Pedal device for a vehicle

Abstract

To suppress rearward displacement of a pedal at a time of a frontal collision of a vehicle without fastening a pedal bracket and an instrument panel reinforcement to each other.SOLUTION: A pedal device for a vehicle comprises: a pedal; a pedal bracket whose lower end is fixed to a dash panel of the vehicle; and a bracket support fixed to the dash panel and to which an upper end of the pedal bracket is fastened. The bracket support comprises: a first member fixed to the dash panel; and a second member supported by the first member and to which the upper end of the pedal bracket is fastened. The second member has a facing portion facing the instrument panel reinforcement of the vehicle from a forward position, and moves forward with respect to the first member when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied from a rear to an opposing portion. When the second member moves forward with respect to the first member, the fastening between the upper end of the pedal bracket and the second member is released.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a pedal device for a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a pedal device for a vehicle. This pedal device includes a pedal operated by a user's foot and a pedal bracket that supports the pedal so as to be swingable. The lower end of the pedal bracket is fixed to the dashboard of the vehicle, and the upper end of the pedal bracket is fastened to the instrument panel reinforcement of the vehicle. When a frontal collision occurs in the vehicle, the dashboard moves toward the instrument panel reinforcement. At this time, the pedal bracket fixed to the dashboard is displaced relative to the instrument panel reinforcement, so that the fastening to the instrument panel reinforcement is released. As a result, the displacement of the pedal toward the rear, that is, toward the interior of the vehicle compartment, is suppressed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above-described pedal device, it is necessary to fasten the upper end of the pedal bracket to the instrument panel reinforcement of the vehicle. However, the instrument panel reinforcement is located inside the instrument panel, and when a working space for fastening the pedal bracket is secured around it, there is a risk of imposing unintended restrictions on the arrangement of components in the instrument panel and the design of the instrument panel.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, the present specification provides a technology for suppressing the displacement of a pedal rearward during a frontal collision of a vehicle without fastening a pedal bracket and an instrument panel reinforcement to each other.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] The technology disclosed in the present specification is embodied in a pedal device for a vehicle. This pedal device includes a pedal operated by a user's foot, a pedal bracket that swingably supports the pedal and has its lower end fixed to the dashboard of the vehicle, and a bracket support fixed to the dashboard and having the upper end of the pedal bracket fastened thereto. The bracket support includes a first member fixed to the dashboard and a second member supported by the first member and having the upper end of the pedal bracket fastened thereto. The second member has a facing portion that faces the instrument panel reinforcement of the vehicle from the front, and moves forward with respect to the first member when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the facing portion from the rear. When the second member moves forward with respect to the first member, the fastening between the upper end of the pedal bracket and the second member is released.

[0007] The above-described pedal device for a vehicle is provided with a bracket support. The bracket support includes a first member fixed to the dash panel and a second member supported by the first member. The lower end of the pedal bracket is fixed to the dash panel, similarly to the first member, and the upper end of the pedal bracket is fastened to the second member. Therefore, when a frontal collision occurs in the vehicle, the pedal bracket and the bracket support fixed to the dash panel move rearward together with the dash panel toward the in-panel reinforcement. Here, the second member of the bracket support is provided with an opposing portion that faces the in-panel reinforcement from the front. When a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied to the opposing portion, the second member moves forward with respect to the first member, and the fastening between the upper end of the pedal bracket and the second member is released. As a result, displacement of the pedal toward the rear, that is, toward the interior of the vehicle cabin, is suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] In one embodiment of the present technology, a guide member fixed to the in-panel reinforcement and having a guide surface facing the upper end of the pedal bracket from the rear may be further provided. In this case, the guide surface may guide the upper end of the pedal bracket with the fastening to the second member released downward. According to such a configuration, when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the opposing portion of the second member from the rear and the fastening between the second member and the upper end of the pedal bracket is released, the pedal bracket is guided downward along the guide surface together with the pedal. Thereby, the displacement of the pedal toward the rear, that is, toward the interior of the vehicle compartment, is further suppressed.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present technology, the bracket support may further have a stopper member that prohibits relative displacement between the first member and the second member. In this case, the stopper member may be invalidated when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the opposing portion of the second member from the rear. According to such a configuration, during normal times, relative displacement between the first member and the second member can be prohibited, while when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the opposing portion of the second member from the rear, the second member can move forward with respect to the first member as the stopper member moves, drops off, breaks, etc. Further, by changing the arrangement, number, material, etc. of the stopper member, the predetermined value of the load that needs to be applied to the opposing portion of the second member for the second member to move forward with respect to the first member can be changed.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present technology, the bracket support may further have a friction member attached to one of the first member and the second member and applying a predetermined frictional force to the other of the first member and the second member. According to such a configuration, the predetermined value of the load that needs to be applied to the opposing portion of the second member for the second member to move forward with respect to the first member can be adjusted.

[0012] In the above-described embodiment, the friction member may be pressed against the other one of the first member and the second member by a fastener that fastens the first member and the second member to each other. According to such a configuration, for example, by changing the thickness or material of the friction member, the predetermined value of the load that needs to be applied to the opposing portion of the second member in order for the second member to move forward with respect to the first member can be adjusted. Although not particularly limited, the friction member may be, for example, a washer or a member having a structure similar thereto.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present technology, the upper end portion of the pedal bracket may have a long hole or a slit in which a fastener for fastening the upper end portion and the second member to each other is disposed. In this case, the long hole or the slit extends in the front-rear direction, and in the portion located in front of the fastener, it may be widened so that the fastening by the fastener is released. According to such a configuration, without requiring an additional configuration, when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the opposing portion of the second member from the rear, the second member moves forward with respect to the first member, thereby releasing the fastening between the upper end portion of the pedal bracket and the second member.

[0014] In this specification, the descriptions of simply "front", "rear", "front-rear direction", etc. shall respectively mean the front, rear, and front-rear directions in the vehicle. Similarly, the descriptions of simply "left", "right", "left-right direction", etc. shall respectively mean the left, right, and left-right directions in the vehicle, and the descriptions of simply "upper", "lower", "up-down direction", etc. shall mean the upper, lower, and height directions in the vehicle. Note that the left-right direction in the vehicle is also the vehicle width direction, and in this specification, it may be expressed as the vehicle width direction. For example, when the vehicle is disposed on a horizontal plane, the up-down direction of the vehicle coincides with the vertical direction. Also, the left-right direction of the vehicle is a direction parallel to the horizontal plane and parallel to the vehicle axle, and the front-rear direction of the vehicle is a direction parallel to the horizontal plane and perpendicular to the vehicle axle.

Example

[0015] Referring to the drawings, the pedal device 10 of the embodiment and the vehicle 100 on which it is mounted will be described. The vehicle 100 referred to here is a so-called automobile, which is a vehicle that travels on the road surface. The vehicle 100 is, for example, an engine vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, an electric vehicle, a solar car, etc. Note that part or all of the technology described in this embodiment can also be similarly adopted for an electric vehicle that travels on a track.

[0016] Here, the direction FR in the drawings indicates the front in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 100, and the direction RR indicates the rear in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 100. Also, the direction LH indicates the left in the left-right direction of the vehicle 100, and the direction RH indicates the right in the left-right direction of the vehicle 100. Further, the direction UP indicates the upper side in the up-down direction of the vehicle 100, and the direction DW indicates the lower side in the up-down direction of the vehicle 100. Also, each direction of the pedal device 10 in the drawings conforms to the direction when it is mounted on the vehicle 100, that is, the direction of the vehicle 100.

[0017] First, the vehicle 100 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 100 includes a dash panel 102. The dash panel 102 is a plate-like member that partitions between the front compartment 104 and the passenger compartment 106, and constitutes a part of the skeleton of the vehicle body. Thereby, a front compartment 104 is provided in front of the dash panel 102, and a passenger compartment 106 is provided behind the dash panel 102. Although not particularly limited, the dash panel 102 is made of metal.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 100 further includes an instrument panel reinforcement 108. The instrument panel reinforcement 108 is mainly composed of a pipe member 108a and constitutes a part of the framework of the vehicle body. The pipe member 108a is a hollow member having a constant circular cross-section along the left-right direction. The instrument panel reinforcement 108 is disposed to extend in the left-right direction behind the dash panel 102. A steering device (not shown), an instrument panel (not shown), etc. are fixed to the instrument panel reinforcement 108. Although not particularly limited, the instrument panel reinforcement 108 is made of metal.

[0019] Next, the pedal device 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the pedal device 10 is disposed in the passenger compartment 106. The pedal device 10 includes a pedal 12, a pedal bracket 14, and a bracket support 16. The pedal 12 is an operating member operated by the user's foot. The pedal bracket 14 is a member that swingably supports the pedal 12. The upper end portion of the pedal 12 is swingably supported by the pedal bracket 14, and a pedal pad 12a is provided at the lower end portion of the pedal 12. Thus, when the pedal pad 12a is operated by the user's foot, the pedal 12 can swing about the support point of the pedal bracket 14. The lower end portion 14a of the pedal bracket 14 is fixed to the dash panel 102 of the vehicle 100, and the upper end portion 14b of the pedal bracket 14 is fastened to the bracket support 16. The bracket support 16 is located above the pedal bracket 14, and its front end is fixed to the dash panel 102.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the pedal device 10 further includes a guide member 18 and a pair of guide brackets 20 and 22 that fix the guide member 18 to the inner panel reinforcement 108. The pair of guide brackets 20 and 22 are fastened to each other with the inner panel reinforcement 108 sandwiched therebetween in the vertical direction, and the guide member 18 is fixed to one of the guide brackets 22 located on the lower side. The guide member 18 has a guide surface 18a that faces the upper end portion 14b of the pedal bracket 14 from the rear. The guide surface 18a is inclined downward from the front to the rear. Thereby, when the fastening between the upper end portion 14b of the pedal bracket 14 and the second member 26 is released, the guide surface 18a can guide the upper end portion 14b of the pedal bracket 14 downward. The pair of guide brackets 20 and 22 are provided with opposing portions 20a and 22a. The opposing portions 20a and 22a are located at the front end portions of the pair of guide brackets 20 and 22 and face the bracket support 16 from the rear.

[0021] Next, the configuration of the bracket support 16 will be described in detail. The bracket support 16 is a member that supports the pedal bracket 14. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bracket support 16 includes a first member 24 and a second member 26. The first member 24 is fixed to the dash panel 102. The second member 26 is supported by the first member 24. The first member 24 and the second member 26 each have a channel shape, and the second member 26 is supported by the first member 24 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. The second member 26 protrudes rearward from the first member 24 and has an opposing portion 26a at its rear end. The opposing portion 26a of the second member 26 faces the opposing portions 20a and 22a of the guide brackets 20 and 22 fixed to the inner panel reinforcement 108 from the front.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bracket support 16 further includes a fastener 28. The fastener 28 fastens the first member 24 and the second member 26 to each other. Although not particularly limited, a pair of elongated holes 24a extending in the front-rear direction are provided in the first member 24 of this embodiment. The second member 26 is fixed to the first member 24 via a fastener 28 passing through the pair of elongated holes 24a. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, normally, relative displacement between the first member 24 and the second member 26 is prohibited. On the other hand, when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied from the rear to the opposing portion 26a of the second member 26, the second member 26 moves forward with respect to the first member 24. Although it is an example, the fastener 28 is a metal bolt and nut.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, a washer 30 is provided on the fastener 28. The washer 30 is supported by the fastener 28 and is displaced together with the second member 26 with respect to the first member 24. At this time, if the washer 30 is also in contact with the first member 24, a frictional force can be applied to the first member 24. In this way, the bracket support 16 may be attached to one of the first member 24 and the second member 26 and have a friction member that applies a predetermined frictional force to the other of the first member 24 and the second member 26. According to such a configuration, for example, by changing the thickness or material of the friction member, the predetermined value of the load that needs to be applied to the opposing portion 26a of the second member 26 in order for the second member 26 to move forward with respect to the first member 24 can be adjusted.

[0024] The upper end portion 14b of the pedal bracket 14 is fastened to the second member 26 by a fastener 32. However, this fastening is configured to be released when the second member 26 moves forward with respect to the first member 24. As an example, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper end portion 14b of the pedal bracket 14 has a long hole 14c in which a fastener 32 for fastening the upper end portion 14b and the second member 26 to each other is disposed. In this case, the long hole 14c extends in the front-rear direction, and in a portion located in front of the fastener 32, it is widened so that the fastening by the fastener 32 is released. According to such a configuration, when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the opposing portion 26a of the second member 26 from the rear, the second member 26 moves forward with respect to the first member 24, and the fastening between the upper end portion 14b of the pedal bracket 14 and the second member 26 can be released without requiring an additional configuration. However, in other embodiments, instead of the long hole 14c, a slit may be provided in the upper end portion 14b of the pedal bracket 14. In this case, the slit may extend in the front-rear direction and may be widened in a portion located in front of the fastener 32 so that the fastening by the fastener 32 is released.

[0025] With the above configuration, in the pedal device 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, when a frontal collision occurs in the vehicle 100, the pedal bracket 14 and the bracket support 16 fixed to the dash panel 102 move rearward together with the dash panel 102 toward the in-panel reinforcement 108. Here, the second member 26 of the bracket support 16 is provided with an opposing portion 26a that opposes the in-panel reinforcement 108 from the front. When a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the opposing portion 26a, the second member 26 moves forward with respect to the first member 24, and the fastening between the upper end portion 14b of the pedal bracket 14 and the second member 26 is released. As a result, the displacement of the pedal 12 toward the rear, that is, toward the interior of the passenger compartment 106, is suppressed.

[0026] In addition, at the upper end portion 14b of the pedal bracket 14, a guide surface 18a of the guide member 18 faces from behind. The upper end portion 14b of the pedal bracket 14 released from fastening to the second member 26 of the bracket support 16 abuts against the guide surface 18a and is guided downward along the guide surface 18a. As a result, the pedal bracket 14 is further suppressed from being displaced downward together with the pedal 12 and from being displaced into the passenger compartment 106.

[0027] Note that it is not necessary to apply a load to both of the opposing portions 20a and 22a of the pair of guide brackets 20 and 22 to the opposing portion 26a of the second member 26, and it may be one of the opposing portions 20a and 22a of the pair of guide brackets 20 and 22. Further, the opposing portion applying a load to the opposing portion 26a of the second member 26 may be provided on the guide member 18 in addition to or instead of the pair of guide brackets 20 and 22.

[0028] In one example, as shown in FIG. 6, the bracket support 16 further has a stopper member 34 that prohibits relative displacement between the first member 24 and the second member 26. The stopper member 34 is invalidated when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied to the opposing portion 26a of the second member 26 from the rear. Here, the invalidation of the stopper member 34 means that the relative displacement between the first member 24 and the second member 26 becomes possible due to the movement, detachment, breakage, etc. of the stopper member 34. For example, the stopper member 34 is disposed to extend in the front-rear direction within each long hole 24a and is in contact with the front end portion of the second member 26. Further, although not particularly limited, the stopper member 34 has a vulnerable portion 34a at its central portion. According to such a configuration, normally, relative displacement between the first member 24 and the second member 26 can be prohibited, while when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied to the opposing portion 26a of the second member 26 from the rear, the second member 26 can move forward with respect to the first member 24. In particular, when the vulnerable portion 34a is provided in the stopper member 34, when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied to the opposing portion 26a of the second member 26 from the rear, the stopper member 34 can be damaged starting from the vulnerable portion 34a. Note that the shape, number, material, etc. of the stopper member 34 are not particularly limited.

[0029] As described above in detail with several specific examples, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above. The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical utility either alone or in combination.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0030] 10: Pedal device 12: Pedal 12a: Pedal pad 14: Pedal bracket 14a: Lower end portion 14b: Upper end portion 14c: Long hole 16: Bracket support 18: Guide member 18a: Guide surface 20: Guide bracket 20a: Opposing part 22: Guide bracket 22a: Opposing part 24: First member 24a: Long hole 26: Second member 26a: Opposing part 28: Fastener 30: Washer 32: Fastener 34: Stopper member 34a: Weak part 100: Vehicle 102: Dash panel 104: Front compartment 106: Passenger compartment 108: Instrument panel reinforcement 108a: Pipe member

Claims

1. A pedal device for a vehicle, comprising: a pedal operated by a user's foot; a pedal bracket that swingably supports the pedal and has a lower end fixed to a dashboard of the vehicle; a bracket support fixed to the dashboard and having an upper end of the pedal bracket fastened thereto; wherein the bracket support includes a first member fixed to the dashboard, and a second member supported by the first member and having the upper end of the pedal bracket fastened thereto; the second member has a facing portion that faces an instrument panel reinforcement of the vehicle from the front, and when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the facing portion from the rear, the second member moves forward with respect to the first member; when the second member moves forward with respect to the first member, fastening between the upper end of the pedal bracket and the second member is released; a pedal device.

2. further comprising a guide member fixed to the instrument panel reinforcement and having a guide surface that faces the upper end of the pedal bracket from the rear; the guide surface guides the upper end of the pedal bracket, where the fastening with the second member has been released, downward. The pedal device according to claim 1.

3. the bracket support further has a stopper member that prohibits relative displacement between the first member and the second member; the stopper member is invalidated when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the facing portion of the second member from the rear. The pedal device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the bracket support is attached to one of the first member and the second member, and further has a friction member that applies a predetermined frictional force to the other of the first member and the second member. The pedal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the friction member is pressed against the other of the first member and the second member by a fastener that fastens the first member and the second member to each other. The pedal device according to claim 4.

6. the upper end of the pedal bracket has an elongated hole or a slit in which a fastener for fastening the upper end and the second member to each other is disposed. The elongated hole or slit extends in the front-rear direction, and in a portion located forward of the fastener, it is widened so that the fastening by the fastener is released. The pedal device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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