be described. Note that the pedal device of the reference example was created by the inventors of the present disclosure and is not a prior art.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 11, the pedal device of the reference example has a wall portion 46 on the left side surface 44 of the housing 40. Although not shown, it is assumed that the connecting portion 30 that connects the pedal pad 10 and the shaft member 20 is provided on the right side surface 41 side of the housing 40. And in this pedal device of the reference example, the angle θ1 formed by the surface 462 facing upward in the vehicle of the wall portion 46 of the housing 40 and the surface 101 facing the housing 40 side of the pedal pad 10 is an acute angle that is sharply pointed when viewed from the pedal axis direction.

[0041] In such a configuration of the reference example, as shown by the arrow A3, for example, when a long and thin foreign object F3 such as a twig enters between the wall portion 46 of the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10 and moves downward due to gravity, it will be sandwiched between the wall portion 46 of the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10. Then, there is a problem that the foreign object F3 becomes an obstacle and the pedal pad 10 cannot be depressed.

[0042] On the other hand, the pedal device of the sixth embodiment solves the problems of the pedal device of the above-described reference example. As shown in FIG. 12, the pedal pad 10 included in the pedal device of the sixth embodiment has a pad lower wall portion 14 that extends from the plate portion 11 toward the housing 40 side. The pad lower wall portion 14 is provided adjacent to the wall portion 46 of the housing 40 in the pedal axis direction and at a position facing the connecting portion 30 in the pedal axis direction. With this configuration, in the sixth embodiment, the angle θ2 formed by the surface 141 facing the front of the vehicle of the pad lower wall portion 14 and the surface 462 facing upward in the vehicle of the wall portion 46 of the housing 40 is larger than the angle θ1 shown in FIG. 11 in the description of the pedal device of the reference example.

[0043] The angle θ2 formed between the surface 141 facing the front of the vehicle on the lower wall portion 14 of the pad and the surface 462 facing the upper part of the vehicle on the wall portion 46 of the housing 40 is preferably set to, for example, 45° or more when viewed from the pedal axis direction. Thereby, even when a foreign object enters between the surface 141 facing the front of the vehicle on the lower wall portion 14 of the pad and the surface 462 facing the upper part of the vehicle on the wall portion 46 of the housing 40, a certain amount of pedal travel can be ensured for the pedal pad 10. Note that the angle θ2 formed between the surface 141 facing the front of the vehicle on the lower wall portion 14 of the pad and the surface 462 facing the upper part of the vehicle on the wall portion 46 of the housing 40 is not limited to 45°. For example, from the viewpoint of ensuring a certain amount of pedal travel for the pedal pad 10 against foreign objects, the angle θ2 may preferably be set to 60° or more, more preferably 90° or more.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 13, in the configuration of the sixth embodiment, even when a long and thin foreign object F3 such as a twig enters between the wall portion 46 of the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10 and moves downward due to gravity as shown by the arrow A3, a certain amount of pedal travel θ3 is ensured for the pedal pad 10. Therefore, the driver can step on the pedal pad 10 to decelerate the vehicle. Accordingly, this pedal device can prevent the depression operation of the pedal pad 10 from deteriorating due to a foreign object that has entered between the wall portion 46 of the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10.

[0045] (Seventh Embodiment) The seventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 16. The seventh embodiment will describe the shape of the protrusions 49 respectively provided on the left and right in the pedal axis direction at a part of the surface 45 of the housing 40 facing the pedal pad 10 side, and the gap S2 between the protrusions 49 and the pedal pad 10.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the description of the first embodiment above, at a part of the surface 45 of the housing 40 facing the pedal pad 10 side, protrusions 49 protruding upward of the vehicle are respectively provided on the left and right in the pedal axis direction at the part corresponding to the shaft member 20.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, among the protrusions 49, the surface 491 facing the lower end portion 13 of the pedal from the maximum depressed state to the non-depressed state is an arcuate curved surface centered on the axis CL. Therefore, as shown by the arrow H2 in FIG. 16, from the maximum depressed state to the non-depressed state of the pedal pad 10, a constant size is maintained in the gap S2 between the protrusion 49 and the lower end portion 13 of the pedal.

[0048] Compared with the distance H1 in the vehicle up-and-down direction in the gap S1 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in the description of the first embodiment, the gap S2 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40 shown in FIG. 16 is small. Therefore, it is conceivable that foreign matter F4 remains in the gap S2 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40 without being discharged. In such a situation, in the seventh embodiment, from the maximum depressed state to the non-depressed state of the pedal pad 10, the gap S2 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40 is configured to maintain a constant size. Therefore, even when foreign matter F4 remains in the gap S2 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40, the pedal pad 10 will not become unable to be depressed during the depression operation or unable to return during the return operation. Therefore, the pedal device of the seventh embodiment can surely operate the pedal pad 10 both during the depression operation and the return operation even when foreign matter enters the gap S2 between the protrusion 49 and the lower end portion 13 of the pedal.

[0049] (Eighth Embodiment) The eighth embodiment of the pedal device will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 to 20. The pedal device of the eighth embodiment includes a protective plate 15 extending from the pedal pad 10 toward the housing 40 side. The protective plate 15 protects the portion where the connecting structure 60 protrudes outside the housing 40. As shown in FIG. 19, the connecting structure 60 is a member that protrudes from the inside of the housing 40 to the outside of the housing 40 and is connected to the pedal pad 10, and is composed of a reaction force generating mechanism 61, a connecting rod 70, a covering member 80, and the like.

[0050] First, the reaction force generating mechanism 61, the connecting rod 70, and the covering member 80 that constitute the connecting structure 60 will be described. The reaction force generating mechanism 61 generates a reaction force against the stepping force applied to the pedal pad 10 by the driver's stepping operation. The reaction force generating mechanism 61 includes a leaf spring 62, a lower holder 63, a large-diameter coil spring 64, a small-diameter coil spring 65, a spring seat 66, and an upper holder 67.

[0051] One end 621 in the longitudinal direction of the leaf spring 62 is fixed to the housing 40, and the other end 622 in the longitudinal direction of the leaf spring 62 is a free end. The leaf spring 62 is elastically deformable in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the axis CL of the swing of the pedal pad 10 (hereinafter referred to as the "pedal axis direction"). The lower holder 63 is fixed to the other end 622 in the longitudinal direction of the leaf spring 62.

[0052] The large-diameter coil spring 64 is held by the lower holder 63. A spring seat 66 is provided between the large-diameter coil spring 64 and the small-diameter coil spring 65. The spring seat 66 connects the large-diameter coil spring 64 and the small-diameter coil spring 65. An upper holder 67 is provided on the pedal pad 10 side of the small-diameter coil spring 65. In this way, by configuring the reaction force generating mechanism 61 to include a plurality of elastic members (that is, the leaf spring 62, the large-diameter coil spring 64, and the small-diameter coil spring 65), it is possible to form arbitrary stepping force characteristics.

[0053] One end 71 of the connecting rod 70 is slidable with respect to the upper holder 67, and the other end 72 is fixed to the lower surface of the pedal pad 10. The connecting rod 70 can transmit the driver's stepping force applied to the pedal pad 10 to the reaction force generating mechanism 61 and transmit the reaction force generated by the reaction force generating mechanism 61 to the pedal pad 10. Further, the connecting rod 70 defines the position of the pedal pad 10 in the non-stepping state where the driver is not stepping on the pedal pad 10.

[0054] The covering member 80 is formed in a bellows tubular shape from, for example, a rubber material. One end 81 of the covering member 80 is fitted to the peripheral edge of the housing hole 55 in the housing 40. Further, the other end 82 of the covering member 80 is fitted in the middle of the connecting rod 70. The covering member 80 covers a part of the reaction force generating mechanism 61 and the connecting rod 70, and prevents foreign matter from entering the inside of the housing 40 from the housing hole 55.

[0055] By the way, if the driver accidentally kicks the above-described connecting structure 60 (that is, the covering member 80, the connecting rod 70, the reaction force generating mechanism 61), there are problems such as the covering member 80 being torn or the connecting rod 70 being bent. In response to such problems, the pedal device according to the eighth embodiment includes a protection plate 15 that protects the portion where the connecting structure 60 protrudes outside the housing 40.

[0056] The protection plate 15 extends from the pedal pad 10 toward the housing 40 and is provided at a position overlapping at least a part of the above-described connecting structure 60 in the pedal axis direction. Further, as shown by the arrow OL in FIG. 18, a part of the protection plate 15 and a part of the side surface of the housing 40 overlap in the pedal axis direction even in the non-depressed state. Thereby, even when a force acts on the protection plate 15 from the outside of the pedal device, such as when the protection plate 15 is kicked by the driver's foot, the load applied to the protection plate 15 is received by the housing 40. Therefore, the protection plate 15 can reliably protect the connecting structure 60.

[0057] Note that the protection plate 15 may be provided on both the right and left sides of the pedal pad 10, or may be provided only on the right side of the pedal pad 10, or may be provided only on the left side of the pedal pad 10. In other words, the protection plate 15 may be provided on both one side and the other side in the pedal axis direction with respect to the connecting structure 60, or may be provided only on one side or the other side in the pedal axis direction with respect to the connecting structure 60.

[0058] Here, FIG. 20 shows the maximum depressed state in which the pedal pad 10 rotates the most due to the driver's depressing operation. As shown in FIG. 20, in the maximum depressed state, in the space between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40, there are regions where the distance between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 is close and far in the direction perpendicular to the pedal pad 10. Specifically, the region where the distance between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 is close is the region including the portion indicated by the arrow α in FIG. 20. The region where the distance between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 is far is the region including the portion indicated by the arrow β in FIG. 20. Note that the region where the distance between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 is far corresponds to the region corresponding to the portion where the left and right inclined surfaces 50 are formed on a part of the surface 45 of the housing 40 facing the pedal pad 10 side.

[0059] The protective plate 15 does not cover the region where the distance between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 is far in the space between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40. Therefore, that far region is open to one side or the other side in the pedal axis direction. Accordingly, the left and right inclined surfaces 50 of the housing 40 are not covered by the protective plate 15 and are open to the side where the protective plate 15 is arranged in the pedal axis direction. Thus, even when a foreign object is caught between the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10, when the driver depresses the pedal pad 10, the foreign object is pushed out to the outside of the housing 40 along the left and right inclined surfaces 50 without interfering with the protective plate 15.

[0060] The pedal device of the eighth embodiment described above includes the protective plate 15 on the lower surface of the pedal pad 10. The protective plate 15 is provided at a position overlapping at least a part of the connecting structure 60 in the pedal axis direction. And the protective plate 15 does not cover the region where the distance between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 is far in the maximum depressed state. Therefore, that far region is not covered by the protective plate 15 and is open to at least the side where the protective plate 15 is arranged on one side or the other side in the pedal axis direction.

[0061] According to this, the pedal device of the eighth embodiment protects the connection structure 60 with the protection plate 15, and is configured to be able to discharge foreign matter that has entered between the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10 to the outside from a region where the distance between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 is large. Therefore, this pedal device can achieve both protection of the connection structure 60 and improvement in the dischargeability of foreign matter.

[0062] Furthermore, in the eighth embodiment, as shown by the arrow OL in FIG. 18, in the non-depressed state, a part of the protection plate 15 and a part of the side surface of the housing 40 overlap in the pedal axis direction. According to this, in the non-depressed state, even when the protection plate 15 is kicked in the pedal axis direction by the driver's foot or the like, the housing 40 can receive the load applied to the protection plate 15 thereby. Therefore, the connection structure 60 can be reliably protected by the protection plate 15.

[0063] Note that the protection plate may be formed of, for example, metal, resin, or the like, or may be formed of an elastic member such as rubber.

[0064] (Ninth Embodiment) The ninth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 21. The protection plate 15 provided in the pedal device of the ninth embodiment is wider in the vehicle front-rear direction than the one described in the eighth embodiment. The protection plate 15 is provided at a position overlapping in the pedal axis direction with respect to the entire part where the connection structure 60 protrudes outside the housing 40. Thereby, the protection plate 15 can reliably protect the part where the connection structure 60 protrudes from the housing 40.

[0065] In the ninth embodiment as well, the protective plate 15 does not cover the area where the distance between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 is far in the space between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40. Therefore, that far area is open to at least the side where the protective plate 15 is arranged, either on one side or the other side in the pedal axis direction. Thus, even when a foreign object is caught between the housing 40 and the pedal pad 10, when the driver steps on the pedal pad 10, the foreign object is pushed out of the housing 40 along the left and right inclined surfaces 50 without interfering with the protective plate 15.

[0066] The pedal device of the ninth embodiment described above can also achieve the same operational effects as the eighth embodiment.

[0067] (Tenth Embodiment) The tenth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 22. In the tenth embodiment, the gap S1 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40 described in the first embodiment will be described in more detail.

[0068] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the state where the pedal pad 10 is depressed to the maximum (hereinafter referred to as the "maximum depression state") in the cross-section taken along line III-III of FIG. 2. Note that in FIG. 22, the internal structure of the housing 40 is omitted.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 22, in the maximum depression state, in the space between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40, there are areas where the distance between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 is close and far in the direction perpendicular to the pedal pad 10. Specifically, the area where the distance between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 is close is the area including the location indicated by arrow α in FIG. 22. The area where the distance between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 is far is the area including the location indicated by arrow β in FIG. 22.

[0070] In the tenth embodiment, the distance H1 of the gap S1 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40 is larger than the distance α in the region where the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 are close in the maximum depressed state. Note that the distance H1 of the gap S1 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40 refers to the distance H1 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40 in the gap S1 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40. The distance α in the region where the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 are close refers to the distance α between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 in the region where the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 are close. And the space between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 and the gap S1 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40 are continuous in the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0071] Incidentally, although illustration is omitted, if the distance H1 of the gap S1 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40 is smaller than the distance α in the region where the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 are close, there are the following problems. That is, when a foreign object having the same size as the distance α in the region where the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 are close enters between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40, the foreign object of that size is not discharged from the gap S1 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40. Therefore, the foreign object accumulates between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40. Thereby, there is a concern that the depressing operation of the pedal pad 10 deteriorates.

[0072] On the other hand, in the pedal device of the tenth embodiment, the distance H1 of the gap S1 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40 is larger than the distance α in the region where the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 are close in the maximum depressed state. Therefore, it is possible to discharge a foreign object having the same size as or smaller than the distance α in the region where the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 are close from the gap S1 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40. Therefore, this pedal device can suppress the accumulation of foreign objects between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 and can prevent the depressing operation of the pedal pad 10 from deteriorating.

[0073] (Eleventh Embodiment) The 11th embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 23. The 11th embodiment is a modification of the 10th embodiment.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 23, also in the 11th embodiment, in the maximum depression state, in the space between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40, there are regions where the distance between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 is close and far in the direction perpendicular to the pedal pad 10. However, in the 11th embodiment, the distance β between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 in the region where the distance between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 is far is smaller than the distance H1 of the gap S1 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40.

[0075] Also in this 11th embodiment, the distance H1 of the gap S1 between the lower end portion 13 of the pedal and the housing 40 is larger than the distance α in the region where the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 are close in the maximum depression state. Therefore, the pedal device of the 11th embodiment can also achieve the same operational effects as the pedal device of the 10th embodiment.

[0076] (12th embodiment) The 12th embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 24 to 26. In the 12th embodiment, the configuration of the protection plate 15 described in the 8th and 9th embodiments will be described in more detail.

[0077] In the 12th embodiment, the protection plate 15 is formed of an elastic member that can be elastically deformed by the stepping force G applied to the pedal pad 10 by the driver's stepping operation. Specifically, the protection plate 15 is formed of an elastic member such as rubber or elastomer, for example.

[0078] FIG. 24 is a view taken in the direction of arrow XXIV in FIG. 18, that is, a view of the pedal device as seen from the front side of the vehicle. FIG. 24 shows the non-stepping state in which the driver's stepping operation is not performed on the pedal pad. On the other hand, FIGS. 25 and 26 show the maximum stepping state in which the driver's stepping operation on the pedal pad is maximized.

[0079] FIG. 25 illustrates a state in which a foreign object F5 is caught between the side surface 41 of the housing 40 and the protective plate 15. In this case, the protective plate 15 is elastically deformed by the stepping force G applied to the pedal pad 10 by the driver's stepping operation. Therefore, the driver can step on the pedal pad 10.

[0080] Also, FIG. 26 illustrates a state in which a foreign object F6 is caught between the floor 90 of the vehicle and the protective plate 15. Also in this case, the protective plate 15 is elastically deformed by the stepping force G applied to the pedal pad 10 by the driver's stepping operation. Therefore, the driver can step on the pedal pad 10.

[0081] As described above, by forming the protective plate 15 of the pedal device according to the twelfth embodiment with an elastic member, the safety of vehicle braking can be further improved as a brake pedal device.

[0082] (Other Embodiments) (1) In each of the above embodiments, as an example of the pedal device, the brake pedal device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the pedal device may be an accelerator pedal device.

[0083] (2) In each of the above embodiments, the brake pedal device has been described as being used in a brake-by-wire system. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, it may be used in a brake system in which a master cylinder and a brake pedal device are mechanically connected.

[0084] (3) In each of the above embodiments, the shaft member 20 has been described as a columnar member and the connecting portion 30 has been described as a plate-like member. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the shaft member 20 and the connecting portion 30 may be integrally formed by bending a columnar member.

[0085] (4) In each of the above embodiments, the restricting portion 31 is provided on a part of the connecting portion 30. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the restricting portion 31 may be provided on a member that moves together with the pedal pad 10.

[0086] (5) In each of the above embodiments, although the description has been given of the case where protrusions 49 are provided on a part of the surface 45 of the housing 40 facing the pedal pad 10 side, on the left and right in the pedal axis direction, it is not limited thereto, and the protrusions 49 may be omitted. Alternatively, the protrusions 49 may be provided on the outside of the right side surface 41 and the outside of the left side surface 44 of the housing 40.

[0087] (7) In the above-described eighth and ninth embodiments, the configuration is such that a part of the protective plate 15 and a part of the side surface of the housing 40 overlap in the pedal axis direction in the non-pressed state, but it is not limited thereto. For example, if the rigidity is increased by increasing the plate thickness of the protective plate 15 or the like, the configuration may be such that a part of the protective plate 15 and a part of the side surface of the housing 40 do not overlap in the pedal axis direction.

[0088] (8) In FIGS. 17 to 21 referred to in the above-described eighth and ninth embodiments, in the space between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40, the region where the distance between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 is far is illustrated as having a configuration that is open to one side in the pedal axis direction, but it is not limited thereto. For example, by combining the first to third, fifth to seventh embodiments with the eighth and ninth embodiments, the region where the distance between the pedal pad 10 and the housing 40 is far may have a configuration that is open to the other side in the pedal axis direction, or may have a configuration that is open to both one side and the other side in the pedal axis direction.

[0089] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be appropriately modified. Also, the above-described embodiments are not independent of each other, and can be appropriately combined unless the combination is clearly impossible. Further, in the above-described embodiments, it goes without saying that the elements constituting the embodiments are not necessarily essential, except when it is explicitly stated that they are essential and when they are considered to be clearly essential in principle. Also, in the above-described embodiments, when numerical values such as the number, numerical value, amount, range, etc. of the constituent elements of the embodiment are mentioned, they are not limited to that specific number, except when it is explicitly stated that they are essential and when they are clearly limited to a specific number in principle. Further, in the above-described embodiments, when referring to the shape, positional relationship, etc. of the constituent elements, etc., they are not limited to that shape, positional relationship, etc., except when it is explicitly stated and when they are clearly limited to a specific shape, positional relationship, etc. in principle.

[0090] The features of the present disclosure are as follows. [First aspect] It has a plate portion (11) having a thickness in the plate thickness direction (Dt) and forming a plate shape extending in the stretching direction (Ds), and by being stepped on by the driver on the plate portion from one side in the plate thickness direction, a pedal pad (10) that rotates around an axis (CL) perpendicular to the stretching direction; A shaft member (20) extending in the axial direction of the axis around the axis at a position farther below the vehicle than the plate portion; A housing (40) that rotatably supports the shaft member; A connecting portion (30) that connects the pedal pad and the shaft member, and In an organ-type pedal device in a non-stepped state where the driver's stepping operation is not performed on the plate portion, a pedal upper end portion (12) located on one side in the stretching direction of the pedal pad is located above the vehicle compared to a pedal lower end portion (13) located on the other side in the stretching direction, A pedal device having a gap (S1) between the housing and the pedal lower end portion. [Second aspect] The pedal pad is provided at a position away from the housing, extending from the upper end portion (12) to the lower end portion of the pedal. The pedal device according to the first aspect, wherein a space between the pedal pad and the housing and a gap between the housing and the lower end portion of the pedal are continuous in the vehicle front-rear direction. [Third aspect] The housing has left and right inclined surfaces (50, 501 to 504) provided on a part of a surface (45) facing the pedal pad side and inclined downward in the vehicle direction along the axial direction of the axis, a right side surface (41) facing one axial direction of the axis, and a left side surface (44) facing the other axial direction of the axis. In the pedal device according to the first aspect or the second aspect, a connection portion (51, 52) between a surface on the side where the connecting portion is arranged of the right side surface or the left side surface and a portion on the vehicle lower side of the left and right inclined surfaces is shifted forward of the vehicle relative to the connecting portion. [Fourth aspect] On a surface on the side where the connecting portion is arranged of the right side surface or the left side surface, a restricting portion (31) is provided to restrict movement of the connecting portion and the pedal pad in a direction opposite to the direction in which the pedal pad moves due to an increase in the driver's stepping force in the non-pressed state. In the pedal device according to the third aspect, a connection portion between a surface on the side where the connecting portion is arranged of the right side surface or the left side surface and a portion on the vehicle lower side of the left and right inclined surfaces is shifted forward of the vehicle relative to the restricting portion and the connecting portion. [Fifth aspect] The pedal device according to any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, wherein the housing has a right side surface facing one axial direction of the axis, a left side surface facing the other axial direction of the axis, and wall portions (46, 461) extending upward in the vehicle from at least one of the right side surface and the left side surface. [Sixth aspect] The housing has, on a part of the surface facing the pedal pad side, left and right inclined surfaces that are provided and inclined downward toward the vehicle in the axial direction of the axis, a right side surface facing one of the axial directions of the axis, a left side surface facing the other of the axial directions of the axis, and a wall portion extending upward from a portion on the upper vehicle side of the left and right inclined surfaces. The pedal device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects. [Seventh aspect] The pedal pad has a pad lower wall portion (14) extending from the plate portion toward the housing side at a position adjacent to the wall portion of the housing in the axial direction of the axis and facing the connecting portion in the axial direction of the axis. The pedal device according to the fifth or sixth aspect. [Eighth aspect] The angle (θ2) formed by the surface (141) of the pad lower wall portion facing the front of the vehicle and the surface (462) of the wall portion of the housing facing the upper side of the vehicle is 45° or more when viewed from the axial direction of the axis. The pedal device according to the seventh aspect. [Ninth aspect] At a part of the surface of the housing facing the pedal pad side, a protrusion (49) protruding upward from the vehicle is provided at a position corresponding to the shaft member. A constant size is maintained in the gap (S2) between the protrusion of the housing and the lower end of the pedal from the maximum depression state in which the pedal pad rotates most during the driver's depression operation to the non-depressed state. The pedal device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects. [Tenth aspect] Of the protrusions of the housing, the surface (491) facing the lower end of the pedal from the maximum depression state to the non-depressed state is a curved surface in an arc shape centered on the axis. The pedal device according to the ninth aspect. [Eleventh aspect] A connecting structure (60) protruding from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing and connected to the pedal pad. A protective plate (15) that extends from the pedal pad toward the housing side and is provided at a position overlapping in the axial direction of the axis with at least a part of a portion where the connecting structure protrudes outside the housing. In the maximum depression state where the pedal pad rotates the most due to the driver's depression operation, there are a region where the distance between the pedal pad and the housing is short and a region where the distance is long in a direction perpendicular to the pedal pad in the space between the pedal pad and the housing. The protective plate does not cover the far region. The far region is open to at least the side where the protective plate is disposed among one side and the other side in the axial direction of the axis. The pedal device according to any one of the first aspect to the tenth aspect. [Twelfth aspect] The connecting structure includes A reaction force generating mechanism (61) that generates a reaction force against the depression force applied to the pedal pad by the driver's depression operation, A connecting rod (70) that connects the reaction force generating mechanism and the pedal pad, And a covering member (80) that covers a part of the reaction force generating mechanism and the connecting rod. The pedal device according to the eleventh aspect. [Thirteenth aspect] In the non-depressed state, a part of the side surface of the housing and a part of the protective plate overlap in the axial direction of the axis. The pedal device according to the eleventh aspect or the twelfth aspect. [Fourteenth aspect] The distance (H1) between the lower end of the pedal and the housing is larger than the distance (α) between the pedal pad and the housing in the region where the pedal pad and the housing are closest in the maximum depression state where the pedal pad rotates the most due to the driver's depression operation. The pedal device according to any one of the first aspect to the thirteenth aspect. [Fifteenth aspect] In the maximum depression state where the pedal pad rotates the most due to the depression operation of the driver, in the space between the pedal pad and the housing, there are regions where the distance between the pedal pad and the housing is close and regions where the distance is far in a direction perpendicular to the pedal pad. The distance (H1) between the lower end of the pedal and the housing is greater than the distance (α) between the pedal pad and the housing in the region where the distance between the pedal pad and the housing is close in the maximum depression state. The pedal device according to any one of the first aspect to the fourteenth aspect. [Sixteenth aspect] A connecting structure (60) that protrudes from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing and is connected to the pedal pad, A protective plate (15) that extends from the pedal pad toward the housing side and is provided at a position overlapping in the axial direction of the axis with at least a part of the portion where the connecting structure protrudes outside the housing. The protective plate is formed of an elastic member that can be elastically deformed by the stepping force applied to the pedal pad by the driver's stepping operation. The pedal device according to any one of the first aspect to the fifteenth aspect.

Claims

1. It has a plate portion (11) having a thickness in the plate thickness direction (Dt) and forming a plate shape extending in the extending direction (Ds), and when a driver steps on the plate portion from one side in the plate thickness direction, a pedal pad (10) that rotates around an axis (CL) perpendicular to the extending direction, A shaft member (20) extending in the axial direction of the axis around the axis at a position farther below the vehicle than the plate portion, A housing (40) that rotatably supports the shaft member, A connecting portion (30) that connects the pedal pad and the shaft member, A connecting structure (60) that protrudes from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing and is connected to the pedal pad, A protective plate (15) that extends from the pedal pad toward the housing side and is provided at a position overlapping in the axial direction of the axis with at least a part of the portion where the connecting structure protrudes outside the housing, and is provided with a pedal device, In an organ-type pedal device in which, in a non-stepped state where the driver has not stepped on the plate portion, a pedal upper end portion (12) located on one side in the extending direction of the pedal pad is located above the vehicle compared to a pedal lower end portion (13) located on the other side in the extending direction, There is a gap (S1) between the housing and the pedal lower end portion, The protective plate is formed of an elastic member that can be elastically deformed by the stepping force applied to the pedal pad by the driver's stepping operation. A pedal device.

2. The pedal device according to claim 1, which is used as a brake pedal device.

Images